Norwood annual report 1927-1929, Part 34

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1927
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1016


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1927-1929 > Part 34


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Redistricting


It has been several years since any attempt has been made to re-establish boundary lines for school districts. During these years it has been neces- sary on several occasions to make transfers from one district to another in order to relieve schools which have become overcrowded. During the present year the following pupils are attending schools outside of the dis- trict in which they are located:


25 Pupils attending Guild School, living in the Balch district.


2 Pupils attending Guild School, living in the Beacon district.


2 Pupils attending Guild School, living in the Winslow district.


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1 Pupil attending Guild School, living in the East district.


11 Pupils attending Beacon School, living in the Shattuck district.


5 Pupils attending Beacon School, living in the Guild district.


3 Pupils attending Beacon School, living in the Winslow district.


3 Pupils attending Winslow School, living in the Guild district.


2 Pupils attending Shattuck School, living in the Guild district.


1 Pupil attending Shattuck School, living in the Beacon district.


55 Pupils attending school out of their district.


Looking forward it is certain that considerable redistricting will have to be done and an entire new layout of districts made when a school is completed on the East side of the Wrentham Branch.


The Shattuck School, due to the attendance in that district of pupils at Saint Catherine's School, shows a very small enrollment, particularly in the first three grades. It will be necessary at an early date to redistrict the Beacon, Shattuck and Guild schools, so that the Bcacon and Guild may be relieved by sending pupils from these districts to the Shattuck.


The Balch School is at present sending twenty-five pupils to the Guild School, a situation which could probably be taken care of through the es- tablishment of a school conveniently located to the Balch district on the East side of the Wrentham Branch.


Absence of Teachers


There has been a greatly increased amount of absence of teachers due to illness. Most of this increase has been brought about by long terms of absence where teachers have found it necessary to submit to surgical operations.


In all cases of placing substitute teachers, such work has been assigned to Norwood residents, available teachers of the unmarried group being called upon first.


Use of Buildings


A marked increase in the requests for use of school buildings and school facilities by outside organizations has occurred within the past twelve months. The High School gymnasium has been used by organizations of the Fire Department, Police Department, Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, Chamber of Commerce and Woman's Club. The Junior High School and other school buildings affording proper facilities have been used in similar proportions.


The School Committee welcomes the use of school facilities for such or- ganizations and will consider favorably wherever possible applications for increased use.


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Transportation


An added expenditure for the school budget has been the increase in cost of transportation of pupils. Starting the school year of 1928-29, the following transportation had to be furnished:


School


Private Autos 4


Pierce Bus Lines


Eastern Mass. Street Rwy.


Total


Balch


4


Beacon


4


4


Guild


20


16


36


Junior High


5


6


40


51


-


Totals


29


6


60


95


The appropriation for such service for the fiscal year 192S was $2600. It is probable that with the increase in number of pupils locating in the Neponset district and the Sumner Street district, this item will have to be increased in the budget unless an elementary school is established on the East side to take care of a portion of the pupils now transported from the Neponset Street district. In any event, due to the increase in the numbers of pupils locating in several outlying districts, there is little hope that the item of transportation will receive decrease for some time to come.


Conclusion


I feel that Norwood is holding well to the fore in educational endeavor. It is true that the expenditure of much money is required to obtain the desired results, but I feel certain that any fair minded citizen after thorough investigation and comparison with other towns in our classification will agree that it is money well spent and the facilities afforded the boys and girls rightfully due them. Because some of these facilities given to the boys and girls of today are distinctly innovations, there are times when they are referred to as frills. I wish to emphasize that even as the horse and wagon has disappeared from our transportation system, so also has the little red schoolhouse with its three "R's" disappeared from our educational system. We must meet the demands of education of today, demands which are comprehensive, in order to best equip all the boys and girls instead of a few of any particular mentality or trend of ability.


I wish to thank the School Committee for their gencrous support of my recommendations during the past year and the members of the School Department throughout for their loyalty in carrying out requests and com- missions of duty.


Respectfully submitted,


L. W. GRANT, Superintendent of Schools.


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January 7, 1929.


Mr. L. W. Grant,


Norwood, Massachusetts.


Dear Mr. Grant:


I submit herewith my second annual report as Principal of the Norwood Senior High School.


Faculty


At the end of the last school year we received the resignations of four teachers. Mr. George Yantis, teacher of English, to enter the automobile industry; Miss Dorothy Abbott, acting head of the History department, to accept a position elsewhere; Mr. James C. Geer, head of the Science department, to take up the Principalship of the North Brookfield High School; Miss Marie A. Watson, teacher of Bookkeeping, to be married.


To fill these vacancies and to complete a teaching staff sufficient to pro- vide for the increased enrollment of the several classes, chiefly in the com- mercial and social studies groups, the following were elected:


Doris Blanchard, a graduate of Bryant and Stratton School and the Bay Path Institute in Springfield, was appointed as Bookkeeping teacher having had one year experience in Manasquan, New Jersey, and three years in Middlebury, Vermont.


Louis R. McBay, a graduate of Colby College 'B. S., was appointed as History teacher having had experience in Wayland 1925-1928.


Geraldine Freeman, a graduate of Chandler Secretarial School, was ap- pointed as Commercial teacher having had experience in Fairhaven 1924- 1928.


Edmund C. Eastwood, a graduate of Rhode Island State College B. S., Extension Service with Adults 1921-1923, was appointed as Science teacher having had experience in Bristol, Rhode Island, 1923-1925, and as Principal of the Harwich High School, 1925-1928.


Frances L. Wheeler, a graduate of Iowa State Teachers College B. A., was appointed as English teacher having had experience in Randelia, Iowa, 1923-1925, Geneva, Illinois, 1925-1926, and Plymouth, New Hamp- shire, 1926-1928.


Miss Marguerite I. Elliott, formerly head of the History department, has resumed her work with the staff after a year devoted to professional im- provement study of the concentrated variety.


Miss Ruth M. Gow, head of the Mathematics department, has been made Dean of Girls succeeding Miss Vera Brooks whose entire time was needed in Health department work.


Enrollment


On September 5, the opening day of school for the year 1928-1929, we registered 523 pupils as follows:


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Boys


Girls


Totals


Seniors


62


83


145


Juniors


79


80


159


Sophomores


108


106


214


249


269


518


Postgraduates and special students


1


4


5


250


273


523


From these figures it can be seen that our registration of 523, an increase of 51 over the enrollment of June 5, 1928, is in keeping with the statement made recently by the School Committee to the effect that our expansion will now be slow but of a steady nature. It will not it seems, for a while at least, as in the past two years, show large increases of approximately 100 in each succeeding enrollment. It is interesting to note that our graduating class of 145 pupils prepares the way for breaking the record of numbers graduated in June. Last year 121 received their diplomas. The number of boys in the upper two classes is slightly lower than that of the girls for the two classes respectively. However, in the sophomore class, the boys outnumber the girls by a slight margin. This may be attributed to the increased possibilities of instruction in the Practical Arts and Commercial groups of work. Our increase unquestionably runs toward the vocational or more practical lines of training.


Right here may I say that, whereas, on general principles, I am in sym- pathy with the trend toward giving the student the kind of education that will help to prepare him for some useful occupation, I see the dangers of over-emphasis in this direction. No student, no matter how highly trained he may be for any specified vocation, is a useful member in any society or community if he has omitted in his courses the pursuit of a sufficient number of the academic, broadening and cultural subjects. We are constantly called upon to counsel in this direction and to guard against cramping the real objectives of a secondary school. We cannot look upon high schools today as we would vocational schools, and yet we give as much of the practical subjects as possible.


Our Practical Arts work for both boys and girls has very materially in- creased in its scope and in its numbers enrolled. For boys we have now enrolled 118 taking Practical Arts as a major subject, that is, these courses come every day in their program. Because this was the maximum load to handle with our present facilities, we were obliged to turn down 87 other boys who wanted to elect Practical Arts work as an elective for two periods a week. My suggestion and recommendation to take care of this situation, if the demand continues to warrant it, is to provide a temporary shop adjoining the present one on the opposite side of the driveway with accommodations for a finishing room (we have none at present) and an automobile repair and instruction plant. This would, of course, mean an


270


additional teacher needed. Our one instructor in this work now, Mr. Larson, is busy full time, caring for the 118 major course students, ten of whom he meets during what was intended to be his spare period.


The girls' work in Practical Arts shows an addition this year of a course of twenty-two pupils in a major subject of Home Economics. These girls meet for two consecutive periods each day in the week and are getting far more out of their work than can be had when meeting as an elective subject twice a week. We are urging more to take up this major course and hope next year to have enough to make two such divisions. Along with the introduction of this major course there has been formed a very active and helpful Home Economics Club, the work and details of which may be found in Miss Bridge's report. It is a valuable and worthy addition to our school's extra curricular activities.


Graduation 1928


The graduation exercises were held June 7, 1928, at the Norwood Theatre. Here, with a gathering of 1300 present, relatives and friends, in a setting which unquestionably added much dignity to the occasion, 121 students received their diplomas. This figure represents an increase of 15 over the preceding class. Following are the graduates:


Abbott, George James


Curtin, Arthur D.


Acton, Katherine Mary*


Cushing, Marion Gertrude


Adams, Valeria Cecelia


Daisley, Catherine V.


Anderson, Astrid Lydia


Daniels, Virginia


Andrews, Madelene Lillian


Dean, C. Bradford


Babel, Aldona Eileen


Babel, Charles W.


Diggs, H. Leslie Dillon, Mary Anne


Babel, Victor James


Donahue, Alice Teresa


Bashford, Rose Elizabeth


Donahue, Edward Emerson


Bird, Dorothy Frances


Donahue, Eleanor H.


Brown, Dorothy Martin


Donahue, Timothy J.


Brown, Herman William


Donovan, John Francis


Brynjulfsen, Vivian Eleanor


Donovan, Robert Daniel


Doran, Catherine Elizabeth


Burke, Edith Katherine* Carlson, Harry F.


Eisenhaur, Edithe G.


Carrell, Jennie Anna


Endresen, Olga G.


Cedarfeldt, Howard D.


Eppich, Joseph William


Chaisson, Anne Elizabeth*


Farioli, Louise M.


Clem, Carl Edward Coakley, Mary Loretta


Foley, Mary Louise Foss, Dcrris Elizabeth


Frazier, Donald E.


Geary, Margarct Elizabeth Gilliland, Doricc Isabelle


Connolly, Mary Gertrude Cornelia, Mary Veronica Cottrell, Willard Earl .


Feeney, Martin William


Concannon, John Joseph


.


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Golding, Margaret M. Gordon, Pearl Eva Gotovich, Antoinette Marie Griffin, Katherine Dorothy Grushkin, Samuel Gustafson, Carl A. Hobson, Harold F.


Hoffman, Samuel R.


Honeth, Linnea E. Hulstrom, Harold, Jr.


Hyatt, Helen Griffith


Reed, Mary Elizabeth


Jasionis, John Peter


Rice, Harold Francis, Jr.


Jastroch, Raymond Walter Johnson, Carl E.


Johnson, Florence Evelyn


Sansone, Anna Josephine


Johnson, John Leonard


Schaier, Mildred Anna


Kady, John F.


Selwyn, Alyce Sheehan, Marguerite Veronica


Keady, Mary Rita*


Kelliher, Agnes Muriel


Silvernail, Beatrice Lillian


Kneznek, Jean


Sinclaire, Miriam Louise


Koivu, Ellen I.


Smith, Helen Frances


Koplan, Ann


Stankiewicz, Willard J.


Kudirka, Anna Agatha


Svibergson, Nils E.


Lee, Vincent Joseph


Syverson, Flizabeth Viola *


Lewis, Julia Agnes


Taylor, G. Edward


Lyons, Joseph A. Macchi, Louis P.


Tobin, Abbie Marie


Maclonis, Josephine A.


Turner, Charles W.


Malkunas, Eva N .*


Verderber, Flora Margaret


Mattson, Ingrid Irene


Wacks, Helen


McCormack, Joseph L.


Walsh, Evelyn B.


McKale, Anna Louise


Walsh, Mary B.


McLaren, Henry Parker


Werner, Marie E.


McNulty, Thomas Henry


Williamson, George S.


Netland, Arthur E. Nyborn, Sigrid Joanna*


Wolfe, Alice Elizabeth * Ylijoki, Aune A.


Ziergiebel, Gladys C.


The starred pupils received the honor of being awarded the John C. Lane medal in recognition of exceptional scholarship and general all-round ability and helpfulness.


The United States History medals were awarded to Alice E. Wolfe and Willard J. Stankiewicz. The Berwick English prize was awarded to Alice Donahue. The Senior Plimpton Art Prizes were awarded to Antoi- nette M. Gotovich and Astrid L. Anderson.


Paajanen, Kaino F. * Paajanen, Sylvia * Pallo, George E. * Paszkowski, John Vincent


Patinsky, John Ralph Peavey, Nellie Frances Phalen, Evelyn Rose Pusateri, Dorothy A. Rafuse, Henry H. Reardon, Kenneth J. *


Rich, Charles Lothrop


Saitz, Albert Samuel


Thomas, Louis


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Matriculation of the Class of 1928


A follow-up of our graduates of last year shows twenty-cne institutions of higher training receiving forty-two of our students as follows:


Boston University 2


Bridgewater Normal School. 6


Burdett Business College. 3


Chandler Secretarial School. 2


Colgate University


1


College of Osteopathy


1


Cushing Academy


1


Dean Academy.


2


Exeter Academy.


2


Fisher Business School.


1


Hospital Training


4


Huntington School for Boys 2


Mansfield Academy


1


Miss Wheelock's School


2


Normal Art.


1


Northeastern University


5


Salem Normal School 1


School of Interior Decorating.


1


Simmons College.


1


University of Maine


1


Wentworth Institute. 2


Of the twenty-six students of the preceding year's class (1927) who entered colleges and normal schools, we are pleased to say that no failures have been reported either for the first semester's work or for the entire freshman year's work. Our certificate privilege to New England Colleges and State Normal Schools is thereby in no way jeopardized. Our school now enjoys complete certificate privileges and can enter her graduates without entrance examinations to any college that accepts students on that basis. There are still quite a group of colleges, especially girls' colleges, that do not accept certificates from any high school or preparatory school. It should be here added that our high school is demonstrating right along that we can and do successfully prepare boys and girls for the College Board Examinations. Constantly we are confronted with the question "Does cur high school prepare for college?" or "Will it be necessary for me to send my boy to a preparatory school for college preparation?" The answer invariably and correctly is this: We offer adequate preparation for the student endowed with suitable native ability and the desire and determination to make use of it by applying himself to successfully prepare himself right here at Norwood High School. It must be remembered that nct more than 6% of our graduates are called upon to complete the rc- quirements for entrance into degree work at college and this is, in itself,


.


273


a substantial reason for our not making merely a preparatory school of our high school. Our work is and must be suited to the needs of the other 94% as well, many and varied as they are in this age. The fact that we have prepared and are still preparing for college, with successful follow-up results, is of itself reason to feel that criticism of the school or of this de- partment is as unjustifiable as it is prevalent at times.


Commercial Department


In this work during the current year we have made notable advancement. Our increased equipment in the office appliance room with six dictaphone receivers and a new ditto duplicating machine has made it possible for more intensified instruction in this all important phase of the commercial course. With the help of our additional teacher to this department it has been possible to arrange for nine divisions of Clerical Practice in this room. The senicr commercial students (two divisions of 54 pupils) meet five times a week. The juniors (three divisions cf 62 pupils) electing the course, meet three times a week while the sophomores (four divisions of 88 pupils) meet twice a week. Modern business methods demand this training, and we are glad we can offer it in our commercial curriculum. Here the manipu- lation of different makes of adding machines, comptometers, neostyles, mimeographs, mimeoscopes, multigrapbs, ditto machines and the dicto- phone is learned. Also different methods of filing are taken up. Miss McGonagle, as head of this department, has endeavored in every way possible to cooperate with the managing heads of our town's business enter- prises, and has supplied many of them, we believe, with graduates of her department adequately prepared to do the work and rank favorably with graduates of other high schools. Norwood should feel that everything possible desired by way of a start at a commercial education is being given its youth.


Extra Curricula


Norwood High School continues to be looked upon in the most favorable light by outside schools as a place where a very high standard is set for its athletic activities. Mr. Murray has set forth very admirably a detailed account of our many branches of sports and is justifiably proud of the large numbers participating in some form of games or another. Our whole plant through all the seasons is in constant operation and it is not an uncommon sight to see three or four activities such as football, track, field hockey, and tennis carried en at cne time engaging close to two hundred students in healthful, supervised recreation of the right type. At the present time eight pictures of our school and cur athletic facilities are placed on exhibition in the show cases at the Department of Education, State House, Boston. Very favorable comment is passed on to, and by, our state officials as passers-by see pictures of our fine tennis courts and hockey rink in full usage. Our team this fall in football enjoyed a splendid season, all the boys who came out for the team, some sixty odd, were re-


274


tained on the squad. We won all but two games-one tie game, the other a defeat at the hands of the boys in our neighboring town, Dedham. It is gratifying to note, in passing, that press comment and general opinion held that victory itself is not the only goal and end in football-we are all quite satisfied that we have not, in Mr. Murray, merely a coach, we have an educator as well. A defeat once in a while is not the worst thing that can come to a team or to a school.


Our program of club activities includes the usual Orchestra, Glee Club, Arguenot, Quest Club with four new members, the Dramatic Club, De- bating Society, Home Economics Club, and Camp Fire Group. Of the original clubs it can be said that the product of their efforts constantly is before the attention of the public, and they are carrying on the traditional high standards of accomplishments under the direction of their faculty advisers. The Dramatic Club under the leadership of Miss Gray, has shown the school the value of such a club and has filled a long felt need.


In debating our club is a member now of a debating league including Framingham, Natick, Marlboro and Norwood. Debates in this league are being scheduled for February and March, also we are making arrange- ments for a debate with Walpole High School. Interest in this has taken increased momentum with Miss Wheeler as faculty adviser.


Our Home Economics Club, organized by Miss Bridges and assisted by Miss Steele, is fast becoming one of our outstanding organizations. At Christmas time they sewed and made many little gifts for the Children's Hospital and, to show their unselfish spirit, donated enough from their club funds to send two complete Christmas dinners to "friends in need." The carrying on of our club activities is handicapped, especially in the Dramatic and Debating Clubs. We need a stage badly-we quite agree with current opinion that the gymnasium does not lend itself acoustically or in any other way to the successful carrying on of an assembly program, and we do need an auditorium. However, conscious of greater needs at the Junior High, we can be patient. We are indeed extremely grateful for all the splendid facilities and equipment the Town has given us and the helpful cooperation you and the Committee have constantly shown.


Respectfully submitted,


HERBERT H. ARCHIBALD.


Mr. L. W. Grant,


Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Massachusetts.


My dear Mr. Grant:


Enrollment


January 1, 1927, the total enrollment in the Junior High School was 824; on January 1, 1928, it was 899, a gain of seventy-five. On January 1, 1930, the estimated aggregate, based on the present enrollment in the grades will be 97S, a gain of 154 in two years.


275


This heavy increase in enrollment makes the present facilities in Practical Arts and Household Arts entirely inadequate, so much so, that many of the pupils who desire this work will have to be refused the privilege. Pro- fessor Davis recommends these subjects for every pupil, and this is im- possible now.


The enrollment in 1929 will mean ten seventh grades, ten eighth grades, and seven ninth grades. That is, two more eighth gradcs, one less ninth grade than at present, so that we shall lack home-room facilities for one eighth grade and shall have to put the pupils of this section in one of the special rooms in the basement, without desks, or chairs, and seated on stools before drafting tables.


The Everett School, which a speaker (an experienced fireman) in an ad- dress before an assembly during Fire Prevention Week, designated as the "worst fire trap" he had ever been in, will again house six sections of the seventh grade.


The Library


Pupils in the Junior High School need almost more than anything in the way of equipment, a library fitted to their academic need. There are 900 pupils in school who are studying subjects-history, literature, science, ctc., in which they constantly need research and study outside of the text- books, and the scl. ool cannot help them. We have two small encylopaedias, with no place to make them available except in the school office, whereas we need a room fitted with book cases, study tables, and more than any- thing else, books, not only reference books, but books of all subjects- literature.


Attendance


Whatever may be the cause, the attendance records so far this year are probably the poorest we have ever had. This is particularly true in the matter of punctuality-a virtue anywhere and at any time-there having been 693 cases of tardiness up to December tenth, as against 1522 for the entire year last year, and most of these occur in the morning. It may be that we begin school too early, but why a boy or girl from thirteen to sixteen years of age cannot get up and get to school by eight fifteen, I do not know. Is the home at fault? Pupils repeatedly say "I did not get up in time," and parents have told me "I couldn't get him up in time." Why not if the desire were there to do it; and what is wrong, when parents have no control over children that such a state of affairs would seem to indicate? Is it the pupils or parents who are indifferent?


Curricula


Several suggested changes in the various curriculas have been con- templated, but all of them have been postponed, because of lack of room to put them into effect. This applies particularly to the Practical Arts course where we have six special purpose rooms with four teachers to cover the work there, and with classes that must be limited to twenty-four.


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Opportunity Classes




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