USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1925-1935 > Part 13
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According to the last State Report the figures are as follows: Holden, $98.79; Kingston, $92.42; Medfield, $88.74; Hanover, $85.55; Hopkinton, $85.50; Pepperill, $84.94; Medway, $82.28; West Bridgewater, $77.78 ;. Ash- land, $75.51; Oxford, $68.57; Hatfield, $65.61; Holbrook, $65.08 ; Hadley, $63.57. The average cost for these towns other than Hatfield is $80.73, or $15.12 more for each child:
The cost in Amherst is $104.31; Deerfield, $96.48; Easthampton, $85.60; Northampton, $84.62; Sunderland, $80.32; Whately, $79.87.
The estimated budget for this year is $55,500. Of this amount, the town receives from outside sources approx- imately $17,000 which is between $3000 and $4000 more than was received three or four years ago. The budget includes the cost of some of these needed improvements, increases in salaries and the establishment of a commercial course in the Academy. The reasons for the introduction of this course are given in the reports that follow.
Last year the rooms on the first floor of the Center School were retinted and all the furniture put in good con- dition. This year all the rooms on the second floor were retinted and furniture put in good condition. The Hill School building was given a thorough repairing inside and out, and some new furniture installed. The West Hatfield School building was thoroughly repaired inside and out. All the buildings are now in good condition with the ex- ception of the exterior of the Bradstreet and Center School buildings.
In closing, we wish to call your attention to the re- ports of the Superintendent of Schools, Principal of the Academy and the Supervisors.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH W. CHANDLER, J. HENRY CHARLEBOIS, FRANCIS W. LOVETT.
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Financial Statement
ESTIMATED FINANCIAL BUDGET FOR 1930
School Committee $200.00
Superintendent of Schools
and Attendance Officer 2,500.00 #Of this amount the State pays $950.00
Supervisors of Music, Drawing and Pen-
manship, and Health Education 2,900.00
Teachers-Academy 7,250.00
Teachers-Elementary 23,300.00
#Of the salaries the State pays $12,400.00
Teachers-Vocational 4,800.00
Supplies-Vocational
600.00
Travel-Vocational 200.00
#The State pays two-thirds of
all salaries in the Agricultural .
Dept. and one-half of the total
expenses of the Household Arts · Dept. amounting to about $3,700.00
Books and supplies
3,000.00
Janitors and supplies
3,300.00
Fuel
3,700.00
Repairs
600.00
Athletics
200.00
Miscellaneous
400.00
Transportation-Academy
1,050.00
Transportation-Elementary
400.00
$54,400.00
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Smith-Hughes Fund
400.00
$54,000.00
Establishment of Commercial Dept.
1,500.00
Total Budget for 1930
$55,500.00
#These estimates are based on last year's receipts.
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45
Report of Supt. of Schools
To the School Committee, Parents and Citizens:
A careful study of the Household Arts department showed that the course of study did not hold the interest of the girls for four years. By readjusting the work of the department, the four years' course has been reduced to a two years' course without eliminating many of the real valuable factors. As it is a more intensive course, it is likely to hold the interest much better. When the House- hold Arts course is completed, many of the girls will be glad to remain if a vocational course that is interesting and valuable can be offered.
We believe that a two years' Commercial Course open to Juniors and Seniors will be of great educational and practical value not only to the girls of the Household Arts department but also to other members of the school who would like to acquire a knowledge of business forms and skills for their individual use later or as a basis of a thor- ough and extended course at the Northampton or other Commercial College. The Commercial Course would be organized on the same basis as Agriculture and Household Arts, one-half the time given to technical work and one- half given to regular academic subjects. The course should advance those who complete it with credit about one full year when they enter a regular Commercial College.
By 1960, the typewriter will become about as indispen- sable in the average home as was the steel pen in 1860. The demand for general knowledge of business forms and principles will advance in about the same ratio.
A Commercial Course will meet a real need and will make the curricula of the Academy as broad, complete and
46
efficient as any educational unit of its size and type in the Commonwealth.
The two vocational departments have been of great value to the boys and girls of Hatfield: When small depart- ments like the agricultural and household arts departments in Smith Academy can year after year develop and train young people who can take first places in local, State and National contests, they are surely worthy of liberal support. A Commercial Course will make an equally valuable con- tribution. The proposed department is unanimously rec- ommended by the School Committee and the Board of Trustees of Smith Academy. The Trustees will make the necessary adjustments in the building for the department and supply the desks, tables and chairs.
Realizing that it will be inadvisable for several years to establish a fully organized and equipped Junior High school at the Center building, an inexpensive but quite im- portant change in that direction was made last September by establishing a system of departmental work in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. In each room on the upper floor, the regular room teacher conducts the first and last recitation in the forenoon and afternoon. During the other periods, the teachers of special subjects as arithmetic, geo- graphy, history and English conduct the recitations in their special subject in the different grades. This method unifies the work in each subject and gives the children in each grade the advantage of a teacher who is specializing in the preparation and teaching of each branch. As the senior high school is organized along similar lines, the transition from the upper grammar grades to the Academy will be less difficult. The change has strengthened the whole program and as the work develops a higher stand- ard of achievement will result.
As in the past, several National Standard tests in arithmetic, history, reading and English have been given during the year.
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The classes in history do excellent oral work, but when they are required to take the National Standard tests in this subject, the results are not quite as good as in the other studies. An excellent set of maps will be added to the historical equipment in all the grammar schools early in 1930. We expect that this important study will be brought up this year to the highest National average.
A comprehensive test was given in the solving of problems that required analytical thinking. The National average for the grades tested was 73 points. The local average for all the children in the grades tested was 72.
Two National Standard tests in reading have been given-one in June and one in November. Both of these tests were more difficult than the previous tests have been. In June, the local average for all the grades tested was 44.2 points. The National Standard for the same grades was 44 points. In November, the local average for grades 2 to 8, was 23 points. The National Standard was 24 points.
These were different tests by different experts with different bases of computation, but both were scientifically compiled and graded.
A Standard test in reading compiled for primary grades was given in the second and third grades. One uni- form Standard test with the same questions was given to all the children in all the grades from the fourth to the senior class in the academies to determine the progress made through the grades in the comprehension of the printed page. To show how uniform this progress has been through these grades in both towns since this method in reading was introduced, the average scores are given below :
Grades
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Average Scores -- Hatfield
14 27 12 20 26 28 31 34 37 41 47
Average Scores-Hadley 15 25 15 20 26 28 35 35 35 45 46
A very comprehensive National Standard test in tech- nical English has just been given in grades 7 to 12 inclu-
$8
sive. The test was the same for grades 7 and 8. It cov- ered 127 questions to be answered in 30 minutes. The high school test was the same for the four classes and cov- ered 174 questions to be answered in 40 minutes. The local average for all seventh grade children was 96 points or 11 points above the National average which was 85. The average for all eighth grades was 105 points, or 10 points above the National average which was 95. This was the best standing that the children have ever achieved with a National test.
To show how evenly matched the two academies are in technical English as well as in athletics, the average scores for both schools are given below :
Grades
9
10
11
12
Average Scores-Smith
121
122
133
134
Average Scores-Hopkins
118
124
139
129
The teachers in the lower grades merit their share of credit for the excellent results in technical English shown in the report given above as they have given much atten- tion to this important branch and have trained the children very efficiently in oral as well as written English.
As few rural schools are included in the establishment of the standards used in the National tests, the fact that our children are maintaining these standards is very com- plimentary to them and to the teachers.
In closing, I wish to thank the children, parents, teach- ers, supervisors, citizens and Members of the School Com- mittee for the hearty cooperation given during the year.
Respectfully sumbitted,
ORION A. MORTON,
Superintendent of Schools.
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Principal of Smith Academy
To the Superintendent of Schools and the School Com- mittee of the Town of Hatfield.
I hereby respectfully submit my second annual report as principal of Smith Academy.
During the year 1928-29 there were enrolled in Smith Academy 90 pupils and eight were graduated. Of these, five are now attending some higher institution; three at Stockbridge School in Amherst, one at Rider College in New Jersey, and one at Framingham Normal School.
Enrollment at the opening of school in September 1929 was 88 divided as follows: Senior class 16, Junior class 16, Sophomore class 26, Freshman class 30. Since the open- ing of school seven pupils have left school and three have entered leaving a total enrollment at present of 84.
The percent of attendance for this year up to this point is 93% as compared to 85%, the percent for the cor- responding period of last year. During the first nine weeks of school thirteen pupils were neither absent, tardy, nor dismissed. This increase over last year's record is very gratifying and the pupils and their parents deserve a great deal of credit for their cooperation in making this possible. It is impossible to emphasize too strongly the fact that prompt and constant attendance is the primary requisite in building up a satisfactory system of education.
Last September a program of physical education was inaugurated under the supervision of Mr. Kalloch, assisted by Miss Day. · Each day a ten-minute period is devoted to setting-up exercises and corrective calisthenics. When the weather is suitable these drills are held out of doors but in inclement weather the exercises are given indoors
1
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with all windows open. In connection with this program of physical education each candidate for an athletic team is given a thorough physical examination.
Tests have been given this fall to determine the pupils' rate of reading, to find out how much they understand of what they read, and to locate each pupil's particular diffi- culties in English grammar. The Somes-Harry High School General Achievement Test was also given in four fields: English, mathematics, natural science and social science.
A change in the curriculum was made in September when the four-year Household Arts course was changed to a two-year course. This change was made in order that duplication of instruction might be avoided and that a more concentrated course might be offered. In addition, an examination of the records since 1921 shows that only seven pupils have taken the Household Arts course for four years and that only a very small percentage have taken the course for more than two years.
This year the Academy pupils are competing for pos- session of a cup donated by the faculty. This cup will be held for one year by the class securing the greatest num- ber of points in a series of events or forms of competition. The chief form of competition is attendance but we have also held two volley-ball tournaments, one for the boys and one for the girls. An attempt has been made this year to advance the idea that sports and competitive athletics should be for all the pupils and not for a few individuals. More inter-class competition is planned for the remainder of the year.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD O. BURRILL, Principal.
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Music Supervisor
The fundamental purpose of our music in the public schools is to develope a desire and at the same time to cultivate a working knowledge and appreciation of music. Thus, from the first grade on thro' the school life of the child, our task is to inspire and stimulate the desire for good music, and to build an adequate background of this knowledge.
Music reading, song singing, and appreciation are three of the broad subjects which constitute our outline.
The upper grades in the center of the town have been visited every week and the lower grades and outside schools every second week for a longer period. Smith Academy has two music periods weekly, for chorus and glee clubs. All orchestra practise is held evenings.
Our outstanding musical activities during the past year have consisted of programs furnished by glee clubs, selected and full choruses, and orchestra at various school activities in the Academy including special assemblies, plays, prize speaking contests, Memorial Day exercises and Commencement week programs. The children of all the schools in town also assisted in the Memorial Day pro- gram.
In closing I wish to express to our superintendent, Mr. Morton, the school committee, principals, teachers and pupils, my sincerest appreciation for their hearty coopera- tion and kindly efforts which are most valuable assets in making our music a success.
MAUDE E. BOYLE.
52
Supervisor of Penmanship and Drawing
"The teaching of art should be the strengthening of the sense of beauty. There are certain by-products which must not be obscured. These by-products are an interest in order and the habit of using the imagination. Order of design is the basis of science as well as of art and if a child acquires simply an understanding of it, he has ac- quired the foundations of a balanced life."
The greatest gift the litle child can give is his imagin- ation. This faculty of imagination should be strengthened in all grades. Definite problems are given to the class. Nursery tales and primer stories which he reads, are used. He is taught to emphasize the main ideas. Therefore only simple stories are chosen such as, "The Three Bears", "Peter Rabbit", etc. Besides stories, the holidays furnish illustration material. The aim in these drawings is good proportion, vigorous action and good color.
Posters, cuts from magazines, advertisements, and il- lustrated books are all brought into service in this tppe of work.
More stress has been given to this phase of the work in the past year. The child finds it rather difficult at first, but later he enjoys it more than anything else, because he has created something himself and once he has accom- plished this, he is not content. He goes farther adding more to the first and thus he grows.
The fifth grades did a transportation problem in the spring. Old and modern methods of travel were illustrat- ed. Some of the illustrations were very colorful.
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The drawing and painting of still life is put into the curriculum to teach the beauty of common things, accuracy of representation, and simple perspective.
Handwriting is a useful tool by means of which both present and assured future needs may be served. A neces- sary aim for the operator of the penmanship tool is to learn to write with muscular movement and at such speed as will enable him to meet these needs.
Pupils should be aroused to an appreciation of the fact that the attainment of skill is but one. phase of the problem. A clear appreciation of the use of the skill is needed on the part of all if a desirable degree of carry over is to be effected. Attitude is everything. This fact was well proven in the tests given in the middle of the year. Where the attitude was right, the carry over was right and the examination very satisfactory. The carry over work depending upon the attitude of the teacher and the child is the biggest problem in the penmanship work. The drill lesson of twenty minutes a day is of very little importance if the principles taught are forgotten for the rest of the day. One teacher who spends very little time on drill but much time on principles, board work, and car- ry over had an average of 97% for three grades of forty- five pupils which was a very creditable standing.
Other teachers with the same attitude had practically the same result.
Examinations for pins and diplomas were given only in grades five, six, seven and eight this year. The re- sults are as follows: Final Certificate 30; Business Certifi- cates 7; Improvement Certificates 15; Progress Pins 29. These examinations were voluntary on the part of the pupils. Only those desiring awards were asked to submit their papers.
This has been a very happy and encouraging year. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Mr. Morton, who
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has been most helpful, to the principals and teachers for their help and cooperation in making this work pleasant and profitable.
BERNICE B. ORMOND.
.
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Supervisor of Health Education 1928-29
Health Education in the public schools is at the pres- ent in the pioneering stage. So long, the public has looked upon the health work in schools as a corrective measure only; that a definite and conscious effort to teach pre- vention is a difficult precedent to establish. Again, until within recent years health teaching was more or less con- fined to intermediate and upper grades.
A careful study of the results of physical examinations and medical inspections, proved that to attempt to eradi- cate even a small percent of the remedial defects under such a program was a futile undertaking. The instruction and corrections must begin in the pre-school or primary age to be worth the time and expense involved.
The teaching of good health habits; the correcting of dental and other defects in the primary lower forms; the expression of the understanding of good health habits continued in the upper primary grades, in correlation with the regular class work, reading, art and story telling is proving to be a successful health program. The grammar grades study the subject of hygiene and healthy living from text-books and learn the relation of good habits to the proper functioning of the physical and mental faculties.
The posture of the rapidly growing child so closely allied to nutrition as to be treated as one topic is materially affected by improper seating in the class room. Two of the rooms in the Centre school have desks and chairs much too small.
Corrective work goes on steadily, but slowly. Eyes are the first objective and seven children have been pro-
56
vided with glasses this year. The use of the Audiometer in testing the hearing showed defects unsuspected, and it is hoped the entire school may be tested next year.
The record of 13 children showing marked enlarged thyroid gland is a subject for special investigation. Altho' the dental clinic did not operate in Hatfield this term, a number of children needing special attention were taken to the school clinic in Hadley, also, children having a rec- ord of tubercular contact were carried to Westfield Sana- torium for chest examination and X-ray.
Mild epidemics of chicken-pox and mumps affected the Hill, School and Bradstreet schools, no serious results or complications. Several children were absent from school for lengthy periods owing to physical ailments more or less serious and were cared for by their physicians. All but one returned to school on full time before the school closed in June.
The tabulation below is a statement of. the physical rating of the individual schools.
Ton- Nut &
School
Exam. Passed Failed Teeth
sils
Pos.
Vis.
Hear- Hyg ing
W. Hatfield
52
41
11
7
1
I
2
0
0
N. Hatfield
78
58
20
14
2
2
1
1
0
Bradstreet
91
68
23
14
6
2
1
0
0
Hill
67
55
12
7
3 -
1
1
0
0
School
75
60
15
10
3
1
1
0
0
Centre
282
208
74
50
10
5
5
0
4
High
88
60
28
20
3
1
3
0
The thyroid enlargements are not rated in this class- ification.
Heart murmur 3, are not rated in this classification.
With the exception of one school, the sanitation of the schools has been good, proper lighting and ventilating has been well supervised by the teachers. Hot lunches of cocoa or soup were prepared in the Centre school during the
57
cold days of winter at a very small cost and the tables and benches in the basement were kept in condition for all child- ren to use while eating their lunch at school.
Three children needing special care are at the Summer Health Camp in Leeds. The capacity of the camp allows for only three children from Hatfield to be admitted and much thought and interest was shown by school physicians in helping to decide the lucky trio, as the camp is one of the best of the kind in the country. Two girls are at camp in July, both girls have been out of school a great deal since the beginning of the year owing to poor physical condition. One boy from Bradstreet school will be the lucky lad for the month of August.
The class in Home Hygiene in connection with the Home Economics Dept. High school, completed their course and were given certificates from the American Na- tional Red Cross, Washington, D. C., in addition to the credits of the school department.
I appreciate sincerely the cooperation of the teachers, and the interest and advice given by the school physicians in the care and work of the Health Department of the public schools.
Respectfully submitted,
MARIAN HOLMES, R. N.
Teachers and Enrollment, October 1929
SCHOOLS
TEACHERS
HOME ADDRESS
Salary
Pupils by Grades
1 | 2 |3|4| 5 |6|7 |8|9|10|11|12
Smith Academy
Richard O. Burrill
Hatfield
$2400
John R. Kalloch
Holyoke
1700
Edward J. Burke
Holyoke
2700
Mary E. Ryan
Hatfield
1500
66
Katherine M. Day
Hatfield
1050
Marion D. Glasheen
Deerfield
1300
Center School
Clarence J. Larkin
Haydenville
1800
38
38
Rose C. Finn
Holyoke
1000
38
38
Sarah V. Kiley
Hatfield
1000
32
32
Anna C. Donnis
Hatfield
1000
34
34
Catherine T. Shea
Holyoke
1000
32
32
Grace W. Bardwell
Hatfield
1000
35
Katherine T. Hayes
Hatfield
1000
Mary E. Fenton
Lawrence
1000
Marie A. Proulx
Hatfield
1000
20 |21
41
Lena P. Fitzgerald
Hatfield
1000
36
36
Constance B. Mullany
Hatfield
1000
23|12
35
Eleanor R. Whalen
Hatfield
1000
27 14
41
Harold L. Ford
Whately
1200
6 7 8
3
24
Anna Osley
W. Hatfield
1000
8
6
6 7
27
Vera M. Lynch
Holyoke
900
13
7|10
5
35
Catherine B. Harris
Bradstreet
1100
6|
14
3
23
Ellen M. O'Hara
Greenfield
1000
8|12
20
Kathleen Connelly
N. Hatfield
1000
9
14 10
33
Supr. Music
Maude E. Boyle
Hatfield
900
Hatfield
900
Marian Holmes
Northampton
1000
1
Totals 8
Totals 193 58 72 71 100 86 102 49 30 26 16 16 719
--
--
38
Bradstreet School
.
Mary D. Donelson
N. Hatfield
1000
13
4 12 9
35 34
34
35
35
Hill School
West Hatfield Sch.
North Hatfield Sch.
Supr. Draw. & Pen. " of Health Ed.
Bernice B. Ormond
30 26 16 16
Hatfield Schools for School Year 1928-1929
SCHOOLS
TEACHER
Grade I.
Grade II.
Grade III.
Grade IV.
Grade V.
Grade VI.
Grade VII.
Grade VIII.
₾Freshmen
Sophmores
Juniors
%|Seniors
& Membership
O Membership
Attendance
Attendance
Smith Academy
,
John B. Kalloch
*Edward J. Burke
Mary E. Ryan
Alice E. Brockway
Ebba E. Ekberg
30
30
29
26
90
Margaret A. Ryan
44
43 39 91
39
39
38
36
94
36
36
35
31
90
Anna Donnis
34
33
31
94
34
35
34
31
92
Catherine T. Shea
35
38
37
35
95
38
36
34
32
93
Katherine I. Hayes
32
30
28
94
Marie A. Proulx
44
43
40
94
22
22
38
35
34
96
Hill Grammar
Constance B. Mullany
12
26
30
29
28
95
Hill Primary
Eleanor R. Whalen
19
11
25
25
24
96
West Grammar
Harold L. Ford
8 6
7
6
10
10
6
4
30
27
25
93
4 13
9
13
Bradstreet Gram.
Mary E. Farley
24
22
21
94
Bradstreet Inter.
Ellen M. O'Hara
39
38
36
95
Bradstreet Primary Supr. of Music
Kathleen Connelly
15
14
10
" of Draw. & Pen. Bernice B. Ormond
" of Health Ed.
Totals 68
78
84 108 97 111
62
45 |31 |27
22
8 741 707 660 93
.
Rose C. Finn
44
Sarah V. Kiley
Mary E. Fenton
36
32
9
9
3
27
27
26
96
West Primary
Anna Osley
North Grammar North Primary
Mary C. Kelly
39
37
35
94
Mary D. Donelson
33
31
29 91
17
9
7
15
9
Maude E. Boyle
Marian Holmes
Richard O. Burrill, Prin.
31
22
o Total
co Average
2|Average
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