USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 57
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Communicable Disease Control
The new year found us with many cases of scarlet fever which fortunately decreased in number during the early months of the year and with the exception of a few scattered cases has presented no difficulty.
Chickenpox visited the schools in the early fall and as the old year waned we found that some mumps were in our midst.
Diphtheria Immunication Clinics
One hundred and ten children were given the toxin-antitoxin injections to help them build up an immunity to diphtheria. These children will have the Schick test in the fall. Schick tests were done on one hundred
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and twenty-four previously inoculated and all but three children were found to have acquired the desired immunity.
Chadwick Clinic
The re-examinations of children being followed by the Chadwick Clinic were done in February. The purpose of the clinic is to promote the health of the school child and prevent tuberculosis by discovering the signs and treating the disease before serious illness occurs.
The report of the re-examinations are as follows:
Number of children recommended for re-examination 122
Number of children re-examined
111
Number of children improved . 104
Number of children unimproved 7
Number of children x-rayed
119
Number of children tested .
35
Number of reactors.
6
Number of non-reactors. 29
Number of children recommended for sanatorium care 1
Number of children recommended for summer camp. 1
Number of children discharged from clinic . 7
Number of children referred to family physician for further follow-up 7
Number of children referred to local Board of Health for further follow-up 4
New cases examined.
3
New cases x-rayed.
3
School Eye Clinic
One hundred and sixteen children were seen at the school eye clinic by Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer. Sixty-two had vision corrected with glasses, fifteen required no change in glasses then being worn, five had diseased conditions treated, four no longer needed the correction of glasses and thirty needed no correction whatever.
Audiometer Tests
Sixteen hundred and eighty-nine children were given the audiometer test. One hundred and three of these were found to have defective hear- ing so that it was necessary to notify the parents of the defect and urge treatment by the family physician.
Weighing and Measuring
Weighing and measuring is a monthly activity carried on in the elemen- tary grades which give the child the opportunity to observe the relation- ship between his health habits and his growth. It also gives him an incen- tive for the practise of good health habits. A steady gain in weight each month is the best indication of growth.
288
Midmorning Lunch
This activity is carried on in each building. The number of children taking advantage of the service varies. Among the causes for this varia- tion may be listed economic reverses, holiday activities, and early lunches. The Norwood Woman's Club raises the funds which make it possible to serve free milk to some one hundred children each day.
Health Day
Health Day was observed in June completing the program in health carried on during the school year.
The competition for the banner for the school with the highest per cent of physically fit children was keen. The Shattuck School won with 83% of its children physically fit, but the Winslow School ran a close second with 82%.
It was particularly gratifying to report that Balch, Winslow, and Shat- tuck were 100% for dental corrections. The Shattuck has made this enviable record for five consecutive years. The Callahan missed out on a 100% record by only three. These three children, for one reason or another were unable to have their dental work completed before the con- test closed.
Besides the banner awards, individual awards in the form of celluloid buttons for Physical Fitness and paper tags for Teeth, Weight, Posture, and Improvement in Weight and Posture were given.
Suitable programs for the occasion were held in each building.
Summer Camp
Four children had the advantage of attending the Health Camp in Braintree for a period of eight weeks. They returned greatly improved.
We wish to thank the Norwood High School Quest Club, the Norwood Woman's Club and our other kind friends for their combined generous support of the health work.
The members of the health department wish to express their apprecia- tion for loyal support and helpful advice received from you, supervisors, principals, and teachers.
MARY A. CANNING, R. N.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
I herewith submit the annual report of the Music Department. The value of the class instruction in instrumental music for beginners inaugu- rated in 1931 was well brought out this fall when the pupils from these classes proved themselves capable of entering the Junior Orchestra without further preparation.
Although there is an increase in the number of pupils registered in instru- mental classes, it is hoped that more boys and girls will avail themselves
289
of the opportunity to study some instruments and receive instruction which will help them to make worthy use of their leisure time. The Grade Glee Clubs have participated in several Parent-Teacher meetings and at present are working on a new cantata written on Longfellow's poem, "The Friends of Hiawatha," which they hope to give in a massed performance next spring.
One outstanding feature of the year was the presentation by the Senior High School Dramatic and Musical Clubs of the musical comedy, "The Pirate's Daughter," over one hundred boys and girls taking different parts.
The course of Music Appreciation now given in the High School has for its initial year an enrollment of eighty-seven students. This course, which is closely allied to History, Geography and English, is the first step in the direction pointed out by Mr. Frank W. Wright, of the Massachusetts Department of Education, when he said that: "More pupils in the second- ary schools should be studying the literature and biography of music as a part of their general culture and education than are now doing so. I can see much reason in the general education of a boy and girl for them to know something of the life of Mozart, Schubert and Haydn as we now require that they know something of the life of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln."
A major course in music is now offered to students wishing to further their knowledge in this subject either for educational or vocational pur- poses. Seventeen boys and girls elected this course which consists of two periods of Appreciation of Music, two of Voice Training and one of Har- mony per week.
Five members of the Senior Orchestra represented Norwood in the New England Festival Orchestra at Hampton Beach, N. H., last spring.
J. V. DETHIER
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF HOME ECONOMICS EDUCATION
The need for a better interpretation of Home Economics Education in our public schools still exists and remains our outstanding problem at the present time. When Home Economics philosophies, functions and ob- jectives are better understood and their true values are sensed, progress can be more definitely measured and greater satisfactions from our teach- ings will be noted.
What is Home Economics?
Home Economics or Homemaking Education is distinctly a FIELD of education and not a subject. In its broadest conception it cannot be limited to girls alone. Through the angles of class instruction, the school lunchroom, social activities and the school health education program Home Economics penetrates school life and its influence should reach beyond the school to the homes and the community. Home Economics
290
can be and should be a source for educational material for everyone because its content is real; it deals with situations which lead to a full life-a life which harmonizes the technique of living with the technique of attainment.
Homemaking, far more than being a job or a profession is a "way of liv- ing" and should educate through present experiences for the kind of lives our boys and girls are going to live.
What is Our Philosophy for Home Economics Education?
Home Economics courses should be founded upon our convictions as to the real significance of things in life, i. e. the things that matter or, as Mr. Chips would say, a "sense of proportion" in living. Always holding to our ideals we must constantly make adjustment in our teachings to meet changing social orders and new educational theories. We can hope to teach Home Economics effectively only as we believe and practice our standards of living.
How Are We Building Our Courses?
On the foundation of the real needs of homes, insofar as we can determine them. We are searching for newer approaches and aiming for newer outcomes. We are trying to build into our curriculum the details con- cerned with the carrying out of our philosophies. Although we teach abilities which are measurable and much of our instruction is concrete, we also deal with intangible understandings and out of our teachings should come a stronghold of purposes, ideals and loyalties. For example: It is timely to be poor, therefore we must teach methods of making the most of what we have and how to share. Our teachings should bring out a greater appreciation of home values, a respect for the point of view of others and a sense of our interdependence.
Can We Measure the Effectiveness of Our Attainment?
We have been building firmly when we can note in our pupils an in- creased sense of neighborliness, respect, good citizenship, health, enjoy- ment in living, development of character, self-reliance and self-direction as well as broader attitudes and concepts which will aid them in their social development.
The usual routine of the department has continued throughout the year with continued high enrollment and evidence of much interest from pupils. Pupils have shared all department activities, assisting wherever cooperation has been needed. They have served on committees for costume-making and have served luncheons on several occasions. Our High School afternoon teas for pupils, faculty and invited guests have provided enjoyment as well as excellent practice in social etiquette.
Through the generosity of pupils and teachers three bountiful Thanks- `giving dinners were packed by Junior High Home Economics classes and distributed through the Public Health Department to needy families.
Although three new teachers came into the department this September, ready adjustment was made to our methods and system and no break has
291
been felt in the department routine. The sixth grade Home Economics has been covered by Framingham State College undergraduates. Although this arrangement has been satisfactory it is very desirable that the ele- mentary Home Economics classes be conducted by a fully-trained Home Economics teacher as heretofore.
All courses of instruction have been revised to conform to conditions. Because of the change made in credit value in ninth grade Home Eco- nomics courses, the content of these courses was enlarged for the September opening of schools. It is gratifying to note larger enrollment in Junior High major courses. There still appears to be need of making provision for short courses for pupils desiring them (at Junior High School).
Recommendations
1. Reinstatement of a trained Home Economics teacher in grades 5 and 6 with return to regular courses in these grades.
2. Opportunity for short course elections in the ninth grade.
3. Room space at Junior High School for setting up facilities for branches of homemaking which have been curtailed because of unsatis- factory conditions for presenting the work.
4. Provision for boys to receive some of the homemaking instruction ยท which is vital to them.
5. An adequate supply of text-books and visual aids to teaching for both Junior and Senior High School.
May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the excellent spirit and cooperation shown by all members of this department, and to all who have worked for the advancement of the department during the year.
AGNES M. BRIDGES
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ADULT ALIEN EDUCATION
The year 1933-1934 was one of struggle for the Americanization workers. When school opened in the middle of October there were about eighty pupils enrolled. This was due to the labor unrest which was just about ready to develop serious difficulties. On December third the tannery strike occurred and because of the violence and turmoil the School Com- mittee deemed it wise to close Evening School until after the Christmas holidays. School was not resumed until January 9, 1934. This whole situation certainly had a disastrous effect on the school. The people could not seem to arouse their interest in education because of their labor troubles. Although the actual enrollment for the year was ninety-five, the active membership at the close of the year was sixty-five.
In January our work with the Norfolk Agricultural School and the Red Cross started and thirty women representing nine nationalities en- rolled in these classes. The cooking class met once a month at the Junior High School under the direction of Miss Ruth Gurney. The women were
292
especially interested because they not only learned how to prepare Ameri- can dishes but they learned how to get more for their dollar.
The home nursing class, under the direction of Mrs. Higgs of the Boston Chapter of the American Red Cross, met once a week at the Junior High School. This was most valuable since the women were learning health rules and habits which are so essential to every human being. Tem- perature reading, bandaging, respiration and pulse taking were some of the necessary things taught.
On the eleventh of April the graduation exercises were held in the Junior High School gymnasium. The pupils presented a pageant called "The Pageant of Peace." Nine nationalities were represented in native costumes and America was represented by Red Cross Nurses and Boy Scouts. The boys and girls of the Junior High School kindly took these parts.
In April 1934 Congress voted to reduce the fees for naturalization fifty percent. This reduction of fees and the necessity of final papers to obtain employment increased the enrollment in the fall of 1934. It was necessary to hire another teacher. There are now seven classes which meet at the Balch School. There are seventeen men in the Men's beginner class and fifteen women in the first year women's class. The advanced class has an enrollment of twenty-two, three of whom completed two years of high school. The citizenship class has twenty-three members, five of whom will have their final papers at the close of the school year. There are six couples who attend school. The ages range from seventeen to sixty-six. There are fifteen different nationalities.
The enrollment before the Christmas vacation was one hundred and twenty-one in the Evening School and thirty-six women in the mothers' classes. These classes are taught in the homes by the supervisor and are divided into five groups. These classes are called "Home Classes."
With the new requirements made by the Federal examiners the attendance and enrollment should be much higher. No petitioner for citizenship is to be examined unless he has attended school and received a card signed by the citizenship teacher and the supervisor.
This work has many interesting fields and it is with keen interest and great concern that I watch the foreign born take advantage of the oppor- tunity placed before them.
MARGARET E. CURRAN
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
The objectives in our Art courses, namely First,-Information; Second,- Appreciation; Third,-Expression; have remained the same, but we have increasingly tried, especially in the elementary grades, to have our drawing fit the pupil's needs and interests both in school and outside. The out- side interests might be illustrated by posters, drawings, etc., appropriate
0
293
to the various holiday seasons or illustrating various outdoor activities, also the making of Christmas gifts, while the school needs arise when certain countries or peoples are studied in the social subjects, when covers are necessary for notebooks of many kinds or when a background or setting is needed for some school play.
While we have always made drawings typical of certain countries, their scenery and people, etc., we have done much more of that kind of work recently. Very interesting notebooks on "Ancient Peoples" were made in two schools, with appropriate cover designs and many freehand illus- trations. These same pupils planned individual projects to illustrate the contributions of these ancient peoples in various lines, such as fire, cooking utensils and implements of all kinds, also posters showing the history and progress of costumes, transportation on sea or land, architecture, etc. One room is now making, as a group project, a large illustrated wall chart about these same people, decorated with a Greek repetition border. While many of these projects were not actually made in the drawing periods, the pupils' previous experiences in freehand lettering, sketching, balance, spacing and arrangement of illustrations, etc., doubtless helped in their ability to plan and execute such interesting visual expression of what they had learned.
In the lower grades the free, creative expression of many subjects has been very interesting. In some cases, paper panels several feet long fast- ened on blackboards or bulletin boards have been worked on by many pupils, each contributing what his ability indicates. Some more talented pupils draw figures of people or animals, less talented ones the trees or other accessories, while those with the least creative or technical skill are pleased to color sky, grass or water. Some very interesting large pictures of In- dian and Puritan life were made in this way in several first grades, while a third grade did the same with a village street as the subject. In illustra- tion of this kind it is not necessary or desirable that all schools or rooms of the same grade work out the same project. It is done as the need or desire arises in any particular room, to fit in with any activity, story, etc. For instance, first grade children who visited a dairy farm made large illustra- tions of what they had seen on their return, as did second graders who visited a grocery store in connection with their social studies. All creative, illustrative drawings are made on a large scale, allowing for much freedom and elimination of small, fussy details. Many rooms have easels, where children may work as a special privilege, using large crayons, chalk or paint.
Although not as many actual periods per week have been given to Drawing in Grades VII and VIII in Junior High School since last Sep- tember, so many group or individual projects made in connection with Science, English, Social Studies, etc., call for illustrations, lettering, judg- ment in planning arrangements and spacing, that the pupils are using Art constantly, although sometimes perhaps unconsciously. As for several years, "Kindness to Animals" posters were made in Grades VIII and IX,
294
a large number sent to Boston to enter the annual state contest and many medals received. Grade IX classes also made posters advertising the President's Birthday Ball, the Clean Up Week in Norwood and the annual Hospital Drive, as well as planning designs which were used on costumes in plays.
A number of Grade VIII pupils have regular Arts and Crafts classes sev- eral times a week. Various articles of cardboard, some bookbinding, reed basketry, wooden toys, beaded decorations, dolls dressed for the Hospital, leather pocketbooks are some of the problems which have been carried out this fall. An Indian Crafts club has proved very interesting to the 26 boys electing it. Notebooks full of information about different tribes of Indians, their home life, etc., have been made; leather moccasins are in process of making, while later Indian utensils and implements of various kinds will be constructed of wood, stone and clay.
The Art classes in the Senior High School continue to show growth and progress, both in the number electing the courses and the quality of the work accomplished. This department is still working under the handicap of frequently having sophomores, juniors and seniors in a class at the same time. This sometimes necessitates the carrying on of several kinds of lessons at the same time, as a lesson suitable for a Grade X pupil might be too simple to hold the interest of a Grade XII pupil, while one advanced enough for a senior, might be too complicated for a sophomore, especially if the latter had not elected Art in Grade IX.
In addition to the regular Art projects, various cover designs for the Arguenot were inade, as well as posters for football games, the Junior and Senior Proms and other school activities, also accessories and decorations for several school affairs.
Organizations in the town have asked for posters frequently at very short notice and the department is proud of the way the pupils have re- sponded to these calls, putting in many hours after school and at home. Some of these calls were for posters advertising the President's Birthday Ball, the annual Hospital Drive, the Penny Sale of the Telephone Opera- tors, the Thrift Shop Opening, etc.
The outstanding project of the year was the planning and execution of the background scenery for the High School Operetta "The Pirate's Daughter." A number of pupils submitted sketches of appropriate Dutch landscapes, while the finished scene was painted on large. beaver board panels by a few of the most talented pupils.
In closing, I wish to acknowledge my appreciation of the unfailing co- operation of all in the school system with whom this department comes in contact.
HELEN L. ARNOLD
-
-
295
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Total number of investigations, 542, as follows:
Truancy
97
Illness
234
Lack of shoes or clothing
28
Assisting at home 50
Moved.
8
Permanently discontinued school
25
Home permits requested
7
Working permits requested.
1
Miscellaneous cases .
92
542
Total number of children returned to school, 31.
HENRY F. BREEN
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE, OCTOBER 1, 1934
Ages
Grades
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 and Over
Totals
1
66
139
16
221
2
51
128
23
2
2
206
3
51
135
27
10
223
4
51
118
29
6
. 5
1
210
5
55
141
24
4
2
226
6
55
116
30
13
2
1
217
7
59
128
46
9
9
251
8
3
66
132
53
22
9
1
286
9
1
67
131
29
14
2
244
10
3
120
67
18
5
1
214
11
10
144
74
24
1
1
254
12
8
127
51
16
1
1
204
Special
1
1
3
9
7
10
5
10
2
48
Post Grad.
5
4
4
3
16
Totals
66
190
195
210
203
240
217
241
271
203
201
244
227
84
22
2
4
2820
296
297
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR 1934
A perusal of the report and recommendations of the Finance Commission to the town meetings will acquaint the citizen with the details of the prob- lem which the Commission had to meet.
In general we were faced with the same situation as faced the previous Commission in 1933. The voluntary contributions made by the em- ployees of the town in 1933 served to decrease the tax burden considerably in that year.
In addition to the increased burden of welfare relief we are faced with the problem of decreases in valuation which accomplish the same purpose as increased costs in that it reduces the source of revenue.
A continuation on the same level of welfare costs or as appears at this time an increase in such costs points to a situation in 1935 or 1936 which will necessitate either a resumption of the voluntary contributions or a decrease in compensation.
While the advent of agencies of the federal government have provided employment, the burden of which it would not have been possible for the town to assume unaided, it has been necessary to provide for the material costs of the projects carried on. Though this expenditure is not great in comparison with the amount expended by the Emergency Relief Adminis- tration in payment of labor costs it must be borne in mind that the men employed on these projects would in normal times be absorbed in private industry and no contribution from the town would be necessitated.
The Finance Commission has endeavored to keep departmental costs as low as possible without impairing their efficiency.
Owing to the uncertain conditions which prevailed at the beginning of the year 1934, namely, unemployment, welfare and the indefinite amount which we would receive from the Federal Government, the Com- mission requested the sum of twenty thousand ($20,000) dollars for Re- serve Fund. This appropriation is subject to transfer by vote of the Finance Commission and during the year the following transfers were authorized:
21 E. R. A. Projects. $ 8,302.04
E. R. A. Administration Building at the Highland Cemetery . . 3,976.59
16 Departmental Deficiencies 1,894.83
Salary of E. R. A. Investigator 729.16
To meet expense of Board of Assessors in Proceedings before Board of Tax Appeals on Petitions for Abatement of Taxes 4,750.00
19,652.62
The balance of
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