USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 76
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It is unfortunate that it was necessary to discontinue this fall, the Child Guidance Clinic for older children. However, the Habit Clinic is still functioning at the Norwood Hospital each Friday morning. Norwood mothers should take advantage of the excellent service rendered by the clinic under the able leadership of Dr. Olive Cooper.
Communicable Disease Control
The control of communicable diseases has presented a most difficult problem this past year. In January and February mumps were prevalent with an occasional case of scarlet fever added. In March the mumps gave way to a widespread epidemic of german measles which attacked the young, old and intermediate members of families without any discrimination. The german measles predominated until June when the regular measles put in an appearance. In September seven cases of infantile paralysis were reported, necessitating a postponement of school opening. An eighth case was reported in October. Now, at the close of the year, we find measles again raising havoc in our midst.
To control these diseases to any degree has entailed endless daily in- spections of contacts; examinations of children showing any signs of in- fections or those returning after illness; and many, many home calls to ascertain why a child has been absent and, if with illness, whether or not he was having adequate medical attention.
Parents could help greatly if they would keep children from school who are not up to par physically or who show symptoms of a possible com- municable disease infection. Such precautions taken early would protect not only their children from added infection, but would keep other children from undue exposure to infection.
Diphtheria Immunication Clinics
One hundred and forty-nine children were given the toxin antitoxin inoculations to help them build up an immunity to diphtheria. Fifty-two children previously inoculated were given the Schick test and found to have acquired the desired immunity to this dread disease.
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Chadwick and School Clinics
The re-examinations of the children being followed by the Chadwick Clinic were done in February and December. The December report has not yet been received so will have to appear in a later report. The purpose of this clinic is to promote the health of the school child and prevent tuber- culosis by discovering any signs of the disease and treating it before serious illness occurs.
The report of the re-examinations in February is as follows:
Number of children recommended for re-examination 98
Number of children re-examined . 95
Number of children improved . 93
Number of children unimproved
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Number of children x-rayed . 94
Number of children recommended for Sanatorium treatment . 1
Number of children recommended for Summer Camp. 4 Left school and working group:
Number re-examined . 4
Number improved . 4
Number x-rayed .
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The Norfolk County Hospital at Braintree is now taking over the school clinics formerly carried on by the State Department of Health. Their objective is the same as that of the Chadwick Clinic.
The report of their clinic held in the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades in May is as follows:
Number of children examined 529
Number of children having positive tuberculin tests. 142
Number of children x-rayed . 145
Number of children classified as observation cases to be followed up and re-examined in a year 24
Each year, a new clinic will be held for children in the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades and re-examination of those being followed up during the year will be made.
School Eye Clinic
One hundred and sixteen children were seen at the school eye clinic by Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer. Forty-five had vision corrected with glasses, eight required no change in glasses then being worn, seven had diseased conditions of the eye treated, four no longer needed the correction of glasses and thirty-five necded no correction at all. Seven are to be seen at a future clinic for further check-up.
Audiometer Test
The audiometer test, a test for accuracy in hearing was given to sixteen hundred and fifty-one children and eighty-six were found to have de-
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fective hearing so that it was necessary to notify parents of the defect and urge treatment by the family physician. Diseased tonsils and adenoids and old ear infections were the major causes for these defects in hearing.
Weighing and Measuring
Weighing and measuring is perhaps the best means of interesting a child in observing the relationship between his health habits and his growth. It gives him an incentive to practice good health habits. A steady gain in weight each month is the best indication of growth. Weighing and measur- ing is a monthly activity carried on in the elementary grades. If there is any question as to the interest a child takes in his growth in height and- weight one need only visit school on weighing day. Even the nursery school child takes great joy and pride in each quarter inch or pound added to those inches and pounds he already has.
Mid-Morning Lunch
This activity is to be found in each building. The number taking ad- vantage of the service varies according to economic conditions in the homes, holiday activities or the early school lunches. About one hundred children have received free milk daily. This was made possible through funds raised by the Norwood Woman's Club. The bottle of milk, meager enough when considered by itself, has perhaps tided many a child over a rough spot and acted as a crutch to many a lame diet in the past lean years.
Health Day
Health Day was observed in the elementary grades on June 7th. This celebration was the culmination of the health program for the school year.
The child develops some habits any way, so it is essential that he acquire good habits which will aid him in keeping himself in the best possible physical condition. It not only helps him during his school life, but enables him to carry out in a more efficient manner the serious tasks of life.
There was no competition between buildings. The Shattuck School continued to hold its excellent record of 100% correction of dental defects. This is the sixth year for this enviable record and they are justly proud of it. The Balch had 90% correction of dental defects, the Winslow 96% and the Callahan 82%. When the report was sent to the state depart- ment in June, dental corrections for the first six grades were 96% and for the first nine grades 80%.
Banners for high standards in dental corrections, weight and posture were awarded individual classroomns. The children were awarded tags for having no remedial physical defects, o.k. teeth, good posture, and to those showing definite signs of growth as indicated by their gain in height and weight. Suitable programs were held in each building.
The success of such a prograin is dependent not only upon the doctors and nurses, but upon the continued hearty cooperation of the teachers, dentist, parents and the children themselves.
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Summer Camp
Eight weeks of vacation at the Health Camp in Braintree did much to improve the health of four of our children. This vacation is made possible by the sale of Christmas seals.
We wish to thank the Norwood Woman's Club, the Senior High School Quest Club, the Junior High School Community Club, the American Red Cross, and our other kind friends for their combined generous support of the health work.
The members of the health department wish to express their appreciation for the loyal support and helpful advice received from you, supervisors, prin- cipals and teachers.
MARY A. CANNING, R.N.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
I herewith submit my annual report as Supervisor of the Art Department for the year ending December 31, 1935.
For a detailed description of our aims and objectives and our methods in reaching these, reference may be made to my last year's report, since we are carrying out the same ideas as to the correlation of our drawing with any regular school subjects or special activity, as the need or oppor- tunity arises.
In the first grade, this correlation sometimes fits in best with Reading, as in the case of new books in one school, in which many activities and projects are suggested, calling for drawing, painting large pictures, cutting, modeling, construction work with cardboard and wood and the painting of the same, and the like. Some of these projects were the making of a store and the articles to sell in it, a playhouse, also large cardboard or paper dolls, drawn freehand and dressed in tissue paper or cloth to repre- sent members of the child's family.
In the second through the fourth grades, the Social Studies dealing with the people of many lands and their ways of living, seem to afford the best opportunity for the correlation of drawing with the regular school work.
In grades five and six, both Geography and History are illustrated. Grade six has made a special study this fall of Egyptian and Greek designs and is now making representations of typical ancient Greek vases. The same grade spent several weeks last spring in research work leading up to the making of large drawings illustrating the Age of Chivalry, depicting its lords and ladies, castles, knights on horseback and other related topics.
Freehand creative illustration of stories, poems, special holidays, games, outdoor sports, etc. is an important part of our present course, as well as much design. Art appreciation and the study of a number of famous paintings have become part of the course in certain schools. It is so ar-
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ranged that each pupil makes a looseleaf booklet, with a well designed cover containing his stories about these pictures and small colored repro- ductions of them, over a period of several years, adding several pages each year from grade three through grade six.
Soap carving proved a popular activity in one school, inspired by an exhibit of many prize-winning soap sculptures from all over the country, loaned by the manufacturers of Ivory Soap. Not all pupils did this carving-just those who were interested and had the ability for such work. Others carried out their ideas in different lines of activity, using wood, cardboard, cloth, paints or paper as they wished, during the free period allowed each week for creative work.
The Junior High Drawing has continued along the same lines as last year, with the same arrangement of teachers and number of periods.
Several new instruction materials have been used in the Senior High Art course, including the use of Graphite sticks for creative work and representation, also more water-color work has been done. Before Christ- mas many Arts and Crafts articles, including Christmas cards made with linoleum block prints, were designed and decorated. Some of the more talented pupils are now engaged in painting a large stained glass window effect using one of the famous Madonna pictures as a subject. As usual, many posters for school activities and town affairs were made, while the outstanding project was the painting of Japanese scenery and decoration of the stage with lanterns, cherry blossoms, pine trees, etc. for the operetta, "Lantern Land."
I wish at this time to express my sincere appreciation of the co-operation of all in the school system with whom this department comes in contact.
HELEN L. ARNOLD
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The following is the report of the Department of Physical Education.
As in previous years, the program carried on is according to that out- lined by the State Department of Physical Education. At all times in class, along with the regular work, a great deal of time is spent in trying to teach character building, sportsmanship, and good citizenship.
In the elementary schools, in addition to the regular class room work, playground activity and posture work, we have tried out some new ideas in the different schools.
There was a nice correlation of physical education with other subjects at one of the Balch School assemblies. The dances given by the third, fifth, and sixth grades furnished part of the background for the study of foreign countries.
Late in May, the Callahan School held an outdoor assembly for parents. Each grade put on a dance or a game which was part of their regular work.
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It was not an exhibition and did not take hours of rehearsing; it was a cross-section of their daily work.
The upper grades at the Shattuck School have been experimenting with a new type of exercise using the desks as apparatus. It is successful and furnishes an interesting variety of experiences.
The Winslow School has been trying a plan of dividing the fifth and sixth grades into four sections, two of boys and two of girls, the advanced group picked for strength and skill regardless of grade. Last year the boys had one dance and many stunts while the girls had a few stunts and several dances in addition to games and exercises.
In the spring season the boys had their regular baseball series. The results were: Number of games won: Balch, 3; Winslow, 2; Shattuck, 1; Callahan, 0.
The class work for Junior High consists of gymnastic exercises, marching, games, apparatus and posture work. Posture is stressed continually during class time and if an individual seems to need more attention they are given individual corrective work outside of class time.
During the fall of 1935 a Tenikoit Tournament was held for the seventh, eighth and ninth grade girls. Over two hundred pupils participated. Each girl was allowed to choose her own partner and this proved to be very popular. Basketball is the winter sport for the ninth grade girls and the seventh and eighth grade girls will finish their Tenikoit Tournament. There are about one hundred and twenty-five girls playing Basketball. Each home room elects a captain and plays every other home room, making about eight games for each team. In the spring, Volley Ball is the sport for the seventh and eighth grades and Baseball for the ninth. About two hundred girls come out for Volley Ball and seventy-five for Baseball. These above sports are all after-school activities. In addition to this, during the Club period Miss Gifford has a Tennis Club for seventh grade boys.
Basketball for boys in the Junior High School started after the Christmas vacation with one hundred and sixty-two reporting for practice. All of these boys tried to gain places on the Junior High School varsity team. After practice of two weeks, twenty-five boys were selected to play games with Norfolk Agricultural School, Stoughton Junior High, Sharon Junior High, and the Senior High School Second Team and Natick Junior High.
Besides the Junior High School varsity team, three basketball leagues werc organized between the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. One hun- dred and forty-five boys participated, and the schedule of games lasted well into the spring.
Baseball practice was then called and a Junior High School varsity team was organized, and two baseball leagues between the seventh and cighth grades. These leagues were organized for boys who do not play on the Junior High School varsity team. Two hundred boys participated.
During the fall, three tag football leagues for the seventh, eighth and ninth grades were organized. This game is played by the same rules that
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govern the official games of football, with this exception, that no tackling is permitted so as to prevent any cases of injury. Between one hundred fifty and two hundred boys participated in this activity.
During the Club period which is held during the sixth period on Friday afternoon, fifty-three boys formed an Athletic Dancing Club.
The regular class work for boys and girls in the Senior High School con- sists of marching, apparatus, corrective exercise, games and practice teaching. In addition to this we have a course in Health Education for Sophomores and the Physical Education Department takes charge of four lectures. The Seniors have their regular course in Hygiene which is given by this department. Additional corrective exercise is given to all indi- viduals needing special attention. We also took charge of dances, etc. in connection with the High School Operetta, "Lantern Land," which was given last spring.
Athletics for girls in the Senior High School consisted of sports suitable for the season. About seventy girls reported for basketball practice. We first play inter-class games, then class games with other schools and then pick a team to represent the High School in a schedule of five games. Sixteen of our girls were again invited to Brookline High School last year for two swimming play days and had a most enjoyable time. In the early spring about sixty girls reported for indoor Tennis instruction, and in May when the courts were opened many more joined the group. From this group our Tennis team was picked and played a schedule of six games. This year we will add Archery to our spring program. In the fall our girls play inter-class field hockey and inter-class tennis.
Athletics for boys in the Senior High School consisted of football, basket- ball, baseball, indoor track, outdoor track, tennis, and golf. During the Christmas vacation fifty-three boys reported for basketball. Of this num- ber, ten were chosen to represent their school as the varsity team against other high schools. Ten others made up a junior varsity team. A schedule of twelve games with outside schools was played by both teams. The remaining candidates formed class teams and played a series of games for the championship of the Senior High School.
In early January thirty-eight boys reported to Mr. Wheeler at the State Armory for indoor track. The following dual meets were held during the scason, two each with Dedham and Hyde Park, and one each with Water- town and Quincy. Two Interscholastic mcets were participated in at the Boston Gardens; i.e. the Northeastern Meet and the State Meet. At the State Meet, Norwood finished fifth in its class. In this meet Anthony Dundulis broke the State record for the 1000 yard run.
Spring track practice started in April with a group of forty boys re- porting to Mr. Wheeler. Nine dual mects were engaged in with the follow- ing schools: Watertown, Boston Latin, Brockton, Boston College High, Quincy, Attleboro, Waltham, Framingham and Needham.
Two . interscholastic meets were participated in, one at the Harvard Stadium and the State Meet at Newton. Norwood finished in second
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place in its class at Newton. We participated in the Needham Inter- scholastics and the Dedham Relay Carnival.
In April, fifty-five boys reported for baseball. Fifteen players were chosen to represent the school in games played with teams of outside schools. Twelve other players formed a second team and played a schedule of five games with other schools. The first team played a schedule of seventeen games.
In 1934, the Norfolk County High School Golf Association was formed and this past year Norwood still retained membership in this association which includes Norwood, Walpole, Needham, Canton, Sharon, and North Quincy.
Under the direction of Mr. Learnard, matches were played with each team in the association. Four outside matches were played, two with Brockton and two with New Bedford.
A six man team is the standard for the League, but thirteen boys took part at various times by alternating in the five and six positions. Of course, this weakened the team, but it gave more boys an opportunity to enjoy this activity.
The home matches were played at. the Walpole Country Club which the Directors generously placed at our disposal.
Spring tennis for boys under the direction of Mr. Fisher was carried on as usual except that all practice and home matches were held at the Civic courts. This was due to the fact that the High School courts were being reconstructed.
Approximately twelve boys took advantage of the training and com- petition. A tournament was held to obtain team positions, seventeen boys taking part.
Two matches each were held with Needham, Waltham, Milford, Brock- ton, Attleboro, and three matches with Boston College High School.
In September, ninety-six boys reported for football and a schedule of nine games was played with outside teams. The second team played two games with outside teams.
Indoor track started just before the Christmas vacation and thirty-five boys are now participating in this activity.
Basketball practice started during the Christmas vacation and fifty-six boys are now practicing.
H. BENNETT MURRAY
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
I herewith submit the annual report of the Music Department.
The course of music now in force is divided into three distinct branches, all correlated with the more conventional subjects of the curriculum. These three branches are as follows: Theoretical, Vocal and Instrumental.
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Each branch is sub-divided into several different classes. The Theoretical work which begins in the first grade as a required subject, becomes elective in the Senior High School where one hundred and eleven pupils are now enrolled in this group.
The Vocal work is required from the first to the ninth grades. In the tenth grade, it is required for one-half year only. Tried for the first time last year, it brought out the interesting fact that the pupils who at first objected to the required chorus work changed front when the half year came to a close, and asked to finish the year. This had to be refused owing to the fact that along with making room for the senior class gradua- tion music rehearsal, the sophomores had to take a course in Personal Health the second half of the year.
Sixty-seven students are now in elective vocal classes. The outstanding feature of the year was the rendition of the operetta "Lantern Land" in which students of the different music courses took part.
J. V. DETHIER
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ADULT ALIEN EDUCATION
I hereby submit my annual report of the Americanization Department.
The Americanization classes which numbered seven and which were held at the Balch School last year had an enrollment of 136, fifty women and eighty-six men. The nationalities represented were Syrian, Italian, Finnish, Swedish, German, Irish, Russian, Jewish, Polish, Lithuanian, Greek, French, Ukranian and English. There were five couples, that is husband and wife, who attended and two fathers and sons. The Italians had the highest percentage of representation (35%). Ninety percent were over thirty-five years of age. There were two men who had reached the age of seventy.
The graduation exercises were held April 1, at the Junior High School gymnasium. As part of the program, a citizenship play was presented by the pupils. The second act consisted of a court scene illustrating the naturalization procedure. The play was presented and proved quite impressive to the audience of a thousand people. There were one hundred State Certificates awarded and seventeen citizenship diplomas.
Besides the evening classes, there were five Mothers' Classes taught by the director. Two of these were taught in school buildings and three in the homes. There were thirty-four women enrolled in these classes which mnade a total enrollment of one hundred and sixty-six foreign born which were reached in Norwood last year.
October 17 marked the opening date of the classes for 1935. The enroll- ment to date was one hundred and thirty-seven in the evening classes and that of the Mothers' Classes thirty-nine, making a total of one hundred and seventy-eight. There are seven classes held at the Balch School on Mon-
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day, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from seven until nine o'clock. There are three day classes held in the schools; one at the Junior High School, one at the Callahan School and the third at the Balch School. The class held at the Callahan School consists of nine Italians, six of whom are illiterate. There are two young girls who only came from Italy in October. One girl is fifteen and the other is sixteen. These girls have attended school in Italy for seven years.
In December a home hygiene class was organized. It is being sponsored by the Red Cross and will continue until June, when thirty hours of work will have been completed. A Red Cross certificate will be presented to all who complete the course. There are fourteen women in the class and the instructor is Miss Mary Canning, R.N., supervisor of the health in the Norwood schools. The class meets every Monday afternoon at the Junior High School from one-thirty until three-thirty. Bandaging, bed-making, temperature taking and first aid are some of the things taught.
On January 10, a dressmaking class was opened at the Junior High School. This was sponsored by the Norfolk County Extension Service. The class meets every Friday afternoon from one o'clock until four. Mrs. Ruth Schufelt, the home demonstration agent, is the instructor. The course was finished February 11.
It is gratifying to observe the interest shown by these women who are anxious to take advantage of the opportunities given them.
Although our main object in the teaching of the foreign born is to Ameri- canize them, we do not let them forget the contributions which their countries have made to the United States and the world in general in art, architecture, painting, literature, sculptoring and music. We try to im- press on our new citizens the following idea: "You now have two countries, the land of your birth and the land of adoption in which freedom and op- portunity is enjoyed."
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