USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1930-1932 > Part 72
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School Council
Debating Club
Class Officers
Secretarial Club
Student Advisers
Folk Dancing Club
Health Council
Number of girls taking part in any extra-curricula activity 312
Number of girls taking part in one extra-curricula activity . .67
Number of girls taking part in two extra-curricula activities 120
Number of girls taking part in three extra-curricula activities .61 Number of girls taking part in four extra-curricula activities. 35
Number of girls taking part in more than four 29
One period a week was devoted to activities. During this period, meetings were held of all activities in group B. Therefore it was possible to take part in only one of these clubs.
Girls in more than three activities were good students.
Activities in Group D took no time outside of school. In the cases of girls taking part in more than four activities, al! in excess of four were in Group D.
76 girls took part in some sport.
24 girls took part in 2 or 3 sports.
IV. Employment
21 girls were placed in positions through the Dean's office.
V. Group Meetings
A daily home room period of fifteen minutes duration was provided in
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this year's program. The girls of each class report to the Dean during this period one day each week.
Matters of importance in general guidance and administration were taken up.
Through the acquaintance which developed between teacher and student as a result of these sectional meetings, a larger number of students sought assistance of advisers. We believe the meetings were most beneficial.
VI. Private Interviews
A record of the number of private interviews was kept from the opening of school until December 23. At that time it was noted that the number of interviews had increased to such an extent that the benefit derived from keeping a complete record did not justify the time consumed in so doing. Since December, record has been made of only such interviews as might need to be referred to in the future.
A comparison of the number of conferences of previous years is given below:
Total number of conferences in 1928-29 560
Total number of conferences in 1929-30 961
Total number of conferences in 1930-31 1404
Number of conferences for first four months of 1931-32. 1069
Respectfully submitted,
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 De- partment.
As in previous years, the program carried on is according to that out- lined by the State Department of Physical Education.
Physical Education in the elementary schools consists of a varied pro- gram. In the primary grades rhythmical work is carried out through singing games. Story plays are given a large portion of the time in grades one and two. Circle games and simple relays are a part of each day's work. In the three upper grades corrective gymnastics, marching and organized games complete the program. In these grades pupil leadership is given much attention. It is felt that a great deal may be accomplished in this way as to developing the ability to lead others, fairness of play developing poise and above all good sportsmanship.
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Posture is given an important part in the program and all work is based on this all important point. Periodical examinations are given the chil- dren and much improvement is shown.
A grammar school baseball league was formed as usual last spring and the Winslow School won the championship. A track meet was also held last spring in which children from the different grades competed. The athletic skill shown was very marked and the good sportsmanship exhibited was of the finest. The Balch School was the winner of this meet and the Callahan School second.
Class work for girls and boys in the Junior High School consists of gymnastics, marching, apparatus, posture work and games. All pupils were given a physical examination by the school physician and a corrective class for boys and girls with poor and faulty posture is being held, with very good results.
After school activities for girls are held the entire year with suitable games being played for the particular season of the year. Our one big aim is to have as many as possible participate. The fall sports were Hit Pin Baseball for eighth and ninth grades and two hundred girls par- ticipated in this sport; Liberty Bat Ball for seventh grades in which one hundred girls took part. The winter sport is basketball for ninth grades and one hundred girls reported. All divisions play each other and a cup is given to the winning division. In the spring there is competition in baseball for ninth grades and ninety girls competed. Volley Ball was played in the seventh and eighth grades with one hundred and seventy-five reporting. There is always a great deal of enthusiasm over Volley Ball and finals are played between the winning eighth and seventh divisions for a cup. A track meet was held last spring and the eighth grades won the meet.
The activities for the boys in the Junior High School consisted of an inter-class series of fifty-six games of basketball which were played during the winter term with one hundred and twenty boys participating. A school team was selected from the inter-class players and seven games were played with outside schools.
A baseball league was formed along the same lines as basketball, with inter-class games played in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. A school team played a schedule of ten games with outside schools. Seventy- five boys took part in this spring activity.
In the fall 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. Over two hundred boys participated in this out-door sport.
In the track meet which was run on June 10, the ninth grade boys won the championship of the Junior High School.
Class work for the boys and girls in the Senior High School consists of marching, apparatus, corrective exercises, games and pupil teaching. The teaching experience gives a pupil poise and confidence and we find
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it a great help to many of the students who have been self-conscious. In addition, the sophomore girls and boys have a course in health education and the Physical Education Department contributes four lectures. The senior girls and boys have a required course in hygiene which is given by the Physical Education Department.
Athletics for girls in the Senior High School were carried on throughout the year with sports suitable for the season. We of course stress mass participation in all sports. In the fall we have inter-class tennis and field hockey. We are pleased with the large numbers coming out for tennis both spring and fall for we feel that this is a sport that can be carried along into later lifc. In the spring about forty girls reported for class and indi- vidual instruction; in addition to this we had a school team which played a schedule of four games. Ninety girls reported for basketball this year and besides inter-class games we will play a schedule of class games with other schools, after that schedule is completed a school team will be formed which will play a schedule of five games.
A great deal of interest was shown in the track meet which was held on June 10th. The Junior class won the meet.
Athletics for boys in the Senior High School consisted of football, basket- ball, baseball, hockey, track, tennis and golf. Fifty-four boys reported for basketball. Of this number ninc were considered members of the school team. Ten others made up a second team. "A schedule of twelve games was played by both teams. The remaining candidates formed class teams and played a series for the championship of the Senior High School.
About forty boys reported to Mr. Learnard for hockey. Although we had very little icc during January, a schedule of seven games were played- the final game being played at the Boston Arena.
In April seventy-two boys presented themselves as candidates for the Senior High School baseball team. Fifteen players were considered mem- bers of the first team and twelve others played on the second team. The first team played a schedule of seventeen games, while the second team played six games.
Track was started early in the month of February under the direction of Mr. Wheeler, for the purpose of training some of the boys for the B. A. A. meet which was held at the Boston Garden-eight boys participated in this meet. With the approach of spring all candidates for the out-door track team were called and thirty boys reported. The season consisted of onc inter-class meet, five dual meets with outside schools, one triangular meet and one inter-scholastic meet participated in at the Harvard Stadium.
Twenty-four candidates presented themselves to Mr. Archibald and Mr. Learnard for places on the golf team. Eight were selected to represent the school in outside matches. The Norfolk Golf Club of Dedham granted the use of their links free of charge for our home matches. In all, fifteen matches were played.
In the spring the tennis courts were in use constantly from the close of
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sehool until dark. A boys' tennis team was formed under the leadership of Mr. Woodbury and a schedule of ten matches was played.
In the traek meet which was held on June 10th in the grade schools, Junior High School and Senior High School, the senior elass was the victor.
In September one hundred and twenty-five boys reported for football and a sehedule of nine games was played with outside teams. The second team played two games with outside teams. The sophomore team played one game and a lightweight team played one game with other opponents.
Basketball practice for boys started during the Christmas vacation and fifty-five boys are now practicing.
Thirty boys have reported to Mr. Learnard for hockey at the present time.
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 fact that the school nurse is the connecting link between the school, the home and the various health and social agencies of the community has perhaps been more evident this past year than in any previous year.
The school nurse's duties are to assist the physicians with the health examinations and in the control of communicable disease, to secure the correction of physical defeets, to assist in obtaining adequate care for all sick children, to interpret the school health program to the parents, to advise teachers in regard to personal health problems and to participate in promoting the hygiene and sanitation of school buildings. It is necessary to read between the lines of this list to fully realize how extensive the work is.
Physical Examinations
The school physicians, Dr. Edward L. Brennan and Dr. Alfred E. Fenton examined every child in the school system. Notices of physical defects present at the time of the examinations were sent to the parents.
Dental Examinations
The teeth of all the children in the first six grades were examined by the school dentist, Dr. Timothy J. Curtin. About nine-tenths of this group needed dental attention. This inerease in dental decay ean be partially attributed to the inadequate diets resulting from the economic difficulties in the home.
In school the child learns to care for his teeth daily, to visit the dentist
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regularly and to eat the foods which provide adequate nutrition for build- ing new teeth and protecting from decay those already erupted but he will not establish these desirable habits unless the parents earnestly co- operate.
Mental Examinations
The examinations of one hundred and forty-three children have been completed by Dr. C. B. J. Schorer. She has made recommendations which will enable them to derive the greatest benefit from their school work.
The Child Guidance Clinic is carrying on its work with the inal-adjusted child under the leadership of Dr. Cragg.
Control of Communicable Disease
The communicable diseases reported during the year are as follows:
Scarlet Fever 43
Measles 48
Chicken Pox 5
Mumps. 2
Whooping Cough
26
Influenza .
5
Conjunctivitis 8
There was a noticeable increase in the number of scarlet fever cases necessitating a daily check-up examination of all contacts, visits to the homes of all children absent for unknown causes, exclusion from school of any and all children who showed signs of a communicable disease and an examination of all children returning to school after an illness. This same routine affected the follow-up of any of the communicable diseases.
Diphtheria Immunication Clinics
The parents of one hundred and twenty-eight first graders took ad- vantage of the opportunity to protect their children against that serious disease, diphtheria, which affects people of all ages but particularly young children. The school physicians gave the protective treatment of toxin- antitoxin injections to these little ones in February. In December they were given the Shick test to see if the desired immunity had been acquired.
Chadwick Clinic
The first Chadwick Clinic was held in Norwood eight years ago. Its purpose was to promote the health of the school child and prevent tuber- culosis by discovering the signs and treating the disease before serious illness occurred. Only eleven children from the original clinic are being followed up.
The preliminary steps have been taken to establish the second Chadwick Clinic which will be held in Norwood the latter part of February, 1933.
To date, the parents of four-fifths of the school children have availed themselves of the great opportunity offered by the Chadwick Clinic. It
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is perhaps more urgent in these hard times to take all possible precautions in the prevention of diseases.
School Eye Clinic
One hundred and ten children were seen by Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer at the school clinic. The vision of sixty-seven was corrected with glasses, eithteen required no changes in glasses then being worn, seven had medical treatment prescribed, and twenty-one needed no correction.
Audiometer Tests
The audiometer, a combination telephone and victrola, was used in testing the hearing. Of the sixteen hundred and seventy-three children tested, seventy-three were found to have defective hearing in one or both ears. These youngsters were referred to the family physician for treatment.
Weighing and Measuring
All children in the first six grades were weighed and measured monthly. This activity permits the child himself to measure the relationship between his habits and his growth and gives him an incentive for practice of good health habits. In the past underweight has been used to some extent in the selection of undernourished children. Recent studies, however, indi- cate that underweight alone may not be a reliable index to the child's nutrition. The important fact to emphasize is a steady gain each month. This the best indication of growth.
Mid-Morning Lunch
The mid-morning lunch has continued to be a popular activity. This lunch of milk and crackers is not supposed to take the place of the morning ineal but rather to supplement it in supplying additional material to im- prove growth. There have been many cases during this period of economic distress that have been helped a great deal by the addition of this food to an inadequate diet. During the year there has been an average of one hundred and fifty children receiving free milk daily. This free milk is made possible through the funds raised by the Norwood Woman's Club.
Health Day
The dental campaign for the school year ending in June showed marked improvement over the preceding years: Of the fourteen hundred and seventy children examined, thirteen hundred and twenty-three or nine- tenths, received certificates from the school or family dentist stating that all necessary dental work had been completed. This is one-tenth more than in 1931, two-tenths more than in 1929 and 1930, and four-tenths more than in 1928. The Shattuck, Beacon, and West schools had 100% correction of dental defects. There were thirty-six 100% rooms.
Child Health Day was observed in the Elementary Schools on June 6, 1932. Appropriate programs were held in each building.
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Our goal is "Every Child Physically Fit." The Health Day awards show that we are getting nearer to it each year, but we must thank all those who help us, namely, the parents, doctors, dentists and teachers.
The competition was between buildings. The Shattuck School was again the winner, having highest per cent of physically fit children.
The awards were as follows:
Physically Fit Badges
623
Teeth
1323
Weight 1225
Posture. .
813
Improved Posture
85
Improved Weight
310
Summer Camp
Four children spent the months of July and August at the Health Camp at the Norfolk County Hospital in Braintree. They returned greatly improved in health.
Welfare Work
The welfare work has been an important part of the year's program. The demands for food and clothing have been endless. It was necessary at all times to cooperate with all other social agencies to prevent, duplica- tions. This work could not have been accomplished without the money made available by the School Aid fund.
We thank the Norwood High School Quest Club, the Norwood Woman's Club, and other friends for their combined generous support of the healthi 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.
As in previous years, this Department has carried on the program outlined in 1929 which was planned to bring out not the entertaining value of music but its cultural, intellectual, ethical and vocational values.
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Music is required from the first grade to the ninth, thus giving all chil- dren an equal opportunity to learn the fundamental rules governing vocal and instrumental music.
The work begins in the first grade with the singing of rote songs and the sight reading of simple melodies. From the ninth grade to the twelfth, the singing is in four parts. Written tests are given monthly on the "Elementary Theory" which is taught in conjunction with singing.
A fact which shows the genuine inusical interest that prevails is that besides the required work mentioned above, over 700 pupils have this year elected either vocal, theory or instrumental courses.
The Elementary Glee Club composed of 230 young singers took part in the "Washington Bicentennial Celebration" at the Junior High School gymnasiumn last spring. The singing and the behavior of these fifth and sixth grade pupils brought forth many complimentary reinarks.
This fall, a Senior Chorus of fifty-five voices participated in the "Nor- wood Historical Society Celebration" by singing for the first time in Norwood a new cantata on "George Washington."
Besides playing at numerous local affairs, the Senior Orchestra gave a concert at Framingham for the "Principals' Convention."
The social value of Music was well demonstrated last May when the Department was instrumental in bringing to Norwood the "Massachusetts State Band and Orchestra Contest" in which twenty-two cities and towns were represented by several thousand participants. The first prize in the Junior Contest was won by our own Junior High School Orchestra.
Respectfully submitted,
J. V. DETHIER
Mr. Leonard W. Grant, Superintendent of Schools, Norwood, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Grant:
I herewith submit a report on Home Economics Education for the year ending December 31, 1932.
"America today is just a nation of homes." This statement alone justifies Home Economics education in our public schools. Figures recently compiled place the number of homes in America at 24,000,000. Thus homemaking becomes the largest vocation in which man or woman- kind engages. The relative importance of homemaking as a profession- for homemaking is a universal profession-may be summed up in the following quotation, viz .: "No community can be better than its homes." The home appears to be the one institution that can in itself improve society for as the majority of homes in a given community do and think,
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so will the community do and think. Insofar as homes fail in their higher ideals and obligations, so must communities fail.
Facing these realities we, engaged in public school education ask (1) What is the duty and share of the schools in molding Norwood children into worthy home members and citizens? and (2) What is to be our ac- cepted conception of an ideal modern American home? Shall it not be- a house outside and a home inside-a place where home members are happy, healthy and efficient, where care and troubles give way to rest and relaxation? A partnership with all members sharing the responsibilities- a success or failure according as each member proves loyal to the enter- prise? Should not the ideal home be a fortress against wrong-doing be- cause it assists each member in right living? It appears that if we are to accept these ideals we must place emphasis in our instruction upon better living, happier home life, conservation of health, a higher type of citizen- ship and a finer type of community life.
These are the ideals which we have set up in building Home Economics courses for Norwood girls and we believe that Home Economics instruction offers a very important contribution to every child's general education and is a cultural subject in the highest sense of the word. That this belief is shared by those who have conceived of the prodigious challenge in the field of homemaking is evidenced in the very titles of present day Home Economics texts, viz: "Making Homes," "My Home," "The Family and its Relationships," "Girls and Their Problems," "On Being a Girl" and a very new one which we have found most adaptable in our High School courses, "The Girl Today-The Woman Tomorrow." This last named book has recently been introduced as a text in this department.
Anyone willing to take a broad view of the meaning of Home Education will see in it the sociological, psychological, social, economics, educational and scientific approaches in offering subject matter to pupils, particularly if time is taken to analyse all phases of home life. We are therefore not concerned with any lack of content, but our greatest problem is to select and adapt the material most needed and suited to pupils at different ages. One can readily appreciate that to think of Home Econon.ics courses in terms of "Sewing" and "Cooking" is to think back to the very beginning of this curriculum which dates to 1870. We in Norwood believe in offering fundamental instruction in Home Economics of the type that will enrich the pupils' lives. We recognize the reality that homemaking becomes eventually the permanent vocation of the majority of women and this fact should not be overlooked while a pupil is training for a temporary vocation or profession. How can we consider as complete any education that does not present some of the real issues of home life and prepare us in some degree to meet problems and make adjustments as they arise in the course of living in our homes? It will occur to many that much home- making instruction should be given to boys as well as girls and when we find it possible to offer some homemaking training to boy we iray feel that we are offering a complete Home Economics program.
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In directing our attention so definitely upon the home we must not overlook the many advantages in the business world to pupils trained in Home Economics. Many and diversificd opportunities for employment present themselves under normal conditions.
We are realizing our objectives and idcals for Home Economics education more and more. Our courses are functioning and have earned much ap- preciation from pupils who have sensed the value of this training. Our chief obstacle to progress is the lack of general understanding of the value and extent of our subject matter. Unfortunately some of the hardest to reach are educators who draw a circle around their own subjects and do not attempt to understand comparative values in education. We feel that we are gaining ground rapidly through our pupils who sense the im- portance of this branch of education.
We regret the necessity to remove Home Economics instruction from the fifth grade as an economy measure this year. However we appreciate the ready cooperation and interest of the principals and teachers in the elementary schools who have so willingly adapted themselves and taken over the Home Economics instruction in the sixth grade.
An experiment with a Homemaking unit of instruction is being carried on this year at the Callahan School where facilities seemed most favorable to the plan. The unit is based upon the general theme "What can a girl of my age do to be of real assistance in my home?" We expect enthusiastic and valuable reactions from pupils and mothers.
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