USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1927-1929 > Part 15
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It is sincerely hoped that the general future plans for the High School may be carried out, such as the addition of an auditorium and the establishment of an East wing for extended vocational opportunities.
Vocational
There is a definite demand among boys and girls of the Norwood school system for vocational study. At the present time our school
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system offers studies in the following lines of work:
High School: For boys, woodworking, mechanical drawing, sheet . metal work, elementary machine shop practice, elementary elec- trical work, commercial studies; for girls, cooking, sewing, mecha- nical drawing, freehand drawing and designing and commercial studies.
Junior High: For boys, woodworking, printing, mechanical draw- ing, elementary mechanics; for girls, cooking, sewing, freehand drawing.
Grades five and six: For boys, elementary woodworking; for girls, sewing.
Throughout the entire school system the courses offered have been in such demand that many who have desired them have had to be eliminated and requested to elect substitute studies. It has been necessary to say to boys particularly, "You may not take printing in the Junior High School or manual arts work in the High School unless you are to definitely follow vocational work through- out your course." This should not be the case, for facilities should be such that every boy and girl should be permitted to take, with his academic studies, a certain amount of vocational study and training.
In High School eighty-eight boys are engaged in full-course study of manual arts, taking, as a program, ten out of twenty-five hours in this work. The demand was greater and many boys desired to have at least two periods of this work per week, but the work could not be given them as only one room has been made available.
With the continuance of the building program in Norwood, opportunities for vocational expansion should probably be given first consideration. It is well known that many characterize such features in a school system as frills and fancies, but when analyzed, these frills are really means of getting away from the impractical and abstract and for making school experience a definite means to a definite end. To some degree boys and girls will be turned out of the schools who have had training to fit them for positions in which they will become wage-earners and desirable citizens.
The field of choosing of good and evil, has shown tremendous increase. Life in itself is continuing to grow more and more com- plex. Education has been attempting to meet these complexities and changes and make proper adaptations. It is certain that one of the chief ways of making such adaptations is by means of keeping apace in the field of vocational opportunities to be offered boys and girls.
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Repairs and Maintenance of Buildings
Under the supervision of John P. Oldham, a definite saving has been rendered the Town in the matter of care and supervision of school buildings. Under the old plan, work was yearly requisitioned for each building, each janitor taking charge of needed improve- ments in his own plant. Under the present plan, much of the work which was done by outside employment, is now done by the corps of janitors throughout the summer. Mr. Oldham, as the super- visor, takes janitors from one building and puts them to work at projects which require attention in any other school plant. On the janitorial force are several specialists who are able to do work which formerly was taken care of under outside contracts.
The result has been money saved and a better condition of school buildings in general than in any other school year. The main projects of the ensuing school year will be attempted at the Guild, Balch and Shattuck Schools. In these buildings much painting has to be done and sashes will have to be withdrawn and properly cared for.
At the Shattuck School a cement walk has been laid from Fulton Street to the front entrance, a wall laid along the border of the school grounds on Nahatan Street and steps taken to provide a suitable playground for girls on the East side of the building. This work will be completed during the spring.
Tests and Measurements
With the building up of courses of studies which in all school systems should be constantly undergoing revision there should be a definite schedule of tests and measurements of the work done both by individual pupils and groups of pupils taken by grades and schools. Some of this work has been done in the Junior and Senior High Schools and a small amount in the grades. Additional work in this line will be done before the school year ends.
Conclusion
The question has been asked many times, "How far are you going in education ?" The same questions can well be asked, "How far are you going in business, or aviation?" or in any of the common interests of life. It is certain that prosperity and education go hand in hand. To fail to render support properly for education would be a means of removing one of the definite props of pros- perity. There is no attempt made to say that our schools are per- fect, but we say justifiably that we are striving for the best and just as business and all forms of commercial enterprise are un- dergoing changes, so must the schools and education undergo changes.
The teachers of Norwood will agree with me when I say that we
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recognize in our town the proper attitude toward the best essentials of educational progress; that we have, as a town, one which is not averse to rendering proper support for things which education truly demands for the boys and girls who are soon to take places in the business of the town. This fine attitude and the resulting spirit as well as the material results which stand by themselves as notable achievements will surely be recognized in the future by even the most skeptical.
In taking over the duties of Superintendent of Schools, I thor- oughly realize that I have succeeded a man who has done much for the Town through faithful and devoted attention to his school duties. In current activities and future projects which may be planned, I shall give of my best to maintain his well earned standards.
Respectfully submitted,
L. W. GRANT, Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. L. W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Grant:
I submit herewith the annual report for the Norwood Senior High School.
In as much as a report of this nature is expected to cover the work for the year ending December 31, 1927, and because of a limited acquaintance with the happenings of the first eight months of the year, it may be readily seen that a large portion of this report necessarily takes the form of a statistical summary; it appearing to the writer presuming for a Principal of four months contact with any school system to offer criticism or make sug- gestions and recommendations to any great extent.
Enrollment
At the opening of school on September 9, 1927, the school enroll- ment totaled 512, divided as follows:
Boys
Girls
Grade XII
54
76
Grade XI
80
97
Grade X
101
104
This shows an increase of 46 pupils over the enrollment of the opening day of the year previous. As is customary, the gain is largely due to the increased enrollment of the incoming class. This year our senior class numbers 125 as compared with 106 graduates of last June.
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Faculty
Since the last report we have had a few changes in our high school faculty. Resignations were received from the following teachers; Lucile Foster, Head of the Modern Language Depart- ment; Jennie Beaulieu, Modern Language Department; Helen Estes, English Department; Helen Wilson, English Department; Elizabeth Shirley, English Department; and Carl E. Smith, Head of the Science Department. Mary R. Mackedon was appointed as Head of the Modern Language Department; J. Clifford Geer was appointed Head of the Science Department; and Dorothy W. Abbott was appointed temporary Head of the History Department. Marguerite Elliott is on a year's leave of absence. The following teachers filled the positions left vacant by resignations: Dorothy Pollard, a grad- ate of Wheaton, was appointed an English teacher having had one year teaching experience in the Groveland High School.
Orrelle Gray, a graduate of the Emerson College of Oratory, B. L. I., was appointed as English teacher, having had experience in the Houlton (Maine) High School 1920-25, and the Augusta (Maine) High School, 1925-27.
Laura Gilmore, a graduate of New Hampshire State College, B.A., was appointed a teacher of Modern Languages having had experience in the North Woodstock (New Hampshire) High School 1924-27.
George Yantis, a graduate of Boston College A. B., and Harvard A. M., with two years' teaching experience as an instructor at Bos- ton College in the English Department.
Ruth Johngren, a graduate of Radcliffe, A. B., was appointed as teacher of Modern Languages having had experience in the Orleans High School from 1926-27.
Dorothy Norris, a graduate of Smith, A. B., was appointed as teacher of Modern Languages, having had experience in the Ashby Junior and Senior High Schools from 1926-27.
Lucy Nordon, a graduate of Jackson, B.S., was appointed as History teacher, having had experience in the Chelmsford High School, 1924-27.
Rose C. Smith, a graduate of Salem Normal and Chandler Secre- tarial Schools was appointed as Commercial teacher, having had experience in the Open Air School in Cambridge, 1911-18.
Wallace W. Sawyer, a graduate of New Hampshire State, B. S., was appointed as Science teacher, having had two year's teaching experience at Deerfield High School.
Prospects of Enrollment for 1928-29
With the graduating class of 125 leaving and incoming class of approximately 225, it is readily seen that we have an increase of enrollment coming to about 600 pupils totaled for the coming
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school year. This will necessitate at least two additional members, possibly three, to our high school faculty. We are already using departmental rooms for home room assignments and will have to utilize practically every room in the building for this purpose next year. The two drawing rooms, sewing room and typewriting room, in all probability, will house the 100 extra pupils next year.
Change in School Program
Owing to the increased enrollment of this year over the previous year and because of administrative difficulties it was necessary to go from a five-period day to a six-period day. We are now having six 52 minute periods instead of five hour periods in each day's program. The time for passing has been cut from four minutes to three minutes. Our recess remains the same-one-half hour. Our school day is from 8:15 until 2:20.
Graduation 1927
Graduation exercises were held on Friday evening, June 10. There were 106 members of the class who received diplomas. As has been stated, this is the largest graduating class in the history of the school. Following are the graduates:
Altonen, Carl M.
Johnson, Francis E.
Anderson, Nellie Irene
Johnston, Margaret Louise
Babel, Felix Adolph
Kanalski, Mary T.
Barrett, Thomas Joseph
Keefe, Miah Edward
Barry, Garrett Francis
Kelson, Lena Frances
*Bateman, Edna Lamson
King, Kathryn Esther
Blanchard, Charles Everett
Blumencranz, Elizabeth Bradford
Breen, George Edward
MaCarthy, Alma M.
*MacGlashan, Elizabeth Quincy
Mahoney, Leonard Joseph
Cavanaugh, William Thomas
*Chamberlain, Calvin Bernard Clem, Peter Richard
*Mattson, Vera K. McDonough, Mary Elizabeth
Clements, Edna Jeanette Collins, Teresa V.
Montisan, Anthony
Connolly, Bartley
Nelson, Clifford Roy
Connolly, Joseph William
Costello, John Joseph
Crosby, Richard G.
Nelson, Ida Viola Newark, Joseph Carl Nichols, Eleanor Patricia
Curran, Bridget Patricia
Curran, Francis James
Curran, Francis Leo
O'Brien, Gertrude Irene
Daniels, Bertha V.
Nyborn, Frank Walter Oakes, Ernest Willard
*O'Connell, Daniel James
Breen, Joseph A.
*Caine, Edmund Gerard
Lee, J. Francis Linnehan, Helen Elizabeth
Callahan, Daniel Edward
Martin, John Stephen
Mickunas, Anthony Edward
Moloney, Gertrude Mary
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Darling, Arthur S.
*Davis, Ruth Maretta D'Espinosa, Mary A. Dixon, John Peter
Donovan, James Bernard
Drummey, Mary Agnes
Everburg, Greta Augusta *Fay, Wilbur Converse Flaherty, Francis Flaherty, Margaret Josephine
*Roberts, Barbara Emma
Flynn, Anna Elizabeth
Flon, Nora M. Foley, Thomas Joseph Foren, Helen
*Rorke, Marguerite E. Rouillard, Gareth Chase Sarkisian, John Shergals, Nellie Agnes Sienkiewicz, Veronica Blanche
Foster, Pearl Emilie
Frederickson, Martha Helena
Slavin, Edward Stanton
Geary, William Joseph
*Snyder, Edna Elizabeth Spencer, Winthrop Earle
*Gustafson, Ruth Wilhelmina Hartshorn, Chester P.
Hauck, Arthur Paul
*Steele, Samuel Elbert Stevens, Thornton Tinkham, Irene Viola Towne, Richard James
Hayes, John P. Hennessey, Arthur Francis Hershenson, Bertha Ida
Turner, Margaret H. van Leeuwen, Marie
Hibbard, Edna Elizabeth
*Howes, Luther Hall
*Waldheim, Jane Marian
Jackman, Villa Diantha Johnson, Alice I.
*Whitcher, Eleanor Wisgirda, John, Jr.
The starred pupils were awarded John C. Lane medals. The United States History medal was awarded to Wilbur Fay. The Ber- wick English prize was awarded to Wilbur Fay. The Senior Plimp- ton Art prize was awarded Helen O'Kane. The Mechanical Draw- ing prize was awarded to Lawrence Reed.
Matriculation of the Class of 1927
Of the 106 graduates of the class of 1927, the following are on their way to acquiring higher education and advanced training:
Bates College 4
Boston College
3
Boston University 3
Bridgewater Normal 1
Colby College 1
Colgate University
1
Cornell University 1
Dummer Academy 1
O'Kane, Helen Regina Oliver, Herbert W. Olsen, Helen Irene Owens, Helen Mae *Perlmutter, Rose Rafuse, Hilda Mary Rafuse, Ruth Miriam Reed, Laurance F. Rice, Miriam
Hauck, Carlton F.
Trulson, Dorothy Wilhelmina
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Holy Cross 1
Lawrence Academy
1
Massachusetts Agricultural 1
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy 2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1
Simmons 1
Smith College 1
Springfield Y. M. C. A. 1
St. Anselm's 1
Tufts
1
University of Maine
1
Returns from these thus far received on the whole are very satis- factory.
Commercial Department
The commercial department continues in its maintenance of high standard work and is expanding and enlarging its scope of achieve- ments. This year we have a course in office appliances in which students of the commercial department are now receiving instruc- tions on the manipulation of modern and up-to-date machines that are used in the business world to-day. We hope that additional office appliance machines will be forthcoming so that the work will continue in its development.
Practical Arts Department
It is earnestly desired that another year will show increased possibility for the development of this phase of our school work. The general trend of domestic arts work in high schools is toward a more general distribution of the work over the entire student body and we hope that even a greater number of girls may be reached another year. Plans are now under way for increased time, espe- cially for the cooking periods, so that double periods may be had for the girls in this work.
Extra Curricula
It is my general observation that the high standard of our athle- tic teams is still in evidence. Our football team, under Mr. Murray, has had one more undefeated record; but of far greater importance from an educational point of view is the possibility of offering the work to a squad of 72 boys. For the greater part of the football season we can safely say that Norwood held as large a squad of boys in their interest in this sport as any school in the State of Massachusetts; and very few of the city schools offered the train-
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ing to a greater number of boys. Norwood is looked upon as a leader in mass participation in athletic events.
Our Quest Club is unique in its philanthropic achievement and splendid work. It has recently very credibly concluded its activities for the year in its most successful Christmas party, a performance of unusual high merit and of its kind, in the writer's observation, unparalleled for a piece of high school extra curricula work.
Our traffic squad, under the leadership of Miss Abbott is showing a splendid spirit and willingness to share the duties of school management, at the same time developing in many ways the respon- sibilities and duties of real leadership and citizenship.
Our school paper, the Arguenot, and the dramatics continue on their high plane of work and it is hoped that this year will see an increased interest in debating, musical club organization and public speaking. Our orchestra, laboring under many handicaps, is pro- gressing splendidly. The proper development of the last four men- toned activities is seriously handicapped and will be, with the ever- occurring conflict for rehearsing possibilities experienced in our gymnasium-auditorium combination. We trust that relief may be in sight at some not too distant date.
May I add in passing that Norwood's citizens may well be proud of the educational opportunities offered to the boys and girls of the Town. Due to the forward-looking policies and persistent labors of your educational leaders, Norwood has, by the constant help of its citizens, teachers and pupils, one of the finest plants, one of the most up-to-date comprehensive high school organizations to be found anywhere. Fully aware of the fact that this is a broad state- ment, and that this situation has been entirely inherited by the present Principal, I am in a very good position to tell the towns- people through this report that the eyes of the State, education- ally, are centered on Norwood. Our school is being presented almost as a model school. Not only do I consider it a rare privilege to take up the administrative work of the Norwood High School where you left it, but also do I realize that in my position here there is the very great responsibility of keeping the standard of work up to the high plane at which I find it and carrying on to further de- velopment.
Our accomplishment plan, with accompanying directed or super- vised study, so carefully outlined in your report of 1926, has been widely discussed by classes in education in our Graduate Schools at Harvard and Boston University. It is looked upon by leaders in education as one of the outstanding and most promising effective methods of conducting high school instruction known today. By it teachers are most assuredly enabled to better meet the individual
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needs of the pupil. Our percentage failure for the entire school has been very materially cut down when compared with that of the former method of instruction. During the few months I have been here our school has been visited by many superintendents, high school principals, other school officials and teachers, all of whom have left very favorable comment upon our organization and plan of study; and many have gone back to their communities with a strong desire to make some start toward getting away from group instruction, that which expects all students to assimilate and master the same load. Norwood's plan makes allowance for the varying abilities in students and the plan is gaining universal recognition, is becoming more and more widely adopted, and, it is safe to pre- dict, will be found in practically all our secondary schools in five to ten years time. I firmly believe that we should be proud to be one of the pioneers in this field. It is not a fad, but is sound pedago- gically.
In closing this brief report I wish to say that I will indeed go forward enthusiastically with your carefully laid plans for the de- velopment of our high school, co-operating in every way possible. I earnestly wish to thank all who have in any way contributed to the success of the school during the past year and who have made my first few months in Norwod such pleasant ones.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT H. ARCHIBALD, Principal, Senior High School.
Mr. L. W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
The Junior High School is in good condition, though working under difficulties. At the end of December the enrollment was dis- tributed as follows: Grade VII, 276, Grade VIII, 316, Grade IX, 232; total, 824-a number somewhat less than was anticipated for this year. Since September, however, we have lost twenty pupils, dis- tributed-gone to work, 8, family moved from town, 10, home permits, 2. But for this loss, the number would have been prac- tically what it was estimated that it would be.
So far this year the record has been very poor in the matter of attendance. There are, in the files of the school, 400 excuses, all of which are for inexcusable or unnecessary absences, and all of which absences have occurred since September. The record is still
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worse in the matter of tardiness, of which there have been 686 cases in four months. The excuses most frequently given are, "I didn't get up in time," or "I didn't start in time." In this matter it seems as though the parents are not cooperating with the school, as a little attention at home would correct this fault, and it really is not the school's business to get the pupils in on time. Irregular- ity in attendance is one of the chief causes of failure.
I cannot too highly commend the efforts of the attendance officer, Mr. Lydon, to correct this fault. He is always ready to help in visiting the homes to explain to parents, and gain their cooperation, and in very many cases he has succeeded well.
There are 389 pupils in the present sixth grade. Estimating that 370 of these will be promoted at the end of the year, next year's seventh grade must contain ten sections of about 37 each, and this does not include those of this year's class who may not be pro- moted. Thirty-seven to forty is too large a unit for most efficient work. This number connotes re-equipment and use of the two now vacant rooms in the Everett School building. As we are sending in round numbers 220 to High School this year, and receiving prac- tically 370 from the sixth grades, the school next year should number 150 more than this year, or a total of 970 pupils. To organize an additional ninth grade with 40 in each room, and two additional seventh grades, will require at least two extra teachers for the academic work.
The increased enrollment next year will demand an increased number of class sessions. There are two ways of meeting this need-lengthen the school day, or shorten the recitation period. Since we have an hour and a half noon recess, to lengthen the school hours by adding an additional period at the end would dis- miss us at 4:20 P. M. It seems best to use the other method, so by shortening the period from 60 to 50 minutes, we can gain five periods a week. The school time schedule under this arrangement will be thirty 50 minute periods, instead of twenty-five 60 minute periods.
The whole situation in the Department of Physical Training is extremely unsatisfactory, and the facilities for carrying on the work extremely inadequate. The fact that the gymnasia are in the Civic building and not under the same roof as the rest of the school is in itself a handicap. We lose an average of at least 15 minutes from the time of every group that goes over, consumed in going and coming, and we are sending over twenty-three groups every week, to say nothing of the confusion caused by this constant going out and coming into the building of such large groups numbering sometimes as high as ninety.
The dressing rooms are mere cellars, without adequate con-
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veniences; there are no lockers which necessitates pupils carrying their gym suits with them to and from gym and to and from home, which results in constant loss of suits and constant forgetting of suits, so that at any time there may be from two to six, eight or ten without their suits, sitting idle on the side lines and conse- quently not taking part. The shower facilities are not sufficient so that pupils may bathe after their exercises, so they are coming from gym to the classroom without this formality, and in some cases perspiring freely.
Every year there are more and more pupils who are going into the Practical Arts Work, and here, too, our equipment is inade- quate for the numbers we already have, and the instructors are handicapped. More especially is this true for boys in Printing and Household Mechanics.
Adolescent children differ from each other in mental capacity, specific abilities, health, habits, emotions, ambitions and environ- ments. All men may have been created equal, but they were not created equal in these particulars. These individual differences a Junior High School should take into consideration, and so far as possible organize itself to meet them. Comparatively this depart- ment costs more than any other in the school because each instruc- tor handles only about half as many pupils at a time as those in other departments. The shops should be enlarged and equipped for larger pupil groups.
In subjects requiring primarily mental effort, not reason, chil- dren should be so grouped as to compete with those of similar ability. It is unfair and unreasonable from both standpoints to require a child of slow or low mentality to perform the same tasks in the same time as one who may be regarded, as far as his mental ability is concerned, as being in the genius class; nor is it fair to expect the geniuses to wait for and drag along the others. Others are merely slow in development-those whom we call plodders, and who will eventually arrive, but who should not hold back those who can go ahead more rapidly, and who should not themselves beforced. As our school is now organized we differentiate in no particular between these two groups.
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