USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1929 > Part 14
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(c) Bolstering up weak spots through remedial classes.
4. Prevention of failure by anticipating difficulties, thus cutting down loss of teacher and pupil time with resulting saving of money and of pupil discouragement.
I consider the guidance department as one of the most vital parts of the Junior High School. Our department is comparatively new and the teachers are learning each year how to get better results. At the present time, the three guidance teachers are unquestionably carrying a heavier load than other teachers in the school.
If the Junior and Senior High Schools are to properly articulate in the presentation of a six-year secondary school program, provision must be made for the coordination of subjects that are begun in the Junior High School and are continued in the Senior High School. In this connection, I wish to present the policy of the Junior High School relative to the subject of French. Pupils are permitted to elect the subject of French in the seventh grade and to continue it through the ninth grade with little, if any, home work required in the ninth grade. The direct method of presentation is used to quite an extent, and con- siderable emphasis in the first half of the course is given to pronuncia-
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tion, and a familiarity with idiomatic expressions of the language. Easy conversational French is stressed and the whole approach is made from the point of view of teaching the child to use French as a language. It is intended that the three-year course should include the requirements of first year French on a college preparation basis in order that the pupil may enter second year college preparatory French in the Senior High School. Junior High School pupils are also permitted to elect beginning French in the ninth grade, but the work in this grade, for most pupils, is strictly on a college preparatory basis requiring home preparation and intended to prepare pupils for second year college pre- paratory French in the Senior High School.
Since the inclusion of the ninth grade as part of the Junior High School, questions have been asked from time to time regarding the pupil load in the ninth year. The following statement is made to clarify the school's policy in this matter. The ninth grade pupils are required to take one major elective and may take two with the permission of the school, in addition to the usual subjects as English, Mathematics and Social Studies, which are required by all. Art and club work are elec- tive subjects in the ninth grade but are not considered major electives, as each is scheduled one period per week. A ninth grade pupil taking the maximum load (two electives, club, and art) still has three periods each week for study in school outside the regular classes. A pupil tak- ing the minimum load (one elective, no art or club) has nine periods for study in school outside the regular classes, or almost one third of the entire school time. When it is remembered that a reasonable amount of home preparation is expected of ninth year pupils, this pro- vision for study in school should be sufficient for every pupil, with the aid of the parent and guidance teacher to adapt a program to his or her needs and ability.
In closing this report, I wish to express my appreciation and gratitude to the teaching corps at the Junior High School for their un- tiring effort in behalf of the school. A school is no stronger or more progressive that its teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
R. W. BLAISDELL.
REPORT OF THE CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL, 1929
Mr. Adelbert L. Safford,
Superintendent of Schools, Reading, Mass.
Dear Sir :
I hereby submit my annual report as Principal of the Union St.,
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Center, and Highland Schools :
The organization of the Union St. School and Center School is the same as last year.
Miss Dorothy Williams, who taught a first grade at the Union St. School resigned to be married and Miss Morgan, one of the Salem Normal students, who trained in the Center School last year was elec- ted to fill the vacancy.
The Courtis-Smith Picture Story Reading Method which has been used so successfully in the first grades for the last two years has been extended into the second grades with very pleasing results.
The Thorndike-Wolfarth Speller-Growth in Spelling was intro- duced in the second and third grades and is proving very satisfactory. After two years work with this book, the pupils should have no diffi- culty in using the Washburne Individual Speller which is in use in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades.
A new feature of the geography work in the third grade is the use of the Iroquois Geography Work Book. The emphasis of the book is home geography. Beginning with the home environment, the pupils are led to visualize the world in which they live. The topics are presented in story form and by projects with relation to food, shel- ter and clothing, the pupils are introduced to distant regions.
The teaching staff of the Center School is the same as last year. The work is being carried on as in former years although better work could be done if there were fewer pupils in a room. This difficulty is overcome to some extent as there are pupils from the Salem Normal School training in the second and third grade rooms. These pupil teachers teach one group of pupils while the teacher works with an- other group or does individual work with backward pupils. Pupil teachers are also training in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades at the Highland School, and one from the Lesley Normal School is training at the Union St. School.
This year the organization of the Intermediate School was changed. Mrs. Blaisdell resigned in June and Miss Bauer who trained in the building last year was elected to fill the vacancy.
In former years the classes have remained in one room and the teachers have gone from room to room. This year the pupils file to the various rooms. This plan is proving more satisfactory, as by this plan all the material for a subject can be kept in one room and the exercise and relaxation which the pupils have between lessons is bene- ficial.
The assignment work which was begun last year is being carried on more extensively this year. The plan of assignment is based on the Miller plan which gives the pupil a chance to do supplementary or creative work after he has finished the minimum essentials. Many beautiful projects have been worked out, especially in geography.
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The Clark System of Language in Use which has been used in one fifth grade room for two years is being taught in all the fifth grade classes and in one sixth grade class and will probably be used in all the sixth grades next year.
In connection with the physical education work, a Leader's Club has been formed with Miss Buckle as guidance teacher. These leaders act as traffic officers when the lines are filing as well as being leaders during the physical training periods. This is a beginning of student government and we hope to do more next year.
Although the Intermediate School is still in the experimental stage, we feel that we have made some progress during the past year and we are laying the foundation for a better school next year.
Many new pupils from other towns have entered the central dis- trict so that with few exceptions the rooms are crowded. Thirty new pupils have entered the Intermediate School so that with one exception those rooms are overcrowded. The third and fourth grade room at the Highland School is also overcrowded. It was necessary in September to send some from this room to the Center School.
If as many pupils enter next September, it will be a problem to find room for them. As it is now, we are not able in the fifth and sixth grades to follow the plan of the Platoon School as much as we would like, as we need another teacher. With another teacher more use could be made of the assembly hall.
At the present rate of increase in the number of pupils, all the rooms in the Highland School will be needed for the intermediate school in a few years. In that case the first four grades would have to be taken care of in some other place; probably in a portable building in the Highland School yard, as the other buildings are well filled.
The grounds behind the Highland School should be resurfaced in order to be in better condition for the games and activities of the phy- sical education department. Miss Florence Nichols, the Physical Train- ing teacher at the High School, has been teaching and supervising the physical education and posture in all the first four grades, and super- vising the work of the intermediate school. She is carrying on to some extent the posture work which Miss Lancaster began last year.
Mr. Althoff, Physical Education teacher at the Junior High School has made plans for all the grades but in the intermediate school these plans have not been carried out to a great extent due to the condition of the grounds and lack of the required equipment.
The grounds at the Center and Union St. Schools also need some attention as at certain times they cannot be used for the games which are planned on account of the mud.
The Opportunity School was reorganized in September and the work has been carried on very successfully.
Miss Elizabeth Guarnaccia, who has taught the primary school so
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efficiently for the last three years, resigned to accept a position in the Somerville High School.
Mrs. Mildred Barnaby substituted for three months and now Mrs. Marion Richner is teaching the primary group.
The pupils in the upper group are taught handwork, especially work with jig saws. During the year they made many useful things like door stops and tooth brush holders as well as toys. These were exhibited at the close of school in June.
Respectfully submitted,
M. GRACE WAKEFIELD.
Thirty-fifth Annual Report
OF THE
ELECTRIC LIGHT COMMISSIONERS
For the Year Ended December 31 1929
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OFFICERS OF ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
HENRY R. JOHNSON, Chairman Term expires 1932
HERBERT G. EVANS, Secretary Term expires 1930
HARRY P. BAKER Term expires 1931
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
-
Office 177 Main Street, Reading, Mass.
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board:
Gentlemen: I respectfully submit herewith my report of the oper- ations of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ending December 31, 1929.
The business during the past year has shown a very substantial increase over 1928.
The kilowatt hours delivered at the switchboard increased nearly 27 per cent and kilowatt hours sold and delivered to street lights increased about 26 per cent.
The maximum station load was 2110 K. W. as compared with 1600 K. W. in 1928, but as 62 K. W. represented the capacity requirements of the motor driven equipment in the power station, the actual increase in maximum load was 28 per cent.
The maximum demand on the station occurred December 18 from 4.30 to 5 P. M. and on this date we also delivered the greatest number of kilowatt hours to the switchboard.
The following table shows the kilowatt hours data for 1928 and 1929 with classification of changes.
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K. W. HOURS PURCHASED AND SOLD
Increase or
K. W. Hours Generated
and Purchased
Generated
1929 103,985 6,362,853
1928
Decrease 103,985
Purchased
5,097,768
1,265,085
Totals
6,466,838
5,097,768
1,369,070
K. W. Hours Sold
Lighting-Res. and Com.
1,008,625
1,008,625
Cooking-Res. and Com.
448,253
448,253
Residence Lighting
2,444,555
1,067,096
1,377,459
Commercial Lighting
452,605
155,221
297,384
Commercial Heating
189,148
61,513
127,635
Commercial Power-Retail
1,334,736
892,453
442,283
Commercial Power-Wholesale.
238,150
238,150
Municipal Lighting
85,790
62,459
23,331
Municipal Power
121,652
111,809
9,843
Street Lighting
371,547
343,763
27,784
Police Spot Lights
2,177
1,030
1,147
Sub-Total
5,240,360
4,152,222
1,088,138
K. W. Hours used at Station,
Garage and Storeroom
56,368
25,625
30,743
K. W. Hours used for Christmas Illumination
6,622
5,880
742
K. W. Hours Unaccounted for
1,163,488
914,041
249,447
Totals
6,466,838
5,097,768
1,369,070
Per Cent Unaccounted for
18.0%
17.9%
0.1%
The kilowatt hours sold for power increased 68.7 per cent, for light- ing, including cooking, heating and refrigeration 13 per cent, and for street lighting 8.4 per cent.
The number of kilowatt hours sold for use in residences was 544 kilowatt hours per meter.
The average cost per kilowatt hour purchased at the switchboard was 1.051 cents, which compares with 1.227 cents in 1928 and is a reduc- tion in the average purchase rate of 14.3 per cent.
The average total production cost including all labor and expenses based on the total kilowatt hours delivered at the switchboard was 1.349 cents as compared with 1.622 cents for the previous year, a reduction of nearly 17 per cent, and the lowest cost in the history of the plant.
The following table shows the classification of costs for 1928 and 1929, based on the total number of kilowatt hours sold and delivered to street lights.
174
1928
1929
Production
1.623 cents
1.365 cents
Distribution
1.336
66
1.113
Utilization
0.189
0.171
Commericial
0.237
0.279
New Business
0.095
0.093
General and Miscellaneous
1.371
1.086
66
Bonds, Notes and Interest.
0.454
0.329
Total costs
5.305 cents
4.436 cents
This shows a reduction of 16.4 per cent in total cost per kilowatt hour over the previous year.
The income from sales of current was $245,942.45, an increase of $17,527.48 over last year. Most of this increase came from sales of power. The income from power sales was 40 per cent greater than in 1928.
The saving to consumers during 1929 on account of the reduction in rates which went into effect September 1, 1928 was $14,274.
The amount appropriated for street lighting was $13,000, which represents an average rate of 4.67 cents per kilowatt hour.
The cost to the Department for the current supplied to the street lights, based on the average cost per kilowatt hour sold and delivered to street lights, was $12,352.83.
In the following tables a comparison is made of income received from the different classes of business and also income from each town.
Income from Sales of Current
Increase or
1929
1928
Decrease
Lighting, Cooking,
Heating and
Refrigeration
$167,344.97
$160,682.03
$ 6,662.94
Commercial Power
47,123.95
33,794.22
13,329.73
Municipal Lighting
1,808.50
3,638.51
1,830.01
Municipal Power
3,023.27
3,373.01
349.74
Street Lighting
26,641.45
26,927.20
285.44
Totals
$245,942.45
$228,414.97
$ 17,527.48
Income from Each Town
Reading
$152,132.51
$144,165.94
$ 7,966.57
Lynnfield Center
13,516.86
12,303.32
1,213.54
North Reading
27,971.65
26,050.83
1,920.82
Wilmington
51,961.99
45,692.04
6,269.95
Other Districts
359.44
202.84
156.60
Totals
$245,942.45
$228,414.97
$ 17,527.48
66
66
66
175
K. W. Hours Sold in Each Town
Increase or
1929
1928
Decrease
Reading
3,601,491
2,924,278
677,213
Lynnfield Center
208,589
166,671
41,918
North Reading
448,998
402,699
46,299
Wilmington
975,476
655,264
320,212
Other Districts
5,806
3,310
2,496
Totals
5,240,360
4,152,222
1,088,138
Operating expenses increased $14,097.17 as follows: Production ex- pense, for increase in current purchased $4,008.05, distribution expense for maintenance of lines, and inspecting, testing and removing meters, $2,842.99, utilization expense for maintenance of consumers installations $1,105.44, commercial expense for increased labor and office supplies, $4,- 754.45, new business expense for special newspaper advertising on rates, $927.42. General and miscellaneous expenses including depreciation of plant increased $458.82. Bond, note and interest payments were $1,621.98 less than last year.
Bonds and notes retired during the year amounted to $13,800.00. The last of the outstanding notes, amounting to $1,300.00 will be paid during the coming year. The amount of bonds outstanding December 31st was $66,000.00, of which $11,500.00 will be paid in 1930.
Accounts receivable December 31 were $33,684.80 and accounts pay- able $29,954.82.
The value of materials and supplies on hand was $52,249.77, a de- crease from last year of $523.53.
Bills paid by the treasurer in advance of collection were $19,230.92.
The profit and loss surplus December 31, was $97,393.97, an increase of $14,345.32 over the previous year.
The cost of additions and extension to plant amounted to $46,961.71. No Bonds or notes have been issued during the year.
371 new services and 60 additional street lights have been installed.
The following table shows the classification of customers as of December 31st.
Com. Com. Com.
Residence
Ltg. Htng.
Power
Private St. Lts.
Totals
Reading
2429
274
45
92
19
2859
North Reading
611
52
19
19
9
710
Wilmington
1094
106
16
29
4
1249
Lynnfield Center
363
20
6
11
0
400
-
Totals
4497
452
86
151
32
5218
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New street lights have been installed in Reading on the following public streets: West St., Forest St., High St., Green St., Hopkins St., Lee St., Wenda St., Vine St., Haverhill St., Pinevale Ave., Bancroft Ave., Ridge Road, and Howard St.
Private street lights have been installed on the following un- accepted streets: Hunt St., Bond St., Weston Road, Colburn Road, and Hampshire Road.
The street lights have been burned the following hours: Reading 3989, North Reading 2243, Lynnfield Center 2237 and Wilmington 2238.
The following is the number of each size of street lamps renewed:
40 c.p. 60 c.p. 100 c.p. 250 c.p. 600 c.p. 1000 c.p Total
Reading
3 1012 4 113
10
1,142
Lynnfield Ctr.
115
115
North Reading
550
550
Wilmington
822
4
822
-
Totals
1,490
1,012
4 113
14
2,633
POWER STATION
The machinery at the station is in good operating condition.
Under the terms of our agreement with the Edison Company we operated our station from November 4 to December 26, except Satur- days, Sundays and holidays, between 3 and 5 in the afternoon.
The maximum load on the generators was 1480 K. W. and the maximum K. W. load on the Edison feeders was 630 K. W.
Two new automatic voltage regulators have been installed at the station on the Wilmington feeders which has made needed improve- ment in the voltage regulation.
DISTRIBUTION LINES
The three-phase feeder lines to Wilmington have been rebuilt as far as Perry's Corner and the new lines have been run through Wash- ington and High Streets to Lowell Street instead of through Reading square.
This releases the old Wilmington feeders for local use to replace some of the Reading feeders which are now overloaded. New and larger feed wires have been installed from the power station to Sanborn Hill on Main Street to care for the increased load in that direction.
A new line has been built on Haverhill Street between Bay State Road and Wakefield Street and 13-250 candle power General Electric highway lighting fixtures have been installed. We have added to the distribution system during the past year 343 poles, 319,644 feet of wire, 38 transformers, and 120 meters.
In addition we have also renewed 353 defective poles and a large amount of wire.
We have co-operated with the New England Telephone and Tele- graph Company in a joint inspection and test of all poles in Reading,
1
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in which either the Town or the Telephone Company had an interest. In all 2540 poles were inspected, those appearing defective were tested and such as were considered safe were given a butt treatment of creo- sote. As a result of this inspection 466 poles were found which should be renewed during the coming year.
Some of the major improvements in the distribution system which should be made during the coming year in order to improve voltage conditions and reduce the percentage of unaccounted for current are as follows:
Install at the power station two feeder regulators on the pumping station circuit.
Replace the present feeders between the power station and Reading Square with larger copper and install two feeder regulators at the power station on this circuit.
Replace the present feeders on the Wilmington line between Perry's Corner and Wilmington Square with larger copper, change transmission voltage from 2300 to 4000 volts and install one feeder regulator at the power station on this circuit.
Increase the size of feeders on Chestnut Street, North Reading, from Haverhill Street to the Lynnfield line.
The estimated cost of these improvements is $17,698.31.
Since 1923 the Department has financed from the income of the plant all of the additions and extensions, with the exception of the new garage and storeroom, for which a loan of $13,000.00 was authorized.
The total amount expended during the past six years for additions and extensions to plant, exclusive of the garage and storeroom, is $215,- 604.10.
The amount available from the depreciation fund was $138,011.52 and the balance of $77,592.58 has been taken from operating income.
In 1923 the number of kilowatt hours sold was 2,046,848, and the average income per kilowatt hour 7.42 cents.
In 1929 the number of kilowatt hours sold was 5,240,360 and average income per kilowatt hour 4.44 cents.
Translated in terms of dollars this means a saving to consumers of $156,162 in 1929.
In 1923 the number of kilowatt hours used on the Reading street light circuits was 183,935 and the appropriation was $14,800, or an aver- age rate of 8.04 cents per kilowatt hour.
In 1929 the kilowatt hours used was 278,217 and the appropriation $13,000, or an average rate of 4.67 cents. This reduction is directly due to the increase in kilowatt hours sold and the corresponding de- crease in average costs. The operating income together with the de- preciation has not been sufficient to take care of the cost of additions and extensions and pay current operating expenses.
In order to provide funds for additions and extensions during 1930,
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I recommend a bond issue of $15,000, to be used in addition to the amount which will be available in the Depreciation Fund.
METERS
One of the results of the new rate for residence service has been the release of over 200 meters for use on new services.
During this year we have started a program of periodic inspection and test of meters in consumers' premises and 1883 meters had been tested, cleaned and re-calibrated up to December 31st. This work is being done under the supervision of the States Engineering and Testing Bureau, of Lynn, at a cost of about 65 cents per meter. Several condi- tions have been found in connection with this inspection work which amply justify the expense. It is hoped that inspection and test of all meters can be completed during the coming year.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS
Following the custom of recent years we again decorated the center of Reading with colored lights during the Christmas holiday season. In addition, this year, the Old South Church, Municipal Building, Library and Bank Building were flood lighted, which added to the at- tractiveness of the illumination.
We were able to secure the flood lights for this occasion through the courtesy of Mr. D. E. Cogan of the General Electric Co. The street decorations consisted of approximately 2500 colored lamps suspended over the street, and 847 lamps on 125 small Christmas trees attached to the poles. The Christmas trees on the common and parks were dec- orated with about 270 lamps, and 11-2000 candle power flood lights were used on the buildings. The total expense to the department for cur- rent, labor and lamp renewals was $950.77.
AN EXPERIMENT IN ADVERTISING
During 1929 the Municipal Light Department of the Town of Read- ing, Massachusetts, conducted an advertising campaign to induce an increase in the use of electricity in the lights, and in the small house- hold appliances of residences already connected to its distribution sys- tem. This statement must be construed exactly to appreciate the unique object of the campaign.
It was not a campaign to secure additional residential customers. They come without urging. It was not a campaign to cause residential customers to buy more electrical appliances and thereby increase their consumption. Such campaigns are usual, they have been conducted for years, and such advertising was done by this Department coinci- dently with the campaign hereinafter described.
This campaign departed from the customary practice of advertis- ing the appliances which somebody else makes and sells. It advertised directly the electricity which was made and sold by the Department it- self. Its object was to induce an increased use of electricity by those
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households which were already lighted electrically and were already generally equipped with small electrical appliances.
The occasion for this venture or experiment in advertising is out- lined in the following paragraphs.
On the first of September 1928 the Department had established a new domestic rate for electricity. The new rate offered to every household, without restriction, the opportunity to secure electricity at a step rate which went as low as 2.7 cents. During the course of the advertising campaign in 1929 a 1.8 cent step was added to the rate .*
The result of this exceptionally low rate would have been a reduc- tion in the income of the Department unless the sale of electricity could be substantially increased.
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