USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1920-1929 > Part 4
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$328.00 -
Appropriation 350.00
Unexpended Balance $22.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. WILDER, MINOT WILLIAMSON, JOSEPH F. MERRITT,
Board of Health.
1
Miscellaneous
WASHINGTON STREET CEMETERY
John Whalen, labor $8.00
Atwood Ainslie, labor 4.00
W. Cutler, labor 5.50
A. I. Farrar, labor 3.00
F. S. Farrar, labor 33.00
IV. W. Farrar, labor 21.50
$75.00
LOTS SOLD
Arthur E. Nash, No. 25, Sec. A. $12.00
Geo. R. Farrar, No. 27, Sec. A. 12.00
Edward F. Winslow, No. 57, Sec. B .. 10.00
Jennie F. Henderson, No. 31, Sec. B .. . 10.00
Francis H. Damon, No. 31, Sec. C. 10.00
One Grave
2.00
$56.00
Appropriation
75.00
$131.00
Balance unexpended
$56.00
92
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
ELECTRIC LIGHT ACCOUNT
Electric Light & Power Co., street lights $396. 18
Appropriation 500.00 Balance unexpended $103.82
JAMES LIBRARY ACCOUNT
Paid Mary L. Powers, Treasurer $100.00
Appropriation 200.00
Balance unexpended $100.00
TOWN HALL ACCOUNT
Alexander Brown, janitor $6.00
Calvin S. West & Son, supplies 2.85
Herbert E. Robbins, insurance 23.70
Harry S. Merritt, labor and material on voting booths 31.41
W. C. Soule, painting voting booths
6.75
Appropriation 75.00
$70.71
Balance unexpended $4.29
MEMORIAL DAY ACCOUNT
Paid G. A. R., Post 112 $150.00 Appropriation $150.00
PLYMOUTH COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Paid Farm Bureau
$150.00 Appropriation $150.00
93
TOWN OF NORWELL
ABATEMENT OF TAXES
William H. Spencer, abatement account 1918 .... $1.12
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN ACCOUNT
Paid Wm. P. Grovestein for 1919. . $100.00 Appropriation $100.00
SPECIAL APPROPRIATION FOR PAINTING
TOWN HALL
Paid W. C. Soule
$400.00
Appropriation 350.00
Exceeded
$50.00
STATE AID
Appropriation $2,000.00
Amount to be refunded by State.
1,524.00
Balance unexpended
$476.00
SOLDIERS' RELIEF
Elizabeth C. Creed, rent $52.00
T. B. Alexander, medical attendance 6.00
S. L. MacMillan, medical attend'ce 108.50
Mrs. Howard Beach, aid
55.00
Augustus Hatch, aid 36.00
George A. Hatch, aid
20.00
$277.50
Appropriation
400.00
Balance unexpended
$122.50
94
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
RIVER STREET ACCOUNT
Paid Arthur J. Mitchell $18,173.29
Paid Henry Damon, weigher 180.00
$18,353.29
Appropriation 19,000.00
Balance unexpended $646.71
EDWARD M. SEXTON LOTHROP E. FESSENDEN WILLIAM J. LEONARD
Selectmen.
Financial Statement
December 31, 1920.
LIABILITIES
River Street Loan, Notes 7, 8, 9, IO and II $ 19,000.00
Anticipation of Tax Loan
Note 12, Due March 31, 1921 .. 10,000.00
Note 13, Due February 6, 1921 . .
2,500.00
$ 31,500.00
ASSETS
Due from State Aid $ 1,524.00
Uncollected Taxes 16,876.45 Cash on Hand with Treasurer 169.77 $18,570.22
Balance against Town
$12,929.78
AUDITOR'S REPORT
I have examined the accounts of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, School Committee, Tax Collector and Treas- urer, and find same correct with vouchers for all amounts paid.
ELLIOTT W. CROWELL,
Auditor for 1920.
Appropriations Recommended-1921
Support of Poor $1 800 00
Almshouse 2 500 00
Support of Schools 12 500 00
Highways, general
4 500 00
Highways, special for tarvia work .. 9 000 00
Removing Snow 700 00
Memorial Day 150.00
State Aid
I 500 00
Soldiers' Relief
400.00
Town Officers
2 200 00
Washington Street Cemetery
75 00
Tree Warden
50 00
Mowing Bushes 300 00
Board of Health 500 00
Inspection of Slaughtering 300 co
School Physician
100 00
Squares and Triangles
200 00
Town Hall
75 00
Electric Lights
500 00
James Library 200 00
Fire Department 300 00
Gypsy Moth
536 57
Superintendent of Schools
500.00
Interest
I 950.00
State and County Taxes 6 000 00
Gaffield Park 25 00
Incidentals
2 000 00
Spraying Elms
200 00
List of Jurors
List of persons qualified to serve as Jurors in the Town of Norwell, from July 1, 1920 to July 1, 1921. . Washington Street Emory N. Andrews, Carpenter.
Elliott W. Crowell, Bank Clerk
River Street
Theodore M. Dyer, Tacker
Stetson Road
Benjamin F. Eldridge, Farmer. South Street
George B. Ellms, Carpenter. Summer Street
Haywood Hartwell, Carpenter . . River Street Joseph W. Hatch, Farmer. Central Street
I. Austin Lincoln, Shoeworker Lincoln Street
Mortimer D. Maxwell, Farmer Main Street
Harry S. Merritt, Carpenter Central Street George S. Morton, Farmer Stetson Road
George A. Osborn, Carpenter Grove Street
Asa W. Robinson, Shoeworker High Street George Otis Rogers, Shoeworker High Street William S. Simmons, Retired Tiffany Road
Henry D. Smith, Auto Repairer River Street
Whitman C. Soule, Painter
Main Street
William H. Spencer, Farmer Central Street
Frank E. Studley, Shoeworker Washington Street
Amos H. Tilden, Farmer . . Cross Street
Will D. Turner, Auto Dealer .
Main Street
Harmon B. Walker, Shoeworker Washington Street Harrison Wilder, Retired Main Street
Calvin S. West, Merchant. Central Street Edward W. Gardner, Blacksmith Washington Street
Report of Trustees
FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE COFFIN FUND
1
Amount of Fund $2,000.00 Available interest in Bank, Jan. 1, 1920 $188.74
Interest on Bank Book
99.20
$287.94
Paid worthy poor
$96.00
Available interest in bank Jan. 1, 192I
191.94
$287.94
THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ABIGAIL T. OTIS CEMETERY AND TOMB FUNDS
Amount of Funds $1 500 00
Interest on bank book Jan. 1, 1920. $645 18
Interest to Jan. 1, 1921
97 55
$742 73
Paid Cemetery Committee for care of
lot and cemetery
$400 00
Interest in bank Jan. 1, 1921
342.73
$742 73
99
TOWN OF NORWELL
THIRTY-FIFTH ANUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE ABIGAIL T. OTIS POOR FUND
Amount of Fund
$2,000.00
Available interest in bank Jan. 1, 1920 $182.58
Interest on bank book 99.05
$281.63
Paid inmates of almshouse
$42.00
Paid worthy poor
28.00
Paid Cemetery Association
150.00
Interest in bank Jan. 1, 192I
61.63
$281.63
100
CEMETERY TRUST FUNDS
Name of Fund
Year Deposited
Interest Amount Added Interest On Hand of Fund Jan. 1, '20 During Year
Expended During Year
Interest On Hand Jan. 1, '21
Josselyn
.1888
$200
$32.78
$10.56
$ . . . .
$43.34
Samuel C. Cudworth
.1892
200
51.54
11.41
. . . .
90.08
Prudence C. Delano
.1895
300
73.12
16.96
. . . .
10.68
Nancy Hersey
.1897
100
5.90
4.78
Betsey Tolman
.1900
100
1.40
4.58
5.00
.98
George P. Clapp
.1903
100
1.40
4.58
5.00
.98
Mary O. Robbins
.1904
200
24.03
10.18
. . . .
.
59.21
James W. Sampson
.1906
250
45.78
13.43
. .
30.64
Mary O. Robbins Tomb
.1907
100
24.98
5.66
. .
20.40
Davis Damon
.1907
100
15.17
5.23
. . . .
9.46
Susan C. Damon
.1907
100
4.72
4.74
George H. Bates
.1907
100
4.64
4.74
9.38
Gad Leavitt
.1909
100
7.50
4.87
12.37
Adeline A. Payne
.1910
200
33.09
10.58
43.67
Thomas Sampson
.1911
75
1.60
3.46
4.00
1.06
Abbie S. Bates
.1915
200
28.81
10.38
39.19
Hosea J. Stockbridge
.1915
200
17.54
9.76
5.00
22.30
N. P. Brownell
.1916
150
8.07
7.19
5.00
1.14
John H. Knapp
.
.1919
100
ยท
4.54
. .. .
4.54
.
.
.
EDWARD M. SEXTON, LOTHROP E. FESSENDEN, WILLIAM J. LEONARD, Trustees
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
34.21
Charles H. Merritt
.1905
50
2.89
2.38
5.27
.
.1918
100
1.54
4.60
15.26
Olive H. Brigham
. . . .
62.95
Transcript of Articles in the Warrant
Article I. To choose a moderator.
Art. 2. To hear the reports of the several boards of officers and committees of the town and act thereon.
Art. 3. To make necessary appropriations to defray the expenses of the town, and for other purposes and to raise such sums of money as the town shall deem expedient.
Art. 4. What compensation will the town make for removing snow and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 5. In what manner and time shall the taxes be col- lected for the ensuing year ?
Art. 6. To make allowance to town creditors.
Art. 7. What sum of money will the town appropriate for the use of Post 112, G. A. R., on Memorial Day?
Art. 8. Will the town cause a statement of its financial affairs to be printed in February next?
Art. 9. Will the town appropriate a sum of money to be expended in the cemetery on Washington Street ?
Art. 10. What price will the town pay for labor on the highway for the ensuing year ?
Art. II. What action will the town take in regard to keeping the sidewalks in repair ?
102
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
Art. 12. Will the town give any instructions to town officers ?
Art. 13. What price will the town pay for work at fires for the ensuing year ?
Art. 14. Will the town take any action in regard to the care of parks, squares and triangles and make any appropria- tion for the same ?
Art. 15. Will the town make any appropriation for the James Library ?
Art. 16. Will the town act with the Town of Hanover to have electric lights at the junction of River street, Nor- well, and Broadway, Hanover, and at Assinippi ?
Art. 17. Will the town appropriate the sum of $536.57 for the Suppression of Gypsy and Browntail moths ?
Art. 18. What sum of money will the town appropriate to pay the Superintendent of Schools ?
Art. 19. Will the town raise and appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars for the purpose of fighting fires ?
Art. 20. What sum of money will the town appropriate for the spraying of elm trees along the highways?
Art. 21. What sum of money will the town appropriate for electric lights ?
Art. 22. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money on and after January I, 1921, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January I, 1921, and to issue note or notes therefor, payable within one year. Any debt
10
TOWN OF NORWELL
or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the financial year, beginning January 1, 1921.
Art. 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appro- priate for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture the sum of $100 and choose a town director as provided in Chapter 273 of the Acts of 1918 and act thereon.
Art. 24. Will the town raise and appropriate the sum of $50 for the Ridge Hill Public Library ?
Art. 25. Will the town vote to raise and appropriate a sum not exceeding $1200 for the services of a School and District Nurse for the ensuing year ?
Art. 26. Will the town rescind the vote taken at the special town meeting, April 23, 1919, whereby it was voted to accept the provisions of Chapter 284 of the Acts of 1915 as amended by Chapter 59, Acts of 1916, or give any further instructions to the Selectmen in regard to the time of call- ing the annual town meeting, or take any action relative to the same.
Art. 27. Will the town vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money sufficient to install electric lights in the town hall.
Art. 28. Will the town raise and appropriate a sum not exceeding $200 to repair the roof of District No. 2 School House.
Art. 29. Will the town raise and appropriate a sum of money to gravel and tarvia the road on Summer street from Lincoln Ellms to the Scituate line, the gravel to be procured from the pit of Joseph Whitcomb in Beechwood.
104
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
Will the town appropriate the sum of $1500 for the repairing and resurfacing of Lincoln and Mt. Blue Streets from the Hingham line to Cushing Corner?
Art. 30. Will the town convey to the Church Hill Cemetery Corporation all the right title and interest it may have in the old cemetery and the adoining lands or any part thereof at Church Hill, and authorize the Selectmen to sign, execute and deliver in its name and behalf a quit claim deed of the same.
Art. 31. Will the town appropriate a sum not to exceed $5,000.00 to be expended with like appropriations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the County of Plym- cuth, as provided by Chapter 155, Acts of 1918, and other acts in amendment thereto and connection therewith, for highway construction on Central street as petitioned by the Selectmen: and further authorize its Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow a sum not to exceed five thousand ($5,000.00) dollars and issue bonds or notes of the town, bearing interest payable semi-annually and principal payable in five equal annual payments, to provide for said construction ?
Art. 32. Or act or do anything relative to the above.
Art. 33. To bring in their votes for a Town Clerk for one year: one Selectman; one Assessor; and one Overseer of the Poor for three years; one Selectman, one Assessor and one Overseer of the Poor for one year, to fill vacancy; a Treasurer; a Collector of Taxes, an Auditor; a Surveyor of Highways; five Constables and a Tree Warden for one year ; one member of the School Committee for three years; one member of the Board of Health for three years, and one member for one year to fill vacancy; to elect three Trustees for the Ridge Hill Library, one for three years, one for
105
TOWN OF NORWELL
two years, and one for one year; and to vote yes or no in answer to the question, "Shall license be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating liquors in this town," all on one ballot. Polls open from 6 A. M. to II A. M.
Annual Report -OF-
School Committee
-OF-
Town of Norwell
For the Year 1920
Report of School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Norwell :
At the first business meeting of the Committee held March 18th, Mr. Loring was elected chairman and Mrs. Sparrell, secretary and treasurer. The committee voted to print and distribute Proposals for Wood and Transporta- tion."
The bids were opened publicly at No. 2 Schoolhouse, March 25th at 2. 30 P. M. The bids for wood were as follows :-
District No. 1, 6 cords hard wood and 2 cords pine trash Benjamin Loring $92.00
District No. 5, 6 cords hard wood, 2 cords pine
No bids submitted.
High School, 4 cords hard wood, 2 cords pine Benjamin Loring $68.00
Mr. Loring was awarded the contract for No. I High School and the wood for District No. 5 was purchased of Mr. Walter Osborn in stove lengths for $92.
The bids for transportation were :-
John H. Sparrell, Route No. I $26.00 per week John H. Sparrell, Route No. 2 26. 50 per week
110
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
Carlton O. Litchfield, Route No. 3 . 27. 50 per week Minot F. Williamson, Route No. 4 . 26.00 per week
No other bids being submitted the contracts were awarded as follows :--
John H. Sparrell, Route No. I $26.00 per week
John H. Sparrell, Route No. 2 .. 26. 50 per week Carlton O. Litchfield, Route No. 3 27 . 50 per week
Minot F. Williamson, Route No. 4 26.00 per week
During the sumer vacation Miss Mansfield of District No. I primary, Miss Wheeler, commercial teacher at the High School and Miss Wheelock, Supervisor of Music, resigned to fill positions elsewhere. We regretted the loss of their services, for we felt in June that Norwell had a strong corps of teachers. However we were fortunate in securing as their successors, teachers of strong personality and high ambition to the end that the year's work has been of a high grade. Miss Catherine Kelliher of Abington was secured for Primary No. I, Miss Dorothy A. Sleeper of Lakeport, N. H., as Commercial teacher at the High School, and Miss Ethel M. Studley of Hingham, as Supervisor of Music.
January Ist we increased the pay of our grade teachers to $1,000, and the High School assistants to $1,200, not a princely sum but one comparing favorably with surround- ing towns.
Our teachers all deserved the increase and have shown their appreciation by added endeavor to maintain a high stan- dard of work.
To extend the work of physical supervision and educa- tion we established a dental clinic in our schools in October, when Dr. Eldredge began his work in the Pembroke-Hanover-Norwell district by making a
-
111
TOWN OF NORWELL
thorough examination of the teeth of each pupil in the Norwell schools. A chart showing the work to be done in each case was sent to the parents. It having been previously arranged for Dr. Eldredge to establish his office in the Arts and Crafts building while in Norwell, ap- pointments were made enabling each child to take advantage of the dentist's limited stay, at the same time helping Dr. Eldredge to accomplish his work in a short time.
In this work the dentist and the committee had the very able assistance of our district nurse, Mrs. Sauer, who helped in the examinations, carried on the follow-up work in the home and transported to and from the office all those who would otherwise been unable to keep the appointment. Al' connected with the work certainly feel that it has been worth while.
In our humble attempts at advancement we feel more and more the disadvantages of our present buildings. Many things could be done for our pupils at little or no added ex- pense if our buildings and surroundings would allow. How- ever, we prefer to have the matter of a new building taken up by the Committee appointed at the last March meeting for that purpose.
Respectfully submitted,
NELLIE L. SPARRELL, Secretary BENJAMIN LORING AMY W. SYLVESTER
School Committee.
Financial Report
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1920.
HIGH SCHOOL FUND
Unexpended balance in 1919 $150.17
Unexpended balance in 1920 150.17
EXPENDITURES FROM GENERAL
APPROPRIATION
Transportation
Balance of 1919 contract
J. H. Sparrell $1, 144.00 $1, 144.00 Contract for 1920
C. O. Litchfield 660.00
J. H. Sparrell 1,272.00
M. F. Williamson 624.00 2,556.00 Total for year $3,700.00
SUPERINTENDENT
Paid Stephen G. Bean, services and expenses $959.72
113
TOWN OF NORWELL
TEACHERS' SALARIES
J. M. Nichols, Principal High School
$1,840.00
Margaret Cochran, High School. . 1,080.00
Margaret Tolman, High School 1,080.00
Dorothy Sleeper, High School
480.00
Doris Wheeler, High School
600.00
Ella F. Osborn, District No. I
Grammar
990.00
Minnie F. Gardner, District No. I Primary
790.00
Catherine Kelliher, District No. I Primary
380.00
Mabel Mansfield, District No. I Primary
490.00
Florence B. Pinson, District No. 5 Grammar
990.00
Marion G. Merritt, District No. 5 Primary
990.00
Dorothy G. Litchfield, District No. 5 Primary
790.00
Maria W. Tolman, District No. 7 Primary
990.00
Mrs. A. G. Eldredge, Drawing 270.00
Rosalie H. Wheelock, Music
390.00
Ethel M. Studley, Music
280.00
$12,430.00
JANITOR SERVICE PAID
Floyd Osborn, High School $156.00
Alexander Brown, High School 160.00
Charles A. Bruce, District No. 5. 152.00
George A. Goodnough, District No. I . . 152.00
Wm. C. Tolman, District No. 7 . 57.00
$677.00
114
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
FUEL AND FITTING
Phillips Bates & Co., coal. $27.50
John F. Osborn, sawing wood .. 14.20
Walter T. Osborn, wood for No. 5. .
92.00
Benjamin Loring, wood and carting. . 182.00
Samuel Turner, housing wood . 5.00
Floyd Osborn, fitting and housing wood 6.00
$326.70
BOOKS
Edw. E. Babb $134.32
D. C. Heath 29.25
Houghton Mifflin Co., 20.75
Peirce & Co.,
6.20
Little Brown
8.85
American Book Co.,
120.35
Ginn & Co. 28.76
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co. 15.96
Oliver Ditson Co. II.25
Coleworthy Book Store
36.00
John C. Winston Co. 19.69
Gregg Publishing Co.
14.50
$445.88
SUPPLIES AND INCIDENTALS
C. A. Bruce, labor $13.50
Phillips Bates & Co., supplies 3.08
M. Little, supplies 1.15
Oliver Ditson, supplies
9.91
Ward's Stationers 6.00
J. L. Hammett, supplies 3.II
Cyclone Brush Co., supplies 12.84
Geo. F. Welch Co., supplies 14.09
Standard Oil Co., supplies 3.30
Edw. E. Babb, supplies
78.54
115
TOWN OF NORWELL
W. T. Osborn, Truant Officer 1.50
Samuel Turner, labor
3.00
John T. Osborn, labor
2.00
Harry B. Merritt, labor and supplies. .
86.21
Clarence Winslow, labor
14.00
Harrison L. House, labor
2.00
W. J. Wagner, labor
6.00
M. A. Bruce, labor
24.00
IV. W. Wade, labor
2.50
W. F. Turner, labor 2.00
C. M. Ford, labor and supplies 25.00
Archie Merritt, labor and supplies 4.43
IV. C. Soule, labor and supplies 38.41
F. T. Bailey, labor and supplies 94.61
Benjamin Loring, cash paid telephone and expenses 55.70
Nellie L. Sparrell, cash paid flags, tele- phone and expenses 53.37
Dr. Wm. P. Grovestein, cash paid. 5.00
Eva Winslow, labor
30.00
Jesse Winslow, labor
5.00
Hall & Torrey, labor and supplies
13.82
- $614.07
SUMMARY HIGH SCHOOL FUND
Unexpended in 1919
$150.17
Unexpended in 1920 150.17
GENERAL APPROPRIATION
Town appropriation for Schools. . . $12,000.00 Town appropriation for Superin't. . 500.00
From State for Superintendent ... 416.66
From State for tuition State Wards II2.10
116
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
Income of Mass. School Fund . .. . 3,025.98
Income Tax for general school fund 2,070.00 High School tuition, special cases 1,066.67
$19,191.41
EXPENDITURES
Superintendent
$ 959.72
Transportations
3,700.00
Teacher's Salaries
12,430.00
Janitor service
677.00
Fuel and Fitting
326.70
Books X
445.88
Supplies and Incidentals
614.07
$19,153.37
Unexpended balance
$38.04
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee of Norwell :
According to custom I present for consideration my Third Annual Report as Superintendent of Schools of Norwell. It closely resembles the reports of the two preceding years for a twofold reason; a combination of choice and necessity. The narrative type of report is chosen because of the writer's belief that it is more generally comprehensible than a mass of statistical tables and graphs and is far less expensive to publish. Resemblance is necessary because with our type of organization there is slight possibility of change from year to year. Improvements of other than minor nature do not seem possible. Here, therefore, will be found a brief survey of the various elements which go to make up the school system with suggestions for improvement; written more or less from the point of view of an investigator em- ployed to evaluate the system in terms of educational effici- ency.
BUILDINGS
The Norwell school buildings are wholly satisfactory as shelters from the elements where reasonably large groups of individuals can be kept dry and warm and be comfortably seated. As buildings to be used for school purposes they are open to the following objections :
I-Hygienic conditions.
(A) Improved lighting.
(a) Windows on two sides of the room.
118
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
(b) Those properly placed improperly spaced.
(c) Shades with only one adjustment.
(d) Walls not tinted to help diffuse light.
B-Heating and ventilation.
(a) Unjacketed stoves in Church Hill and High School.
(b) Incorrect design in heating and ventilating appa- ratus in the other four rooms.
(c) Air too dry.
C-Toilet facilities.
(a) Sanitaries primitive. Chemical closets needed.
(b) Insufficient provision for so many children.
(c) The agate wash basin used in common by all.
(d) Handkerchief or clothing used as a towel.
(e) Soap if any provided by teacher and used in common.
D-Water supply
(a) The nearest pump including the town pump.
(b) Ridge Hill has its own well and pump.
(c) Bubbling fountains attached to stone coolers form low pressure drinking fountains which are criticised by teachers as unsanitary.
2-Repair A-Doors
(a) Hardware needs inspection.
B-Windows
(a) Not sufficiently adjustable.
(b) Small panes.
C-Floors
(a) Fair condition.
119
TOWN OF NORWELL
D-Walls
(a) Too dark in color.
E-Ceilings
(a) Need brightening.
3-Furniture
A-Seats
(a) Generally good.
B-Closets and book-cases
(a) Needed at Ridge Hill Grammar School.
C-Teacher's desks
(a) Needed, High School and upper room at No. 5
D-Visitors' chairs
(a) A half dozen needed for distribution.
4-Sites
A-Extent
(a) Universally inadequate.
B-Character
(a) Extremely bad at Ridge Hill. Stones just begging to be thrown.
(b) Poorly graded at No. 5 ..
C-Equipment
(a) No playground apparatus.
(b) Not even a sand pile for the little tots.
In short the general condition of the shells of the buildings is good except for the need of paint at No. 5 and No. 7, but to put them into proper condition as school buildings will require expenditure of a good bit of money. Such an ex- pense would be of no great gain educationally. No marked improvement will ever be made in the Norwell School Sys- tem until a change is made in the
120
SEVENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT
FORM OF ORGANIZATION
There are in the elementary grades of our schools about one hundred seventy-five pupils taught by seven teachers, which would give an average of twenty-five pupils to a teach- er. But instead of any such desirable average there are some teachers with from thirty-eight to forty-four children in four different grades. It is not the number of children in a room but the number of grades that counts. The hiring of extra teachers to assist in the rooms containing the four upper grades would be purely a makeshift. Two teachers conducting classes in the same room at the same time cannot work efficiently. What is needed is the courage to scrap the whole system of too many grades in a room and consolidate so that each teacher would have not more than two grades.
The proper form of reorganization would be on what is familiarly known as The Six-three-three Plan. This type of organization calls for a school of six elementary grades; a grouping of the next three grades in what is known as a Junior High School; the other three years of the course would be known as the Senior High school or simply The High School. The theory and advantage of this type of or- ganization require more space for explanation than is avail- able here. Suffice it to state that it is the form advocated by the majority of educational authorities today, and is the plan being adopted in the most progressive communities. It would require no more teachers than are employed at present. In fact, with proper planning, the staff could even be reduced, with the numbers in our schools as at present. The expense attached to the change would come from a de- mand that will eventually have to be met in any case, that is, from
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