USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1945-1949 > Part 7
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ART. 36. To see if the Town will vote to accept Chapter 723, Acts of 1945, Section 2, organizing a district for a department of veterans services, or take any other action relative to same.
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ART. 37. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to provide for Article 36, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 38. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $169.22 to reimburse the Town Treasurer to balance accounts according to State auditors report, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 39. To see if the Town will vote to continue the Public Service Relations Committee for another year and to appropriate the unexpended balance of its 1944 appro- priation or to take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 40. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Auditor to show in the annual Town report exactly what each Town Employee received from the Town including the withholding tax paid to the Internal Revenue Depart- ment on his or her account or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 41. To see if the Town will reimburse H. W. Pillsbury for taxes paid on land, property of the Town of Tewks- bury, to the amount of $53.27.
ART. 42. To see if the Town will vote to have a committee of five named from the floor for the purpose of outlining and defining a set of zoning by-laws to be acted upon at the next town meeting, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 42. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate to install a suitable heating plant at the Shawsheen School, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 44. To see if the Town will vote to equip the audi- torium at the Town Hall with a loud speaker and amplifiers, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 45. To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for a reserve fund under Section 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, or take any other action on same.
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ART. 46. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $50.00 in support of the Trustees for county aid to agriculture, through Middlesex County Extension Service, said money to be spent under the, direction of the local director, or take any action thereto to same.
ART. 47. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate, or transfer from available funds in the treasury, a sum of money for the purchase of war bonds or other bonds that are legal investments for savings banks, in order to establish a post-war rehabilitation fund, in ac- cordance with the provisions of Chapter 5, Acts of 1943.
ART. 48. To see if the Town will vote to transfer from available funds the sum of $8,000 or such larger amount as may be approved by the Emergency Finance Board but such sum not to exceed $15,000 for the purchase of War Bonds or other Bonds which are legal investment for Savings Banks. This fund to be used in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 124 Acts of 1945 or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 49. To see what action if any, the Town will take in regard to requiring bids when purchasing for the town, or take any action on same.
ART. 50. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on Pleasant Street, near the residence of Charles Wilson, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 51. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on Pond Street, near the residence of George Collins, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 52. To see if the Town will vote to install three lights on Maple St., or take any other action relative to same.
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ART. 53. To see if the Town will vote to place one light on Clark Road, or take any other action relative to same.
ART. 54. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on Main St., near the residence of John Carter, or take any other action relative to same.
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ART. 55. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on Wilson Road, near residence of Mr. Hinckley, or take any action relative to same.
ART. 56. To see if the Town will vote to place one light on Kittredge Street, or take any action relative to same.
ART. 57. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on Main St., near the residence of James Kalem, or take any action relative to same.
ART. 58. To see if the Town will vote to install two lights on Rose Mary Road, or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 59. To see if the Town will vote to install one street light on Martin Road, or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 60. To see if the Town will vote to install one street light on Marston St., or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 61. To see if the Town will vote to place one street light at the corner of Fiske St. and Bailey Road.
ART. 62. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on Main St., So. Tewksbury, at the Bus stop opposite Hinton's.
ART. 63. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on School Street near corner of Glenwood Road, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 64. To see if the Town will vote to install one light at Bay State Road and Water Street, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 65. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on South Street near the residence of Daniel Hinckley, or take any other action relative thereto.
ART. 66. To see if the Town will vote to install one light on South Street near the residence of Dana Perkins, or take any other action relative thereto.
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ART. 67. To see if the Town will vote to locate a light at the junction of Texas Rd. and South St., and appropriate money for same, or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 68. To see if the Town will vote to install one street
light on Trull Street, near the residence of Mr. Kazzetta, . and make appropriation for same.
ART. 69. To see if the Town will vote to install one street light on Marshall Street, near the residence of Mr. Bowden, and make appropriation for same.
ART. 70. To see if the Town will vote to install one street light on Maplewood Avenue, near the residence of Mr. Hughes, and make appropriation for same.
ART. 71. To see if the Town will vote to install one street light on Florence Avenue, near the residence of Mr. Keough, and make appropriation for same.
ART. 72. To see if the Town will vote to locate one street light on Pringle Street, near Allen's farm, or take any action relative to same.
ART. 73. To see if the Town will vote to install one street light on Helvetia St., between Robinson Ave. and James St., or take any action relative to same.
ART. 74. To see if the Town will vote to install two electric lights on Court St., between Washington and Clinton Streets, or take any action relative thereto.
ART. 75. To see if the Town will vote to locate one light on Clark Rd., or take any action relative thereto.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting 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.
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Hereof fail not and make due returns of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at the time and place of Meetings as aforesaid :-
Given under our hands, this 16th day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and forty-six.
IRVING F. FRENCH, BERNARD H. GREENE, EDWARD J. SULLIVAN,
Selectmen of
Tewksbury.
A true copy attest :
Constable of Tewksbury
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Annual Report OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Tewksbury
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TOWN
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
For the Year Ending December 31, 1945
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mrs. May L. Larrabee
1943-1946 Chairman Tewksbury
J. Harper Gale
1944-1947 Secretary Tewksbury
Ralph S. Battles 1945-1948
No. Tewksbury
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Stephen G. Bean
Wilmington
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Herbert M. Larrabee, M.D.
Tewksbury
SCHOOL NURSE
Mrs. E. Althea Knox, R. N. Billerica
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Jeremiah Hoolihan
So. Tewksbury
132
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The work and supervision in the public schools has been carried on as usual.
Necessary repairs have been made on all school property during the past year.
During the summer vacation four classrooms in the Foster School were repainted. During the Christmas Holidays the remaining class- rooms and lavatories were repainted. This building has been practically all redecorated during the past two years.
During the summer an artesian well was driven at the Foster School with funds appropriated at a special town meeting. A good supply of water was reached at a depth of 232 feet which tested 12 gallons per minute at 90 feet from the surface. As the well was driven to a much greater depth than was first estimated there were insufficient funds to complete the project and an additional appropria- tion will be necessary to complete the work.
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT APPROPRIATION
ELEMENTARY
Superintendent
$ 912.50
Supervisors
800.00
Teachers
27,500.00
Health
1,850.00
Janitors
4,136.00
Transportation
4,700.00
Fuel
1,800.00
Books and Supplies
2,500.00
District
150.00
Miscellaneous
1,000.00
Repairs
2,000.00
Attendance Officer
75.00
Insurance
400.00
$47,823.50
HIGH
Supervisors
$ 1,020.00
Teachers
21,100.00
Janitors
1,716.00
Transportation
2,500.00
Fuel
1,200.00
Books and Supplies
1,500.00
Miscellaneous
1,200.00
Equipment and Repairs
2,000.00
Health
100.00
Library
200.00
Attendance Officer
25.00
Insurance
300.00
$32,861.00
$80,684.50
TOTAL APPROPRIATION
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee, Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
Madam and Gentlemen:
It is my privilege to submit herewith my fifteenth annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
The past year has not differed materially from previous years. No startling innovations have been introduced in the elementary grades. In the High School, advances have been made in the field of Vocational Guidance. Mr. Lynch's report will give an idea of this accomplishment. Its importance, in the opinion of present day educational bodies, is beyond question. It is advised as an essential part of every high school organization. In many high schools, this is a special department with a full time official in charge who is specially trained for this particular work. We are fortunate that Mr. Lynch has a goodly amount of this specialized training and is pursuing courses to improve his technique.
In the field of visual education, also an increasingly important adjunct to education, decided advances have been made in the high school. An excellent film-sound projector has been purchased by the school as well as a 16 m.m. movie camera. You are again referred to Mr. Lynch's report for more complete details.
While thinking of visual education, it would be worthwhile to consider the advisability of introducing this program into the elemen- tary grades especially from the fifth grade through the eighth. Ex- perience gained in training men for a mechanized war has done more to establish the value of aids to education than a decade of claims of educators could have accomplished. In itself it has been a visual proof-something that can be seen. In some subjects time of learn- ing has been almost halved by this method of teaching. Available materials for this means of instruction have been increased a hundred fold and costs reduced very materially. Every progressive : school system now recognizes it as an essential aid.
BUILDING CONDITIONS
All elementary school buildings have been kept in as good con- dition as is possible for old time wooden structures to be maintained. We have the usual troubles in the cold months of maintaining proper
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heating and ventilation. Heating is sometimes secured at the ex- pense of proper ventilation or circulation of fresh air. At least two rooms in the Foster School suffer from inadequate performance of the indirect heating coils which control the circulation. The result is that these two rooms are the most difficult to heat.
In the Shawsheen School we are still faced with the problem of getting adequate heat into the rooms in the newer part of the building. Much money has been spent in an endeavor to correct this condition but as yet to no avail. Heating engineers assured us that changes in the conduits would remedy this. We were assured that the changes made would assure a circulation "that would blow the children out of the room." Instead, following their specifications to the letter, we have not intake in the new rooms sufficient to "blow your hat off". Something must be done if we are to use all of this building in below zero weather.
The perennial question of a satisfactory supply of drinking water for the Foster Echool has this year been attacked from a new angle. A special appropriation was granted by the town which was believed to be sufficient to cover the cost of drilling an artesian well and supplying a pump to circulate the water in the building. The expense of boring proved so great that the appropriation was exhausted to the point where there was not sufficient money left to install the pump. Until a pump is secured it will be impossible to be sure whether the water is of satisfactory quality.
There are occasional minor difficulties in the High School build- ing. These are usually due to mechanical failures in the sewage disposal system.
An endeavor has been made to keep all of our buildings in good repair and in good appearance, both without and within.
THE TEACHING CORPS
An adequate course of study and the best of buildings would still give us schools which would be only as good as the staff of teachers. To secure and maintain an adequate teaching corps is in- creasingly difficult and expensive so that this is naturally and justly the most expensive item in our financial budget. And since this item like all others is controlled by the law of demand and supply, it naturally follows that an increasingly larger proportion of an in- creasingly larger budget will go to this item.
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The teacher market, if we may call it such, is extremely tight. This is not due altogether to the higher wages offered by industry but is in a larger measure the results of decreased enrollment in the Teachers Colleges. We are told that there are but sixty percent as many enrolled in these institutions as were there in the years just prior to the war.
Such supply as there is naturally goes to the highest bidder, all other circumstances being equal. We here have profited by some of those other circumstances, especially the fact that we have many teachers who want to live at home or who are obliged to do so by a variety of family reasons.
It has been extremely difficult this year to keep a complete corps of regular teachers at all times. At this time, which is after the close of the fiscal year, there are three positions which need to be filled. They are now covered on a temporary basis.
The turnover has not been unusually extensive during the year but at times the outlook has seemed desperate. The condition was rendered more complicated by the sudden end of the war and the uncertain time of return of those of our teachers who were in the national services. This is because of the fact that these veterans have our assurance, as well as a legal right to a return to their former stations in the staff. This made it impossible to assure a continuing tenure to anybody hired in their places.
CHANGES
In the Foster School one position was involved in a series of changes which is not yet complete. Miss Doris Blake became Mrs. Appleton during the year. She fully expected to stay throughout the current school year but the sudden end of the war caused her resignation. Her place was filled by Mrs. Margaret Oliver but she also resigned because of poor health. Mrs. Ethel Bailey then took over as a regular teacher. She resigned after less than a month of service. A substitute, Mrs. Charles Stewart, of Lowell has consented to tide us over until a regular incumbent can be found.
In the Shawsheen School, a vacancy came from the resignation of Miss Mary Katherina, who was lured from us by the high salary paid by the government for teaching at Fort Devens. Mrs. Helen Melvin, a former teacher in the Boston schools, took over this second grade position.
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During the Thanksgiving holiday, Miss Mary Furey, teacher in the fourth grade, became Mrs. Burke. She has recently asked to be released as soon as possible.
Miss Helle Generales, teacher of the first four grades in the Ella Flemings School at North Tewksbury, resigned during the sum- mer to accept a position in the Dracut school system. Mrs. Dorothy Barry, of Wamesit was secured to fill this vacancy.
It will be noted how frequently the title Mrs. occurs in our list. This means that temporarily we have been obliged to abrogate our rule concerning employ of married teachers. This is not peculiar to Tewksbury. It is common in many of the smaller towns and neces- sarily so.
Of the High School faculty, three are new this year. Mr. Vahan J. Avadisian was employed to take the place of Mrs. Vera Allen, who went to Grosse Point, Michigan as teacher in a private day school. Miss Elsie Barrows of Wilmington was secured from the Dighton, Mass. High School to replace Miss Mary P. Keefe who re- signed during the summer. In the Home Economics Department, Miss Emily Lefebvre replaced Miss Arlene Moore. During the summer Mrs. Margaret Ingraham resigned because of the return of her husband from service. There was a hectic struggle to replace her and finally Mr. John Sullivan, a teacher of long experience in second- ary schools and college classes, was employed. Mr. Sullivan resigned during the Christmas recess and Mrs. Ingraham returned as a sub- stitute for a limited period. At this writing our long absent Lawrence McGowan has returned with the silver leaves of a lieutenant colonel to assume his former position as teacher and coach. The classes in the sciences and those now taught by Mrs. Ingraham will be divided between Mr. McGowan and Mr. Avadisian.
If, and when, Mr. Pearson returns from service, Mr. Lynch will continue his work in manual arts and I hope will intensify and broaden the scope of his work with vocational guidance. Given more time to devote to guidance he can render a very distinct service to the pupils in this school.
ENROLLMENT
Due to war conditions and the attendant shifting of population, there has been a drop in school enrollment, especially in the ele- mentary grades. From a total of five hundred and sixty-six in October, 1944, the number decreased to five hundred and nineteen in the same month of 1945.
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In the Ella Flemings School at North Tewksbury, there was a twenty-five percent decrease from thirty-nine in 1944 to twenty-nine in the current year.
Realizing full well that it is almost heresy to suggest it; I wonder whether we can long justify keeping this school in operation. Having no knowledge of how many will enter in the fall it is difficult to predict the enrollment then. Last September there were but two pupils entering the first grade. In any event, the per pupil cost of operating this school is all out of proportion to the average cost in the town. Of course the undesirable element of transporting small children would be in this consideration, as well as the capacity of the bus to accommodate them.
THE BAND PROJECT
Under the sponsorship of the Parent-Teacher Association a school band has been organized known as the Tewksbury High School Band. At present most of the candidates for this organization have been high school students. The future success of this venture will depend on our success with a junior band made up of pupils in the elemen- tary schools.
The start on this project was made possible through the en- deavors of the teachers and pupils in the Shawsheen School who through a very successful entertainment made a sum sufficient to purchase some of the larger brasses needed as a foundation for the other smaller instruments already owned or bought by the pupils. Later in the year the teachers and pupils of the Foster school by another extremely successful entertainment further increased the money available for maintaining the band. It is only fair that these younger children should have opportunity to profit by this new venture.
While this project got its first impetus from the Parent Teacher organization it should be taken over as a part of the regular activities of the school system under the direction of the School Department. Money for its support should be a part of each annual budget.
We have been fortunate to secure the services of Mr. Harold MacDonnell of Methuen as teaching director for the band. Mr. Mac- Donnell should be familiar to many as the leader of the band at Hampton Beach each summer. He is also serving the Town of Methuen in the same capacity as he is employed here. Mr. MacDon-
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nell has already done an excellent piece of work with the High School Band in the neighboring Town of Wilmington.
CONCLUSION
I extend grateful thanks to all of my associates who have done their best to give to the children of Tewksbury proper guidance along their road to learning and future citizenship.
To the members of the School Committee I tender thanks for support, advice and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN G. BEAN, Superintendent of Schools.
January 21, 1946
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REPORT OF THE HEADMASTER Tewksbury High School January 1946
To the School Committee of the Town of Tewksbury:
Tewksbury High School was approved in Class A for the year 1945 by the State Department of Education.
The Tenth Annual Commencement for Tewksbury High School was held in the high school auditorium on June 8. The following is the program of graduation.
Salutatory RITA O'NEIL
HONOR AWARDS
The Larrabee Scholarship Medals RITA O'NEIL and GEORGE FARRELL
The Melvin Rogers Athletic Medals CARMEN DEANGELO and ALEX DAVIS
The P. T. A. Citizenship Medal MARILYN IVES
The Washington and Franklin History Medal LOIS WINTER
The Balfour Award ALEC DAVIS
The D. A. R. Citizenship. Award ALMA CROWN
The Readers Digest Award RITA O'NEIL and GEORGE FARRELL
Address to the Graduates MR. STEPHEN BEAN, Superintendent of Schools
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Presentation of the Class Gift JAMES CHANDLER President Class of 1945 RICHARD COOMBES, President Class of 1946
Valedictory GEORGE FARRELL
Presentation of Diplomas MR. RALPH BATTLES
SENIOR CLASS
Dorothy M. Allen
Betty A. Fosse
Josephy A. Aubut
Theresa M. Gillissen
Thomas C. Brewer
Jane Gross
Andrea M. Bruneau
Lorraine G. Hinton
James P. Chandler Robert G. Colbath
Gloria H. Johnson
Jean A. Crowley
Pauline B. Keene Helen L. King Blanche V. Marion
Marilyn G. Darby
Thomas C. McCausland Mary I. Morris
Carmen D. DeAngelo
Rita M. O'Neil
Bernard J. Dougherty
John C. Pitman
Dorothy M. Fantini
George V. Farrell
Mary E. Tighe Walter P. C. Weiss
Class Marshal THOMAS C. BREWER
JUNIOR USHERS Peggy Scribner, Jean Porterfield, Richard Coombes, Earl Sands
CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES STUDENT COURSE DISTRIBUTION (October 1, 1945)
College
68
Commercial
45
General
50
Manual Training
18
Nurse's Training
5
Home Economics
8
.
194
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Marilyn A. Ives
Marie F. Crowley
Alma J. Brown
Alexander L. Davis
VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE-Boston University sent members of its staff to the high school in April, 1945 to test Juniors and Seniors for Vocational Interests and Aptitudes. The results of these tests were discussed in guidance interviews between the headmaster and the students. They also showed that our high school achievement was above the average national high school achievement.
In May 1945, all of the eighth grade students in the town were tested for scholastic achievement and capacity. The result of these tests were used in planning the high school program.
The Iowa Test of Educational Development was administered to all of the students of the high school on October 5, 1945. The major purpose of these tests is to help the class room teachers become more quickly and dependably acquainted with the educational needs of individual students.
Testing is only one function of guidance. Actually guidance is vitally related to every aspect in school-the curriculum, the method of instruction, the supervision of instruction, the disciplinary procedures, attendance, the extra curriculum, the health and physical fitness program, and home and community relations.
The teachers of the high school became engaged in a program of guidance work which will consist of one class meeting a week. During this period information regarding occupational choices, educational planning, or social conduct will be discussed. It is planned to begin the guidance program in the second semester of the current school year.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION-The students in the high school received physical examinations in September 1945. This is considered an essential procedure in any physical educational program. A health record is maintained for every student in the high school. The information, thus assembled, is fully important as the mental informa- tion accumulated in record form throughout the years.
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