USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > Town of Milton 79th annual report > Part 24
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Edith P. Lyons
53 00
Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society 18 03
Mary E. Mahoney .
23 56
Margaret J. Malone
40 94
William J. Manning
40 40
Edith Manton
17 87
Annie E. Mathers
20 00
Walter I. Mathers
33 00
J. and E. Marsolini
15 00
Sarah A. Matifes
16 67
Dora A. McCue
40 00
Mark McCully
95 00
Murdock A. McDonald
25 50
Emma E. McGee
29 53
Norman J. McKay
50 00
Henry Mclellan
40 00
Ida B. McLeod .
13 34
E. O. Merritt
40 00
Milton Academy
1,644 11
Edward Mullen
50 18
Elizabeth Murphy .
27 53
George W. Nickerson
38 84
Elena A. Noble .
41 70
Elizabeth M. Osgood
23 34
I. Miller Palfrey
26 71
George A. Palmer
80 60
Isabella F. Phillips .
15 00
Charles S. Pierce, Trustee
46 50
Mrs. George F. Pierce
25 00
Maurice Pierce .
75 77
Caroline L. Powers
16 03
Mary A. Putnam
26 50
Margaret Robertson
16 66
Jennie Robson
92 65
Grace L. Rodgers
20 59
Mary Rodgers
40 00
Gerda Roubound
40 00
Ella M. Sampson
62 01
Amount carried forward
$14,328 40
390
TREASURER'S REPORT
Amount brought forward
$14,328 40
J. Henry Scott
31 80
Grace K. Small .
15 00
Eva L. Smith
26 68
Jennie C. Spear, heirs of
50 00
James H. Stark .
116 28
John E. Stewart
15 00
Clifton W. Thayer .
16 35
Herbert L. Thompson
61 07
John A. Tucker
69 63
Mary Tucker
53 00
Hiram Tuell
97
Mary C. Turner
60 45
Thomas H. Watson
24 66
Timothy Welsh, estate of
40 00
John E. Westerburg
22 60
Mary A. Wheeler
16 59
Katherine A. Will
78 43
Mary A. Wright
74 64
Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co., interest
213 01
$15,314 56
Cr.
Sewer Department, construction account . $ 2,000 00
Cash on hand, January 5, 1916
13,314 56
$15,314 56
J. PORTER HOLMES, Treasurer.
391
TREASURER'S REPORT
J. PORTER HOLMES, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF MILTON, WATER DEPARTMENT
Receipts
1915
January .
$ 4,243 27
February
544 30
March
208 40
April .
18,761 46
May
4,077 69
June
2,110 28
July
3,647 05
August
2,935 02
September
1,554 13
October
5,065 28
November
1,438 30
December
1,439 79
$46,024 97
Extension of mains
2,500 00
Hydrant service
9,000 00
Maintenance of fountains
126 86
Interest on deposits
173 80
$57,825 63
Payments
Construction
$12,037 29
Equipment
1,243 55
Freight
33 32
Fuel and light
109 86
General expenses
3,598 93
Ledger accounts
24,050 64
Maintenance
6,135 85
Miscellaneous
822 41
Printing, postage and stationery
240 10
Rebates and adjustments
78 48
Rent and insurance
1,426 70
Service
7,047 02
Stable
943 06
Telephone and telegraph
58 42
$57,825 63
J. PORTER HOLMES, Treasurer.
392
TREASURER'S REPORT
J. PORTER HOLMES, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF MILTON, POOR DEPARTMENT
January 1, 1915-January 1, 1916
Dr. Cash of Town of Milton
Cr. $8,754 30
Paid 497 orders from Overseers:
Outside poor .
$5,324 02
Inside poor
3,430 28
$8,754 30
J. PORTER HOLMES, Treasurer.
393
TREASURER'S REPORT
J. PORTER HOLMES, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH TOWN OF MILTON, TRUST FUNDS
PERPETUAL CARE FUND
1915
Jan. 1. Balance .
$10,000 00
June 10. Deposited in Milton Savings Bank
2,000 00
Interest to September 9, 1915 .
370 56
Paid interest account
$ 370 56
Balance in Milton Savings Bank 12,000 00
$12,370 56 $12,370 56
NEW PERPETUAL CARE FUND
1915
Jan. 1. Balance
$8,400 00
June 10. Deposited in Milton Savings Bank
600 00
Sept. 10. Deposited in Milton Savings Bank
750 00
Dec. 8. Deposited in Milton Savings Bank
1,500 00
Interest to September 9, 1915 .
290 81
Paid J. Frank Pope, Treasurer
$ 290 81
Balance in Milton Savings Bank 11,250 00
$11,540 81
$11,540 81
JASON REED CEMETERY FUND
1915 Jan. 1. Balance in Milton Savings Bank
$2,626 67
Interest to September 9, 1915 .
92 71
. Paid interest account
$ 92 71
Balance in Milton Savings Bank 2,626 67
$2,719 38
$2,719 38
E. T. L. REED PARK FUND
1915 Jan. 1. Amount in Milton Savings Bank Interest to September 1, 1915 .
$4,630 93 163 46
Amount in Bank
$4,794 39
$4,794 39
394
TREASURER'S REPORT
MARY L. PEABODY TRUST FUND Inventory Par Valuation
2 shares American Tel. & Tel. Co. . $2,000 00
2 shares Boston & Northern St. Ry. . 2,000 00
1 share Chicago & Northwestern Ry. 1,000 00
Deposit in Milton Savings Bank 353 75
$5,353 75
Income from fund
$212 66
Selectmen's orders for Christmas:
Godfrey Coal Co.
$ 36 25
Josiah Babcock, Jr., flour
74 25
Cash allowances
102 16
$212 66
$212 66
EDWIN D. WADSWORTH FUND*
Inventory as Received from Herbert B. Tucker, Trustee December 20, 1915
Real estate in Milton and Quincy
$36,975 00
Mortgages
$10,485 00
Bonds
3,793 00
Stocks
10,275 00
Savings Bank
53 91
Cash
194 72
24,801 63
$61,776 63
Receipts
Cash
$277 02
Dividends and interest .
175 75
Rents .
524 00
Insurance policy cancelled
4 51
$981 28
Payments
Caretaker
$120 00
City of Quincy, water rates
22 64
Repairs
39 91
Safety deposit box
, 00
Insurance
7 50
Cash on hand
783 23
$981 28
J. PORTER HOLMES, Treasurer.
*All papers are in custody of Town Treasurer, awaiting action of the Town.
1
ANNUAL REPORT
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MILTON MASSACHUSETTS
POOLE PRINTING COMPANY BOSTON
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ORGANIZATION, 1915-1916
REGINALD L. ROBBINS
Chairman
PERCY E. SHELDON .
Secretary
MEMBERS
Term expires
DR. HARRIS KENNEDY, Brush Hill Road, Readville 1916 PERCY E. SHELDON, 478 Adams St., East Milton 1916
HESTER CUNNINGHAM, Hillside St., Milton 1917
REGINALD L. ROBBINS, No. Russell St., Milton 1917 FRANK P. FANNING, 38 State St., East Milton 1918
STEPHEN C. MITCHELL, 570 Eliot St., Mattapan . 1918
The Committee holds its regular meetings in the High School building, on the first and third Monday evenings of each month, at 7.45 o'clock.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FRANK M. MARSH, A.M. Residence: 283 Eliot St., Milton Telephone: "Milton 43" Office: High School building, Canton Avenue Telephone: "Milton 111"
Superintendent's office hours : On school days, Mondays, 4 to 5 P.M. and Wednesdays, 8.30 to 9.30 A.M., and 4 to 5 P.M.
Office open: On school days, Mondays and Wednesdays, 8.30 A.M. to 12 M., and 2 to 5 P.M .; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 8.30 A.M. to 12 M., and 2 to 4.30 P.M.
Superintendent's Clerk: Frances E. Considine, 17 Oak St., Mattapan.
3
.
STANDING COMMITTEES Finance MR. ROBBINS, MR. SHELDON, MR. FANNING
Kruundy
Text-Books and Courses of Study MIss CUNNINGHAM, DR. KENNEDY, MR. ROBBINS
Eduardo
LOCAL COMMITTEES
. High School. - MR. SHELDON, MR. MITCHELL, MR. ROBBINS
Vose School .- MISS CUNNINGHAM
Eduardo
Glover School .- DR. KENNEDY
Tucker School .- MR. MITCHELL
Sumner School .- MR. MITCHELL
Houghton School .- DR. KENNEDY
Wadsworth School .- MR. SHELDON
Belcher School .- MR. FANNING
4
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Milton:
The School Committee submits herewith its report for the year ending December 31, 1915.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
In our report of two years ago, we called attention to the fact that the High School building was fast becoming inadequate, and that the growth of the Town at East Milton and Mattapan would soon make necessary larger school accommodations in those districts. Last year we recommended the appointment of a committee to study the whole problem. Such a Committee, consisting of three members of the School Committee and two other citizens, was appointed; and its report, which is annexed hereto, should have the careful consideration of every citizen.
The School Committee is heartily in accord with the recommendations of the Committee on School Buildings, and we earnestly hope that the Town will vote to carry out their recommendations.
We are unanimously of the opinion that the time for action has come, that the appropriation recommended for the building of accommodations for the High School at the Vose School should be made at the annual Town meeting in March, that the land adjacent to the Vose lot should now be purchased, and that land recommended for a future Tucker School on Thacher Street should be acquired without delay.
FIRE HAZARD
This subject is considered in the report of the Com- mittee on School Buildings and is one which has constantly
7
8
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
been before us. We are sure it will be a gratification to the Town to know that the expert, (Mr. F. Elliot Cabot of Milton), who examined the schools on behalf of the School Buildings Committee, found very little to criticize. In addition, Mr. Mckeever of the State Police went over the buildings; and the Town Building Inspector, Mr. Burt, and Chief Holmes of the Fire Department have also made an examination. All agree that the precautions taken against fire in our buildings are good. We are now carrying out the various suggestions made to insure greater safety.
It should be borne in mind that all but two of our buildings are of wood, and on account of the fire hazard, if for no other reason, we consider that the Town should not put further additions upon the present wooden build- ings, but should, in providing further accommodations, build of brick and stone.
The recent terrible fire at Peabody has led to investi- gations. One of the most valuable suggestions from this study, in our opinion, is for the installation of sprinkler systems in the basements of school buildings. We recom- mend that this be done in our schools. We estimate the cost at seven thousand dollars ($7,000).
PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOLS
We do not consider it necessary to reiterate what we have said in our reports of the last two years, as to the necessity of proper instruction in physical exercises; but we would call the attention of the Town to the re- cently published Report of the State Special Commission on Military Education and Reserve, which recommends in all towns of ten thousand or more that physical training be made obligatory in the high school.
9
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SCHOOL GARDENS
Last year we reported that the Committee on School Gardens of the Education Society had proposed that the School Department should take over the work of carrying on school gardens which had been begun by the Society. We reported that the work had been so successful that in our opinion this work should be assumed by the schools. A suitable sum to carry on this work was in- cluded in our estimates for the past year and voted by the Town.
We now report that the work continues with increasing success. Approximately eight hundred children have voluntarily planted and cultivated gardens, either at their own homes or in the special plots provided by the department, and although the enterprise is compara- tively new in Milton, our school children won several prizes offered by the Massachusetts Horticultural So- ciety in competition with other schools of the Common- wealth, and a cup offered by the State Board of Agri- culture was awarded to the Town for the general excellence of its gardens and garden club work.
THE SUMMER SCHOOL
For a number of years the Education Society, through private generosity, has conducted a Summer School for four weeks in July for school children, the classes being in manual training and millinery.
As in the case of School Gardens, the School Depart- ment has been asked to assume the Summer School as part of the school work. We consider that the Summer School has also demonstrated its usefulness and success, and we include in our estimates for this year the sum of six hundred dollars for carrying on the Summer School.
10
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
UNGRADED CLASS FOR BACKWARD CHILDREN
Last year we reported the excellent work which was being done by a specially qualified teacher in going about in the schools to assist the children who were not up to the usual standard. This work continues.
This year, in line with one of the recommendations made to the Town by the Committee on Public Educa- tion (see its report made in January, 1913), we have also established an ungraded class for such children, in one of the rooms of the Wadsworth School. There are some fifteen children in this class-all that can be properly taught by one teacher, as each pupil requires much in- dividual training.
The results are satisfactory in two ways-as special and far more attention can be paid to the child than would be possible in the regular grade, progress is being made by children who were practically standing still; it is also of decided advantage to the classes from which these children are taken, since they profit little themselves and need an undue amount of attention from the teacher and delay the progress of the entire class.
ADVISORY BUREAU
During the year, the Advisory Bureau has been es- tablished for the purpose of acquiring information con- cerning pupils who leave school between the ages of fourteen and eighteen years, and to assist and advise such pupils, in accordance with methods now prevailing in many other school systems.
The Bureau seeks first, by interviews with the boy or girl, their parents, and teachers, to bring about either a readjustment of school work and a return to school here, or find opportunities for further special training for them elsewhere, or it may be to arrange for part time school and part time employment. Secondly, for boys and girls,
11
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
for whom arrangements to continue in school cannot be made, the Bureau seeks suitable employment after interviews with employers in and about Milton.
The Advisory Bureau is directed by volunteer service. Though the results are so far small, it is hoped that the steps taken have been in the right direction, and may lead to future usefulness. The director is Miss Hester Cunningham, who may be called at her house by tele- phone between 8 and 9 A.M. daily, and will make appoint- ments for conferences there or at one of the schools. She is assisted by Mrs. Wallace Tucker.
Mr. Clarence Boylston after forty years as teacher in the Milton public schools, twenty years as principal of ele- mentary schools, and twenty as teacher of science in the High School, retired last June. The Committee registers its appreciation of Mr. Boylston's long service as a skilled and devoted teacher, whose influence upon his pupils has been wholesome and permanent.
GIFTS TO THE SCHOOL
The Committee desires to gratefully acknowledge the following gifts, which have been made to the schools during the year:
HIGH SCHOOL:
Picture "Hieroglyphics" from Class of 1915.
Victrola from the Glee Club of 1915.
TUCKER SCHOOL:
Statue-"Victory" from Class of 1915.
Victrola Records from Tucker School Parents' Asso- ciation.
VOSE SCHOOL:
Colored Photograph-"The Garden of the Gods" from Class of 1915.
Three silk flags from Emma Forbes Ware Tent 57, Daughters of Veterans.
12
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HOUGHTON SCHOOL:
Six Colored Lithographs-"American Birds" from Mrs. H. Clifford Gallagher.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
Portfolios of Colored Plates-Eaton's "Birds of New York," from Mr. Ralph E. Forbes, Bird Warden.
Two thousand six hundred and fifty (2,650) Audubon Educational Leaflets from Brush Hill Bird Club.
REQUIREMENTS FOR 1916
Your Committee has made careful estimates for the ensuing year and is of the unanimous opinion that the following amounts should be appropriated:
General school expenses $93,675 00
Transportation of pupils 2,100 00
Medical services and nurse
1,200 00
REGINALD L. ROBBINS, Chairman,
PERCY E. SHELDON, Secretary,
STEPHEN C. MITCHELL,
FRANK P. FANNING,
HESTER CUNNINGHAM,
HARRIS KENNEDY,
School Committee.
13
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
STATISTICS
1914
1915
Assessed valuation of the Town
$31,602,839 00
$33,429,117 00
Total amount raised by taxation .
377,335 50
422,213 96
Total amount expended by School De- partment
92,370 07
91,345 05
Expended for use of School Buildings by Town organizations
700 00
700 00
Net amount expended for general school purposes
$91,670 07
$90,645 05
Amount expended for transportation of pupils .
1,845 00
1,900 00
Amount expended for medical inspection
866 96
910 45
$94,382 03
$93,455 50
Total school expense . . Percentage of school expense to total tax levy .
.25
.22
. 0029
.0028
Percentage of school expense to valuation Cost per pupil based on average member- ship
$66 94
$64 76
Cost per pupil based on total enrolment
62 01
58 34
14
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS GENERAL
Receipts
Expenditures
Tuition
$64 00
Clerk
Superintendent $4,482 28
Administrative exp.
Supervisors
Principals
Teachers
ยท 65,434 38
Text-books
Supplies
Janitors
Janitors' supplies 13,834 77
Fuel
Repairs, etc .. 4,131 67
Libraries
192 15
Tuition
Sundries
486 80
New grounds and
buildings 2,783 00
New equipment
Total expenditures, 1915'$91,345 05
Reverted to Town,
Dec. 31, 1915 30 16
$91,375 21
$91,375 21
TRANSPORTATION
Appropriation
$1,900 00
Expended, 1915
$1,900 00
MEDICAL INSPECTION
Appropriation $1,000 00
Expended, 1915
$910 45
Reverted to Town,
Dec. 31, 1915 89 55
$1,000 00
$1,000 00
ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT
Balance, Jan. 1, 1915
$194 34
Expended, 1915
$101 63
Balance unexpended,
Dec. 31, 1915
92 71
$194 34
$194 34
Sundries .
311 21
Appropriation
91,000 00
PART I EDUCATIONAL SURVEY
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee:
The following is submitted as my fourth annual report, which is the thirty-sixth in the series of Superintendents' Reports.
HIGH SCHOOL
Although much has been said in previous reports to your Board, pointing out the lack of room and facilities for carrying on the work of the High School and although the Special Committee on School Buildings has made a thorough study of the situation and made a very definite recommendation, I feel that it is my duty to put on record a plea that definite action be urged by your Board with a view to carrying out that part of the Special Committee's recommendation which refers to a new High School.
To those who have been in close contact with the handicaps and difficulties under which the High School has been conducted, immediate action in this direction is urgent. To any one who makes a first hand investiga- tion of the situation, it is quickly evident that relief is needed.
The carefully considered plan presented by the Com- mittee on School Buildings not only has amply provided for the immediate needs of the High School in all its activities at the present time, but with more than usual foresight has had the building so designed that all the portions of the building, other than the regular class and recitation rooms, shall be ample to take care of twenty or twenty-five years of normal growth. Had the Commit- tee followed, as is too often the case, the line of least re-
17
18
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
sistance and planned the laboratories, gymnasium, assembly hall, lunch room, rooms for manual training, and domestic science, and commercial branches for the present and immediate future only, it would eventually be extremely costly, if not absolutely impossible, to enlarge these sections of the building to meet subsequent demands, which are clearly foreseen.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
The excellence of the organization and instruction of the Milton school system in its elementary grades can be conserved and made of greatest service only as the work of the upper grades and the High School shall be so organized as to provide for the wisest development of the courses and facilities for the molding and inspiring of the boys and girls at this most critical period.
Since the somewhat detailed discussion in my last year's report concerning the reorganization of the work in the upper grades and the first year of the High School into a Junior High School, there has been much more extended investigation and adoption of this plan through- out the country. The results where this reorganization has been carefully thought out and developed and the readiness with which the Milton situation adapts itself to the Junior High School plan make it even more clear that provision should be made as soon as possible for carrying out this idea.
The trend and spirit of recent educational study and investigation have encouraged the breaking away from traditional subjects and courses. Instead of trying to adapt the mass of children to the courses, there is now a very decided move to adapt the courses and methods to varying groups and even to individuals.
This desire to adapt the curriculum to varying groups
19
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
in the upper grades of the elementary schools has given momentum to the Junior High School.
After pupils have devoted six or seven years to the acquiring of the fundamental processes and their applica- tion in learning about number, science, history, geogra- phy, language, all doing the same thing in the same way, it has become a growing conviction that we should no longer attempt to keep all the children in the same groove or turn them into the same mold. Opportunity should be provided at the end of these elementary years for pupils to gradually get away from the specific and de- tailed direction and assignments and dependence upon the teacher and acquire habits of more independence and initiative of thought and action.
INDIVIDUAL TEACHING
Another phase of this tendency to study and under- stand the needs and capacities of children is the attempt to prevent retardation and elimination in all the grades. In a compulsory school system, where because of reasons of expense, pupils are organized into grades and handled in masses, there is an apparent need for a certain amount of individual attention and instruction.
Your Board has recognized this need for several years and last year appointed an unassigned teacher, the results of whose work justified an extension of the plan at the beginning of the present school year, by the reappoint- ment of Miss Menut, whose time is devoted to the indi- vidual instruction of pupils in the upper grades, and the assignment of Mrs. Gordon to similar work in the lower grades for three days a week, (the balance of her time being devoted to the supervising of primary reading and language work.)
The natural outgrowth of this policy of making the class teaching more effective by the system of coaching and studying the needs of individual pupils has been a careful sifting and selection of a group of children, who,
20
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
because of sickness, lack of development, or other unusual condition, are out of step with the regular work and can- not be brought up to the standard of the grade.
UNGRADED CLASS
Then for the most difficult and serious cases, a special ungraded class in a room in the Wadsworth School has been organized. This room happened to be vacant and most convenient for the majority of these pupils. Miss Jaquith, one of our regular teachers, who was not only well adapted to this type of work, but was sufficiently interested to voluntarily spend the summer in further study and preparation, is in charge of this room.
Pupils are admitted to this class only after careful observations by the teachers who are doing the individual instruction in all the schools, together with the advice of the principal, and often after scientific tests. The enrolment in this room has been kept approximately to fifteen, so that individual and personal methods of instruction may be employed. The work is varied giving considerable opportunity for handwork in sewing, weav- ing, and elementary manual training for the purpose of finding types of work in which the pupil may be success- ful and gain for himself a feeling of success. This is much more stimulating than the constant feeling of failure, as is often the case when he is continually measuring his ability with those whose advancement has been normal.
Thus far this experiment, though somewhat more costly than ordinary classrooms, is filling a need and from the point of view of the Town's interest is economical.
SUMMER SCHOOL
The acceptance of your Board of the administration of what has been known as the Summer School, conducted by the Education Society, involves additional responsi-
21
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
bility as well as opportunity. About one hundred chil- dren have been profitably occupied and trained in two main lines, millinery and manual training. It will be advisable for your Board to consider the desirability of broadening the advantages of these Summer classes for the benefit of those pupils, who not only desire further opportunities in manual training and millinery, or other industrial courses, but who may feel the need for further instruction in regular academic studies.
CHILDREN'S GARDENS
That phase of training which has been carried on for a number of years by the Education Society Committee on Children's Gardens, and which was assumed by the School Department last March, has been developed and further systematized during the past year under the continued enthusiastic direction of Miss Turner.
The prevalent method of handling the problem of teaching children gardening has been more or less inci- dental in that some temporary appointee has had charge of the work for the two vacation months. This plan has usually proved unsatisfactory, not only because the work is begun too late in the season, but begun without careful study and preparation on the part of both pupils and instructor in the early spring months.
The plan, under which the work has been carried on in Milton for the past two years, has demonstrated thor- oughly not only that the work is rendering a valuable service to the children in the schools and in their homes, but that the general plan of administering the work is correct.
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