USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1915-1922 > Part 83
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 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124
Six courses are now offered: the College Classical, College Technical, Commercial, Manual Arts, Household Arts, and General. The program of studies was changed this fall to allow more free electives and better opportunity for a student to shift from one course to another, if, in the opin- ion of the parents and the principal, it should seem wise for him to do so.
This is the second year the Manual Arts Course and the Household Arts Course have been offered. The teachers have been handicapped in giving the second year's work by the lack of equipment. More equipment is very necessary if we are to continue to offer these courses. The number of pupils asking for them would seem to justify the expenditure.
Home Nursing, taught by Miss Bowker, the School Nurse, Commercial Law, and Economics are new studies added to the eurriculum. Type- writing and Shorthand are now begun in the second year so that students in the Commercial Course ean get three years work in thesc studies.
In cooperation with the Superintendent and the teachers, the principal is working out a complete and detailed plan of the work to be accomplished in each group of studies. These plans have already been finished for French, English, and Manual Arts. Consistent plans of this kind will do much to counteract the bad effect of frequent changes in teachers.
The Faculty is planning for more efficient use of the leisure time of students and the development of a strong school spirit. The committee appointed aims to make the Assembly a place of real training in school spirit, a place for building morale through educational and inspirational talks and student participation in programs that are interesting and help- ful. A Science Club has been formed with an enrollment of some forty members. A school paper, "The Arguenot," has been started and is printed in the "Messenger." This paper is edited by the English classes. Debating has been made a regular part of the Junior and Senior English work and it is planned to arrange interscholastic debates after the first of the year. A strong effort is being made to give the pupils vocational guid- ance in many ways. A study of the various vocations will be made in the Community Civics classes; trips are being arranged to different schcols and manufacturing plants; talks are given in Assembly by men in the vari- ous vocations; a shelf has been set aside in the study hall containing books and pamphlets that give information about the different vocations; and individual and group conferences will be arranged.
166
An Athletic Council has been organized. This Council consists of the student athletic managers, three members of the faculty, and three citizen elected by the Council. The Council has full control of all athletics and aims to develop them for the best interests of the pupils and the school. The Council has already provided an arrangement whereby the girls of the high school can win the right to wear the school letter.
In regard to the physical training there are several plans which I will propose for the consideration of the Superintendent and the School Com- mittee. In the event of the adoption of any plan, I would recommend that all pupils, coaches and instructors be considered as under the supervision of the high school principal.
This year the following faculty committees were organized: Assembly, Program, Auditing and Improvement, and Entertainment. The faculty adopted the policy of having a Senior representative on each committee.
I wish to extend thanks to the teachers and pupils for their hearty co- operation in the conduct of the school.
Respectfully submitted, S. R. OLDHAM
December 31, 1920. To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple, Superintendent of Schools.
I herewith submit a report of the Household Arts work for the year end- ing December 31, 1920.
During the past year instruction in Household Arts has been provided for the seventh and eighth grades and the Freshman and Sophomores in the High School. 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. The Household Arts Course organized in the High School in September, 1919, has been continued. Household Arts is now offered as an elective in all of the High School Courses and this affords an opportunity and meets a need of all the girls. The number desiring this work is greater than can be taken care of under the present arrangement of schedule.
The High School Lunch has proved its worth and popularity and con- tinues to be managed and prepared by this Department.
It takes time to develop any subject and the time allowed for this work in the grades at present is inadequate. The girls in the fifth and sixth grades are fully capable of doing the elementary sewing and the seventh and eighth drade girls are capable of accomplishing more advanced work than can be reached under the present time allowance. I earnestly recom- mend that measures be taken to reach the girls earlier and more fully equip them with this training which will prove so necessary and helpful in later life.
An exhibition of sewing was held last June at the close of school and the publie were thus given an opportunity to judge the quality of the sewing and the value of this training.
Respectfully submitted, AGNES M. BRIDGES.
REPORT OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR
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, 1920:
This year in the grades there has been no definite change in our system of music. We are striving throughout our schools for artistic song singing and independent sight singing. One consideration must be kept in mind in
167
dealing with the work in music-the results will be commensurate with the time devoted to it, which is one and one half hours a week. This is a small amount of time for the mastery of so difficult a study as sight reading and perfection cannot be expected.
The key to good sight reading is individual singing, and beginning in our lower grades individual work is becoming as much a part of the music lesson as of the reading and arithmetic lessons. This work is not always as interesting nor does the class appear to best advantage, but it is the only way to obtain satisfactory results in music. Forty pupils can follow five good readers so readily that the sight singing seems very satisfactory, whereas unless individual work has been done the forty are entirely helpless without the five leaders. Therefore we are laying special strain on indi- vidual sight reading.
In January a grammar school orchestra of ten pieces was formed, which played for the Grammar School graduation. The members of the orchestra were pupils from the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
The High School is divided into two choruses: a freshman chorus of about one hundred twenty voices, and sophomore, junior, and senior chorus of about two hundred fifty voices. The upper class chorus furnished the music for graduation in June.
In May the mixed glee club and girls' glee club of forty-eight members, assisted by Mr. Frank Larsen, tenor soloist, gave a musical program in Everett Hall for the benefit of the Norwood Hospital. The proceeds of the concert amounted to over one hundred dollars.
This year our glee club is working under rather unfavorable conditions, fifty members being crowded into a room designed for a Teachers' room which might accommodate a chorus of thirty comfortably. If Norwood High School is to support a glee club and orchestra a music room properly equipped should be provided.
In September, a High School orchestra of twelve pieces was organized and is now making a very creditable showing.
In closing I wish to express my appreciation for the hearty support of the teachers, for progress in school music would be impossible without this cooperation.
Respectfully submitted, HELEN M. HALL.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
To Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools.
The following is the report of the work in drawing for the year ending December 31, 1920:
The public schools of today are realizing more and more the value of coordination between the Grade work and the Art work. Teachers are beginning to see that drawing is not a waste of time, but, on the contrary a real saving of time. It is training in language, training in thought, and it gives a child one more way of expressing himself. Unless the child has this opportunity to express himself with the pencil, crayon, and brush in the early grades, possibilities are going to be checked in childhood that should be developed not only for the good of the child but for the future nation.
For this reason I am trying to correlate my art work in the lower grades as much as possible with reading, writing, arithmetic, history and geography, according to the esires of the individual teachers. The results so far have been very satisfactory. It seemed advisable to put departmental work into the eighth grade, so a new course has been started this year in elemen- tary mechanical drawing for the boys, and costume design for the girls; thus, correlating the art work with the manual training and the domestic
.
168
art courses. The children are so enthusiastic about both courses that another year I hope to transfer these to the seventh grade and give general appreciation in the eighth grade, taking up the study of famous painters, architecture, industries; in fact, a general appreciation of art in all its phases.
More and more we are using Project work to create a vital interest in the lessons which the child must learn. For instance, in Norwood the health project is being especially emphasized this year, every child mak- ing posters, booklets or calendars on subjects pertaining to good health. In order to make it easier for the teachers I shall have a series of Grade meetings next year, where the work will be explained, all illustrative materi- al made and any suggestions about the work or the methods of teaching- discussed.
My High School classes are about four times the size they were last year and I have started a three year course in connection with the Domestic Art course, which consists of elementary design, costume design, and house- hold furnishings.
Any child is enthusiastic to learn if he can enjoy the process of learning, and I feel that we are beginning to really enjoy as well as see the progress in our art work this year.
Respectfully submitted, ANNA B. GREENE.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MECHANIC ARTS
Mr. C. O. Dalrymple,
Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Mass.
Sir:
I herewith submit my report, as Supervisor of the Mechanic Arts Depart- ment, for the preceding four months.
Upon my arrival here in September, I found the Mechanic Arts Depart- ment to have an enrollment of two hundred and fifty students-two hun- dred and fifteen of these are pupils of the seventh and eighth grades of the grammar schools, and the remaining thirty-five are high school students.
The seventh grade has a period of one hour a week and its work is in- tended to familiarize the students with the use of tools, and to enable them to do such elementary work as the making of coat hangers, bread boards, folding towel racks, picture frames and other objects of simple construction. In the eighth grade the work is slightly more advanced and various articles for home use are made, according to the desire and ability of the studentst, ress being laid on the quality rather than the quantity of the work.
In the Freshman year the men take up wood working in its more ad- vanced form-the making of tables, book-cases, hat-trees, etc. Heretofore the Freshman work has been limited to this but this, year mechanical draw- ing has been introduced.
Providing that the proper equipment could be obtained I should suggest that, in the year to come, the Sophomore course should be devoted to forg- ing, woodworking and pattern making, the plan of which I have already submitted. That in the Junior year the course should consist of vise and bench, and machine work; and in the Senior year, the boy, having scen something of all branches of mechanical work, be allowed to specialize in a line of his own choosing. This course, as outlined, would not be a voca- tional course-with the possible exception of the work of the Senior ycar.
A course of this kind is injurious if attempted with meager equipment, and it would seem much wiser to put in pattern making, or forging, and have it well equipped, than to try to put in all of these things and have each poorly equipped.
Respectfully yours, HOWARD F. REED, Supervisor of the Mechanic Arts Department.
169
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 1920:
I believe that the work in physical training should help the child in its other studies in as many ways as possible.
For this reason in the seventh grades we have a child take charge of a small part of the work, and in the eighth grades a child takes charge for a week, under the supervision of the teacher. This plan has met with hearty cooperation from both teachers and pupils, for it helps the child to over- come a natural nervousness when reciting before others, and helps to develop the voice so that it may be heard clearly and distinctly.
In two of the buildings, in the upper grades, the first posture tests were given and a good per cent of the children passed this first test. A gilt posture pin was awarded to each child passing the test. I hope this year to give the tests in all the buildings and to give the second test, for which a silver pin is awarded, to those who have passed the first.
I wish to thank the teachers and principals for their cooperation and interest in this work.
Respectfully submitted, ERNA H. KILEY, Supervisor of Physical Training.
REPORT OF EVENING SCHOOL
Norwood; Mass.
To the School Committee:
The evening school opened October fourth with a registration that warranted the opening of the following classes: English Language, 4 even" ings; Dressmaking, 4 evenings; Cooking, 2 evenings; Spanish, 1 evening; Woodworking, 2 evenings; Millinery, 2 evenings; Typewriting, 2 evenings; and Civil Service, 2 evenings a week.
The total registration to date has been three hundred fifty-two and the highest attendance for any one night was one hundred twenty on November 30th.
Every aid and assistance is given those who wish to take steps to become American citizens. Thus far six have taken out their first papers and two have petitioned for their final papers.
The aim of the school is to be of service to its pupils and helpful sugges- tions are always appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
I. A. WHORF, Principal.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSES
December 16, 1920.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
We submit our report as school nurses for the year ending December 31, 1920.
15,764
No. children examined by the school physicians. 2,132
No. children excluded. 173
11
Defective hcaring .
56
Defective nasal breathing
Defective teeth
1,275
No. children inspected.
170
Defective vision
86
Discharging ear .
20
Enlarged glands
73
Enlarged tonsils.
248
Malnutrition .
326
Mental defects
26
Pediculosis .
Symptoms of nervous disease.
Symptoms of cardiac disease
169
Orthopedic defects .
72 26
Miscellaneous .
1,682
No. of letters or notices sent to parents .
1,384
No. children treated at school.
1,300
No. home visits made .
447
No. children treated at Dental Clinie
571
No. children treated at Eye Clinie.
No. cases glasses ordered .
Throat cases cured by operation .
Cases of Scarlet Fever .
47
Cases of Measles .
12
Cases of Chicken Pox
9
Cases of Diphtheria .
1
Cases of Infantile Paralysis
6
Deaths. .
1,636
Monthly Weighings.
1,514
Aside from the usual round of inspections, treating of minor troubles follow-up work etc., the year 1920 has seen some interesting developments in the health work in our schools, and the materialization of plans that we have long discussed.
Since the war, more than ever before, doctors and educators everywhere have emphasized the importance of the proper growth and development of the child and the formation of good health habits during the growing period. This, they say, is fundamental and more important to the well- being of the child than that he be pushed ahead in the traditional school subjects whether or not he is physically able to do the work of his class. If he has a sound body and is unhampered by physical defects or faulty health habits, he is much more likely to have a sound mind.
One of the most valuable means of interesting the ehild in his own con- dition and helping him to willingly obey the "Rules of the Health Game" (which arc some of the simplest rules of personal hygiene) has been found to be the regular weighing and measuring of the child. Babies are weighed at least once a week usually and we expect them to gain a eertain number of ounees if all is well with them. To gain regularly in weight is just as much a sign of health in a school child as in a baby and we have a right to expect him to gain at least a half pound a month.
We have started the weighing and measuring of the children in our Nor- wood Schools. At present we have but two sets of scales, one set in each of the two districts, but we hope soon to have a set in each of the large build- ings since it is not good for the accuracy of the scales to earry them from place to place, aside from the ineonvenience of so doing.
In the Guild School 125 children or 25% of the membership of the sehool were found to be more than 10% below the average weight. In the Everett Sehool there were 50 children or 20% that were more than 10% below the
73 15 77
Symptoms of skin disease
11
Sore throat.
Uncleanliness
98 57 121 8
Cases of Whooping Cough
21
Cases of German Mumps
4
Cases of Typhoid Fever .
1
Weighed and Measured
171
average. In the Winslow 64 children or 19% and in the Balch School 80 children or 16% of the membership of the schools were found to be more than 10% below the average weight, according to the scale of averages prepared by authorized specialists in this line. Some children have been found to be as much as 26 pounds underweight. These figures are no worse than those found to be true in other towns and cities, as we have discovered by questionnaires sent out to various places in the State, but this is a con- dition that ought not to exist and is remediable in a large number of cases. We plan to weigh the children regularly each month, sending home the re- port as a special card to be examined by the parent, signed, and returned with the scholarship report-card. Also a weight record chart will be kept in each classroom recording the monthly weighings of each child.
The mid-morning lunch of milk has just been started in the Everett School and is to be served in the other schools as well, early next term. It is being run on a strictly paying basis, but we expect to have some help later in supplying the milk to underweight children who cannot afford to pay for it. The cost is twenty cents per weck, for milk, one cracker, and paper cups. The milk lunch has been found to be valuable in several ways. It supplements the very light breakfast that so many children take before going to school, thereby materially increasing the working power of the child during the latter part of the morning. It is also of value educationally, teaching the children the importance of milk as a food. They learn to drink it with the group at school and like it, when not willing even to taste it at home.
It is interesting to see that in the Everett School where the milk lunch has been served for only a very short time, the proportion of children who have gained at the time of the second weighing was much larger than in the Guild School where the milk has not yet been served. The milk lunch is only one factor in the upbuilding of the child's physical condition, but nevertheless a very important one.
Last spring we were able to arrange with the Guild Health Organization of New York to have the "Picture Man," the partner of "Cho Cho" the Health Clown, come to Norwood to perform for our school children. With quick drawings and sleight of hand tricks he portrayed the "Rules of the Health Game" in a way that makes them remembered by the children. Four performances were given accommodating all the grade pupils and the expense was met by the five and ten cent contributions of the children.
In connection with our work we have had occasion to attend various con- ferences and Public Health meetings during the year.
Two classes in "Personal Hygiene and Home Nursing," taught by the school nurse, have been introduced into the curriculum of the High School. It is intended to make this course of very practical value to the girls who elect it, credit being given for the correction of physical defects, and empha- sis placed upon high standards of health for the individual members. At the beginning of next term a short course is to be offered to the eighth grade girls on the "Care of the Baby," since upon so many girls devolves the care of young children in the home. That they may render such service more intelligently this course is to be given. Classes will be held after school hours.
We were able to attend for a six weeks period last summer a course for School Nurses in Cleveland, Ohio, the Institute of School Hygiene, under the Cleveland Board of Education. The course, the only one of its kind available, was inspirational as well as practical. It drew nurses from 29 states and 3 Canadian provinces and had a faculty made up of prominent doctors and laymen from all over the country.
We are much indebted to our school doctors for their assistance, espe- cially for the tonsil operations done for us without charge where families were unable to pay. Many children have been sent to the Dental Clinic at the Beacon School, and our Eye Clinic, as conducted by Dr. Riemer, has been a great satisfaction. We much appreciate, also, the cooperation of
172
the Woman's Club and the Italian-American Society, who have shown their interest in the health work so substantially with funds to supply milk lunches to underweight children who cannot afford to buy it. We wish to thank very heartily all these friends for their interest, the teachers who are putting in so much extra time and labor on these matters, and all societies and individuals who have given us clothing and money to be used in needy cases, or have in any way aided us in our work.
Respectfully submitted, VERA H. BROOKS, MARY L. BOWKER, School Nurses.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DENTIST
December 16, 1920.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The following is my report for the year ending December 31, 1920:
The School Dental Clinic is open five mornings a week at the Beacon School. During the past year three hundred and forty four (344) patients have been treated ..
Amalgam fillings
411
Synthetic fillings
103
Cement fillings
152
Treatments .
206
Cleanings
107
Extractions (with anaesthetic)
9
Extractions (without anaesthetic)
182
Very truly yours,
Dr. T. J. CURTIN, School Dentist.
REPORT OF OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Eye clinics have been held every Wednesday afternoon from four to six during the past school year. These clinics are held in the old High School. The room used by the school dentist has been equipped for the examina- tion of eyes.
There are many advantages in conducting these clinics in the school and by the School Department. The school nurses are able to bring every child having an eye defect to the clinic and there explain the symptons to the doctor and discuss the case with him. This enables the nurse to get first hand information of the child's need and puts her in a better position to inform the parent of the child's condition, if that is necessary. It gives the parents the o pportunity to bring their own children to the clinic and discuss the case with the doctor.
A total of ninety-eight children were examined during the year. Eighty- one were found to have refractive errors, but glasses were prescribed for only fifty-seven. Ten had treatment for diseased conditions of the eye. In six the examination was incomplete. Thirteen were found to have normal eycs.
The following is a list of the type of refractive errors, the diseases, the number of children at each age period and the number of times examincd, also the congenital defects.
Defective Vision Duc to Refraction Errors
Hyperopia.
22
Myopia .
21
Compound Hyperopic Astigmia
19
Compound Myopic Astigmia. 11
173
Hyperopic Astigmia
4
Mixed Astigmia .
Diseases
5
Blepharitis ..
4
Conjunctivitis.
Age Period
Six years.
6
Eight years .
13
Nine years.
8
Ten years.
14
Eleven years
14
Twelve years
14
Thirteen years
6
Fourteen years
3
Fifteen years
2
Sixteen years
1
Twenty years
Number of Times Examined
76
Second Examination
15
Third Examination .
3
Fourth Examination
Congenital Defects
4
Divergent Strabismus
3
Amblyopia of two eyes
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.