USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1924 > Part 5
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As in previous years we have had the necessary financial as- sistance from the Hamilton-Wenham Branch of the American Red Cross to carry on the Dental Clinic Work. This assistance is much appreciated by all concerned. Dr. King devotes Friday mornings throughout the school year to dental work for children in Wen- ham and Hamilton.
The local branch of the American Red Cross has provided the South School building with a Johnson's First Aid Cabinet and First Aid Medicine Chest, which are most useful.
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SCHOOL REPORT
STATISTICS
Your attention is called to the following statistics taken from the annual reports of the Department of Education.
TABLE I
State
Hamilton
State
Increase over previous year Hamilton
1920-21
$43,638,115.83
$39,889.66
.16
.23
1921-22
47,876,587.00
40,579.78
.12
.01
1922-23
51,960,445.67
41,666.17
.08
.02
1923-24
55,028,161.93
42,130.80
.05
.01
TABLE II
Valuation per pupil in net average membership Year ending June 30 Hamilton
Rank in Group III
1921
$12,082
14
1922
11,728
17
1923
11,758
16
1924
12,247
17
TABLE III
Expenditure for school sup- port from local taxation year ending Dec. 31, per $1,000 valuation
Rank in
Group III
Rate of total tax per $1,000 valuation
Rank in Group III
1920
$7.89
64
$16.00
107
1921
8.28
81
20.00
97
1922
8.34
84
17.00
111
1923
8.61
81
21.00
95
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
TABLE IV
Expenditures for Support Exclusive of General Control year ending June 30.
Grades 1-8 (elem.) Per pupil in average membership
Grades 9-12 (high)
Per pupil in average membership
Amount
1920-21
$22,000.92
$78.57
Amount $16,726.96
$211.73
1921-22
24,818.91
81.91
19,376.82
239.22
1922-23
23,378.93
77.16
16,516.09
198.99
1923-24
25,784.60
85.10
14,488.51
154.13
DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOL YEAR 1923-1924 - HAMILTON HOW EACH DOLLAR IS SPENT
.44214
464
8.14
113351\
6.54
434
Geril Control
Transportation
Health
Repairs-Outlay
Textbooks and Supplies
13¢
Fuel, Janitor,
Janitor's Supplies
Teachers Salaries 61.1+
The above chart shows expenditures for the various school departments. Compare with chart for state, below.
DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOL YEAR 1923-1924 - STATE HOW EACH DOLLAR IS SPENT
10.44
1.5$ 1.74 4.3¢
112351 W
5.2 ¢
4.7€
Gen'l Control
Transportation
Health
Repairs-Outlay
Textbooks and
es
Su
12.84 Fuel, Janitor,
Janitor's Supplies
Teachers Salaries 59.4 4
The above chart shows average expenditures for all towns in the same Group (III) with Hamilton.
14
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
DISTRIBUTION OF TOWN EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 1924 HOW EACH DOLLAR IS SPENT
17€
6.44
Health
Protection of Persons and Property 13.9$
4.94
Other purposes
Interest
Charities
Highways 24.14
Libraries
Schools 38 ¢
Of each dollar of taxes paid by taxpayers of Hamilton in 1924, 38 cents went for the support of the schools.
COMPARISON OF LOCAL TAX RATE FOR TEN YEARS AND AMOUNT OF THAT TAX USED FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES
Dollars per $1000 valuation
20
15
Total
Tax
Plate
10
Proportion for Schools
5
1915
1918
1921
1924
Interpretation :- The schools are not entirely responsible for increased taxes.
3.8$ 37$ 3.54
General Gov't
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SCHOOL REPORT
TABLE V
COMPARATIVE COSTS
Expenditure per pupil in average membership exclusive of General Control for pupils in this supervisory union is :
Grades 1-8
Essex
Hamilton Lynnfield
$94.32
Topsfield $79.25
$92.41
1921-22
47.20
81.91
80.26
71.37
85.64
1922-23
49.31
77.16
87.83
83.41
107.05
1923-24
74.10
85.10
100.47
96.36
110.50
Grades 9-12
Essex
Hamilton *Lynnfield
Topsfield ¡Wenham
1920-21
$89.99
$211.73
$52.41
$255.52
97.76
1921-22
122.50
239.22
120.11
206.48
88.17
1922-23
169.56
198.99
105.29
159.74
85.08
1923-24
123.44
154.13
110.78
165.48
84.72
* Instruction furnished in other towns and cities.
¡ Instruction furnished in other towns and cities for Grades 10-12.
250
High School (Grades 9-12)
Per Pupil Cost (In dollars)
200
150
State Av
erage
100
Elementa
ry School (Grades 1-8)
State Av
erage
-
50
1921
1922
1923
1924
The above chart shows Hamilton's expenditures per pupil in elementary grades and high school compared with state averages.
Wenham
1920-21
$59.16
$78.57
16
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
SAVINGS
Deposits by the pupils throughout the town average about seventy-five cents each. This is far below what it should be. It is noticeable that the children in town do not lack money for the purchase of those things which appeal to every child. Through the schools we endeavor to teach the children to be thrifty and save for future needs. With the necessary encouragement on part of parents we hope to double the children's savings during the next year.
SCHOOL SAVINGS, SALEM SAVINGS BANK
Balance January 1, 1924
$292.46
Deposits during 1924
294.65
Total
587.11
Withdrawals and Transfers, 1924
288.64
Balance January 1, 1925
298.47
Number of Depositors January 1, 1925
184
SCHOOL NEEDS
The same generous financial support from the taxpayers as formerly.
Co-operation with the teachers in raising the standard of work done by our pupils.
Confidence in the School Committee that directs the educa- tional system of the town, in the Superintendent of Schools, the School Physician, the School Nurse, the Supervisors of Music, Drawing and Physical Training, and the teachers in the schools.
17
SCHOOL REPORT
CONCLUSION
To the members of the Committee and others working with me to bring the schools of Hamilton to the highest degree of effi- ciency, I wish to express my appreciation for their co-operation and loyalty.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN D. WHITTIER, Superintendent of Schools.
December 31, 1924.
AGE OF ADMISSION
No child will be admitted to the first grade at the opening of school in September who will not be five years of age by the first day of October.
Pupils are admitted to this grade only during the first two weeks of school in September, unless they have attended school in some other town.
VACCINATION
Children who have not been vaccinated will not be admitted to school in September unless they present certificates from a regular practicing physician stating that they are not fit subjects for vaccination. Parents are requested to attend to this matter during the summer vacation, as certificates of exemption must be presented at the opening of school to entitle children to admission.
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
SCHOOL CENSUS AS OF APRIL. 1924
Boys
Girls
Number between five and seven years of age 31
30
Number between seven and fourteen years of age
113
148
Number between fourteen and sixteen years of age
31
31
-
-
Totals Total Census
118
209
38
The following pupils were perfect in attendance for the year 1923-24:
South : Sarah Avers. Isabel Caverly. John Corcoran. Sarah Guild.
West School: Virginia Adams.
East School: Margaret Sargeant.
High School: Leroy Doucette. Katherine Malone. George Morrow, Bernice Doucette.
Pupils from Hamilton who attended Beverly Industrial School during 1923-24:
Roland Berry Anthony Ryan
Norman Hurd Everett Hurd
Attending Essex Agricultural School :
Gerald Colwell
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir: I respectfully submit to you my report of the Junior-Senior High School for the period from January 1 to December 31, 1924.
The school has enrolled 171 pupils, distributed as follows:
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
Losses
Junior I
16
21
37
0
Junior II
10
19
29
0
Junior III
6
23
29
0
Senior I
16
16
32
2
Senior II
13
12
25
0
Senior III
6
14
19
0
66
105
171
2
I wish to call attention to the high retention of pupils in the senior high school. Ordinarily about one-third of those entering the ninth grade ever graduate from high school. Hamilton is graduating two-thirds, which seems to indicate a belief in the progress of the school.
I am pleased to note an ever-growing interest on the part of the junior high school pupils in the work of the school. They are continually asking for more responsibility. a more active part in the running of their school, and special work. While this is not so true of the senior high school, there is an increasing seri- ousness on the part of the college preparatory group, especially, and of the upper years of the commercial group.
Interest in schooling beyond the high school shows an in- crease as an examination of the figures for the graduating class of 1924 will show. On the average but two-fifths of the gradu- ates of a high school get further schooling, and Hamilton's figures have been even lower than this. Last year, however, about three- fifths of the graduates went to higher institutions.
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
Every member of the junior and senior classes is assigned to some teacher or to the principal for a discussion of and if possible. the early determination of post high school study. By this means we hope to direct pupils toward goals suited to them, and to so arrange individual schedules that entrance to college and normal school will be easy.
A new system of reporting marks and credits to parents has been incorporated on the report cards. Every poor mark on the cards is accompanied by a figure indicating the probable reason for the failure. This should help parents to co-operate with the teachers for the better success of their children.
Investigation has shown that for the first four months of the current school year, insufficient home study and absence caused more failures than any other factors. In an effort to reduce fail- ures warning cards are sent to parents one month before the regular report cards are issued, requesting the parents to consult with the teacher in order to find the reason for the failure and to remedy the situation if possible. It is disappointing to note that out of seventy-seven warning cards sent out since September of this year. only nine parents took the trouble to visit or communi- cate with the teacher.
One of the most vital factors in the improvement of the junior high school was the increase in the time given to the fundamental subjects-English composition, arithmetic and grammar.
English periods were increased in the ratio of 3 to 5 per week and arithmetic periods from 3 to 5 per week. Supervised study periods are now arranged in such a way as to give each teacher with whom the groups come in contact some time outside of regular classes for special work, extra help, and general con- ference. The fruits of this are already being realized.
In the senior high school several pupils have been dropped into the next lower class because of inability or unwillingness to stand the pace. No pupil will be allowed to continue as a member of his class who has not earned the required number of points.
21
SCHOOL REPORT
In so far as is possible, study groups have been eliminated from recitations. This was made possible by the addition of a teacher for the year beginning September.
The assignment of courses to teachers is more satisfactory this year than last because the additional teacher made it possible to distribute classes according to the teachers' major subjects.
An evening session was held during American Education Week to enable the townspeople to see the schools in operation. A large number of parents visited classes and assembly exercises. Those present could not fail to realize the handicap we are strug- gling under because of the lack of an assembly hall, a lunch room and a gymnasium.
A school library has been started since September and a good nucleus on which to build brought together and catalogued. Book- cases were made by the manual training classes. At present the principal's office is used as the library. A separate library and reference room would increase the benefits to be derived, though this is not absolutely essential except when the office is used for classroom purposes and conferences.
The importance of guidance along vocational lines has been recognized this year by the introduction of half-year courses in vocations in grades seven and eight. The child is enabled to make a study of the advantages and disadvantages of the various voca- tions with a view toward assisting him to more efficiently make a choice of his life work when the time comes and thus to minimize the number of misfits. The work this year, due to the teacher in charge, has been inspirational as well as instructive. It should be continued in the upper years.
The violin classes started last spring have been successful. and a concert by the pupils and the Beverly school orchestra will doubtless be given soon. The advanced class numbers eleven and the beginning class twelve.
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
The social activities of the school have been limited. The Washington trip activities have dominated, making it difficult to raise money for other legitimate purposes such as athletics, school magazine and dramatics. I believe, that in view of the increasing size of the senior class and the consequently large sum of money necessary for the Washington trip, a maximum amount should be set which may be raised by the class and that any amount needed in excess of this should be raised or contributed by the class members individually.
The work of the special supervisors and the nurse will be found in their respective reports.
In closing, I wish to thank the Superintendent and the School Committee for their continued support.
HOWARD W. WATSON, Principal.
REPORT OF DRAWING SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir: I herewith submit my second annual report.
My drawing course has again this year been carried out along definite lines with a definite aim in view as last year.
My objective in teaching art in the schools is to teach the pupils to use drawing as a means of expressing themselves freely, to improve house decorations, and dress, and to appreciate the beauty in the forms and color in nature and art. This may be accomplished by the following course of work :
"Representation" includes the drawing of pictures, perspec- tive, the study of the human figure, animal drawing and nature drawing. Under this subject several drawing from nature have been made. In grades one and two the "Mother Goose Rhymes" and the "Three Bear Story" have been fully illustrated. In grade three the drawing has been correlated with reading on the study of Holland. Grades four, five and six have done somewhat the same kind of work only on Japan. The drawings have covered many of the outstanding characteristics of those countries. In nearly every grade this has been extremely suc- cessful.
Among the upper classes from grade six through the Junior High School there has been a more definite study of the figure. They have made outline drawings, and, also, many silhouettes in ink of different poses. Several lessons were spent on the drawing of just the head showing a variety of facial expressions and many styles of hair dressing.
There is always a great demand for posters in my work. Last spring the sixth grades drew "Safety First" posters, and the three
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
best ones were sent to the State contest. Some on health have been started in grade five, and an advertising poster on travel, which includes much practice on lettering, in the Junior High School.
"Design" is the next subject under my work. This is just being started for this year. Upon reviewing what had been cov- ered last year, I was surprised to find how much the boys and girls remembered. There is much to learn about the laws of order, color theory, and geometric shapes. After these are thor- oughly understood, the child has a clear knowledge to develop a design worth using.
"Construction" is the third and last branch under my work. It develops creative ability, hand skill, and accuracy in following directions. There is much opportunity during the special days, such as Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for construction work. At Thanksgiving time Indian symbols were constructed and some of the material was used for sand tables picturing an Indian village. In one room, where they were studying Japan, a very interesting sand table on that country was constructed. Much of the Christmas work comes under this heading. At that time several window, tree and room decorations were made. also place cards, calendars and Santa Claus drawings.
In the High School class some special work has been accom- plished. Before Christmas the pupils did tiedyeing on silk scarfs which in most cases was very successful.
Summing up the year's work I wish to extend my sincere thanks to teachers, pupils and school officials for their co-opera- tion and activity in making my work very interesting.
Respectfully submitted, MADELEINE S. HOPKINS, Supervisor of Drawing.
REPORT OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir: Musical art is the idealized art of the inner man as distinguished from the arts of painting and sculpture and their like which are the idealized expression of what is outside him. In all probability it precedes spoken language, for music is pri- marily the expression of definite emotions; articulate language is the expression of a definite thought and in the process of evolu- tion emotion precedes thought.
Music should take its place in every school as a daily exercise, to develop in every child a means of self-expression, to give to every child an acquaintance with such a repertoire of music as may assist in forming a cultural background comparable to that gained in literature through the study of English and, as far as may be possible, an acquaintance with the signs and symbols used in printed music.
During the first year of school rote singing and elimination of monotones is the important work to be covered. In the second and third grades continuation of rote singing and the introduction of note reading from the board, flash cards and music readers is taken up. Technical steps are also introduced in these grades such as finding "do" with sharps or flats in the signature.
Technical work and note reading is carried on through the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. Two-part singing is started in the fifth and three-part in the sixth. In the seventh and eighth grades we continue part work using more difficult music, trying to broaden the child's repertoire with songs they should know to take an active part in community and church work. This type of music is carried over into the High School Chorus and Glee Club.
25
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
On the evening of June 13, 1924 the sixth grade presented, "Midsummer Eve," a musical fairy play, at the Town Hall, which was very successful. The class voted to spend the amount realized for a motion picture lantern with films which is not only of great use to them but to all the High School classes. All work in con- nection with the play, including Posters, Decorations, Costumes and printing, was carried out by the pupils of the school.
The High School Orchestra which was organized last year is doing commendable work and at present is studying the "William Tell Overture," selections from the "Bohemian Girl," "Lohen- grin," and other selections of this type. They have furnished musical entertainment for many occasions such as suppers, basket- ball games, Essex and Hamilton High School graduations and many of the other school functions.
This year we have started a primary orchestra in the first grade. The toy instruments used are : bells, drums, cymbals, tri- angles, tambourines, metallaphones, clappers, etc. The most im- portant feature of this orchestra is to furnish excellent training in rhythm and melody.
New music books have been furnished for the second, third and sixth grades at the South School and for both rooms at the East School.
One of the greatest advancements made this year has been adding of a course in "Appreciation of Music" for the Junior High curriculum. The aims of this course are: first, a development of a finer subjective life; second, development of bases for form- ing musical judgments ; and third, development of a discriminating taste as to what constitutes good music. This course is being de- veloped according to the following outline :
I. Vocal Music:
(a) Songs
(b) Opera
(c) Oratorio
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SCHOOL REPORT
Il. Instrumental Music:
(a) Absolute
(b) Program
III. National Music :
(a) Folk music
(b) Art music
IV. The Orchestra :
(a) Its constituents
(b) Its literature
V. Musical Criticism-the result of intelligent listening :
(a) Related to a profession
(b) As a subject for language lessons
Much interest is being shown in this course by both pupils and teachers. I earnestly hope the parents will co-operate with the Music Department by using the finer type of music in the home and at entertainments the boys and girls attend.
"Music is the universal language of mankind."-Longfellow.
I take this opportunity to thank the Superintendent and teach- ers for their hearty co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, MAUDE L. THOMAS, Supervisor of Music.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir: I herewith submit the annual report of the school nurse for the Town of Hamilton.
The past year has met with a few changes. The majority of those taking part in the school health program, namely: school physician. superintendent, school committee, teachers, parents and the children themselves have co-operated in building a health pro- gram equal to or excelling the average community of its size.
The ultimate aim of the whole health program is the health of the child. Your state and nation are stressing preventive medi- cine as the best means of approaching this goal. They are urging the correction of the initial defect, whether of malnutrition, de- fective tonsils, eyes, ears, or the more serious conditions of heart or lungs before serious systemic damage arises.
With the ultimate health of the child in view we have gained permission of many parents for special examinations. In June, those children, whose parents consented, were given a thorough ex- amination of heart and lungs. In view of the fact that under- weight children are considered more susceptible to disease, a yearly examination of those children is urged.
A special examination was also given those children three years retarded in school work to see: first, whether or not there was a physical defect; second, to ascertain, if possible, whether or not anything of further benefit could be done for them, either by the correction of physical defect or by directed study.
At the opening of school in September we asked permission of parents to give stripped to the waist examinations to all chil- dren. By far a greater majority than we expected responded
28
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SCHOOL REPORT
through the sixth grade, there being only a small per cent in the seventh and eighth grades; however, in the seventh and eighth grades I feel the decision was often made by the child, rather than by the parent.
The percentage of defects was not noticeably increased due to the fact, I think. that parents of underweight and delicate chil- dren were not prone to wish the stripped to the waist examination. These are the children who should benefit themselves by routine examination.
In no way do we wish to humiliate the child or suspect the parent of neglect. We hope to discover defects in the initial stage, before a parent would detect them, and refer all treatment to their family physician.
As in previous years, the Hamilton-Wenham Red Cross is continuing the work of the Dental Clinic. This year they have voted to carry the work through the fifth grade only. As in the past the accomplishment has been creditable.
Allow me to quote Dr. Bigelow, Director of Communicable Diseases, in regard to smallpox and vaccination :
"Why vaccinate? To protect the community from smallpox. It is many years since this country has been visited by as much smallpox.
"The Allegheny County Medical Society published the fol- lowing figures in the Pittsburgh Medical Bulletin
Smallpox Cases-Jan. 1, 1924 to July 21, 1924
Connecticut
247 New Jersey 267
California 738 New York 200
Indiana
2.870 Ohio 3,901
Kansas
1,080
North Caroline 3,326
Minnesota
1,494
Pennsylvania 187
30
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
"The manner of spread of this disease by our modern trans- portation methods is well illustrated by the following experience. Two men were travelling together in Canada, both in search of work. On January 3, 1924 they both separated in Winnipeg, one going to Duluth, the other to Detroit. The former developed the first case of malignant smallpox in Duluth this year, and died. Subsequently 39 others died. The latter spent three or four nights in various rooming houses in Detroit, returning to Windsor, Can- ada, before symptoms of smallpox developed. Following his vis- itation to Detroit there were 119 deaths from malignant smallpox.
"Massachusetts has been comparatively fortunate so far this year with only twelve cases and two deaths from smallpox. By enforcing the compulsory vaccination of school children and en- couraging unvaccinated adults to be vaccinated we can keep out the disease. As the proportion of unvaccinated in your community increases so does the danger from a smallpox outbreak. If one of these men from Canada had come into your community in search of work what would have happened ?"
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