USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1932-1940 > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
$64,185.32
Credits
General School Fund Law, Part II
$10,625.73
General School Fund Law, Part I
2,520.00
Vocational Education 3,047.54
Superintendent's salary reimbursement
859.26
Tuition, State Children
268.11
Tuition, Town of Monson
89.00
Tuition, Other Non-Residents
37.00
Supplies sold
3.35
Telephone toll calls
3.80
Car tickets sold
25.22
Interest, Deacon Warriner Fund
15.00
Salary refund
30.00
Tuition refunds, 1937
56.00
17,580.01
Amount paid from local taxation for support of schools $46,605.31
83
Appropriation for Improvement in Pines School Grounds
$1,132.00
Expenditures, itemized statement follows
941.20
Unexpended balance $190.80
Itemized Statement of Expenditures
School Committee
H. W. Cutler, salary
$50.00
Mrs. Mary S. Merrick, salary
50.00
Horace J. Rice, salary
50.00
$150.00.
Superintendent's Salary
Burr F. Jones $1,577.78
Expenses of Superintendence and Enforcement of Law ยท
Mrs. Jennie T. Abbott, labor certificates
$7.75
Emily O. Cormier, clerical services
533.28
Empire Stationers, transfer case
.95
Mrs. Esther L. Johnson, checking car tickets 6.40
Burr F. Jones, travelling and office ex- penses
294.38
Marion E. Kelley, telephone
.50
Charles Lapine, supervisor of attendance
70.00
Mrs. Fannie R. Pease, labor certificates
5.10
Wright & Potter Printing Co., account blanks 6.15
$924.51
Supervisors' Salaries
William L. Rinehart
$100.00
Mrs. Ethel C. Morse
460.00
Mrs Helen B. Tower
760.00
1,320.00
Teachers' Salaries
Mrs. Yolande R. Aldrich
$585.00
Mrs. Carol B. Allen
4.00
Lily R. Bilton
4.00
84
Mrs. Liane S. Fontaine
$1,200.00
Mrs. Millicent C. Green
580.00
Alfred A. Gustafson
360.00
Katherine A. Hart
1,194.00
Marion L. Holland
1,200.00
Mrs. Esther L. Johnson
1,200.00
Marion E. Kelley
1,350.00
Mrs. Lucy B. Kerr
76.00
Helen S. Kochanek
1,197.00
Mrs. Mary G. Logan
1 266.88
Mrs. Adella P. Olin
12.00
Mrs. Margaret J. Rice
2.00
Roy C. Rice
120.00
Margaret Richardson
4.00
Mrs. Minnie M. Sanderson
1,200.00
Mrs. Agnes I. Simmington
1,400.00
Mrs. Ruth G. Sullivan
1,197.00
Mrs. Mabel E. Welch
720.00
$14,871.88
Textbooks
Allyn and Bacon
$10.23
American Book Company
11.90
C. C. Birchard & Co.
5.66
Ginn and Company
80.81
Gledhill Brothers
7.37
Harcourt Brace & Company
1.54
Houghton Mifflin Company
34.55
Iroquois Publishing Company
52.32
The Macmillan Company
79.89
Scott, Foresman & Company
375.86
The John C. Winston Company
22.59
$682.72
Supplies
S. G. Adams Co., solar terra-scope
$5.04
Allyn and Bacon, workbooks
7.31
American Book Co., workbooks
24.09
American Education Press, Inc., weekly news sheets
78.60
Edw. E. Babb & Co., general supplies
134.90
Beckley-Cardy Co., sentence builders
1.50
85
Milton Bradley Co., general supplies 284.40
Carlisle Hardware Co., balls, net, etc. 18.45
Civic Education Service, weekly news . sheets 31.20
Direct Stores, Inc., block print press, ink, etc.
14.84
Ginn and Company, workbooks
6.51
Gledhill Brothers, general supplies
27.11
J. L. Hammett Co., general supplies
110.26
Mrs. W. L. Hazen, handicraft supplies
10.23
Holden Patent Book Cover Co., book
covers 14.80
Informational Classroom Picture Asso- ciation, pictures 6.03
Holliston Mills, Inc., vellum 6.14
Johnson's Bookstore, Inc., pant, pencil, etc. 1.25
Marion E. Kelley, sheet music, glue, thread 4.00
The Macmillan Co., workbooks
26.88
National Broadcasting Co., notebooks
10.00
New England Card & Paper Co., card- board, paper 6.00
Papercrafters, Inc., general supplies 76.35
Scott, Foresman & Co., workbooks
61.16
Shaw-Walker, record cards
2.42
Mrs. Agnes I. Simmington, postage, in-
surance .55
Mrs. Helen B. Tower, curtain material, polish, etc.
4.79
The John C. Winston Co., workbooks
.48
World Book Company, tests
23.98
Yale University Press Film Service, rental of films 27.00
$1,026.27
Janitors
Geo. Milo Green
$228.00
Henry Hyde
552.00
Charles Lapine
1,200.00
$1,980.00
86
Fuel
Walter H. Clark, coal
$836.20
E. F. Peck Wood & Coal Co., coal
288.00
Oscar Rauh, sawing wood
3.50
$1,127.70
Miscellaneous Operating
Carlisle Hardware Co., dustbane, sash
cord, etc.
$31.90
Carter Paper Co., soap
12.59
Central Mass. Electric Co., power and light
169.86
Collins Electric Co., thermometers
1.45
The Cutler Company, rakes
3.00
Jerry Donahue, removing ashes
16.30
Frank Bros. Paper Co., soap
5.00
Green's Service Station, fly spray, bulbs,
grease 3.00
Charles Lapine, laundering
.50
New England Tel. & Tel. Co. 140.25
Reformatory for Women, flags
7.01
City of Springfield, water
26.40
State Prison Colony, brushes
14.26
Thacker-Craig Paper Co., towels
101.64
Horace S. Thomas, Oakite
.60
Warren Refining & Chemical Co., Purg-All
10.74
Town of Wilbraham, water
59.10
Repairs
Edward E. Babb & Co., Swan floor treatment $63.30
Division of the Blind, uning piano 4.00
Boston Duck Co., shades 27.40
Henry Boyer, labor
13.00
Carlisle Hardware Co., materials
55.31
Collins Electric Co., radio unit
2.50
Commissioner of Public Safety, boiler in- spection 5.00
Community Feed Stores, Inc., paint and materials 48.77
Patrick Crowley, labor 185.40
The Cutler Co., cement
1.50
$603.60
87
H. W. Cutler, lawn mower 12.26
Jerry Donahue, labor, flag rope
2.50
Burr F. Jones, bolts, key ring
.26
Charles Labody, labor
14.00
Joseph Ladue, labor
94.65
Charles Lapine, registering trailer, mileage
136.85
Edmund Lapine, labor
15.00
Philip Lavigne, work on yard
5.00
Leo Meunier, pipe and labor
5.60
Jacob Miarecki, labor
15.00
Stanley Miarecki, labor
22.25
Morrissey Bros. Co., wire
1.92
New England Plumbing Supply Co., material, labor
5.00
Oliver & Howland Co., fusible plug
.60
Peter Ouimette Co., repairs on roofs
417.66
Palmer Electric Co., installing clock, repairs
9.10
Carleton R. Reid, repairs on radios
2.25
Geo. W Robbins & Sons Co., materials
136.57
Joseph Severyn, labor
11.25
Charles S. Stacy, repairs on heating and plumbing 75.86
Thompson Electric Co., service on loud speaker
4.00
True Bros., clock
7.50
$1,401.26
Health
Mrs. Geo. A. Clark, services
$8.00
A. L. Damon, M. D., school physician 265.00
Dentists & Surgeons Supply Co., Schick needles 2.50
Federal Pharmacy, supplies
11.85
Mrs. Lauretta McInnis, services
3.50
Signe L. Polson, salary, postage, telephone
754.25
$1,045.10
Elementary School Transportatoin
John Bradlenski, contract
$419.50
Adelbert J. Brooks, contract
398.25
Town of Ludlow
100.68
88
George W. Motyka, contract
1,234.24
Bernard L. Rochford, contract
222.50
Nicholas J. Samble, contract
740.00
$3,115.17
High and Trade School Transportation
John Bradlenski, contract
$747.00
Interstate Busses Corporation, tickets
311.20
Town of Ludlow
104.27
George W. Motyka, contract
3,388.00
Mrs. Elsie M. Samble, contract
254.00
Springfield St. Railway Co., tickets
984.00
$5,788.47
High School Tuition
Town of Ludlow
$262.08
Town of Palmer
1,447.50
City of Springfield
19,308.25
$21,017.83
Elementary School Tuition
Town of Ludlow
204.36
Continuation School Tuition
City of Springfield
17.40
Trade School Tuition
City of Springfield
7,232.85
New Equipment
Bay State Thread Works Credit Union, electric heater
3.40
Warren M. Lyman, folding chairs
139.52
Wilbraham Parent-Teacher Association,
15.00
playground equipment
$157.92
Total expenditures for school support $64,244.82
Improvement to Pines School Grounds
Rene Bergeron, trucking $245.00
Birnie Sand & Gravel Co., sub-soil 12.90
The Cutler Company, cement and lime 32.40
89
Mrs. Rose Driscoll, loam
173.00
Gebeau's Garage, grinding picks
.50
Ernest M. Hayn, setting grades, blue- prin's, seed, shrubs 149.50
William McClelland, trucking
256.00
John Powers, gravel
18.70
Frank Severy, mowing
25.20
Charles Vandall, trucking
28.00
Total
$941.20
Appropriations Needed for 1939
General Expenses
School Committee
$150.00
Superintendent's Salary
1,578.00
Expenses of Superintendence
875.00
Expenses of Instructions
Teachers and Supervisors
$16,170.00
Textbooks
600.00
Supplies
800.00
Expenses of Operation
Janitors
1,980.00
Fuel
1,350.00
Miscellaneous
550.00
Maintenance
Repairs and Replacements
1,000 00
Auxiliary Agencies
Health
1,150.00
Transportation
8,959.00
Tuition
29,876.00
Insurance
762.00
Total for support of schools, transportation and trade school tuition $65,800.00
Completion improvement of grounds at The Pines School $200.00 $200.00
Americanization Class
90
Estimate of Credits on Account of Education for 1939
General School Fund Law, Part I $2,520.00
Superintendent's salary reimbursement 859.26
Vocational Education 4,205.91
Tuition, State Wards
200.00
$7,785.17
Respectfully submitted, H. W. CUTLER, Chairman, MRS. MARY S. MERRICK, HORACE J. RICE, School Committee of Wilbraham.
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Wilbraham:
I am privileged to submit herewith my second annual report.
Changes in Personnel
Mrs. Mabel E. Welch, who has taught in the public schools of Maine and Massachusetts since 1899, and has served faith- fully and well as teacher in the schools of Wilbraham since 1918, retired voluntarily from teaching at the close of school in June. Mrs. Welch had been teacher of grades 5 and 6 at The Pines School for a number of years. Previous to her re- tirement Mrs. Welch was given a farewell party and an appro- priate gift by the Wilbraham teachers. The school committee passed a vote in appreciation of her long period of service here. Mrs. Welch makes her home in Derry, New Hampshire.
Mr. Roy Rice of Wilbraham, a graduate of the University of New Mexico, and holding an advanced degree from Massa- chusetts State College, was elected to teach the science in grades 5-8 at The Pines School. The instruction of grades 5 and 6 in other subjects than science was divided between Mr. Rice and Mrs. Johnson. Soon after beginning his work at The Pines, Mr. Rice asked to be released in order to become head of the Science Department of the Junior-Senior High School of Gallup, New Mexico. This request was granted and Mr. Alfred Gustafson of Wilbraham was appointed to complete the year in the position vacated by Mr. Rice.
91
Mr. Gustafson is a graduate of Wesleyan University, having specialized in science there and made further studies in the field of science at Harvard University. He has had a broad teaching experience, having been head of the department of science in such schools as the East Greenwich Academy, R. I., Montpelier Seminary, Vt., and for a number of years past in Wilbraham Academy, where he has come in contact with boys in the middle and upper grades as well as those of high school age. He shows special interest in, and facility in the use of, visual aids in education.
Mrs. Yolande Aldrich, who was teacher of grades 3, 4, and 5 at Wilbraham Street during the last school year and previously had taught at The Pines for several years, requested a leave of absence for the duration of the present school year. This request was granted.
Mrs. Millicent Green of Wilbraham, a graduate of North Adams No mal School and a teacher with successful experience in the schools of Wilbraham and Ludlow, was elected to the teaching staff and assigned for the present school year to the position held by Mrs. Aldrich.
Miss Margaret Richardson of Longmeadow, a graduate of Westfield State Teachers' College in 1936, offered to assist Miss Hart in he primary room at the Wilbraham Street School, during he second half of the last school year. In view of the fact that Miss Hart had a large enrolmen of thirty-seven pupils and these divided into three grades, the school officials gladly accepted the offer. Miss Richardson's services, which were rendered without compensation except the opportunity to gain teaching experience, were appreciated by pup ls, parents, and teachers.
The School Curriculum
The program for the introduction of new textbooks adopted last year has been carried forward according to schedule. All of the new books in use are accompanied by teachers' manuals and helps. These new texts and the teaching guides are of much assistance to supervisors and teachers in their endeavor to keep the curriculum of the schools in harmony with the needs of the times.
Arithmetic
The results of the standardized tests given in April, 1938, brought out the fact that although most of our pupils were up
92
to standard or above in reading, they fell somewhat below the test standards in arithmetic. Though they approach the stand- ard in the manipulation of figures or in the fundamental skills of arithmetic, they are notably below the standard in the application of those skills in problem work.
Our arithmetic textbooks had been in use for some time and their replacement earlier suggested by former Superinten- dent Wheeler. In seeking a method of improving the work in arithmetic, a committee of ten teachers representing the three towns was chosen to cooperate with the superintendent in studying aims, content, and methods in arithmetic, as well as recent textbooks in this subject.
As a result of the investigations of this committee, a new series of arithmetics known as The Study Arithmetics by Knight, Studebaker, Ruch, and Findley was adopted and brought into use with the opening of the current school year. One of the main purposes of these new books is to give children a better understanding of life situations which involve number rela- tionships as well as to give them an abundance of practice in the solving of problems growing out of such situations. Another commendable feature of the new books is a plan whereby each pupil is provided at regular intervals with a means of diagnosing and correcting his own weaknesses in arithmetic as well as a means of measuring his progress in each phase of arithmetical work. It is hoped that through the use of these new text- books, new course of study in arithmetic, and new emphasis by teachers, our pupils will reach a high standard in their work in problem solving as well as in their mastery of the funda- mental skills.
Handwriting
Within recent years there has been a growing feeling in this and other communities that the results of handwriting in- struction have not been commensurate with the amount of time devoted to such instruction. Quite possibly too much time has been spent in arm-movement exercises and too little in the practice of letter formation. The degree of skill that has been developed in handwriting exercises has not been satis- actorily transferred to the written work in other subjects. It may also be said that such skill in handwriting as has been developed in the elementary grades has not been satisfactorily retained after pupils leave the elementary schools.
93
Mr. William L. Rinehart, who with his staff supervises handwriting in the public schools of a score or more of cities and towns in Massachusetts, was invited to appear before the joint committee of this superintendency union at its annual meeting in April, 1938. Thereafter the superintendent was instructed to examine the handwriting results being obtained in Fitchburg, where Mr. Rinehart's system was in use. The com- mittees of the three towns of the union were so favorably im- pressed with the results described and observed that Mr. Rinehart was employed to supervise the handwriting in the schools of the union beginning at the opening of the school year 1938-1939. Wilbraham's share of the cost of such super- vision for the first year is $250.
During this year the schools are receiving full supervisory service from Mr. Rinehart and his staff, each classroom being visited once a month, the class being tested as to its progress both through the handwriting lesson and through examina- tion of the written work in language, spelling, and other subjects. All teachers in the union meet together once each month, when Mr. Rinehart discusses the problems that arise in teaching and sets forth the work of each grade for the ensuing month.
During the first year of Mr. Rinehart's service it is ex- pected that the teachers will become well versed in the use of the Functional Method of Handwrit ng. In subsequent years it is planned to have a limited supervisory service by Mr. Rinehart, whereby in a teachers' meeting at the beginning of the school year he will set forth an outline of the year's work and thereafter will score samples of pupils' handwriting sent him monthly by all the teachers. Mr. Rinehart will supply the specialized materials needed. This limited supervisory service will cost little more than has been expended for hand- writing materials in past years.
Functional Handwriting is a combination of the arm and finger movements. The finger movement is used chiefly in making the small letters, and the arm movement in making the capitals and the swing from one letter to another. In beginning his training in handwriting the child has his attention directed at first to letter formation. Speed, of little importance at the outset, is acquired naturally with practice. Much of the drill work is rhymic and may be set to a musical accompani- ment. Emphasis is placed upon the value of the monthly diag- nosis of each pupil's work, using the following criteria: Neat-
94
ness, legibility, proportionate size of letters, alignment, spacing, slant, endings.
It is felt that the Functional Method of Handwriting is based upon sound principles of pedagogy and that Mr. Rinehart is particularly well-qualified by natural talent, advanced study, and experience to train teachers and pupils in its use.
Visual Aids in Teaching
School authorities are rapidly coming to appreciate the value of visual aids in the education of children. Photographic drawings, paintings, stereoscopic views, lantern slides, silent motion pictures, and sound motion pictures are in turn coming into frequent use in the schools. Through recent experimen- tation in the use of motion pictures as an aid in education, it . has been found that pupils with the help of such aid learn more concerning a given subject and learn it in less time than they do without such helps.
One of the worthiest efforts thus far made in the develop- ment of educational motion pictures is "The Chronicles of America Photoplays" prepared and distributed by the Yale University Press. These photoplays set forth in dramatic fashion the most striking episodes in American history from the period of discovery and colonization through the Civil War. The producers of these photoplays have made an earnest effort to reproduce faithfully the costumes and scenery as well as the story itself.
Through cooperation with other towns on a circuit, it has been possible for Wilbraham to have these fifteen photoplays in each of the schools during the school year 1938-1939 at a total expense of less than thirty dollars for use of lantern and films. The pictures are being shown at intervals of two or three weeks from September to May. The pupils appear not only to enjoy these pictures but to profit by them in their study of American history. The teachers and janitors have cooperated generously in making the necessary arrangements. Indeed, our experience with these pictures strongly indicates that we should be prepared to make regular use of the motion picture as an aid in teaching such subjects as history, geography, current events, elementary science, and health education.
Repairs and Improvements in School Property
Considerable damage was done to school property by the hurricane, particularly at The Pines. The roof of the east wing
95
of this building was blown off. Numerous p ne trees were broken down or uprooted. Two trees were destroyed on the grounds at Wilbraham Street. The buildings at Wilbraham Street and North Wilbraham were not damaged. As a result of the special efforts of Mr. Lapine, janitor at The Pines, and of carpenters working under his direction, also the prompt response of the Peter Ouimette Company to an emergency call, the necessary new construction was done and the roof rep aced so that school sessions were resumed Monday morning with a loss of only two days. The total cost of this repair was approximately $500. The school committee has since placed windstorm insurance on the three school buildings now in use.
Other repairs and improvements made at The Pines School include the following: (1) Completion of the second W. P. A. project whereby the grounds from the building to the street were graded, loamed, seeded, and an eighteen-foot gravel driveway constructed. Trees and shrubs were also planted under the direction of Mr. E. M. Hayn. The general appear- ance of the front area is now very attractive. (2) A coat of paint was given to the trim and the window sash. (3) Curtains have been provided for the assembly hall so that the doors, windows, and corridor outlets can be darkened and the room used for the showing of motion pictures. (4) The floors of four classrooms were refinished with Swan floor treatment.
A third W. P. A. project for the further improvement of The Pines School grounds has been accepted, although the work has not as yet started. This includes: (1) the grading of the upper playground immediately back of the school and at each end of the building so that the water will drain away from the building; (2) the grading of the lower playfield and the improvement of the baseball diamond; (3) the erection of a backstop: (4) the treatment of the bank separating the upper and lower playground so as to prevent gulleying by water; and (5) the construction of a concrete walk from the front door to the driveway.
At Wilbraham Street uprooted and destroyed trees have been removed. The backstop has been rebuilt and a new screen door installed at the exit to the playground. Appreciation is due the Wilbraham Parent-Teacher Association for its assistance in equipping the playground with certain apparatus including four swings, a ladder-climb, and a basketball standard. With the exception of fifteen dollars appropriated from the Deacon
96
Warriner Fund, the Parent-Teacher Association provided the money needed for the purchase of the materials, and the male members of the association constructed the various pieces of apparatus and installed them on the grounds. This equipment adds very much to the interest and activity of pupils during recess periods and out-of-school hours.
At North Wilbraham the exterior of the building has been painted, the chimney pointed up, a new ceiling installed in the primary room, the side walls retinted in the upper-grade room, a new electric clock installed in the middle-grade room, and the girls' lavatory and nurse's room retinted.
Twenty-five new folding chairs have been provided at Wilbraham Street and at North Wilbraham.
Changes in Transportation
The three-year contracts held by John Bradlenski and George W. Motyka for transporting school children terminated at the close of the school year. The possibility of having all pupils attending Springfield High and trade schools conveyed in commodious school buses from Wilbraham direct to the several high and trade schools seemed so desirable to the school authorities that the transportation routes were revised and bids advertised on this basis.
Bids were received for all or a portion of the transportation routes from G. Alberici & Sons, Gebeau's Garage, Interstate Busses Corporation, George W. Motyka, Palmer Studebaker Service. As Mr. Motyka was low bidder on all routes, and as his service in previous years has been eminenlty satisfactory, the committee awarded to Mr. Motyka a three-year contract. Mr. Motyka immediately purchased three new school buses accommodating fifty-five pupils each. For the fourth bus he continues to use the larger of the two buses formerly used.
Under the new arrangement approximately 160 elementary school pupils and 180 high and trade school pupils are being transported by Mr. Motyka. No pupils attending the Spring- field schools from Wilbraham are now being transported by trolley. Certain benefits appear to result from the use of the buses for school transportation. The pupils are a shorter time in transit than they would be if transported by trolley. The new buses are vehicles with modern appointments for the comfort and safety of pupils. While on the bus pupils are under supervision. The new plan also obviates the questionable
97
practices that have arisen in the past in connection with the use of pupil tickets. In addition to the foregoing advantages, I am pleased to report that the use of the new plan makes a substantial annual saving to the town in transportation costs.
A three-year contract was also awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas J. Samble for the transportation of elementary and high school pupils living in the Glendale and Mountain areas. Mr. Bernard L. Rochford and Mr. Adelbert J. Brooks were re- employed for one year for transporting pupils on contributory routes.
School Calendar
In view of the fact that the transportation service of high school pupils is so intimately related to that of elementary school pupils, and in view of the further fact that nearly all of our elementary school pupils eventually enter the Springfield schools, it has been thought desirable to have the school year in Wilbraham coincide with the school year in Springfield. The four terms of the elementary schools, therefore, open and close on the same days as the Springfield schools. This brings about two changes. The fall term opens on Wednesday after Labor Day rather than on Tuesday as formerly, and the summer term closes on Friday noon of the last week of school rather than on Thursday afternoon.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.