USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Town of Eastham Annual Report 1923-1931 > Part 6
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You, as a committee representing the community, and I, as a superintendent of schools, must recognize our great responsibility and work in harmony in order to accomplish the great tasks that confront us. That we are doing this is a fact of which we can all be justly proud.
THE ANNUAL REPORT
The printed annual report enables us to tell the com- munity something concerning the educational matters in which we all have a common interest. Most of these matters have been reported to the homes by the children long before the time for the annual report of the school committee. Yet it is fitting that we refer in a general way to these matters
69
that have been undertaken and also direct the attention of the community to other matters that may be pressing for consideration.
OUR AIM
We have tried to bring about a condition and atmos- phere in the schoolroom that make it possible for the accom- plishment of the best school work. We have established a systematic daily program that is definite and that tends to develop right habits of study on the part of the pupils. We have supplied the school with text-books and material that is essential to the work of a good school. Above all, we have placed the school in charge of competent, conscientious and painstaking teachers.
THE FUTURE
So much in a general way for the work of the past with its results equally as good as the conditions warranted. What have we to say about the future ? There are a number of matters that demand our attention if we would make our school as good as we easily can.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE RECORD
(Neither absent nor tardy)
No names for this list for the school year 1923-1924
FAITHFUL ATTENDANCE RECORD
(Not more than 3 days are allowed for a very good reason)
Term of Years
Name
School
Grade
Age
Jennie D. Rogers
Grammar
8
14
1
Maude H. Rogers
Grammar
6
11
1
D. Wilbur Sparrow
Primary
1
6
1
Mildred Vito
Primary
4
10
1
70
ATTENDANCE
Is it not possible to improve our attendance ? This is a matter that concerns the parents individually fully as much as it does the school authorities. Regular attendance at school is essential if the pupil is to make the best progress in his school work. We provide comfortable transportation to and from school in all reasonable cases and nothing but the sickness of the pupil is a legal excuse for absence. Dur- ing the past year we did not have a single pupil whose name could be placed on the honor list for not having been tardy or absent during the year. There were only four pupils whose absence from school amounted to less than three days, which entitles them to be placed on the list for "faithful at- tendance." I hope that in the future both the "perfect di- tendance " and the "faithful attendance" lists will be larger and that suitable certificates will be awarded at the close of school in June to such as deserve them.
DRAWING
The subject of Drawing is not receiving the attention it should. The work is so technical that only an expert is capa- ble of directing it properly. In failing to provide this expert direction we are causing an irreparable loss to the children in our schools. Instruction in this subject is neither a luxury, fad or burden. It is a necessity which can be easily supplied.
LONGER SCHOOL YEAR
Forty weeks constitute the legal and almost universal ly accepted school year in the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts. Places with better school facilities than the average find it advantageous to keep their schools open for forty weeks each year. Our present plan is to have a fall term of sixteen weeks with a little break at Thanksgiving followed
71
by three eight-week terms after Christmas separated by two vacations of one week each. The fall term of sixteen weeks is not a hardship for the children as it is broken up by a number of holidays that make some of the weeks only three or four days in length. I have every reason to believe that our plan of a school year of forty weeks will meet with uni- versal approval.
THREE CLASSROOM TEACHERS
As there was only one pupil for the eighth grade this year we considered it best for that pupil and for the rest of our school to have that pupil attend the Orleans Junior High School. This enabled us to take one grade out of the Primary room which was necessary in order to make room for a large entering first grade. Next September we should organize our school with three teachers instead of two. This plan should be rigidly adhered to even though the number of pupils should drop below what it is at present. Our pupils on entering the High School come into classes with pupils that have been trained in classrooms where there were only two grades. Our pupils coming from classrooms of four grades have received only one half as much attention from their teachers. I believe this condition works a serious disadvantage to the Eastham pupils. With three teachers we can in time overcome some of this disadvantage.
BETTER VENTILATION NEEDED
It is universally accepted that each person needs thirty cubic feet of pure air per minute in order to maintain a state of good health. The pupils in our schools are not get- ting that. Aside from the detriment to good health that comes from living in impure air it is impossible to do good mental work. Drowsiness and languor that is the result of breathing impure air preclude the possibility of mental
72
alertness. Under such conditions the work of the schoolroom is listless and the constant urging of the teacher availeth naught. To be sure the windows can be opened, but for the greater part of the time at school that method of ventilation is uncertain, inadequate and unsafe.
Again we find the Eastham pupils at a disadvantage in having to work in improperly heated and ventilated school- rooms while the pupils whom they meet in the High School have made their High School preparation in a healthier at- mosphere. I call your attention to this matter because it is a condition that can be easily remedied and for a compara- tively small outlay. A system of direct-indirect heat and ventilation with only one fire should be installed in order to insure the comfort and health of the pupils and to avoid dangerous drafts from open windows. This installation with more windows on the left side of the pupils would make our schoolrooms equal to the best so far as heat, light and venti- lation are concerned. I believe this work would not only safeguard the health of our children but also make possible a higher grade of mental accomplishment. From every point of view, then, it is well worth while doing, at as early a date as possible.
SCHOOL SURVEY
It may be of interest to note that plans for surveying the schools of Cape Cod by the Cape Cod Chamber of Com- merce are about completed and I am told by Professor Cum- mings of Harvard University who will have charge of the survey that the work will be started in the near future. I doubt not that from this survey will come some suggestions which, if acted upon, may improve the standing of our schools.
73
TABLE OF COMPARATIVE FINANCES
I present herewith a finance table comparing the fi- nances of the Cape towns with each other and with the state average. A study of this table shows us two facts, first, what we are able to do in comparison with other towns, second, what we are actually doing for the support of our schools.
In population and total valuation there is only one town on Cape Cod smaller than Eastham. In the amount of property per pupil in the net average membership of the public schools there are five towns smaller than ours. In this respect it will be seen that we are very close to the state average of $9,250 per pupil, which tells us that financially we are able to take care of our schools fully as well as the average town in the Commonwealth. In fact that next col- umn shows us that only 82 of the other 354 towns and cities in Massachusetts are able to do more for the children in the public schools.
So much for what we are able to do in comparison with other towns. Now as to what we are doing. We are taxing ourselves at the rate of $7.61 per thousand dollars of valua- tion for the support of schools, which is a little less than the average. 268 towns have a higher tax rate for schools. For each pupil in the net average membership of our school we have spent from local taxation $69.30, which is $4.92 less than the state average. 123 towns have spent more per pupil from local taxation. With the help of the state we have spent for each pupil $118.36, which is $34.71 more than the state average. Only 52 towns have spent more with funds from all sources.
PHYSICAL CULTURE
Some attention is being given to the play activities of our children. We have provided a little material for these activi- ties. We need to do more. The time is at hand when we
74
should insist upon more purposeful direction of the play activities of the children while at school. Good health and good physique concern the school as much as any other con- sideration, yet they have been and are still neglected to our sorrow. If we conserve the health of the children we may ex- pect them to do better school work.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM FISHER SIMS,
Superintendent of Schools.
Eastham, Mass.
December 31, 1924.
TABLE OF COMPARATIVE FINANCES
Population U. S. Census, 1920
Valuation as of April, 1923
'Valuation of 1923 per pupil in net average membership
year ending June 30, 1924
State Rank
from
per $1,000 valuation.
State Rank
Expenditure per pupil in net
average
Local Taxation
State Rank
Expenditure per pupil in net
average membership from all
sources
State Rank
Total tax rate (1923
Barnstable
4,836
$11,987,670 }
$11,988
45
$6 72
312
$80 62
66
$89 14
140
25 80
Provincetown
4,246
3,823,421
4,640
285
11 16
88
51 77
254
58 14
341
27 50
Falmouth
3,500
12,084,761
14,938
23
7 42
282
110 81
9
120 62
48
25 00
Bourne
2,530
7,121,515
12,278
39
7 35
286
90 18
44
102 25
90
21 20
Harwich
1,846
2,915,970
10,414
64
7 61
270
79 22
70
91 95
125
27 00
Chatham
1,737
3,632,330
14,948
22
4 97
343
74 26
94
84 36
170
20 20
Dennis
1,536
1,749,735
8,293
100
8 57
223
71 03
113
94 55
113
29
00
Sandwich
1,458
1,882,400
7,268
133
9 3/1
179
67 66
138
96 65
105
29
60
Yarmouth
1,229
2,372,825
12,045
43
8 36
235
100 66
26
119 79
51
27 60
Orleans
1,012
2,055,905
12,613
36
7 90
255
99 60
30
127 66
32
11 00
Wellfleet
826
931,659
7,112
142
7 44
281
52 81
248
85 72
161
32 10
Brewster
688
1,180,476
10,732
57
6 66
314
71 49
108
94 62
112
22
00
Truro
554
733,527
7,335
128
10 06
144
73 83
98
68
72
19 00
Eastham
430
719,633
9,109
83
7 6
269
69 30
124
118 36
53
25 80
Mashpee
242
614,719
13,363
33
7 28
288
.
97 25
35
111 94
68
26 50
State
3,852,356
5,978,152,428
9,250
8 02
74 22
83 65
1923
Taxation
Local
Expenditure for School sup-
port
year ending Dec. 31, 1923,
membership.
110
Report of Principal
-
The work at school is progressing as rapidly as can be expected. Miss Keith still reigns in the Primary depart- ment and nothing more need be said for that. In the upper grades there is still much scope for improvement in many ways. Through the valuable aid of intelligence tests given the first of the year, and which will be repeated towards its close, I hope to understand more thoroughly the capabili- ties of each and every child.
The introduction of the sanitary toilets has success- fully solved one big problem. I would suggest that the next problem for our study be that of heating and ventila- tion, especially the latter.
Respectfully submitted,
Eastham, Mass. December 31, 1924.
OTTO E. NICKERSON, Principal.
Report of Music Supervisor
MONOTONES
On entering the Eastham schools last February as Super- visor of Music I found the usual monotones, perhaps more than the average number in the lowest grades. We have eliminated some of them in the second and third grades by persistent effort, and after three months work with the first grade monotones we find practically none. Fortunate- ly they are not often incurable unless there are physical difficulties in the child which need medical attention.
MUSIC FUNDAMENTALS
More work in music fundamentals in the lower grades is necessary to right progress in the upper grades and High School. Good chorus singing depends upon the independ- ent singing of the individual, and this is the result of proper and continued effort in the grades. We are trying to establish independent recitations in the music period as we do in other subjects. There is a decided improve- ment in the effort of the upper grades this year and so our work likewise improves.
MUSIC APPRECIATION
Our teachers in the Eastham school have earnestly helped to improve the work of the pupils this year, as I
78
know they must have done in the past. In the upper grades we find some interesting work in music appreciation just beginning through the use of the Victrola and records and with the ambitious efforts of the present room teacher.
The co-operation of the teachers, superintendent and school committee is gratefully appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
MABELLE B. DUMONT, Supervisor of Music.
Dec. 31, 1924.
Report of School Nurse
In reporting my work would say I have visited Eastham school once a week since it opened in September and have made home visits when necessary.
The physical examinations were made October 16th and very few defects were found. The children's teet !! need some attention, also a few tonsils. In most cases the eyes have been attended to.
Through the kindness and help of Eastham Grange we have been able to start making hot cocoa for the chil- dren at noon time, and I hope we may keep up this good work during the cold months.
We are paying special attention to personal hygiene; the children are interested, and we are getting good results.
Respectfully submitted,
ADA CREELMAN,
School Nurse.
December 31, 1924.
SCHOOL CENSUS APRIL 1, 1924
Boys Girls Totals
Children in town between 5 and 7 years 15 7 22
Children in town between 7 and 14 years 28 26 54
Children in town between 14 and 16 years 8 7 15
Illiterates between 16 and 21 years
none reported
-
51 40 91
Actual number enrolled December; 1924, Elementary 64 Actual number enrolled December, 1924, High 22
80
ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE DATA FOR YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1924
Pupils enrolled
65
Pupils in High School at Orleans
23
Non-resident pupils
6
Aggregate attendance
9387
Average attendance
56
Average membership
62
Number of days schools were actually in session
168
Percentage of attendance
90
PUPILS CLASSIFIED BY GRADES DECEMBER, 1924
Schools
Grade
Boys
Girls
Totals
Grammar
VII
6
5
11
VI
6
2
8
V
3
3
IV
5
4
9
Primary
III
4
1
5
II
8
5
13
I
10
5
15
39
25
64
CORPS OF TEACHERS, JANUARY, 1925
NAME
SCHOOL
PREPARATION
Date of
Appointment
Experience
previous to
Sept. 1924
Annual
Salary
Home
Address
Otto E. Nickerson
Grammar
Hyannis Normal
June, 1924
5 years
$1,500
Orleans
Florence W. Keith
Primary
Extension Courses No. Adams Normal
July 1906
25 years
1,300
Eastham
Mabelle B. Dumont
Music
N. E. Conservatory
Feb. 1924
10 years
175
W. Chatham
Graduation Exercises of the
EASTHAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Friday Evening, June 6, 1924
Town Hall at eight o'clock
Class Motto Speed Onward
Class Colors - White and Gold
PROGRAM
Massachusetts in History Salute to the Flag Music "Star Spangled Banner"
School and Audience
Invocation
Rev. F. L. Brooks
PART ONE
Inventors
Benjamin Franklin Eli Whitney A. G. Bell Music "In the Apple Tree" School
Jennie Rogers Elizabeth Howes Joseph King Loomis
83
PART
TWO
Writers
Longfellow Whittier Music
Robert Whiting Cecil Moore (Duet)
"The First Ball" Jennie Rogers, Elizabeth Howes PART THREE
Statesmen
Samuel Adams
Daniel Webster
Calvin Coolidge
Music Selected
Lloyd Wilcox John King Mary Zimmer School
Presentation of Diplomas William F. Simms, Superintendent of Schools
Music "America"
School and Audience
Graduates
Elizabeth Howes, Class Secretary John Leslie King Joseph Albert King Cecil Francis Moore, Class President Jennie Douglas Rogers, Class Treasurer Robert Joseph Whiting Lloyd Belmont Wilcox Mary Anna Zimmer
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT, 1925
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Barnstable, ss.
To Harvey T. Moore, Constable of the Town of Eastham, in said County, Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall of said Eastham, on Monday, Feb- ruary 3, 1925, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz :
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To hear the reports of the Selectmen and all reports and committees and act thereon.
Article 3. Shall license be granted for the sale of cer- tain non-intoxicating beverages in this town?
Article 4. To choose all necessary Town Officers for the ensuing year.
Article 5. To fix the rate for the collection of taxes assessed for the year 1925.
85
Article 6. To see what sum of money the Town will raise for the Public Library, and make an appropriation for the same.
Article 7. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray Town Charges for the ensuing year.
Article. To see in what manner the Town will dispose of its refunded dog tax and act thereon.
Article 9. To see in what manner the Town will sup- port its poor for the ensuing year.
Article. 10. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $1,950.00 provided the State makes a satisfactory allotment for the upkeep and maintenance of town roads, Under Chap. 81, Sect, 26-29 G. L., as amended.
Article 11. To see in what manner the Town will repair its roads and bridges and appropriate money for the same.
Article 12. To see if the Town will give the Collector of Taxes the same power the Treasurer has when Collector.
Article 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of revenue of the municipal year beginning January 1, 1925, an amount not to exceed $16,000.00.
Article 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and , appropriate a sum of money for the use of the Cape Cod Farm Bureau, and elect a director as authorized by Section 41-45, Chap. 128, Vol. 1, pages 1107-1108 of the General Laws.
Article 15. To see what action the Town will take re-
86
garding the wages of laborers, teams and trucks, on Town work for the ensuing year, or do or act anything thereon.
Article 16. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for Memorial Day, and the purchase of flags for decorating the graves of the veterans, and the soldiers and sailors monuments.
Article 17. To see if the Town will vote to sell the Herring Brook Privilege for a period of 5 years, or do or act anything thereon.
Article 18. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the use of the Orleans Fire Apparatus when called to Eastham building fires, or to do or act anything thereon.
Article 19. To see if the Town will vote to petition for the installation of an Accounting System by the Com- monwealth, Chap. 516, Acts 1922.
Article 20. To see if the town will vote to pay a bounty on Crows, Crow's Eggs, Rats or Woodchucks, make an appropriation for the same, or do or act anything thereon.
Article 21. To see what action the Town will take toward draining the water from in front of the North East- ham Post Office. (By request)
Article 22. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of surveying the Town Road from the State Highway at the World War Memorial Monument, easterly as the road runs to the Sur- vey of Albert G. Duncan, or do or act anything thereon.
Article 23. To see if the Town will accept the road on the West Shore at North Eastham, as laid out by the
87
Selectmen, and as per land plan of A. K. Higgins. The same to be given to the Town by the heirs of the late A. K. Higgins if accepted.
Article 24. To see if the Town will vote to accept the road as laid out by the Selectmen through to land of Philip Smith and Leroy K. Houghton to the highwater mark at the West Shore, and appropriate a sum of money for a survey of the same. Road to be presented to the town if accepted.
Article 25. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the purpose of installing a heat- ing and ventilating system at the Eastham school building, or do or act anything thereon.
(By Request)
Article 26. To see if the Town will take action and act fully on the recommendation of the Cape Cod Shell Fisheries Committee, as contained in the following proposed vote submitted identically to 15 towns.
Article 27. To see if the Town will raise and approp- riate $400.00 for the purchase of the 8 Caution Curve Signals now in place on Highway subject to the approval of the Town, or do or act anything thereon.
Article 28. To see if the Town will vote to place the Returned War Surplus Fund on interest, and use the income from same for the upkeep and maintenance of the World War Memorial Monument and grounds.
Article 29. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the purpose of reprinting and rebinding the early vital statistics or do or act anything thereon.
88
Article 30. To see what action the Town will take regarding the repairs to the Town Hall, and make an appropriation for the same.
Polls will open at 10 A. M.
Hereof fail not to make due return of this warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting aforesaid. Given under our hands at Eastham this Nineteenth day of January, 1925.
ARTHUR W. PARNELL,
WILLIAM B. HIGGINS, EDWARD D. PENNIMAN,
Selectmen of Eastham.
REPORTS OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF THE
Town of Eastham
FOR THE YEAR
1925
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD IN TOWN HALL FEBRUARY 1, 1926
OF
S
TOWN
I
1651
COR
PRINTED ON CAPE COD BY F. B. & F. P. GOSS HYANNIS
REPORTS OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF THE
Town of Eastham
FOR THE YEAR
1925
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING HELD IN TOWN HALL FEBRUARY 1, 1926
OF EA.
TOWN
INC
AUSET 1620
1651
PRINTED ON CAPE COD BY F. B. & F. P. GOSS HYANNIS
TOWN OFFICERS
FOR THE YEAR 1925
Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, and Board of Health
Arthur W. Parnell William B. Higgins Edward D. Penniman
Term expires 1928 Tern expires 1926 Term expires 1927
Town Clerk, Treasurer and Collector of Taxes Leslie E. Chase
Road Surveyor W. H. Forrest
Registrars of Voters
Arthur W. Parnell
Edward D. Penniman
William B. Higgins Leslie E. Chase
Trustees of Library
Arthur W. Parnell Sarah A. Smith Benjamin K. Lewis
Term expires 1927 Term expires 1926 Term expires 1928
4
Auditor Fred F. Dill
Constable Harvey T. Moore
Sealer of Weights and Measures Stanley M. Walker
Inspectors of Cattle and Slaughtering
A. E. Cole
Obed A. Fulcher
Surveyor of Wood, Bark and Lumber
Harvey T. Moore
William B. Higgins
Weigher of Coal Herbert C. Clark
Fence Viewers
James P. Knowles
Joseph A. Cobb
Pound Keeper A. E. Cole
Field Drivers
Chas. F. Atwood
Adin L. Gill O. A. Fulcher
Forest Fire Warden Adin L. Gill
5
Fish Wardens James P. Knowles A. H. Nickerson
Elsiah H. Chase
Tree Warden Charles A. Rogers
List of Jurors
E. E. Knowles George Hardwick
A. F. Rich Chas. N. Campbell
Fred F. Dill Edward D. Penniman Richard Smith
Census
The 1925 census of the town was 494
TOWN OFFICERS' REPORT
The officers of the town hereby respectfully submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1925.
Assessors' Report
VALUATION OF TOWN APRIL 1, 1925
Real Estate, Land
$257,494 00
478,070 00
Real Estate Buildings Personal Estate
114,027 00
$849,591 00
Increase over 1924
$54,250 00
Taxes assessed April 1, 1925 : Levied on Real Estate Levied on Personal Estate
$16,182 42
2,508 52
Levied on Polls
320 00
$ 19,010 94
7
Rate of Taxation, $22.00 on $1,000.00.
Registered Voters January 1, 1926
220
Number of polls assessed
160
Number of dwellings assessed
289
Number of horses assessed
53
Number of cows assessed
77
Number of neat cattle, other than cows assessed
11
Number of swine assessed
15
Acres of land assessed
5,451
Fowl assessed
7,059
Residents assessed on property
198
Non-residents assessed on property
316
All others assessed on property
21
For poll tax only
11
For town purposes
$13,603 02
State tax
1,440 00
County tax
3,340 33
State highway tax
323 00
Sign board and milestone tax
230 18
ARTHUR W. PARNELL,
WM. B. HIGGINS, EDWARD D. PENNIMAN,
Assessors.
Report of Overseers of Poor
Dr. To appropriation
Cr.
$357 91
$500 00 By payments Unexpended 142 09
$500 00
ARTHUR W. PARNELL, WM. B. HIGGINS, EDWARD D. PENNIMAN,
Overseers of Poor.
Report of Board of Health
Cr.
Dr. To appropriation $315 00 By payments $129 53
Unexpended 185 47
$315 00
$107 47 of the unexpended balance is the Portion of appropriation alloted to the schools for the service of the Cape Cod Health Bureau.
Cape Cod Health Bureau $107 53
A. W. Parnell, services attending B. of H. Meeting 5 00
Use of car to Hyannis 3 00
Posting 2 disease cards 1 00
W. B. Higgins, posting 1 disease card
50
E. D. Penniman, posting 3 disease cards 1 50
A. W. Parnell, services attending B. of H. Meeting 5 00
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