USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1952 > Part 10
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We feel that we have a fine plant, in good condition, and we are striving to keep it that way. One of the big rewards comes to us when individuals express their satisfaction with the library.
ANNA R. TURNER, Librarian
Memorial Books Given in 1952
Presented by relatives and friends in memory of late Reading residents to:
Harry Barclay As You Pass By (Dunshee)
Blanche Haines Lincoln Finds a General, Vol. 3 (Williams)
Lucy Carleton Bell
Impressions of English Litera- ture (Turner, ed.)
Flower Arrangements for All Occasions (Fort)
George N. Bishop Quabbin (Howe)
M. Edna Johnson Gallery of American Dogs (Miller)
Florence R. Bosson
Our Amazing Birds (Lemon) Period Flower Arrangement (Marcus)
Leland W. Kingman Ways With Water Color (Kautzky) Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes
109
Wild Flowers for Your Garden (Hull) Harriet Hubbard
Mode In Hats and Headdress (Wilcox)
Caroline Christensen Denmark Is a Lovely Land (Strode) Scandinavia (Ogrizek)
Nellie Small Emerson Snuff and Snuff Boxes (Curtis)
David Goodale
Far Corner (Holbrook)
Northwest Corner (Holbrook & Sheldon)
Laurence S. Winchester History of Valentines (Lee)
Librarian's Statistical Report
Volumes in the Library December 31, 1951
31,179
Books purchased 1952
Adult fiction
372
Adult non-fiction
626
Adult reference
14
Total adult
1012
1012
Juvenile fiction
297
Juvenile non-fiction
131
Total juvenile
428
Total purchased
1440
Gifts
80
Total number added
1520
Books withdrawn in 1952
Adult
51
Juvenile
109
Total withdrawn 160
Gain in number of volumes
1,360
Volumes in Library Dec. 31, 1952
32,539
Circulation 1952
Adult
Fiction
36,509
Non-fiction
16,788
Periodicals
7,110
Mrs. Charles Loring Ornaments and Designs (Placek) Lester Riley
Audubon's Butterflies, Moths and Other Studies (Ford, ed.) The Presidency (Lorant) Ruth Sheldon The Art of Driftwood and Dried Arrangements (Ishimoto)
Total adult 60,407
110
Juvenile
Fiction
21,232
Non-fiction
5,470
Periodicals
770
Total juvenile
27,472
Interlibrary-loan
Borrowed
38
Loaned
2
Total
40
Total Library circulation
87,919
Gain in circulation over 1951
5,659
School circulation
3,878
Total circulation-library, interlibrary, school
91,797
New borrowers registered
Adult
421
Juvenile
371
Out-of-town
16
Total
808
Average circulation (daily)
Adult
204.76
Juvenile
93.12
Total ..
297.88
111
REPORT OF BOARD OF APPEAL
To the Board of Selectmen
Reading, Massachusetts
The undersigned submit their report for the Board of Appeals of the Town, for the year 1952:
The regular members of the Board were: Ernest Nigro, Clifton S. Nichols and Richard Jackson. Associate members were: Forrest Cook, Lawrence Ingham and Russell Miller.
The Board heard 15 cases on 10 hearing days, of which three had to do with requests for permits under the building code (these were all granted); two involved requests to vary the terms of earlier orders of the Board with respect to gravel operations on or near the Reading Rifle and Revolver Club property (both were granted); one involved a question of street layout and was referred to the Board of Survey. The remaining 10 cases dealt with petitions for variations of the Zoning By Law, of which 6 petitions were granted and 4 denied.
The average elapsed time between the date of hearing and the date of filing of the decision was 15 days.
BOARD OF APPEAL
RICHARD JACKSON, Chairman CLIFTON S. NICHOLS ERNEST L. NIGRO
REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD
Meetings of the Board have been held regularly during the year and the Board has engaged in a number of activities, the most important of which are as follows:
1. A study was conducted for possible changes and revisions of the Zoning By-Law and Building Code.
2. Various hearings of The Board of Appeal and such public hear- ings that concerned our Board were attended.
3. The Board heard various complaints, proposals, inquiries and recommendations of citizens and other interested people.
4. On June 9, 1952 members of the Board attended a meeting of Region 5A of the Massachusetts Federation of Planning Boards and at the next meeting of Region 5A on November 17, 1952 acted as host at the Joshua Eaton School.
5. Two members of the Board served with the Capital Expenditures Planning Committee.
6. The Board acted with other boards and town officials as required.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES WILSON, Chairman ROBERT G. CLINCH, Secretary A. LLOYD DAVID PHILIP R. WHITE
112
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Reading, Massachusetts
for the year ended December 31, 1952
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
Gladys F. Milton, 281 Summer Avenue
Alexander P. Glover, 158 Prescott Street
-
"
1955
John L. Griffin, 22 Bond Street
Robert E. Turner, 78 Middlesex Avenue
1954
Newell H. Morton, 198 Woburn Street
1953
Philip R. White, 189 Summer Avenue
1953
School Committee Office
Joshua Eaton School 365 Summer Avenue RE 2-0180 - RE 2-2384
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During school vacations 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Superintendent of Schools
Arthur B. Lord, Jr.
39 Pine Ridge Road
Secretary to the Superintendent
Mae A. Tanner
26 Mineral Street
Clerks in School Committee Office
Margaret A. McMullen Irene E. Reichardt
56 Intervale Terrace 90 Vine Street
School Physician
Er Chang Ping, M.D.
127 Hopkins Street
Supervisor of Maintenance
Robert A. Vars
26 Beacon Street
Attendance Officer
25 Lewis Street
Robert A. Grundy
Term expires 1955
"
1954
114
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Reading:
The School Committee herewith submits its annual report.
In this report the School Committee wishes to state to the towns- people the main accomplishments of the year 1952 and to explain some of its over-all policies, since, as you know, the Committee is a policy making board. The actual carrying out of the policies and the detailed account of the year's activities, and the forecast of future developments is in the report of the Superintendent of Schools, which we hope you will read carefully.
Continuing the plan of coordination of the curriculum in the various schools, the Committee, this year, adopted a new series of Science text books. This should further the ideal of complete integration of all subject matter taught in the school. This is the third step in correlation of subjects as Social Studies and Arithmetic have already been com- pleted.
The Rinehart System of Penmanship for all elementary school pupils is working satisfactorily and the plan for the Music Department is already showing fine results in the bands and orchestras.
In the field of guidance we sorely need a specialized and trained leader, but as the townspeople saw fit not to give the department one, we have worked with the teachers who have done the best they could under the circumstances. It should be kept in mind that if Reading is to have a good and up-to-date system, the School Board should be in a position to employ one as soon as the new high school is opened. The rapid growth in the school population and the many changes in the social, economic and vocational world make the guidance director a necessity.
The Committee also has in mind and intends to offer Driver Training Courses and courses in training for the distributive occupations.
The half day twice a month, which has been set aside for teacher- study and work, has shown its worth particularly in the introducing of the new Social Science series this year. Now they have a tabulated source of material that can and does supplement their use of the new texts. This offers a much more enriched program of study for the children and aids the substitute teacher who is called in on short notice.
In March, 1952, the town voted $2,400,000 to the School Committee for the erection of a new senior high school. On August 25, 1952, the Committee awarded the general contract to A. Cefalo and Sons, of Lynn. The work has been progressing satisfactorily according to the time chart of the contractor and it now seems possible that the students will enter the new school in January 1954.
This school will ease the over-crowded conditions in the Junior High School as well as handle comfortably the Senior High School students, so now the major problem confronting us all, is the housing of the elementary pupils.
We have already used three classrooms in the renovated Prospect Street School and now need more. At Town Meeting this Fall, money
115
was appropriated to purchase a site for a new elementary school in the north end of the town. This site has now been purchased. This building will be needed very soon, so serious thought should be given to the ways and means of building it.
At the same Town Meeting, money was granted to the Committee to survey the athletic field for the new senior high school.
Last, is the question of teachers' salaries. Every member of the committee feels that if Reading is to stay in the competitive position for hiring and retaining good teachers, the salary schedule must be raised. This year we lost a number of teachers to better paying jobs in the business world and to other school systems. This will continue and grow worse until we put Reading back into the competitive field. The Committee feels that teacher morale should be kept at a high level for good effective working conditions and for the best results to the children.
The School Committee extends its thanks to the townspeople who have shown a constructive interest in its school system and hopes that all the citizens will become so minded.
The terms of Mr. Philip R. White and Mr. Newell H. Morton expire this year.
Respectfully submitted,
PHILIP R. WHITE, Chairman GLADYS F. MILTON ALEXANDER P. GLOVER
ROBERT E. TURNER JOHN L. GRIFFIN NEWELL H. MORTON
116
SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUDGET - 1952
-
Appropriations, Transfers & Refunds 1952
Expended 1952
SALARIES:
$ 27,453.00
Supt., Clerks and Enf. of Law
$ 26,726.81
13,924.00
Supervisors
12,671.44
24,608.00
Principals
24,636.01
369,080.12
Teachers
368,153.77
48,653.64
Janitors and Matrons
47,061.13
7,180.74
Health
6,475.60
$490,899.50
$485,724.76
3,000.00
Transferred from account
485,724.76
MAINTENANCE:
$ 1,000.00
Supt. Office Expense
$ 1,370.73
300.00
Research and Professional Study
295.70
500.00
Printing
481.46
800.00
Travel Expenses
448.25
800.00
Prin. Office Expenses
703.36
2,200.00
Telephone
2,480.21
100.00
Travel Expense-Enf. of Law
141.15
$ 5,700.00
Total General Control
$ 5,920.86
INSTRUCTION:
Travel Expense of Supervisors
$ 592.08
10,700.00
Textbooks and Supplementary Books
9,575.24
11,000.00
Supplies-School
10,618.99
1,500.00
Supplies-Shop
1,456.06
450.00
Supplies-Domestic Science
450.23
800.00
Film
486.46
1,000.00
Physical Ed. Equipment
791.78
1,280.00
Tests
1,234.00
4,200.00
Instructional Apparatus
3,598.70
300.00
Express Charges
584.04
$ 31,630.00
Total Instruction
$ 29,387.58
117
$487,899.50
$ 400.00
OPERATION OF PLANT:
$ 14,500.00
Fuel
$ 14,754.02
1,500.00
Water and Sewer
1,702.79
5,000.00
Electricity
5,405.56
100.00
Gas
61.59
400.00
Laundry and Summer Cleaning
409.19
300.00
Ash Removal
300.30
350.00
Exp. of Supt. of Bldgs. and Grounds
338.14
6,000.00
Janitors Supplies
5,913.28
$ 28,150.00
Total Operation of Plant
$ 28,884.87
MAINTENANCE OF PLANT:
$ 2,130.00
Grounds
$ 2,094.23
13,282.42
Buildings
10,761.33
705.00
Service System
739.26
2,751.00
Plumbing and Heating
3,727.23
340.00
Furniture Repair
507.52
$ 19,208.42
Total Maintenance of Plant
$ 17,829.57
AUXILIARY AGENCIES:
$ 750.00
Library
$ 869.21
600.00
Health Expenses
539.53
400.00
Commencement
314.12
$ 1,750.00
Total Auxiliary Agencies
$ 1,722.86
CAPITAL OUTLAY:
$ 3,803.25
New Equipment and Furniture
$ 5,235.09
10,000.00
Additional Classroom 10,485.94
1,000.00
Fire Escape-Lowell Street School
1,309.75
$ 14,803.25
Total Capital Outlay
$ 17,030.78
$101,241.67
Total General Maintenance
$100,776.52
490,899.50
Total Salaries
3,000.00
Transferred from Salaries Acct.
$487,899.50
$485,724.76
$589,141.17
Grand Total
$586,501.28
$ 16,000.00
Transportation
$ 15,819.77
$ 2,000.00
Vocational Tuition
$ 850.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
$ 2,850.00
$ 2,500.00
Cafeteria Account
$
2,500.00
$ 1,500.00
Junior High Repairs
$ 842.00
Highland School Repairs $ 375.00
$ 2,840.54
118
January 2, 1953 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE - 1953 Receipts not from Tax Levy - Showing Net Cost to Town
Estimate 1953 Appropriation Credits
$650,101.13
Total Expenditures (less transportation)
$586,501.20
Receipts:
$ 86,291.70
State Reimbursement (estimate)
$ 79,371.71
28,000.00
Tuition ..
30,886.11
2,000.00
Tuition - other
4,629.31
116,891.70
600.00
Sundry
1,241.89
116,129.02
$533,209.43
Net Cost to Town
$470,372.18
VOCATIONAL TUITION
$
3,000.00
Total Expenditures
$ 2,840.54
Receipts:
1,472.03
State Reimbursement
488.04
$ 1,527.97
Net Cost to Town
$ 2,352.50
TRANSPORTATION
$ 20,000.00
GENERAL ACCOUNT 1952
Total Expenditures
$ 15,819.77
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Reading, Massachusetts:
Mrs. Milton and Gentlemen:
Herewith please find my fifth report as Superintendent of Schools, which is the 60th in the series of Annual Reports describing the work of the Reading Public Schools. This report reviews the work of the year 1952, and outlines plans and recommendations for the coming year.
Reading has lost many fine teachers and one principal during 1952:
Royal Adams, High School science teacher, resigned to accept a position in Billerica.
Edward J. Booth, Jr., High School mathematics, resigned in No- vember.
Wellington A. Brewster, Principal, Pearl Street School, resigned to enter industry in New York.
Betty V. Buttles has accepted a teaching position in El Salvador, South America.
Pauline S. Gilman resigned to accept a teaching position in Newton. Angela C. Martyn, exchange teacher, returned to England.
Helen B. Morgan, Grade 1 at Eaton School, resigned to accept a position in Woburn.
Florence Potter retired from the service.
Anna M. Reck retired from the service.
Edward W. Smith, Grade 5 at Pearl Street School, resigned to go into industry in California.
Jo Alice Stuckey, Grade 3 at Highland School, retired to private life.
Katherine A. White, High School history teacher, resigned to be married.
Edward A. Wicas, Jr. High School social studies teacher, resigned to accept a position in North Quincy.
It is apparent from a review of the list above that the town lost some of its best teachers, and it will be noticed, also, that two of the men who left to go into business did so because they were dissatisfied with the pay available to teachers. A factor which is not apparent in the loss of teachers to higher paying positions, but which is significant as far as the welfare of the school system is concerned, is the morale of the teachers who remain in the system. Teachers, both directly and indirectly, have indicated great unrest and worry about salaries, which have remained static in the face of rising costs. They are well aware that the Town of Reading slipped badly in its traditional competitive position with other towns in its salary schedule, and teachers are still at a loss to understand the thinking of the town, which supports the erection of good school buildings but refuses to provide a salary sched- ule which will attract superior classroom teachers.
In spite of the strong loyalties which Reading teachers have for education, and their concern for the welfare of the children, the con- cern about the salary schedule has naturally indirectly affected the classroom work. It became apparent to the Superintendent that the
120
lines of communication between the teachers and the School Committee were not functioning properly and he asked for the organization of a Salary Committee to be composed of four teachers elected by the faculty, two School Committee members appointed by the School Com- mittee, and himself, to act as a salary committee to clarify the thinking by both groups, and such a committee was organized and has been functioning. We have been fortunate, nevertheless, in securing able teachers partly because of residence, partly because of the fine reputa- tion the Reading school system holds, and partly, I believe, because of a confidence on the part of all teachers that the Town of Reading wishes to maintain good schools, and to do so will return to the competitive position which the Town once held.
New teachers appointed are as follows:
Mr. James M. Aldrich, science and chemistry, in the High School, from Vermont.
Mrs. Jane Cutcliffe, English in the High School, from Reading.
Mrs. Marjorie T. Pacino, mathematics substitute, Jr. High School, Reading.
Mr. Martin L. Robie, social studies, Jr. High School, from Worcester Tech.
Mrs. Anna K. Roewer, mathematics, Jr. High School, from Reading. Miss Lorraine Domingue, Grade 1, Eaton School, from Oak Bluffs. Miss Beatrice Stasinopulos, Grade 5, Eaton School, from Salem. Miss Glennalee Wedge, Grade 1 Eaton School, from North Reading. Mrs. Marlys D. Arnold, Grade 1, Highland School, from Ohio. Mr. Arthur W. Lalime, Grade 5, Highland School, from Marblehead. Miss Janet V. Priestley, Grade 2, Highland, from Lowell Teachers College.
Mrs. Angela O. Russotto, Grade 5, Highland, from Lawrence.
We were delighted to have Mr. Alton C. Bennett and Mr. John R. Copithorne return to teaching from a tour of duty in Korea, Miss Aline Archambault from exchange teaching in London, England, and Miss A. Josephine Guild from teaching in Germany. We were also pleased to have Mr. Henry Gromyko, of the custodial staff, return to us after two years in the Armed Forces.
Instructional Program
Reading teachers devote more man hours to analyzing and studying the school curriculum and instructional program than do teachers in the majority of communities in Massachusetts. It is not uncommon during the year for them to meet until after suppertime in groups and committees seeking ways of improving instruction in the classroom. During the past year the teachers have accomplished this end and re- sults are now apparent in the classrooms. A major committee, involving almost all of the elementary school teachers, spent many hours in lo- cating and tabulating source materials for the teaching of social studies. Related articles in magazines, books, and films were tabulated grade by grade so that even a beginning teacher would have a reference source to assist her in providing supplementary materials, to the pupils' ad- vantage. A committee of elementary and junior high school teachers
121
analyzed the various science textbooks available, and in keeping with the policy of adopting a standardized text in the various subject areas, recommended adoption of a basic text, and this was purchased in 1952. Teachers in the junior and senior high schools devoted much time to expanding the various units of instruction and tried to plan ways and means whereby the guidance of pupils could be improved. The Town continues to have a guidance program not as good as that in other communities of similar size and valuation as a result of the Town Meeting action in failing to appropriate money for the services of a guidance director to coordinate the program, which is now operating only on a part time basis through teachers and principals.
As a result of School Committee action last year, classes were closed twice a month for one-half day to give our teachers, 60% of whom live out of town, an opportunity to engage in the committee work. This practice, common to many other towns, incidentally gives children an opportunity for medical and dental appointments. The desirability of the practice is evident in every classroom in the junior high and ele- mentary schools. The high school does not close early.
Philosophy and Practice
Since the tenure of the present Superintendent in Reading, parents and other townspeople have been encouraged to express their views about the schools and to suggest ways and means by which the schools could be improved. The central Parent-Teacher Association Council is one organization which has been created which can serve this purpose. Parent study groups have been organized at the Pearl Street School and at the Highland School.
Throughout the country in recent years there has been much com- plaint about progressive education and the charge that schools today fail to teach the fundamental processes as well as in years gone by. This charge is nothing new in teaching; it can be traced back to the days of early Greece, ancient Egypt, and to the days of our grandfathers. The philosophy and practice of Reading Public Schools is neither ultra progressive nor ultra conservative. Reading schools attempt to provide every boy and girl with that education which will best fit him for per - sonal success and exemplary citizenship in this country today. We recognize that the schools are the creation of, and part of, the com- munity and the country they serve. Schools, like society, reflect the change in the world about us but schools frequently are faced with a dilemma. They strive to lead and guide youth in the manners and morals which have been found good in the past and this, sometimes, in an age when the accepted practices of the society fall below a level which is acceptable to the educators. It is sometimes difficult to make great gains when parents and pupils see that the standards of the school differ radically from acceptable standards in our economic and political life. Again, the schools face a dilemma when they attempt to be dy- namic in training children for a technological society and which, be- cause of technology, provides a leisure undreamed of fifty years ago. The process has brought continual additions to the schools' curriculum and pupils engage in activities today which were not even considered in the program of the school fifty years ago. Herein, perhaps, lies the
122
cause for the charge that schools are not properly teaching the funda- mentals, and yet, it may be fair to ask here if a business corporation could survive by using the methods of fifty years ago.
It is certainly proper to examine the evidence concerning the success of schools today in teaching the fundamentals. Fifty years ago the schools of this country had a ruthless formula based on standards of achievement and competition, and the child with limited ability or little interest in book learning, who today finishes high school, left school at the end of the sixth year. In comparing, then, the achievement of pupils in the junior or senior high schools with the children of fifty years ago it must be remembered that only the bright and academically inclined student reached the upper years of school. Fifty years ago a spelling test, the results of which are available, was given in Spring- field, Massachusetts. Recently a similar group of children was selected and given the same test. The results showed that the children today had a much better mastery of spelling than did the children of fifty years ago and this in spite of a much broadened school curriculum. Teachers today are better trained, psychologists and educators know much more about the learning process, and the techniques whereby teaching can be improved. The Reading Public Schools have consistent- ly trained the boys and girls in the fundamentals better than children have been trained nationwide. Last Spring, to determine the reaction of parents to the program being provided for their children, the Superin- tendent prepared a questionnaire, the result of which clearly indicated that the great majority of parents in Reading are satisfied and pleased with the program which is offered their children.
Special Services
Because of the growth of the Reading schools, it has become nec- essary to provide assistance for Mrs. Clewley, the Director of Health. State standards prescribe a load of 2,000 children per school nurse. It is, therefore, desirable that Mrs. Clewley have some part-time assis- tance to bring her work load within the maximum standard.
In an attempt to meet as well as possible the needs of individual children the School Committee has provided for a pupil adjustment clinic for children who are emotionally disturbed. Working with Mrs. Clewley, the Director of Health, Dr. Er Chang Ping, School Physician, has worked successfully with several of these children and at the present time is working with nine.
Reading is fortunate in having Miss Martha Ryder who, this year, brought into being the Creative Workshop which provides special train- ing for about 50 exceptional children. She works not only with those who, for one reason or another, find studying difficult, but also with those who shows exceptional talents. For some time the Superintendent has been anxious to provide a special program for all exceptional children on all levels, and with the introduction of this specialized program, a start has been made.
Townspeople have shown much interest in the introduction of a driver training program and plans are being made for the time when space permits us to introduce such a program. Mr. Robert Bronner, of the High School faculty, is studying at Northeastern University to qualify himself as an instructor in this field.
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