USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1942-1946 > Part 13
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ART. 22. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Board of Assessors to use as free cash a sum of money not to exceed fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars, such amount to be approved by the Commissioner of Corporations and Taxation of the Commonwealth, and said sum to be applied in determining the tax rate for the current year 1944; or act in relation thereto.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up true and attested copies thereof at the Town Hall and at each Post Office in said Westford, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make 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 twenty-fifth day of January in the year of our Lord 1944.
ARTHUR M. WHITLEY ARTHUR L. HEALY CYRIL A. BLANEY
Selectmen of Westford
A true copy. Attest :
Constable of Westford.
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Westford
OWN OF
NESTFO
INCORPOR
1729.
PORATED
23
T.
SEP
For the Year Ending December 31, 1943
ORGANIZATION-SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Frederick W. Gatenby Term expires 1946
Mrs. Dorothy E. Chandler, Secretary Term expires 1946
Clifford J. Courchaine Term expires 1945
Thomas Curley Term expires '1945
Edward C. Buckingham Term expires 1944
James P. Mulligan, Chairman Term expires 1944
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Chester V. Sweatt, Westford, Mass.
Tel. Residence 616
Tel. Office 561
SCHOOL TELEPHONES
Tel. Cameron School 542
Tel. Sargent School 233
Tel. Wm. E. Frost School 230 Tel. Westford Academy 561
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dwight W. Cowles, M. D., Westford, Mass.
Tel. 521
SCHOOL NURSE Dorothy Healy, R. N., Westford, Mass. Tel. Office 391 Town Hall
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Citizens of Westford, Westford, Massachusetts.
I hereby submit my annual report as Chairman of the School Committee for the year 1943:
Mrs. Dorothy Chandler was re-elected to the Board. Mr. Frederick Gatenby was elected to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Albert Forty, whose term expired. Mr. Forty had served on the schoolboard for eighteen years. On behalf of the town, Mr. Forty, may I thank you for your faithful service.
At the first meeting of the board, Mr. James Mulligan was chosen Chairman and Mrs. Dorothy Chandler, Secretary.
Major repair work was concentrated on the Academy building. All people who have visited the building have commented on the improvement, an improvement that can't help making for a better learning environment for our pupils. Details of the repair work may be found in the superintendent's report.
Maintaining a teaching staff in these days, when high school seniors are offered more money to leave school for clerical jobs than teachers are earning, has been a problem. The board has followed the policy of trying to keep proven teachers as far as funds permitted.
We are respectfully asking for the sum of $79,500.00 with which to operate the public schools during 1944 and $500.00 for vocational tui- tion. $1,400.00 of the $79,500.00 is listed in the warrant as a special appropriation for the purpose of painting the exteriors of Cameron and Frost Schools. This special appropriation is asked for because it may be impossible to get a satisfactory quality of paint and if this is true, the work may be postponed until a more suitable time. The special appropriation will make it possible to have funds available when it is feasible to paint the buildings.
This year we have received $6,105.00 from the state as our share of income taxes, $1,002.96 for tuition and transportation on state wards. $321.20 from Tyngsboro for tuition and transportation for two pupils, and $241.88 from the state for vocational tuition. This money like all others received by the town goes directly to the town treasurer and is not available for use by the school department.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES P. MULLIGAN,
Chairman. *
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Westford School Committee:
It is with much pleasure that I submit my second annual report as Superintendent of the Westford Schools for the past year has been most pleasant in every respect. I am happy to report that I believe our educational efforts are producing significant results in the evolu- tion of our boys and girls from childhood to adulthood.
A year ago I wrote in my annual report that our ideal was to create an environment where the knowledges, skills, habits, attitudes, and appreciations necessary for worthy living could be developed. Have we made any progress toward this ideal? I have asked each principal to report a few instances where growth in any one of the above items was evident. Let's see what they say;
Mr. Bozoian reports:
(1) The war savings program being conducted at Frost School with the co-operation of the local post office has provided many oppor- tunities for pupil growth in knowledges, skills, habits, attitudes and appreciations.
The war savings program is pupil directed. The job of taking the orders for stamps and bonds at the school, the work of compiling orders, the duty of getting the stamps and bonds at the post office and distributing them at school are in the hands of pupils.
When one considers the many skills and attitudes which are developed as a result of this activity, it is most valuable. The respon- sibility of handling between one hundred and one hundred and fifty dollars per week is one which has been assumed with success by pupils. Almost two thousand dollars was handled by pupils during October, November, and December of 1943. School supervision was limited to checking the work of the pupils.
(2) Recreational experiences are as much a part of our "school living' as arithmetic and spelling. The opportunities these experiences offer for building morale, for developing desirable habits and attitudes · as well as skills, are many.
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Three outstanding examples of pupil growth resulting from our schools' recreational program were the cases of three large, over grade age boys. One boy suffered from a teacher persecution com- plex, a second boy had a "bad temper," and a third had a "bad background" up to which he was trying to live.
Although these boys felt the influence of the play program in the previous year, it wasn't until 1943 that very apparent gains were made for all these boys in the growth of their attitudes toward the school, teachers, fellow pupils, and the community. Naturally, other factors must have been involved but the major influence, beyond any doubt, was this supervised play program.
Mr. Perry says :
(1) One of the attributes of a good school system is its ability to share experiences. This was exemplified in a sharing which took place a short time ago between the Sargent and Cameron Schools. The boys and girls in Sargent School were discussing the advisability of forming a Safety Patrol for their school. After much discussion, and through the careful guidance of their principal, Mrs. Wright, they decided to ask the Safety Patrol at Cameron, which had already been organized and was operating successfully, for advice. A meet- ing was arranged. A committee representing the Sargent School met with the Safety Patrol at Cameron. The significant thing about this meeting was the business-like manner in which these boys and girls
. went about sharing experience. The Sargent committee asked many questions, such as: Why do we need a safety patrol? What benefits do you get from it? What duties does your patrol perform? etc. A committee of adults couldn't have done better.
Some time later, the pupils of Cameron School decided that they would like to have a School Association similar to the one operating in the Sargent School. The pros and cons were discussed openly at class meetings and it was thought that the best way to finally decide what to do was to send a committee to the Sargent School to study their organization. This committee, representing the four upper grades, was elected and a meeting was arranged to be held in Sargent School. After the meeting, questions concerning the organization, duties and responsibilities of the association were explained to the Cameron pupils. As a result of this meeting a School Association is now operating at Cameron School.
This is a sample of the many ways in which all our schools are not only willing, but eager, to share their experiences with one . another for the benefit of the boys and girls in Westford.
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(2) For the past few months, the children in the fourth grade at Cameron School have been working busily and enthusiastically on an aviation unit. The purpose is to learn a few simple fundamentals of aviation and to prepare themselves for the coming air age.
They have learned to identify four well-known military planes. and have learned the location and use of some of the parts of air- planes such as the rudder, stabilizers, and fuselage. Notebooks are being made which contain pictures, charts, and stories about the planes we have studied. A miniature airport is set up on the sand table. Here are control towers, searchlights, hangars and a few model airplanes. Later on in the year, the class will study cloud formations and temperature to show how these effect flying.
(3) During the present war emergency there is a shortage of skilled repairmen in all trades. The boys in the manual training class are being trained to do some of these jobs. They have learned to repair electric cords, replace broken glass, fix leaky faucets, as well as make simple articles for the home such as tie-racks, footstools, broom holders, tooth brush holders, bird houses, and flower boxes.
At present the boys are busy working for the Red Cross, making articles such as diet card holders, stupes and stupe wringers, writing boards, and checker boards. The girls under the direction of Miss Brownrigg are making hot water bag covers, hospital bedside bags, and utility bags. The Art Department with Miss Carroll as leader, has made 500 candy and nut cups, and are now working on newspaper bedside bags.
Mrs. Wright says,
(1) The teachers of Sargent School have voted the following instances as being outstanding examples of growth of pupils from the child toward the adult level.
The 1943 graduation exercises were made a whole-school affair. The teachers and pupils were so favorably impressed that requests have been made to carry on the same idea in 1944.
The "Flag Goes-By" was the theme around which songs and tab- leaux were arranged. The history of the Flag was reviewed from the Red Cross of the Crusaders to Old Glory. Each grade contributed one tableau such as the Landing of the Pilgrims, Betsy Ross. Trading with the Indians, the Spirit of '76, and others in keeping with the
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theme. The eighth grade provided the necessary talks to keep the continuity, and the musical background assisted by a chorus from the seventh grade.
I consider this a worthwhile attempt to make Sargent School not the school, but our school.
(2) Our 1943 Christmas Party was an outstanding educational experience. This party was planned and staged by the children thiem- selves, giving training in finance, co-operation, organization and social conduct.
The program committee of which an eighth grade girl was chair- man, provided a varied entertainment, planned to suit all tastes. Dancing held an important place on the program with children. in grades five to eight sharing in the fun. Dancing lessons were given after school every day for two weeks previous to the party, so that, on the evening in question, all children had learned to dance and had lost all self-consciousness.
The assembly hall was decorated with evergreen and hand-made decorations of candles and reindeer.
Refreshments were served and Santa Claus appeared to distribute gifts and to wish all a Merry Christmas.
This party was voted by the teachers as being an outstanding event at Sargent School during 1943.
(3) Another fine example of pupil growth is in the case of a Sargent School boy, who, while preparing to play basketball at the Academy, opened an Academy boy's locker. A cola bottle fell out and broke. On his own volition, the boy secured a brush and pan from the janitor, cleaned up the debris and disposed of it, put two cents in the boy's locker, and then reported the incident to the teacher in charge who, np to this point, knew nothing of the incident. One wouldn't ask for better pupil behavior than this.
I am well aware that it takes many cases like the above to form a safe generalization. However, these are indications of a trend that is noticeable in all our schools. . Each school is trying to teach more than knowledges and skills important as these may be.
I anı also aware that this larger conception of the school's place in the community is one involving much study, much work, often
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little immediate success, and many disappointments. To help pupils grow up a teacher must know more than subject matter facts, although she must know these, too. She must know how to apply them, or better yet, to know ways of teaching pupils how to apply them in everyday living.
As has been said above, this involves much study and work. The The teacher must concern herself with what her pupils are doing and thinking about when beyond the limits of the classroom. She must make her influence felt at all times. To do this the teacher must have wide knowledge, much professional training, a sympathetic understanding of human weaknesses, the desire to be of service to boys and girls, and a willingness to work.
The obstacles, the disappointments, and the set-backs in this wider program of teaching are many. But there is no other course for the l'eal teacher if she understands the trend of modern society where- in many of the duties and obligations of parents, rightly or wrongly, are now placed on other agencies, one of which is the school.
THE TEACHING STAFF
The teaching staff has several new members this year. Mr. Ernest Dalton resigned to accept a position in Westbrook Junior College, Westbrook, Maine. Miss Ethel Tewksbury left us to accept work with the American Optical Company. Miss Mary Meehan was married early in the spring and resigned in June. Miss Helen Trainor and Miss Eleanor Murphy resigned to accept positions in Lexington, Massachu- setts. To all of you we wish success in your new work.
Miss Carolyn Dutton, a recent graduate of Boston University. and Mrs. Mary Croucher, formerly a teacher at Amherst, Massachu- setts were chosen to fill the vacancies in the Academy.
Miss Mary McQuade and Miss Muriel Burke were appointed to the Sargent staff. Miss Catherine Hill was chosen for the Cameron vacancy. All of the above are recent graduates of Lowell Teachers College.
Our teachers are continuing to grow in their willingness to work together to improve their teaching. They are more alert to analyze weaknesses and to finding ways of overcoming them. For our mapor study problem this year we have arranged a series of teachers meet- ings to study ways of improving our use of visual aids.
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In connection with willingness to work, I wish to commend the elementary teachers on their improvement of playground supervision, and the Academy teachers on their efforts to provide opportunities for pupils to learn. I have never known an Academy staff to show more concern for the welfare of its pupils.
A problem facing our town is teachers' salaries. This is often a controversial question, some saying teachers receive too much and others saying they receive too little. Regardless of how anyone feels, events are happening so fast today that it is impossible to follow any charted course. The following is a brief resume of the situa- tion in Westford regarding teachers salaries.
The school committee took the stand in 1943 that it was poor educational economy to let our schools be a training ground for new teachers. As far as funds permitted they resolved to keep the better teachers.
The financial problem facing the town is whether to support a sound salary policy for teachers or to continue having a relatively large turn over, a turn over that will increase as our older teachers retire. If we have reached the limit of what we can support, then we should all recognize the situation and stop trying to compete for teachers.
To keep our high school staff we have been faced with the problem of paying higher salaries than ever before. Small towns usually hire beginning teachers at relatively low salaries. The number of women graduates available for teaching is almost negligible compared to former years so replacements have been drawn largely from poorer communities. In Westford's case this meant competing with other communities for the services of desirable teachers. This meant that if teachers earning $1600 left us, we would have had to pay $1700 or $1800 to attract replacements below the caliber of present teachers. This was no economy so the school board made every effort to hold proven teachers.
The problem was not so acute in the elementary grades last year. New teachers were available at Lowell State Teachers' College and old teachers showed fine spirit of cooperation by not pressing the salary question. However, we must now face the elementary teacher's salary problem.
State law demands that no teacher be paid less than $1200. This imposes an additional strain on our inducements for teachers to stay in Westford. For instance, a teacher employed in 1938 at a salary of $850 might have received annual increases to $1210 in
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1943. New teachers employed in September 1943 received $1200. It is easy to understand the difficulty of justifying a $1210 salary to an old teacher and a $1200 salary to a new teacher. To complicate the situation still further, the highest paid elementary teacher now earns $1414. This leaves only $214 as a inducement for new elementary teachers to continue teaching in Westford. Not a very large induce- ment. Obviously, a greater range of increase is necessary, a range of at least $400 for all elementary teachers, with teachers of merit re- ceiving more if her services are valuable enough to warrant extra pay.
MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS
Repairs completed in the Academy.
1. Exterior painted.
All the white trim of the building was given two coats of paint and the gymnasium shingles received two coats of stain. The appearance of the building speaks for itself.
2. Loose plaster replaced in all rooms and corridors. Nearly every room had areas of plaster either dangerously loose or badly cracked. These had to be repaired before painting could be done.
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3. Ceilings replaced in part of the basement. Two basement ceilings were in too bad a condition to patch. They were replaced with plaster board.
4. Rooms, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and all corridors redecorated. The rooms were painted in soft pastel shades of blue, green, ivory and cream. The ceilings were whitened and all finish work varnished. Many visitors have commented favorably on the appearance of the rooms.
5. Old principal's office on second floor removed to make a corridor.
Removal of this room opened a corridor on the second floor like that on the first floor. This has made it possible to lock up the laboratory when it is not in use. Formerly the laboratory served as a corridor.
6. All windows and doors repaired.
New cords and parting beeding were repaired where needed.
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Panelling and pneumatic door checks were replaced on several doors.
7. Additional radiators installed in Rooms 2, 7, 10, and prin- cipal's office.
These rooms are on the north side of the building and have always been hard to heat. On cold days it was often im- possible to get them over 55° to 60° in temperature. There has been much less trouble in heating them this year.
8. Lockers set up in classrooms.
The basement locker-rooms were crowded. Placing the lockers in the rooms has relieved the congestion and pro- vided a place where clothing can be kept under proper sup- vision.
9. Coal bin made dust proof.
The old coal bin was made of boards and was open at the top. The wooden partition was replaced with cement blocks and tile. A door was hung so that the bin could be made tight.
10 Linoleum laid in Rooms 1 and 2.
Room 1 is the superintendent's office. Room 2 is a con- ference room used for school board meetings, teacher con- ferences, small classes, etc. As the floors were in poor condition, linoleum was laid in these rooms.
11. Rain gutters and drains repaired.
Originally all the drains from the rain gutters were in the partitions of the building. Several still are. One became blocked last year and froze causing much damage. This was replaced with an outside drain. Other drains in need of repair were reconditioned.
12. Ventillating system in gymnasium completed.
The exit ducts were never put in proper working condition after the freeze-up in the gymnasium several years ago. Fans driven by electric motors have been installed in the exit ducts and as a result, there has been no difficulty in heating the gymnasium this winter.
13. Gymnasium roof re-surfaced.
The old roof was causing trouble by raising up in large . bubbles causing leaks. Redecorating the gymnasium was postponed in favor of the new roof.
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14. All basement walls, ceilings, and floors painted.
This part of the Academy building was sadly in need of repair. Ceilings were loose, debris of many years had been collected by rats under lockers, and little of the wall sur- face had ever been painted. To improve the basement rooms. lockers were broken loose and many moved upstairs, and the entire basement cleaned thoroughly and painted white. There is no longer need to be ashamed of this part of the Academy building.
15. Lockers painted.
Many of the lockers were in disrepair and badly rusted The poorer ones have been discarded and many of the re- maining ones painted. Eventually all lockers will be painted.
16. Light fixtures installed in basement rooms.
Fixtures salvaged when fluorescent lighting was installed in the Academy and Sargent School were used. These have added greatly to the basement rooms.
17. Loose stone work repointed.
The mortar had broken loose from the building stone in many places. This was replaced.
Much credit is due Mr. Howard Ferguson, the new janitor, who gave liberally of his time in redecorating the basement rooms. With- out his hard work, much would have been delayed for another year.
Repairs completed at Sargent School.
1. The porch floor and steps replaced.
This was necessary as the steps and flooring were badly decayed.
2. Light fixtures installed in toilet rooms.
These fixtures were salvaged when the fluorescent fixtures were installed in the building. The toilet rooms are now well lighted and more attractive.
Repairs completed at Cameron School ..
1. Opportunity classroom decorated.
The room was painted throughout and fluorescent lights, bulletin boards, and blackboards were installed. This room is the most attractive classroom in the town. Repairs completed at Frost School.
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1. Supply room shelves enclosed with doors. This room has to be used for many purposes. Changing the shelves into closets makes it possible to keep supplies locked up.
2. Ceilings, walls, and floors of all basement rooms painted. The walls and ceiling have been painted white and the floors darkstone.
3. A janitor's supply room was built.
A corner of the basement room was enclosed with wire screen so that the janitor's supplies could be kept properly. A room of this sort has been needed badly in this school for many years.
4. Light fixtures installed in basements.
These fixtures were a part of those salvaged when fluorescent lights were installed in Sargent School. The improvement in the lighting is outstanding.
5. Rain gutters and drains repaired.
Several drains had fallen off the building and gutters leaked in several places. These were repaired.
Much credit is due Mr. John Peterson, the janitor, for improving the appearance of the basement rooms. Without his help much of the work in Frost School would have had to be postponed.
Extensive repairs such as those made in 1943 are expensive. They can be justified only if they are needed to preserve the build- ings or to aid in the education of our children. A year ago I wrote that school buildings, grounds, and materials contribute in developing knowledges, habits, skills, attitudes, and appropriations and only as they contribute are they worth while.
Is there any evidence that our boys and girls are developing better habits and appreciations as a result of improving the Academy building? Mr. Ferguson, the Academy janitor, says:
1. There is no marking or defacing the building by boys or girls.
2. Boys and girls appreciate the cleanliness of their building, especially the basement rooms, often commenting on their appearance. (I might add here that Mr. Ferguson mops all basement floors daily.)
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3 Pupils are co-operating willingly in keeping the building clean.
Mr. Brackett, the Academy principal, has said many times:
1. Pupils are proud of their building. Evidence of this is in their comments to one another.
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