Norwood annual report 1923-1927, Part 31

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1656

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1923-1927 > Part 31

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There is a demand among several groups of pupils for instruction in Dramatics, Debating and Public Speaking. Classes in thesc subjects should appear on the elective list of studies. The general movement throughout all high schools shows a trend toward added stress and emphasis on these subjects and it is my recommendation that Norwood fall in line. Work in these courses calls for the expenditure of much time outside of regular class work and at the beginning would require at least half of the time of one teacher.

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Commercial Department

The demand made upon this department of the school proves that the courses are genuinely practical throughout. Pupils who have taken the courses in the Commercial curriculum for their three years of High School have received direct benefit by means of obtaining employment during their leisure time while still enrolled at school, and in obtaining permanent positions after graduation. Seventy pupils were graduated in the class of 1924, and of this number, twenty-four completed the Commercial courses. Of this number, eighteen had received permanent positions before their graduation in June, and since then, five of the remaining six have obtained permanent positions. These former pupils are now employed as follows:

Holliston Mills Office 3

Town of Norwood, Departmental Offices 3

Bird and Son Office

Lewis Manufacturing Company Offices. 3

Winslow Bros. and Smith Office.

Norwood Housing Association Office

Norwood Civic Association Office.

Hollingsworth, Vose and Co 1

Norwood Trust Company 1

Norwood Press Office. 1

Hartshorn's Market Officc. 1

Plimpton Press Office

Riley and Riley Office

At home.

Moved away from Norwood .

At Fitchburg Normal School. 1

A pupil who completes the Commercial course in High School is eligible for admission to the State Normal Schools, as all have taken the two courses required, namely, English and United States History. These, witlı eleven other units of studies which they have covered, entitles them to admission by either certificate or examination. This statement is made to assist in correcting the impression that pupils who take the Commercial course in High School are not eligible for entrance to higher educational institutions other than Business Colleges and Secretarial Schools.

Social Program

A definitely established program of social events for the High School has been approved by the School Board for each of the past four years. The social program for 1924-25 is as follows:

1. Arguenot Social, Benefit of School Paper, October 31.

2. Sophomore Class Party, November 14. (For Members of the Tenth Grade.)

3. Junior Class Dance, Thanksgiving Recess, November 28.

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4. Sophomore Class Dramatics, Christmas Play, December 19.

5. Senior Promenade, New Year's Party, December 31.

6. Senior Class Dramatics, two evenings, February 19 and 20. (Danc- ing follows the play February 20.)

7. Junior Class Dramatics (pending), April 24.

S. Glee Club Concert, May 8 or 15.

9. Class Day Play (pending), May 29.

10. Senior Class Banquet and Dance (date to be determined later).

11. Graduation (Dance following), June 12.

In addition to the above social events, there is permitted during the basket ball season, a short period of dancing following Friday evening basket ball games up to the beginning of the Lenten season.

Looking Forward

The enrollment of the class of 1925 numbers ninety-five. In the present ninth grade, which will become the class of 1928, there are 215 pupils, and of this number about 200 will be promoted to the tenth grade. A clear gain, therefore, of 100 or more pupils may be anticipated in the enrollment of the High School for 1925-26. This increase will call for the following requirements:

1. Three additional home rooms.

2. Fifteen to eighteen additional divisions.

3. The addition of three or four full time teachers for Grades 10, 11 and 12.

The anticipated enrollment for Grades 10, 11 and 12 in September, 1925, will be 435, a fact which means that the entire High School building now used for Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 in the morning, will be required for Grades 10, 11 and 12. Presumably, Grade 9, which will also show an increase by promotions from the eighth grade, will have to be assigned to the afternoon session.

With Grades S and 9 attending in the afternoon, and their session be- ginning at 12.35, it will be necessary to eliminate the seventh period of the High School day which now ends at 1.12. While this will be a loss keenly felt, it is earnestly hoped that the erection of the new High School building will eliminate the necessity of undergoing such a loss over any length of time.

Continuance of Education After Graduation

There were seventy graduates in the class of 1924. Of this number' twenty-four were students of the Commercial curriculum, and a previous paragraph explains their present activities. Of the remaining forty-six

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who were students in either the College or General curricula, twenty-seven have continued their education as follows:

Boston College 4

Colby College 3

Harvard University 2

Northeastern . 3

Framingham Normal Sehool

Bridgewater Normal School.

Chandler Normal School

Burdett Business College

Fitchburg Normal School.

Mount Holyoke.

Bowdoin

Boston University

Bradford Academy

Nasson Institute.

Post Graduate Work 2

This is an unusually high percentage, as comparison with other high schools throughout the state shows.

Graduation, 1924

Exercises were held June 13. There were seventy who received diplomas.

:Graduates

George Rowe Allen

Charles Alexander Flaherty Eleanore Mary Flaherty

Carl Ambrose

Walter Arthur Blasenak

Francis C. Foley

Dorothy Hadley Brown

Gertrude Anne Foren

*Lillian Alfreda Burdett

*Katherine Foss Mary Alice Fulton

Lennie Erika Carlson

Roland V. Cedarfeldt

Martha Cecelia Clem

Lindsay Cleveland

*Margaret Costello

Kathryn Elizabeth Devens

Henry William Diggs

Pansy Donaldson

John Louis Dowdie

Francis Dower

John Aloysius Doyle

Michael Francis Drummey

Edward Arthur Eppich

Peter Joseph Farioli

*Bella Fireman

William P. Fitzgerald

*Harriet Mitchell Gay Helen Linea Gottberg Oscar Usko Eino Harju

*Barbara Wheaton Howes Shirley Letitia Hubbard John Jewett Elin Elizabeth E. Johnson Kerstin Lillian Johnson Anthony P. Karshis Edith Agnes Keeler Edward Benedict Landry

*Rose Levine Nellie Riemer Lynch Agnes Teresa Lyons William Forest MaeLean

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Anne Patricia Mahoney Mary Agnes Marsh Thomas J. McDonough Mildred Louise Morris Richard Edmund Morris

Nellie Rosine Readel Eleanor Rice Clement Aloysius Riley

Charles Saverio Sansone

Esther Pottinger Sinclaire

Helen Agnes Murphy Doris Mae Norton Charles Travers O'Connor

Florence Harriet Slaney Alice Gertrude Smith Anna Rose Sopp James Samuel Thomas

Lillian Mac O'Neil

Mary Evelyn Turner

Helen Louise Parrock Nellie Lucy Patinsky

Ruth Kathryn Watson

*Jerome Augustin Pendergast Alice Hewins Phalen Charles Edward Rafuse

Kathryn Elizabeth Welch Walter Hanlon Woodman Elizabeth Zurba

The starred pupils were awarded John C. Lane medals. The United States History medal was awarded to Margaret Costello. The Berwick English prize was awarded to Barbara W. Howes. The Senior Plimpton Art prize was awarded to Kathryn E. Devens.

Respectfully submitted,

L. W. GRANT, Principal.

Mr. H. H. Howes, Superintendent of Schools,

· Norwood, Mass.

My dear Mr. Howes:

Since the report from the Junior High School last year, the numerical growth of the school has exceeded our estimate. On January 1, 1924 the enrollment was 693; this year it is 760, a gain of slightly more than 9%; on January 1, 1926, on the basis of numbers now in school, it will be 830, a gain of slightly more than 9%. These will be so distributed among the grades as to require eight 7th grades, eight 8th grades, and seven 9th grades as against eight 7ths, seven 8ths, and six 9ths of the present school year-a gain of two full rooms. The average numbers will be 37 in the seventh grades, 35 in the eighth, and 38 in the ninth.

The Junior High will this year send to the Senior High approximately 200 pupils; it will receive from the elementary schools about 300, or enough to make a net gain of about 75 or 80. This net increase in both schools will make it impossible for the 9th grade to be in session during the morn- ing as heretofore, and they will accordingly go onto the afternoon session from 1 to 5 with the 8th grades. It means also a shortening of recitation and study periods for the 9th grade when they really should be lengthened ~a further handicap.

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It seems desirable that the 7th grade pupils begin regular physical work in the gymnasium. There are eight 7th grade divisions, which will require eight gymnasium periods a week. These with eight periods for the 8th and at least six for the 9th grades make a total of twenty-two for the entire school. In order to accomplish this another instructor will be necessary as the schedule of the present boys' instructor is full with coaching the High School teams, mass athletics and other activities, in addition to regular gymnasium work in the High School. Even without sending the 7th grades to the gymnasium, we shall have to abandon the mass ac- tivities of the 8th grade boys as there is no one who has the time to care for them. I therefore recommend the employment of an additional man for physical work in the Junior High School.

Two changes were made in the 9th grade curriculum this year. Where Ancient History has heretofore been offered, we have added a course in American History dealing with the development of the country from the social and industrial standpoints rather than the political, using as a guide the Columbia Social Science pamphlets worked out in the Lincoln School, New York. The tests were formulated and forwarded from Columbia.

The second was a course in reading which might be substituted for the college English which has been the only thing offered these pupils. It consisted of a series of books by standard English and American authors which we thought might appeal and arouse interest more than the pre- scribed college English. The choice in the grade has been about three to one in favor of the newer history course, and two to one for the English reading course, those who chose the college English being those who were preparing for college. Both courses have proved attractive and successful.

It has been impossible this year to carry out our plans in the practical and household arts departments because of lack of teacher time, and it was found necessary to curtail the time given for quite a number of pupils of the 8th and 9th grades who elected it. It will be still more difficult another year because of lack of teacher time and equipment. As equipped now, the printing room can accommodate a class of eighteen, the shop one of twenty or twenty-two at the outside. And these numbers represent about the maximum that a teacher can handle efficiently in the subjects. So if this department is to expand with the growth of the school, some thought Inust be given this subject. The household arts rooms are sufficiently well equipped I should say.

As the 8th and 9th grades are to be in session at the same time another year, promotion in these two grades should be on the same basis, i.e., by subject rather than by grade. The 9th grade has always been promoted this way, while the 8th grade has been and is promoted as are the pupils in the elementary schools. The tendency seems to be to put all Junior High School grades on the same basis in the matter of promotion.

The conditions, unavoidable, under which the school has worked during the past two years have been a handicap to both teachers and pupils. As the 9th grade is now to be put on an afternoon schedule with a reduced time

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allowance, we can but hope that the time is not far distant when the un- happy conditions can be relieved. These pupils come to us after a morn- ing of more or less strenuous physical activity, and by the middle of the afternoon are through for the day. Teachers may exhaust themselves trying to maintain a high level of effort, but from 3 to 5 p. m. pupils have neither the physical nor mental energy to do a very high grade of work.

The teachers in this school cannot be commended too highly for their continued loyalty and unabating effort under the most trying conditions.

Very respectfully submitted,

GEORGE W. ALLEN, Principal.

Mr. H. H. Howes,

Superintendent of Schools,

Norwood, Massachusetts.

I submit herewith my report as Director of Physical Education for Boys of the Senior and Junior High School for the year 1924.

The work in physical training for boys was carried on, as nearly as pos- sible, according to the outline suggested by the State Supervisor of Physical Education, Carl L. Schrader, who paid us a visit last May.

At the beginning of the school year all boys of the Senior and Junior High Schools were examined by the school physicians. There were 152 in the Senior High and 231 in Junior High. Of the 383, three were de- clared unable to take physical training. Three boys were put into "second class." The requirements for boys in this were much less stringent than those for boys of the "first class."

Each boy of Senior and Junior High Schools took two forty-five minute periods of gymnasium work a week. Only thirty minutes of each period was devoted to actual physical development. The remaining fifteen minutes was consumed in passing between the High School and the Civic Association and dressing and undressing.

During the year, regular class work consisted of drills, calisthenics, apparatus exercises and games. The ends sought in all class work were correct posture, proper physical development and coordination of mind and body.

The Senior High School basket ball squad consisted of forty-three boys; of this number ten were considered members of the school team.

The remaining candidates formed class teams and played a series of games for the championship of the Senior High School. The school team played a regular schedule of fourteen games with outside teams and two games in New Jersey, winning twelve and losing two. Both games played in New Jersey were lost. At the end of the season a third game was played

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with Dedham High School in order to decide the series between the two schools and this game was won by Norwood.

In the Junior High School a class schedule was arranged with a team rep- resenting each room-eleven teams in all. These eleven teams played a series of games, the winning team receiving a silver loving cup which re- mained in their classroom for one year. An All Junior High Team was selected to play the winner of the class competition in the Senior High School. They also played an outside game with the Walpole Freshman.

In April, forty boys represented themselves as candidates for the Senior High Baseball Team. Fifteen made the first team and the others formed the nuclei of class teams. A schedule of eighteen games was arranged. Three of these were called off on account of rain; of the remainder, Norwood won eight and lost seven. A class league was organized and a series of games played for the championship of the Senior High School.

In the Junior High School a league was formed of ninth grade room teams. Both their games and the class games of the Senior High School were in charge of the players on the regular High School team, two being assigned to each game, whose duties consisted of umpiring, scoring and handling all details of the game.

An eighth grade league was formed including a team from the seventh grade. This league played every morning under the supervision of Mr. Farrow, a Junior High School instructor.

The winner of the eighth grade league played the winner of the ninth grade league for the championship of the Junior High School and the pos- session of a silver loving cup in their class room for one year.

The Junior High champion then played the Senior High champion for the championship of the Norwood Schools.

The All-Student track meet instituted by Mr. Schrader was undertaken for the second time in two years. In this meet every boy 100% in the two upper classes of the Senior High School competed in a hundred yard dash for time, high jump and broad jump and was awarded points accord- ing to his performance in these events. The records were then sent to Mr. Schrader and the School was awarded a certificate for its efficiency in "mass athletics." Eight boys were also entered in the Boston College Interscholastic Track Meet.

Sixty-three boys reported for football in the fall and a schedule of ten games was played, Norwood being victors in seven.

During the Christmas vacation fifty-one candidates reported for the Senior High School Basket Ball Teamn. Ten boys are to be chosen to repre- sent the Norwood High School against the other schools on the schedule. A schedule of seventeen games has been arranged to begin on January 2, 1925. An interclass series of games is also being arranged for both Senior and Junior High Schools.

Special corrective work was done with boys who needed individual

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attention. This is a very important phase of Physical Education, and a special class in this work should be organized.

Again, as in previous years, I wish to speak of the wonderful spirit and co-operation that has been manifested among the pupils and teachers in both Senior and Junior High Schools under the direction of Mr. Grant and Mr. Allen. Five hundred new seats were built for football and baseball by the boys under the direction of Mr. Larson. Various schedules were printed by the boys under the direction of Mr. Wheeler. Luncheons were served to different teams by the Household Arts Department under the direction of Miss Bridges and Miss Steele.

In behalf of the boys and myself, I thank the citizens of Norwood for their loyal support in all our athletics for the year 1924.

Respectfully submitted,

H. BENNETT MURRAY.

January 21, 1925.

Mr. H. H. Howes,

Superintendent of Schools,

Norwood, Mass.

The following is the report of the work in Physical Education for the year ending December 31, 1924.

The work in physical education from the primary grades through High School follows closely the program as made out by Mr. Carl L. Schrader, State Supervisor of Physical Education.

In a survey made last May by Mr. Schrader, he strongly recommended extra school activities for grammar schools. Owing to the fact that a full time assistant, Miss Helen B. Follett, has been added to my department, this suggestion will be put in effect this spring.

As usual the seventh grade does its work entirely in the classroom and the eighth and ninth grades and Senior High girls use the Civic gymnasium. Out of 443 girls only seven were excused from gymnasium work by phy- sicians.

That most important branch of Physical Education, corrective work, is being given as much attention as time will permit and classes are being formed in the various schools.

In the way of sports, a state-wide, all-student track meet was held last Spring. Junior and Senior classes only of High Schools were allowed to participate. Norwood's entry was 100% and the High School received a certificate for its excellency in mass athletics. The events for girls were 50-yard dash, basket ball throw and high jump.

Field Hockey was resumed this fall by the girls of Senior High School and thirty-five girls participated in this sport. The girls of the eightli

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grades have two hours of mass play a week when they are taught organized games.

As regards basket ball, 102 girls from the ninth grades and Senior High School reported for practise. Of this number 12 were selected to repre- sent the High School in its outside games, a schedule of eight games with other schools having been arranged. The others were grouped into class teams and are playing inter-class games.

In closing, I wish to thank the superintendent, principals and teachers for their help and co-operation during the year.

Respectfully submitted,

ERNA H. KILEY, Supervisor of Physical Education.

Mr. Herbert H. Howes,

Superintendent of Schools,

Norwood, Mass.

We submit our report as School Nurses for the year ending December 31, 1924.

Number children inspected

23,110

Number children examined.

3,654

Number children excluded .

589

Defective hearing

Defective nasal breathing

Defective teeth

2,100

Defective vision

160

Discharging ear .

Enlarged glands.

Enlarged tonsils .

340

Malnutrition

375

Mental defects

Pediculosis.

108

Symptoms of nervous disease.

Symptoms of cardiac disease.

Symptoms of skin disease

101

Orthopedic defects.

Sore throat.

263

Uncleanliness

Miscellaneous .

1,648

Number of letters or notices sent to parents.

1,569

Number children treated at school.

1,840

Number home visits made.

1,303

Number children treated at Dental Clinic.

381

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Number children treated at Eye Clinic -

124

Number children glasses ordered . 47

Number children treated at Orthopedic Clinic

Throat cases cured by operation

153

Cases of scarlet fever

105

Cases of whooping cough.

Cases of measles

Cases of German measles

Cases of chicken pox .

108

Weighed and measured every two months.

2,350

Schicked and Re-Schicked

727

Toxin Anti-Toxin .

Diphtheria

Mumps.

Sleeping-sickness

The milk lunches which are served every morning as near 10 o'clock as possible in the grammar grades, are served for two purposes, principally, first to educate children to drink milk, and second to supplement a hastily eaten breakfast. This continues to be very important in a child health program and should be heartily endorsed and advocated.

Money given for free milk for an under weight child helps to make that child stronger and better fitted for work.

To all who have contributed funds for free milk we wish to express our appreciation and thanks.

Dr. Schorer has not yet come to Norwood for her annual examination of the mentally retarded children.

In June, 1924 we held our first clinic for the 10% under weight children. Of the twenty children who were given a thorough chest examination by Dr. Roach of the Norfolk County Hospital, two were referred for X-Ray and eighteen were found to be cases of malnutrition. Of the two X-Ray cases, only one was reported as hilum tuberculosis and summer camp ad- vised, permission for which was later revoked by parent.

These twenty children are to be re-examined this year. Eventually it would be desirable to have every 10% under weight child thoroughly ex- amined each year, in order to forestall any trouble, and summer camp pro- vision made for all who need it.

The dental service is still inadequate to care for the many children awaiting treatment. Dr. Wing, at the clinic, frequently sees 12 cases in one morning, but there are at least 50% of the school children, urgent cases, who will have to wait another year, when of course, the conditions will be twice as bad as at present.

Our eye clinic, in Dr. Riemer's care, continues to be a highly important work each year.

The Schick clinics for diphtheria will be resumed in all the schools at

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the first possible opportunity when all the new cases of last year will be Re- Schicked and any new children added.

Due to the scarlet fever epidemic which began shortly after school opened in the fall, the routine school nursing work has neeessarily been re- placed by continual inspection of children and by greatly inereased home visiting. Since November 17, a full time nurse, Miss Christine Holmes of Kingston, has been helping temporarily in the supervision of the ehil- dren. This help has been greatly appreciated as has also been Miss King- man and her automobile.

We hope to begin our regular nursing work soon.

We wish, at this time, to thank all those who helped to give so many children a happy Christmas and we hope this good work will continue and grow.

HELEN W. GOULD, SADIE E. DOWNS, School Nurses.

Mr. Herbert H. Howes,

Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Mass.

Dear Mr. Howes:

My second report as Supervisor of Musie is hereby submitted.

I am pleased to note a marked advance in the quality and quantity of work in the grades. This is due to the readjustment of pupil and teacher to a new method of presenting the technical problems involved in sight singing. With a growing resource of reading power has conte inereased interest and enthusiasm, and the work has thereby beeome wuch e. sier. I am recommending a new basic text for the grades which I think wil make for greater progress and enjoyment, and will more readily fit into the technical development.

In the Junior High School progress is marked by excellent chorus work in the eighth grade and the organizing of Glee Clubs which promise a broader musical interest. An orchestra of some twenty pieces has also made a start and shows mueh promise.

With the ninth grade, the musie situation meets serious drawbacks. Theoretically music is a major subject and compulsory in the upper grades. In practice it has no independent place in the eurrieulumn. It funetions, therefore, at the expense of other studies. This more or less paralyzes most of the music activities of the upper schools. The ninth grade student has chorus practice once in two weeks, and this at the loss of recitation in some other subject. This constitutes his preparation for senior school chorus. What will become of the interest and ability which the pres t eighth grade shows, if it must filter through a year of our recitation in tv weeks before it can be utilized in the senior school?

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Norwood annual report 1923-1927, Part 31

Author: Norwood (Mass.) Publication date: 1923 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1656

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1656