USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1935-1936 > Part 15
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Edwin L. Day
Winifred W. Rice
Captain
Chester T. Horton
Clerk
Charles H. Black
Members
W. G. Buckle
F. Field
N. Rice
J. Castine
J. Gracie
J. Regan
E. Downing
F. Muse
C. Summer
N. Darling
N. Perry
R. Wood
R. Deming
H. Pietzsch
J. Watters
E. Eames
H. Quigley
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN L. DAY,
Chief Fire Department.
112
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Sealer of Weights and Measures for the year 1936.
Sealed Adj. Condemned
Platform over 5,000 1bs.
1
Platform 100 to 5,000 lbs.
11
1
Counter 100 lbs. or over
3
Counter under 100 lbs.
5
Beam 100 lbs. or over
1
Springs 100 lbs. or over
8
Springs under 100 1bs.
37
13
2
Computing under 100 lbs.
19
6
Personal Weighing Scales
4
1
Avoirdupois
85
3
Liquid Measures
13
1
Oil Jars
28
Meters 1 inch Inlet
25
7
2
Meters over 1 inch Inlet
14
11
Gasoline Pumps
21
Oil Measuring Pumps
12
Grease Measuring Pumps
1
Quantity Stops on Pumps
136
39
Yard Sticks
2
Sealing fees collected and turned over to Town Treasurer .... .. $64.54 The following are reweights of commodities for immediate deliv- ery:
- Incorrect -
Tested
Correct
Under
Over
Coal in Paper Bags.
26
18
8
Grain
2
2
Flour
4
4
Butter
18
8
10
Meats and Provisions
14
14
113
Bread
10
4
6
Confectionery
6
6
-
-
80
30
None 50
Number of Licenses Inspected.
8
Hawkers' and Pedlers' Scales.
6
Junk Dealers
3
Clinical Thermometers
5
Appropriation and Expenses of Department as follows:
Appropriation
$425.00
Total Expense
423.62
Unexpended Balance
$ 1.38
In regards to a 50 gallon test can that was purchased last year for the purpose of testing range and fuel tank trucks was used to the amount of 4,250 gallons making adjustments correctly.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN F. MUSE,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
114
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS
Wilmington, January 30, 1937
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit a report of Building Inspection, April 1, 1936 to December 31, 1936.
The number of permits granted was 72. 42 were for new construction at $1.00 each.
30 for alterations at 50c each.
Fees amounting to $57.00 were collected and turned over to the
Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER T. HORTON,
Inspector of Buildings.
115
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
A detailed report of the library activities is contained in the librarian's report which follows. As the report shows the library has been well patronized during the year. Books have been purchased with the amount of the funds available. The trustees recommend some slightly increased appropriation which will enable the purchase of more reading matter which, I believe, would be welcomed by the library patrons.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD N. EAMES, Chairman CHARLOTTE HATHAWAY HELEN BUCK PHILLIP BUZZELL L. T. McMAHON PETER NEILSON
Trustees of Public Library.
116
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN
To the Honorable Board of Trustees:
I herewith submit my annual report as Librarian:
Public documents, books, pamphlets, catalogues, leaflets, bulletins, maps and posters received, 360. Flyers for distribution have been re- ceived from the State Department of Education and literature from North Eastern University.
The following books have been presented:
Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War by Commonwealth of Massachusetts; Year Book of Agriculture 1936 and Hearings on the so-called Townsend Plan for Old Age Pension (in paper) by Mrs. Edith Nourse Rogers; Hoover Administration by Charles Scribners' Sons; Industrial America by Atlantic Monthly Co .; Democratic Despotism by American Liberty League; Romance and Drama of the Rubber Industry by Firestone Tire and Rubber Co .; Why Quit our Own by G. W. Peek; Rats, Lice and History by Miss Charlotte Hathaway; Via Mala and Herman Melville by L. T. McMahon; Tech- nical Procedure for Geodetic Surveys (in paper) by W. P. A. Mass. Geodetic Surveys; and ten volumes by Mrs. Samuel Perry. Number of new books purchased 174 volumes
Number of books purchased to replace 1 volume
Three books have not been returned by borrowers (but have been paid for) three have worn out and been discarded and seven have been taken out of Library on account of contagious disease.
Number of books in Library 7,366 volumes
Number of persons taking out books during the year 941
Number of books taken out during the year 12,947 volumes
Number of magazines taken out during the year 681
Number of other reading table literature circulated 12
Three books have been honored for people through Division of Public Libraries at the State House.
The reading table has been supplied from the Town appropriation with a fine assortment of twenty magazines; friends have contributed the following: Our Dumb Animals, New England Poultryman, Bell
117
Telephone Quarterly, Specialty Salesman, Recruiting News, Travelers' Standard, Selected Motion Picture, Motion Picture and the Family, Health Journal, Living Tissue, Life and Health, Foreign Service (part of year) and the Town paper Wilmington News. The Christian Science people have given the Wednesday Christian Science Monitor with Weekly Magazine Section and Christian Science Journal.
Receipts
Fines on Library Books
$82.53
Two old books sold
.20
Books not returned by borrowers
1.60
Passed in to Town Treasurer
$84.33
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA T. SHELDON,
Librarian.
118
REPORT OF THE MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Wilmington, Mass.
We respectfully submit to you the following report of the Memorial Day Committee.
The Memorial Day exercises were under the direction of Wil- mington Veterans Council for the second successive year.
The observance of the Day started at 9.00 A. M. Representatives of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars proceeded to Nee and Regan Parks with Chaplains, Firing Squads, and buglers, where Memorial Services in memory of the departed veterans were held.
The parade formed at Masonic Hall at 9.45 A. M. The marchers left the Hall at 10 A. M. preceded by a detail of police. The roster of parade was, Detail of Police; Selectmen. Representative of General Court, and President of Veterans' Council; Colors and Guards; Fir- ing Squad; Automobiles with G. A. R., Disabled Veterans, and Gold Star Mothers, Band, Spanish War Veterans, Wilmington Post 136, American Legion, Nee-Ellsworth Post 2458, Veterans of Foreign Wars; Junior Legion, State Vice-President, American Legion Auxiliary, Wil- mington Post 136, American Legion Auxiliary; Nee-Ellsworth Post 2458, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, other Patriotic Organizations, and High School Girls with flowers.
The parade stopped at Mill Brook, Rogers Park, Soldiers' Monu- ment, to decorate graves, Soldiers' Lot, and at Grange Hall. Addresses were made by the Reverend Mr. Seaboyer at Mill Brook, by the Reverend Fr. McGahoon at Soldiers' Monument, and by the Reverend Mr. Simmons at Soldiers' Lot. Lunch was served at Grange Hall by Donnelly Caterers of Lowell.
Several innovations were introduced this year. The line of march was shortened in deference to the advancing years of the marchers and the services of an out-of-town speaker was dispensed with. High school girls carrying flowers in the parade added a touch of color which evoked many favorable comments from spectators along the line of march.
119
Grave markers were provided for several of the previously un- marked graves of veterans of former wars. Your committee would recommend that a blue-print of the cemeteries be provided, showing the location of the graves of veterans of all wars. This information should be recorded in some permanent form instead of depending upon the memory of persons now living.
Respectfully submitted,
Wilmington Veterans' Council
C. S. HARRIMAN, President JOSEPH T. KELLEY LeROY BEDELL FRANK G. POITRAST WALTER FITCH HERBERT HIGGINBOTHAM J. TURNER HOOD, JR.
120
REPORT OF AGENT OF BOARD OF HEALTH
Board of Health, Town of Wilmington, Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
Submitted herewith is the summary of the diseases dangerous to the public health, reported to the Board of Health of Wilmington dur- ing the year 1936.
Chicken-pox
6
Diphtheria
1
Dog Bite
9
German measles
1
Measles
13
Mumps
Scarlet fever
S
Pulmonary tuberculosis
1
Pertussis
4
Lobar pneumonia
2
Gonorrhea
?
Syphilis
5
I would call attention to the one case of diphtheria reported. This is the first case reported in Wilmington in five years, and this was an adult. The small amount of money expended by this department year- ly for immunization of children in the past has been a most worth- while investment.
During the past year, there were ten less cases of dog-bite reported than in 1935. The work of the dog officer in keeping down the number of strays has been a factor in this more favorable showing. In some of the children's diseases, the number of cases reported are only a few of the cases actually existant in the community. As agent of the Board of Health I would appreciate the co-operation of all citizens in seeing that all such diseases are properly reported.
I feel that the community has been fortunate in not having had any typhoid fever or anterior polimyelitis to report. During the past few years we have had a slightly larger number per capita than many other rural communities
There was a case of rabies in a cow reported which I call atten- tion to in order that you and the citizens of Wilmington may be in- formed that rabies may be obtained from the saliva of animals other than dogs. Cats, rats, rabbits, foxes, squirrels and other animals may transmit rabies by their bite if they have this disease.
Respectfully,
E. C. MacDOUGALL, M. D., Agent of the Board of Health of Wilmington.
121
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Together with the Report of SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS For the Year Ending December 31st 1936
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Wilmington:
Your School Committee can at this time report that its department has had a most satisfactory year in 1936.
The usual expected increase of school attendance which came in September and October was accommodated. Nevertheless, in some of the school houses any further growth of attendance will create a seri- ous problem, especially in that it would call for an increase in transpor- tation facilities. In any case, the need for such increased facilities will come at an early date.
The school houses are in the best condition in the recent history of the department. New toilet facilities have been constructed at the Walker and Whitefield Schools and are in process of installation at the Center School. Nearly all of the labor for these improvements was furnished by the Works Progress Administration. Special appropria- tions made by Town meetings furnished materials.
The Committee, during the year, lost by resignation the valuable service of Mr. Edward C. Manning, and Mr. Alfred L. Allen became a member in Mr. Manning's stead.
Several changes in personnel have occurred and we must expect such changes to come more frequently in the future unless we can pay for instruction at a rate on the par with salaries for corresponding work in other communities.
It is fitting in this connection to acknowledge the gratitude of the Committee and the indebtedness of the town to all employees of the School Department for their efficiency and co-operation.
JOHN W. HATHAWAY, Chairman OLIVIA H. NORCROSS, VELMA BEDELL, HARRY W. DeLORELA, PETER NEILSON, ALFRED L. ALLEN,
Committee
124
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Wilmington:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This is the thirteenth annual report that I have prepared as Super- intendent of Wilmington's schools. AAfter writing such reports for the sanin town for so many years it is difficult to present new and interesting facts. Our school procedure continues year after year along the same general lines. We indulge in no experiments of ques- tionable value; we can't afford such. No bursts of fire-works for advertising some individual are allowed, yet our teachers are not bound by any hard and fast regimented programı, except the curriculum. Freedom of initiative within reasonable bounds is permitted to all They are judged by results, not by spectacular methods of presenting subject matter. As a result we have as contented a group of teachers as could be found anywhere. Our salary schedule is the only source of discontent in the system. Trachers usually leave us because of very substantial increases elsewhere. They often wish they were back with us if their salaries could be as large. The result of all this is that we can copy the slogan of a nearby town and say, "Wilmington schools are good schools". In fact. I believe Wilmington gets more for its educational dollar than any other community in the state.
EVIDENCE
In support of a statement that the local schools are run with extreme economy and, by virtue of results, with efficiency, some statistical data will be given.
It is not generally known that for the school year ending last June (1936), of the 10S town in Massachusetts of less than 5,000 population, which maintains a high school, this town stood 108 or last in the list for cost per pupil for education. According to Public Document No. 2 of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is the Report of the Department of Education, this and all other facts here quoted can be found. The per pupil cost in Wilmington for that year was $61.81, as compared to State average cost of $95.79. This means that if we had paid what the average town pays it would cost $110,924.82, to run our schools last year instead of $67,996.21, actually spent. This is even more significant when you know that of this amount $15,053.17, was
125
reimbursed by the state. In short form this is summarized as follows:
Per pupil cost 1935-1936 $ 61.81
Net average membership 1,067
Average membership 1,100
Total cost 67,996.21
State Reimbursement
15,053.17
Net cost to the Town
52,943.04
Net cost per pupil
49.66
In the above figures it will be noted that the net average mem- bership is used as a basis of division. This is misleading in so far as the real average cost per pupil is concerned. It is used for the con- venience of the state department but does not present a true picture of the facts. The figures for the school year ending in June of this fiscal year showed the following:
Enrollment
1158
Average membership 1100
Net average membership 1066
The figure 1066 does not include state minor wards or pupils from other towns for whom we received tuition and transportation. Actual figures therefore would look like the following:
Total cost last school year
$ 67,996.21
Pupils enrolled
1,158
Cost per pupil
58.72
Net cost to Town
52,943.04
Net cost per pupil enrolled
45.72
The reason for using the enrollment figure is that it represents truly the greatest number of pupils in school at any one time, for whom we actually have to buy books and supplies. The balance of overhead remains the same whether average or gross numbers are used as a basis.
It is of interest to note that on November 30, 1935, this town re- ceived back from the state income tax collections $13,870.00, which was the largest returns made to any one of the 208 towns, in the state, of under 5,000 population at that time. On the same date in 1936 a similar but larger amount was due. In addition to this re- fund we also collect from the state for tuition and transportation of state minor wards the sum of $1,954. In the current year these amounts are even larger.
126
State income tax, Nov. 30, 1936
$ 15,215.00
State minor wards
2,462.84
Burlington tuition
26S.00
Supt. of Schools
1,256.67
Total
$ 19,202.41
1936 Expenses
$ 69,98S.94
1936 Reimbursements
19,202.41
1936 Net Cost
$ 50,786.53
Another financial fact which is not of common knowledge is that the town has to pay but two dollars more than half of the salary of the Superintendent of Schools. This is a further reimbursement of $1,256.67, which is not raised by local taxation. That is, it costs about a dollar and five cents per pupil each year to hire a man to prescribe the right educational medicine for your children in the right doses and to see that the medicine is properly administered at the right time. This is a daily service and the man in charge has to select and buy all necessary supplies and keep account for them as well as to see to it that all conditions under which the children are treated are as healthful as is possible with the money at his disposal. He is expected to get properly trained people to have immediate charge of the chil- dren, to keep them in a happy frame of mind, and supplies with the necessary equipment for their task.
COMPARISONS
It seems as though most people are engaged in a struggle to "keep up with the Joneses", i.e., they try to make as good a showing as their neighbors. In education Wilmington does not do this nor can it expect to. We just haven't the money to do it. We can however do better than we are in the habit of thinking we can. A few con- parative figures taken from the same state document previously quoted shows interesting facts. These figures are compiled for the nine towns which were closest together in population in the census of 1930. I am aware that these numbers have changed since 1930, but they are the ones used by the State Department in computation.
127
TABLE OF COMPARISONS
Population
1930 Census
Valuation
1935
Number of
Teachers
Total
Enrollment
Average
Salary
Valuation
per Pupil
Tax Rate
Amount
Spent
Dalton
4220
$5,777,944
31
968
$1514.55
$7012
$34.00
$67,974.59
$75.86
Templeton
4159
2,869,128
28
807
1068.94
3831
47.00
49,921.06
64.66
Medfield
4066
2,732,399
14
420
1299.73
6714
39.40
29,804.07
71.82
Lee
4061
4,523,477
27
803
1569.05
6327
35.06
59,389.32
77.63
Wilmington
4013
4,565,603
37
1158
1165.46
4095
36.40
67,996.31
61.81
Oxford
3944
2,904,068
29
914
1093.94
3433
46.20
54,062.23
61.93
Swansea
3941
4,521,715
27
832
1286.02
6102
24.00
62,386.58
78.37
Williamstown
3900
6,895,265
31
851
1434.87
9061
28.00
67,887.24
86.50
Holden
3871
3,214,864
33
937
1336.31
3612
38.00
67,928.52
74.81
Cost per Pupil
in Average
Membership
It will be noticed from this table that Wilmington had nearly two hundred more pupils than its nearest rival in school population which was Dalton, a town of larger population than this. In this condition lies, of course, the great handicap for Wilmington. There are too many school children in proportion to the total population. The average percentage for the state is 17.8 or approximately one sixth, but Wilmington had last year 26% or more than one-fourth of its population in school. The proportion is even greater at the close of the fiscal year.
Another interesting point of view comes from the data showing the comparative ability of the towns to support school children. This is shown by the valuation per pupil. I am well aware that valuation is not necessarily a measure of ability to pay taxes, but it is about the only way to determine relative ability to support municipal services. Wilmington's position in this element is fifth from the top and not at the bottom as might be supposed. This, in spite of the fact that we have so large a number of pupils on which to base the average.
The table shows that Wilmington spends more money for schools than any other town in the group. This is of course because of its much greater school population. The town nearest in costs was Dalton which spent twenty-two dollars less, but which has one hundred ninety less pupils.
In close connection with the facts just mentioned are those de- pendent on the amounts quoted. Here when the gross cost is divided by the number of pupils, Wilmington stands at the foot of the list with the lowest per pupil cost. In fact we show the lowest cost per pupil of the 208 towns of the state with a population under 5,000.
It has been suggested that our low cost per pupil is the result of the unusually large enrollment. In arithmetic this is a fact but as a comparison it means little. It costs a certain amount to educate a child &nywhere, this varies with the cost of the various elements which enter into the educational process such as, teaching salaries, new books, supplies, visual instruction, vocational instruction, physical programs, and many other things which may vary widely in cost. Schools are not like Ford plants, where the product uses a uniform kind and amount of material, and where by specialization and con- veyor-belt systems identical units are produced. It is incorrect to state therefore that low per pupil cost has no significance. Children are not like Fords, matches, or tin cans. They all vary and the old type of individual treatment has to be used. Low unit cost of educa- tion is a direct measure of what the community can, or will, afford to pay.
129
The column headed "Tax Rate" is of interest. It shows that in- stead of the rate here being very unusual it is the median for this group. Two of the towns with much lower valuations have tax rates ten or more dollars greater. This may or may not be significant, de- pending on the method of valuation used in the towns as a group.
It has been hinted that we have too many teachers for our enroll- ment of pupils. Without comment I present the following from state records.
Population
Enrollment
Teachers
Somerset
5,398
1,159
42
Abington
5,872
1,121
37
Uxbridge
6,285
1,214
41
Easton
6,272
1,145
40
Tewksbury
5,585
750
24
Wilmington
4,013
1,158
37
PLANT IMPROVEMENTS
For the past ten years the school committee has annually en- deavored to find some means of remedying the very serious condition presented by toilet accomodations in the Center, Walker, and White- field Schools. At no time was a sufficient sum available over running expenses to make improvements in even one of these units. The advent of the Civil Works Administration with its provision of subsidized labor has made it possible, with the aid of a special appro- priation by the town for materials, to give all three schools decent sanitary accomodations. This accomplishment has made possible the addition to our curriculum of important instruction in the field of personal hygiene. Such instruction is even more necessary in the smaller towns of this type than in large towns and cities where sanitary engineering and plumbing regulations are more rigorously circum- scribed.
The addition of new sanitary facilities to Whitefield School, brought with it another expensive problem. It was found that it would be impossible to heat the added space from the hot air furnace which had previously failed to heat the corridors of the main building. This heater, which was an auxiliary to the main heating plant of the school, had outlived its usefulness. It was found to be more advisable to replace it with a small steam boiler and to place radiators in the halls as well as the new toilet rooms. This had not been forseen in making up the budget last year, but we were fortunately able to finance it from the regular appropriation. This is the second heater which has had to be replaced in this building within a year.
130
In the Buzzell School six new Telechron clocks were installed. The building committee had not been able to secure this equipment from the money at their disposal. The need for clocks was seriously felt during all of the last school year. In addition to the clocks we were also able to provide shades for the windows on the South side of the building. These were needed even more than the clocks because these rooms were a glare of sunlight throughout the whole of every fair day. The front of the building was dressed up by the addition of Venetian blinds to the windows in the office and the teacher's room which had previously had a bare and unfinished look.
An excellent grading project was carried out with the aid of C. W. A. funds in the rear of the High and Center Schools. The sur- face there is loose gravel and provision should be made for some kind of surfacing, either of sod or oil. This with the landscaping previously on the approaches to the D. T. Buzzell School, are a very decided com- munity improvement.
TEACHING STAFF
In line with the apparent improvement in national economic con- ditions, we have had a greater turnover in the teaching staff than has occurred for several years. There have been eight changes in, and one addition to the force during the year, so that at the close of the year there were nine new names on the roster of teachers. The chief cause for changes has been the more attractive salaries offered by other communities. In most cases we have taken young teachers at a very low salary and have trained them but have given them very little increase in pay. The result is that other towns have profited at our expense and we have had to start again at the beginning.
The opinion is current that there is an abundance of trained teach- ers, and this is more or less true, but there is no surplus of good teachers. Good teachers are as hard to find as ever. Mere training does not produce them. The possession of a degree is no guarantee of success as a teacher. The personality factor is so important in this profession that it would be a service to many a candidate if some method could be found to measure this personality element before the individual had spent precious years preparing for a career for which he may be unfit.
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