USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1930-1932 > Part 54
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Last June a neighborhood affair was carried on in each district. The various classes gave an exhibition of their regular class work and the parents attended in large numbers.
Each spring a Baseball League is formed among the Elementary Schools and a banner awarded to the winning team.
Class work for girls and boys in Junior High School consists of apparatus, marching, games and gymnastics.
After school activities are held the entire year with organized games suitable for the particular time of the year-fall, winter, or spring. Our big aim is to have as many children as possible participate. If a girl or boy is down in more than one subjeet, he cannot play.
The activities for the boys in the Junior High School consisted of an inter-class series of forty-eight games of basketball, which were played during the winter term. A school team was selected from the inter-class players and seven games were played with outside schools.
Baseball in the Junior High School was carried on along the same lines as basketball. Inter-elass games were played in the seventh, eighth, and
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ninth grades. A school team played a schedule of ten games with outside schools.
All pupils were given a physical examination by the school physician and a corrective class for boys with poor and faulty posture is being held twice weekly, with very good results.
A Tag Football League was started, the game being played with the same rules as regular football, with the exception that no tackling was allowed. Each room had a team, and each grade had a league. Over two hundred boys participated in this outdoor activity.
Eighty-five boys already are playing in inter-class basketball in the Junior High School. From this number a team will be selected to play a schedule of ten games with outside schools.
After school activities at the Senior High School were carried on through- out the year, with sports suitable for the season. We stress mass partici- pation in all sports and we have a large number of girls out for sports, in spite of the fact that many High School girls have to work in their own homes or as mothers' helpers. Also in High School, there are many other activities for pupils to participate in.
In the fall we have about thirty-five girls out for inter-class field hockey, and an inter-class tennis tournament was also held. The tennis courts are used to capacity both in spring and fall and in the spring, besides indi- vidual and class instruction in tennis, we also had a tennis team which played four games with outside teams. This spring we hope to play five or six varsity games. About sixty-five girls have reported for basketball this year and after inter-class games are played, five or six varsity games will be played.
Athletics for boys in the Senior High School consisted of football, basket- ball, baseball, hockey, track, tennis, and golf.
Forty two boys reported for basketball. Of this number nine were con- sidered members of the school team. Ten others made up the school team of the second squad. The remaining candidates formed class teams and played a series for the championship of the Senior High School.
Thirty boys reported for hockey to Mr. McBay, and a schedule of twelve games was played. Most of the games were played away from home, owing to the lack of rink on our school grounds.
In April, sixty-five boys presented themselves as candidates for the Senior High School baseball team. Fifteen players were considered mem- bers of the first team and fifteen others played on the second team. The school team played a schedule of eighteen games, while the second team, under the direction of Mr. Sawyer, played seven games.
Forty-five boys reported as candidates for track to Mr. Eastwood. The team took part in eight dual meets with outside schools, two inter-scholastic meets, and one inter-class meet.
Twenty-four candidates presented themselves to Mr. Archibald for places on the golf team. Eight were selected to represent the school in
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outside matches. The Norfolk Golf Club of Dedham granted the use of their links to this team free of charge, for their matches.
In September one hundred and thirteen boys reported for football and a schedule of nine games was played with outside teams. A post-season game was played with Milford High School for the Unemployment Fund of Milford and Norwood. The sum of $675.75 was the net amount realized from this game for charity.
The second team played three games with outside teams. The Sopho- more team played two games with other opponents.
A boy's tennis team was formed and a schedule of eight games was played with outside schools.
Basketball practice for boys started in December, and so far, fifty-four candidates have signified their intention of playing during the winter season. A schedule of twelve games has been arranged with other schools, and also a second team schedule. A series of class games will be played during the season.
About forty boys have reported to Mr. Lcarnard for hockey and a suit- able schedule will be arranged.
Respectfully submitted,
H. BENNETT MURRAY
Mr. L. W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I submit herewith the annual report of the Health Department.
The following statistical report covers a large part of the regular work:
19,077 Individual inspections .
Recommended for temporary exclusion for:
Pcdiculosis
168
Skin disease
185
Symptoms of communicable disease 343
Other reasons
96
Number of First Aid Treatments
1,565
Number weighed and measurcd.
15,860
Percent of children 10% or more underweight .
9%
Percent of children 20% or more overweight . 3%
Number of home calls . 1,579
Number having defective vision
86
Number cared for at clinic . 127
Number cared for outside of clinic
30
Number receiving audiometer test
687
Numer having 9+ unit loss
25
325
Number of pupils examined by doctor
4,202
Number of pupils having defects. 814
Number of notices sent home 763
Number examined by school dentist.
1,409
Number needing dental attention
1,241
Number cared for at clinic . 721
Number still under treatment at clinic
89
Number cared for outside of clinic.
446
Number immunized after positive Schick Test
123
Number examined at tuberculosis clinic.
12
Number positive.
2
Number taken to other clinics
12
Number children sent to summer camp
4
Contagious diseases reported during the year:
Scarlet fever
14
Measles
98
German mcasles
16
Chicken pox
74
Mumps
29
Whooping cough
12
Influenza .
6
Infantile paralysis
1
Typhoid .
4
Pneumonia
2
For four years now the dental clinic has been concentrating on the care of the teeth of the children in grades one, two, and thrce. As a result there is a decided improvement in the condition of the mouths of children in all grades.
The results of the dental campaign for the school year ending in June are most gratifying especially since Norwood heads the lists of communities in its own group. Eighty-one per cent of the 1554 children in grades one to six received from the school clinic or family dentist, dental certificates for having had necessary dental corrections completed. This is 11% higher than in 1929 and 1930, and 29% higher than in 1928 when the cam- paign was first started. Thirteen rooms had 100% for dental corrections, the 100% Shattuck School being included in this.
We are still sceking to attain our goal: "Every Child Physically Fit." The progress may be slow, but that is to be expected since so many factors must be considered. The Health Day awards show that we have covered more ground than in previous years. Credit for this improvement must not go to the doctors, dentist, nurses, and teachers alonc, but to the parents and the children themselves who have cooperated with us in this work.
The competition for health awards was intramural this year. The awards given were as follows:
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Physically fit badges
458
Dental badges 1125 Weight badges 1389
Posture badges
857
Improvement in weight .
134
Improvement in posture
210
The serving of a mid-morning lunch of milk and crackers has been a special activity in the grade schools for many years. The Senior High School had such satisfactory results from their experiment along this line last year that they are continuing. Since September, the pupils of the Junior High School have had the opportunity of this lunch, and a goodly number are taking advantage of it.
Approximately 972,316 bottles of milk were served in the schools during the mid-morning lunch period in the past year. Some 16,499 of these were paid for by the Milk Fund. Many weeks as many as 150 children were supplied with free milk. Due to Mr. Bateman's kindness in icing the milk during the warm weather, we were able to continue the lunches until the close of school in June.
Dr. David Zacks reports the following results on the State Underweight Clinic held at the Beacon School on November 12, 1931.
Recommended for reexamination 10
Reexamined
9
Improved . 8
Unimproved . 1
X-rayed.
9
Recommended for sanatorium treatment
1
Discharged from clinic 1
The examinations of ninety-one retarded have been recently completed by Dr. Schorer. Recommendations have been made which will enable the children to carry on their school work to the best advantage.
· The Child Guidance Clinic under the direction of Dr. Cottrell of the State Department of Mental Hygiene has had a good attendance all year. Fifty-six children are being seen and followed up by this clinic.
The services of the Health Department have probably never been as much in demand as in this past year of economic unrest. Fortunately the children have been fairly free from contagious diseases.
The greatest problem we have had to solve was a means of supplying sufficient food and clothing to those families having no source of income. Miss Vose has been exceedingly helpful to us in carrying on this work. The townspeople responded generously to our appeal for clothing and food. Since we have had the School Department Aid Fund at our disposal, we have been able to care for many needs which would otherwise have gone unaided.
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Miss Ann L. Russell, formerly Orthopedic Supervisor in the Children's Hospital, Boston, has been appointed to fill the vacancy on the nursing staff.
We thank the Norwood High School Quest Club, the Norwood Woman's Club, and other anonymous contributors for their combined generous sup- port of the health work.
The members of this department wish to express their appreciation for the loyal support and helpful advice received from you, from the super- visors, principals, and teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY A. CANNING, R.N., Health Supervisor
Mr. L. W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Music Department for the year 1931.
Following the rendition of a cantata by the five Elementary Glee Clubs at the General Parent Teachers Meeting last spring, a greater interest has been manifested in this Activity. This interest may be summarized by stating the fact that the membership has increased from 160 to 230 young singers all looking forward to their next public appearance. These Glee Clubs are composed of fifth and sixth grade children who are chosen through an elective-selective plan; voice, musicianship, and scholarship being taken into consideration.
A new reader more in keeping with the work at hand, has been intro- duced in all sixth grades. In the Junior High School, the course of Written Work given to the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades has been altered so that it now begins in the sixth grade. This change was made in order to enlarge the Appreciation Course in the 9th grade. We might mention that the sixth grade took the new work over with great success.
The class instruction in wind instruments for beginners inaugurated last year in the Junior High School, had only a small attendance; however, good progress has been made and several pupils who had never played an instrument before, have been able to enter the second Junior Orchestra.
In the Senior High School, while all music is elective, a certain number of students have been unable to enter harmony classes and choruses owing to conflict with other subjects. The opening of the new music room and the opportunity for the pupils to elect their subject in the spring, should remedy this condition.
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The students will then be able to choose first year harmony, second year harmony, mixed chorus, girls chorus, boys chorus, glee club, or orchestra; thus, the pupils may further their musical education.
The harmony classes have grown from a weekly attendance of twelve to seventy students. The Glee Club has ninety-seven singers; the orchestra, thirty-eight players; and the choruses average from thirty-five to fifty voices.
Last spring, Norwood was represented at the Eastern Conference Or- chestra at Syracuse, New York, by three members of our orchestra, and at the All New England Chorus at Providence, Rhode Island, by three mem- bers of the Glee Club.
Respectfully submitted,
JEAN V. DETHIER, Director of Music
Mr. Leonard W. Grant,
Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit a report of the Home Economics Department for the year ending December 31, 1931.
Our Challenge
In looking back over the past year and attempting to determine and evaluate the measure of progress which we hope each year brings, one is directly confronted with the tremendous responsibilities ensuing as an outcome of what probably seems to Home Economics educators the most outstanding, significant, encouraging and recent development in the field of Homemaking, viz .: the White House Conference on Child Health and Pro- tection. "The Children's Charter," a development following this con- ference, was prepared by a sub-committee of experts, men and women of authority in their various fields, and outlines completely the rights of the children of America. Particularly do we, in public school Home Economics, feel the challenge in Articles II and XI of this Children's Charter, viz .: "For every child such teaching and training as will prepare him for suc- cessful home-making and the rights of citizenship,"-also "For every child understanding and the guarding of his personality is his most precious right."
Another direct challenge comes from the most recent conference of the Department of Teachers and Supervisors of Home Economics, a branch of the National Education Association, viz .: "It is the business of the Home Economists to stress those phases of homemaking education which
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will help the pupil to cope with present day problems and those which may arise in the future."
Our Responsibility, Aims and Objectives
Our responsibility is to teach and develop homemaking education. Analysis of the term shows us that homemaking is not housekeeping alone, but a full-time profession. A homemaker coordinates all the activities in the home. Society holds the homemaker responsible for children's man- ners and morals. 80% of all spending is now done by women who must have knowledge to be intelligent spenders. The homemaker finds herself involved in a full time position, where decisions based upon sound knowl- edge and skill must be constantly made. She needs training, practise and education for her very responsible position and it will be seen that real brains and more than routine skill are required to make the homemaker's position successful. If the profession of homemaking is to be granted its full measure of dignity, our instruction must be carried toward all the highest and best ideals for home life. To these ends our courses are being constantly adjusted and modified to place less emphasis on activities of smaller importance and to stress those values which bring greater satis- faction in living and are in accord with present day sociological ideas.
Our Problems
We therefore ask ourselves (1) What are our immediate problems? (2) What have we, through Home Economics education here in Norwood, been able to accomplish toward the fulfillment of the aims and ideals set forth in the Children's Charter and by leaders in authority in education and (3) to what extent can these ideals be met locally?
Our specific problems seem to be (1) to try to determine what contri- butions a department of Home Economics is prepared to offer to the whole field of child development? (2) How much understanding, sympathy, kindness and sound scholarship as well as personality can be extended through our personnel? (3) How can we make the best use of our facilities and equipment in order to give our girls 100% instruction and assistance in matters of better living? (4) To what extent are we overcoming our greatest obstacle-general misunderstanding of our content and aims and objectives as a department? (5) How and where shall we place emphasis in our courses in order that the material shall not outweigh the idealistic and spiritual in life? and (6) How shall we lead our pupils to see the real values in life?
We feel that our development can be no greater than the measure of understanding which we can create and the consequent amount of sym- pathy aroused toward the actual values and importance of this branch of education. With our pupils our prèsent problem seems no more to teach our subject matter and try to create worthwhile ambitions and ideals than to bring about a desire for knowledge which will raise the standards of home life.
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Are We Progressing?
We realize and understand our responsibilities and we are endcavoring to give of our best to our pupils and the town. We are glad to report progress as follows:
At High School we have added facilities and teacher time to help us meet the rapid growth in this department. Two lunch periods were made necessary in September because of the increased enrollment in the school. This situation is being met without additional expense through the de- partment. The need and popularity of the mid-morning lunch continucs. It is to be regretted however that so many pupils needing additional nour- ishment at school cannot mcet the expense. Through the generous con- tributions of pupils and teachers we were able to pack and distribute eighteen large baskets containing Thanksgiving dinners and additional groceries. Contributions of renovated garments have been made by our Home Economics Club members and we plan to do more as time goes on in the way of responding to community welfare through our regular classes.
At Junior High School a newly equipped laboratory proves an inspira- tion to both teachers and pupils and greatly adds to the interest in our courses. Pupils are now working with modern, convenient and attractive equipment which adds pleasure to work and proves an incentive to effort.
Texts are gradually being made available for our courses, both for pupil use and general reference, thus keeping the most modern ideas and recent information within our reach.
Recommendations
Because such small classes are registering for major work in the ninth grade, Junior High, and such a small percentage of the girls who desire Home Economics training are able to schedule it in their programs because of administrative difficulties in this grade it seems practical if not essential to repeat my recommendation that some solution be worked out for this problem. Ninth grade courses as scheduled at present offer a very un- steady foundation for later work, remove a much necded opportunity from girls who do not plan to go to High School and greatly confuse the grouping of pupils in High School Home Economics classes.
Through the medium of our required classes we are reaching all girls in matters vital to them. A goal to be desired is to make much of our subject matter accessible to boys, who nced, just as much as the girls, training in certain phases of home life and personal living matters. Many communities are successfully presenting vital problems to boys through Home Economics classes and this might be a desirable undertaking in Norwood for the near future.
Since the need for special attention to nutrition problems might well bc considered as especially urgent at this time, may we suggest that Home Economics teachers are thoroughly traincd to do effective work in this
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direction and would be interested to develop this branch of their field given time and opportunity to include this most important work in their routine.
Respectfully submitted,
AGNES M. BRIDGES, Supervisor of Home Economics Education
Mr. Leonard W. Grant, Superintendent of Schools,
Norwood, Mass.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit my eighth annual report as Supervisor of Adult Alien Education in Norwood.
My work during the past year has been divided into three main divisions: supervising the evening school classes, teaching foreign mothers in the homes, and cooperating, as far as possible, with all other agencies in the town to assist in relieving the hardships brought about by the present un- employment situation.
The Americanization classes in the evening school have been well at- tended. The one hundred and fifty people attending represent thirteen nationalities. Thirty-one per cent of the entire school is Italian. Then follow in point of numbers Finnish, Lithuanian, Polish, Syrian, Irish, Swedish, German, Jewish, American, Ukaranian, Greek and Russian.
The employment of an extra teacher in the evening school classes this year has helped greatly in the matter of grading. We now have seven classes in the Balch School and two in the Junior High School.
The distressful economic situation has sent into our school this year men and women who seem to realize the vital relation between education and their struggle to get a living. The times are emphasizing the necessity for clear thinking.
The advanced class at the Balch School is making good progress in the study of Arithmetic in addition to the work in English. Simple problems in economics are also being discussed. Civics and economics mean more to a person of thirty or thirty-five who has grappled for ycars with the problem of earning a living for himself and others, than to a student of sixteen or eighteen.
The citizenship classes attract many. At present it is impossible to hold a job in some of the industries unless the worker is a citizen of the United States. On the other hand, many people are held back from be- coming citizens on account of the economic conditions. At the present time it costs over $20 to become a citizen.
About eighteen women in the Balch district meet twice each month with
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Miss Ruth Gurney of the Norfolk Agricultural School to study sewing. They are learning to remodel coats and dresses as well as to cut and fit clothing made from new material.
The director teaches five groups of foreign women in homes. This is the first year that the Syrian women have ever shown an interest to have a class. These women were all illiterate in September. It is an interesting experience to see the thrill that comes to these women when they first learn to read and write. Can you imagine what it means to be able to sign one's name instead of making the conventional cross; to have the daily newspaper become a source of information and pleasure instead of a mysterious mass of paper and type?
In March the evening school held its graduating exercises in the audi- torium of the Junior High School. About forty pcople received diplomas after completing three years of work. An interesting program was pre- sented by different members of the school. Mr. E. Everett Clark, State Supervisor of Adult Alien Education, was our guest and the speaker of the evening. About 700 people attended the excrcises.
In the early part of December, the ladies of the Congregational Church entertaincd a group of twenty women from our evening classes. Thc church gave a play, "Why the Chimes Rang". The music for the evening was provided by the foreign women. During the games that followed these women from many different walks in life became better acquainted with each other. Later in the same month, at the Balch School Christmas Party, a group of ladies from the Baptist Church entertained with vocal and instrumental music.
In my eight years of work with foreign people it has been interesting to note the advance made by the foreign women. In 1924, our evening school, larger than at present, had but 27% of its membership made up of women. This year 43% of our enrollment is women.
Respectfully submitted,
WILDA L. VOSE
Mr. Leonard W. Grant, Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Art Department for the year ending December 31, 1931.
We have followed the same general course of study, which has been rc- arranged and added to for several years, so that at the present time it seems to be fairly well adapted to conditions in our town and schools. Each year an attempt is made to more closely correlate our Drawing with
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the other school subjects, especially the new course in Geography and Social Studies in the elementary schools.
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