USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1917-1925 > Part 35
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HISTORY
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Boyd, Thomas. Through the Wheat. 940-9B14
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LIST OF DONATIONS
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Proceedings of Encampment Dept. Mass. U. S. W. V., 1921. Smithsonian Institution Bulletins, 13.
Acts and Resolves of Massachusetts, 1922.
Opinions of Attorney General of Massachusetts, Vol. 5, 1917-1920. Analysis of the Interchurch World Movement.
Report on the Steel Strike.
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Annual Proceedings of the American Legion, Department of Massa- chusetts, 1922.
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ABBIE M. BLAISDELL, Librarian.
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
Middlesex ss :
To either of the Constables of the Town of Tewksbury in said County :
Greeting :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabi- tants of the Town of Tewksbury, qualified to vote in Town affairs, to meet and assemble at Town Hall in said tTewksbury, on Monday, the 4th day of February, 1924 at nine o'clock a. m., to act on the following articles :
ART. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
ART. 2. To choose all necessary Town officers, to choose by ballot a Town Clerk, three Selectmen, three Overseers of Poor, three members of the Board of Health, a Town Treasurer, an Auditor, a Collector of Taxes, a Tree Warden and Constables, all to serve one year; one Highway Commissioner to serve three years; one School Committee, two Trustees of the Public Library and one Park Com- missioner, to serve three years; one Assessor to serve three years. The polls for the election of Town officers to be opened at 9 o'clock a. m., and close at 4 o'clock p. m., and to vote on the following questions : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this Town? Yes; No.
ART. 3. To hear reports of Town Officers and Commit- tees and act thereon.
ART. 4. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise by taxation to defray necessary expenses for the current year, and make appropriations for the same.
ART. 5. To see if the Town will vote the money arising from licensing dogs. for the ensuing year, to aid in support of the Public Library.
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ART. 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.
The vote to be as follows :
Voted :- That the Town Treasurer with the ap- proval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning Janu- ary 1, 1924, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
ART. 7. To see what compensation the Town will vote for the collection of taxes, and at what rate and from what date interest shall be charged on taxes of 1924 unpaid after November 1, 1924, or to take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will vote to borrow, if necessary, a sum not exceeding one twenty-fifth of one per cent. of the current year's valuation, such sum of money to be used in the suppression of the Gipsy and Brown Tail Moths, and not to be expend- ed before December 1st next, and to be raised in the tax levy of the year 1925.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $225.00 for the proper observ- ance of Memorial Day. and appoint a committee to expend the money. Said committee to be taken from members of the G. A. R .. Spanish War Veter- ans, and American Legion, and Sons of Veterans.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will authorize the Select- men to institute suits on behalf of the Town or de- fend any suits that are, or may be brought against the Town.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150.00 or some other amount, and elect a director for demonstration work
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in agriculture and home economics, the money to be ยท expended by, and the director to serve in co-opera- tion with the County Trustees for Aid to Agricul- ture of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics, under the provisions of Chap- ter 273, General Acts of 1918; it being understood that $50 of this amount shall be used to provide local paid supervision of boys' and girls' club work.
ART. 12 To see if the Town will vote to build a new school house according to plans presented at this meeting or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $116,000.00 for building the new school house.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of $12,000.00 for building an addi- tion to the Foster School, or take any other action relative to furnishing increased school accomodation in the Town.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will vote to pay the arch- itect the sum of $300.00 for drawing the plans for the new school house out of the appropriation raised last year.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will vote to purchase a tractor or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 17. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of three thousand dollars - ($3,000.00) for oil or any other binder, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceeding four thousand five hundred dollars (4,500.00) to purchase a new fire truck, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twelve hundred dollars (1,200.00) to purchase fire hose, or take any other action relative to same
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:
ART. 20. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of six hundred dollars ($600.00) to purchase suit- able device for a fire alarm, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 21. To see if the Town will vote to resurface East Street, from Fairgrieve's Store to State Hos- pital main entrance, or take any other action.
ART. 22. To see what sum the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to repair Hood Road, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 23. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of four hundred dollars for Band Concerts at the Common and appoint a committee for same, or take any other action toward same.
ART. 24. To see if the Town will vote to discontinue all lights on State Road and on any of the Town's highways where there are no houses, except at cross roads and curves and intersecting streets, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 25. To see if the Town will vote that no auto- mobile or carriage belonging to private parties shall remain in any building belonging to the Town. any other action.
ART. 26. To see if the Town will vote to pay the Fire Chief sufficient salary so that he will attend to the duties of a fire chief and no other, or take any other action.
ART. 27 To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the free telephone service to all officials of the Town except the Fire Chief's phone or take any other action.
ART. 28. To see if the Town will vote to install more powerful lights at the center or take any other action.
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ART. 29. To see if the Town will vote to install electric lights in the Town barn, or take any other action.
ART. 30. To see if the Town will vote to install elec- tric lights on Lee Street and make an appropriation for same, or take any other action thereto.
ART. 31. To see if the Town will vote to install elec- tric lights on Chandler Street from Chandler's Cor- ner to East Street and make an appropriation for same, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 32. To see if the Town will vote to install- elec- tric lights on East Street from the residence of Mrs. Nathan Scott to the junction of Main Street, and make an appropriation for same, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 33. To see what action the Town will take in re- gard to installing electric lights on Shawsheen St., from Collins' house to Burtt's Crossing on Lowe Street to Maple Street, on Whittemore Street to East Street, on East Street to Carter Street, to the residnce of George E. Gray and make an appropria- tion for same, or take any othe action relative there- to.
ART. 34. To see if the Town will vote to install elec- tric lights on Old Main Street, Fairlawn, and make an appropriation for same, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 35. To see if the Town will vote to install elec- tric lights from the Wilmington line from Atkin's store on Whipple Road to Foster Street, and on Foster Street to Maple Road, and make appropria- tion for same, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 36. To see what action the Town will take in re- gard to installing electric lights on Brown Street, and make appropriation for same.
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ART. 37. To see what action the Town will take in re- gard to installing electric lights on South Street, from Sutherland's Corner, and make appropriation for same.
ART. 38. To see if the Town will vote to place electric lights on Whipple Street from present terminal to residence of Mr. Durrill, and make appropriation for same.
ART. 39. To see if the Town will vote to print new valuation books, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 40. To see if the Town will vote to purchase life- saving apparatus to be placed at Round Pond, and make an appropriation for same, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 41. To see if the Town will provide proper side- walks radiating on all streets from Tewksbury Cen- ter Post Office for a distance of one mile, and make appropriation for the building of such sidewalks, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 42. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise for cutting brush on highways in Town and make appropriation for same.
ART. 43. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Moderator to appoint a committee to report at the next annual meeting on whether the Town should establish a town forest.
ART. 44. To see if the Town will vote to change the day of the annual Town meeting from the first Monday in February to the first Saturday in February, or take any other action.
ART. 45. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate the sum of six hundred and sixty dollars to reimburse abutters for money paid for electric lighting service on Pleasant Street from Main Street
102
to the residence of Mark Roper, or take any other action relative thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by post- ing up attested copies thereof, one at each of the Public Meeting Houses, one at the Town Hall, one at each of the Post Offices, and leave one hundred copies for the use of the citizens at the Post Offices in said Town, 10 days at least, and over two Sundays, before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due returns of this War- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid :
Given under our hands, this twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four.
IRVING F. FRENCH, WILLIAM H. KELLEY, JEREMIAH K. CHANDLER, Selectmen of Tewksbury.
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF TEWKSBURY
1
TOGETHER WITH THE REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1923
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1923
The improvements and repairs which have been made during the past year to the school houses are as follows:
The Foster School has been painted and a new electric pump installed. Considerable difficulty has been experienced by the old one and the cost of repairing it and relining the tank would cost about the same as the new pump which can be operated at a less expense and remedy the trouble.
The West School has been very unsanitary every year in the spring and fall on account of surface water collecting in the basement, and it has been very hard for the janitor to maintain a fire. A drain has been put in and we hope it will take care of the trouble. The committee wish to thank Mr. Castor for allowing us to drain it on the adjoining land at no expense to the Town.
The committee wish to report that each year a greater number of students are availing themselves of the opportunity of a High School education. This year our enrollment is even greater than before. The census in the Grammar and Primary Schools is steadily on the increase and we earnestly hope that a new school be granted us so that the children may be adequately and safely housed. Our present accommodations are cramped and most unsatisfactory.
We are trying to keep with us the teachers who have proven them- selves capable by paying them a salary, sufficiently attractive so that our neighboring small towns will not draw them from us.
The committee are very grateful to Mr. Randall for his untiring efforts toward making our schools a success. We also wish to thank the building committee which has met with us on several occasions and tried to solve the present "new school" situation with us.
We ask your co-operation by frequent visitation to our schools, all of which extend a most heartily welcome to you.
Respectfully submitted, HECTOR JACKSON, Chairman, ARTHUR A. FOSTER, HARRIET T. HANSON, Secretary.
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FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR 1923 SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Receipts
Reimbursement from State:
Supervision
$ 580.00
Tuition for State Children
121.94
High School Tuition
3,578.29
High School Transportation.
2,754.40
Interest on Bonds
38.25
Total
-$
7,072.88
Appropriation
43,865.00.
Expenditures
Teachers
$ 15.749.75
Fuel and Janitors
4,874.80
Supervision
990.00
Transportation
6,207.90
Tuition
7,462.82
Books and Supplies
1,342.79
School Nurse
960.00
Massachusetts Retirement Fund
434.00
Medical Inspection
100.00
School Houses
1,480.04
Miscellaneous
959.09
Total
-$ 40,501.19
Unexpended balance Jan. 1, 1924
3,303.81 $
The School Committee recommend the following sums be raised to cover expenses for the year 1924:
Teachers
$ 16,000.00
Supervisors
1,200.00
Supervision (Supt. of Schools)
990.00
Fuel
1,800.00
Janitors
2,900.00
Transportation
6,700.00
Tuition
8,200.00
School Houses
1,500.00
Books and Supplies
2,000.00
Insurance
383.00
Medical Inspection
100.00
School Nurse
1,000.00
Miscellaneous
625.00
$ 43,398.00
:
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Lowell, Mass., Jan. 9, 1924.
To the School Committee of the Town of Tewksbury, Mrs. Hanson and Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my eleventh annual report which is the thirty- third in the series of Superintendent's Reports. Your schools have done very satisfactory work this year considering the inconvenient and unsatisfactory condition at the Foster School.
Supervisors and Teachers. There has been no change in super- visors during the past year, and only four in case of teachers. Mrs. Bertha McElroy, who taught the seventh grade at the Foster, closed her work in June in order, as she expressed it, "Not to take the place of an unmarried teacher." Mrs. McElroy is a capable teacher and very ready to serve as a substitute for a term or a year as needed, in fact she has taught in grade six during the fall term while Miss Westgate was on leave of absence. Miss Mabel Mckay and Miss Alice Bedell, first-year teachers, completed their term of service in June. Miss Lillian Allard, teacher at the North of several years ex- perience left our employ to teach in Lowell.
Miss Cecelia Hodgkins, a teacher of broad training and success- ful experience was secured to take charge of grade seven, and also to do departmental work with Miss Howard. Miss Ruth Piper, with several years of successful experience, has been placed in charge of grade four, and Miss Marguerite Tellier who has taught success- fully elsewhere in grade two was engaged for the same position in the Spaulding School. Principal Weed of the Normal School selected Miss Anna Mulligan, with one year's experience, to succeed Miss Allard. All of these new teachers are beginning their work in town in a satisfactory manner.
Salaries. The Law of Supply and Demand has an influence in securing teachers as well as in business. In order to attract and keep successful teachers it is necessary to pay what may be termed the "market price." For example, the salary of a principal of a six or eight room building is established almost as definitely as though listed in a daily paper. No schools can succeed where the teachers must for any reason change often. I am glad to report that Tewks- bury has taken steps to secure and retain, when mutually satisfactory, good teachers. The salary of $1800.00 which you pay your principal is exactly the amount which should command the services of a suc- cessful and experienced teacher. For the vacancy in grade seven this last summer you fixed the salary at $1500.00, which is good for a teacher in the upper grades without the responsibility of principal- ship. You are aware, I am sure, that school custom and the above
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mentioned "Law of Supply and Demand" have apparently decreed that teachers of seventh and eighth grades, that is, Junior High, can command slightly more salary than teachers of grades one to six, that is, elementary grades. For the grade teacher who is not a prin- cipal your maximum is $1250.00. You have this fall passed a vote which I believe will have a beneficial influence on the teaching force of your schools. The substance of this vote is to set a new maximum which will depend solely on the teachers ambition and studiousness; that is, any teacher who has reached the maximum salary and who successfully has taken a course of advanced or professional study during the past year may receive $50.00 additional to her salary, until with perseverance she establishes for herself a new maximum of $1400.00. I believe this to be a very progressive step and of sound pedagogy; for while I am a firm believer in the words of Mary Lyo ... , "Never teach the immortal mind for money. If money making is your object, be milliners or dressmakers, but teaching is a sacred not a mercenary employment," yet I am confident that best work can be done only by happy, contented, and progressive teachers.
Junior High. It would be too ambitious to say that we have actually established a Junior High School, but certain changes have been made which look toward a regular Junior School when the new building is ready for it. First, a distinction has been made in the rank to be obtained by those who are preparing to enter high school, a rank of 80 being necessary to obtain a certificate. Secondly-De- partmental teaching is being done in grade seven and eight, Miss Howard taking those subjects for which she is best fitted and Miss Hodgkins those for which she has a special aptitude, in fact the latter teacher was engaged with this departmental work in mind. This division of subjects will enable the teacher to do better work as she will have her favorite studies; it will also make high school work and methods a little less strange to the pupil. Third, beginning at the present time two courses are being offered in Arithmetic and two in English in grade eight, one fitting for high school, the other with a business trend adapted to those pupils who will go to vocational. school, or will leave school at the completion of the year.
These changes will perhaps lead with gradual growth to a recog- nized Junior High School.
Foster School. It is generally known that the Foster School is inadequate for the needs of our schools. This building was con- structed for a four room building, having two grades in a room. While this plan could be carried out the building did very well, although the upkeep has always been too great due to the large amount of unused space. Since the number of pupils became too great to place two grades in one room the building has but poorly supplied the needs of the Center. Several attempts have been made to supply accom-
109
modations, one by fitting the old library as a primary school, the Spaulding. Another attempt to solve the difficulty was to add to the small "committee" room what would make a fair sized class room; this was done with satisfaction for a short time, but when it became necessary to equip this room with desks it proved altogether too small to seat a grade there and use it as an ordinary school room. The last attempt was to put a partition in the assembly hall on the third floor, and use the room thus formed as a school room. This room is large enough, but the ventilation and lighting is very poor. For the last two years, therefore, two grades have been placed in rooms which I am sure that any state officer would promptly condemn. Any citizen who visits the school will find conditions precisely as I have described above.
What, then, may be suggested as a permanent remedy? One is to build two full size school rooms onto the Foster building. This could be done at a small cost, and with the Spaulding School would meet the needs of the Town for several years. I do not advocate this, I simply call your attention to the fact that this is a possible solution.
The other plan is to build an entirely new, modern, thoroughly equipped, brick structure, which would match architecturally the pub- lic building already in town, and which would not alone solve all school problems for a generation to come and make possible the plans of improvement already mentioned under heading Junior High, but would become an ornament to your town that every citizen could well admire.
A site for such a building has already been tentatively selected by your committee which would make the new school a part of the civic group already begun.
Barge Routes. It seemed wise to the committee to lengthen the school day, closing the afternoon session at three-thirty, a generally accepted time for graded schools. This change of time made the pupils who live at the North and in the West sections of the town, and who must go to the "Square" and transfer, very late in reaching home.
Mr. Louis Cote has been secured to transport all these pupils to the Foster School. The cost of this transportation does not exceed the cost of the same pupils by trolley.
Physical Education. Since my last report a law making physical education compulsory has gone into effect. In Tewksbury the teach- ers allow fifteen minutes per day for this work. When the weather permits classes are taken out of doors for drills and marching exer- cises, ending with one or two vigorous games in which all participate. In the winter the exercises are necessarily confined to the school rooms, and consist of calisthenics and more limited games. Some
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