Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1927-1928, Part 14

Author: Wilmington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1927
Publisher: Town of Wilmington
Number of Pages: 278


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1927-1928 > Part 14


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In Boys' and Girls' 4-H club work seventy-one were enrolled in canning, garden, poultry, food, and clothing clubs. Miss Henri- atta Swain, and Mrs. Guilford Palmer served as local leaders. Marjorie Ireland won third prize in the country-wide Room Beauti- ful Contest and Ernestine Palmer won fifth prize. Leslie Fiske was awarded a two-day trip to the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- lege for doing outstanding 4 H club work.


In addition to the above work, local people had an opportunity to attend several county-wide meetings on the various phases of agriculture and homemaking, as well as received circular letters giving timely information on subjects pertaining to the Farm and the Home.


(Signed) ERNEST W. EAMES,


Director.


95


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH


To the Citizens of Wilmington:


The Board of Health herewith submits its annual report.


The number of contagious diseases reported to this Board for the year 1928 is as follows:


Pneumonia


1


Tuberculosis


1


Measles:


26


Mumps


2


Diphtheria


2


The Board of Health employed David Brabant to collect the garbage in the Silver Lake District during the summer months. The rubbish behind the store in Wilmington Square has been cared for by using the Highway Department trucks in the same manner as last year.


In accordance with the vote of the Town at the annual meeting $1,000.00 has been expended for public health work under the direction of the Board of Health Agent and the Public Health Nurse.


Report of Wilmington Public Health Nursing Service Year of 1928 Record of Visits Made


Nursing Visits


970


Infant Welfare Visits


147


Prenatal Visits


69


Tuberculosis Visits


16


Child Welfare Visits


147


Social Service Visits


176


Attendance at Clinics


14


Other Visits


76


Total


1,625


Hospital Visits


10


ALICE DOUCETTE, R. N.,


Public Health Nurse.


Respectfully submitted,


C. S. PETTENGILL, Chairman,


WALTER L. HALE, SAMUEL P. PIKE, Jr.


D. T. BUZZELL, M. D., Agent,


Board of Health.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Together with the Report of 1


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


For the year ending December 31, 1928


98


School Committee


Helen H. Buck


. Term expires 1929


Olivia H. Norcross


Term expires 1929


John W. Hathaway, Chairman


.Term expires 1930


Harry W. De Loriea


Term expires 1930


Alfred S. Allen


Term expires 1931


Howard Bedell Term expires 1931


Superintendent of Schools STEPHEN G. BEAN


School Physician DANIEL T. BUZZELL, M. D.


1928 School Calendar


January 2-Winter Term begins.


February 21-Winter Term ends.


Vacation-One week.


March 4-Winter-Spring Term begins.


April 26-Winter-Spring Term ends.


Vacation-One week.


May 6-Spring Term begins.


June 21-Spring Term ends for Elementary School.


June 28-Spring Term ends for High School.


Vacation-Ten weeks.


September 3-Fall Term begins.


December 20-Fall Term ends.


Holidays-Jan. 1, Feb. 22, April 19, May 30, Oct. 12, Nov. 11, Nov. 29-30.


99


REPORT OF WILMINGTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1928


To the Citizens of the Town of Wilmington:


The year 1928 was a year of real progress and achievement in the Wilmington School Department. The introduction of a public water supply enabled proper arrangements for its use to be intro- duced into the High School, Centre, Walker, and the Whitefield Schools, and it is expected that early in the year 1929 we shall have the use of running water in the three district schools.


It has been the policy of the School Committee as at present constituted to work consistently for the improvement of the school plant as far as funds for that purpose could be set aside from annual appropriations. This year, we were able to reroof the Centre School, paint it thoroughly outside and inside, and install a complete system of electric lighting. The lights were very much needed, owing to the position of the school rooms. Electric lights have also been installed in the West School. In the Walker School and in the Whitefield School, we now have telephones. Each of the three district schools stands beside a dwelling in which there is a telephone and there seems to be little occasion for putting telephones in these small schools. All the large school buildings now have telephones.


The policy of frequent fire drills has been pursued and every precaution for safety in and around the school buildings is exer- cised. We should welcome the co-operation of the Fire Depart- ment and the interest of the public in this matter of school safety.


The transportation system has been very carefully watched and from time to time rearranged. The expense has been kept down and yet every scholar who is entitled to ride from school has been transported.


The only regrettable feature to the year's history in the schools has been the unavoidable changes in the teaching personnel. Mr. Melvin Colby Knight, who for four and a half years has been principal of the High School, resigned on November 12 to become superintendent of schools and high school principal in Leicester, Mass. Mr. Knight is a successful teacher and executive and is especially valuable for his skill as a disciplinarian. As a social leader among the young people, he was very useful to the com- munity. He has been generally missed since his departure.


His place has been filled by the election of Mr. Joseph Turner Hood as principal. Mr. Hood has had a successful career both in city high schools and as pricipal of rural high schools. He has already been with us long enough to make us feel sure that he is the right man for the place.


We have not been able to have a physical culture teacher during the latter part of the year. As soon as the proper person can be procured for the position, it will be filled.


The School Committee is taking an active interest in school athletics. The town should co-operate in every possible way. In this connection, it is fitting to speak with gratitude of the gift to


100


the High School of a set of lockers by the Meadowbrook Golf Club. These lockers have been installed in the building and already are in use.


In connection with the introduction of public water in the High School, we have been able to install hot water service and shower baths.


The school attendance in Wilmington continues to increase. This is the year in which we should have more school rooms to take care of the enlarged attendance and to release the Town Hall from use for school purposes. The work of improving the school buildings should go on. With an improved plant, we can improve the educational results. During the past year, out of nineteen graduating from the High School, seven scholars entered college. This was unusual and highly creditable to all concerned, but it sets a standard from which we must not fall back.


More than that, we must go forward. Improvements in build- ings, equipment, and methods that will bring improved results must be made before the actual need arises. School yards should be improved. We should keep all buildings in good repair. We must have modern, sanitary arrangements now that the new water supply is at hand. New heating apparatus should be installed in the Whitefield School.


As far as radios and victrolas can be useful in classrooms, we should have them. We should equip our High School gymnasium, and school libraries should be increased in number and in size. Some special arrangement should be made to bring the Wilmington Public Library into use in connection with school work.


The seventh and eighth grades should be conducted with an eye to the coming time when they will be a part of the High School. The High School should have a larger attendance. Every citizen of the future should have at least a High School education.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN W. HATHAWAY, HELEN H. BUCK, OLIVIA H. NORCROSS, HARRY W. DELORIEA, ALFRED S. ALLEN, HOWARD E. BEDELL.


101


REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


To the School Committee of Wilmington, Mass.


Ladies and Gentlemen-I have the honor to submit my Fifth Annual Report as Superintendent of Schools:


Since the School Committee in its report has given a somewhat extended account of the general accomplishments of the past year I shall confine my own share to the most pressing problem before us.


A perusal of the reports of the Superintendent of Schools for the past three years will show an insistent and consistent prophecy that the time was near at hand when Wilmington would face a serious difficulty in housing the school population. Each Fall has produced what looked like a crisis, and it has been dodged by one device or another. Abandoned district schools have been reconditioned and put in use again, thus going backward many years in our educational policy. This year, platooning of the first grade children saved the day.


It may be that our condition is like that of the boy who cried, "Wolf !! wolf !! " in the ancient fable. Perhaps we have squirmed out of difficult situations so many times that the people begin to believe there aren't any difficult situations.


Since these difficulties which we have claimed have to' do with numbers, let us go back ten years in school history, and see what has been happening.


Table of School Enrollments 1918-1919 to 1928-1929


School Year


Enrollment


Increase


Total Inc.


1919-1920


534


0


0


1920-1921


61.4


80


80


1921-1922


621


7


87


1922-1923


686


65


152


1923-1924


704


18


170


1924-1925


730


26


196


1925-1926


766


36


232


1926-1927


812


46


278


1927-1928


858


46


324


1928-1929


902


44


368


Here are the figures covering a period of ten school years inclu- sive of the current year. During this time no new buildings have been built. Three school rooms of a maximum capacity of 140 have been pressed into service. Where have the remaining 228 been seated?


102


For the present year 52 of them, those in grade eight, are occupy- ing the main study hall of the High School. Incidentally, one section of this grade uses a corner of the Auditorium for class room purposes. This class is of course encroaching on the High School and is forcing various undesirable expedients upon the High School teachers in order to secure teaching space for their regular class.


There are still 176 children who are being cared for in excess of the number using the same space ten years ago. This means that we are forcing children to gather in groups too large for any teacher to give her best instruction. All chance of allow- ance for individual differences in pupils is lost. No individual work can be done, except it be after school hours. The transporta- tion problem makes work after school impossible for many children. Work after hours should not be done in any event. Classes of the proper and reasonable size would make it unnecessary.


In addition we have the situation in the Town Hall to face. Here we have two teachers using the same space. One has a class of 36 pupils from nine o'clock until noon. At twelve sharp, a shift is made and a new teacher with her brood of 39 takes possession. This is not an impossible situation in the sense that the time is a total loss. Far from it; but it is very certain that we can't do'as much for children in three hours' session as is possible in the full day. Common sense shows that something has to be omitted. The fundamentals are taught almost exclusively. Little time can be found for the socializing and cultural aspects of first grade work.


If present conditions remain unchanged and no new building is done, it is certain that next year the platooning will have to be carried on to the second grades also. This will mean that children promoted from Town Hall School to the second grade elsewhere, may have to pass through another year of half-time instruction. The certainty of this is shown by a glance at the table above. Each year, of the last four, shows an average increase of about forty pupils. That means one more room needed each year.


The School Committee, or its agent, the Superintendent, can find teachers, and the town will provide for their salary without protest. Teachers are useless, however, when they have no place to hold their classes.


Doubtless the refurbishing of the East School will be suggested. We have three district schools too many now. Instead of opening more of these inefficient units, immediate steps should be taken to insure that in the future no teacher in the town of Wilmington shall ever be asked to teach more than two grades in a single classroom.


In the past three years the town has spent three or four thousand dollars on these once abandoned district schools. It hasn't saved the people a penny, because here we are again facing the same old problem of inadequate school facilities.


The What kind and where of this building problem is not a major issue. It is most important that something be done immediately. At least four rooms should be available for use when schools open next September.


The writer is still of the opinion that the simplest and most logical way to meet the emergency is by adding to the Walker School. If some person of wider vision and better acquaintance


103


with the situation has a better solution it would be happily ac- cepted. This is a case for action and not argument.


The present overcrowded condition presents a serious handicap, not realized by those not in close touch with the school problem. Every year there are those children in every class who, because of slow working minds, poor attendance, ill health, lack of interest, rapid physical growth, or any of a varied list of causes, fail to do the quality or quantity of work to justify their attempt to enter the next grade. What can be done, however, when the pressure from the crowded grade below demands every available seat for the incoming class? Naturally standards are lowered and doubtful promotions are made. In time children thus forced along find themselves beyond their educational depth, and are finally forced to give up the struggle. They are those who want to leave school, but who do not need to go to work. They are also of those who provide many unnecessary disciplinary problems.


Given the necessary rooms and teachers, a distinct improvement can be made all through the elementary grades. Many children can be put in step with their abilities and given a new lease of educational life. More individual attention can be given to those who require it. Wider scope can be given to the children of higher mental ability.


School Plant


The larger units of the existing school plant have been vastly improved since the last report.


Of course the installation of water was the greatest blessing, but such things as whole roofs, electric lights, telephones, clean paint, etc., are all deeply appreciated. The Committee should be complemented on the fine work done. As soon as the plumber finishes his work on the outlying buildings we will have sixty percent better hygienic conditions than in the past. The other forty percent improvement will come when toilet facilities are made what they should be and as they would be in a new addition.


Teaching Force


Upsets were numerous during the year so that the present roll of teachers varies materially from that of June.


Mr. Knight's departure to wider fields has already been noted. He has our best wishes for continued success. Another loss was that of Miss Finn, from grade VIII, who secured a position in the Junior High School in Natick. Miss Eleanor Dobbins, supervisor of Physical Education resigned at the close of the school year, to pursue her studies at Boston University, for a degree in Educa- tion. This position has been difficult to fill satisfactorily and at the present writing is still vacant.


New names on the existing teacher 'list are as follows: North School, Miss Dora Rimer of Danvers; Whitefield, Miss Viola Sander- son of North Andover; Town Hall, Miss Alma Mason of Malden; Center School, Miss Margaret Winn of Winchester; High School, Miss Thelma Hubbard of Auburndale; Grade VIII, Miss Blanche


.


104


Marcus of Worcester; Walker, Miss Elizabeth Brown of Rowley; South, Miss Ella Howlett of Winchester.


All of these are graduates of Normal School or College and have had more or less experience in addition to the regular training.


Of course the list above is not complete without mention of Mr. J. Turner Hood, Jr., who was elected Principal of the High School upon the resignation of Mr. Knight. Mr. Hood has training to the degree of Ed. M. (Master of Education) and has had a number of years of very successful experience. It is anticipated that Mr. Hood will give Wilmington High School a most successful con- tinuation of its successful past:


Mr. Knight left a school in excellent running condition and an excellent record of achievement by graduates in the academic field.


It is not every High School in the State that can boast of a per- fect record of all of its graduates who attempted the College Entrance Board Examinations last Summer. Four boys and a girl made the trial as Wilmington's representatives. They all passed.


Leadership in the Health work in the schools has been reassumed by Mrs. Esther Nichols who has also been compiling a complete school census.


Supervision of Art has been taken over by a new incumbent, Mrs. Shirley Gulliver of Newton Upper Falls, who is filling this position most acceptably.


Taken as a whole, Wilmington may well be proud of its teaching corps. It is a faithful, hard working organization, made up of capable units. The writer greatly appreciates their qualities and their fine spirit of co-operation.


Pupil Distributions


Appended will be found the annual distribution tables showing the school-grade and age-grade placement of children in school as on October first of the past year.


A total increase of forty-four pupils will be noted. This keeps along with our usual annual increase of a roomful a year. It gives point to the plea for school accommodations.


In the age-grade table a large percentage of over age pupils will be noted. This is almost directly traceable to the large classes we are forcing the children to work in. The slower ones haven't a fair chance.


AGE AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION


5 6


7


23


2 25 8


2 1 5 9 10 1


1


108


1


1 32 30


III


8


62 14


26 53


11 20


4


1 4


102


1


0 34


33


V


13 44


21 35


17 24


9


4


4


91


0


0


41 45


VII


2 13


28


12


13


1


69


2


0


26


38


2


17


17


8


8


52


2


4


16


31


IX


22


24


16


3


1


66


0


0 20


30


X


1 13 21


9


3


47


1.


2


12


25


XI


1


4


4


22


0


0


8


36


XII


1


9


S


18


1


0


0


0


20


83 93 103 99 94 86 91 61


62 58


28


16


4


902


8


9 297


33


11 12


13 14 15


16


17


18


19 T


UA


% 0A %


I


120


0


0 28 23


II


122


0


0


42


35


IV


1


95


0


0 38 40


VI


15


19 73


1 14


61


In this table OA and UA, over age and under age, percents are figured to the nearest unit.


UA-Represents pupils young for the group.


OA-Represents pupils old for the the group or grade.


Bold figures show normal grade-age limits.


105


VIII


10


106


SCHOOL AND GRADE DISTRIBUTION


1


2 3 4


5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 T


Town Hall


75


75


North


9


15


10


10 44


West


20


14


10


44


South


16


6


8 3


33


Whitefield


33


38 43 42


156


Walker


40


46 46 53


185


Center


91 69


160


High School


52 66 47 22 18 205


Total


120 108 112 102 95 91 69 52 66 47 22 18 902


Conclusion


Courtesy and sincerity compel me to express continued apprecia- tion of the fine spirit of friendly cooperation I always receive from the School Committee. As a legislative body it has been uni- formly fair and fearless. At the same time it allows its executive officer a proper degree of initiative to permit progress without undue "red tape".


Respectfully submitted, STEPHEN G. BEAN, Superintendent of Schools,


Wilmington, Mass. December 31, 1928.


107


FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1928


$60,000.00


General Expenses


School Committee:


Salaries


$00.00


Expenses


00.00


Supt. of Schools and enforcement of laws:


2,175.00


Expenses


Expenses of Instruction


Supervisors :


Salaries


1,568.00


Salaries-Principals :


High School


2,672.50


Salaries-Teachers:


8,155.00


Elementary


20,784.50


Textbooks:


High


491.43


Elementary


591.56


Stationery, supplies and miscellaneous:


High


952.48


Elementary


826.17


Expenses of Operation of School Plant


Salaries-Janitors :


High


1,500.00


Elementary


2,037.00


Fuel :


High


826.85


Elementary


1,539.17


Miscellaneous (power, light, water, insurance, etc.) :


High


363.99


Elementary


1,138.19


Maintenance


Repairs, Replacement and Upkeep:


High


276.76


Elementary


1,864.96


Auxiliary Agencies


Libraries


00.00


Health


999.00


Transportation :


High


1,257.24


Elementary


3,771.73


Miscellaneous :


High


199.10


Elementary


61.17


New Equipment


Outlays 3,422.04


Total Expenditures


57,852.79


Unexpended Balance


$2,147.21


General appropriation


Salaries


378.95


High


108


REPORT OF DRAWING SUPERVISOR


Dear Sir :- I herewith submit my annual report. The drawing course is carried out along definite lines with a definite aim in view.


The objective in teaching art in the schools is to teach pupils to use drawing as a means of expressing themselves freely, to improve house decorations, furniture, and dress, and to appreciate the beauty in nature and art. This is being accomplished by the following course.


First-"representation," including the drawing of pictures, per- spective, the study of the human figure, animal drawing, and nature drawing. A great deal has already been accomplished under this subject.


Second-"design," of which, there is much to learn about the laws of order in nature and art, color theory, geometric shapes, and lettering.


Third-"construction," which develops creative ability, hand skill, and accuracy in following directions.


The drawing is correlated with other subjects, and orginality in the work of each pupil is encouraged. So far they have done some very excellent work.


Summing up the year's work, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to teachers, pupils, and school officials, for their cooperation and activity in making my work interesting.


Respectfully submitted,


SHIRLEY H. GULLIVER.


109


REPORT OF THE CARTER LECTURE COMMITTEE


To the Citizens of the Town of Wilmington:


During the year 1928, the following lectures were given in Wil- mington by this Committee:


November 20. Mr. Harry A. Frank, Lecture-"A Vagabond Journey Around the World"; illustrated by Sterioptican.


December 21. Mr. Chester S. Howland, Lecture-"Whaling." A lecture illustrated by moving pictures and lantern slides.


Both these lectures were unusual in character and very interest- ing and instructive. The Committee felt encouraged by the gen- erous size of the audience that attended the first lecture, and regretted that other social attractions in town prevented a good attendance at the second lecture.


The co-operation of the public is most earnestly desired.


Respectfully submitted, JOHN W. HATHAWAY,


Secretary, for the Committee.


110


TREASURER'S REPORT SARAH D. J. CARTER LECTURE COMMITTEE


Receipts


Jan 1, 1928. Balance on Hand


$232.52


Nov. 16, 1928. From F. L. Eames Treasury Income 240.00


$472.52


Expenditures


Jan. 14, 1928. G. F. Frazee Distributing Circulars


$3.00


Jan. 14,


. F. A. Lowell, Printing 4.00


Jan. 17,


Carveth Wells . 100.00


Jan. 17,


Samuel Frolio, Operating Mch.


5.00


Jan. 19,


Wilmington Alpha


3.50


Mar. 20,


Grange Hall Corp., rent


30.00


May 25,


G. F. Frazee .


1.75


Nov. 21,


Samuel Frolio, Rent of Mch. & Op- erating


10.00


Nov. 21,


Fred A. Lowell, Printing


4.25


Dec. 5,


H. B. Williams


100.00


Dec. 21,


Fred A. Lowell, Printing


4.25


265.75


265.75


Jan. 1, 1929. Balance on hand $206.77


Respectfully submitted,


Sarah J. Carter Lecture Committee, Arthur F. Blake, Treasurer.


111


REPORT OF THE PLANNING BOARD


Traffic conditions at Wilmington are rapidly becoming congested. The business center is growing in a haphazard manner, and un- less some thought is given to a solution of the problem, the distance is not far when the short sightedness will be regretted, to say nothing of the future expense that will be involved to correct the errors.


To reduce our tax rate, to help pay over bonded indebtedness, to attract new citizens, something must be done to straighten out the spider web of confusion that has been gradually woven into our business and residential sections. Any new ordinance, let it be what it may, always meets with opposition by the general pub- lic, due largely to a lack of detailed knowledge of the problem.


The only way to broadcast this information is by public hearings, group meetings and individual discussion, the importance of which is recognized by your Planning Board, but it is useless to call such gatherings unless we have the problem in proper form for presen- tation. This means plans, sketches, possibly photographs and lantern slides; a preliminary by-law to be placed in the hands of all voters for them to consider and be prepared to offer sugges- tions and discuss the matter at the meetings.


In order to get this material together it entails expense and unless the citizens are prepared to aid by an appropriation of money, nothing can be done. The Planning Board is willing to do their part in the way of personal effort, but will not appropriate money from their personal fund.


In all communities where zoning has been accepted it has proven a means of stabilizing land values, protecting residential dis- tricts from the encroachment of undesirable business, it provides for playgrounds, community, business and civic centres, all of which gives added prestige to your community and makes it a better place to live in.




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