Williams School First Grade 1933-34 (photo: Historic Newton, Jackson Homestead & Museum Archives)
In the early 20th century, Newton was known throughout the state and nation for its innovative public school system, with high educational standards and cooperative officials. In 1930, Boston University’s School of Education contracted with Newton Public Schools (NPS) for their students “to see progressive principles of education at work under the ordinary conditions of public schools.”[1]
The Association of American Soap selected NPS for a Hand Washing Study to test their equipment and supplies under everyday conditions. Four 6-foot sinks, powdered soap dispensers, and paper towels were installed in 8 schools. The soap study concluded that handwashing before eating lunch and “after the toilet” could not become a regular part of school because of the limited time available and the expense.
The Great Depression
The city was in the throes of the Great Depression. Unemployed workers led by an “alleged Communist” marched on City Hall. Among their demands were “free hot lunches at school and shoes for their children.” The Junior High Schools (7th, 8th, and 9th grade) and High School (10th, 11th, and 12th grade) had cafeterias that sold lunch. The elementary school children were expected to go home for lunch until after World War II, when a cafeteria was added to Hyde School.
In 1932, parents petitioned the school committee for a bus to take their children across the busy streets of Beacon and Commonwealth. Motorized vehicles had replaced horses, streetcar routes were being converted into bus lines, road regulations were under development, and traffic deaths were soaring. In 1931, Massachusetts had 1,009,876 registered vehicles and 199 children killed in traffic. (As a comparison, in 2023, there were an estimated…