USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1915-1922 > Part 107
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3. Completion of the remaining nine rooms of the High School Build- ing. The School Committee wishes to express at this time their deep appreciation of the work of the Special Building Committee which has had this matter in charge.
4. Reorganization of the High School with six courses, each course
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being headed by one teacher who is designated as the Head of Curriculum, under the general supervision of the Principal.
5. A reasonable arrangement with the Civie Association for rental of Halls and Grounds for various school uses.
6. Extension of the sewing and manual training courses to include the 5th and 6th grades. The work is carried on under the guidance of the special teachers in these courses in the High School.
7. Improved organization of the Evening School with a somewhat increased scope of work.
8. Provision to meet the immediate need of more rooms by the addition of eight rooms to the Balch Sehool. While this addition will suffice for some time to come, undoubtedly a still further addition of school rooms and an assembly hall will eventually be needed on the Balch building. This faet ought to be taken into consideration now when the first addition is made.
Looking ahead to the near future our next big problem will be to provide room for the rapidly growing Junior High School, and assembly hall and gymnasium facilities for both Senior and Junior High.
To enter into detail with reference to these matters would require more spaee than the committee feels belongs to them, but the above may be taken as an indication and assurance that your committee is trying within the limits set by the appropriation for school purposes to see that the money so generously afforded by the town for educational purposes is spent wisely and with a due sense of the needs of the times.
Continuous study is being made by the committee and superintendent of the furture requirements, not only with reference to adequate housing of the schools that all the children may have equal facilities, but that the best results that our organization ean afford shall be obtained.
The committee wishes to express its deep gratitude to the superintendent principals, and teachers for their conscientious efforts; to the Finanee Commission and other town officials for their hearty cooperation; and to the citizens of the town for their substantial support in this important work of education in Norwood.
This report would be incomplete without ealling your attention to the additional pietures which Mr. F. O. Winslow has placed in the High School building. It is to be hoped that every citizen will take the time to see this remarkable collection.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK A. CLEVELAND, Chairman, EDWARD F. BRENNAN, ARTHUR S. HARTWELL,
HARRIET W. LANE, JULIA R. O'BRIEN, BRAINARD A. ROWE, School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee of Norwood:
The purpose of this report will be to diseuss briefly some of the out- standing features of the work of the past year and to set forth some of the sehool needs for the future.
TEACHERS' SALARIES
During the years 1919 and 1920 there was an abnormally large pereentage of turnover in the teaching foree, amounting in each year to one-third of the entire staff.
Early in 1921 a conference was held between the School Board and the
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Teachers, relative to a just and adequate salary schedule. Following the conference the Educational Program Committee of the School Board, met and directed the Superintendent to draw up and submit a salary schedule for the consideration of the Board. The following schedule has been accepted and put into effect:
SALARY SCHEDULE
Year on
Schedule
Elementary Teachers
Junior High Teachers
Senior High Teachers
First .
$1000
$1000 or $1100
$1200
Second
1100
1100 or
1200
1300
Third.
1200
1200 or
1300.
1400
Fourth
1300
1300 or
1400
1500
Fifth.
1400
1400 or
1500
1600
Sixth.
*1500
1500 or *1600.
*1700
Seventh.
*1600
Professional.
+50
+50
+50
Improvement .
+-50
+50
. .
+50
*General Maximum
New teachers may be given credit for teaching experience outside of Norwood, but shall not, for the first year of service, be placed higher on the salary schedule than $100 below the general maximum.
Junior High School teachers who have had at least one year of training in advance of the standard two year Normal School course may be started one step higher on the salary schedule.
Professional Improvement Advances
Two additional $50 salary increases will be given to teachers on a maximum who complete professional improvement requirements approved by the School Board, but no teacher shall receive more than one regular salary increase or advance a year.
Principals, as well as teachers, may be given the advantage of pro- fessional improvement advances after three or more years of service.
Any professional improvement course, to be accredited, must be the equivalent of at least one semester hour.
Salary increases and professional improvement advances may become effective either in January or September.
Elementary School Principals
General maximum of elementary teachers plus $40 per room. Differ- ential for two buildings $200.
Salaries of supervisors, special teachers and nurses will be considered individually.
Nearly all provisions of the new schedule have been in force about a year and, in the opinion of the writer, show very gratifying results in the contentment of the teachers, the diminishing number of withdrawals from the staff (only 17 per cent in 1921) and in the consequent favorable reaction on the work of the pupils.
HEALTH WORK
The National Education Association Commission in its report on "The Reorganization of Secondary Education," recognizes the following seven main objectives of education:
Health
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Command of fundamental processes
Worthy home membership Vocation Citizenship Worthy use of leisure Ethical character
The Commission recognizes health as of primary importance. I wish particularly to call your attention to the work being done in health pro- motion in the schools of Norwood as indicated by the special reports. Norwood is fortunate in its school nurses, around whose work the health pro- motion centers.
SPECIAL CLASSES
By State law, Norwood is now required to maintain "Special Classes" for all children in the public schools who are at least three years mentally retarded.
It is intended that Special Class pupils shall devote at least one-third of their entire school time to hand work. There is an attempt to meet the individual needs in the minimum essentials of elementary school educa- tion.
Two such classes were begun last September, one at the Beacon School and one at the Balch School. This requirement means an additional ex- pense, but on the other hand, it is amply compensated for by the increased benefits to the individual children placed in such classes and to the classes from which they are taken.
PHYSICAL PROGRAM
Provision has been made in the physical training program for two gymnasium periods per week for all senior high school pupils and the eighth and ninth grades of junior high school. Whenever weather permits, the class work will be carried on out of doors and at other times in the gymnasium of the Civic Association. To carry out this program requires the use of the gymnasium all of the school day.
Miss Kiley gives the instruction for all the Senior and Junior High School girls and Mr. Murray for the boys; Miss Kiley now being a full time instructor for the schools and Mr. Murray a three-fourths time instructor and coach.
Members of High School athletic teams must maintain a satisfactory standard of scholarship, or they are suspended from taking part in games. This rule has been enforced with beneficial results in both scholarship and athletics.
We are deservedly proud of our athletic record this year, our football teamn particularly giving an excellent account of itself in its unbroken record of successes.
RECORDS
The educational business of the town is one of the most important businesses in which it is engaged. Only by keeping systematic educational records can it be known what educational returns are being realized. Accordingly, there has been a reorganization and enlargement of the system of keeping records in the office of the Superintendent. As an illustration, there is now in the office a personal record card for every pupil and every teacher who has been in or has left the system during the past year.
HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Stanley R. Oldham resigned the principalship of the Norwood High School in June to accept a similar position in Westchester, Penn-
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sylvania at an increased salary. His place was filled by the appointment of Mr. Leonard W. Grant of Bridgewater, Massachusetts.
As you will notice from Mr. Grant's special report, many problems of reorganization were before him when he began his service. They are being solved in a practical and efficient manner. The spirit of the High School is good, the program of studies is well planned and adequate, and the administrative policies in force are sound.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
For some time it has been a recognized fact that the schools were failing to reach too large a proportion of pupils in the last two years of the tradi- tional elementary school and the first year of the high school, and that far too many pupils were lost from the educational system during those years. This has been true of Norwood as elsewhere.
In many places an attempt is being made to reduce this waste by an organization known as the junior high school.
The junior high school attempts to make the transition from the element- ary school to the high school a gradual one and to better meet the various needs of the pupils through new methods of organization, management, and instruction. It has the approval of the leading educational organizations and institutions throughout the United States including the National Department of Education, and the Massachusetts Department of Educa- t'on.
The plan of school organization in a community is largely dependent upon the geography of the community. In Norwood the small area of the town and the existing concentration of the upper grades in central build- ings are favorable conditions for a junior high school organization. Accord- ingly, a partial reorganization in that direction has this year been effected. By transferring the eighth grades from the Everett School to the new wing of the high school and bringing together all the seventh grades in the Everett School, it has been possible to relieve the crowded condition in several localities, and at the same time, make a very definite forward step toward a real junior high school.
With the completion of the new wing of the high school building, we are able to organize for January, 1922, with the senior high grades, the tenth, eleventh and twelth years in the north wing of the building, and the eighth and ninth grades of the junior high in the new south wing. This arrangement fills the present high school building.
BUILDING PROGRAM
As already indicated the new wing of the high school was completed during 1921 and is now occupied.
At a recent town meeting an appropriation was voted for an eight room addition to the Balch School. When that is completed the housing require- ments of the elementary school grades will be all taken care of for the present.
The next building requirement will be to meet the needs of the Senior- Junior High School, which is now at full capacity. With an anticipated in- creased enrollment of 160 next September some classes will be required to attend on a double shift plan.
ENTRANCE AGE
In September, 1921, the entrance age was raised to five years and eight months. (Children entering Grade One must be at least six years of age before the first day of January following the opening of schools in Septem- ber.)
The new rule is in accordance with the best practice in other places and seems likely to remain in force.
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EVENING SCHOOL
In the past many of the evening school registrants have not been real members, remaining in the school only a few evenings. For the purpose of organizing on a more stable basis, a regulation has this year been put in force requiring a registration deposit of one dollar from each registrant as an evidence of good faith on his part. If his deportment is satisfactory and his attendance at least 70 per cent of the time for which he is a member, his deposit is returned to him at the close of the season.
Two new courses have been added, printing and automobile mechanics. For all vocational or industrial classes teachers with actual trade exper- ience, as well as training, have been secured.
Probably partly because of the reorganization and partly because of the lack of employment, the evening school attendance has been about double that of a year ago. This means an increased cost of evening schools, which is met in part by the reimbursement the Town will receive from the State of fifty percent of the cost of the vocational classes organized to meet the approval of the State Department.
AMERICANIZATION
In recent years there has been a large number of foreign born people brought into Norwood by the industries.
According to the United States Census of 1920, the total number of inhabitants over ten years of age, who were unable to read or write, was 943 or 9.7 per cent of the entire population, making Norwood the fourth highest in the State.
This brings squarely before us the fact that we have a very definite Americanization problem; namely, to meet the educational needs of our adult foreigners who are not being reached through the evening school.
I believe a careful diagnosis of the situation should be made and a full time supervisor of Americanization appointed to work out a system of class organization that would meet the needs of Norwood. Some such classes might meet in schoolhouses and others in local clubs or private halls, but the point of the whole matter seems to be that our illiterates are not coming to our centrally located evening school for this work, therefore, we ought to go to them with it.
One half the expense of State approved Americanization classes is borne by the Commonwealth.
CONCLUSION
During the past year, a definite and adequate salary schedule has been put in effect, and Norwood's educational program has been broadened by establishing several important forward looking policies. These two facts, together with the fact that our school population is steadily growing, are making the costs of education in Norwood greater each year.
The policy of this department is to attempt to give our children the very best educational opportunities possible so far as we can reasonably, elimi- nating waste and administering efficiently what is attempted.
At present there seems to exist in Norwood a most cordial, co-operative relationship between the school committee, superintendent, teachers and parents, which ought to react favorably for the educational benefit of our children.
In closing this report, I wish to express my thanks to you for your sup- port and encouragement, and to the principals and teachers for their cooperation and loyalty.
Respectfully submitted, Herbert H. Howes,
Superintendent of Schools.
January 30, 1922.
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Norwood, Mass., January 23, 1922.
Mr. H. H. Howes, Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Sir:
I submit herewith the annual report for the High School.
Enrollment
There are two hundred and ninety-seven pupils enrolled in grades ten, eleven and twelve, or only about fifty less than the number enrolled in grades nine to twelve inclusive last year. In grades eight and nine there are three hundred and forty-one registrations, bringing the total number of under-graduate pupils in the school up to six hundred and thirty-eight. There are nine post-graduates and specials entered.
Futurity of Enrollment
Probably sixty-seven pupils will leave the school by graduation next June. There will be an entering eighth grade of about two hundred and twenty-five. Here there is a net gain of not less than one hundred and fifty pupils, allowance being made for the usual number leaving school through other causes than graduation.
Seating Capacity
Through the finishing of nine rooms it has been possible to provide a seat for every pupil in the building, beginning January 3, 1922. Up to that date the double platoon system had been necessary with the eighth and ninth grades attending the afternoon session.
The enrollment figures shown above indicate that about four additional rooms of forty seats each will be needed with the opening of school in September, 1922. At present there is but one room containing thirty seats not in use as a home room. It is apparent then that a return to the double platoon plan with a late afternoon session seems inevitable.
Double Platoon Plan
There are disadvantages only in operating a school under this plan. The afternoon session school is the one which suffers the most. Among the disadvantages for this school are:
1. A shortened school day.
2. Lack of time for supervised study.
3. Late hour of dismissal, especially throughout the winter months.
4. Effects upon scholarship.
5. Effects upon application.
6. Physically tired when coming to school after morning of play.
7. Lack of opportunity for extra class room activities of school connec- tion.
8. General effects upon the pupil.
About the only disadvantage for the group attending the morning session is the shortened school day.
The effects of the afternoon session upon scholarship of the eighth and ninth grades has been disastrous and the percentage of failures has been far above the average. With the return to normal school hours, there has been steady improvement.
Scholarship in the High School
Failure to prepare recitation assignments, with too much dependence placed upon study periods in school as a cause, has more than anything else worked for unsatisfactory scholarship in the high school.
The reports for the first two months period show that 19 percent of the pupils of grades ten, eleven and twelve failed in one or more subjects.
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The reports of the second period show a slight betterment with 17 percent of the enrollment in the failure list.
The honor roll made up of A and B pupils includes 17 percent for the first period and 18 percent for the second.
For the purpose of improving scholarship, two new forms of notice have been provided which are sent periodically to parents, soliciting their cooperation. One form gives notice of unsatisfactory work while the other states the opinion or the teacher that better work may be done and a higher grade obtained.
Special Departments
The opening of school following the Christmas recess found practically all of the new equipment for the special departments on hand and ready for use. The immediate result of the completion of fitting out the Manual and Household Arts Departments has been a higher appreciation of these departments among the pupils. This has been shown by the increased number of applications to take up some phase or other of the work offered in these specialities.
Printing has become very popular and over fifty boys have been en- rolled for that work. Bookbinding is being taken up by the same boys, two periods per week being allowed for the subject.
There is a demand among the boys for a course in automobile repairing and I would recommend the establishment of such a course for next year.
Commercial Department
More than 46 percent of the high school pupils are enrolled in some branch of the commercial department, most of them in typewriting and shorthand. The growth of this department made necessary the addition of two new commercial teachers, one for the high school, and one to teach typewriting in grades eight and nine.
Typewriting was offered to eighth and ninth grade pupils as an elective and all estimates were surpassed when one hundred and eighty-seven pupils registered for the course. This made necessary the purchase of twenty additional typewriters, making a total of fifty-three in the school. The Men Teachers' room has been fitted out as typewriting room for the Junior High School.
Enrollments in the commercial course will continue to increase and it is probable that two additional teachers will be required next fall.
Social Program
The social events of the year will number only nine, with Senior Class Day included. As far as possible it has been planned to have all extra class room events of the school held at times when no possible detrimental effect on the preparation of lesson assignments can occur. Only pupils who are doing passing work in their studies are allowed to represent the school on athletic teams, class plays or the school paper.
Athletics
The success of our athletic teams is well known. With an undefeated football team and a basketball team of excellent prospect, Norwood High is up with the foremost schools of the State. The beneficial effects on the spirit of the school is highly valuable.
It is the plan of the coaches to get as many boys and girls as possible interested in these lines of extra class room endeavor. Over forty boys have already participated in basketball and thirty were active in football. Field hockey and basketball for girls have been inaugurated and a large number of girls have reported for instruction.
Physical Training
Classes have been formed averaging thirty-seven, in grades eight to twelve inclusive, for gymnasium work. This is in accordance with the new State law concerning Physical Education in the schools. The work is
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compulsory for two periods per week except for pupils who are exempted by the School Physician.
The classes are held in the Civic Gymnasium and a difficult problem of administration is incurred. In a period of forty-five minutes, it is seldom a pupil obtains over twenty minutes of work, as much time is taken in going to and from the Civic and preparing for class. The health and time ele- ments which enter the arrangement make it to a great degree unsatisfactory. Of course the only solution is a gymnasium for the school.
The same difficulty arises with the assemblies as to loss of time. In a period of only fifty-five minutes in which both music and matters of assembly interest must be worked in, the time taken by a student body to move from the high school to the Civic is a deplorable loss. A high school assembly hall would completely adjust the matter.
Dean of Girls
Largely as an experiment, the office of Dean of Girls was put in force this year and Miss Grace C. McGonagle has been appointed to fill the posi- tion.
All activities of the girls' division of the school are carefully checked through this office and everything possible done for the welfare of each in- dividual girl. With the cooperation of the parents much successful work may be accomplished and a higher scholarship and better attendance record maintained.
While it is too early as yet to see appreciable results in general, the work is a most worthy one and should be carried on. Schools in which this system has been in force for some time hold it as one of the strong influences in the maintaining of excellent school spirit and conduct.
Advisory System
To keep a careful check on each individual pupil, as to all his school activities, the individual advisory system has been placed in use. Each pupil has his adviser on the faculty with whom he may confer concerning his scholarship and future educational plans. The follow-up system in these respects will be carried out until the pupil is finally graduated from the school.
I wish at this time to express my earnest appreciation of the assistance and cooperation rendered me by the faculty of the school.
Respectfully submitted,
L. W. GRANT.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To Mr. Herbert H. Howes, Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Massachusetts.
The following is the report of the work in music for the year ending December 31, 1921:
The same general plan for development of independent sight reading and artistic song singing are being followed this year as last-the stress being laid on individual work which is the key to good sight reading. The work as a whole has shown more uniform improvement than in former years.
This year we are introducing a course in music appreciation to be started in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. Until recently public school music has been confined chiefly to sight reading and song singing. We find that the mere ability to read music does not develop a real love and apprecia- tion of good music. Records are meeting this need. Through the medium of these records we shall try to promote thoughtful listening to music while the attention is directed to essential characteristics of each composition. During the year the children will have actively listened to, and have a repertoire of, at least forty standard selections which will enable them to
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distinguish the various types of music, recognize kinds of musical instru- ments and discriminate between the different qualities of voices.
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