USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1927-1929 > Part 51
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2. The Senior High School will be called upon in September, 1931, to receive the largest grade in the system-grade eight. At that time grades eight, nine and ten as shown in the chart, will become grades ten, eleven and twelve. This fact alone is proof that additional classrooms must be ready for occupancy at the Senior High School for the opening of school in 1931. The school will face an enrollment of approximately 750 pupils with accommodations for less than 600.
Re-Districting for Elementary Schools
Several factors have entered into the need for re-districting the Town in respect to elementary schools. Some of the most important of these are:
1. Burning of the Guild School.
2. Building of a new elementary school on the east side of the Town.
3. Prospective closing of the East School.
4. Falling off in enrollment at the Shattuck School.
5. Crowded conditions at Winslow School.
6. Crowded conditions at Beacon School.
Preliminary studies have already been under way for some time and completion of this work with definite recommendations to the School Committee will be made during the ensuing spring. An outline of the work being done is as follows:
1. Present location of every elementary pupil by schools indicated on maps of Norwood which have been recently published by the Town En- gineer's Department. These locations will be indicated by use of colored pins, a different color being used for each grade.
2. A combination list prepared for each grade school showing streets, street numbers and grades.
3. Comparative studies of districts, particularly the Shattuck and Beacon groups.
4. Assignment of former Guild School pupils living west of the railroad to other schools. It is probable that most of these will be classified under the Shattuck or Beacon districts.
5. Sending of notices to all parents where transfers are necessary as soon as plans have been approved and definite re-districting has been made.
.
228
Special Classes
Last year a survey was made by Mr. A. B. Lord of the State Department with respect to special class arrangements. In this report definite rec- ommendations were made. The entire report was published in the School Committee's report of 1928.
The recommendation made for a special class for older children at the Balch School has been carried out this year and a division of fifteen pupils of this classification has been formed.
It was not possible to carry forth the recommendation for the special class now in the Beacon School to be transferred to a larger room. While plans were under way to transfer the Beacon division to the Shattuck School, where there was a room not in use, the plan had to be given up as the extra room was necessary for a Guild School division following the fire.
Much new equipment for the elementary vocational training required for special class boys and girls has been installed both in the Balch and Beacon buildings. Teachers have made research and investigation. as to what is being done in other systems and every possible effort has been made to arrange the day's work in such a way that the boys and girls assigned to these divisions may be happy and contented.
In connection with our special class work, Dr. C. B. J. Schorer, the State Psychiatrist, has visited Norwood and made examinations as follows:
Balch School.
35 pupils
Beacon School 2 pupils
Guild School 8 pupils
Shattuck School
10 pupils
Winslow School 2 pupils
Junior High School
2 pupils
Total
59 pupils
Her recommendations have been submitted to the Principal of each pupil examined and there is a possibility that a fourth special class for Norwood may be formed.
Intelligence Tests
During the school year 1928-1929 much more attention was given to arranging for intelligence tests, to the study of results of these tests and the direct application of results than in any previous year. Up to 1928 tests had been given in only the Senior and Junior High Schools with but a few widely scattered and non-applied tests made use of in elementary schools. During the past year tests were given throughout all schools except the Senior High. All pupils in the Senior High had been examined last year and because of the expense, it was decided to omit tests in that building, using last years scales in making divisions.
229
In applying the results of intelligence tests, standard subject-matter tests, etc., school authorities do not wish to give the impression that thesc are the only standards used in making divisions or arranging any desired groupings for classroom organization. When such groupings are made up, all other elements entering into the past performances of a pupil in school are taken into consideration. Particular consideration is given the accomplishments of the year or the marks which a pupil has received on his report card, and other things which are considered are attendance, punctuality, general deportment, classroom application and general interest in school work. The following tabulation shows the number of tests given in the system the past year:
Balch School 650
Beacon and Guild Schools
500
Shattuck and East Schools 232
Winslow and West Schools
344
Junior High School 886
Total
2,612
Professional Improvement
Norwood is near enough to Boston so that teachers are able to take advantage of the very broad opportunities offered for course taking in such institutions as Boston University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and several other leading schools and colleges. The total number of teachers taking courses for the present school year is fifty-six. During the year from January 1, 1929 to December 31, 1929, ninety -seven courses were attended by Norwood teachers.
Thrift
The school savings record for the past year is as follows:
Balch School
$2,744.01
Beacon School.
369.41
Shattuck School
539.41
Winslow School
1,356.28
Total for 1929
$5,009.11
The grand total for savings since the plan of buying savings stamps has been installed (February 1, 1923) is $57,672.25. This is proof of the desirability of the plan over others which were in use.
Transportation
The petition of a group of citizens living in the Morse Hill district that transportation be furnished to High School pupils brought about a survey
230
of the transportation situation of Norwood school pupils as furnished by the Town. Under the School Committee regulation made April 1, 1918, pupils in grades one to six who live at a distance exceeding one and one- quarter miles from the school they are entitled to attend are furnished free transportation. Pupils in grades seven and eight who live over one and one-half miles from the Junior High School are also entitled to transporta- tion, but pupils above grade eight have never received such serviee. The State law requires towns to carry pupils to and from the school they are entitled to attend providing they live at a distance exceeding two miles. This law ineludes High School pupils and in accordance with it, the School Committee voted to make arrangements for carrying High School pupils in this classification to and from sehool as soon as arrangements could be made. The service desired was advertised in the Norwood Messenger and bids were received, which resulted in awarding of a contraet to Mr. B. W. Sparrow. The following table shows the number of pupils receiving free transportation for the period beginning December 1, 1929.
Sparrow's Harry's Pieree Bus E. Mass. St.
School
Bus
Cab
Lines
Rwy. Co. Total
Baleh
4
4
Beacon
1
12
13
Guild
21
15
36
Shattuck
7
7
Junior High
12
10
50
72
Senior High
22
1
23
Totals
62
4
11
78
155
With the increased demand for transportation, the cost under this sub- heading in the budget necessarily has gone up. From an appropriation of $2600 in 1929-1930, it has been necessary to ask for an appropriation of $4150 for 1930-1931. With the inerease in enrollment in the Senior High School which is anticipated for the next three years a mounting cost under this sub-heading cannot be avoided. It is estimated that the ser- vices of three busses will be required for High School work alone by 1932.
The School Committee rules on transportation as amended and changed are:
1. Pupils in grades one to six who live a distance exceeding one and one- quarter miles from the school they are entitled to attend will be furnished transportation at the expense of the Town.
2. Pupils in the Junior High School (grades seven, eight and nine) who live a distance exceeding one and one-half miles from the school will be furnished transportation at the expense of the Town.
3. Pupils in the Senior High School (grades ten, eleven and twelve) who live a distance exceeding two miles from the school will be furnished trans- portation at the expense of the Town.
231
Extraordinary Outlay
During the past school year the School Department has been called upon to make many unusual expenditures, practically all of which were not planned for or included in the original school budget for the school year. Outstanding among these expenditures was the outlay for equip- ment, books and supplies, etc., for the Guild school children who lost theirs in the fire. The total cost of this outlay for fire loss was $4,950.92, $2,590.70 of which was required for textbooks.
Another unexpected expenditure was the purchasing of a new Ford service truck for the department to replace a truck which had been used for three years and which was badly damaged in a collision accident on Washington Street.
At the start of the year the School Committee was called upon to expend $850 for emergency repairs for the heating system at the Junior High School and this cost had not been figured in the original estimate for repairs and replacements in buildings.
Employment of Minors
The following tables show the employment and educational certificates which have been issued through the School Department office during the fiscal year 1929. Most of the certificates issued to the group under the ages of eighteen to twenty-one are for those who are out of school and who obtained certificates because of State law requirements.
Conclusion
Authorities in general agree that education today is for the most part centered in matters of technique. The foundations for our education are inheritances from Europe. Under the social conditions of living, a great part of the work was done in the home and it was easy for a child to become adjusted to life through home contacts. Schools were depended upon to give simple techniques only.
Conditions of the present day are entirely different. Work is done in factories and offices, science and modern inventions removing most of the opportunities for work formerly centered in the home. The child therefore has had removed the opportunity of adjustment to life through home contacts and he is unable to gain this adjustment through school contacts because only techniques are given him. It is a duty of the schools to relate objectives with techniques in such a way that the life of a child may be satisfactorily integrated. The demand is at hand not only for self-expression, but self-expression in activities of life which can be inte- grated in purposeful living.
The Norwood schools are attempting to meet the demands of tying up techniques and objectives and to help a child as far as possible to gain the adjustments which he should have upon leaving the school system. To teach the three R's and the simple processes of instruction
Home Permits, Employment and Educational Certificates Issued Within the Calendar Year, 1929
Home Employment Permits
Regular Form 14-16
Regular Non- Resident
Temporary Form
Farm
Regular Form 16-21
Special Form Illiterate
Totals
I
S
I
S
I
S
I
S
I
I
SI
S
I
S
Boys . Girls
S
5
16
4
1
210
10
11
4
1
270
Totals .
S
12
27
20
1
454
10
532
232
Note. I-Initial certifieate.
S-Second certifieate issued to same minor.
IS-Initial certifieate of that form issued to minor who has had another form issued him some time during the year.
.
Above Certificates Distributed by Age Groups
14-16
16-18
18-21
Totals
Boys
34
142
86
262
Girls .
34
115
121
270
Totals
68
257
207
532
7
7
19
1
200
7
16
5
262
233
once in use would be meeting only the demands made upon the schools in early days-merely the giving out of techniques. In extending oppor- tunities for vocational training, taking proper care and guidance of the health of pupils, through group instruction, assembly work, through use of modern devices and equipment and through a broader instruction in the social sciences the school authorities believe that real objectives are being given and that, the schools are striving to do their part. It is regretted that some are prone to call the new things in education fads and frills, and it is believed that most of those who take this position would change their point of view with a closer study of what the schools are called upon to do in the present era.
Respectfully submitted,
L. W. GRANT, Superintendent of Schools.
Mr. L. W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I am presenting, herewith, my third annual report as Principal of the Norwood Senior High School.
Faculty
No changes whatever were made in the personnel of the faculty during the year 1928-1929. In June our list comprised twenty-six full time teachers and five part time teachers or supervisors. There being no resig- nations and only a slight increase in student enrollment, additions and replacements were not necessary.
Enrollment
On the opening day of school, September 10, 1929, our school registered five hundred fifty-five (555) pupils as follows:
Grade
Boys
Girls
Totals
10
114
119
233
11
99
90
189
12
67
66
133
Totals
280
275
555
This shows an increase of thirty-two pupils over the enrollment of Sep- tember 5, 1928. The figures as given by the Junior High School enroll- ment show that for the coming year we can reasonably expect an increase
234
of from seventy-five to one hundred students beginning September, 1930. If, as it appears now, we begin our sehool year with approximately 650 pupils, it most certainly will tax to eapacity the physical equipment and housing accommodations of our Senior High School. Our 555 now require using the special rooms such as Mechanical Drawing and Typewriting room for home room purposes. Next September, to take care of the in- erease of 100 pupils, we shall be called upon to increase our faculty by three teachers, and house our students in such rooms as the Library, Freehand Drawing, and Sewing Rooms; an altogether undesirable but necessary emergeney measure until relief can come by way of additional class rooms.
School Program
During the past year there have been no radical changes in the plan of administration or in the general school program. There are six 52-minute periods for all days except Friday exelusive of filing time and allowance made for recess of one half hour.
Our Accomplishment Plan of work apparently is functioning quite as expected, bringing about two distinct and very desirable results; namely, more students than ever before are learning that it is for their own personal good and benefit to take an assignment, and to accomplish work com- mensurate with their ability-that is to do a job up to the limit of their native capacity. Secondly, we are not having any where near the amount of failures that oceurred before and during the early introduction of the Accomplishment Plan of work. At the end of the school year, June, 1928, we were obliged to have six Seniors, twenty-one Juniors, and twenty-nine Sophomores repeat the year's work-a total of fifty-six pupils, or twelve per cent of the enrollment at that time. At the end of last year, June, 1929, four Seniors, seven Juniors and eleven Sophomores-a total of twenty-two, or four per cent of the enrollment were obliged to remain in the same grade a second year. Some of these were lacking only slightly in their promotion eredits and will be able to catch up to their elass by additional effort this year. Both of these advantages of the Accomplish- ment Plan are highly desirable. The first from the point of view of the pupil himself. He is establishing the habit of doing his best, not being satisfied with a piece of work, the level of which is below his capacity. Educationally, we consider this sound as part of character building and training and the establishment of proper habits for life work.
Secondly, in minimizing the number of repeaters, we are saving the town the cost of duplicating the instruction. There are many other benefits derived by the Accomplishment Plan of study, these having been enumerated in the reports of the past three years.
In our bell schedule for this year, we have made provision for an eight- minute mid-morning lunch period for the pupils of the school who require additional nourishment. Working with the Department of Home Eco- nomics in nutrition, the teachers of the Physical Education Department
235
have co-operated by listing all pupils underweight or in any way in need of additional nourishment. These have been urged to take advantage of receiving a eup of coeoa, hot soup or milk with erackers at 10 o'eloek eaeh morning. Our list now includes about sixty-five of the not-too-robust members of our student body, and the effort of our teachers in Home Economies in the interest of the pupils' physical well being is deeidedly meritorious and commendable. We feel that it is eight minutes of school time well invested.
Graduation 1929
At the Norwood Theater on June 11, 1929, the graduation excreises for the Senior Class were held. Your Principal feels that this event was carried out with precision, dignity and dispatch. It was marked by the customary high standard of our High School graduations. It was an event long to be remembered by the members of the class and a credit to every one of them. Following are the 131 graduates:
Aarnio, Elin T.
Anderson, Doris Harriett
Dexter, Doris Carolyn* Donahue, Charles Leo
Andrews, Dorothy May
Donovan, James Vineent
Balduf, Marie Elizabeth
D'Rosario, William
Baltadonis, Anna Gloria
Eisenhauer, Margaret Mary
Barrett, Matthew Leo
Barry, William J. Blair, Elizabeth*
Elias, Howard Everburg, Edith Viola
Britton, Charles E. C .*
Fitzgerald, Loretta Isabelle
Burdett, John Thomas
Flaherty, Bridget A.
Chubet, Helen Marguerite*
Flaherty, Mary T. Flavin, Mary Veronica
Collins, James F. Coneannon, Marion. C. Conley, William H.
Folan, Mary Elizabeth
Connolly, Bridget T.
Fulton, Eileen Frances
Connolly, Mary A.
Fulton, Gertrude Mae
Connolly, Nora Veroniea
Fulton, John V. Gallup, Edward Louis
Costello, Andrew F.
Gifford, Marjorie Louise
Costello, Edward Thomas
Gilson, Joseph Harold, Jr.
Costello, Nora Rita*
Gotovieh, Wasłow J. Gottberg, Elsie Alena
Curran, James Joseph
Cushing, Addise Rose
. Cushing, Bertha*
Griffin, Mary Josephine Groh, Emily Marie Gustafson, Alice Mathilda*
Cushing, Fannie Ethel* Daniels, Mary L. Danielson, Gertrude Marie
Hall, Dorothy Olive*
Hauck, Robert Paul
DeCosta, George L.
Howard, Aliee
Janusaitis, William J.
Dempsey, Joseph Patrick
Franklin, Margaret Mary
Costa, MaeMillan Franklin
Firth, Anna Gertrude
236
Jasionis, Anna Dominica Johnson, Greta
Johnston, Francis M. Jordan, Helen Gertrude Joseph, Anna Bertha Kadara, Anna Etta
Katz, Herbert J. Kelliher, John R.
Prager, Edith Mildred Rafuse, Robert Wallace*
Kelson, Julia Rose
Kelter, George Henry Paul
Kenefick, Margaret Ann*
Rose, Angela Claire Rowe, Howard B.
King, Francis P.
Kravitz, Philip M.
Ruotsala, Taimi
Lailey, Thomas Edmond
Santoro, Frances Eugenie
Larson, Edna Elizabeth
Lovejoy, Warren Barrett
Lydon, Frances Catherine
Sherman, Cecelia
Macchi, Angelo
Sienkiewicz, Adolph Smelstor, Leon P.
Maddern, Jeanne Frances
Maher, James Edwin
Smith, Loretta Frances
Sunderland, Edna May Swetka, William H.
McNeeley, John Joseph
Meade, James R.
Taylor, Donald F. Thayer, Marston B.
Mike, Nima Milesky, Sarah
Moloney, Frances Julia
Monbouquette, Mary Alice
Morris, Mona Elizabeth*
Moses, Emilie A. Murphy, Francis William Murray, Christine N.
Walsh, Mary Frances Weisul, John T.
Nelson, Robert William
Welch, Marguerite Veronica
Wenzel, Walter Joseplı White, Mary Dorothy
O'Brien, Hazel Marie O'Donnell, Martin Michael
Uservitch, Anne Dorothy
Verderber, Arthur John Waldheim, Helen Katherine
Newman, Charles Arthur
Nolan, Mary Florence
Yarmalovich, Isabelle Agnes
The starred pupils received the honor of being awarded the John C. Lane medal in recognition of exceptional scholarship and general all-around ability and helpfulness.
The United States History medal was awarded to Robert Wallace Rafuse. The Berwick English prize was awarded to Robert Wallace Rafuse. The Senior Plimpton Art Prize was awarded to Anna Gloria Baltadonis.
O'Neil, Christopher Fredrick Palitis, Jennie Avalonne Pazniokas, Anna Ursula Pazniokas, Mildred Ann Peterson, George Frederick Peterson, Ruth Dagmar
Riley, Claire A. Ritchie, Doris Elizabeth*
Schroeder, Clifton W. Shergals, Beruta Teresa
Mansen, Eva M. Mattson, Hilda Elvi
Thornton, Katherine Veronica
Tulerseski, John Richard
Turner, Gertrude Janet
237
Matriculation of the Class of 1929
Among our graduates of the class of 1929 it has been found that the following colleges and universities and schools of higher training have re- ceived some of our pupils:
Boston University, C. B. A. 2
Boston University, C. L. A.
1
Boston University, P. A. L. 4
Bridgewater Normal 1
Burdett College
2
Colgate University
1
Dean Academy
2
Fisher Business School
1
Fitchburg Normal
1
Holy Cross .
1
Ithaca School of Physical Education
1
Jackson College .
1
Kimball Union Academy Lawrence Academy
1
Massachusetts Agricultural College
1
New Hampshire University
1
Oberlin .
1
Rhode Island School of Design
1
St. John's Prep .
1
St. Lawrence College 1
Wellesley College. 1
Wentworth Institute. 1
This tabulation shows that not too many of our graduates choose to enter upon a course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in college work. This, I believe, is primarily caused by the failure to see the advantages of a general college training, and the benefits to the individual of the cultural background secured through such a college course. We all may, as parents, unless we use care to avoid it, stress the necessity and importance of having our children rush to a wage-earning position. Certainly college enrollments can be taken to mean something by way of criterion. We should encourage more college attendance from Norwood, and it can not be stated as a reason for not going to college, that our preparation is faulty. No pupil in the class of 1929 who applicd for college, with serious intentions of making the grade early in his High School days, was refused entrance, and letters from universities and colleges having our graduates testify that we are sending very desirable boys and girls to their institutions. They cxpress their desire to have more from our school.
.
1
238
Departments
Much of the detail work as is conducted in the various departments in the school is outlined by the several department heads in their reports. Hence I will save duplication of reading by giving, in brief forin only, departmentalized aspects of the school work.
As has been the case during the past decade, the Commercial Depart- ment enrolls a larger percentage than any other one department in school with the exception of the English and Physical Education Departments, whose work is required of all pupils. That there is a direct value received in securing the training in our Commercial Department is not questioned. Graduates of our Commercial Department are filling, in good numbers, positions of a clerical or a business nature, and are doing, according to all information received, very creditable work. There is ample room, however, for debate as to whether or not wage-earning capacity should be made the goal and objective of secondary school education for so many of our pupils. We are doing everything possible to introduce into our Com- mercial Department as much of the cultural background as can be had. We do not, as a faculty, wish to convey the idea to parents that our Com- mercial Department work is similar to that of a business school. In the opinion of most of our educators of today, the pendulum has swung far enough toward the vocational training aspects of the High School curri- culum.
The Following Is A Special Report from Miss Grace C. McGonagle, Head of the Commercial Department
"The Commercial Department is the largest vocational department in the school having a student enrollment of 44%. This is an increase of about 4% over the preceding year. In September, 1929, the subject enrollment in commercial work was as follows: Bookkeeping, 147; Clerical Practice, 245; Shorthand, 211; Typewriting, 258; making a total of 861. This figure includes pupils who are taking from one to four commercial studies in the department. It will be noted that there are not as many pupils studying bookkeeping and shorthand as are studying clerical practice and typewriting. This change has been brought about by a re- vision of our curriculum of study.
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