USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1929 > Part 7
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There is still pending the suit by Richard M. Cutts referred to in the 1928 report; also three other suits for damages due to alleged defects in streets brought during the year 1929, the plaintiffs in the latter suits being Ruth Pearce, Eva M. Pearce and Benjamin E. Sefton. Each of these latter suits has an ad damnum of $1,000.
The usual routine matters such as trustee suits, opinions, prepara- tions of deeds, votes and various papers have occupied considerable time, particularly in connection with the activities of the Board of Public Works with respect to sewers, drains, new street layouts, etc.
As I shall not seek reappointment at the end of my present term of office I desire on this occasion to express my sincere thanks to my friends whether in or out of town office, who during my terms of ser-
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vice have extended their confidence and co-operation. I trust that these pleasant contacts may be renewed from time to time, and with most grateful and sincere good wishes for the future welfare, growth and progress of the Town, I am,
Respectfully yours, MELVILLE FULLER WESTON,
Town Counsel.
REPORT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
To the Citizens of Reading :
There were sixty-eight (68) contagious cases reported during the
year 1929.
Diphtheria
2
Chicken Pox
14
Scarlet Fever
15
Measles
10
Lobar Pneumonia
4
Tuberculosis
4
Typhoid Fever
4
Mumps
5
Whooping Cough
10
Number of deaths
89
Male
40
Female
49
5 were over 90 years
13 were between 80 and 90
27 were between 70 and 80
10 were between 60 and 70
14 were between 50 and 60
4 were between 40 and 50
2 were between 30 and 40
2 were between 20 and 30
1 was between 10 and 20
2 were between 1 and 10
4 were under 1 year
5 still births
Respectfully submitted, E. M. HALLIGAN, M. D. C. F. ATKINSON, G. W. S. IDE,
Board of Health.
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REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Board of Health :
Gentlemen :- I herewith submit my report for the year ending
December 31, 1929.
Number of permits granted
143
Number of fixtures installed
676
Bath tubs
118
Lavatories
133
Closets
163
Sinks
122
Wash Trays
137
Showers
3
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID TAGGART,
Inspector of Plumbing.
REPORT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE WORK IN READING
To the Honorable, Board of Selectmen :
Reading, Massachusetts.
The following is a report of the work carried on in the Town of Reading under the auspices of the Middlesex County Extension Ser- vice.
In boys' and girls' 4-H Club work 38 boys and girls were enrolled in the clothing, canning, garden and poultry clubs. Mrs. Ida C. Lucas, Miss Virginia Perry and Henry Johnson assisted as local leaders. Ray- mond Bell stood third in the county poultry contest and was awarded a medal by the Middlesex County Poultry Association. He also repre- sented Middlesex County at Camp Vail, held at the time of the East- ern States Exposition. Olive Spear won sixth prize in the county can- ning contest held at Acton Fair. The canning club exhibited their products in the window of G. H. Atkinson's store. Olive Spear was awarded a Two Day Trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural College for doing outstanding club work. Many of the local boys and girls at- tended the 4-H Club rally held in the Town of Wakefield.
In home economics a group of women were interested in the Living-room Improvement project and as a result of a series of five
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meetings reported 65 changes in their homes. Mrs. H. F. Davis and Mrs. R. L. Perry acted as local leaders. This same group, along with one in the center of Reading, were also interested in the Vegetable Prepara- tion program. Mrs. Charles Trevor, Mrs. J. S. Barr have been the leaders for this second group.
In agriculture assistance was rendered in making a survey of the milk supply of the town and many individual farm visits made to those dairy farmers requesting assistance. Meetings of the Reading Metropolitan Poultry Association were attended and cooperation and assistance rendered wherever possible.
County-wide meetings in poultry, fruit growing and market gar- dening have been available to the Reading people and many attended the county picnic held during the summer at Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass.
Respectfully submitted, ROLLAND L. PERRY, Director.
REPORT OF BOARD OF ASSESSORS
To the Citizens of Reading :
We herewith submit our report on work under our jurisdiction during the year 1929 :
Valuation of Taxable Real Estate :
Buildings, excluding land
$10,264,625.00
Land, excluding buildings
3,904,020.00
Total Taxable Real Estate $14,168,645.00
Taxable Personal Estate 1,057,474.00
Total Taxable Real and Personal Estate assessed
April 1, 1929
$15,226,119.00
*Total valuation excise tax for 1929 1,017,730.00
$16,243,849.00
Building increase over 1928
575,700.00
Land increase over 1928
129,165.00
Total increase on Real Estate
$ 704,865.00
*Decrease on Personal Property
515,871.00
Total gain on taxable property
188,994.00
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Tax on Real Estate
$ 429,312.97
Tax on Personal Estate
32,042.02
Tax on Excise 30,178.79
Tax on Polls
5,690.00
Tax on Real Estate for Moth
919.75
Tax on Real Estate for Sewer
1,936.89
Tax on Real Estate for Curbing
24.79
$ 500,105.21
Taxable Real Estate assessed December 1929
$ 5,100.00
Additional Polls
22.00
Tax assessed as supplementary on Real Estate, December 1929
154.54
Total Taxable Personal Estate, 1929
1,057,474.00
Total Taxable Real Estate, 1929
14,173,745.00
Total Excise Tax, 1929
1,017,730.00
$16,248,949.00
State Tax, 1929
$ 18,020.00
State Highway Tax, 1929
1,584.45
Metropolitan Sewerage Tax, 1929
11,728.19
Metropolitan Sewerage Tax Special, 1929
84.00
Municipal Lighting Tax, 1929
146.28
Auditing Municipal Accounts Tax, 1929
1,871.79
Snow Removal Tax, 1929
157.79
Fire Prevention Tax, 1929
128.41
County Tax, 1929
20,503.98
County Tax, Special T. B., 1929
2,647.48
Total State and County Tax, 1929
$ 56,872.37
Total State and County Tax, 1928
55,587.14
Increase over 1928
$ 1,285.23
Amount appropriated for Town Purposes
$ 541,267.95
Amount to be paid for State Taxes
56,872.37
Amount of Overlay
3,882.05
Amount of Overlay Deficit, 1927
22.62
Total assessments, 1929
$ 602,044.99
Less Estimated Receipts
$110,000.00
Less Excise Tax
25,000.00
Less Polls 2845 @ $2.00
5,690.00
140,690.00
Amount to be raised
$ 461,354.99
Tax Rate for 1929, $30.30
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Number of persons, partnerships and corporations as- sessed April, 1929
2824
Number of persons assessed December, 1929
4
Total
2828
Number of automobiles assessed
3079
Number of separate assessments, 1929
5907
Number of polls, 1929
2856
Number of polls, 1928
2827
Increase in polls
29
Number of horses
95
Number of cows
179
Number of neat cattle
25
Number of swine
60
Number of dwelling houses
2347
Number of acres of land
5770
Value. of Town property
$ 1,365,010.00
Value of property exempt
526,385.00
Total non-taxable property
$ 1,891,395.00
Total taxable property
16,248,949.00
Total valuation, 1929
$18,140,344.00
Report of the Survey of Land Under the Block System
We have now completed 69 plans which contain 3,596 separate
lots.
Appropriated, 1929
$ 500.00
Balance 1928
47.00
Expended $ 547.00
Davis & Abbott, correcting plans, 1929
$ 52.00
Davis & Abbott, 4 new plans
490.50 542.50
Balance
$ 4.50
We would advise that the sum of five hundred dollars be ap- propriated for the coming year that the work of the Block System be continued.
*Decrease in personal property is offset by Excise Tax value, with actual increase of $502,859.
J. FRED RICHARDSON, GEORGE E. HORROCKS, ALVAH W. CLARK, Board of Assessors.
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REPORT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Trustees of the Public Library submit the following report for the year ended December 31, 1929:
Organization of the Board
The Board organized for the year by the election of Mr. Mans- field as chairman and Miss Bancroft as secretary. Standing Committees were appointed as follows :
On Accounts : The Board of Trustees.
On Books: Mr. Mansfield, Miss Bancroft and Mrs. Lucas.
On Buildings and Grounds : Messrs. Keneely, Morton and Bar- clay.
On Work with Children: Miss Bancroft, Mrs. Lucas and Mr. Keneely.
Expenses of the Library
The condensed financial statement is as follows :
Appropriation, direct tax, 1929
Salaries
$ 4,500.00
Maintenance
3,000.00
Total
$ 7,500.00
Other Income :
Refunds
1.60
$ 7,501.60
Expended
Salaries : Librarian, Assistants and Janitor
$ 4,450.95
Books and periodicals, including rebinding
2,275.38
Printing, Stationery, etc.
151.15
Fuel, light, water, sewerage
381.62
Repairs and furnishings
57.16
Telephone
45.04
All other expenses
35.64
Total
$ 7,396.94
Balance unexpended :
On Salaries
49.05
On Maintenance
55.61
Total
$ 7,501.60
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Receipts
Fines collected (for over detention of books) $ 396.08
Paid to Town Treasurer 396.08
Balance on hand December 31, 1929
0.00
Statistics
Volumes in the Library December 31, 1928
14,866
Volumes bought, including duplicates and replacements : Adult non-fiction
237 648
Adult fiction
411
Juvenile
244
Juvenile non-fiction
197
441
Reference
18
1,107
Received by gift, Mass.
11
Received by gift, others
13
24
15,997
Withdrawn during year
411
Total number of volumes, Dec. 31, 1929
15,586
Circulation for home use, Adult
36,998
Circulation for home use, Juvenile
18,824
Total circulation for home use 55,822
Decrease over previous year
824
Largest monthly circulation, March
5,541
Smallest monthly circulation, May
3,621
New borrowers registered, Adult
323
New borrowers registered, Juvenile
224
Total
547
Total borrowers registered since Jan. 1, 1925
3,933
Number of days on which the Library was open
301
Average daily circulation, Adult
123
Average daily circulation, Juvenile
62
Volumes deposited in schools
317
The circulation for home use showed a slight decrease in 1929 as compared with 1928. It is not feasible to keep a record of the volumes used in the main and children's rooms. This usage however was very heavy and much in excess of other years. The following tables gives data pertaining to the Library for the past five years :
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Year
Population April 1st 8,693
Volumes Borrowed Home Use
No. of Days Lib. Open
Volumes In Lib.
Total Expendi- tures
1925
46,520
252
13,170
$5,528.94
1926
50,216
290
13,880
6,800.89
1927
52,768
291
14,339
7,188.58
1928
56,646
301
14,866
7,433.99
1929
55,822
301
15,586
7,396.94
During the past year the system of lending the books placed with the schools has been broadened so that the books are now available for home use. It is definitely known that this privilege is being used to a great extent and the children are reading these books at home. This circulation is not counted in the figures quoted as the Library circulation.
The cost per volume circulated in 1929 was 13.3 cents; the aver- age for the last five years is 13.1 cents; circulation per capita in 1929 of 5.9 and cost per capita of about 78 cents. The last two figures are based on a population estimate of 9,500 .
The following is in part the report of the Librarian to the Trus- tees :
As shown above the circulation of books for home use shows a slight decrease compared with 1928. In 1918 and the years following the new building with its better location and facilities made for in- crease in use of the Library. Then came the opening of the Children's Room in the fall of 1926 and the same year increase in the hours of opening the Library. Later the age limit was lowered from ten to eight, then to any child who could read and write his name. In 1923 the limit in number of non-fiction taken by any borrower was removed and later two volumes of fiction also were allowed each person. In 1929 the only extension of library privileges was allowing non-residents to borrow books on the payment of $2.00 a year, which was availed of by one per- son.
Annual reports were received from eleven neighboring libraries and our report was sent to them.
Mrs. Timlin, President of the Reading Society of Craftsmen, gave the Library three handsome shades for desk lights.
The Reading Grange gave ten dollars for additions to the Walter S. Parker collection in the Children's Room with which Webster's Col- legiate Dictionary and Pratt's New Encyclopedia of music and musici- ans were purchased.
Through inter-library loans we borrowed during the year from Division of Public Libraries, 6 volumes
Boston Public Library, 3 volumes
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Brookline Library, 2 volumes
Boston Medical Library, 1 volume
Stoneham Library, 1 volume Wakefield Library, 1 volume Loaned Wakefield, 2 volumes
In the exhibition case last winter were shown old town reports, old books and old documents belonging to the Library. This fall the Art Committee of the Reading Woman's Club exhibited some Cole's engravings in November, and Madonnas in December.
The school children have earned 68 State five-book certificates which have been signed by the Librarian but have not yet been given them.
As usual we have loaned the schools over three hundred books for outside reading of which no record of circulation has been kept. Of the books reported withdrawn besides those worn out 115 were lost. Of these 44 were books loaned the schools and not returned in June 1928, but not reported lost last year hoping some might be recovered. In June 1929, 15 were not returned from school but 4 of these were paid for. Much better methods are now being used in caring for the books loaned the schools so it is anticipated that the loss through the schools will be very small when they come in at the end of the school year of 1929-30.
Only a few of the old books were reclassified this year as this work was interrupted by the enforced absence of the Librarian. While she was away the Library was most efficiently administered by the Assistant-Librarian, Miss Abbott.
Maintenance
The general condition of the Library property was such that no special maintenance expenditure was required during 1929.
Budget for 1930
In accordance with the requirements of the General Laws, Chap- ter 41, Section 59, the Board of Trustees of the Reading Public Library submit the following detailed estimates of the amounts necessary for the proper maintenance of the Public Library for this fiscal year 1930. Fuel, Light, Water, Sewer Charge $ 450.00
Printing and Supplies
150.00
Books, Periodicals, Binding, etc.
2,000.00
Maintenance and Repairs 500.00
Miscellaneous Expenditures
100.00
Total Maintenance
$ 3,200.00
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Salaries
$ 4,800.00
Total Appropriation Requested $ 8,000.00
As against an appropriation in 1929 of $ 7,500.00
The increase in the Maintenance Budget is for the installation of new and additional book stacks in the main library room. The shelf space is badly congested and it is necessary to increase the open shelf space at once. The Salary Budget is increased $300.00, over the salary appropriation for 1929. The salary of the attendant of the children's room has been increased. The continued increased use of the library for reference purposes calls for additional hours of helpers. It is esti- mated that an income of about $300.00 will be received during 1930 from the "Fine" account.
Miss Edith Bancroft submitted her resignation from the Board of Trustees at the October meeting; due to her removal from Reading. The Board accepted her resignation but with great regret. Her work and advice was of much value to the Library and the town has lost a most faithful and conscientious worker.
A joint meeting of the Selectmen and the Library Trustees was held on November 22, 1929, and Mrs. Jennie F. Weeks, 99 Summer Ave., was elected to fill the vacancy, caused by Miss Bancroft's resignation. This election holds until the next annual town meeting.
The faithful and efficient services of Miss Bertha L. Brown, Librarian; Miss Grace J. Abbott, Assistant Librarian; and Miss Re- becca Turner, in charge of the Children's Room are herewith acknowl- edged by the Trustees.
The work of the assistants has been satisfactory and of the usual high standard.
Two vacancies in the Board of Trustees are to be filled at the annual town meeting, the terms of Mrs. Jennie F. Weeks and Arthur N. Mansfield, expiring.
ARTHUR N. MANSFIELD, Chairman,
RALPH S. KENEELY, Secretary, JESSE W. MORTON, HARRY J. BARCLAY, IDA C. LUCAS,
JENNIE F. WEEKS,
Adopted as the report of the Trustees.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF READING, MASSACHUSETTS
For the year Ended December, 31 1929
90
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
School Committee
Carl M. Spencer, Ch., 119 Woburn St. Term Expires 1930
Mrs. Marion B. Temple, 50 Hill Crest Rd.
Term Expires 1930
Mrs. Josephine L. Fowler, 65 Temple St.
Term Expires 1931
Arthur W. Coolidge, 136 Summer Ave. Term Expires 1931
Harold A. Carnes, 39 Grand St. Term Expires 1932
Logan R. Dickie, 56 Walnut St.
Term Expires 1932
School Committee Office
High School, Sanborn St. Telephone, Reading 0180
(Open 8.30 a. m. to 4 p. m. except on Saturdays : 9 a. m. to 12 m.)
Supervisory Staff
Adelbert L. Safford, Superintendent, Office Hours: School Days, 9 to 9.30 a. m.
Margaret Hunt, Accountant and Order Clerk
Abigail H. Mingo, Sec. to Supt., Attendance Officer. Dean of Girls, Manager of School Lunches
Ida C. Lucas, Director of Research and Pupil Guidance and Promotions.
Verna L. Wadleigh, Testing and Statistics, Special Research
Charles R. Henderson, School Physician, Consultant in Athletics
Philip W. Althoff, Director of Physical Education, teaches in Junior High School
Mabel M. Brown, Director of Health in the Schools and Nurse Dorothy C. Walker, School Nurse and Instructor in Nursing Technique Mercie V. Nichols, Supervisor Drawing, teaches in Senior High School Margaret Whittier, Supervisor Music, lower grades, teaches in Junior High School
Margaret Cameron, Supervisor Penmanship, lower grades, teaches in Junior High School
Clinics
Diphtheria Prevention, by special appointment Tuberculosis Prevention, by special appointment Pre-School, every Tuesday at 3 p. m., at the Grouard House Dental, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Grouard House Posture, first Monday of each month at the Grouard House Habit, first Tuesday of each month at the Grouard House
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No School Signals Fire Alarm 2-2 repeated 3 times Street Lights turned on for 5 minutes 7.30 a. m. for (Senior High School, Junior High School, Intermediate School [gr. 5 and 6], Opportunity School)
8.15 a. m. for Grades 1 to 4 inclusive, morning session
12.45 p. m. for Grades 1 to 4 inclusive, afternoon session
Dates for Opening and Closing of Schools and Vacations 1929-30 1930-31
Open Sept 9 Close June 20
Open Sept. 8 Close June 19
Vacations: Dec. 20 to Jan. 2;
Vacations : Dec. 19 to Dec. 29
wk. Feb. 23; April 27
Holidays: Oct. 13, 31; Nov. 11,
29; May 30; June 17
27, 28; Jan. 1; April 20; June 17
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1929
To the Citizens of Reading :
The School Committee submits its report for 1929. As the report is devoted largely to the discussion of expenditures and budget matters, and school property and equipment, your attention is particularly directed to the reports of the Superintendent and heads of departments for information about the education and health programs of our schools and our progress in these lines.
Approximately $3500 of the 1929 appropriation remains in the town treasury unexpended. With minor exceptions, the amounts al- lowed for various expense accounts have been strictly adhered to and where overdrafts have occurred, they have been more than offset by savings. The largest unexpended balance, in the Gas and Electricity Account, was made possible by a reduction of the rate which occurred during the year.
The substantial appropriation for repairs and care of buildings and grounds has enabled us to complete many needed changes and improvements during the year.
The lunch room in the High School has been enlarged and im- proved. Space was gained by transferring the manual training class to the Highland School. New tables and stools were installed and the serving counter enlarged. With these improvements, our lunch facilities in the three schools where luncheons are served have been made
wk. Feb. 23; wk. April 28;
Holidays : Oct. 25; Nov. 11, 28,
92
adequate and satisfactory for the proper handling of this service.
The floor of the first floor corridor in the High School, which has been giving trouble for many years, has been relaid.
Particular attention was paid to the grounds of the High School building, resulting in improvements in parking space, walks, and drives, re-seeding and re-planting of the lawn, and changes in the arrangement of shrubbery about the grounds. It was necessary to remove some trees in doing this work, but we are of the opinion that, on the whole, a marked improvement will result and that the appearance of the grounds will be better than before.
All wooden school buildings have been painted with the excep- tion of the Chestnut Hill School. Modern toilets have been installed in the Highland School to replace those that were put in place there many years ago.
The installation of lockers in the corridors of the High School would provide a much needed facility and do away with coat rooms in the basement. The coat room space could be used to better ad- vantage to improve the boys' toilets, shower baths, and equipment lockers.
The Committee is asking for an appropriation of $5000 to lay the foundations for a playground on land adjoining the Junior High School to provide the needed facilities for out door physical education for the pupils of this school.
Our proposed budget also includes an item for the improvement of the grounds about the Highland School with respect to drives and planting as well as improvement of the play area. There have been substantial additions to the physical training apparatus during the year, and upon moving the High School class in manual training to the Highland School, new tools and machines were bought to the advantage both of the High School and the Highland classes.
An audiometer has been purchased for use in testing the hearing of the pupils. Defective hearing is a common cause of backwardness among school-children; by the use of the audiometer, the defect can be detected scientifically and remedial steps taken.
A sub-committee of the School Committee has been appointed to devote particular attention to the athletic activities of the High School. The present town athletic field is not suited to an extensive program of games and sports in which all pupils may participate, but it is hoped that the present equipment may be used to the best possible advantage under the supervision of an interested committee.
One of the pressing needs of all the schools in town is better playground facilities, and it is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when a comprehensive program of playground development may be undertaken with a view to overcoming the present deficiency.
Within a very few years we shall be faced with the necessity of
93
providing additional rooms for the elementary schools. This problem should be studied carefully, and, in our opinion, a survey of our con- ditions and requirements should be made under the direction of an expert consultant. We hope that the town may approve the appropri- ation necessary for such a survey, the amount of which we have in- cluded in our budget for 1930. This report would show where new elementary schools should be located and what sites were avail- able for the purpose, with the expectation that the town might secure the sites while they are still available and not permit our growth in population and homes to continue without adequate provision for the school facilities which will surely be required. The playground situation should be included in this survey because it would be of little use to add to our school buildings without providing better playground facilities than we now enjoy.
The terms of Marion B. Temple and Carl M. Spencer expire at the annual town election.
JOSEPHINE L. FOWLER
MARION B. TEMPLE
HAROLD A. CARNES
ARTHUR W. COOLIDGE
LOGAN R. DICKIE
CARL M. SPENCER
School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, 1929
To the Honorable, the School Committee, of Reading, Massachusetts : I submit herewith my seventeenth annual report, the thirty- seventh annual report of the Superintendent of the Reading Public Schools.
During the year nineteen hundred and twenty-nine the same policies of progressive adaptation of education to the needs of each individual pupil as these needs appear have been in operation without radical changes or interruptions. New demands on the schools neces- sitate new procedures in order to fulfil them. A recent bulletin of the National Education Association lists sixty-seven notable achieve- ments, inventions, or discoveries made since 1890 that are "as amazing as Aladdin secured by rubbing his copper lamp." The need is "for a curriculum suitable for a rapidly changing civilization with large social, spiritual, and industrial values, and sufficiently differentiated to meet the needs of adolescent youth with varying levels of ability, social
94
and economic backgrounds, and hopes for the future." That the necessity for more education to meet the growing complexity of living is recognized by parents and by governing officials is shown in the rapid increase of public high schools in the United States. In 1890, 1.6 per cent of the total enrolment of all public schools were in high schools; in 1926 there were 15.2 per cent. In 1890 there were 201,802 pupils enrolled in public high schools; in 1926 there were 3,065,009 pupils enrolled : more than fifteen times as many as in 1890. In private secondary schools there were 248,076 enrolled in 1926 against 94,931 in 1890, an increase of a little more than two and one-half times. New demands upon the schools have manifested themselves in many other directions besides increase in High School enrolment. Bulletin, 1929, No. 16 of the U. S. Bureau of Education prepared by W. S. Deffen- baugh, Chief of City Schools Division, describes "Significant Move- ments in City School Systems" under nine headings: Administration, Teachers, Length of School, Curriculum and Articulation, Experimental Research, Individual Instruction, Safety Education, Visual Instruction, The Platoon School, and The Visiting Teacher. It is of interest to check up the status of the Reading Schools with respect to the pro- gressive practices commended in this survey.
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