USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1931-1940 > Part 59
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Tennis Courts: 100 by 100, two courts. At the present time these are in the rough. The sub-grading has been completed, and they are now ready for the gravel base. The Federal Government will purchase bituminous concrete for the courts. Town will eventually purchase equipment for said courts.
The Federal payrolls for the playground amounted to approximately two thousand, nine hundred dollars ($2,900.00) from July 7, 1939 to January 1, 1940.
When this project is completed in the spring it will be a big asset to this section of the Town, where a playground has been needed for a long time.
48
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
I wish to thank the following government officials: Mr. Denis De- laney of the State Office, and his staff; Mr. Harry M. Shanahan of the Salem District Office, and his staff. They have been so willing to give their time and assistance in discussing difficult problems pertain- ing to the Town finances and Government rules and regulations.
National Youth Administration
We have been fortunate in securing some N. Y. A. assistance dur- ing the year. We have had from three to five boys working throughout the year on out-door projects; namely, moths, improving Suntaug Park, improving Town Hall Grounds and at present they are working on bringing the old street numbering project up to date. This work in my opinion has benefited both the boys and the Town. The actual cost to the Town is very small. In addition to this, work has been given to two young ladies as clerical assistants. Openings will occur from time to time for more boys and girls.
Civilian Conservation Corps
The C. C. Boys from Breakheart Camp in Saugus arrived in our town April 22, 1939 to clean up hurricane damage to pine trees. This work was done to relieve fire hazards and to open up wood roads, which had become impassable by fallen trees. No hard wood was touched. Mr. Adam Herron of Chestnut Street, Lynnfield Center, was general supervisor of this work. The boys spent 706 man days in Lynnfield and left 176 piles of slash to be burned. Work was done on property owned by eighteen different land owners throughout the Town with their written permission. Late in December these same boys returned and burned said 176 piles. Much credit is due the C. C. Boys for their excellent work in our Town.
Respectfully submitted,
WESLEY W. MUNROE,
Sponsor's Agent, Referral Agent for W. P. A.
ANNUAL REPORT of the SCHOOL COMMITTEE and SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TOWN OF LYNNFIELD MASSACHUSETTS Year Ending December 31, 1939
SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1939
Harold P. Peabody, Chairman
Mrs. Norma McKillop, Secretary
Edward S. Averell
Term expires 1940
Term expires 1942
Term expires 1941
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS John D. Whittier, Wenham, Massachusetts Residence Telephone - Hamilton 224-W Office Telephone - Topsfield 171 Office Hours - First Tuesday of Month South School - 10 to 12 M. Center School - 2 to 4 P. M.
50
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1940
January 2
Schools open
February 16
Schools close
February 26
Schools open
March 22
Good Friday
April 18
Schools close
April 29
Schools open
May 30
Memorial Day
June 6 Wakefield High School Graduation Schools close
June 21
Summer Vacation
September 4
Schools open
November 27
Schools close at noon
December 2
Schools open
December 20
Schools close
1941
January 2
Schools open
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Members of the School Committee,
Madam and Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my seventeenth annual report.
ENROLLMENT
Center School
184
South School
99
High School
Wakefield
94
Lynn English
7
Trade Schools
Medford
1
Somerville
2
Boston Trade School for Girls
1
Boston Trade School for Boys
2
Essex County Agricultural School
4
394
This enrollment is three less than that of 1938.
51
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE '
TEACHERS
The following changes have taken place in the teaching corps dur- ing the year:
Miss Ella Schlenker resigned as teacher of grade six at the Center to resume her studies and was followed by Miss Evelyn Woodason who resigned in September to accept a position in Wenham. Miss Ruth Southwick was elected to fill the position vacated by Miss Woodason.
The part time services of Mrs. Glenna Stocking who had been with us for five months were dispensed with in order to employ a full time teacher.
Mr. Roger Woodbury was selected from a list of over fifty candi- dates as the one man who possessed the training and experience desired for the position which requires that he be principal of the Center School as well as teach at both buildings.
BROADENING THE CURRICULUM
At the Center School crafts work is now required of boys in grade six while woodwork is required of boys in both seventh and eighth grades. Girls of grades six, seven and eight are taught sewing. At the South School crafts is offered boys of grades five and six while sewing is offered the girls of both grades.
The physical training program at both schools is now being car- ried out by the class room teachers in the lower grades but in the upper grades is taught by Mr. Woodbury.
Outdoor and indoor sports are being taught boys and girls of grades seven and eight. The boys are participating in competitive sports in football, basket ball and baseball with other schools.
These offerings in industrial arts and sports will doubtless influ- ence many pupils in their choice of courses and activities to be pur- sued in other schools and are, therefore, of more than temporary importance.
PARENTAL COOPERATION
We are most fortunate to have very active Parent-Teacher Asso- ciations at both schools. These organizations seem to have fully grasped the idea for which they should exist. In so far as I am able to observe there seems to be the most hearty cooperation among the school committee, the teachers, superintendent, officers and members of the Associations.
The Associations have been instrumental in organizing dancing classes and drum corps, in making it possible for several to attend Symphony Concerts, in providing playground equipment and in vari- ous other ways, always having in mind the value of such for the full
1
52
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
development of the boy and girl as a junior citizen. When such an attitude of cooperation exists I believe the taxpayer feels that the schools should be generously supported because he has an interest in the schools from having actually done something for their support besides paying a tax.
The local post of the American Legion and all participating organi- zations and individuals who have contributed by means of money or service during the year are commended for their part in helping make the schools what we all desire.
EDUCATIONAL TOURS
Continuing the custom of acquainting our pupils with opportunities outside of school the fifth and sixth grade pupils with their teachers and Mr. Woodbury visited the Christian Science Building and Peabody and Agassiz Museums for a day. Reports from all were that the day was most profitably spent.
SCHOOL OPERETTA
A School Operetta presented by the pupils of the Center School under the direction of Miss Mitchell, the principal, assisted by the supervisors of Music, Art and Physical Training and a committee of mothers was most successful from an educational, social and financial standpoint.
"Trips Abroad" was the title of the Operetta, the purpose of which was to show the friendliness possible between the nations of Poland and Czechoslovakia where the scene was laid at their boundary lines.
ATTENDANCE
A most satisfactory record of attendance has been maintained throughout the schools during the year except in the lower grades at the Center School where an epidemic of serious colds caused the ab- sence of a large number of pupils during a period of several weeks. This absence like that for all sickness was unavoidable.
Parents are desirous that their children attend regularly that they may keep up their scholastic standing and enjoy their associations with pupils and teachers, therefore, it is rarely that the services of the tru- ant officer are necessary to secure the attendance of a pupil while enrolled in the local schools.
Apparently the regular attendance maintained by several pupils when enrolled in the grades is not of so great importance to them as high school pupils. It is found that many of these decide, without parental approval, whether or not they will attend school regularly. Parents are responsible for the regular attendance of their pupils at some school until said pupil is sixteen years of age .:
53
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The attendance officers of Wakefield and Lynnfield are too often required to force the attendance of high school pupils which should not be the case.
If pupils are dissatisfied with the school offerings parents should confer with the principal of Wakefield High School or with some school official in Lynnfield that an educational adjustment may be made which will be more acceptable and valuable to the pupil.
I believe it is possible to find within commuting distance of every pupil's home school offerings of high school level which should satisfy the needs and desires of the pupil.
At the present time nine percent of our high school level enroll- ment is in the several trade schools. The cost of trade school education is appreciably higher than for academic training offered in the high schools but as yet no Lynnfield pupil has ever been denied the oppor- tunity of attending a trade school.
GENERAL EDUCATION - ITS MEANING
By Haydn S. Pearson
The following is quoted from the Boston Sunday Herald, December 10, 1939:
"In the last year or two, there has been a great deal written and said about 'general' education. There have been articles in general magazines and speakers on various occasions have spoken about it. Frequently, comments about a general education have been coupled with criticisms of today's public school system. There has also been a good deal of criticism of the modern colleges and universities. It is interesting to note that the two most recent developments in American education have had remarkably little criticism directed at them. These two are the junior college and the private vocational school.
"Just what is meant by the term general education? First of all, there has been a growing conviction, especially since the onset of eco- nomic difficulties a decade ago, that education was more than prepara- tion to make a living. Education, fundamentally, implies two things in these modern days. It must give the youth of today a comprehen- sive cultural training; it also must prepare them for a field of vocational endeavor.
"We cannot logically say that one or the other is the major aim. The two ideals must be recognized. Time and again, surveys have been made of senior high school pupils, and junior college and university students, and the results are uniformly significant. Youth is primarily interested in getting a job.
"The problem, from the point of view of parents and schools, is to give a general education for its life advantages and to combine with it an opportunity for specialized vocational training. The present setup
54
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
of public school system indicates that for the majority of students the general educational background should be given by them. Then the many vocational schools in one or more years can give colleges practical voca- tional education. The junior colleges, which now number over 500 in the United States, are combining cultural training with vocational work.
"The real meaning of general education is vitally important. Our form of government is a representative democracy, and to insure a body of citizens with common ideals, the schools must give all youth a com- mon heritage of culture and tradition.
"A general education must of necessity include those things which will weld a nation together. These points are: A common language, a knowledge of the nation's history and geography, a love of American literature, the will to be a good citizen, a knowledge of the responsibili- ties of good citizenship and an appreciation of the esthetic side of life. With these, of course, one includes increased emphasis on the funda- mental tool subjects which have a life value.
"General education means these things-of value to all. To com- plete the process of education, there comes the vocational training. We can agree on these two factors if we can agree that education is the process of getting ready to live a happy and useful life."
Lynnfield citizens are providing the opportunity for every pupil to receive the General Education and Vocational Education so ably set forth in the above article. There yet remains the necessity of that educated person getting a job, for what value is an education if one cannot work and enjoy life after completing formal school education.
There is an opportunity for some organization to have a committee of men and women, interested in young people, who shall learn the fitness and desires of those leaving school and then see to it that those young people are brought in contact with those who might desire their services.
I should personally like to confer with members of any organization or individuals who are interested in taking this next step in our educa- tional work.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion I wish to express to those who have in any way contributed to the support of the schools or who have assisted in carry- ing on the work of the schools my appreciation for their assistance and support.
Respectfully submitted,
January 11, 1940.
JOHN D. WHITTIER.
.
55
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Regular meetings have been held throughout the year with all mem- bers present with the Superintendent.
We have added an extra teacher to the Center School Staff, putting on a male Principal who handles classes in woodwork and crafts and also takes care of the physical education work. Up to the present time this seems to have worked out nicely and our discipline shows much im- provement. He also handles other subjects in departmental training.
The high school situation is still very much of a problem. While Wakefield High is on a one session plan, this has not entirely worked out to a point where it would be considered wholly satisfactory to those vitally interested. It is getting fast to the point where Lynnfield should have its own High School in order to give to its pupils the benefits which should be theirs. Our enrollment for 1940 will be about the same according to present estimates, having a high school enrollment of about 125 pupils. On this pupil load, a high school could be maintained with the same expense as the tuition paid.
The town should take steps at once to acquire land for a high school before all the available land is taken for other purposes.
Details of school report you will find in Superintendent's report attached.
REBATES
The following rebates to the Town Treasurer have been made by the State because of certain school expenditures:
School Superintendent's Salary
$ 500.91
Vocational Education
365.39
High School Transportation 4,604.00
Tuition State Wards
437.58
Employment of Teachers
2,020.00
$ 7,927.88
Signed,
HAROLD P. PEABODY, Chairman,
NORMA C. McKILLOP, Secretary,
EDWARD S. AVERELL,
School Committee.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Appropriation Expenditures
$ 46,700.00 46,355.95 $ 344.05
Returned to the Town
56
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Salary Secretary, telephone, postage
$ 118.50
Superintendent-salary, travel, clerk
1,438.28
Supervisors
954.50
Teachers' salaries and substitutes
13,745.50
Text books and supplies
972.98
Janitors
2,076.60
Fuel
1,415.94
Miscellaneous operating (light and water, etc.)
490.12
Repairs
784.68
Health
461.13
Transportation
Elementary
1,890.00
High
4,954.00
Tuition (High School)
14,494.59
Vocational
Transportation
391.40
Tuition
1,098.50
Insurance
169.41
Miscellaneous
187.72
New Grounds
376.75
New Equipment
181.79
Union No. 46
153.56
$ 46,355.95
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
In case of no school for the day in grades or high school, announce- ment will be made by Station WNAC between seven and eight o'clock.
AGE OF ADMISSION
No child will be admitted to the first grade at the opening of school in September, who was not five years of age on or before the first day of April preceding his entrance.
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 yet been vaccinated will not be admitted to school in September unless they present a certificate from a regular practising physician stating that they are not fit subjects for vaccina-
57
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
tion. Parents are requested to attend to this matter during the summer vacation or exemption must be presented at the opening of school to entitle the children to admission.
SCHOOL CENSUS As of October 1, 1939
Boys
Girls
Number between five and seven years of age
32
35
Number between seven and fourteen years of age
141
104
Number between fourteen and sixteen years of age
37
28
Totals
210
167
Total Census
377
HONORS
At the close of schools in June special awards to pupils were made as follows:
Perfect Attendance Certificates
11
Penmanship Certificates
52
Reading Certificates
183
58
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
GRADUATION EXERCISES
CLASS OF 1939
LYNNFIELD GRAMMAR SCHOOL TOWN HALL
FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 23, 1939
PROGRAM
March-On the Mall Invocation
Response Call to Duty
Goldman Rev. L. E. Hodgkins Class of 1939 Arthur Hadley
Chorus
The Music of the American Indian
Emerson Cox
Trumpet Solo-By the Waters of Minnetonka John Smith
Lieruance
Negro Spirituals and the Music of Stephen Foster Priscilla Falls
Swing Low Sweet Chariot Negro Spiritual
Philip Rosa, Soloist - Girls' Chorus
Old Black Joe
Stephen Foster
Robert Blackstock
Popular American Composers
Piano Solo-To a Wild Rose
Mary Ann Stevens Edward MacDowell
Frederick Berg
Our National Music Jean Davis Drum Solo-Patriotic Medley Burton Strong Semper Fidelis John Philip Sousa
Class of 1939 - Drums, William Coffill
Presentation of Diplomas
Mrs. Norma McKillop
Secretary, Lynnfield School Committee
Benediction
Rev. L. E. Hodgkins
March
Accompanist, Alma MacGregor
59
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
GRADUATES
Esther Marie Claire Alward
William Lester Melanson
Myrtle Irene Armstrong
Donald Frank Newhall
Frederick Hugo Berg
James Joseph Norton
William Denton Bezanson
Hector Gordon Polson
Robert Goddard Blackstock
Lester Charles Preston
Frances Lillian Campbell
Charles Anthony Raffael James Edward Rich
John Oscar Clay
Patricia Lavinia Robidou Philip Augustus Rosa
William Minard Coffill
Ralph Emerson Cox
Jean Davis
Mary Ann Dalton
John Harris Day
William Walter DeWilde
Mary Ann Stevens
Gilbert James Elderbaum
Burton Loomis Strong
Priscilla Alley Falls
Stanley Richardson Harvey, Jr.
Charles Frederick Studley Barbara Irene Taylor Lillian Mary Tracy
Emma Hooper
Donald Charles Maga
Frances Betty Wentzell
Frank Emmett Martin
Phyllis Louise Westover
Grace Elizabeth Williams
CLASS COLORS
Royal Blue and Gold
CLASS FLOWER Forget-me-not
CLASS MOTTO
We have launched; where shall we anchor?
WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES CLASS OF 1939
Howard Bezanson
Shirley Brannon Elizabeth Cox
Henry Clay Mary Doore
Orman Doore
Sylvia Gersinovitch
Virginia Getchell
Adam Herron
Mary Jane Hitchings
Dorothy Hoyt Clarence Mansfield
Benny Komak Shirley Mansfield
James Morris
Millicent Peabody George Pyburn
Robert Peabody
George Rich Merle Westover
Doris Schlenker Barbara Woodbury
Gardner Wormstead
Eleanor Harriett Ryans John Joseph Sheehan Olive May Skinner John Calvin Smith
Minot Heath Carter
LYNNFIELD TEACHERS' DIRECTORY, JANUARY, 1940
Name
Subject
School
or Grades
Salary
Appointment
Education School Last Attended
Beth Hayward
South
6
$1,350.00
1935
Fitchburg Normal
June Tilton
South
5
1,300.00
1930
Salem Normal
Ruth Rand
South
3-4
1,300.00
1930
Farmington Normal
Mrs. Bernice Munroe
South
1-2
1,460.00
1924
North Adams Normal
Roger Woodbury
Center
6-7-8
1,600.00
1939
Boston University
Beatrice Mitchell
Center
6-7-8
1,600.00
1930
Wash. State Normal
Mrs. Ona Ridley
Center
6-7-8
1,620.00
1921
Boston University
Ruth Southwick
Center
5
1,100.00
1939
Boston University
Gladys Andersen
Center
3-4
1,140.00
1932
Salem Normal
Elizabeth Clark
Center
2
1,050.00
1937
Olive Moulson
Center
1
1,200.00
1938
Perry Kdg. Normal Keene Normal
Maude L. Thomas
All
Music
301.50
1923
Boston University
Mrs. Abbie Eaton
All
Drawing
275.00
1936
Salem Normal
Florence L. Stobbart
All
Nurse
360.00
1925
Beverly Hospital
60
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
-
61
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE, OCTOBER 1, 1939
Age
5
6
7
8
9 10
11
12
13
14 15
16 Total
Grade 1
20
20 2
42
2
17 21 7
2
47
3
10 32
3
1 1
47
4
2
6
15
5
5 2
5
7 24
9 5 13
6
2
2
33
7
10
6
2
1
21
8
7
12
4
1
1 25
Totals 20 37 35
45
27
37
20 34
25
8
5
1
294
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools, Lynnfield, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my fifteenth annual report as School Nurse in the Town of Lynnfield.
Total Enrollment
280
Result of Physical Examination by Dr. Ralph N. Brown, M.D .:
Defects:
Corrections:
Tonsils
11
Tonsils
8
Posture
51
Improved
35
Heart 2
Under Treatment
2
Moderately enlarged glands 39
1
Result of Eye and Ear Test: Defects:
Corrections :
Defective vision
23
Vision corrected
10
Ears
2
(Received glasses.)
(Testing of ears not completed.)
DENTAL WORK
The dental work for the past year was taken care of privately as there was no Dental Clinic.
Number of Dental Certificates received 33
With the school population being 280 it seems that the dental work completed was very little. This year a Dental Clinic will be held by Dr. Laurent A. Bouchard of Salem, Mass. I sincerely hope with a Dental Clinic and the family dentists we may encourage more pupils to care for their teeth.
Number home calls
83
Number first aid dressings 115
2
1
1
35 44
6
5 2
62
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
Number immunized against diphtheria 27 Number consultations with parents, teach- ers, pupils, doctors, clinics and other health agents 987 Number classroom inspections 30
Number of communicable or contagious diseases of the school popu- lation reported the past year:
Chicken Pox
5
Whooping Cough 12
Scarlet Fever
5
Mumps 11
German Measles
4
Miscellaneous illnesses:
Dogwood
8
Impetigo
4
Ivy
11
Mastoid
1
Pneumonia
2
Fractures
5
Dislocations
2
Appendectomy
5
Colitis
1
It is interesting to note how few cases of communicable or con- tagious diseases we had the past year. I feel sure that by eliminating what appears to be the common cold we could also eliminate the epi- demic of contagion.
In closing I wish to thank the parents, teachers, pupils, school physician and other health authorities for their kind and considerate help in making our school system do its part in health education.
Respectfully submitted, FLORENCE L. STOBBART, R.N.,
January 10, 1940.
School Nurse.
63
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
REPORT OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
To the Citizens of The Town of Lynnfield:
The amount of money appropriated for the operation and main- tenance of the Public Libraries of Lynnfield for 1939 was the same amount that has been appropriated each year for the last few years.
The interest received from the several Library Trust Funds has de- creased and there is strong probability further decrease in interest rate will be effected. The Library Trustees have therefore voted to request the Finance Committee to recommend approval of an increase of $50.00 in the Library Department appropriation for 1940. The sum, although comparatively small, should enable the Libraries to continue to offer to the Citizens of Lynnfield worthwhile, up-to-date reading material.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM W. GRACE,
RUDOLPH P. SCHLENKER,
MALCOLM C. EATON, Library Trustees.
REPORT OF MAIN LIBRARY
FOR 1939
Number of book patrons
309
Number of books loaned
5,817
Number of magazine patrons
55
Number of magazines loaned
376
Borrowed of Division of Public Libraries
7 books
Received in fines
$32.85
Number of magazines subscribed for
8
Number of books bought
214
Received in gifts from-
State
6 books
Mr. Lemfest
39 books
Received magazines from Mr. and Mrs. John Ward, Miss K. H. Hay- wood, C. H. Russell and Christian Science Church of Reading.
Books have been loaned to the schools as asked for by the teachers. Respectfully submitted,
ELIZABETH W. GREEN,
Librarian.
64
TOWN OF LYNNFIELD
REPORT OF BRANCH LIBRARY FOR 1939
Number of books loaned
5,635
Number of books purchased (47 of these were juveniles)
168
Number of magazines loaned 585
Number of magazines subscribed for
11
Received in fines
$28.82
Your library receives advance information on notable motion pic- tures, carefully selected, based on books, plays and historical periods. You may borrow books and magazines that give you the background on which the picture is made.
We hope this service will interest you.
Respectfully submitted,
SYLVIA A. MAYNARD,
Librarian.
REPORT OF PARK DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of the Town of Lynnfield:
The parks of the Town were enjoyed a great deal this season. Espe- cially good care was given to the Common and the Freeman-Cox Park, under the supervision of T. Hawley.
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