USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1920-1926 > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
As usual this year as in former years I put out all the Fish and Game it was possible for me to get and have patrolled the woods and covers as much as possible and from time to time get complaints about people that are doing illegal hunting but no one wants to help convict
80
L
any one as they would have to lose the time to go to court and it will always be so until the people that are paying for a license and look on the poacher as you would at any other law breaker. This State pays out thousands of dollars to run the Fish and Game Division, the money they receive for licenses don't begin to pay for the work they do and the person that hunts or traps or fishes without a license is simply stealing what you are paying for.
A word to the thoughtless-remember when you get a license you almost always are going on land that don't belong to you. Don't leave the gate open or the bars down so that the cattle will stray out. Don't push over a stone wall and leave it for the owner to build up. Don't cut his wire fence for a short cut through. Don't tread down his grass, grain and vegetables. Don't pick his berries, grapes or any other fruit that is on his land, also evergreens, a small tree for Christ- mas or other decorations, some one has bought and paid for all of this. Please respect the owner.
Never build a fire on another man's land.
Hoping this report will meet with your approval I am,
Yours obediently,
JOE WALL, Game Warden.
81
Report of Finance Committee
The Finance Committee have carefully considered those articles of the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting where an appropriation is asked, and the following is a list of the amounts requested and the amounts recommended as well as the amounts expended in 1926:
Amount Voted
10 General Government:
1926
Amount Used 1926
Amount Asked for 1927
Amount Recommended 1927
Selectmen
GA
500.00
$ 424.16
$ 500.00
Town Accountant
825.00
792.13
900.00
Town Treasurer
550.00
550.00
750.00
Tax Collector
1,250.00
1,232.64
1,250.00
Assessors
800.00
745.92
800.00
Town Counsel
400.00
232.14
400.00
Election & Registration
600.00
750.80
600.00
Town Clerk
325.00
292.51
475.00
Total
$ 5.250.00
$ 5,020.30
$ 5,675.00
$ 5,675.00
Town Hall
1,500.00
1,643.60
2,000.00
2,000.00
Protection of Persons and Property :
11 Police Dept.
3,000.00
2,331.84
3,000.00
3,000.00
12 Fire Dept.
2,900.00
2,629.34
2,700.00
2,700.00
13 Sealer
150.00
114.68
150.00
150.00
14 Fish and Game Warden
100.00
84.00
100.00
100.00
15 Forest Fires
1,000.00
998.46
1,000.00
1,000.00
16 Tree Warden
300.00
281.00
300.00
300.00
17 Moth Dept.
3,000.00
2,998.54
3,000.00
2,500,00
18 Health Dept.
3,000.00
2,732.22
3,400.00
3,400.00
19 Cattle Inspection
150.00
149.00
150.00
150.00
..
..
20 Highways:
Town Roads and Equipment
21,000.00
22,529.52
30,000.00
30,000.00
State and County Roads
4,000.00
4,000.00
4,000.00
4,000.00
Snow Removal
6,000.00
6,417.19
2,000.00
2,000.00
Brush Cutting
500.00
431.59
800.00
800.00
New Tractor
5,300.00
5,276.25
Sidewalks
400.00
400.00
Total
$ 36,800.00
$ 38,654.55
$ 37,200.00
$ 37,200.00
21 Charity Department:
Outside Aid
7,500.00
4,889.62
7,000.00
6,000.00
Westford Home
6,000.00
5,441.69
5,900.00
5,900.00
22 Soldiers' Benefits
2,000.00
1,874.82
2,000.00
2,000.00
23 Schools
65,000.00
64,992.43
66,250.00
66,250.00
24 Library
2,400.00
2,993.87
2,400.00
2,400.00
Dog Licenses
560.35
Unclassified :
25 Care of Common
200.00
178.88
200.00
200.00
26 Memorial Day
300.00
250.42
300.00
300.00
27 Publishing Town Reports
600.00
526.00
400.00
400.00
28 Legion Headquarters
200.00
200.00
300.00
300.00
29 Liability Insurance
500.00
446.46
500.00
500.00
30 Farm Bureau
400.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
31 Reforestation
200.00
170.00
200.00
200.00
32
Reserve Fund
2,000.00
1,833.14
2,000.00
2,000.00
Amount
Amount
Voted
Used
Amount Asked for 1927
Amount Recommended
1926
1926
1927
33 Band Concerts
400.00
400.00
400.00
400.00
34 Town Scales
25.00
25.00
25.00
25.00
35 Cemeteries
1,200.00
1,428.02
1,200.00
1,200.00
Income
452.00
36 Overdrafts
Snow Removal
417.19
1921 Corp. Tax Refund
5,015.71
5,431.90
5,431.90
37 Outstanding Bills Dec. 31, 1926 Estimated
1,000.00
1,000.00
38 Plans for four room addition to Forge Village School
300.00
300.00
40 Vocational Training Tuition
2,000.00
2,000.00
41 Land Damages on Littleton Road
1,375.00
1,375.00
42 Additional Street Lights
800.00
800.00
43 Street Lights
210.00
210.00
44 Retaining Wall at Sargent School
300.00
300.00
Total
$159,766.90
$158,066.90
FIXED CHARGES
Hydrants
$ 2,760.00
Street Lights
5,620.00
General Loans
4,400.00
General Loans Interest
2,439.13
Revenue Loans Interest
2,000.00
County Taxes
7,625.73
State Taxes
12,152.90
$ 36,997.76
$195,264.66
INCOME
Corporation and Bank Tax $ 18,345.88 Income Tax
11,808.95
Poll Taxes All Other
1,908.00
16,741.54
Available from Surplus
$ 48,804.37 12,000.00
$ 60,804.37
$134,460.29
Basing our calculations on the same valuation and the same income as last year with the appropriation of $12,000.00 from our surplus we estimate that the tax rate will not be over $32.00 per thousand.
It is the aim of the finance committee to get our tax rate down to $30.00 per thousand in the next year or two. However at the present rate we are headed toward a $40.00 tax rate which is altogether too high. It is time that we stopped and took account of stock. The assessors can assist in this matter by going over their books thoroughly and equalizing many of the parcels of real estate .. We appeal to the voters to think this matter over as you are really the ones who make the tax rate and the assessors make you pay the bills.
-
Respectfully submitted,
SHERMAN H. FLETCHER JOHN C. ABBOT P. HENRY HARRINGTON A. H. BURNHAM JULIAN A. CAMERON HERBERT V. HILDRETH
Finance Committee.
WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WESTFORD, MASS.
Commonweath of Massachusetts
Middlesex, ss.
To the Constable of the Town of Westford, in said County: Greeting: You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth fore- said, to notify and warn all the inhabitants of said Town qualified to vote in elections, and also in Town affairs, to meet in their several Polling Places, viz .:
Precinct 1. Town Hall, Westford Centre.
Precinct 2. Abbot's Hall, Graniteville.
Precinct 3. Abbot's Hall, Brookside.
Precinct 4. Abbot's Hall, Forge Village.
Monday, February 14, 1927, being the second Monday in said month, at 6:30 o'clock in the morning, for the following purposes:
To bring in their votes for the following officers:
For Three Years.
One Town Clerk,
One Selectman,
One Overseer of the Poor,
One Assessor,
Two Members of the School Committee,
One Commissioner of Public Burial Grounds,
One Trustee of Public Library,
One Member Board of Health
For Two Years.
One Overseer of the Poor (to fill unexpired term),
For One Year.
Moderator, Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, Constable, Tree Warden.
86
The polls will be open from 6.30 a. m. to 4 p. m., and to meet in the Town Hall at Westford Centre on the following Monday, February 21, 1927, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act upon the following articles, viz .:
1st. To hear the report of the Finance Committee.
2nd. To hear the report of the Town Accountant.
3rd. To hear the report of the Selectmen.
4th. To hear the report of the Overseers of the Poor.
5th. To hear the report of the School Committee.
6th. To hear the report of the Trustees of the Public Library.
7th. To hear the report of the Commissioners of Public Burial Grounds.
8th. To determine the compensation of the Tax Collector.
9th. To see if the Town wil vote to increase the salary of the Town Treasurer from $350 to $500.
10th. To appropriate money for General Government purposes.
11th. To appropriate money for the Police Department.
12th. To appropriate money for the Fire Department.
13th. To appropriate money for the Sealer of Weights and Measures.
14th. To aprpopriate money for the Fish and Game Warden.
15th. To appropriate money for Forest Fires.
16th. To appropriate money for the Tree Warden.
17th. To appropriate money for the Moth Department.
18th. To appropriate money for the Health Department.
19th. To aprpopriate money for the Cattle Inspector.
20th. To appropriate money for Highway Purposes.
21st. To appropriate money for Charities.
22nd. To appropriate money for Soldiers' Benefits.
23rd. To appropriate money for the School Department.
24th. To appropriate money for the Public Library.
25th. To appropriate money for the Care of the Common.
26th.
To apropriate money to commemorate Memorial Day.
27th. To appropriate money for Publishing Town Reports.
28th. To see if the Town wil authorize the Selectmen to renew the lease with the Spalding Light Cavalry Association to provide quarters for Post 159 of the American Legion for a period of five years at a rental of $300 per year, and appropriate money therefor.
S7
29th. To appropriate money for Liability Insurance.
30th. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of $400 and elect a director under the provisions of Section 40-45 Chap- ter 128 of the General Laws.
31st. To hear the report of the Committee on the Town Forest and to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of $200 for the con- tinuance of the work on the Town Forest.
32nd. To see if the Town in accordance with the provisions of Sec- tion 6 of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, will apropriate money as a Reserve Fund.
33rd. To appropriate money for Band Concerts.
34th. To appropriate money for the Care of Town Scales.
35th. To appropriate money for Cemeteries.
36th. To appropriate money for Over-drafts for 1926.
37th. To apropriate money for Outstanding Bills Dec. 31, 1926.
38th. To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the way extending from the Graniteville Road at a point westerly of the house of Quincy W. Day to the Cold Spring Road.
39th. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the preparation of plans and the securing of estimates for a four-room addition to the Cameron School and appropriate $300 therefor.
40th. To see if the Town will aprpopriate the sum of $2000 for Vo- cational Training, said sum to be under the supervision of the School Committee.
41st. To aprpopriate the sum of $1375 for the land damages on the Littleton-Chelmsford Road.
42nd. To see if the Town will accept a town way extending from Broadway by the Methodist Episcopal Church to Cross Street as laid out by the Selectmen.
43rd. To hear the report of the Committee chosen at the last Town Meeting in regard to additional Street Lights from Minot's Corner to Parker Village and vicinity; from last light on Chelmsford Road to the house of Mrs. Alvin Blaisdell; and from the last light on the Littletown Road to the house of Alexander Frazer and act in relation to same.
88
44th. To see if the Town will vote to install additional Street Lights on Flagg, Groton, Gould, Makepeace Roads and Pond St. and act in relation to same.
45th. To see if the Town will vote to build a retaining wall between the Town property at the Sargent School and the property of the Methodist Episcopal Church and act in relation to same.
46th. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipa- tion of the revenue of the Current Financial Year.
47th. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the Current Year, also the rate of interest on taxes remaining unpaid at a time to be fixed by the vote of the Town and when and how said taxes should be paid into the Treasury.
48th. To see if the Town will authorize the planting of a spruce tree on the Common.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up true and attested copies at the Town Hall and each Post Office in said West- ford, seven days at least, before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands, this twentieth day of January, in the year of Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-seven.
FRANK L. FURBUSH, BURTON D. GRIFFITH, WILLIAM R. TAYLOR, Selectmen of Westford.
A true copy. Attest:
89
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD, MASS.
WESTF
TOW!
RD
CO
1729. c
PORATED
SEPT. 23
OF THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1926
THE PARKER COMPANY, PRINTERS Lowell, Mass., 1927
Organization, School Committee
Axel G. Lundberg
Term expires 1928
Minnie A. Palmer
66
1928
Arthur G. Hildreth, Chairman
1927
Martha G. Whiting
1927
Eva F. Wright, Secretary
1929
Edward Spinner 66
1929
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Charles G. Carter, Westford, Mass. Tel. Residence 125. Tel. Office 41-3 at the Town Hall.
COMMITTEE ON TEXT-BOOKS
Eva F. Wright, Westford, Mass., Tel. 56.
SUPPLY AGENT Charles G. Carter
TRUANT OFFICERS
John Sullivan, Forge Village, Mass.
Willard H. Beebe, Graniteville, Mass. Charles Edwards, Nabnasset, Mass. J. A. Healy, Graniteville, Mass. Everett Miller, Westford, Mass.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Cyril A. Blaney, M. D., Westford, Mass. Tel. 26
SCHOOL NURSE
Ruby McCarthy, R. N., Westford, Mass. Tel. Office 41-3
2
Report of the School Committee
Citizens of Westford :
We herewith respectfully submit our report to- gether with the various executives of the school depart- ments.
For the year 1927 we call your attention to the portable building and accommodations at Forge Village, which at the time were temporary expedients to tide over a period of high building costs. We feel that more permanent and better facilities should be provided at the Cameron School and recommend a four room ad- dition to the present school building.
Enrollment at the Academy is steadily increasing and it will not be long before the Town will be faced with the necessity of more adequate High School facili- ties.
For the year 1927 we respectfully ask for the sum of $66,500. This is $1500 more than last year, but is made necessary by five year insurance policies coming due on most of the buildings, and a slight increase in the salaries of those teachers remaining with us who have not reached the maximum.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR G. HILDRETH, Chairman of School Committee.
3
School Calendar
Sept. 8, 1926. Fall Term Begins.
Thanksgiving Recess-Nov. 24, 1926 to Nov. 29, 1926 Dec. 23, 1926. Fall Term Ends.
Christmas Vacation-December 23, 1926-January 3, 1927.
Jan. 3, 1927. Winter Term Begins.
Recess for Washington's Birthday Feb. 18-Feb. 28, 1927.
Apr. 15, 1927. Winter Term Ends. Vacation April 15-April 25, 1927.
Apr. 25, 1927. Spring Term Begins.
June 17, 1927. Spring Term Closes.
Summer Vacation-June 17-September 7, 1927.
Sept. 7, 1927. Fall Term Begins.
Thanksgiving Recess Nov. 23-(at noon)-Nov. 28, 1927.
Dec. 23, 1927. Fall Term Ends.
Christmas Vacation Dec. 23, 1927 to Jan. 3, 1928.
SPECIAL EXERCISE DAYS AND HOLIDAYS 1927
Feb. 11. Lincoln Exercises, one hour.
Feb. 18. Washington Exercises, one hour.
Apr. 15. Patriots' Day Exercises, one hour.
May 27. Memorial Day Exercises, one hour.
Oct. 11. Columbus Day Exercises, one hour.
Nov. 11. Armistice Day Exercises, one hour. Nov. 23. Thanksgiving Day Exercises, one hour.
4
LEGAL HOLIDAYS
January first, February twenty-second, April nine- teenth, May thirtieth, July fourth, First monday of Sept- ember, October twelfth, Thanksgiving Day and Christ- mas.
Note: There will be no school on Good Friday.
Arbor Day and Flag Day should be observed with proper exercises by any school in session on those days.
The Academy closes two weeks later in June.
5
TEACHERS IN SERVICE 1926-1927
SCHOOL
William E. Frost
GRADES TAUGHT
VII-VIII
V-VI
III-IV
I-II
VII-VIII
VII-VIII
J. H. Fitzgibbons, Prin. ** Thomas Murphy, Act. Prin.
Lillian G. Wright,
Lowell Normal Lowell Normal
Graniteville, Mass.
Westford, Mass.
III
Mary M. Reynolds,
II
I
VII-VIII VI V
Cameron School
IV III II
I
TEACHER
Percy L. Rowe, Prin. Estelle Mills
Ruth P. Tuttle Edith A. Wright
Castine Normal Lowell Normal Lowell Normal *Hyannis Normal
Salem Normal Boston College
Sargent School
VI V IV
Gertrude Provost
Lottie Blodgett
Farmington Normal
Lowell Normal
Nasson Inst. Lowell Normal
Hyannis Normal Aroostook Normal Lowell Normal Lowell Normal *Hyannis Normal Lowell Normal Perry Normal
HOME ADDRESS
Boothbay, Maine Lowell, Mass. Westford, Mass. Westford, Mass.
Beverly, Mass. Fall River, Mass.
Westford, Mass.
Lowell, Mass. Ware, Mass. Lowell, Mass.
Provincetown, Mass. Houlton, Maine Lowell, Mass. Lowell, Mass. Forge Village, Mass. Lowell, Mass. Mansfield, Mass.
Helen Newcomb Ann Harrington
Peter F. Perry, Prin. Harriet Taylor Blood Margaret Carney Ruth A. Walker, Mrs. L. W. O'Clair Louise E. Thompson Mildred E. Pilkington
WHERE EDUCATED
Nabnassett School
IV-V-VI
I-II-III
Harry J. Corbett, Prin. Mabel E. Carter
Gorham Normal Fitchburg Normal
Westbrook, Maine Westford, Mass.
Parkerville School
I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Marian C. Vinal
Lesley Normal
York Harbor, Maine
Special Class
All Grades
Mary Farrell
Fitchburg Normal
Leominster, Mass.
Music Supervisor
Music
Pamelia Precious
Lowell Normal New Eng. Conservatory of Music
Forge Village
Physical Education Supervisor
Physical Education
Marion Welch
Posse School Phy. Ed.
Worcester, Mass.
Some of the teachers attended summer school this past summer.
* Hyannis Summer Sessions.
** Taught during the fall term.
C. G. CARTER.
A
REGISTRATION OF MINORS
Ages as of October 1, 1926.
Boys
Girls Total
Persons 5 years of age or over and under 7.
90
84
174
Persons 7 years of age or over and under 14
229
266
495
Persons 14 years of age or over and under 16
44
57
101
363
407
770
MEMBERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY GRADES AS OF OCTOBER 1, 1926 Elementary Schools
Grade 1
103
Grade 2
99
Grade 3
76
Grade 4 94
Grade 5
81
Grade 6
89
Grade 7
62
Grade 8
54
Total 658
A Special Class was formed on October 4, 1926 with a membership of 13.
High School
First Year 33
Second Year 21
Third Year 23
Fourth Year
13
Special
.
1
Postgraduate
1
Total 92
Total in Elementary and High Schools
750
Total in Elementary and High Schools last year 776
C. G. C.
8
HONOR LIST
Pupils who were neither absent nor tardy during the school year 1925-26.
SARGENT SCHOOL
Alexander Beskala, Grade 4; Nicholas Sedelnick, Grade 3; Bronda Stepenski, Grade 7; Henry Stepenski, Grade 8.
CAMERON SCHOOL
Sadie Darenchuck, Grade 1; Tony Kostechko, Grade 1; Helen Sechovitch, Grade 1; Charles Hanagan, Grade 2; Nellie Deranchuc, Grade 3; Standley Kazeniac, Grade 3; Tony Sidorovick, Grade 3; Nellie Sedach, Grade 3; Vasil Talenecz, Grade 3; George Britko, Grade 4; Peter Sechovick, Grade 4; Florida Britko, Grade 5; Bessie Cosgrove, Grade 5; Alice Flannagan, Grade 5; Irving Whigham, Grade 5; Mary Cerskey, Grade 6; Orlena Flannagan, Grade 7; Anthony Denisevich, Grade 8; Olive Keefe, Grade 8.
WILLIAM E. FROST SCHOOL
Gordon H. Whitney, Grade 3; John Whitney, Grade 4; Richard Hil- dreth, Grade 5; Cyril Blaney, Grade 6; Edgar Peterson, Grade 6; Mar- jorie Wilson, Grade 7; Harold Wright, Grade 7.
NABNASSETT SCHOOL
Chester Whitney, Grade 4; Marco Moreno, Grade 5; Eugenia St. Onge, Grade 5; Ralph Whitney, Grade 6.
PARKERVILLE SCHOOL
Mary Wilson, Grade 5; Raymond Wilson, Grade 6.
WESTFORD ACADEMY
John Barretto, Marion Day, Edna Hamlin, Linwood Nesmith, Rose Barretto ,Alice Heywood, Ruth Nesmith, Margaret Pendlebury, Arnold Wilder.
9
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS To the School Committee and Citizens of Westford:
I hereby submit my third report as Superintendent of the Public Schools of Westford.
Reports from the State Department of Education, Arthur B. Lord, Agent. During the past ten years the cost of operating our public schools has increased 156 per cent; partly due to the increased enrollment. In- crease of teachers' salaries has been 89.3 per cent. The average salary of all teachers in the state is now $1606.00.
Westford was reimbursed for the teachers and superintendent this year $4,770.00; Night school $184.39; State wards $563.08.
ENROLLMENT DECEMBER 1, 1926.
. Cameron School 228
Sargent School 216
Frost School 120
Nabnassett School 65
Parkerville School 22
Total 651
NEW TEXT BOOKS
This year as far as possible we have tried to adopt a new system of reading which in the mind of your superintendent was a great need, namely the Bolenius Method of Reading.
In the first book the author has tried to promote the following features:
10
1. To make reading such a pleasure in the child's mind that he is eager to learn to read more.
2. To correlate number work, hand work, lan- guage, rhythm, etc. with the reading. To make the whole day circle around the reading work.
3. To bring out the child's most dominant trait. Seat work.
4. To bring about a play spirit by "Reading Games".
5. Early silent reading.
It is a common belief that silent reading is of more importance in the upper grades than oral reading.
A great many silent readers have been placed in all the schools.
The New World Spellers are replacing the old spellers. The New World Speller is not only attractive- ly written but is very interesting to the pupil.
New History Books have been placed in the upper grades, namely "The Past and Present".
I wish to include in my report the following three articles issued by Better Schools League, Inc., 53 West Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Ill.
"A By-Product of a Modern School" "The Spread in School Influence"
"What Price Education"
1]
A BY-PRODUCT OF A MODERN SCHOOL
Few people realize how important a factor are our public schools in the prosperity and growth of a com- munity-purely a commercial viewpoint. We measure the product of our schools in terms of cultural and ed- ucational value, their spiritual influence, their part in developing better citizenship, their work in equipping our youth to meet the problems of life. These primary products are of first importance and it is a wholesome condition that they are so stressed. However, we often overlook the fact that a community without an effect- ive school system may not be only lacking in these essen- tial elements but likely to be equally as far behind in material prosperity.
When the time comes for a family to change its res- idence, a location accessible to an efficient school is of first concern. This is true in intra as well as inter-city movements. Realty values are affected by proximity to the class room. A good school will surround itself with a solid population of industrious families; families whose wants must be supplied, who build church memberships, patronize shops and stores, give their patronage to the professions, and thus fill the arteries of trade with the blood of business.
The Better Schools League calls attention to this phase of school influence, an influence that aids in build- ing up the business welfare of a district as well as lead- ing in mental and ethical development of its youth. A substantial, sightly and well equipped school plant manned by teaching force of personality and power, with adequate facilities for study and play, is a source of prestige, a worthy asset to city district or country town. Such school atmosphere makes for stability and solidity in the property surroundings increasing land
12
values through its influence on the character of the neighborhood and on the volume of trade.
We have the testimony of a former cabinet mem- ber who has said that ambitious citizens will go where education may be had for their children. The same point is emphasized in the story of another prominent American who tells of his father's leaving the back- woods of the Ozark Mountains because there were avail- able but three months of school. "My father packed our belongings in a covered wagon" he relates, "and went to a new state-and we moved out of a three months' school into a nine months' one, with a free high school."
This leads us to wonder how desirable are new residents to a community who are not sufficiently in- terested in their children to inquire regarding school advantages before establishing a new home. It has been said, "We can judge of a civilization as well as an individual by the way childhood is treated."
This is a view of a by-product of our schools, a form of public service to the community that should im- press residents who have no occasion to utilize the schools as well as non-resident property owners, both of whom sometimes feel that they have taxation with- out proportionate benefits.
The importance of the products and by-products of our schools may be summarized in the words of Her bert Hoover, "If we were to suppress our educational system for a single generation the equipment would de- cay, the most of our people would die of starvation, and intellectually and spiritually we should slip back four thousand years in human progress. We could recover the loss of any other big business in a few years-but not this one."
13
THE SPREAD IN SCHOOL INFLUENCE
In estimating the efficiency of our schools should the emphasis be placed on scholarship or citizenship- capacity or character-or both ?
In the life of the individual, even as in the life of the nation, the activities of today are conducted in the light of their influence on the affairs of tomorrow. So it is with education-its prime business is the develop- ment of the individual to build the nation's future. "One's way of looking at things does not depend upon the size of the town he lives in but on the size of his mind." With educaton there need be no "Main Street."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.