USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1915-1916 > Part 3
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The law provides that a town may furnish such transporta- tion if it sees fit, but it is not mandatory. The matter has been brought before you at several times and has been decided in the negative.
During the past year we have furnished transportation in some cases but have discontinued it since September 1, as the finances would not permit of its continuance.
During the past year new furniture has been placed in one of the rooms of the Walker building, in the new room opened at the Centre building and also an additional room at the High School.
A request for an appropriation to take care of this item is included in our budget for 1916. At the beginning of the month of December we were confronted by a lack of funds for the completion of the year.
TABLE OF STATISTICS
SCHOOL
TEACHER
PREPARATION
-
Total Enrollment
Present Enrollment
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Per cent of Attendance
Pupils under 7
Pupils between 7 and 14
Pupils between 14 and 16
Pupils over 16
No. of Visitors
No. of Pupils in Grade I
No. of Pupils in Grade VII
No. of Pupils in Grade VIII
1 -
High School
F. W. Carrier
*University of Vermont
*Harvard
*Smith
*Salem Normal
120
109
113.8 109.5
96.2 0 19 57 44
25
54
Central, Grade VIII
Eva L. Hersey
Boston University
41
35
38.8
35.6
91
0
7
1
16
0 035 0 41
Grade VII
Carolyn M. Swain
Salem Normal
43
41
38.4
36
94
0
38
3
0
11
Primary
M. Ethel Chapman
28
28
24.7
25
95
5
23
0
0
18
6
Walker, Grade VI
Ida L. Shaw
43
41
40.4
37.8
94
0
41
1
0
33
0
Salem Normal
41
37
36.8
34
93
0
38
3
0 36
0
*Northfield Seminary
42
40
39.7
36.5
92
0
40
0
0
35
0
Gertrude Eames
Hyannis Normal
43
43
41.7
39
93.5 32
11
0
0
43 31
Whitefield Grammar Primary
Nettie M. L. Haley
34
29
30.7
27.9 93.8
8
20
1
0
56
3
North East
Genenia M. Kimball
24
18
18
17
95
7
17
0
0
59
2
M. Ethel Chapman
14
10
91
3
11
0
0
14
4
19
17
18
16
92.1 |12
7
0
0
22
9
West
Jessie M. Carter
*Lowell Normal
38
35
35.9
31
87
10
25
0
0
17
8
Music
Mabel P. Counce
*Conservatory
Drawing
Grace A. Jenkins
Sewing
Cora E. Strong
Manual Training
William J. Beresford
Total
560
510
92.9 77 351 74 45 420 61 50,35
Grade V Second Primary Primary
Florence Koford
Plymouth Normal
30
27
28.3
26.3
93
0
28
2.
0 35| 0
9
Salem Normal
*Northfield Seminary
South
Lillian Sutherland Marion A. Perry
*Lowell Normal Wheelock
*Normal Art
Horace F. Bates
Ruth M. Giles
Elizabeth Batchelder
Elizabeth Lord
*Allegheny College ·
Bernice C. Everett
*Wellesley, Simmons
Grace C. Wells
*Smith
*Rust's Kindergarten Hyannis Normal
Henrietta A. Swain
Mildred Eames
-
Note. * Indicates graduates.
55
As there seemed to be a feeling that the schools should not be closed an arrangement was entered into with the teachers whereby they accepted a reduction in their salaries for Decem- ber, with the understanding that it should be made up to them in 1916.
We trust that the action of the Board will be sanctioned by the citizens and the reduction of fifty per cent for three weeks made good.
For some years the leading question in municipal finances has been the support of the public schools.
As the tax rate of Wilmington has been low compared with the majority of towns, the question of school expenditures has not been so important as in some others.
The construction of the new High School and the increase in school population have resulted in increased expense which requires additional appropriation.
A careful study of the financial statement for 1915 will show that the larger part has been expended on salaries.
The policy of the Board has been to secure competent teachers and having done so to retain their services as long as we felt we could in justice to the best interests of the Town.
We do not feel that we have been extravagant in this respect and trust that no effort will be made to get cheaper teachers in a spirit of ill-advised economy.
Next to the salaries of teachers the largest item of expenditure is books and supplies.
This is a subject which has been in controversy for several years and while we realize that there is more or less waste in
56
the use of supplies we feel that the teachers do the best they can to reduce such waste to a minimum.
We would recommend that the matter of insurance of Town buildings be taken up with a view of procuring better rates than are now available.
A form of blanket policy has been adopted by some towns and the sinking fund plan by others.
Upon another page will be found a detailed estimate for the support of the School Department for the year 1916.
An opportunity for the pupils in our High School to do some- thing in the line of gardening has been given by Mr. Sylvester Carter.
Mr. Carter has offered to allow the school children to use the land which he owns on Federal Hill.
Some of the members of the Grange have offered to assist by giving money, seeds and fertilizer.
Mr. Carter has also offered to superintend the work which the pupils might do in gardening.
It is sincerely hoped that with the co-operation of the Grange a beginning in gardening may be made.
In conclusion we can only say that we have tried to the best of our ability to fulfill the duties entrusted to us by the citizens of the Town. Although as tax payers we have a desire to reduce the cost of our schools if possible we do not approve of cutting down expense by a reduction of efficiency.
(Signed)
HOWARD M. HORTON, ELLEN S. PERRY, EDWARD S. LEWIS.
57
ESTIMATE FOR SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR YEAR 1916
Administration
Salary of Superintendent .
$870 00
· Office expense, Superintendent .
25 00
Salary School Committee
200 00
Office expense, School Committee
50 00 $ 1,145 00
Salaries of teachers, janitor, etc.
14,500 00
Text books and supplies .
1,600 00
Furniture
400 00
Fuel
800 00
Transportation
150 00
Insurance
200 00
Repairs
.
.
600 00
Miscellaneous
500 00
$19,895 00
ESTIMATE OF REVENUE, 1916
Income of School Fund
$1,300 00
Dog tax
400 00
Rebate on Superintendent's salary
400 00
High School grant
500 00
Tuition
50 00
Tuition of State wards
.
100 00
Miscellaneous
300 00
$3,050 00
Amount to be raised by taxation
$16,845 00
.
.
.
58
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Recapitulation
Total resources.
$18,842 13
Expenditures :
Salaries of Teachers .
. $12,015 35
Salaries of Committee
150 00 *
Salary of Superintendent
682 64
Salary of Physician .
100 00
Salary of Attendance Officer
3 00
Salary of Director Savings Fund.
15 00
Industrial education .
72 29
Transportation
131 00
Fuel
1,733 78
Insurance
755 58
Repairs
1,104 33
Books and supplies
1,325 63
Miscellaneous .
660 85
Construction
86 00
$18,835 45
Unexpended balance $ 6 68
Miscellaneous
L. C. Swain (rent)
$40 00
Town of Reading (lighting)
40 04
Boston & Maine R.R.
.
10 37
American Express Co.
2 44
Masury-Young Co. (floor oil)
51 09
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co.
39 98
Edward Caldwell (safe)
.
25 00
·
59
J. W. Studley (lettering safe) 10 75
Ralph Rogers (teaming) 5 50
D. C. Norcross (cleaning) 25 00
L. H. Kincaid (cleaning) 4 00
L. H. Kincaid (cleaning clock) 1 00
Charles Blaisdell (cleaning vaults) 27 00
Hickok Producing Co. (gasoline)
18 90
Gilbert Barker Co. (gasoline)
28 62
Gilbert Barker Co. (oil) 7 25
Clifford Horton (census)
25 00
State of Mass. (boiler inspection)
6 00
Boston Regalia Co. (flag) .
1 75
J. W. Van Buskeik (towel racks)
1 00
C. S. Harriman & Co. (pails)
80
Fairbanks Co. (ash truck) .
2 75
C. S. Harriman (ash barrels)
28 50
E. S. Perry (postage) 2 08
9 03
Buck Bros. North Wilmington
1 80
S. R. McIntosh
2 53
E. E. Smith & Co. (ash sieves) .
6 86
C. S. Harriman & Co. (toilet paper)
7 00
C. H. Foskett (programmes)
12 00
H. F. Miller & Sons (tuning piano)
3 20
American Seating Co. (seats for hall)
56 00
Frank E. Fitts & Co. (ash cans) 18 75
E. A. Page Co. (oil) . 4 25
C. B. Coburn Co. (brushes and twine) . 3 77
H. M. Horton (sundries) 4 35
Mrs. Surette (cleaning)
5 00
Samuel R. Rice (cleaning) . 24 00
C. L. Randall (office expense) 16 35
H. M. Horton (setting up furniture)
60 25
Gould Buckle (cleaning)
4 00
Lloyd Lewis (express) ·
2 10
Lloyd Lewis (removing ashes)
.
6 30
J. B. Estes (automobile hire)
8 00
$660 85
.
.
.
Buck Bros., Wilmington
60
Construction
E. E. Carter (shed at North school 1914) $60 00
H. C. Barrows (grading High School) . 20 00
Warren Blaisdell (grading High School) 6 00
$86 00
Expenditures Itemized
SALARIES
High School
F. W. Carrier
$937 50
H. F. Bates
472 50
Ruth M. Giles .
732 00
Elizabeth Batchelder ,
625 63
Elizabeth Lord
375 00
Bernice J. Everett
473 75
Grace C. Wells
202 50
$3,818 88
Eighth Grade
Eva L. Hersey .
$603 38
$603 38
Seventh Grade
Carrie M. Swain
$543 75
$543 75
Walker School
Ida Shaw
$550 50
Henrietta Swain
.
.
525 00
Gertrude Eames
·
.
450 00
Mildred Eames.
431 25
.
·
$1,956 75
61
Whitefield School
Florence Koford
$525 00
Nettie Haley
197 70
Elizabeth Smith
220 00
Nina L. Barrows
6 00
$948 70
District Schools
Jessie Carter
$388 50
Genenia Kimball
378 38
Marion Perry .
412 50
M. Ethel Chapman
.
240 00
Lillian Sutherland
150 00
$1,569 38
Center Primary
M. Ethel Chapman $148 50
$148 50
Special Teachers
Mabelle P. Counce
$215 00
Grace A. Jenkins
215 00
Cora L. Strong
241 00
William Beresford
326 00
Attendance Officer
Samuel R. Rice $3 00
$3 00
.
.
.
.
$997 01
.
.
62
Director of Savings Fund
Helen H. Buck $15 00
$15 00
School Physician
Daniel T. Buzzell, M.D. $100 00
$100 00
Janitors
Daniel C. Norcross
.
$684 00
Samuel R. Rice
351 00
Mrs. Babine
240 00
Mrs. Surette
39 00
Gould Buckle
39 00
Laurence H. Kincaid.
39 00
Chester Dodge .
24 00
Alvin Kessel
13 00
$1,429 00
Superintendent
Charles L. Randall
$682 64
$682 64
School Committee
Ellen S. Perry .
$50 00
Edward S. Lewis
50 00
Howard M. Horton
50 00
$150 00
Industrial Tuition
Middlesex County Training School $ 2 29
Lowell Vocational School . .
70 00
$72 29
.
.
63
Transportation
Bay State Street Railway Co. ·
$115 00
Adolph Simpson
.
.
16 00
$131 00
Fuel
Frank L. Eames (coal)
$618 07
Walter L. Hale (coal)
.
520 11
Fred A. Eames (coal)
371 10
Ellen S. Perry (wood)
137 50
Town of Wilmington (wood)
40 00
John C. Horton (sawing wood)
30 00
Lloyd Lewis (sawing wood)
6 00
Chester Horton (teaming) .
3 00
Chester Horton (teaming coal)
8 00
$1,733 78
Insurance
Fred A. Eames
$502 08
Waldo L. Dean
157 00
Rowe and Porter
18 00
Joseph W. Strong
78 50
$755 58
Books and Supplies
Ginn & Co.
$ 5 50
D. C. Heath Co.
1 10
Allyn & Bacon
4 11
P. P. Caprone & Co.
4 88
Houghton Mifflin Co.
35 16
American Book Co. .
97 29
.
.
.
.
.
64
A. G. Pollard Co.
59 67
E. E. Babb Co.
104 68
S. R. McIntosh
34 54
Haymarket Hardware Co. .
52 02
J. L. Hammett Co. .
311 35
Thompson Box Co.
9 00
Bon Marche Co.
16 40
Silver Burdett Co.
3 09
Henry Holt Co.
5 45
World Book Co.
1 98
Oliver Ditson Co.
8 92
Jones, McDuffee & Stratton
8 62
Funk & Wagnalls Co.
14 00
F. H. Roberts Co.
2 40
Johnson & Morrison .
4 40
Arthur A. Smith
39 85
Cambridge Bottle Supply Co.
2 21
Benjamin Sanborn Co.
7 58
C. F. Perry
73 11
A. & E. Burton
7 25
Tabbot Dye & Chemical Co.
128 32
Buck Bros., Wilmington
72 02
Town of Wilmington
28 00
Three Millers Co.
8 75
E. E. Gray Co ..
39 09
Hickok Producing Co.
18 90
A. H. Lochr
4 40
Walter L. Hale
2 49
E. E. Cole Co. .
1 75
William Beresford
3 44
Grace A. Jenkins
11 21
Albert D. Mack
3 75
Kenney McPartten
3 25
Sylvester Carter
40
Milton Bradley Co.
1 50
John Allen
.
1 60
.
.
·
65
Buck Bros., North Wilmington
61 75
Singer Machine Co. .
2 50
Butterfield Printing Co.
10 08
Ruth M. Giles . .
.
3 10
E. E. Carter
10 80
$1,325 63
Repairs
J. E. Surette S 1 20
Boston Metal Ceiling Co. .
150 00
E. O. Burrows (new boiler) 482 22
F. A. Guyette (painting)
114 73
S. R. McIntosh (lumber and hardware) 22 41
H. M. Horton . 42 80
E. A. Hamlen
1 00
Chester Dodge (setting glass)
.
40
Lloyd Lewis (setting glass)
80
H. R. Barker & Co. (valves)
6 20
Boston Heating & Lighting Co. (valves)
13 75
W. W. Rice
4 95
Arthur Atton (topping chimney)
26 75
Smith & Anthony
30 00
E. E. Carter (lumber and hardware)
161 06
Chester Horton 42 11
Brockway Smith Corp. (glass)
3 95
$1,107 33
Outstanding Indebtedness
Salary due C. L. Randall .
$64 00
Salary due D. C. Norcross 18 00
$82 00
.
66
Statement of Household Arts Department
Paid C. F. Perry (milk and eggs)
$73 11
Paid Buck Bros., Wilmington (gro-
ceries) . 72 02
Paid Buck Bros., North Wilmington (groceries) 61 75
Paid E. E. Gray Co. (groceries) ·
33 09
Paid John Allen (meat) ·
1 60
Paid Three Millers Co. (extracts) ·
8 75
Paid E. E. Cole Co. (salt) .
1 75
Paid Walter L. Hale (ice) .
2 49
Paid Kenney & Partten (fish)
3 25
Paid Sylvester Carter (peaches)
40
Paid A. G. Pollard (dry goods)
59 67
Paid F. H. Roberts Co. (cocoa)
2 40
$320 28
Receipts from lunch and sewing depart-
ment
$276 64
Net deficit
$43 46
67
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Wilmington.
Mrs. Perry and Gentlemen: I hereby submit my third annual report, which is the twentieth in the series of superintendents' reports.
The past year has been one of marked progress in your schools. The opening of the new school building, the introduction of new courses in the High School, and the readjustment of the grades have produced important changes which I shall mention under separate topics.
Teachers
Your schools are in good condition, the work of your teachers is commendable. I shall especially mention, however, only those who have left your service and those who are new to the Wilmington schools.
At the end of the school year in June, Mr. F. W. Carrier, for four years principal of the High School, resigned the princi- palship and later accepted a position in the Somerville High School. Mr. Carrier was an able teacher, a conscientious man, and a warm friend. He gave his best to the Wilmington High School. He won the love and friendship of scores of pupils. A large number of friends in this town wish him well in his new duties and are interested in his success.
Mr. Horace F. Bates, a graduate of Harvard College, a teacher of wide experience, and a man with strong recommenda- tions, was secured as principal of the school. Although Mr. Bates has been in his new position but one term, he has already secured a strong hold on the school. The pupils feel his interest
68
both in the studies and in out-of-school activities. He has built up good attendance and a business-like attention to studies, while he has aroused new interest in gymnastic and athletic pursuits. I believe that Mr. Bates will makc a strong principal.
One other left the High School in June, Miss Elizabeth Lord, for two years assistant tcacher. Miss Lord was doing good work; she left to accept a better salaried position.
Miss Grace Wells, a graduate of Smith College, with one ycar's successful experience as a teacher, was sccured to follow Miss Lord. Miss Wells is doing excellent work in the class room; she shows a finc attitude toward the school, and promises to make an excellent teacher.
In February, 1915, Miss Bernice Everett, a graduate of Wellesley College, with post-graduate study at Simmons College, was engaged as teacher of the Household Arts. It seemed wise to secure for the important task of starting a new course a teacher with thorough training and successful, varied experience. Miss Everett was such an one; to her has fallen the important task of instigating, arousing, and holding the interest in the new course of Household Arts. I believe that Miss Everett has succeeded in this task, and in another place shall quote from her report.
Miss Ethel Chapman, for two ycars teacher at the East School, was promoted in September to the new room opened in the Central School. Her position at the East School was filled by Miss Lillian Sutherland, a graduate of Lowell Normal School, with one year's experience as teacher. Miss Sutherland has made a good start in her work.
In December, 1915, we received the resignation of Miss Ruth M. Giles, for six years first assistant and teacher of English and German in our High School. Miss Giles has won a strong place in the affection of many students. I consider her an able teacher, a good disciplinarian, a helpful force on the faculty. Her loss will be felt, but we cannot but congratulate her upon securing a position which she considers a promotion. We have found it very difficult at this season of the year to fill Miss Giles' place with a competent, experienced teacher. Miss
69
Alice S. Furber of Manchester, N. H., of seven years' experience, seemed to your superintendent and to the committee to be such a teacher. It was with deep regret that we received Miss Furber's resignation, due to ill health, after but two weeks of service. At the time of this writing, the position is filled by a substitute teacher. We are feeling the misfortunes due to the regrettable policy of shifting teachers in mid-year.
High School
January, 1915, the new High School building was dedicated. We began work there the following Monday. This well equipped, well lighted, well heated and ventilated, modern building with its assembly room, gymnasium, sewing room, commercial rooms, household arts room, and laboratories has done much for the pupils of the school. This building has already been described in last year's report, so I will take no more space than to say it is thoroughly up-to-date, and one of the most useful buildings with which I am acquainted.
I have indicated under the topic " Teachers " that a new course was started in the High School. This course, House- hold Arts, was started for several reasons: one, the excellent equipment presented by the Woman's Club; another, the State requirements obliging us to employ another teacher; and lastly, the belief of the School Committee and superintendent that this new field of training was eminently worth while.
In February, 1915, under the direction of Miss Everett, this new course was offered to the girls of the Wilmington High School. Great interest was shown from the first. In spite of some criticism aroused by the innovation, I believe that the course is proving beneficial to your girls and satisfactory to the parents. I can give you no better idea of what is being done than to quote from Miss Everett's report recently sent to me: " We try to teach the Freshmen the processes of simple and practical cookery, habits of personal cleanliness, and care of utensils. The upper class girls do more difficult work and learn the scientific reason for what they do. They could serve
70
meals, but thus far expense has prevented us from doing this They learn, in a general way, food values and what foods should be served together, price of foods, table setting, sewing, etc.
" As the course develops, we hope to introduce Household Management, although that would require a room for practical use, dietetics and a little house planning and decoration. As sewing has been so recently introduced into the schools, there is little difference in the grade of the work in the three upper classes of the High School. The work is on underwear, gar- ments, and simple waist and dressmaking, planning for the students to do something new on each piece of work. They learn cutting and planning to get the most from the least amount of material. As far as practical, the students make garments which fill their individual needs, thus relating the work to their daily lives. The girls pay for, or provide the material they use. In the future we hope to study fabrics, processes of manufacture and dyes, that a woman may know the true value of the material she contemplates buying. An adjustable form or figure would help us greatly in our work.
" Many parents have expressed appreciation of the recess luncheon. When that part of the work was begun, several teachers said that they saw quite a change in the way pupils took up their work after recess, they had more energy and force than formerly.
" When the lunch work can be done with advantage to the girls, it is done in the cooking classes. But it is not profitable to repeat much simple work in class, so the next plan is to have two or more members take their turn in doing the lunch cooking, while the rest of the class carry on the regular work. This year three of the Senior girls take charge of the lunch work. They plan the daily list of the girls who wash dishes and serve, they set the table and do any cooking necessary in the period before recess. All this is a valuable lesson in responsibility, in adapting themselves to work with others and in meeting situations. We serve simple nourishing foods in as great variety as possible with our limited lunch equipment.
71
" We have been able to sell the food at two cents a serving and cover the cost of the raw material. During the Fall term, so many of the lessons have been on food for the lunch room that the total cost of raw material for lunch and lessons has been less than ten dollars above the luncheon receipts, or less than one dollar a week. The important fact is that this luncheon work gives the class of girls who do the work invalu- able experience in cooking in more-than-family quantity, and also they see the results of the labor serve a definite purpose."
While our attention has been riveted to a great degree on plans for the new course, we have not neglected more time- honored methods of High School education. The question has been frequently asked, " Do you fit for college:" I answer most emphatically, " Yes, and we will continue to fit for college so long as the school is under the present administration." Both the principal and myself will guarantee that any pupil entering the Freshman class expressing the desire to fit for college, and doing good work in his college preparatory subjects, will be fitted, upon graduation, to enter any classical college in New England. I do wish to say, however, that in order to do this, the pupil must choose his course and stick to it during the four years. That pupil who makes selections from one course or another, choosing, oftentimes, those subjects which are easiest, planning to get his " points " in the simplest way, will be unable to enter college, or, indeed, to fit for college, should he decide in his Senior year that he wished to take the college course. The above warning is important both to pupil and parents; the following advice, " Choose your course and stick to it," is equally important for those pupils who wish to study in any higher institution after High School graduation.
In spite of the fact that a new teacher was added to the school in February, 1915, the number of pupils has increased so much, that several classes are larger than can be handled by one teacher. State requirements prohibit assigning a class of over thirty pupils to one teacher of less than two years' experience. Common sense and good school judgment will agree that no
72
teacher in the High School should be called upon to handle a class of forty-five pupils. We have several classes at the present time so large that they should form two recitation divisions. This is now impossible as it would form more classes than could be managed by the five teachers in the six periods per day. It seems to me inevitable that the natural growth of the school will very soon demand another teacher in the academic subjects.
In closing this topic, let me call attention of all readers to the fact that a new schedule or course of study for the High School is to be placed in the hands of the pupils at the beginning of another school year. It will be advisable for the pupils with their parents to study carefully these courses, making such selections as will not alone fit the pupil for graduation, but will fit him to continue his work or study after completing the High School course.
Central and Walker Schools
At the beginning of the present school year. the " Old High School " building was occupied by the seventh and eighth grades, with the " Overflow " primary room, under the name of the Central School. This building had been remodelled during the summer vacation, a new heating plant installed and the rooms fitted with adjustable furniture adapted to the grades. At the present, three school rooms and a fourth for manual training are occupied.
This change enables us to relieve the congested condition at the Walker School. It is the intention, at the present time. that the Walker School should be limited to its seating capacity, forty-two pupils per room, and other pupils sent to the Central building. The room in the Walker building occupied by the third and fourth grades was fitted with adjustable seats and desks during the summer vacation. This desirable change leaves the Walker School well equipped for primary and inter- mediate work.
.3
Districts
Three of the four district schools are poorly equipped at the present time. The boy and girl attending one of these primary schools should have as good school furniture, with as good lighting and ventilation, as the pupil in any other part of the town I recommend that you consider carefully the advisa- bility in the near future of equipping the North, East, and West schools with some form of a modern heating and ventilating system as, for example, one similar to that in use at the South school. The opening of the " Overflow " school at the Central building was intended to help the congestion at the West school as well as at the Walker school by allowing all pupils living on the "State Road " to attend the Walker or the Cen- tral building. This arrangement was carried into effect, yet you will see from the table of statistics that the enrollment at the Wes: school remains too large for a four-grade room.
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