USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1930-1932 > Part 53
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9
Perry-Kindergarten Normal School
1
Smith College
1
St. Lawrence University
1
Total 41
It is evident from this list that only a comparatively small proportion of our graduates wish to enter colleges which give the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in college work. When one considers that 60.8% of our student body have both parents of foreign birth, most of whom are not college trained men and women, it is little to be wondered that the home influence toward encouraging academic pursuit beyond
312
high school is not greater than we find it. We feel that, roughly speaking, slightly less than 10% of our students make use of our college preparatory department and its work. To be sure, many students feel a desire and urge to carry on beyond high school in their studies and training. This largely takes the form of vocational training, however. The entrance into such schools as offer this vocational training requires merely a diploma from an accredited high school. It is, thereforc, clear that the major work of our modern secondary school cannot be moulded too closely to college preparatory lines.
A report of the work being done now by our graduates in college is wholly satisfactory and complimentary to the preparatory work of our school. We have the record now that in the past five years no failure marks have been recorded against the names of any of our graduates in any of the New England colleges on the New England College Certificate Board. list. Eleven colleges are included in the list. This enables us to continuc certificating graduates of our school who are honor grade pupils, and who have secured the certificate grade of 85% or above, into colleges accepting certificates from high schools.
Departmental Reorganization and Work
The addition of seven new recitation rooms and a music room made it possible, not only for us to adequately house our 695 students in September, but also to rearrange our English, Modern Language, and Commercial Departments so that work within these departments is now conducted in rooms immediately adjoining or near one another. This is of a far greater convenience and has made for unification of work in all depart- ments. A room formerly given over to the clerical practice room, belong- ing originally to the Home Economics Department, has been returned to that department for use in the Home Economics divisions. This has been splendidly fitted up so that it now adequately takes care of the needs of this work, and some mighty valuable instruction is now being given to the 219 girls in this department, instruction which is bound to make better home-makers of our girls.
The Commercial Department has made over its arrangement of rooms so that it now includes the clerical practice and office appliance room and has adjoining typewriting and stenography rooms. This greatly facilitates the work of this department.
Costs of Operation
The work of the school, in spite of the existing economic depression, has carried on quite as usual without experiencing any detrimental hazzards such as serious limitations in instruction, supplies, and equipment. For this we are extremely thankful to the town. Teachers throughout all de- partments arc endeavoring to practice strict economy and are helping in every way to make the costs of operating this comprehensive High School
313
of ours as low as possible with all duc regard for maintaining its high standard of work and the necessarily highly diversified eurrieula.
Much has been said recently of the possibility of doing away with some of the more practical and voeational subjeets as a means of reducing the costs of running our High School. Ineluded in these subjects would eomc all commercial studies, practical arts for boys, home economies for girls, freehand drawing, mechanical drawing, and musie. Following is a list of thesc studies with their enrollment for this present sehool ycar:
Typewriting 351
Stenography 274
Bookkeeping 175
Clerical Practice 102
Practical Arts 144
Homc Economics 219
Freehand Drawing 149
Mechanical Drawing 98
Music 364
It seems absurd that any eould advocate the doing away with this type of instruction and a reverting back to the academie eurrieulum of the high school of a quarter of a century ago. About 80% of our students are en- rolled in the vocational and more practical courses. Let us not take steps baekward. As a matter of fact, about twenty-five boys were deprived last September of an opportunity to take practical arts for this year. Our equipment and facilities do not permit any more than 144, or six divisions of twenty-four each, taking this subjeet. More and more boys, eoming to our High School, need this type of training. They have been tried in an academie curriculum and have discovered that the mechanical work, the praetieal courses, and the vocational training, are best suited to them and their needs. If anything, we should have more, rather than less, of this type of instruction. It is not a good year to recommend the pur- chasing of additional equipment or room for instruetion in this practical arts division. Neither is it advisable to ask for inereascd teaching ae- commodations. Sooner or later, however, it will be nceessary to inake provisions for expansion in this department.
The school needs, probably more than any other one thing, the aequiring of an assembly hall; yet it is full well realized that a return to normal times industrially and economically will be necessary before any consideration can be given such a projeet. We are greatly handicapped in earrying out our assembly programs, and constantly feel the limitations in assembly work which should, but eannot, include student productions such as dramatics, debating, musical operettas, and pageants, not to say anything of the very valuable stereopticon, motion picture, and illustrative lectures requiring a darkened room.
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High Spots of 1931
During the year 1931 certain academic and non-academic achievements of note have been accomplished, some of which are here enumerated:
1. The successful entrance into college of all students qualified to at- tempt examinations.
2. The receiving of college scholarship awards by four of our graduates in their second or third year at college.
3. Favorable reports on scholastic attainment by our college freshmen.
4. The splendid concert given by our orchestra at Framingham in the form of an assembly to the Framingham Normal School student body.
5. The high grade performance of our Debating Society against the team from Boston Latin High School.
6. Our annual Glee Club concert, unusually well given.
7. The successful Senior Play and Promenades given by both senior and junior classes.
8. General development and progress in higher scholarship endeavors.
a. Seniors attained as high as 25% on the Honor Roll.
b. An increase for the school of 1.7% over the previous year in Honor Roll percentage.
9. A definite start in organized and well-directed instruction leading to the character building of all the boys and girls of the school by our Sub- master and Dean.
10. A very successful athletic year in terms of mass-participation in sports, seasons' results, building of school and team morale, if not wholly successful from a financial point of view.
11. Notable achievement of many of our 17 extra-curricula and ac- tivities groups, outstanding of which are:
a. Quest Club Christmas Party.
b. Arguenot publications.
c. Home Economics Thanksgiving basket work.
d. Rifle Club organization and accomplishment.
Summary
All in all, the year 1931 has been all that one could reasonably expect. We have received your continued support and that of the School Com- mittee, for which we are sincerely thankful. It has been a year char- acterized by more or less unrest as regards the school program and finances, and yet I earnestly hope that we shall be permitted to carry on, in an un- hampered way, the work of the school through the coming fiscal year. Certainly I can sec no good coming from the curtailment of courses of study offered. Teacher time would not be saved as groups of pupils
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dropped from one course of studies would only have to enroll in another. Then too, we surely would not want to drive pupils out of sehool through failure to meet present day demands. Let us keep the sehool doors open to all the ehildren.
Very sincerely yours,
HERBERT H. ARCHIBALD, Principal of Senior High School
Mr. L. W. Grant,
Superintendent of Sehools, Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
The Junior High School has this year registered 928 pupils, January 1, 1932, distributed as follows: seventh grade, 302; eighth grade, 333; ninth grade, 293. Last year there were 933. This is a decrease of 65 pupils from last year's enrollment. Most of this deerease has been in the ninth grade, which has fallen off 52 pupils. Another year the seventh grade will be the smallest in the school, the total enrollment of the sixth grade being 260, while the ninth grade will be the largest. The present eighth grade is 333.
The deercase has worked to the advantage of the school in several di- rections. It has enabled us to organize smaller classes. We are getting nearer to the ideal for a junior high school than we have been sinee our organization several years ago. When the addition was built, Professor Jesse B. Davis recommended that a class consist of thirty-five pupils only, and built the new rooms to accommodate that number. Next year we will approach that ideal in the school organization. Another thing the smaller number enables us to do is being able for the first time, to seat the entire sehool, without crowding, in the gymnasium. In previous years wc have had to leave two divisions out, whenever we had an assembly.
As usual in the ninth grade, the largest registration is in the Com- inercial and Practical Arts divisions. The day is not long enough to ae- commodate all the Manual Arts boys and Home Economies girls divisions without curtailing the time. This should receive the attention of ad- ministrative authority with the idea of expanding these opportunities so that all who wish to may share them.
The eurrieula in the Junior High School is the same as that of the last several years-a general eourse throughout the seventh grade; and in the eighth grade a "try-out" eourse in which each pupil during the year, spends one term in Language "try-out," where he tests his ability to carry on more advaneed foreign language work in preparation for the ninth grade. The second term is spent in Woodworking "try-out" for the boys, and Cooking
316
. for the girls. The third term is given over to Commercial work, and the fourth and last term of the year, Mechanical Drawing is given to the boys and Sewing to the girls.
After having successfully passed the required work of eighth grade, the pupils are offered a curriculum based upon electives-that is, the ninth grade curriculum is made up of four courses; the College Coursc, the Practical Arts Course, the College Technical Course, and the Commercial Course. The pupils' choice of courses is guided by the aptitudes he has shown in his "try-out" courses in the eighth grade.
Extra Curricula
All of the extra curricula activities of the school are carried on under the supervision of the teachers as club leaders. These activities are so varied in character that they are certain to appeal to the individual interests of the individual pupils. We have thirty-three organized clubs which range from a Camera Club to a Cooking Club for boys. One of the most inter-' esting and educational of these clubs is the "School Activities Club," in which the pupils take charge of the publication of the school paper, the name of which has been changed this year from the "Arguelot" to "School Activities." All of the work from the gathering of news items and stories to the setting up of the type in the school print shop is performed by the pupils of the Junior High School.
Milk Period
This year for the first time, a mid-morning luncheon period has been in- serted in the regular school program in order that all pupils who so desire, may procure a light luncheon of milk and crackers provided by the school at a minimum cost. The results obtained by this mid-morning lunchcon seem to justify to my mind, the few minutes that have been taken from the classroom work by the increased gain in the physical well being of the pupils under my charge. As proof of this fact, several parents have per- sonally told me of the gain in vigor and physical stamina noted by them since their sons and daughters have taken advantage of this luncheon period instituted by the school.
Corrective Exercises
This year a corrective exercise class has been started. This class is con- ducted by Mr. Connor on Tuesday and Thursday, the object being to correct faulty and poor posture of the children of the Junior High School. Individual attention is given to each boy in the class, and the proper exercise to develop muscles which are weak causing the faulty posture.
Faculty Changes
There have been many changes in the faculty this past year. John T. Connor, formerly at the Brookline High School, has succeeded Clair H. Lewis as boys Physical Education instructor, with considerable success.
317
Margaret Nicholson succeeds Emma W. Elliott, who went to Brookline. Mr. Frank J. Corliss has been appointed Sub-master in the Junior High School and his place in the Foreign Language Department has been takenl by Miss Eleanor Drew. The establishment of a Submaster's position in the Junior High School is a step forward and means a long felt want. Doris M. Gwynn succeeds Marie K. Treanor in the Household Economies Department.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. ALLEN, Principal
Mr. Leonard W. Grant, Superintendent of Sehools, Norwood, Mass.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit my annual report of the Practical Arts Department for the year ending Deeember 31, 1931.
Senior High School
Education in Praetieal Arts at this school has attracted the pupils as a subject, where it is possible for them to come to the shop for relaxation, joy of achievement, and individual expression. This is shown very foreibly by the enrollment in the Composite Shop (a unit form), where there are one hundred and forty-six boys. This is an inerease of nineteen over last year's figures, and makes a tremendous teacher load. In some elasses there are twenty-six to twenty-eight boys assigned to a shop originally planned for twenty-four.
It beeame necessary again this year to give boys of the 10th and 11th grade only four periods of shop, while the 12th grade continued with five. Next year it seems that we shall have to omit the 12th grade in order to take care of the increased enrollment in the 10th and 11th grades, as was originally intended when the shop was first established.
The past year has shown evidence of development and growth. The woodwork unit has accomplished some very fine projects and has shown skill in eraftsmanship. The machine shop unit has credited itself with some worthwhile small tools, using the beneh and the machines for their completion. These included cold chisels, screw drivers, paper weights, drift and center punehes.
Our eleetrieal unit has not funetioned to any great extent, as the shop space is limited. An attempt was made to wire a frame made the size of a room, but it interfered greatly with the other units and was finally dis- carded, although the instruction was completely carried out.
318
Once again I would like to call attention to the fact that our shop space is limited and must in the future be increased, if every boy is to receive some real benefit from the work.
A new procedure in mechanical drawing was tried out this ycar, and has been successful. A system was inaugurated in which every boy and girl commenced together on a lettering plate, and each day a period of ten minutes was devoted to practice of letters, following this each group shifted to its respective course of study for the remainder of the period, each pupil receiving detailed instruction before a plate was started. It is interesting to note the close proximity of each student in his work, very few having lagged behind.
Junior High School
Our General Shop in Junior High School has brought to the boys of the seventh grade activities which have attracted their attention and interest. We teach as many as five or six different activities in this one shop, and each boy has equal opportunity for the expression of his aptitudes and dc- sires for mechanical activity.
This year projects made in the shop have included a small electric table lamp, a very popular project; several electric grills, made of aluminum; waste baskets; small containers for flower pots, and a bridge lamp, all of which were made of metal. The work of this shop has been so interesting that boys come in after school to put in extra time on their projects.
Our press room has turned out a great volume of printed matter this past year, and the presses are continually in motion. The rotation plan of shop work in the eighth grade brings every boy to this shop, and when the ten weeks are completed, and he has progressed as far as the running of the presses, he leaves the shop with regret.
The great amount of printing that is required of the shop, such as school forms, used throughout the system, the Junior High School paper, and work requested for various school activities, places a tremendous burden on the instructor who has charge of the General Shop as well. I would recommend that a full time instructor be had for this shop who could devote his time to instruction only, which is seriously handicapped at present.
Six new manual training benches were purchased to replace those unfit for further use, although the vises of these discarded benches were placed on the new ones. This year the instructor and his boys constructed a new tool room that is entirely enclosed, with a systematic layout for their tools. Each weck a boy is placed in charge of this tool room and is re- sponsible for the return of every tool taken during the period of which he has charge. Many properties for the stage were made by the boys of the ninth grade, which were used at assemblics held for dramatic purposes.
Elementary Schools
Our program of shop work in the fifth and sixth grades is a compre- hensive course in elementary woodwork, for boys who are coming in con-
319
tact with the various hand tools for the first time. Our projects have con- sisted of tie racks, tooth brush holders, and flower stands.
Finished models of these projects have been made by the instructor and placed in the office of each principal, to show visitors what the classes are doing in this work.
Due to large classes at the Balch School, several benches were transferred from the Beacon School to meet the situation, and by using some discarded vises we were able to double up on some of the benches, so that every boy was given a place to work.
In concluding this report I wish to take this opportunity of extending my sincere appreciation to all who have cooperated with the department during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD H. WHEELER, Supervisor of Practical Arts
Report of the Dean of Girls, Norwood High School, 1930-1931
I. Attendance
As in former years absent, tardy and dismissal cards were used which had to be signed by girl's parents.
The home of every girl who had a telephone and whose name was on the absent list was called each morning.
There were six known cases of truancy. (Three of them were for two hours only.)
Girls were encouraged to come to school tardy rather than be absent, if they were unable to report at the opening of school.
The number of absences this year shows an increase. This is partly due to the fact that an unusually large number of girls have had prolonged illnesses. Another factor which has influenced our attendance record is the economic depression. One girl was permitted to work one school day a weck for a period of three months. Several others were allowed to be absent occasionally for a day or two. The employment of a mother in a family has, on occasion, made it necessary for a girl to take her place at home.
II. Withdrawals from School
No girl was permitted to leave school without a thorough investigation being made. Assistance given by the school prevented five girls from leaving.
Girls Leaving School
Because of poor health
3
Because of economic necessity 5
To attend a private school 2
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Moved from town 3 To be married 2
Poor scholarship and economic need . 1
Withdrawn following a history of stealing
1
Total 17
III. Scholarship
The importance of high scholarship has been kept constantly before the girls.
The same methods of obtaining high scholarship that have been em- ployed in former years were used; such as, personal interviews, adjust- ments in programs, and investigation of home conditions for study.
A group of twenty-five senior girls, called Senior Student Advisers, have again this year assisted Sophomore girls in becoming adjusted to High School. The interest and influence of these Seniors has in many cases been very beneficial.
The "Opportunity Study Hall" was again held this year during terms three and four. Girls who received notice of failure at the mid-term mark- ing period were asked to remain for fifty minutes every day, and study the subjects in which they were failing. Girls were not required to remain if their parents did not wish them to do so. This study hall was under my personal supervision.
124 girls were invited to attend the study hall.
38 were excused at their parent's request.
86 girls attended the study period.
The 86 girls who attended the study hall had a total of 106 failure marks. Of these 64 were passing at the end of the term; 44 were failing at the end of the term.
A letter of congratulation was sent to the home of each Sophomore girl whose name appeared on the honor roll for the first time. Letters of con- gratulation were sent to the parents of eighteen Junior girls whose work had been outstandingly good. In all, sixty-two letters of approval were sent out.
On March 23 a survey was made as to the amount of studying Sophomore girls were doing outside of school. The following statistics were compiled:
Average number of hours spent for study outside of school by Sophomore girls:
In the College Course 2 hr. 35 m.
In the General Course 1 hr. 35 m.
In the Commercial Course 1 hr. 30 m.
In the Whole Class 1 hr. 45 m.
The percent of girls on the honor roll varied between 15.65% (the first
321
term) and 22.72% (the third term). The percent of girls on the year's honor roll was 19.56%.
IV. Home Visits
Home visits were made only when absolutely necessary. Whenever possible matters were discussed with parents over the telephone or by correspondence. The parents of twenty-eight girls visited the school.
Reasons for home visits:
To prevent a girl leaving school 4
In regard to conduct and character 9
About placing a girl in a new home 1
Total number of home visits 15
V. Employment
Thirty girls have secured part time work through the Dean's office this year.
On March 23, 1931 a survey was made as to the number of girls attending the High School who worked part time. The following statistics were compiled :
Number of Senior Girls employed 24
Number of Junior Girls employed . 33
Number of Sophomore Girls employed 13
-
Total number of girls employed 70
Girls earned from fifty cents to seven dollars a week.
The total amount carned by girls in the High School in one week was $195.75.
VI. Private Interviews
The increase in the number of private interviews has been marked from year to year.
Girls come to the Dean's office frequently for various unimportant reasons, such as to read, to borrow books, to pay a call, to assist in office work, to be dismissed, because of illness, or to ask a simple question. No record is kept of such visits.
A record has been kept of girls who have come to the Dean for con- ference, or who have been sent for by the Dean.
Record from the opening of school to June 1.
Number of conferences at girls' request 782
Number of conferences at Dean's request 622
Total 1404
322
Total number of conferenees in 1928-29
560
Total number of conferenees in 1929-30 . 961
Total number of conferences in 1930-31 1404
Submitted June 22, 1931,
RUTH M. GOW,
Dean of Girls
Mr. Leonard W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Physical Education Depart- ment.
As in previous years, the program carried on is according to that out- lined by the State Department of Physical Education.
The Physical Education work which is carried on in the Elementary Sehools is divided into two divisions. In the first three years, the work is made up of singing games, folk dances, story plays and games. The three upper grades have marching, exereises, relays and organized games.
The work in posture is of utmost importance and each child is given a thorough understanding of this most important work, and works hard to obtain the honor that goes with a perfect physique. Individual work in posture is given any girl or boy needing it, the work being earried on after school.
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