USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1912 > Part 8
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The cattle are, with a few exceptions, I believe, free from contagion. All those which appear suspicious are quarantined for a short period until proved positive or neg- ative- and then released or destroyed and rendered ; premises are disinfected before new ones are replaced and most owners are becoming so satisfied with the tuberculin test they will not buy an animal unless she has been re- cently tested.
We had some cases of swine plague which proved quite a loss to some of our hog raisers. At the present time, I believe, we are free, although a few cold wet nights will cause it to break out again.
I take pleasure in saying glanders has not visited us this year and we hope will never again.
Yours very truly,
C. H. PLAYDON, M. D. V. Inspector of Animals.
Reading, Dec. 31, 1912.
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF READING :
Gentlemen-I have the honor of submitting to you the annual report of the Forest Warden for the year ending December 31, 1912.
Number of requests for permits, 147.
Number of permits issued, 147.
The long-continued drought of the past summer was responsible for many woods fires, and in consequence the demands on this Department were greater than ever before and the expenditure over other years was largely and nec- essarily increased.
HERBERT E. MCINTIRE,
Forest Warden.
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REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
TO THE CITIZENS :
Ten covers the list of contagious diseases for the year and none fatal.
Total number of deaths from all causes
. 83
Males
. 45
Females
34
Still-born
4
Total
Males Females
Under 1 year
S
8
From 1 to 2 years
1
1
From 2 to 20 years
2
1
1
From 20 to 30 years
1
2
5
From 30 to 40 years
2
2
From 40 to 50 years
8
3
5
From 50 to 60 years
10
4
6
From 60 to 70 years
12
4
8
From 70 to 80 years
16
11
5
Over 80 years
13
9
4
.
May 5 marks the date of death of Greenleaf S. Tukey who was connected with this department for seventeen years as Inspector of Plumbing and for several years was
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also Agent for the Board. Those who knew him best, con- cede that he was always faithful, always fair and always courteous.
On July 8 David Taggart of Wakefield was appointed Inspector of Plumbing.
A communication was received from Dr. H. B. Howard on Nov. 27, in which he announced his resignation from this Board. That we could no longer have the benefit of his years of active professional experience and that we must lose him as a citizen prompted positive regret.
At a meeting of the members of the Board of Selectmen together with the remaining members of the Board of Health, held on Dec. 7, E. M. Halligan, M. D., was chosen to fill the vacancy.
E. M. HALLIGAN, GEO. L. FLINT, M. E. BRANDE, Board of Health.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
TO THE HONORABLE BOARD OF HEALTH :
Gentlemen-The work in the plumbing department for the year ending Dec. 31, 1912, was as follows :
Applications granted
85
Fixtures set
426
Bath tubs
73
Lavatories
93
Closets :
117 .
Trays
60
Sinks .
78
Shower Baths
3
Urinals .
2
HOUSE DRAINS :
Number laid .
50
Number of feet
905
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TAGGART, Inspector of Plumbing.
Reading, Mass., Dec. 31, 1912.
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.
REPORT OF CEMETERY TRUSTEES
To THE HONORABLE BOARD OF SELECTMEN AND CITIZENS OF READING :
The Trustees submit the following report :
The Cemetery has been carefully cared for and we think its appearance will verify the statement, as many people have favorably commented upon it.
With the additional appropriation granted two great improvements have been made. A strong wire fence has been erected from the tool house passageway to land of W. E. Twombly on the northern boundary. Very soon it will be necessary to have one on the western boundary as the fence there is fast going to pieces. Water has been installed from the Highland street entrance with three or four outlets along the avenue, much to the gratification of lot owners. We submit there are many other places in the Cemetery where water is sorely needed.
We ask for $1,100 for the general care of the Cemetery this year. The Board feels hurt because the Finance Com- mittee last year turned down their application for an appro- priation to finish the work on the ledge behind the Old South Church and make a beauty spot there. Had that been done many lots could have been laid out in the rear and the pro- ceeds would have gone a long way toward paying the expense of the improvement. Until that is done no one will buy a lot there at any price. As at present, the Board considers this unsightly spot a disgrace to the Town and the Cemetery,
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of which they are heartily ashamed, and the Town ought to be. We have interviewed the contractor who commenced the work year before last. Owing to the increased cost of labor and risk he will not now complete it for less than twice the amount he offered to then. We feel the Finance Committee should look into matters more thoroughly, and know more about them than they do. before they decide to turn a matter down-especially when an appropriation would add nothing to the tax rate.
For our financial report, of which we feel very proud. we refer you to the report of the Town Accountant.
Very respectfully,
A. W. DANFORTH.
Supt. and Sec'y.
Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING
For the Year Ending December 31 1912
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman, Walnut St.
Term expires 1914 HOWARD W. POOR, Mt. Vernon St. Term expires 1914 MRS. IDA A. YOUNG, Woburn St. Term expires 1913
JESSE W. MORTON, Woburn St. Term expires 1913 ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Woburn St. Term expires 1915 MRS. ELIZABETH H. BROWN, Prospect St.
Term expires 1915
Superintendent of Schools and Secretary of School Committee
HARRY T. WATKINS
Truant Officer WILLIAM KIDDER
Medical Inspector E. DALTON RICHMOND, M. D.
186
ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman HARRY T. WATKINS, Secretary
Sub-Committees
W. S. Parker
FINANCES AND ACCOUNTS H. W. Poor
A. N. Mansfield
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
J. W. Morton
Mrs. Ida Young W. S. Parker
SCHOOL HOUSES AND PROPERTY
A. N. Mansfield J. W. Morton H. W. Poor
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown A. N. Mansfield
H. W. Poor
H. W. Poor
TEACHERS AND SALARIES W. S. Parker
J. W. Morton
MUSIC AND DRAWING
Mrs. Ida A. Young Mrs. Elizabeth H. Brown
J. W. Morton
H. W. Poor
COURSE OF STUDY Mrs. Ida Young J. W. Morton
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
In accordance with the usual custom the following re- port is respectfully submitted :
Another year has passed and we are expected to give an account of our stewardship.
We earnestly solicit your careful attention to the various reports accompanying this report.
The discussion of the financial situation in the Superin- tendent's report deserves thoughtful consideration. His careful collection of data in reference to school attendance shows clearly to what extent the citizens make use of the schools. The comparisons of high school attendance with surrounding cities and towns is a very interesting exhibit. If we compare the large per cent. of high school attendance in Reading with that of the whole country we are justly proud of the high rate of Reading schools.
In the school reports for several years, mention has been made of the desirability of adopting a course in Domestic Science and Household Arts for the pupils of the seventh and eighth grades and later for high school pupils.
We bring up the matter again this year in the hope that some definite action may be taken looking towards the establishment of a regular school kitchen with all the neces- sary appurtenances thereto to be located either at the High- land School building or at the High School building.
If there is any sound philosophy in the often repeated idea that we should connect our teaching in school with the affairs of everyday life, then surely the course of Domestic
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Science and Household Arts should appeal to everyone. The family is the unit of civilization. A contribution towards making this unit occupy a larger and a more important place in our social whole is highly desirable. If the aim of edu- cation is to make possible a useful and a happy life. then anything that will tend to make the members of the house- hold more useful and helpful will tend to lift the scale of our modern civilization.
Unless education and civilization are failures, every- thing we do should tend to increase the value and efficiency of our family life.
There is much said recently about making our schools practical. That subjects of study should connect imme- diately and naturally with the outside business life of the every day world. That pupils should study in school the things that they will need to know after they leave school to enter upon their life work. If every pupil could know just what his occupation in life would be. then it would be a simple matter to prepare definitely for one's life work. It is a fair question for us to ask. whether in the future cur- riculum of the schools something should not be added in the way of vocational training: something that will help the student to find out what he is especially fitted for: what his capabilities are : and how those capabilities can best be de- veloped. There are two fields opened to us in the proposed undertaking: one in the direction of the development of the personal powers of the pupil: the other in the direc- tion of knowledge of occupations likely to be entered upon.
President Butler of Columbia University has recently said that "the problem of vocational preparation in this country is just the problem of how to take this great mass of young people and to see to it that while they are begin- ning to learn life they shall learn it in some effective fashion. by making use of some talent, of some predisposition. taste, desire or need, in order that when they finally swing clear of the structure provided for their education and training,
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they shall be able to stand up straight as self-supporting cit- izens and to do something and do it in a way that is econom- ically worth while.
This is by no means a narrowly educational problem; it is a problem of large social and economic importance. If effectively solved it will add enormously to the economic productiveness of the community ; it will add greatly to the number of independent, self-supporting families: it will add to the average income of the wage-earner and wage- worker: it will add to the amount of exchangeable com- modities in the community as a whole. It will tend directly to the enrichment of the life of the individual and to the enrichment of the life of the community; not only in a moral and social and political sense, all of which are highly desirable, but also in a material, monetary sense, which is not in this case by any means to be despised."
The terms of two members of the committee expire at the Town meeting in March, 1913, viz. : Mrs. Ida Young and Jesse W. Morton.
APPROPRIATIONS
The pressing needs of the schools call for additional amounts because of several unusual necessities that appear at this time.
We would ask that the sum of $39,000 be raised and appropriated for the support of the schools, together with receipts of tuition, etc.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman. JESSE W. MORTON. IDA A. YOUNG. HOWARD W. POOR. ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD. ELIZABETH H. BROWN.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF READING :
I have the honor to submit for your consideration my fourth annual report, the twentieth in the series, with the usual statistics and account of expenditures. The financial statement will be found at the end of this report. Natu- rally the expenses for the support of the schools increases slightly from year to year as a consequence of the increase in cost of living, labor and materials, additional school build- ings and the extra outlay in salaries and care that these increases and enlargements bring. It will perhaps be inter- esting to note that my first report of 1909 shows an appro- priation by the Town of $35,000 and that this report, 1912, shows exactly the same regular appropriation, with the addition of the $1,000 granted for increase of salaries at the request of the grade teachers at the last annual town meet- ing. At that time (1909) the teaching corps consisted of 39
teachers in all including the Supervisors of Manual Training, Sewing, Music and Drawing, no building being then used at Lowell street. This report shows 41. The erection of a four room building at Lowell street, at which two rooms were opened, with the necessity of retaining five rooms at the Centre School, added two new teachers to the staff besides an additional janitor. The extra fuel and equipment for this new building, the installation of sanitary toilets at the Prospect and Union Street buildings, with the added ex- pense for water. the appointment of a Supervisor of Penman- ship, together with the increase of teachers' salaries made
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during these four years have increased the running expenses for the maintenance of the schools to such a degree that great economy has been necessary to carry on the work effi- ciently and give adequate care to the school property with no additional income from year to year.
I take pleasure, however, in reporting that the school children were never before so comfortably housed, nor so fully supplied with modern books, equipment and materials for successful work as at present. Nor were so many safe- guards for the health of the children ever in use as now. The poor lighting of many of the rooms on dark days in winter is always a menace to the eyesight of the pupils, more so than even those most interested imagine. Electric lights have been installed and are in use on the darkest days in the Manual Training room and two class rooms at the Highland School, three class rooms at the High, the corri- dors and stairways, and two class rooms at the Centre, and throughout the entire building at the Union Street build- ings. Such improvements as these are an added expense, it true, and are not noticed by the casual observer, but how much they make for the physical well-being of the pupils can be ascertained by consulting any physician or occulist.
It is well to recall the fact that constant care is be- stowed upon the highly important matter of strict school sanitation. All buildings are supplied with drinking foun- tains, liquid soap and paper towels. A constantly working disinfecting system is installed in all toilets, and the most serious menace of all to the good health of the children, the dust evil, is cared for by the continual use of an oil spray by the janitors. This not only lays the dust while sweeping is going on but keeps it from filling the air when pupils are moving about the rooms and buildings. These sanitary measures constantly carried out, the enforcement of the vaccination rule and thorough medical inspection have pro- duced results which are shown, I think, by the almost entire absence of cases of contagious diseases in town which has been noticeable of late.
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These are not showy measures and indeed are hardly noticed, but I dwell on them at some length because I be- lieve them of vital importance and worth all of the added expense which they certainly entail upon the running of the schools.
TEACHERS' SALARIES
The subject of the salaries of teachers in a town of the size of Reading. with its close proximity to a metropolis and its adjacent large suburbs, is one calling for the most care- ful consideration. It has been clearly seen in the past that the low salaries paid to Reading teachers have rendered them a peculiarly unstable body. Teachers of ability in Reading schools are sure to attract the attention of the school authorities of neighboring large cities, partly because Read- ing is so easily accessible and partly because, to be perfectly candid. the teaching force of the Town has been recognized as generally containing a goodly number of excellent candi- dates for material promotion. Certainly no better commen- tary upon the actual worth of the teachers can be made than the fact that all who have left to continue teaching have been deemed, by larger school systems, worth a great deal more than Reading at that time considered it could afford to pay. It is not to be concluded that even a larger increase in salaries than has been already made, would absolutely do away with this difficulty but that even a step in advance can accomplish wonders is proved by the fact that in 1909 ten teachers out of thirty-nine left for larger places or 24% ; in 1910 nine, or 23% : 1911, twelve, or 29% and in 1912 two out of forty-one, or 4.8%. In other words the average salary including principals in 1909 was $601.31 as against $648.79 in 1912, an increase of 7.7%, which increase brought down the changes in the teaching force from 24% to 4.8%. These figures, though not conclusive as no like figures can be, still are somewhat illuminating in showing a real effect from a given cause.
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As stated before, no increases within the reach of our town could positively prevent the acceptance on the part of some of our teachers of material promotions, but that the increases granted during the past year have retained a goodly number who would have left otherwise, is a matter of positive knowledge to me. The teachers thoroughly appreciate what the Town has done for them and have attested this by a spirit of loyalty and pride in their work which is delightful. The added respect with which candi- dates from other places view the situation now in Reading is marked and will work powerfully in the future in enabling the Town to secure the services of teachers of superior quality when need arises.
COST OF SCHOOLS
The increase in salaries during the past three or four years, with a practically stationary enrollment. has inevita- bly raised the cost of running the school per pupil to a cer- tain extent. The average cost per pupil in 1909 was $29.63, that for 1911 was 30.94, an increase in three years of about one dollar per pupil. The average cost per pupil in 1912 is $32.27, a still further increase: but this, as has been re- marked before, was caused by approximately one dollar per pupil being added during the past year, by the $1,000 in- crease in salaries granted at the last town meeting, and a further cause for increase in cost has been the improvement in the housing of the children, the raising of the grade of equipment and furnishings, the higher scale of care be- stowed upon the buildings and grounds, which have resulted in conditions that may be considered modern and up-to-date in all respects.
From the last annual report of the State Board of Education it is seen that Reading ranked 140 in Massachu- setts towns and cities according to the amount expended per pupil for the support of schools. This means that 139 towns and cities of the 353 in Massachusetts spent more per pupil
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in that year than did Reading. Whether this position in the scale is one to be proud of or the reverse is left for in- dividual opinion to decide. From 1901 for successive years the rank of the town on the same basis has been 38, 62, 69, 67, 83, 64, 76, 84, 93, 99, 140- certainly not a progression toward the extravagant. It is probable that the next State Report will show that Reading occupies a somewhat higher scale on the same basis.
There are several reasons for a somewhat higher cost per pupil than the average in that the High School enroll- ment, the most expensive portion of the school system per pupil, is far in excess of that in other towns, the High School enrollment of Reading being approximately 26% of the total. As shown by the State Report of 1910-1911 the percentage of High School pupils to total enrollment in neighboring towns was as follows :
TOTAL
H. S.
%
Wakefield .
2452
386
15
Arlington
2262
305
13
Winchester
1857
286
16
Andover
1322
122
ยท 9
Stoneham
1269
240
18
Reading
1269
333
26
Woburn
3164
425
13
Then, too, the people of Reading rightly demand a high standard in the equipment and teaching force, and the attempt has been made to give them what they demand.
It is true that the schools might be run at a far less cost per pupil, and can be, if public opinion will be content with less advantages for the children. There is no home, farm, mercantile establishment or factory, the overhead expense of which could not be cut down from one-third to one-half if the management wished to do so, but the cut would mean more primitive and rudimentary conditions of administra-
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tion and service in most cases, and where the child should be, and generally is, the most important consideration of the parent, it is the general experience that depriving the school children of favorable conditions for good work by cut- ting down equipment is not tolerated. I believe all will agree that considering the valuation of Reading and its unusually large school enrollment in proportion to popula- tion and valuation. the town is most generous with the schools, and it is a delight to see the very excellent condi- tions under which the children are enabled to carry on their work in the Reading schools.
The chief item in the increase in cost is that of salaries, but it may be interesting to note that from 1896 to 1910 there has been an increase in the cost of living as follows : fruits 40%, textiles 73%, provisions 73%, live stock 116%, bread stuff 100%, being an average increase in bread, meat, vegetables, fruit and clothing, forming the chief items of living cost, of 81%., while the increase in the salaries in Reading during approximately the same period has been 21% .
PENMANSHIP
The muscular movement penmanship has been tried in the Reading schools now for some fourteen months, and though this time is far too short to furnish a clear proof of what it will eventually accomplish, I believe enough progress has been made to show that we are on the right track. It is a great pleasure to record that the teaching force as a whole, with only one or two exceptions, have devoted themselves heart and soul to improvement in this important branch of instruction. That which the teachers in many places have reluctantly done under requirement the Reading teachers have shown professional spirit enough to do voluntarily, and almost all have been taking the correspondence course of the system in use in the schools. This requires daily drill in the arm movement, and many of them have almost mastered
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the system. To know one's self that which one wishes to teach is a very important factor of success, and the marked progress which the pupils have shown is due to this knowl- edge acquired by painful effort on the part of the teachers. It has inspired in general the same spirit of industry in the the pupils, and many of the pupils who have submitted specimens of improvement of their handwriting to the Pal- mer Company have been awarded the Palmer Button, and a large number more are qualifying themselves for the same reward. This amount of progress in the short time in which the system has been in use is very gratifying, and no small share of the success of the penmanship during the past year is due to the untiring work of Miss Alice M. Lombard who supervises this subject in the grades. It is thoroughly be- lieved that after such an amount of time has passed as will give the system a fair test the results will be very pleasing to the friends of the schools.
MUSIC
The New Educational System of music which was intro- duced into the schools three years ago has likewise demon- strated its value. The exhibition of sight reading given at Highland School Hall last spring opened the eyes of those who were present to the results which can be obtained under proper instruction under this method. To see children of grades III, IV and V reading at sight passages written by the Supervisor of Music on the blackboard in four and five flats was an excellent endorsement. The Supervisor of Music, Mr. Arthur H. Tozer, has held the grade pupils up to a high standard and has produced results. The children all enjoy his instruction and enter into the work with pleasure. His work in the High School with the large chorus and with the Glee Clubs has also given the people of the Town an opportunity to judge of the high standard of his work.
DRAWING
Reading is fortunate in the unusual situation of having a Supervisor of Drawing who has seen many of her first grade
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pupils graduate from the High School and some of them from the Normal Art School. The work in this department is systematically planned and is so developed as to inspire originality and power to do in the children themselves. The exhibits which have been held in the hall of the Highland School have shown to those who were interested enough to attend the excellent results of the experienced and skillful teaching of Miss Annie B. Parker, Supervisor.
To stimulate effort in the subject of DESIGN, our Super- visor encouraged the eighth grades to undertake a "High- land School Calendar." The work was competitive, each pupil making a design and the Supervisor selecting the best one. This calendar, printed in outline, was sold to pupils throughout the school, who colored them with water colors. More than four hundred of these were given by the children as Christmas gifts to their friends. This design, hand- colored by pupils at the Highland School, forms the cover adornment of the special school report issued this year by the Committee.
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