Norwood annual report 1923-1927, Part 95

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


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1580.65


53,200.00


1773.33


Senior High


32,115.19


1784.18


35,509.20


1690.91


45,083.74


1669.77


51,148.00


1894.37


Indirect Cost: per Teacher


81,400.68


733.34


86,974.35


730.88


92,962.28


720.64


110,325.00


855.23


Direct and Indirect Cost


$257,232.33


$2317.41


$265,416.23


$2230.39


$293,230.08


$2273.10


$327,753.00


$2540.72


Total per Teacher:


Elementary


$154,005.00


$2231.89


$151,818.08 60,780.32 52,817.83


$2138.28 2251.12 2515.13


$157,787.11 69,436.88 66,006.09


$2191.49 2314.56 2444.67


80,201.16 77,120.28


2856.31


Total per Pupil:


Elementary


$154,005.00


$77.95 82.53 151.68


60,780.32 52,817.83


$76.48 81.58 154.89


$157,787.11 69,436.88 66,006.09


$76.52 86.47 167.53


$170,431.56 80,201.16 77,120.28


96.40


Senior High


56,205.26 47,022.07


$151,818.08


$85.60


Junior High


56,205.26


2673.37


Senior High


47,022.07


2341.89 2231.96


$170,431.56


$2367.11


Junior High


154.55


194


served will not be larger than population, it is obvious that the increase in valuation will take care of the school building require- ments without increasing the tax rate.


Table VIII. Comparison of Expenditures by Massachusetts Towns from State Report, 1927


Towns


Expenditure per Pupil


All Pupils


Valuation per Pupil


Tax Rate per $1000


High


Į Elementary


Amount


Rank


Amount |Rank


Wellesley


$166.32


$127.76


$140.26


1


$16,305


2


$21.00


Brookline


150.34


107.12


120.80


2


27,120


1


21.30


Watertown


139.58


70.07


82.58


38


9,201


17


32.00


Arlington


146.65


85.42


94.51


14


9,751


12


31.00


Framingham


126.03


66.39


78.26


52


7,115


36


34.40


Greenfield


142.78


74.41


88.18


30


7,285


35


29.60


Winthrop


118.28


62.87


74.29


65


7,546


32


27.00


Methuen


88.88


67.36


71.91


69


5,641


58


40.60


Weymouth


100.47


65.51


73.45


67


9,454


15


23.25


Southbridge


102.05


70.84


77.56


55


8,087


26


35.40


Milford


94.68


55.56


64.16


77


5,284


66


31.00


W. Springfield


155.68


80.37


94.74


15


8,231


24


30.00


Webster


114.35


68.78


90.67


26


9,666


14


33.50


Plymouth


114.01


93.76


96.73


12


10,539


11


24.00


Wakefield


142.40


64.68


85.43


33


6,537


45


35.60


Clinton


119.44


65.38


79.95


45


8,462


23


24.00


Adams


113.93


68.22


80.75


41


8,091


25


28.30


Norwood


144.92


83.98


95.13


13


7,878


28


28.20


Easthampton


113.87


76.97


89.59


28


9,058


18


28.00


Danvers


93.39


72.34


83.77


36


5,958


50


36.00


Natick


· 107.87


64.64


73.97


66


4,246


75


50.40


Saugus


120.76


56.29


69.95


72


4,375


73


41.00


Dedham


110.37


64.93


77.85


54


7,081


37


32.00


Belmont


137.67


73.41


82.41


39


8,966


19


31.25


Braintree


124.43


73.25


80.53


43


6,829


40


32.80


Winchester


137.55


81.17


93.53


19


14,021


5


26.80


Northbridge


119.12


71.26


80.07


44


5,182


68


27.00


Amesbury


111.96


76.81


98.73


10


9,218


16


31.60


Attleboro


113.80


76.82


82.63


20


6,188


35


35.40


Walpole


116.41


71.28


88.36


29


7,641


31


30.40


Mansfield


176.19


61.30


82.14


40


5,849


53


34.40


Averages


124.65


74.16


86.22


8,607


31.20


Average expenditure per pupil for the whole state is $94.15.


Questions Raised by Citizens About Our School System and Its Operation: Two very closely related questions have been asked time and again about our school system and its operation. Although variously phrased, this is their meaning: (1) Is our school system adapted to the needs of the town? (2) Are our schools being efficiently managed ?


An answer to these basic questions re-


195


quires (a) that we get clearly before us a picture of the kind of community our schools are to serve; (b) the kind of school system now in operation; and (c) such facts as will enable us to think about educational results.


These are subjects that are gone into in the special reports of Dr. Davis and Professor Blair and have been discussed in the local press. However, there is one aspect of the question of efficiency that has not been discussed by them which seems de- serving of mention, namely: The question as to whether the school system is keeping boys and girls in the High School who could better be occupied in lucrative vocations. This is a question which has been seriously raised and a serious attempt has been made to find out what the facts are. With this end in view, an analysis was made of all of the elements entering into the problem as it presents itself in the Senior High School. Being a town with a mixed population in which there are many elements, having dif- ferent cultural and social backgrounds, it seemed desirable in the first place to make an analysis by national groups, and then to apply educational tests within each of these groups to ascertain whether or not the school system is reaching each group.


Effectiveness of Instruction as Measured by Averages in the Study of English: Applying our first test (what of the results of instruction in English in each of the several race groups) it appears that as a whole, those whose parents came from non-English speaking countries do not suffer by comparison. On the whole their averages are higher in English than are the averages of pupils of English speaking groups-including the United States, Canada, England, Ireland and Scotland. For example, the averages for the English speaking groups in English studies are as follows: United States 77%, Canada 77%, England 76%, Ireland 74%, and Scotland 76%; whereas the averages in English study for North and Central European groups were as follows: Austria 78%, Fin- land 78%, Germany 75%, Hungary 84%, Latvia 91%, Lithuania 76%, Norway 78%, Poland 78%, Roumania 87%, and Russia 78%. The lowest averages are found in the Italian group.


The Test of Teaching Methods as Measured by Results in Four Major Studies: Broadening our inquiry to extend to the four major subjects of the student, the results are still more striking. The general averages for the English speaking groups are: United States 77%, Canada 77%, England 79%, Ireland 74% and Scotland 79%; whereas for the North and Central European groups the gen- eral averages for the four major subjects are: Austria 79%, Finland 81%, Germany 78%, Hungary 87%, Latvia 91%, Lithuania 80%, Norway 80%, Poland 79%, Roumania 86%, Russia 82%, and Sweden 77%. In these subjects the language handicap would not


196


be so apparent. It would seem that when both language and gen- eral group averages in the non-English speaking national and race groups are equal to or above those of the English speaking groups, it would seem that the system is fairly well adapted to the prob- lem in hand-from the elementary grades up through the Junior High School as well as in the Senior High School itself.


The Test of the Highest Quartile: Another interesting basis of comparison is found in studentship averages and the proportion of pupils in the highest fourth in each group. Using the same basis for comparison, the studentship averages for the highest fourth in the English speaking group are: United States 87%, Canada 87%, England 85%, Ireland 87% and Scotland 92%, the averages of the highest quartile in the North and Central European groups men- tioned above are: Austria 86%, Germany 89%, Hungary 91%, Lata- via 91%, Lithuania 86%, Norway 85%, Poland 85%, Roumania 86%, Russia 87% and Sweden 87%. While the studentship aver- ages do not differ widely in the highest fourth, as is shown, there is a very interesting basis of comparison when we take the per- centage of the total number who are in the highest fourth. For the United States, a fraction short of 25% are in the highest fourth, Canada 30%, England 37%, Ireland 14%. The average of all the English speaking groups in the highest fourth is 22%. The average of all the North and Central European groups in the highest quartile is 40%.


A Challenge Offered: In the South European group, Italy is out- standing as having no one in the highest quartile. This fact clearly indicates that inquiry should be made to determine whether this failure has been due to the system (in not supplying methods adapted to getting hold of the South European group) or that failure is due to inherited defects and social traditions.


Other Questions Raised About the School System: There are va- rious other questions raised about the school system. Some of these are financial; others have to do with certain aspects of the social and community problems. Questions bearing on the cost of education, the recent rapid increase in this cost, how our cost in education compares with that of other communities, etc., will be left for consideration in other annual reports.


As bearing on the educational and community problem, how- ever, brief mention may here be made of three more pertinent in- quiries: (1) are we giving undue prominence to athletics and other extra-curricula activities; (2) should we spend money to educate our foreign born adults; (3) is the method of handling the back- ward and mentally deficient children in the schools one which should be continued or should the method be changed.


197


Is Undue Prominence Given Athletics and Other Extra-Curricula Activities? In adopting a "comprehensive system" for public school instruction, the School Committee has followed the judg- ment of experts as to what is best adapted to achieve the social purpose of education. Education today means training for health, training for character, training in cooperation (leadership, follow- ership and group discipline), training in judgment as well as training in language, history and mathematics and sciences. No part of school activities contributes more to health habits, char- acter formation, cooperation and judgment and the development of capacity for leadership than sports and other extra-curricular activities-if these are brought under adequate supervision and made a recognized part of a larger cultural program. There is always grave danger that the public interest in major sports may give to these such an importance as to make the educational inter- est subservient to a sporting element or local betting ring. The School Committee has sought in every way to give to every boy and girl in Norwood the best possible training opportunities and to make each part of the system complementary. The Athletic Association was retained, but every feature of organized sports is subject to approval of the school authorities-including supervision and control of funds. We have been more than fortunate in having and retaining the services of a physical training director who has the highest of ideals and a capacity for inspiring sportsmanlike conduct as well as fidelity to the general school program. The rules laid down are such as to put a premium on scholarship as well as "Character." The School Committee has laid down higher scholarship requirements even than those recommended by the Massachusetts Master's Association. We seek to encourage 100% participation and a high percentage in competition for places on the squads. Results speak for themselves. Since bringing the sports under stricter control, increasing numbers have participated in "try-outs," and the average scholarship of members of teams has been materially raised. Last year there were seven honor men on the football and baseball squads. At the same time the school developed an unbeaten football team and a championship base- ball team.


The conclusion that clean sport and a high standard of scholar- ship are not incompatible with success in athletics has back of it an unusual record. The football team has not been beaten since the middle of the season in 1925. Another interesting develop- ment has been a strong sentiment in favor of ice-hockey. Sixty boys have indicated a desire to enter this sport if suitable playing surface can be found for the game.


198


Should We Spend Public Money to Educate Foreign Born Adults?


The fact is that Norwood (due to its industrial situation) has held out inducements to large groups of persons born abroad-many of whom were wholly without educational opportunities. The industries have welcomed, even sought for, illiterate persons to come here and settle. Due to this fact Norwood has had a very high factor of illiteracy. This does not mean that those who come here in such circumstances are not desirable; nor does it mean that the children of these foreign born parents from whatever country they come, will not make good citizens. However, the upbringing of children and the making of citizens is a matter in which parents and teachers must share. It is an interesting fact that the teachers of Norwood, and especially the principals of the several schools, have established relations of mutual confidence and cooperation between the parents and the schools. Our district principals have become important factors in the life of the school districts-as have also the Director of Americanization, the school nurses and physicians and the Superintendent. Our Parent-Teacher Associations are doing splendid work in each of the districts. The best cooperation can come about only when the parents are able to speak English; and the ability of a person of foreign extraction to get along and establish himself in the community depends very largely on his capacity to read and write and do simple problems of arithmetic. One of the outstanding features of our own school system is the evening school for adults. We now have an attend- ance of 276-instruction being under a special director-one-half of the cost of this work being paid by the State.


Our Method of Handling the Backward and Mentally Deficient Pupils: Perhaps no subject has caused more criticism than has this. The School Committee, however, have pursued the policy recommended by the State Department of Education. In Bulletin No. 7 of the current year the following recommendation is found: "Children in classes for retarded will become in adult life mem- bers of the community. It is the opinion of the Department that they should associate in school life and play with normal children. They should attend and participate in general assemblies, athletic events and other school activities."


Members of the School Commitee as well as the Superintendent have made careful observations of the playground activities, where such classes are present; and this is the unquestioned conclusion reached-that the children do not preserve their room formations while on the playground. Children at undirected play naturally drift into friendly and neighborhood groups, so that the backward and mentally deficient join brothers, sisters and those friendly dis- posed. It it the joint responsibility of teachers and parents if


199


unfriendly conduct develops and harsh comments are made in the social bicker of children in districts where special classes are formed.


As the matter now stands, we have two separate classes called "special"-one located in the Balch School and the other in the Beacon School. These schools were selected for geographical reasons. The Balch School is the center of the largest population of the south side; the Beacon is in the most nearly central part of the north side. We have not as yet, however, found adequate facilities for handling the same problem in the Junior High School. It is our hope that when the system is better supplied with housing "opportunity" classes can be formed in the higher grades.


A STUDY OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING SITUATION IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD By JESSE B. DAVIS and HERBERT BLAIR


Boston University School of Education


203


A STUDY OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING SITUATION IN THE TOWN OF NORWOOD


Each school building has been visited and inspected as to its location, condition, adaptability to modern education, and possible future service. Data has been secured with respect to the present enrollment, expected increase in attendance, and efficiency of ad- ministration as to the housing of the pupils and provision for instruction.


Map studies have been prepared showing the home location of all pupils now enrolled in (1) the Senior High School, (2) the Junior High School grades, (3) grades, 4, 5, and 6, and (4) grades 1, 2, and 3. To aid in diagnosing the situation a map has been prepared showing the location of all of the new homes built during the years 1925, 1926, and 1927. Also to give some indication of the future needs of the primary schools a sixth map has been made showing the home location of all of the children born during the past five years.


From the reports and studies already made by the superintendent and principals, all essential information has been secured to show the growth and demands for housing during the past fifteen years and the immediate future. Every possible aid has been rendered most efficiently by the superintendent and his assistants. The situation with respect to each building will be taken up in the following order: the Senior High School, the Junior High School, and the elementary schools.


The Senior High School Building


At present this building is very naturally the pride of Norwood. Wherever I meet a group of educators or meet with a building committee to consider a building program, I always hear very complimentary things said of the Norwood Senior High School.


Its reputation has very justly spread through New England. It is to be regretted that the plan for the auditorium and other fea- tures so essential to a complete school were not secured with the first appropriation. It is proverbially true that when this is not done, the plant is not completed until all other local demands are met. By that time the building is apt to become old, and the en- thusiasm for completing it has been lost. It is to be hoped that Norwood will not repeat this procedure and permit the present situation to continue long.


The Present Situation: The program of studies now in operation at the Senior High School calls for the daily use of an auditorium,


204


for a music department and such facilities as the original plans provided. If this portion of the building were completed, it would, at the same time, increase the capacity of the building while offer- ing a balanced educational program.


The Senior High School now enrolls 499 pupils. The expected increase for next year is practically 100 additional pupils. The capacity of the building will then be taxed to the limit of an effi- cient organization. To receive these pupils will mean that some teachers wil have no classrooms of their own. They will be obliged to go about each period to hear a class in some room that may be vacant for that hour. With a present eighth grade of 316 pupils, the prospect for 1930 is a very critical one for the Senior High School. It will undoubtedly force the administration to make adjustments which will injure the efficiency of the entire school and work hardship to all concerned.


The study of the map (see map on page 205) which shows the location of the homes of pupils attending the Senior High School is remarkable. One cannot imagine a more evenly distributed enrollment from all parts of Norwood. This certainly speaks well for the general intelligence and ambition of the citizens for the education of their children. No favoritism or sectionalism is in evidence. It might be thought that some difference would be noticed between the districts at the south and east portions of the town in comparison with the district west of the railroad and near to the Senior High School building, but this is not to be found. In the South district, including those living between the branches of the railroad, are 156 pupils. In the East section are 94 pupils, making a total of 250. Counting those living in the region West of the railroad and near the building are 249. No one can say that the Senior High School exists for the well-to-do or for the poorer pupils. It is an opportunity accepted equally by all the children of all the people.


The Problem of Increased Enrollment. The building is now serving practically all that it was intended to accommodate when it was built. A careful study has been made of the assignment of pupils to teachers and of teachers to rooms. Very little im- provement is possible by way of a more efficient administration. This possibility will be taxed to the limit before the needed addi- tions can be built. The growth of the Senior High School has been in no way different from the growth of high schools in other com- munities and throughout the country.


(See graph on page 206.)


WESTWOOD


370876.11


.


.


.. .


. .


LAL


WALPOLE


.


.


LULAWAHL


....


.


PLAN OF THE TOWN OF NORWOOD MASS.


SCALE


January 1920-


Geo. A Smith Town Engineer.


DISTRIBUTION OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS GRADES ~ 10 - 12


CUT NO. 1


by the dotted line for the next fifteen years. This would indicate


conservative estimate of a continued average growth is projected past fifteen years up to the assured enrollment for 1928. A very This graph shows what the actual increase has been during the


100 200


300


400


500


600


700


800


900


1000


1100


/200


1300


1400


1500


/600


1700


1800


2000


2100


2200


2300


2400


2 161


1913


1914


1915


1916


1917


1918


1920


1921


1922


$ 923


1924


1925


1926


1927


1928


1928


1930


193.1


1932


1933


1934


1 835


1936


1937


1938


/939


1940


1941


1942


1943


1944


893


1 200


2370


206


NO: - 2


FUTURE ENROLLMENT IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Estimated Compliment 10 1943 to be 1200


Average Increase


A reasonable/Expectancy-


Continued Percentage Of Increase


207


an enrollment of at least 900 pupils. The percentage of increase during the past fifteen years has been phenomenal. If this per- centage should continue for the next fifteen years, the enrollment would amount to 1871 pupils. This can hardly be expected. The phenomenal growth of the high school during the past fifteen years. has been due to many factors that will not function in this same way during the coming years. We may well assume that the future growth will be nearer a normal rate. If we draw a line some where between these two possibilities we may figure a fair estimate of the number we must expect to provide for during the next fifteen years. This will be at least 1200 pupils.


Any building program should look forward for at least ten to fifteen years. The present building has been designed wisely with this prospect in view. Therefore, when any addition is made to the present structure, provision should be made to meet the ex- pected enrollment of at least ten years in advance of the time of construction.


The Vocational School for Girls


Should the trustees of the Henry O. Peabody Fund and the Town of Norwood cooperate in the establishing of a Vocational School for Girls, as proposed in the report of Mr. Arthur L. Wil- liston, some relief will undoubtedly be felt in the Senior High School .* However, before this could possibly become operative, the situation is bound to become serious. As I compare the con- ditions in all parts of the schools of Norwood, I find that the most pressing need is at the Senior High School. Therefore, it is recom- mended that the' auditorium, music room, and additional classrooms be provided at once. The number of classrooms needed will depend somewhat upon the possible cooperation of the Trustees of the Peabody Fund. Whatever decision may be reached the suggested auditorium, music department, and a minimum number of class- rooms are imperative within the next year.


The Junior High School


This building was erected as a junior-senior high school and has now been turned over to the Junior High School with an estimated seating capacity of about 750 pupils. The present enrollment of the Junior High School grades is 832 with an expected annual in- crease of about 80 pupils. At present four rooms of seventh-grade pupils are housed in the old Everett building. Those pupils are losing much of the benefit of the Junior High School organization, life, and spirit to which they are entitled.


The use of the Civic Association buildings and grounds is, at best, an administrative make-shift. Much valuable time is lost in the passing of classes to and from these buildings. At best these


*A separate report has been made to the School Committee on this proposition.


208


facilities are not satisfactory nor adequate, and their use should be discontinued as soon as the Junior High School can be pro- vided with its own facilities.


The Present Situation. The Junior High School also presents a difficult problem. This school needs an auditorium and a gym- nasium of its own, a good library, more adequate space for prac- tical arts for both boys and girls, and some adjustments in its administration to care properly for the pupils now enrolled. With the assurance of a large increase in numbers next year and the year following, it is evident that the policy for the solution of the future Junior High School problem must be determined now.


Growth. Two lines of probable future enrollment are projected in the graph shown on page 209. If only the average increase in enrollment is maintained for the next fifteen years, we may expect not less than 1400 pupils in the junior high school grades. This is a very conservative estimate and does not take all factors into consideration. It represents the lowest possible estimate. The experience of the past shows us that we do not grow in enrollment in accordance with an average increase. The increase each year exceeds the rate of previous years. If the schools should increase according to the same percentage in the next fifteen years, we would have over 2600 pupils in the junior high school grades. Therefore, we must plan with a very conservative estimate that we will have to provide for approximately 1800 pupils.




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