Norwood annual report 1939-1941, Part 18

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1939
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1396

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1939-1941 > Part 18

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Table V. Predictions Regarding Next Year's Enrollment

Seniors

Juniors 278

200

126

257

*Sophomores

Total 735

* From Junior High School 185

From St. Catherine School. 72

257

Elimination from these groups is of course going to take place during the next eight months so that the actual number of pupils who are likely to appear in September, 1940 should be some few less than are enrolled at present.

Changes in Teaching Staff

With the close of school last June, Miss Doris Dexter resigned from the Department of Modern Languages to be married. This resignation had been anticipated, and the program for September, 1939 was constructed with the understanding that this position would not be filled. During the school year of 1938-1939 Miss Dexter was teaching two classes of English, so that with her resignation these classes had to revert to the English Department. Miss Dexter began her duties at the Norwood High School in September, 1935, and has been a very efficient teacher of French.

In June, 1939 Miss Gray died rather unexpectedly. Miss Gray began her duties in the English Department of the Norwood High School in 1927. In connection with her work in English, she built up a great deal of interest in Dramatics among the pupils of the school, so that fifty or sixty pupils have been concerned with this work each year. No one was appointed to take Miss Gray's place, and with the added burden which has been placed upon the other teachers in the department by the loss of Miss Gray, there seems no way at present by which this work in Dramatics may be carried on.

In September, 1938, as a result of the request of a group of parents, Italian was introduced into the curriculum of the school. When the elective blanks were circulated in the spring of 1939, it became apparent that only a very small number of pupils were going to continue the study of Italian begun the previous year, and it became equally apparent that not enough pupils in the incoming class in September were going to elect the subject. The School Board made no provision for instruction in Italian after an experiment of one year. Miss DeSalvo, who was elected to teach Italian in September, 1938, also taught one class in English, so that with the loss of this teacher in September, 1939, this class in English had to revert to the English Department along with the two spoken of resulting from the loss of Miss Dexter.

As this report is being written, Miss Mary Egan of the Commercial Department is presenting her resignation as teacher in order that she may be married. Miss Egan began her duties in our Commercial Department

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in September, 1930. She was well liked by the students, and her loss will be felt when school begins again after the Christmas holidays.

A consideration of the above facts will show that the school is operating this year with twenty-four more pupils than we had a year ago and with the loss of two full-time teachers and one part-time teacher. When this situation comes about, it is bound to produce some curtailment in the activities of the school, among which may be mentioned the following:

1. Classes are larger, with a resultant lessening of the time which may be devoted to the individual pupil in these classes.

2. All teachers in the building are busy a greater proportion of the time than was the case a few years ago, with the result that these teachers have less time to devote to the extra-curricula activities of the school, as was pointed out above in the loss of the dramatic groups.

3. We have fewer teachers available for the library, with the result that at certain times in the week there are no pupils permitted to use this room because we have no teacher available.

On the other hand, there has been no teacher who has complained about the additional work, and the general morale of both teachers and pupils has been excellent.

Curriculum Changes

With the beginning of school in September, three important additions were made to the curriculum:

1. A shop course was introduced for girls. The average woman in the home is quite helpless in the art of repairing some of the common house- hold utensils. This course was arranged in an attempt to overcome this situation and also that these girls might learn the uses of simple tools. There are at present eighteen girls taking the subject, and some of them have already completed some worthwhile projects. It is hoped that enough girls will elect this subject from now on so that this work may be a permanent part of our curriculum.

2. A course in Dressmaking was introduced for Senior girls. This course is designed to supplement the sewing of the major course which ends at the close of the Junior year, and only those pupils who showed ex- ceptional ability are permitted to enter. There are now twenty-three girls taking the subject, and many worthwhile projects have been started. These girls are going to be interested in clothes as long as they live, and if the school can do anything to teach economy in manu- facture, it would seem that this work is very much worthwhile. For a more detailed report of this work, attention is called to the observa- tions made by the Supervisor of Home Economics which appear else- . where in the school report.

3. A course in Vocations was introduced for Seniors. In the Town Report of one year ago, attention was called to the fact that there seemed to be an increasing percentage of unemployment among the High School

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graduates of the three previous years. Since these reports are written in December, the graduates of the previous year have been out of school approximately six months and thus have had a reasonable time to seek employment. This increase in unemployment among our young people is probably a product of the economic trend of the times and something over which the school has no control. It did seem, however, that the fact ought to be noted by the school and some effort made to do some- thing about it.

With this thought in mind the elective blanks which were distributed to the pupils last spring listed this course as a required subject for Seniors unless they could show that they had very definite plans for September, 1940. After school was organized last fall, approximately one hundred boys and girls in the Senior class were found who were willing to devote one period a week to the discussion of the problem not only of getting jobs, but in holding positions once they were secured. These pupils are now arranged in four classes: two of the boys, and two of girls. It is hoped that arrangements may be made with the business men of the community so that they may be willing to come to the school when they need employees, because such arrangements would enhance the value of such work a great deal in the attitudes of the pupils con- cerned.

Athletics

During the past school year there have been one or two additions to the athletic program of the school which seem worthy of mention:

Band Equipment

After two years of experimentation with the band at football games with unsatisfactory equipment, forty-five new uniforms were purchased last September at a total cost of $324.60. This bill was paid from the following sources:

Contributions from the faculty.

An assessment made against the Athletic Association by vote of the Execu- tive Board.

Contribution from the Music Fund of the school.

Contribution from the General Fund of the school from inoney which has accumulated over the years from small sums left by the graduating classes.

The people of the town should realize that this initial expense does not represent by any means the total expense involved in the maintenance of this organization. We are now faced with the problem of having all this equipment cleaned in preparation for next September at considerable expense. We are also faced with the additional expense involved with the transportation of the band to the football games which are out of town.

The average person has little conception of the cost necessary to carry on an athletic program throughout the year. When one stops to consider

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that it costs approximately $35.00 to equip adequately each boy who plays football (and we certainly do not want them to play unless they are equipped adequately), that we make an effort to take care of every boy who shows any inclination to play, and that during the past fall a total of about fifty- six boys have been taken care of, it is not surprising that a considerable amount of money must be necessary to carry on such a program.

Athletic Insurance

During the past few years there has grown up among the high schools in New England increased participation in the Athletes Accident Benefit Fund sponsored by a committee from the secondary schools of New Eng- land. This plan was recommended by the Insurance Commissioner for the State of Massachusetts and passed by the State Legislature last sum- mer. Briefly, each pupil enrolled pays one dollar at the beginning of the school year which gives him protection not only on the athletic field, but in his regularly supervised gymnasium classes, and carries a guarantee of stated payments for certain types of injuries. During the football season we had twenty-eight boys enrolled, and there is some indication at the time of writing this report that a group of girls who expect to participate in the basketball program of the school during the coming winter may also enroll for this protection.

Up to the present time it has been understood by our Athletic Associa- tion that the school would be responsible for medical care costs not to exceed fifty dollars in the event of injuries to our students sustained in the regular routine of the school athletic program. The records show that this amount has been exceeded in some cases so that the school has really assumed the entire responsibility. Under the present plan some of this responsibility is now assumed by the student, and whatever amounts are returned to the school from the insurance company means that the school has that much less of the obligation to assume. During the past football season there were two injuries to boys for which the company pays $20.00 each.

Indoor Track

During the past five years some forty boys have been receiving instruc- tion in winter track activities at the State Armory. The group, with one or two exceptions, have been boys who have not been engaged in basketball, so that the duplication of effort between these two sports amounts to almost nothing. The season lasts approximately eight weeks and money for the rental of the Armory has been appropriated each year through the office of the Superintendent of Schools. This year these rental fees have in- creased, and either our work will have to be curtailed or additional appro- priations will have to be made. If we assume that $250.00 has been spent for rental fees over the five-year period, this sum of money would easily have paid for more than half of a permanent board track which could be set up in some appropriate place on the High School grounds and which

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would of course be much more available for the use of these boys than the present accommodations at the Armory. Additional facts in this connec- tion are brought out in the report of Mr. Murray, and I hope that the School Board may give some consideration of this problem.

Activities of the Graduates of Last June

The following table spread over the last four years shows the trends in the items listed regarding High School graduates:

Table VI

Not Accounted

Totals

Class

In School

At Work

At Home

Married

for

236

1936

89 37%

102

43%

12%

15 6%

172

1937

49 28%

51%

16%

7 4%

221

1938

83 37%

40%

19% 2 0.9%

4 1.8%

199

1939

63 31%

38%

27%

5 2.0%

The above table is interesting because it shows certain facts very clearly:

1. About the same number of our pupils continue their education in some school each year.

2. The number of pupils unemployed continues to increase and is further justification for the classes in Vocations as explained above.

3. The decreasing percentage of pupils unaccounted for would seem to indicate that the school is following its graduates more closely each year.

Lane Medals

In connection with the graduation exercises of June, 1939, the following pupils received Lane Medals:

Ruth I. Svibergson

Jennie M. Patinsky

Valerie M. Baltadonis

James J. Shyne

Elsie E. Carlson

Anita A. Gulla

Helen S. Pielka

Rita L. Reardon

Ellen K. Anderson

Elizabeth Bernier

Frances M. Sears

Martha M. Gustafson

Jenney T. Wasilunas

Carl Ransow

Magda E. Larson

Virginia Clapp

Marise S. DeRoma

Marion C. Wenstrom

The graduation program of the Class of 1939 is attached.

In closing this report may I record the fine spirit of cooperation which has existed among the faculty during the past year in spite of additional demands which have been made on their time. May I also record the fine spirit of cooperation which exists among the student body. Finally, I am

131

most appreciative of the friendly advice and counsel which the Superin- tendent has given from time to time as I have found it necessary to seek his assistance.

LEIGHTON S. THOMPSON

Graduation Exercises of Norwood High School Class of 1939 Tuesday Evening, June 6, 1939 Junior High School Gymnasium Program

Processional-"Marche Triumphale". H. Weber High School Orchestra

Invocation

Rev. William English

"Hail Flag"

E. Grieg

Words by J. J. Gormley Arranged by J. V. Dethier

Chorus and Orchestra

A History of Education in Norwood

Part I Elizabeth Bernier Part II Brony Lutz

"Polka de Concert" Clay Smith Trombone Solo-Kauko Kahila

Gift of the Class of 1939

Renaldo A. Fatch

Acceptance of the Gift for the School David J. Maitland

"Oh Hail Us, Ye Free" Verdi

Chorus and Orchestra

Award of Medals and Prizes

Mr. Lincoln D. Lynch, Superintendent of Schools Plimpton Art Prize Berwick English Prize Teachers' Club Scholarship John F. Murray Athletic Cup Norwood Mothers' Club Home Economics Award High School Scholarships Lane Medals

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Presentation of Diplomas

Mrs. Edward T. Chandler, Chairman of School Committee "Norwood"

Wheelock, '13 Arranged by Walsh, '13

Chorus and Orchestra (The audience is invited to join)

"The Star Spangled Banner" (First and last stanzas)

Recessional-"March of Peers"

High School Orchestra

The audience will please remain seated during the entire recessional. Senior High School Orchestra directed by Professor J. V. Dethier

Graduates

Margaret Catherine Ahearn

Sophie Alexandrowicz

Ellen Katherine Anderson

Anne Arbarchuk

Fred Babel

Nicholas Bader

Jennie A. Badger

Fred Wesley Baker, Jr.

Teresa Kathleen Balboni

Valerie Mary Baltadonis

Warren Spencer Dobson Marjorie Elizabeth Donlan

Francis M. Donovan

Albert Matthew Bishop

Alphonse Bochanowicz

Teresa Magdeline Bonfatti Minnie Boulis Joan Ellen Brady

Charles Francis Drummey Lillian Early Margaret Lillian Eklund Esther Engberg

Virginia Louise Brown

Renaldo Anthony Fatch

Mary Katherine Burns David Joseph Butters

Salvatore C. Ferrara

Mary Ann Byrne Constance Emilia Calderone

Ellen Elsie Carlson Priscilla A. Carlson Lucy L. Chully Natalie Rita Clancy Virginia Clapp

Alice Anne Coakley Stephen O. Coakley James Francis Collins

Anne Bernice Connolly Jean Marie Connolly Pauline Anne Connolly Edward M. Costello Helen B. Cushman Jerome James Daunt Shirley Marise DeRoma

Henry Benedetti Jack Harry Berkland Elizabeth Bernier Jane Billingham

William Charles Donovan

Charles Murray Farren, Jr.

Mary Anne Fisher Catherine Margaret Flaherty John Joseph Flaherty Joseph Patrick Flaherty Martin Francis Flaherty Peter Flaherty Eileen Elizabeth Flynn Matthew Patrick Folan

Sullivan

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Thomas Peter Folan Coleman Foley

Barbara Agness Foster

Florence Louise Gallagher Rose Mary Gallazzi

Dorothy Mary Massey Edward Rae Mattson

Joseph Edward Giampietro Louis William Giampietro

Jane Westcott Gilliland

John Joseph McAuliffe

Agnes Marie Glebus

Eugene McDonough

Robert Turner Gordon

Henry Joseph McKeown

Donald Frederick Griffiths

Joseph Patrick McLean

Nellie Theresa Grudinskas

Albina Joan Medvesky

Anita Ann Gulla

Albert Mike

Edward Philip Muehlberger

Gladys Montgomery

Walter William Hauck

Francis Joseph Mulkern

Helen Marie Hawkins

Joseph Murphy

Isabel M. Mutch

Beruta Neviackas

Eleanor Rose Nicholson

Daniel Cox Horton

Helen Nikituk

John Edward Hynes

Harold Francis Nordblom

Renzo Adriano Ippoliti

Richard Alden Norton

William S. Ivatts

Alice M. O'Brien

Gertrude Constance Jackstis

William Leo O'Brien

Victoria Bliss Jacome

Helen Pauline Jankowski

Mary Margaret O'Day

Kauko Emil Kahila

Martin Francis O'Donnell

James Timothy O'Leary

Julius F. Kauffman Margaret A. Kelley Robert M. Keyes

Julius L. Onichuk Hollis K. Osterholm

Frances Maud Pascoe

Jennie Marie Patinsky

Jasper Joseph Pazniokas

Henry Lanzoni

Jane Mary Pendergast Helen S. Pielka Valeria J. Plosinski

Agnes Tarte Lazelle

Dorothy M. Lobisser

Kristina V. Lukawecki

Brony Frank Lutz Louise Patricia Lydon

Martin Joseph Lydon Caroline Catherine Machum

Bronis William Mackys

Louis A. Maguire Francis George Malacinski

Frieda Rosalia Pogrelz Joseph Francis Praino Eugene O. Pudsey

Mary Frances Purpura

Eleanor Grace Pusateri Gladys Elaine Rafuse

Carl Ransow

Rita Louise Reardon

James Dougald Renton

Rashedy Ricardia Maloof Luceano Anthony Marinelli Agnes Martowska

Ruth Patricia Mattson

Gladys Blanche Mazzola

Martha Marie Gustafson Ernest Newton Hanscom

John William Heylin Alena Catherine Hill Jean Bernice Hoel

Mary Evelyn O'Connor

Raymond Henry Kozlowski

Cecile Fedora Langlois

Dorothy Eileen Lanier

Magda Elizabeth Larson

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Claire Mary Reynolds Joseph Gordon Ritchie Carroll Francis Robbins Barbara June Roberts Priscilla Jane Robinson

Mary Josephine Roslauskas Douglas Huggard Ross Joseph S. Ross

William Andrew Russetti

William Cameron Traquair

Andrew Donald Ryan Margaret Rose Ryan Alfred Saterdal

Biagio J. Tronti Thelma Rebecca Turner Lila Venterosa

Frances Mary Sears

James Joseph Shyne

Edward Joseph Simaski

Mary Anne Sironka

Kathleen Frances Vescio Anne Constance Vitaitis Pauline Harriet Wagner Helena Claire Walsh

Arthur S. Slaney

Jenney Theresa Wasilunas

Geraldyne Gail Slavin

Beatrice Webber

George S. Smith

Phyllis Lenoa Webber Richard Webber

Peter Joseph Smith

W. Laurier Smith, Jr.

Anita Madelyne Weinfield

Catherine Sousa

Marion Christine Wenstrom

Mary Margaret Wenzel

Grace Marie Ziergiebel

REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

I herewith submit my annual report as Principal of the Norwood Junior High School.

Measurement of Instruction

Algebra

The pupils in our school who elected Algebra took the Columbia Research Bureau Algebra Test 2 Form B in June. This test was standardized on the performance of 4,452 public school pupils to whom it was administered when they had completed grade nine. A comparison of these pupils and our pupils is presented in Table I.

Table I. Comparison of Median Scores Attained by Pupils on Columbia Research Bureau Algebra Test 2 Form B

Part I 11.

Part II 6.

4,452 Public School Pupils.

39 Norwood Junior High School Pupils.

16.5 14.5

Chester Francis Stanewick

Barbara Marie Stanton

Ruth Mary Sparrow

Barbara Marie Stillitano

Dorothy Grace Stowers Irene Aili Sulonen Maxice Surowiec Ruth Irene Svibergson Roberta Mae Sword

Joseph Andrew Sylansky Mary Adelaide Towne

135

Latin

All pupils who studied Latin in grade nine took the New York Latin Achievement Test 2 Form B at the end of the school year. The standards for this test are based on a Latin survey conducted in June, 1927 in New York State. Approximately 6,600 pupils were tested in this survey. A comparison of their scores and our scores is given in Table II.

Table II. Comparison of Median Scores Attained by Pupils on New York Latin Achievement Test 2 Form B

6,600 New York State Public School Pupils 132

Norwood Junior High School Pupils. 165

The Junior Narrator

During the past year the pupils have been very enthusiastic about the activities of our school publication. They have given generously of their time to produce an unusually good school magazine. Its contents are representative of the English work in all grades.

The Norwood Junior High School was host to the Eastern Massachusetts League of Junior High School Publications at the spring meeting. Approxi- mately three hundred and fifty pupils from Greater Boston met with us to discuss ways and means of producing school papers and magazines.

Early in the year the Junior Narrator entered the Fifteenth Annual Newspaper-Magazine Contest sponsored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association at Columbia University. This contest drew 1,085 publications from all states excepting one and from Hawaii and Alaska. Our magazine was awarded a bronze medal for third prize in this competi- tion and "All-Columbia" honors for verse writing.

"Late Edition"

In the spring our pupils presented "Late Edition," a series of dramatic sketches, which was enthusiastically received by capacity audiences. The lyrics and music were written by Miss Kathryn R. Byrne and Mr. J. V. Dethier. The faculty and pupils cooperated to produce a show which was unusually well done. An activity of this kind is a valuable experience for all.

Guidance

During recent years guidance has become an important part of secondary education.

A few years ago a Guidance Department was organized in the Junior High School. Since that time our teachers have been studying the most effective methods of guiding our youth. Each counselor has had an opportunity to work with pupils on the various grade levels.

We are interested fundamentally in giving the best there is to our boys and girls. They should have the opportunity to develop individually and

136

socially. It is important that they find their place in the complex society in which they live.

While it is extremely difficult to measure results in the field of guidance, we are convinced that our pupils realize the importance of certain phases of guidance as related to their own lives. Most of our pupils are interested in the large fields of work. They want to know how to get a job and how to keep it. When pupils study and discuss economic security they know that they face an occupational future in industry that is becoming more mechan- ized, and not too secure.

The program of guidance which includes the study of, and concerns itself with the welfare of the "whole" child from a moral, healthful, educa- tional, recreational, vocational, and social viewpoint is a vital need in any school.

Community Relations

The splendid spirit of the school is apparent through service to the community. Pupils and teachers have responded willingly, of their own initiative, to the needs of the town.

Three barrels of potatoes were contributed by pupils in response to the Norwood Hospital appeal.

Teachers have regularly given money to a fund which provides milk, shoes, glasses and clothing to needy pupils.

The Sportsman's Club, made up of boys from all grades, constructed and posted several signs in the wooded areas on the outskirts of the town. These signs remind the public of the danger of fire and what it means to the forests.

Large baskets of food were supplied to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Community Club is a service organization which truly represents the school. Through the conscientious effort of our school population, many people, including the patients at the Norwood Hospital, and the Massachusetts Hospital School at Canton were remembered at Christmas time.

The desire to be of assistance to others, without any personal recognition, is evident at all times.

Conclusion

Any report of this kind would fall short of its purpose if I were not to acknowledge my gratitude to the splendid faculty with which I am privi- leged to work in the education of Norwood's youth. I wish to express my appreciation to the pupils and parents for their cooperation, to the School Committee for its support, and to the Superintendent of Schools for the interest which he has shown in the activities of this school.

ROBERT J. NEWBURY

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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF HOME ECONOMICS

I herewith submit a report on Home Economics Education for the year ending December 31, 1939.

Growth of Home Economics Education

Over a long period of home economics teaching in the public schools of America home economics education has evolved from an elemental instruc- tion in processes and skills into one of the most important branches of education dealing with all phases of family living. The philosophy which originally placed major emphasis upon practical skills is no longer in harmony with present modes of living.

The development of home economics has been a reflection of changes in society affecting the family. The tendency has been to organize home economics subject matter around the important functions of the family and the trend is shown by the emphasis which progressive courses place upon such values as (1) social and family relationships, (2) satisfactory home environment, (3) individual and group development, (4) intelligent con- sumption, (5) financial management, (6) leisure time activities, (7) ap- preciations of the compensations of successful family life and many other important factors in family stability.

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Norwood annual report 1939-1941, Part 18

Author: Norwood (Mass.) Publication date: 1939 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1396

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1939
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1396