USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1959 > Part 8
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11 Rita (Brennan) Gilbar 43 8 20 Cerebral £ hemorrhage-sud- den death
12 Paul Alfred Carroll
12 Beaudoin
14 Mary Mylett
85
Heart failure
15 William Doucette
69
Heart trouble-sudden death
0 20 Heart disease-sudden death
6 12 Heart disease-sudden death Heart disease-sudden death
18 Mary J. Sullivan
66 82
3 17 Cancer of stomach
89
2 8 Carcinomatosis
75
8 7 Cancer of uterus
71 5 27 Cancer of pancreas
26 John W. Gillis
77
Carcinoma, larynx
85
1 22 Coronary thrombosis Cerebral hemorrhage
14 Vaughan Forrest Burnham
14 Ethel J. Doucette
15 Harriet E. (Shaw) Finch
15 Robert H. Isaacs
64
33
92
47 9 14 Cerebral hemorrhage
86 8 11 Cerebral hemorrhage
71 10 26 Coronary occlusion
48 11 7 Carcinoma
58 5 Heart disease-sudden death
17 Theresa Blanche Woodland
60 83
21 Frank Edward Clements
21 Ida Mae McKillop
23 Helen Crowell Merritt
24 William H. Clifford
88 5 6 Pneumonia
61 11 25 Cerebral hemorrhage
6 Hattie May Ruggles
85
55 5 24 Cancer of pancreas Stillborn
15 Harold D. Creamer
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1959
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
February
27 Fannie (Morse) Stokes
90 3 19 Arteriosclerosis
27 Natalie (Emerson) Oliver 63 5 24 Heart disease-sudden death
March
2 Henry J. Martin
2 Mildred Rose White
3 John R. Frotten
4 Wilhelmina Dyer
86 4 23 Ventricular fibrillation
5 William Henry Manning 87 1 5 Cardio-vascular renal disease
73 9 8 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
9 William Nicholas Richards 76 5 17 Uraemia
11 Georgie Ellen Pierce
70 9 18 Cardio vascular renal disease
12 Edward Howland Lawson 67 4 8 Heart disease-sudden death 26 Mary (Collins) Sexton 89 Bronchopneumonia
29 Mary Ellsworth Wiley
81 11 26 Intestinal obstruction
April
2 Andrew Christian Bottelsen 85
6 15 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
3 Charles Albert Reed
7 Oscar F. Metcalf
11 "Baby Girl" Davidson Twin No. 2
12 Katherine C. Pierce
13 Foster Vergne Young
15 Alberta Hackett
16 Elizabeth Price Cleary
17 Baby Boy Stephen Maynard
19 Margaret L. Evans
20 John J. Leonard
22 Annie G. Freeman (Millet)
25 David E. Hersee
27 Michael Bentley Horrigan
30 Philip W. Dunbar
69
7 14 Huntington's chorea
30 Edith May (Tuttle) Williams 80 1 0 Carcinoma
May
3 Frances Wright
5 Alfred A. Swenson
5 John E. Richards
6 Hannah S. Somes 92
13 Clarence Hawes Lewis 86
14 Nellie (Clifford) Haines
91
Arteriosclerosis
53 11 28 Aortic and mitral stenosis
65 10 3 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
6 14 Arteriosclerosis
6 16 Coronary thrombosis
93 11 19 Acute congestive heart failure
72
1 day 17 hrs 48 min Prematurity 69 5 14 Myocardial infarction 9 0 Cerebral thrombosis 75 Found dead
92 2 11 Arteriosclerotic heart disease 7 hrs 8 min Prematurity
61 9 12 Acute myocardial infarction 70 7 19 Acute myocardial infarction 87 9 17 Acute myocardial failure
71 11 8 Uremia
56 4 28 Chronic Glomerulonephritis
82 1 7 Coronary thrombosis
88 11 27 Fractured left hip
8 Pearl M. Skidmore
70 3 20 Carcinoma
60
4 13 Bilateral pneumonia
60 1 0 Bronchopneumonia
86
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1959
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
May
14 Mary J. (McDonald) Boyden 61 9 19 Bronchopneumonia
18 Bertha May Chaney
80 1 1 Cardio vasuclar renal disease
18 Willard E. Newhall 68 10 8 Coronary thrombosis
21 Carl Axel Liljestrom 74 6 20 Cerebral vascular accident
22 Mabel (Mathewson)
Carpenter 71
24 Ruth A. Swain
25 Philip Edwin Mason
25 John Surette
27 Marian Willard Young
30 Edwin Lawrence Stickney 91
3 6 Acute hepatic coma
63 7 8 Peritonitis
56 4 25 Coronary thrombosis
55 1 29 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
67 Coronary occlusion
6 20 Acute myocardial degenera- tion
30 Christine Cox (MacDonald) 78 6 20 Pancreatitis
June
6 Mary G. Widell
6 Annie L. (Milbury) Berry
8 Mary (Wentworth) Nealley
9 Mabel Louise Smith
70 11 14 Carcinoma of liver
88 8 4 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
86 1 9 Septic Parotitis
81 10 4 Cerebral vascular accident
10 Mollie Ashby (Ives) Sweetser 75 1 24 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
10 Laura (Dermon) Gale
17 Nancy Jeanne Vicario
1
28 Degenerative central nervous system
19 Charlotte Isabelle Lonergan 62
19 Baby Girl Cumming
20 Mirella E. Plourd
21 Lena Drexy Marshall
29 Gertrude Rosalie Stoney 72
30 Virginia Brooks
82 11
4 Cerebral hemorrhage
July
1 H. Alice Sherman
1 Wilhelmina Claire Hanscom
10 Baby Girl Connors
13 Mary F. Burns
23 Robert Sumner Ralston
24 Dora Parker Bearse
24 John Franklin Gilman
28 Walter Louis Becker
30 Bessie (Dewey) Richmond
30 Mae Doherty 30 Baby Girl Sias
30 John W. Willwerth
82 9 25 Carcinomatosis
83 3 17 Pneumonitis
6 hours Atelectasis
81 4 11 Coronary occlusion 3 9 Coronary insufficiency
73
83 5 0 Arteriosclerosis
82 11 26 Cerebral hemorrhage
66 1 11 Natural causes
84 2 16 Metastatic carcinoma 68 Carcinomatosis Stillborn
80
13 Cerebral hemorrhage
8 22 Heart disease Stillborn
83
5 3 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
81
4 19 Arteriosclerotic heart disease Arteriosclerotic heart disease
74
2 24 Cerebral hemorrhage
87
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1959
Date
Name
YM D
Cause of Death
August
2 Grace Dickinson Stevens 81 1 25 Cerebral thrombosis
3 Anna May Warren
7 William Anthony O'Brien 69 4 8 Cov Pulmonale
12 Florence Isabel Davis
15 Isabella T. Cushing
15 Andrea K. Matson
16 Maude A. Sanford
16 Leo A. Carr
19 Irving Gaetz Blois
20 Herbert Lufkin Henderson
20 Virginia Batten
21 George A. White Mayo
22
22 Warren Hayes Symonds
23 Della E. Masservey
23 Edith G. Catchpole
25 Margaret Dame Stuart
27 Charles Lane Thorndike 88
23 Chester Walter Pierce
30 Henry S. Peterson
31 Victor H. Davis
57
6 19 Heart disease-sudden death
September
3 William R. Richardson
4 Robert Neil Stoddard
5 DeMelle Grout Garey
7 Simon F. Castine
12 Baby Boy McSheehy
12 Robert Mackenzie
13 Catherine E. Reilly
16 Florence Anna Folsom
17 Charlotte Elizabeth Brown
22 Frances Augusta Renwick
22 Paul Walukiewicz
24 Celia Loretta Libby
29 Gustava Wifholm
66 11 12 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
39
4 19 Carcinomatosis
62 4 3 Heart disease-sudden death
88 5 29 Coronary heart disease Stillborn
84
6 29 Carcinoma of rectum
83 5 Cerebral hemorrhage
34 6 25 Carcinomatosis
69
7 23 Heart disease-sudden death Heart disease-sudden death
75 4 2 Heart disease-sudden death
92 9 26 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
October
4 Henry Howard Kinsley
7 Margaret E. Carnes
11 Arthur H. Bright
18 Linda Joan Meuse
80 6 5 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
63
9 13 Cardio vascular disease
88 3 Carcinoma of stomach
16 3 20 Sudden death, asphyxia from severe bronchial asthma
75 7 24 Coronary thrombosis 45 Carcinomatosis
90 10 11 Acute myocardial infarction
70 7 7 Metastatic adenocarcinoma
45 8 25 Brain hemorrhage
68 7 Heart disease-sudden death
92
6 18 Arteriosclerosis
41 15 Chronic pulmonary emphy- sema
62 11 3 Thrombosis Stillborn Myocardial infarction 88
62
9 9 Carcinoma
73 10 9 Chronic congestive failure
64
3 11 Acute myocardial infarction Polyp, malignant sigmoid colon
74
3 18 Arteriosclerotic heart disease Uremia
70
77 1 1 Carcinoma of pancreas
70
76 5 29 Carcinoma of colon
88
DEATHS REGISTERED IN READING FOR THE YEAR 1959
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
October
19 Joseph E. Robinson
20 Allie Gertrude Killam
21 James Edward McCormack
22 Johannah Beaudoin
24 William James Tonks
24 Grace Bancroft Nichols 79 2 23 Cerebral hemorrhage
29 L. Harriet Reed Brush
29 Florence Mabel Barclay
82
8 21 Arteriosclerotic heart disease
November
6 James Reynolds Thomson
9 Frances Buck Walsh
10 Fred Dawson
11 Shawn L. Welch
4 15 None
13 Herbert A. Baxter
85
9 1 Heart disease
1 hr 30 min Prematurity
17 Alexander Eugene Goldsmith
90
Uremia
18 William Doucette
70
8 15 Accident
88 7 26 Heart disease
19 Herman Bahrs
84 23 Broncho pneumonia
24 Marjorie Carlisle Schoppelry 67 3 21 Leukemia
24 Ella C. (Greeley) Lloyd
25 Mildred (Brooks) Sussmann 71
6 15 Cancer of colon
25 Elizabeth Gladys Perry 48 7 3 Pulmonary embolism
26 Mary A. Reid 83 2 3 Bronchopneumonia
27 Edward Joseph McConologue 45 11 19 Pulmonary tuberculosis
28 William S. Luther
72 2 9 Carcinoma
2 5 Heart disease
December
1 Ellen A. Higgins
1 Harriet L. Lewis
6 Emma Elsie Wakefield
8 Aina W. Palmunen
71 11 8 Pituitary tumor
9 Leonora Fredericka Spreadbury 85 2 13 Heart disease
15 Ottilia Louise Heard
18 Laura Ardelia Post
19 Myrtle (Marson) Hodgkins
20 Marion (Nettleton) Gross
22 Nellie L. (Kook) Brown
24 Joseph L. Fitzpatrick
60 0 20 Cerebral thrombosis
92 11 3 Pneumonia, lobar
84 1 26 Chronic passive congestion
69 1 10 Pneumonia
80
8 9 Coronary occlusion
51 Coronary thrombosis
92
5 1 Cerebral arteriosclerosis
85
7 4 Heart disease-sudden death
66
67
9 11 Coronary thrombosis Broncho pneumonia
70 11 8 Sudden death, natural causes
74 8 11 Myocardial infarction
16 Babcock
62 9 1 Cancer of lung
84 11 78 5 Adv. cerebro sclerosis Carcinoma
19 Julia M. Coughlin
65 2 0 Cerebral hemorrhage
Broncho pneumonia
73 9 7 Coronary thrombosis
84 6 27 Cerebral thrombosis
29 Minnie A. Duffy 81
89
89
DELAYED RECORD OF DEATHS FOR THE YEAR 1958
Date
Name
YMD
Cause of Death
September
18 Mary E. Lamack 30
Renal shut down
18 Susan Jane Lamack
2 Primary atelectasis
December
28 Stephen Geary
55
Hypertrophy of heart
NOTICE TO PARENTS, HOUSEWIVES, PHYSICIANS AND MID-WIVES
Your attention is called to the sections below taken from the revised laws. Blank forms for return of birth can be obtained from the Town Clerk.
General Laws, Chap. 46, Sec. 3 (Tercentenary Edition) (As Amended By Chapter 326, Section One, Acts of 1939)
Every physician, or hospital medical officer registered under section nine of chapter one hundred and twelve, in this chapter called officer, shall keep a record of the birth of every child in cases of which he was in charge, showing date and place of birth, the name, if any, of the child, its sex and color, the name. age, birthplace, occupation and resi- dence (including the street number, if any, and the ward number if in a city) of each parent, the maiden name of the mother and the name of the physician or officer, if any, personally attending the birth. If the child is illegitimate, the name of and other facts relating to the father shall not be set forth except upon written request of both the father and mother; provided that if an illegitimate child shall have become legitimate by the intermarriage of his parents and the acknowledgement of his father, as provided in section seven of chapter one hundred and ninety, prior to the mailing or delivery of any report herein required, such report shall read in all respects, as if such child had been born to such parents in lawful wedlock. Said physician or officer shall, within 15 days after such birth, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the town where such birth occurred, a report stating the facts herein above required to be shown on said record and also the said written request, if any; provided that if said report is not so made within forty-eight hours after such birth, said physician, or officer shall, within said forty-
90
eight hours mail or deliver to said clerk or registrar a notice stating the date and place of the birth, the street number, if any, the ward number, if in a city, and the family name. Upon presentation to him of a cer- tificate of the town clerk stating that any such birth has been duly reported, the town treasurer shall pay to such physician or officer a fee of twenty-five cents for each birth so reported. Any physician or any such officer violating any provision of this section shall forfeit not more than twenty-five dollars. The said town clerk or registrar shall file daily with the local board of health a list of all births reported to him, showing, as to each, the date of birth, sex, color, family name, residence; ward and physician or officer in charge.
Within sixty days after the date of the birth of any child born in the commonwealth with visible congenital deformities, or any condition apparently acquired at birth which may lead to crippling, the physician in attendance upon said births shall prepare upon a form provided by the state department of public health and file with the clerk of the town where such birth occurred a report setting forth such visible congenital deformity, or any condition apparently acquired at birth which may lead to crippling.
Said clerk shall transmit forthwith to said department such supple- mentary report of such birth. The contents of such report shall be solely for the use of said department in connection with its functions relative to crippled children, and such report shall not be open to public inspection or constitute a public record.
General Laws, Chap. 46, Sec. 6
Parents within forty days after the birth of a child, and every householder, within forty days after a birth in his home, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the town where such child is born.
General Laws, Chapter 111
Sections 110 and 111, require physicians, registered hospital medical officers, nurses or other attendants to report at once to the local board of health, every child one or both of whose eyes become inflamed, swollen and red and show an unnatural discharge within two weeks after birth.
91
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
At a regular meeting of the Board held on March 9, 1959, the or- ganization was as follows:
Lawrence Drew, Chairman
James E. Calvin, Secretary
Rudolf Sussmann
Boyd H. Stewart, Clerk
There were 41 regular and special meetings held throughout the year (January to December).
This past year the Selectmen have tried to coordinate the efforts of the various boards and departments in a manner that will benefit the Town by giving maximum results at minimum expense. This attempt at coordination has taken the form of probing discussions between the various board chairmen to familiarize the chairmen of the plans and objectives of the other boards. The Finance Committee, which is always present at these conferences, is thus able to gain a comprehensive view of the things ahead. Thus more expeditious and effective results can be obtained.
The Rescue Truck voted by the Town Meeting Members should be ready for service by early 1960. The purchase of this truck will add strength to the Fire Department and be a great aid in protecting life and property in Reading. In purchasing this truck, the Selectmen took advantage of the matching funds program provided by the Federal Government by giving a 50% savings to the Town.
The last few years the Selectmen have discussed the physical im- provement of the town offices which have become overcrowded over a period of years. Improvements have been made in the office of the Tax Collector and in the Town Accountant's and Treasurer's office, and it is hoped that in 1960 funds will be available to bring the Assessors' office up to date.
The Selectmen retired Hugh L. Eames after fifty years of faithful service to the Town in its Fire Department, and in his place appointed Deputy Chief James S. Perry, an intelligent, well-trained, hard work- ing leader, in whom the Town can have full confidence. Chief Perry has, through study and practical experience, learned his profession well. He is systematic, orderly, and effective, and he is an able leader of men.
Two new parking areas, one at the Municipal Building and one at the Community Center, are now complete and have proved a worth- while investment.
For several years the fire underwriters have suggested that the Town purchase a new pumper to replace our No. 1. This piece of ap- paratus was purchased in 1934 and is rapidly wearing out. It has me- chanical brakes instead of hydraulic and has in many respects lost its efficiency as a pumper. After much discussion, the Board is convinced that this is a day of heavy motoring traffic, and dependable brakes
92
and rapidly moving fire apparatus are a necessity, and also pumpers of maximum efficiency are a prime requisite.
The selectmen are having a study made of the fire alarm system which is far from efficient and of police call boxes which should be updated.
As the Town continues to grow, adequate housing of fire fighting facilities should be seriously considered for the northern part of Read- ing. Steps should be taken before all available land is sold for private use.
Reading's Police Department has a number of many fine pistol shots, but the rank and file need training. With this in mind, the Selectmen are studying the matter of an adequate pistol range. None now exists.
The Board voted to pay 50% of the prolonged illness insurance of the Town of Reading employees.
There were 88 general appointments made by the Board, among which were those of Robert P. Jones, William S. DeFerrari, Jr., and Raymond J. Doucette to the Police Department as regular patrolmen.
During the year 1959, a conference was held with Mr. Lawthers rep- resenting the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, at which time the Selectmen were notified of the proposed conversion to the dial system for Reading. Whitehall, Whitney, Wilson, and Windsor were presented by Mr. Lawthers as possible choices as dial designations. Whitehall was the unanimous choice of the Selectmen,
The Board held four public hearings and seventy-five conferences. It granted twenty licenses, but denied five. Nineteen jurors were drawn for service in Lowell and Cambridge Superior Courts. Three proclama- tions were issued.
The Selectmen thank the various boards for their splendid coopera- tion throughout the year, with special reference to the Reading Police Reserve, Finance Committee, Personnel Board, Insurance Advisory Com- mittee, and Appeal Board. All gave unselfishly much time advising the Selectmen and serving their fellow townsmen.
On the following pages will be found the reports of the several Town boards and commitees as well as the financial reports covering the Town's receipts, expenses and other financial matters,
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. CALVIN
Secretary
93
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Honorable Board of Selectmen
Reading, Mass.
Gentlemen:
The report of the Police Department for the year 1959 is hereby sub- mitted.
During the year 2 regular Patrolmen were appointed; 1 Patrolman retired and 1 Patrolman resigned. Total personnel is now 28 Officers; Chief, Lieutenant, 4 Sergeants, 1 Patrolman Inspector and 21 Patrolmen.
We also have 10 Special Police Officers who handle school traffic every day that schools are in session.
'To augment the Regular Police, we have a group of 30 uniformed men who are called upon every day to handle traffic at all our churches. They are trained in all phases of Police work and have on occasions completely manned all the different Police duty stations.
During the year 1959 this public spirited group put in 2150 hours of duty without compensation. This meant a savings to the taxpayers of over $5,000.00.
Following are the arrests and other services performed:
Arrests
110
Motor Vehicles violations (Moving) 474
Juvenile Court cases
3
Juvenile cases investigated
65
Other Services
Ambulance Trips 264
Automobile accidents investigated
185
Teletype messages sent
290
Fees Collected $ 1,223.00
Automotive Equipment
1 Cadillac Ambulance (1956)
1 Plymouth sedan (1957)
2 Ford sedans (1957)
1 Ford sedan (1955)
In concluding this report, I wish to express my thanks to the members of the Board of Selectmen for their co-operation throughout the year. I also wish to thank all the members of this Department for their continued diligence to duties; which insures us all of a safe, peaceful community.
Respectfully submitted,
ROLAND E. ELLIS
Chief of Police
94
Revolvel Licenses Fees
95.00
Ambulance Fees
Bicycle Registration Fees 164.50
ANNUAL REPORT of THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE of
The Town of Reading, Massahusetts
for the year ending December 31, 1959
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
Newell H. Morton, 198 Woburn Street Dr. Henry M. Paynter, 132 West Street Paul R. Bergholtz, Chairman, 20 Puritan Road Mrs. Barbara E. Winkler, 52 Pearl Street Robert E. Turner, 78 Middlesex Avenue
William E. Burpee, 178 Wakefield Street
Term Expires 1962
" 1962
" 1961
"
1961
1960
"
1960
School Committee Office
High School Building 62 Oakland Road RE 2-0180 and RE 2-2384
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. During summer vacation 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Superintendent of Schools
Robert F. Perry
22 Dudley Street
Secretary to the Superintendent
Mae A. Tanner
26 Mineral Street
Clerks in School Committee Office
Anna G. Freeman Norma C. Walsh
48 Grove Street 10 Temple Street
School Physician
Dr. Robert W. Wakeling
60 Lowell Street
Supervisor of Maintenance
Roderick E. MacDonald
11 John Carver Road
Cafeteria Supervisor
268 Franklin Street
Lois C. Piper
96
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Reading:
The School Committee herewith presents its annual report.
To the casual observer a school program apears to change little from year to year. Education is a process of development which calls for gradual adding and subtracting, constant assessing and revising, and persistent consideration of what is best for all children. Perhaps this would be the proper time to point out some of the changes which have been taking place in Reading schools during the past year.
Among these new activities, in accordance with a national program, has been a series of physical fitness tests given in the elementary grades, followed by a program of activities aimed at improvement of the physical condition of our children on a nation-wide scale. Another change which has been gradually taking place is the increased use of television in the schools. Television will certainly become an increas- ingly important teaching aid although it will never take the place of the classroom teacher. It can, however, increase the teacher's effective- ness which would in most cases not otherwise be available. The staff, in Reading, generally feels that the 21" Classroom is a worthwhile help. Of special interest this year, when we hear on all sides the lament that Americans are very seriously lacking in their knowledge of other languages, is the introduction of "Parlons Francais" to our fourth graders. This is a course in conversational French taught by Ann Slack on WGBH-TV. While it is too early to make a final estimate of the success of the course, the enthusiasm of most of the teachers and pupils indicates that we probably have a very good thing here. People in this area are most fortunate in having available the superior offer- ings and cooperation of a fine educational TV station.
Changes at the Junior High School have centered around the work- manlike solution the principal and staff have found to the problem of extreme crowding in the seventh grade in that school. Sessions which overlap a couple of hours at noon are going along smoothly with a minimum of fuss and confusion. It is anticipated that the seventh graders will show normal achievement in their academic subjects, but certain enrichment subjects had to be curtailed as well as certain extra- curricular activities which in the past made intangible but valid con- tributions to the educational program of the school. With the opening of a new junior high school in 1961, however, the students in this age group will be returned to a full program.
At the High School the principal and staff have undertaken a com- plete evaluation of the school in preparation for an evalution in April 1960 by a committee representing the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. This evaluation for purposes of accreditation is relatively new in New England and is considered a valuable process, particularly in the self-evaluation phase. A need which is becoming more and more evident in the High School is for guidance personnel. Dr. James B'. Conant, in his study of the American high school, concluded that there should be one guidance person for each three hundred pupils.
97
Reading does not come up to this ratio and our guidance staff of one full-time and two part-time people have such heavy loads to carry that they find it impossible to do the job they would like to do. Another area in the High School to which we must give more thought is our driver training program. The classroom instruction can be handled adequately but the actual practice driving is becoming an increasing burden both from the point of view of time and money involved. There are few who would deny the benefits of a program in this automobile age but citizens should be aware of the fact that this is a costly under- taking. The High School also works under a handicap in carrying out its physical education program namely, the lack of a baseball diamond in the school area. Having to carry the students to Washington Street Park for baseball is inconvenient and unsatisfactory. The town could very well plan for further development in the Birch Meadow area which would provide facilities for participation by more high school pupils as well as improved recreational facilities for the whole town.
Leaving the schools themselves for a moment, let us look at the perennial question of teachers' salaries. The state legislature again raised the minimum salaries in the Commonwealth, this time from $3600 to $4000, an increase of $400, without providing the means to cover the cost of the change. In order to maintain its place in the competition for qualified teachers the School Committee set the Reading minimum at $43000 for the year beginning in September 1960. This means that with regular increments almost every teacher in Reading will receive an increase of $500 next year while some at the maximum level will receive even more. How this will effect the property owner is obvious. It should also be obvious by now that this constant raising of salary levels at the State House, without providing the wherewithal to share in the costs, places a burden on the real estate tax in every city and town.
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