USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1933-1938 > Part 13
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114
ART. 3%. To see if the Town will vote to enact a by-law setting the hour for opening the annual town meeting not later than 1 o'clock P. M. for transaction of business, and at such hours as they may deem necessary for voting for officers.
ART. 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $1500.00 to purchase 500 ft. 2 1-2" hose. 300 ft. 1 1-2" hose, 300 ft. Booster hose, and other equip- ment, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 39. To see if the Town will vote to accept School Street as laid out on plan of Lakeside Park Land Co., recorded in North Registry deeds Book 24, plan 42, or take any 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, 8 days at least, and over two Sundays, before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due returns of this Warrant, 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 thirty- five.
IRVING F. FRENCH, EVERETT H. KING, HERBERT L. TRULL
Selectmen of Tewksbury:
115
Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of TEWKSBURY
OF TEWKS
B
NMO1
U
RY
IN
1734.
RP
D
R
Also Report of Superintendent of Schools
For the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1934
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The work and supervision of the schools has been carried on as usual this year.
The Spaulding School was painted inside and out, the North School was painted outside and other painting was done in the Foster and Shawsheen Schools.
Grading and leveling the playgrounds of the Foster and Shaw- sheen Schools has made a great improvement.
Necessary and minor repairs have been made in all of the School buildings.
Owing to the difficulty in heating the Foster School weather- strips were put on the windows on the North and West side of the building, and an automatic stoker was installed. This has proved most satisfactory and the building can now be made comfortable in the coldest weather.
In September, the ninth grade will be taken from the Foster School to the new High School, this leaves two vacant rooms at the Foster. It is proposed to close the Spaulding and West Schools and this should make a material saving for the town.
Respectfully submitted,
MAY L. LARRABEE, Chairman,
GUY B. GRAY,
AUSTIN F. FRENCH, Secretary.
The School committee recommends the sum of $57,993.00 be ap- propriated for the schools for 1935, based upon the following budget:
Elementary Schools
Superintendent
$ 877.50
Supervisers
1,410.00
Teachers
16,500.00
Janitors
3,400.00
Transportation
4,500.00
Fuel
1,400.00
Books and supplies
1,250.00
Health
1,200.00
Insurance
1,130.50
District
150.00
Miscellaneous
650.00
Repairs
1,000.00
$ 33,468.00
118
High School
Teachers
$ 4,700.00
Janitor
500.00
Transportation
3,000.00
Fuel
267.00
Tuition
12,500.00
Books and Supplys
1,650.00
Insurance
983.00
Miscellaneous
200.00
$ 23,800.00
New Equipment
$ 1,000.00
Total Budget
$ 57,993.00
119
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Tewksbury:
Madam and Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my fifth annual report as Superintendent of Schools for the town. In it will be found a very brief discussion of the progress of the local schools during the fiscal year.
GENERAL
As a whole the year has been one of continued good work like those to which we have been accustomed in the past. There were few changes in the teacher personnel. Such changes as did occur do not seem to have weakened the effectiveness of the staff. No out- standing changes have been attempted either in curriculum or text material. It has been a year of good, steady, normal progress.
By virtue of the C. W. A. activities we have been able to accom- plish some very desirable improvements on both buildings and grounds. The playground at the Foster School is now a credit to the town. The unsightly humps and hollows have been changed to a nor- mal uniform level thereby practically doubling the available play area. Improvements have also been made in the playground at the Shawsheen School. Various painting projects have rendered the school buildings much more pleasant and more healthful places for children to be housed for the school period.
The installation of an automatic stoker in the Foster School has already proved its value both from the hygienic and financial stand- points. It is now possible to maintain a more even temperature than it was with manual stoking. Thermostatic control has made it pos- sible to avoid expensive plumbing difficulties from freezing, without requiring a janitor to spend nights nursing fires. Because of differ- ences in average temperatures between the two years we cannot be sure that there has been fuel economy, but there are indications that in the long run this piece of apparatus will pay for itself through saving in fuel consumption. The functioning of the heating apparatus has been rendered still more efficient by the installation of additional radiation in two of the rooms on the North side of the building. This equalizes the total radiating area on the two sides of the building and renders automatic action by the stoker more economical.
Another much needed improvement was the placing of weather strips of the interlocking type on the rooms which had not already been so treated. This together with the pulley stile covers and the caulking around window casings has thoroughly tamed the miniature gales which formerly leaked through the North window casings. Here
120
again a small sum of money was invested in something which will be self liquidating. Such improvements are a credit to the care and sound business judgment of your committee.
THE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT
After many months of delay incidental to meeting the regulations of the government representatives, work was commenced late in the year on the building which will house Tewksbury High School. Pro- gress has been rapid, in consideration of the season of the year. In- dications are that the work is in the hands of a competent contractor and is being carefully inspected by representatives of the town and of the federal government.
The choice of a site seems particularly fortunate. It is good that it is off the main highway even though this renders it invisible to those passing through the town. The fact is, however, that the build- ing is being built for a safe and quiet place for children to pursue a very important part of their preparation for living. It is not created for a spectacle but for a seat of very serious endeavor. The extent of the land purchased as well as its nature is also fortunate. There will be adequate room for all of the extracurricula activities which call for large areas out of doors. In addition there are aesthetic values in the beautiful background of pines and birches which form a part of the property acquired.
It is highly essential that the building be fully completed when first opened for school use. Every element planned will be needed. No part of the building can be dispensed with even on the first day if we are to have a fully auspicious opening of this new venture. Much will depend upon the atmosphere of the school as to its fullest success. Pupils will be determined in their attitude towards the school by the impression that they get from their first contact with it. If it is left unfinished in important elements they will react to it without being conscious of an unfavorable impression. If it is possible that building should be ready to the last blackboard eraser on the day that it is opened for use: This is peculiarly important because the children are being transferred from a fully organized school of settled traditions to one which is on its first trial. This must not be taken for the fa- natical ideas of a confirmed pedagogue. It is just good psychology, i. e., what we call "human nature." First impressions are truly of tremendous importance.
Plans are under way such that, if successful, the school organiza- tion will function from the first hour as smoothly as though it had been in existence for many years. Every pupil's room assignment will be prepared, his program card ready for him so that his work can start at once. The program for the whole school will be prepared
121
in advance and the program clock set and ready to go. Each teacher will know just what to teach, when to teach it and where it is to be taught. By noon of the first day a traffic squad will be organized and the pupils fully informed as to the traffic rules between periods. Every endeavor will be made to have the school function from the first day like a veteran organization.
In so far as we are able to do so it is planned that the teaching staff shall indeed be veteran, in the sense that they will all have had experience. The extent of their experience will be limited by the salaries that we are able to pay. It is felt that under present economic conditions we may be able to gather together a very satisfactory faculty. We already have the nucleus for this part of the organiza- tion in Miss Mills and Miss Maguire who have been teaching the high school freshmen since September, 1933. If the rest of the school can maintain the standard already created by their efforts we need have no fear for the future of the school. Reports from Lowell in- dicate that their pupils have been more than holding their own in that high school.
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING CORPS
At the close of the school year last June it was found advisable to retire Miss Nettie L. Eagles from the staff of the Spaulding School. Miss Eagles served the town faithfully and efficiently for a long period of years. It was only because of the condition of her health that she was urged to rest from her many years of exacting endeavor. Her passing from the community was fittingly observed and she was pre- sented with a substantial token of appreciation from the townspeople. Miss Virginia Cunningham of Lowell, a graduate of Lowell Teachers' College was elected to this vacancy.
The wedding of Miss Anna Sullivan, teacher of the West School, automatically terminated her service as a teacher. She had also taught for us most successfully for a number of years. Miss Mildred Rollo of Lowell, another graduate of Lowell Teachers' College succeeds her.
Upon the resignation of Miss Norma Ellis from the first grade room in the Shawsheen School it was found advisable to transfer Miss Elizabeth Reynolds to this position which she had previously held. Miss Bernice Lyness was also transferred, going to the North School. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Miss Hazel Lambert, another Lowell girl who is also a graduate from Lowell Teachers' College. Miss Lambert has the overflow room at the Shaw- sheen School.
122
SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS
The school population is growing steadily. Fortunately the growth is not too rapid else we would have difficulty in accomodations. This difficulty will be removed with the completion of the high school building. The Spaulding School will be held in reserve for emergen- cies when its present occupants are removed to the Foster School.
Accompanying tables show that we now have 626 pupils in the schools of the town. Of these 65 are in the ninth grade, or freshman class. This is somewhat in excess of the number enrolled at the same time last year. It is a fact, however, that the elementary school en- rollment has fallen off slightly in the same period. This is fortunate because the capacity of the high school building is to be about 200 and will be nearly reached upon the opening day. If there is no marked increase it will be longer before additions need be considered.
CONCLUSION
On behalf of the school children of the town I wish to thank the High School Building Committee for their untiring efforts in securing high school accomodations within the town.
I recommend to the consideration of the taxpayers the unremitting zeal of the School Committee. They are forced to assume many duties which would not fall to their lot if the town had more of the services of the Superintendent of Schools. Tewksbury should have his services at least two days a week.
To all of my associates in the system I extend hearty appreciation for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN G. BEAN
January 11, 1935
Superintendent of Schools.
123
ENROLLMENT DATA FOR 1934 TABLE I Age and Grade Distribution October 1, 1934
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
T
1
19
26
26
3
74
II
10
35
12
1
58
III
15
36
15
1
1
1
69
IV
13
50
12
5
3
1
84
V
14
32
11
10
3
1
71
VI
15
29
12
2
1
59
VII
26
32
6
4
2
70
VIII
17
37
13
8
1
76
T
551
IX
21
33
7
4
65
X
IN
49
XI
LOWELL
49
XII
HIGH
26
P.G.
SCHOOL
3
T
743
SCHOOL CENSUS as of October 1, 1934
Age Group
Boys
Girls
5 to 7
46
50
7 to 14
240
233
14 to 16
67
61
16 to 21
109
100
124
TABLE 2 Teacher-Grade Distribution October 1, 1934
SHAWSHEEN
MISS REYNOLDS
26
23
48
MISS GOLDSMITH
17
24
41
MISS LAMBERT
9
12
21
MISS C. SULLIVAN
22
19
41
MISS KELLY
16
18
34
MISS WATSON
33
33
MISS BLAKE
35
35
MISS PIPER
39
39
MISS FLYNN
31
31
MISS FULLER
47
47
MISS HOWARD
43
43
MISS MAGUIRE MISS MILLS
65
65
SP'LDING
MISS CUNNINGHAM
37
37
MISS CHENEY
25
25
NORTH
MISS LYNESS
5
7
5
10
30
MISS HERSEY
5
9
7
15
36
M MISS ROLLO
6
3
4
5
18
T
74
58
69
81
71
59
70
76
65
626
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
T
FOSTER
125
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent and School Committee of Tewksbury:
The following is a brief report concerning the music in the public schools of Tewksbury.
We are using a somewhat different method of procedure in the lower grades and are pleased with the results.
Manuals for the teachers of the lower grades and one set of books for the North Tewksbury School have been purchased. These new books are greatly appreciated.
There has been no time in the history of our country when music has contributed so much to the lives of the boys and girls. It is said that America is a richer nation today because of the music education that is given in the schools. It is my great aim that the music in your schools be of some human service to the pupils and that its influence be felt in the home, church and community.
Last summer, I attended the Institute of Normal Methods, Boston. This is a summer school for Music Supervisors.
I take this opportunity to thank the School Committee, the Super- intendent of Schools and the teachers for their co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
M. MARION ADAMS,
Supervisor of Music.
126
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF SEWING
To the Superintendent and School Committee of Tewksbury:
As supervisor of sewing in the Foster School, Tewksbury, I sub- mit the following:
In the seventh grade the girls are taught the fundamental stitches, use and care of the sewing machine. The eighth grade girls advance to the study of patterns. They plan and make dresses, blouses and underwear. In the ninth grade, where sewing is elective, the girls do more difficult work.
I feel that the subject is a very important one, preparing the girls to take their places in the world and be better citizens.
During the year the ninth grade girls put on a fashion show which proved to be very successful, each girl having planned and made her own dress in class.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the teachers and super- intendent for their kind co-operation.
Respectfully submitted,
LENA M. COBURN,
Supervisor of Sewing.
127
REPORT OF MANUAL TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Stephen Bean, Superintendent of Schools,
Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
In this my annual report as Supervisor of Manual Training I wish to state the work is much the same as in previous years.
The boys of the seventh and eighth grades have worked from sketches or drawings they have brought in from their homes which their parents desired them to work on in the Manual Training class.
All the boys have had some instruction in the use of machinery which they have taken to very well.
The one hour periods which we are trying out this year in order to give the ninth grade one period, cuts the time very short.
The ninth grade boys have all had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the operation of the machinery which is a great help. Some of the boys have been given the privilege to come into the shop at noon or other spare periods for the purpose of getting more time on lathe work.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Superintendent and members of the School Board for their cooperation and visits in the Manual Training room.
Yours respectfully,
RAYMOND A. NORTON.
128
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
To the Superintendent and School Board of Tewksbury:
The more I teach and watch children the more I am convinced that observation is the most important point in drawing. To quote from my report of last year, "Observation in drawing is like concen- tration in the academic subjects." Concentration is necessary in His- tory, for example, or the child finds after he has read the assignment that he really doesn't remember very much of it and so has to go back to the beginning and as we often say-put his mind on it. We realize from this that in the academic subjects concentration seems to be the stepping stone to high ranks.
To draw well, on the other hand, has been more or less set aside as an unusual quality, something that you either can do or just cannot. This attitude is very unfortunate.
The concentration necessary for more knowledge in the history lesson changes to another form of concentration in the drawing lesson, namely, observation. If the child observes clearly he can draw.
1. OBSERVE until you feel you know the appearance of the of the object. Put the object out of sight and draw it from memory.
2. COMPARE your drawing with the object, making mental cor- rections. Notice how much you left out. Then make a second drawing with the object before you, putting down all you see.
3. OBSERVE once more. Put the object and previous drawings out of sight and draw object from memory.
The first drawing is usually unfinished. The child doesn't realize how much was before him. In the second drawing he looks it all over, putting down what he discovers he didn't see for the first drawing. In the last drawing he is pretty well acquainted with the object and puts down from memory a much better drawing than either of the first two. What the child draws in his last memory drawing becomes part of his drawing vocabulary.
129
I wish that any mother or father reading this report would try this exercise. It would convince each that observation is very impor- tant. Pick out a simple object at first until the observation gains strength. Should any one care to have me look at the drawings, I would be very much pleased to do so.
I sincerely thank you, Mr. Bean, and the School Board for the opportunity of being associated with the Tewksbury Schools.
Respectfully submitted,
VITTORIA ROSATTO,
January 12, 1935
Supervisor of Drawing
130
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the School Committee of the Town of Tewksbury:
The past year of economic stress has been passed through very creditably in our town from the standpoint of the school child. Dur- ing our examinations and visits to the school it has been a pleasure to note that there was no real case of suffering from lack of warm clothing. Our nutrition standards were somewhat depressed through necessary home food economies, but pure wholesome milk supplied to those who seemed in need, has been of great service. My examina- tion and vaccinations have covered all entering pupils and over five hundred children have been examined and tabulated for comparison with past years. It is a pleasure to note that where our suggestions for tonsil removal, dental work and eye corrections have been fol- lowed there has been a definite improvement in health and generally in scholarship. The Lowell Hospital Clinics have been very kind to our nurse in taking so many cases for operation and treatment, as a small town has no facilities covering this necessity. Last spring, with the assistance of the State Health Department we had four diphtheric immunizing cilnics, at which over a hundred children were given the three inoculations to prevent the disease. There were no unhappy results in any case and I believe it proved to the parents the absolute safety of the procedure. Again this Spring we are to give the children the advantage of another such clinic and will also take pre-school children if they are presented. After a few years we will have most of our children free of the possibility of contracting this dreaded disease.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT M. LARRABEE, M. D. School Physician
131
Roster of School Employees
Class
Name
School or Dept.
Address
Teachers Ethelyn Howard
Foster
Tewksbury
Rena Mills
Foster
Tewksbury
Catherine Maguire
Foster
Lowell
Evelyn Fuller
Foster
No. Tewksbury
Elizabeth Flynn
Foster
Lowell
Marion Piper
Foster
Lowell
Doris Blake
Foster
Wamesit
Mary Watson
Foster
Tewksbury
Ruth Kelley
Shawsheen
Tewksbury
Katherine Sullivan
Shawsheen
Wamesit
Desire Goldsmith
Shawsheen
No. Wilmington
Hazel Lambert
Shawsheen
Tewksbury
Elizabeth Reynolds
Shawsheen
No. Tewksbury
Virginia Cunningham
Spaulding
Lowell
Anne F. Cheney
Spaulding
Lowell
Eva Hersey
North
No. Tewksbury
Bernice Lyness
North
Lowell
Mildred Rollo
West
Wamesit
Superv.
Marion Adams
Music
Chelmsford
Vittoria Rosatto
Drawing
Lowell
Lena Coburn
Sewing
Tyngsboro
Raymond Norton
Manual Training Tyngsboro
Health
Herbert M. Larrabee
Physician
Tewksbury
Emma McLaren
Nurse
So. Tewksbury
Janitors
Walter Lavelle
Foster-Spaulding Tewksbury
Robert Stavely
Shawsheen
Tewksbury
Irving Bailey
North
No. Tewksbury
Mrs. M. Anderson
West
Tewksbury
Trans.
John Furtado
Tewksbury
Omer Blanchard
No. Tewksbury
Supt.
Stephen G. Bean
Wilmington
132
INDEX TO TEWKSBURY TOWN REPORT YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1934
Page
Reports :
Agent for Suppression of Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths 76
Assessors
15
Exempted
18
Schedule of Exempted Town Property
18
Table of Aggregates
17
Auditor
19
Assessors
47
Board of Health
40
Cemetery Trust Funds
54
Collection of Taxes
49 50 45
Fire Department
Foster School Loan
51 51
Foster School Fund
General
Highways
High School
Incidentals
Interest
Inspection of Meats and Animals
48
Library
41 53
Memorial Day
40
Motor Excise Tax Refunds
48 50
Municipal Insurance
48 37
Parks and Commons
45
Police
44 51 37
Public Welfare
Purchase of Fire Truck
51
Purchase of Land for Fire Protection
52
Purchase of Fire Hose
52
Reimbursement for C.W.A. Work
50
Salaries
38
Schools
32
Land Damages
Middlesex County Tuberculosis Hospital
Old Age Assistance
Purchase of High School Site
43 49 54 39 43
Civil Works Service
133
Reports: Continued
Sealer of Weights and Measures
48
Shawsheen School
50
State Aid
37
Stationery and Printing
38 41
Street Lighting
Summary
Taxes Paid to Treasurer
57 54
Town Hall
42
Two Hundreth Anniversary
55
Tree Warden
43
Unpaid Bills
57
Trust Funds
59
Vocational Schools
36
Report of
Board of Appraisers
73
Board of Health
68
Board of Public Welfare
70
Chief of Fire Department
79
Fish and Game Warden
77
Highway Commissioners
103
Inspector of Meats and Provisions
74
Inspector of Animals
75
Librarian
84
Circulation of Books
84
Books Added
86
Books Donated
102
Park Commissioners
76
Sealer of Weights and Measures
78
Tax Collector
66
Two-Hundreth Anniversary Committee
82
Town Clerk
8
Births
8
Deaths
12
Marriages
10
Recapitulation
14
Town Officers
3
Treasurer
60
Tree Warden
77
Trustees of Tewksbury Public Library
80
Table of Estimates 72
Warrant for Annual Town Meeting
109
134
INDEX TO REPORT OF TEWKSBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1934
Age Grade Distribution
Page 124
Reports:
Manual Training Department 128
School Census
124
School Committee 118
School Physician
131
Sewing Instructor 127
Superintendent of Schools 120
Supervisor of Drawing 129
Supervisor of Music
126
Roster of School Employees
132
135
Annual Report
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN of TEWKSBURY
OF
TEWKS
TOWN
U
RY
INC
0
1734.
RP
TED
RA
₱
For the Year Ending Dec. 31,
1935
TOWN of TEWKSBURY
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS 1935
MODERATOR MELVIN G. ROGERS
SELECTMEN IRVING F. FRENCH, Chairman HERBERT L. TRULL EVERETT H. KING
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE EVERETT H. KING, Chairman IRVING F. FRENCH HERBERT L. TRULL
BOARD OF HEALTH HERBERT L. TRULL, Chairman EVERETT H. KING IRVING F. FRENCH
ASSESSORS BUZZELL KING, Chairman ALBION L. FELKER WILLIAM A. SMITH
TOWN CLERK HARRY C. DAWSON
TOWN TREASURER ALICE A. PIKE
3
COLLECTOR OF TAXES ROBERT W. BARRON
TOWN AUDITOR ROBERT E. GAY
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MAY L. LARRABEE, Chairman AUSTIN F. FRENCH GUY B. GRAY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS STEPHEN G. BEAN
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
EDGAR SMITH
KATE FOLSOM
RUTH SMITH
DOROTHY FITZGERALD
HAROLD J. PATTEN MARION FRENCH
LIBRARIAN ABBIE M. BLAISDELL
ROAD COMMISSIONERS ASAHEL H. JEWELL, Chairman JOHN T. GALE THOMAS P. SAWYER
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