USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1915-1922 > Part 70
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The work in the lower grades consists of story plays, games and dances. Thesc arc given to afford cxercise and to allow relaxation from the mental work. In the middle and upper grades formal and gymnastic exercises are given. Thesc, besides exercising the body, train in correct position and car- riage, and tend to counteract the incorrect positions assumed during the school session. During the fall and spring much of this work should be conducted out of doors. All plays and games at recess should be under the direction of the teacher.
In the high school this work should not consist of less than two periods a weck in the gymnasium for all children not entering into the activities of one of the school sports.
In order to do this work as it should be donc, it will be necessary to have an efficient physical director on full timc.
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
All the elementary school playgrounds need apparatus for physical edu- cation at recess time. The popularity and importance of this can be seen by a visit to the Shattuck school during the recess periods. This work is especially important for the lower grades.
VACATION SCHOOL
The vacation school was in session last year four weeks. Five teachers were employed for this work. The following table shows briefly how much was accomplished during these four weeks:
Number that registered 128
-
Membership at close of session 78
Number attending twenty-five sessions . 39
Number that gained a ycar . 30
Number improved without gaining a year.
77
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Norwood, Mass. February 12, 1920.
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools.
I herewith submit the annual report of the High School for the year 1919.
The enrollment of the school for the present year is 326, an increase of 25 over the enrollment of last year. There are now in the High School
1
172
sixteen regular teachers or about one teacher to twenty-five pupils. This is the usual allotment of teachers in high school work. The teachers who are not giving full time to high school work are not counted in this number.
The school moved into the new building in May and finished out the last six weeks of the year in its new quarters. The move was too late, how- ever, to allow for making up the time that was lost on account of the epidemics and for other causes during the year. Not only this loss of time but the conditions under which the school worked interfered greatly with the quality of the work that could be done. The injury done by a year of poor work, whether that year is one of the later or earlier years of the High School, can not be counteracted. Every class that during its freshman year was obliged to take. the late afternoon work was unquestionably in- jured thereby. Aside from the question of hours, the crowded conditions made good work impossible. Not only the science laboratory work had to be done in a laboratory where good work was impossible, but the recita- tions had to be held in this same laboratory without blackboard space. Other classes had to be conducted under fully as hard conditions. Four years ago in his annual report the Superintendent of Schools stated that under the conditions the efficiency of the school would be much impaired.
For the last two years, owing to the inadequate salaries paid, the school has been without men instructors. For the same reason, the school has been unable to retain the services of an instructor for more than two con- secutive years.
Two new courses have been opened this year, the Manual Arts course and the Household Arts course. Enough pupils elected these two courses to form one class in each. Freshmen work only in each of these courses was offered. Twenty-seven of the entering class elected this work. Thirty nine elected work preparatory to college or scientific schools. Sixty- eight chose a business or general course.
The largest number of failures came from those who chose work for which they were not fitted. This is particularly true of those who in spite of hav- ing failed in arithmetic in the lower grades still chose a business course. Very few of these are able to sustain themselves in the work in arithmetic in the High School. Either these should be refused permission to take a business course or provision should be made so that they can make up the work in which they have already failed.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) N. A. CUTLER.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF HOUSEHOLD ARTS
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my report as Supervisor of Household Arts.
No report has been submitted since 1912, at which time sewing was the only branch of Household Arts taught in Norwood. In September 1913 cooking was introduced, and through the co-operation of the Civic Associa- tion, classes were held at the Corner House for three years, then at the Norfolk House and the Model House. We are greatly indebted to the Civic Association for providing us with comfortable quarters during a period of six years. We are now pleasantly and conveniently located at the new High School.
At the present time the seventh grade receives instruction in sewing one hour per week; the eighth grade, sewing one hour per week and cooking one hour per week. In September a class in Household Arts was organized in the Freshman year High with the idea of forming a four year Household Arts Course. This step in advance offers a long felt and much needed
173
opportunity. The Course aims (1) to teach the girl the value of clean living; (2) to make her able to maintain healthy conditions of body and homc; (3) to help her understand civic problems; (4) to arouse in her the sense of the dignity of the home and the social service it should render; (5) to show the homemaker's responsibility in maintaining proper standards of living, and (6) in every way to fit her for an efficient homemaker. All classes are planned to meet these aims and the Course is so arranged that the girl may share the regular instruction and contacts offered in other courses. She will receive a good general education as well as the special training in homemaking.
The High School Lunch.
The organization of a High School class in cooking made possible the opening of a lunch counter. Every day since January 5, 1920, a long line of hungry pupils has passed by the counter at lunch hour and purchased food prepared and served by Household Arts pupils. Pupils may secure appetizing and nourishing food at cost and select from a menu which consists each day of cocoa, milk, a soup, a hot dish (meat and potato or substitute), a dessert, cookies and crackers and fruit in season. Judging from the purchases, a number of pupils depend upon the lunch counter for their noon meal and parents might very wisely allow their children to purchase their noonday meal at school at a great saving of labor and no extra cost. The lunch counter is self supporting and offers the girl an opportunity for very practical training in the preparation of meals.
The value of Household Arts training for girls cannot be over-empha- sized and we hope that Norwood girls are better fitted for their own life work, whatever it may be, because of this training in subjects which will make them more useful to themselves, to others and to the community in which they live.
I wish to thank all who have shared and co-operated in making my work in Norwood so pleasant.
Respectfully submitted, AGNES M. BRIDGES.
Norwood, Mass., February 11, 1920.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools.
The following is the report of the work in music for the year ending De- cember 31, 1919:
The purpose of teaching music in public schools is to train children to sing, and develop in them an appreciation of music. This is accomplished through the reading, singing and hearing of good music.
During this year special stress has been laid on sight singing. Music reading lessons are being carried on in much the same manner as language reading lessons; that is, by systematic individual recitation with enough concert work to insure good team work in song singing. When the same methods and devices arc used in teaching music reading that are used in language reading, the per cent of good sight readers will be the same in music as in language.
One of the greatest objects of the teaching of music in our schools is to de- velop musical taste. This is done chiefly through songs. Care is taken to select songs suitable to the mental ability of the children, also songs, the
174
sentiments of which, the children can understand and express. In song- singing special emphasis is placed on light, pure, tone quality and artistic interpretation.
. During the spring term a grammar school orchestra of ten pieces was or- ganized, consisting of four first violins, three second violins, one cornet, one cello, piano and drums. Although this orchestra was formed late in the spring, it played at the grammar school graduation.
The High School is divided for music into two choruses; one consisting of seniors, juniors and sophomores, the other of freshmen. These choruses are taking up music in the School Song Book and also octavo music.
The mixed glee club of fifty-eight picked voices is studying separate choruses and a cantata to be given in the spring.
The results of our work in music are, on the whole, commensurate with the limited amount of time given to the subject, and these results have been attained through the untiring efforts and hearty cooperation of teachers and principals.
Respectfully submitted, HELEN M. HALL, Music Supervisor.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools.
I herewith submit the annual drawing report for the ycar 1919.
I believe there is no better way for a teacher to present essential facts of history or geography than to have the class work them out with their hands. Important facts, learned in this manner, are never forgotten; the interest of the class is increased, and all the while the pupils are learning to draw in the easiest and most natural way.
For this reason I am trying to correlate all the drawing for the year 1919-20 with whatever subject most needs the help that drawing can give. In the lower grades the emphasis is laid on the simplest forms of construc- tion work, embodying folding and cutting of animals, birds, flowers, trees, furniture, and any subject that the children are having in their reading or writing.
The work of the five upper grades centers around somc subject in history or geography and the pupils are working out a class problem to be arranged on a large table in the room. The eighth grades have Japan; the seventh grades, the North American Indian; the sixth grades, Roman and Greek Industry and Art; the fifth grades, Holland, and the fourth grades, the Puritans. In all of this work the pupils are able to portray in vivid form the people, their customs, home life, industrics and their personal appear- ance.
This work has met with such hearty cooperation from both teachers and pupils that I have decided to give the seventh and eighth grades a short course in Civic Improvement, taking up the study of house types, styles of modern architecture as found in the public buildings in Norwood, and store window decoration.
The High School work this year has been almost entirely applied design, such as stained glass windows, painted trays, boxes, table sets, lcather work, and the new Batik dyeing, which is so popular.
In my course of study, both in the grammar grades and high school, I
175
have tried to make my correlation of art an organized, consistent inter- weaving of art problems with the regular courses of the school, and in turn serving the general industrial requirements of the country.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA B. GREENE, Supervisor of Drawing.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MANUAL TRAINING
Norwood, Mass., Feb. 11, 1920.
Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir:
I take this opportunity of submitting the report of the Manual Training Department for the past school year.
Our grammar schools provide a two-year course in Manual Training besides the usual Academic work. Some of the wood-working problems arc in the nature of graded problems, problems in school equipment, and problems related to the home.
All projects which are used in our course are distinctly practical in the sense that they have been of economical value, and give the boy a greater appreciation of his value as a worker by contributing to the home and the community.
The work starts in the seventh grade and continues through the eighth grade. The seventh grade is allowed one hour a week and the eighth grade two hours and forty-five minutes. In the High School one hour and thirty minutes are given each day for five days a week. All work offered is pre- vocational and as practical and near the trade as possible under school conditions.
In the seventh grades the classes started and finished the following pro- jects: Tic Racks, Broom Racks, Stationcry Holders, Folding Towel Racks, Picture Frames, Bread Boards, Meat Boards, Fabouts and supplementary work for the home or farm in the nature of scraping and revarnishing chairs, tables, milking stools, chicken feeding trays, and numerous other problems.
The eighth grade work was more advanced, and the spirit manifested in the work showed the interest of the boys. The following projects were completed: Stands 24 in. high, Blacking Boxes, Stools, Electric Lamp Bascs, and Canc Seating. There were supplementary projects as follows: a Morris Chair, Serving Trays, Plant Boxes, Bulletin Boards for use in the schools, Skis, Jumpers, Hall Trees, Tables, Three Phonographs, Saw Horses, and Book Shelves. In addition to the given projects a Tool Rack for the shops and twelve Hat and Coat Racks with 400 Coat Hangers were completed in a short space of time for the New High School, at the request of Town Manager Hammersley. This showed his confidence in the depart- ment. These racks are in use in the school today and are to be replaced by stecl lockers later.
All boys arc required to keep a time slip showing the quantity, kind, cost of lumber and hardware used, a complete record of time and a list of tools used in the completion of any project. The value of this training can readily be seen.
The work was carried on in the basement of the Guild School until May 9, 1919, when we moved to finer and better quarters in the new High School. The work, for the short space of time from May to June, showed an im- provement under better working conditions with additional equipment.
In our new shop we have the following equipment, which is the best:
176
20 Shelden benches, one Mumer & Difons power grinder, one variety saw with mortise attachment, one lathe and a surface planer. To complete this equipment we are in need of a bench saw which would enable us to expand our work.
I would recommend for the coming year that the seventh grade time be increased to 12 hours a week, as the time given now is not sufficient to do satisfactory work.
All lumber and hardware is paid for at cost by the boys, but more or less waste exists, hence the school furnishes about forty per cent. gratis.
I am glad of this opportunity to express to you and the different princi- pals my appreciation for the help given me. I also wish to thank the grade teachers for their cooperation and interest.
Very respectfully yours, (Signed) E. E. PARLIN.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF PHYSICAL TRAINING
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools.
I herewith submit the annual report of the physical training work for the year 1919:
Physical education covers a particularly large field and includes numer- ous distinct branches, all of which are needful to the general welfare of the community.
The work in the Grammar Schools is held in the classroom, fifteen min- utes being given to it each afternoon, and starts in the first grade with rhy- thmic action plays and games which continue through the second and third grades. These little action plays teach co-ordination and lead up to the more formal gymnastic exercises which start in the fourth grade and con- tinue through the eighth grades.
Owing to the closing of the Civic Association, corrective work and High School work, which is always held in a gymnasiom, had to be discontinued. It is hoped that arrangements will be made so that gymnasium work will be made a part of the regular High School curriculum. Very often this is our last chance to correct physical defects, for when the boy or girl starts to work the opportunity for corrective work is lessened.
Respectfully submitted, ERNA H. KILEY, Supervisor of Physical Training.
REPORT OF EVENING SCHOOL
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools.
The following is the report of the work of the Evening School for the year 1919:
The Norwood Evening School opened the fall term Monday, October 27. Classes were formed in the English language, civil service, cooking, dress- making, millinery, Spanish, wood-working, shorthand and typewriting and bookkeeping. The English language, dressmaking and shorthand and typewriting classes meet four nights a week, the others meet only twice a week.
The school has been in session twenty-seven nights with an average at- tendance of 95.4.
177
An effort has been made as usual to induce the aliens that attend the Evening School to take the first steps towards becoming American citizens. Some have taken out their first papers while a few have made application for their second papers.
A course in Home Nursing and Emergencies was added after January 1.
The opportunity to earn a grammar school diploma through Evening School work is appealing more and more to those who from one cause or another werc obliged to leave the day school before graduation.
It is the aim of the Evening School to meet the needs of the community and helpful suggestions are always appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
I. A. WHORF, Principal.
IMPROVEMENT OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
All of the school buildings with the exception of the New High and the West School are in need of new paint. In order to protect the buildings this work should not be postponed longer than is absolutely necessary.
The Everett building should be completely renovated. The indications are that it will be in use for a number of years.
The Guild needs painting on the outside and a few rooms painted on the inside. Modern toilets should be installed, and all rooms wired for elec- tricity.
The Beacon School should be painted on the inside and outside, desks repaired and some general minor repairs on the inside of the building.
The remainder of the repairs are of minor consideration and are due to a general depreciation.
WHY CHILDREN LEAVE SCHOOL
It has often been stated that children leave school because of economic conditions at home and that parents necd their help to support the family. Investigations elsewhere, however, prove that this is true in only a com- comparatively small number of cases. The real reason is this: "The school has no longer anything of interest to offer them." Parents are willing to make sacrifices to hold their children in school as long as they think it is worth while. Children maintain interest only so long as they are making progress and understand the work.
An effective school system attracts and reaches not only all children of the community, but also holds them until they are no longer amenable to compulsory attendance laws, or until they have completed the elementary or high school course.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSES.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
We submit our report as school nurses for the year ending December 31, 1919.
1918
1919
No. children inspected
25,504
22,539
No. children examincd .
1,399
2,436
No. children excluded .
265
227
Defective hearing .
16
21
Defective nasal breathing .
88
105
Defective teeth.
69S
987
178
Defective vision .
74
68
Discharging ear .
22
35
Enlarged glands .
185
188
Enlarged tonsils.
233
331
Malnutrition
18
24
Mental defects .
13
10
Pediculosis .
62
112
Symptoms of nervous disease.
8
22
Symptoms of cardiac disease.
36
132
Symptoms of skin disease
49
161
Orthopedic defects
22
36
Sore throat.
49
125
Uncleanliness
34
32
Miscellaneous .
1035
1926
No. letters or notices sent to parents.
521
1341
No. children treated at school.
1117
1358
No. home visits made.
581
561
No. children treated at Dental Clinic
345
283
No. children treated at Eye Clinic .
87
25
Throat cases cured by operation.
33
112
Cases of Scarlet Fever
8
33
Cases of Whooping Cough
18
3
Cases of Measles
147
4
Cases of German Measles
77
3
Cases of Chicken Pox.
48
26
Baths Given.
12
7
Cases of Diphtheria
6
Defective vision corrected by glasscs
24
The year of 1919 has seen no serious epidemics among our school children. Early in the year there were occasional cases of influenza, the remains of the epidemic of 1918. During the fall there have been numerous very light cases of scarlet fever. It has been difficult to entirely check the spread of the disease since it appeared in so light a form as to escape early diagnosis and the consequent isolation of the patient before other children had been exposed. There have been no severe cases.
In the spring the Dental and Eye Clinics, formerly operated by the Civic Association, were taken over by the School Department. All child- ren whose parents are unable to bear the expense of employing the local dentists and oculists may obtain cards from the nurses and attend the school clinics. Many have availed themselves of this privilege.
The year has shown an increased interest in health habits among the children and an added willingness on the part of the parents to co-operate in the correction of defects, such as defective teeth, defective vision, and enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY L. BOWKER, VERA H. BROOKS, School Nurses.
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I submit my report as attendance officer for the year ending December 31,1919.
Total number of investigations . 259
To ascertain causes of evening school absences 8
To ascertain causes of day school absences. 173
179
Truancy
49
To investigate cases where home permits were desired . 10 To investigate cases where employment certificates were desired. 15 Number of cases prosecuted in the District Court in Dedham. 2
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM BARRETT.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL CENSUS ENUMERATOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I submit my report as school census enumerator for the year 1919. The number of children in town April 1, 1919, was as follows:
Males
Females
Totals
Persons 5 years of age or over and under 7
221
223
444
Persons 7 years of age or over and under 14
732
756
1488
Persons 14 years of age or over and under 16
149
144
293
Illiterate minors 16 years of age or over and under
21
11
5 16
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM BARRETT,
Enumerator.
1
180
ENROLMENT AND ATTENDANCE
School
Grade
Enrolment
Boys
Girls
No. 16 yrs.
old or over
No. Betw'n
7 and 14
No. Betw'n 5 and 7
1
Nathaniel A. Cutler 16
High
13
44
9
35
43
0
0
3
4
Wilda Vose
Everett
8
44
19
25
5
21
0
6
Eliza Houghton
8
41
17
24
1
20
0
7
Josephine Heagney
8
43
20
23
0
25
0
8
Marion Mattocks
8
40
19
21
0
21
0
9
Anna M. Killion
8
40
18
22
0
25
0
10
M. Agnes McCarthy
7
49
22
27
0
39
0
11
Julia Danahy
Guild
7
43
22
21
0
36
0
12
Mary W. O'Brien
6
50
27
23
0
44
0
13
Grace Everett
6
44
21
23
0
44
0
14
Margarita E. Burns Edna E. Frost
4
43
24
19
0
43
0
17
Adelle A. Rand
4
50
27
23
0
50
0
18
Estelle M. Callahan
3
42
20
22
0
41
0
20
Julia A. Sheehan
2
42
21
21
0
41
1
21
Lucy H. Brooks
1-2
43
19
24
0
28
15
22
Gretchen Pierce
1
51
25
26
0
13
38
23
M. L. McLeod
Shattuck
7
45
22
23
0
39
0
24
Mabelle Douglas
6
42
15
27
0
39
0
25
Alice Maquire
5
49
22
27
0
49
0
26
Florence Hill
4
45
22
23
0
45
0
27
Ona L. Smith
3
43
22
21
0
43
0
28
Maude A. Woods
2
35
18
17
0
35
0
29
K. E. Broderick
1-2
30
18
12
0
25
5
30
Emma F. Niles
1
41
21
20
0
4
37
31
Florence Hayes
Winslow
7
46
26
20
0
37
0
32
Mildred Horrocks
6
38
22
16
1
35
0
33
Gertrude Flynn
6
36
16
20
0
36
0
34
Elizabeth Kimball
5
38
21
17
0
38
0
35
Bertha Brown
4
47
26
21
0
47
0
36
Margert Edwards
3
24
7
17
0
24
0
37
Mary A. Ahern
3
46
28
18
0
45
1
38
Elinor Feeley
2
35
12
23
0
35
0
39
Gertrude Cuff
1
41
20
21
0
7
34
40
Lizzie E. Hadley
Balch
6
40
27
13
0
35
0
41
Julia A. Barrett
5
30
17
13
0
30
0
42
Marian E. Lynch
5
31
15
16
0
31
0
43
Louise H. Borchers
4
36
21
15
0
36
0
44
Ethel M. Keefe
4
35
16
19
0
35
0
45
Charlotte Thompson
3
40
19
21
0
40
0
46
Mary Hadley
3
43
23
20
0
43
0
47
Christine Buffum
2
39
18
21
0
37
2
48
Maude Dalton
2
40
18
22
0
40
0
49
Blanche Brown
. "
2
27
8
19
0
25
2
50
Agnes Curtin
1
36
19
17
0
12
29
52
Rosine Benkert
1
35
23
12
0
17
18
53
Celia Taylor
East
1
39
23
16
0
9
30
54
A. Louise McManus
2
33
17
16
0
33
0
55
Ethel M. Farley
West
2
31
22
9
0
30
1
50
Lillian McDonnell
1
29
13
16
0
6
23
2454 1203 1251
261 1695
260
2
12
55
22
33
48
0
0
11
96
36
60
54
0
10
176
87
89
124
16
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