USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1939-1941 > Part 45
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During class work, the experiment of socializing games with both boys and girls playing together was tried. As in Junior High School, this project proved very much worthwhile.
During the fall and spring months, when classes were held out of doors, pupils were allowed to choose the activity in which they liked best to participate.
At the Norfolk County Teachers' Convention a period was given over to the two Norwood school physicians, Dr. Alfred Fenton and Dr. George Allen, on the subject of "The Relationship of the School Physician to the Physical Education Department." Another period included a talk by Mr. Joseph McKenney, Associate Di- rector of Physical Education in the Boston Public Schools, on the topic of "Balancing a School Athletic Budget." During the morn- ing session, Dr. Florence M. Ross, Professor of Health Education and College Physician, Rhode Island College of Education, Provi- dence, Rhode Island, gave a very interesting talk on "What Should be and Could be Included in a Physical Education Program Today for Girls," and also another discussion of "Current Problems in Physical Education for Girls." During the afternoon session, Dr. Ross showed a posture film and gave a very instructive talk, fol- lowed by a discussion, on the topic of "The Physical Educator's Place in the Posture Program." .
Athletics
As in the past, we strive to conduct an athletic program that will give all pupils an opportunity to participate in the type of sport in which they are most interested. With this thought in mind, we have attempted to include in our athletic program such sports as girls' tennis, boys' tennis, girls' field hockey, girls' arch- ery, girls' basketball, boys' basketball, boys' golf, horseshoe pitch- ing, baseball, and football.
Conclusion
May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude to all members of the School Department for their fine co-operation with this department.
H. BENNETT MURRAY
REPORT OF THE HEALTH SUPERVISOR
The annual report of the Health Department is herewith sub- mitted.
"Childhood is the best time to form good habits and correct bad ones, because this is the time when the child imitates most readily and is most easily influenced."
Teaching our children the principles and practise of healthy liv- ing will not only enable them to enjoy a fuller and happier life
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but qualify them to render greater service to their fellowmen in the community.
Health Examinations
Each child in the school system was given a stripped-to-the- waist examination by the school physicians, Dr. Alfred A. Fenton, M. D., and Dr. George R. Allen, M. D. The boys going out for football were checked for signs of hernia. The examinations were completed early in the fall so that defects, remedial or other- wise, which might interfere with the child's progress in school could be called to the attention of the parents who in turn were urged to consult the family physician for advice and treatment.
Special programs are arranged for physically handicapped chil- dren in an effort to give them the greatest amount of benefit from their school work with the minimum amount of exertion. Pupils absent from school because of illness which extends over a long period of time, after securing the approval of the family physi- cian, are tutored at home so that they are better able to keep up with their classmates. Physical defects noted at the time of examination and reported to the parents are as follows:
Tonsils and adenoids (enlarged or diseased) 390
Enlarged glands
Markedly poor nutrition 4
2
Marked postural defects
Cardiac deficiencies 9
27
Old defects of spine and feet 5
Structural defects of ear 1
Skin disorders 15
Tonsils and adenoids are the defects most frequently reported. The child who has frequent absences from school because of upper respiratory infections; chronic enlargement of cervical glands; involvement of eardrums is without doubt a likely candidate for a tonsil operation. The school doctor can recommend their remov- al, but it is the family doctor who makes the final decision as to the necessity of such a treatment. Ninety-three children previously reported had tonsils removed during the past year.
Dental Examinations
The scope of the dental clinic has been broadened so that, for the second year, we have had the teeth of every child in the school system examined by the school dentist, Dr. Timothy J. Curtin, D. M. D. Having the school dental clinic available to older children who are unable to obtain the services of the family dentist helped greatly in having necessary dentistry completed.
In order to appreciate the interest shown by the parents, chil- dren and dentists in the correction of dental defects, the following
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report covering the period from September, 1939, to June, 1940, is given.
Elementary-Grades 1 to 6 inclusive:
Number of children examined .. 1,131
Number of children having dental defects 912
Number of children having no defects at time of examination 209
Number of children cared for at school dental clinic 600
Number of children cared for by family dentist 299
Number of children with dentistry incomplete 8
Number of children receiving no care .. 15
Classrooms with 100% dental correction 24
Children with all dental corrections completed. 97.96%
Junior High School-Grades 7 to 9 inclusive:
Number of pupils examined 670
Number of pupils having dental defects. 495
Number of pupils having no dental defects 175
Number of pupils cared for by school dental clinic 69
Number of pupils cared for by family dentist 121
Pupils with all dental corrections completed 55.97%
Senior High School-grades 10 to 12 inclusive:
Number of pupils examined 675
Number of pupils having dental defects 452
Number of pupils examined having no dental defects. 223
Number of pupils cared for at school dental clinic. 72
Number of pupils cared for by family dentist. 58.43%
We hope that we shall continue to have this fine co-operation so that each child in Norwood can have all necessary dentistry completed each year-an enviable record, 100% correction of dental defects, but a worthy goal for our attention!
Mental Examinations
Twenty-two children having difficulty in their school work were examined by Dr. Margaret Simpson, M. D., at the school clinic. She made recommendations for program adjustments so that they might derive greater benefits from their school work.
Habit Clinic
The Habit Clinic, held each Friday morning from 10:00 a. m. to 12:00 noon at the Norwood Hospital, is under the able leader- ship of Dr. Ella P. Cahill, M. D. Any parent with a problem may take advantage of the services of the clinic by calling the hospital or contacting one of the school nurses for an appoint- ment. This clinic is for children with normal or better than nor- mal intelligence with maladjustments which may seem trivial now, but which may become serious in later life. Excellent work is be- ing done in the correction of speech defects.
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School Eye Clinic
Two hundred children were examined by Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer, M. D., at the school eye clinic. Of these, seventy-four were re- examined with drops. The findings of the clinic are as follows: Examinations 200
Re-examinations with drops
74
New glasses prescribed
41
Old glasses changed 46
No change in glasses being worn 28
Glasses no longer needed.
2
No glasses prescribed at present time
12
No refractive error found 58
Medications ordered
6
Operations advised
4
Diphtheria Immunization Clinic
Only four of the one hundred and five children given the series of toxoid last year had not built up sufficient immunity to have a negative reaction when given the Schick test. They will receive another series and be retested in a year. There were no positive reactions in the group of sixty-five children given their second series of toxoid last year. One hundred and nineteen first graders received their three inoculations of toxoid and will be retested in a year.
Communicable Disease Control
As we have stated before, "Control of disease depends on know- ing it exists." It is the policy of the School Health Department to keep a close check on all "contacts." However, if cases of com- municable disease are not reported to the proper authority, the Board of Health, it is possible for contagion to spread before we are cognizant of the fact that it is in our midst.
We do not feel that we are asking the impossible when we re- quest parents to keep children at home who show signs of sick- ness. Until such time as the common cold is given its due re- spect we will not be able to control its spread. Since many of our communicable diseases in their beginning stages resemble the common cold it is best for the child to remain at home until a definite diagnosis can be made. It not only saves the child from picking up additional infections, but prevents him from spreading his infection to his unsuspecting classmates.
Routine examinations are made following vacation periods as well as follow-up on all contact children during the period of incu- bation after a communicable disease has been reported. Children are excluded from school who show:
Temperature of 99 degrees or over
Eruptions of any sort (impetigo, scabies, ringworm)
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Cold in head and running ears
Irritating discharges from nose
Evidences of sore throats
Coughs
Subnormal temperature
Vomiting
General lassitude and other evidences of sickness
Swelling in neck
Puffiness of face
History of contagious disease but not certified by a physician as ready to return.
School Clinic and Health Camp
The objectives of this clinic are to promote the health of the school child and prevent tuberculosis by discovering early signs of the disease. Children in grades nine and eleven are given the skin test; positive reactors have a chest X-ray and follow-up phy- sical examination by the physician. Any child in any other grade in school may have the benefit of this clinic if requested by parent or family physician.
Number of children tuberculin tested 359
Number reacting positively to test
13
Number of children X-rayed (this includes children previ- ously found positive) 80
Number of school employees X-rayed
86
Number of children examined
17
Number of school employees examined 2
It might be of passing interest that the nutritionist from the Chadwick Clinic rated Norwood's children higher than any group in the state studied by them. The rating is 82 percent.
Seven children spent eight weeks at Camp Norfolk in Braintree. They returned to school greatly improved. Christmas seals helped them to have this vacation.
Audiometer Tests
The audiometer test is given to ascertain the accuracy of the child's hearing. Seventeen hundred and eighty were tested. Of this number one hundred and two were retested. Forty children were found to have nine or more units of loss in one or both ears and were referred to the family physician for treatment.
The existence of this loss of hearing may indicate suscepti- bility to deafness and if not corrected may cause more serious loss later in life. A child with a hearing loss needs encouragement. His career must be planned accordingly since some occupations are definitely not suited to the hard of hearing. Instruction in lip reading should be available to all hard of hearing children as a part of their school work.
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Two boys are having lip reading instruction in a class spon- sored by the Woman's Club.
Routine Duties
Space does not permit us to report on all the routine activities of this department. Correction of defects, control of diseases and interpretation of the problem of the child to the home, the school and himself are not accomplished by remaining in the school build- ing. More than eighteen hundred calls were made in the homes during this past year; over thirty-six hundred first aid treatments were given; eighteen thousand individual inspections were made; weighing and measuring done monthly; appointments for the den- tists, the doctors, clinics and hospitals; families referred to the proper agencies for help; keeping accurate health records and many other odd jobs which may not seem important but are time consuming. The school nurse must be prepared to meet any and all emergencies whether it be teaching home hygiene to Senior High School girls, first aid to Girl Scouts, sickness, a job for some member of the family, a mother's helper, or a carriage for the baby.
Conclusion
The success of the program of this department is in no small measure due to our many hearty supporters. We thank the Senior High School Quest Club, Junior High School Community Club, American Red Cross, Women's Community Committee, Woman's Club, and our many friends who wish to remain unknown, for their generous help.
To Mr. Lynch, the members of the School Board, the supervisors, principals and teachers we express our thanks for your loyal sup- port and helpful advice which makes our work in the Norwood schools pleasant and successful.
MARY A. CANNING, R. N.
423
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ADULT EDUCATION
I herewith submit my first annual report as Supervisor of Adult Education.
Graduation exercises of the Americanization classes were held at the Norwood Junior High School auditorium on April 2, 1940. An audience of approximately 1,000 people was present. As part of the program, a play entitled "News of the Adoption of the Constitution" was presented by the students in the Adult Alien Education classes. An address on Citizenship was given by Mr. Thomas Buckley, ex-State auditor, and Mr. Thomas Quinn enter- tained with vocal selections.
The Adult Alien Education classes opened in October for the 1940-41 season. There was a decided increase in the enrollment, making it necessary to procure an additional teacher. There are now eight evening classes-two classes of illiterate beginners, taught by Miss Webster and Miss Dillon, wherein people who have never been to school in their own country are taught to read and write simple English; two intermediate classes are taught by Mr. Salmon and Miss O' Brien. In these classes, those who read and write some English are given help in doing more advanced work. A class in Basic English, taught by Miss Riley, is provided for those who read and write in their own language. Two Citizenship classes are taught by Mr. Bowler and Mr. Coakley, and an ad- vanced class in English by Mr. White.
There are two day classes which meet at the Balch School and at the Junior High School and are taught by the Supervisor. Basic English and Citizenship are the subjects taught in both of these classes.
A total of 215 people registered for Evening School this year and we now have 182 enrolled. There are thirty-three women enrolled in the Mothers' Day Classes.
Contributing factors to the increased enrollment in adult alien classes this year were the Alien Registration Act of 1940, requiring the registration and fingerprinting of all aliens in the United States, and the requirement of U. S. Citizenship as a con- dition of employment on many of the government defense projects.
There are nineteen different nationalities represented in the adult alien classes this year-Finnish, Lithuanian, Canadian, Polish, Swedish, Italian, German, Russian, Austrian, Syrian, Nor- wegian, Irish, Egyptian, Greek, Rumanian, Turkish, Scotch and Yugoslavian. There are twelve husbands and wives attending classes. The ages in Evening School range from 17 to 72. The greatest number of students are in the age group from 50 to 60 years of age.
The Alien Registration Act of 1940 brought a great many new problems to some of the adult foreign born who were aliens. In the Evening School and in the Day Classes help in understanding
424
the purpose and the requirements of the act was given. Assist- ance in filling out the specimen form was given by the Supervisor to all aliens who wished help. All aliens were urged to register early and to cooperate in every way with the Post Office authori- ties. For the most part the foreign-born adults were glad to co- operate, but, in the minds of some people the idea of being finger- printed created great fears which we tried to alleviate.
In October the supervisor spoke to two of Miss Switzer's ninth grade classes which had been studying immigration and Naturali- zation. It was gratifying to see the interest in naturalization problems displayed by these pupils as evidenced by the questions which they asked and by the understanding which they had of many phases of naturalization.
Since September 224 declarations of intention, or first paper, applications and thirty-six petitions for naturalization, or second papers, have been filled out by the supervisor and sent in to the Boston Naturalization Office. Because of the great numbers of aliens who are now seeking American citizenship, the receiving of second papers has become a slow procedure. An applicant who files second papers must wait from nine months to a year before he is summoned for his examination.
In January the cost of a Certificate of Registry whereby persons who entered the United States prior to 1924 may legalize their entry if no records of their arrival can be found is being in- creased from $10 to $18.
Miss Phillips of the Morrill Memorial Library has cooperated with the Evening School by purchasing books in simple English and books in Basic English for the use of Evening School students. On December 5 three of the classes from the Evening School en- joyed a trip through the library. They were shown the books in simple English and the books in their own foreign languages. The classes found the young adult room and the children's room with its display of dolls in the costumes of many lands particularly in- teresting. It is planned to have other groups visit the library at some later date.
A class in Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick was opened at the Balch School on October 24 and met on Tuesday and Thurs- day evenings for twelve two-hour periods under the direction of Mrs. Ellen Reardon. This course was made available without cost to the town, the instructor being provided by the Red Cross. Twenty-three women completed the course and received certificates. Since those who completed the course were enthusiastic about the work, a First Aid course is being planned. On January 27 in the Junior High School, another course in Home Hygiene will open.
In cooperation with the County Extension Service under the direction of Mrs. Shufelt, a series of three cooking classes were held at the Junior High School. The average attendance at these
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classes was sixteen. The first unit was called "Foods for the Fam- ily" and the meetings were as follows:
September-Breads and Rolls
October-Meat Substitutes
November-Salads and Relishes.
The program for the remainder of the season is as follows:
January-Arrangement for Bedrooms
February-Beauty for Bedrooms
March-Comfort for Bedrooms
April and on-Remodeling and Refinishing Old Furniture. A three-meeting project is planned for the Spring of 1941: Characteristics of the Adolescent
The Adolescent and His Parents
The Adolescent and the Community.
Because of the present world situation, Adult Education has taken on a new emphasis. United States Commissioner of Educa- tion John W. Studebaker has urged as practical measures of de- fense: "We must once and for all eliminate illiteracy. We must vigorously educate the foreign born and foreign language groups in the history and principles of American Democracy. We must enable today's adults to catch up with modern problems and to understand them. This can be done through practical and syste- matic study and discussion. Civic illiteracy is an open invitation to a fifth column of American propaganda."
M. EILEEN MCDONOUGH
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF JANITORS, SCHOOL- HOUSES AND GROUNDS
I herewith submit my annual report as Supervisor of Janitors, Schoolhouses and Grounds.
Herewith are indicated major repairs and replacements. Minor repairs are matters of routine and constant need. It appears un- necessary to list all of them.
Senior High School
There has been much work done on the grounds of this building during the past year. The major project was the widening and straightening of the service driveway at the south end of the building. This work was necessary because of the traffic hazard at the southwest corner of the building. On May 10th the flag pole, which was situated in the grass plot in front of the building was blown down. The pole at the Beacon School was scraped, inspected and found to be sound. It was repainted and set up in concrete.
426
The concrete base was carried up three feet above the ground level to prevent any rotting at the base of the new pole.
The following is a partial list of the repair work done in this school. The corridors outside the boys and girls gym and the corridor on the first floor of the main building were refinished. The following classrooms were refinished: 115, 116, physical instructor's room, main office, principal's office, Dean of Girls' office, treasurer's office, visiting team shower room and the furnishings in the cook. ing laboratory. There were considerable electrical repairs to switches, outlets and motors. It was also necessary to replace the cheeks and arches of both boilers and considerable brick work. The mixing valves in the boys' visiting team showers were overhauled and repaired.
Junior High School
There were painted in this building eight classrooms, the main office, Principal's office, Superintendent's office and nurses' room. The north lobby and new locker room were also painted (two coats). It also was necessary to patch plaster walls in the print shop and in the eighth and ninth grade locker rooms. This damage was caused by cracks due to settling. Eighteen large lights of wired glass were replaced in the skylight over the basement. There were considerable lighting, heating, and plumbing repairs in this building.
Balch School
The following rooms in this building were painted: 3, 9, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, teachers' room and toilet and Principal's office. All windows were caulked with a plastic caulking material. All out- side woodwork was painted. Electric outlets were installed in the office and in one classroom. A new lighting fixture was installed in the office. One boiler was rebricked and relined in front of doors. Twelve grates were replaced and grate pivots were repaired. Plaster on wall on stairway was repaired. The main water line and the steam return line in the new building were replaced. Twelve hundred square feet of brickwork were repointed.
Winslow School
Roof gutters, copings and conductors were repaired or replaced. The porch on the Winslow Avenue side of the building was renewed. Wooden steps on both porches were removed and replaced with concrete. Plaster in the basement and the boys' toilet was repaired. Fire brick in the boiler were renewed. The stairway handrail was made secure. Pipe on a drinking unit was renewed. A new main water line was installed from meter through building. Lighting fixtures over east and west entrances were replaced. Four class- rooms were painted and their ceilings whitened.
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Callahan School
The hot water tank in the boiler room was replaced. Broken valves on two drinking fountains were repaired. Valves on ten urinals were repaired. Thirty lights of glass were replaced. An electric outlet was installed in one classroom.
Shattuck School
The Manual Training room was painted above the dado, the ceiling whitened, new plywood panels installed and a new wood floor was laid and treated. Plywood panels were installed in boys' and girls' toilets. A new floor was laid and treated in one class- room. New pipe railings were placed on the west side piazza and entrance to the boiler room. Two classrooms, office and basement walls were repainted. Swings in the yard were reset and the ground under the swings was regraded. The name on the school was regilded.
West School
The exterior of the building was repaired and painted. The foundation was pointed up. Both classrooms were repainted. Front and back steps were repaired. Fire escape and door were repaired and grounds regraded.
Beacon School
There has been a marked decrease in glass breakage in the schools this year; but it still in an expense which is unnecessary. This school, in addition to glass breakage, is deteriorating very rapidly. It became necessary to completely remove one set of steps and porch as they were in a dangerous condition and a fire menace.
Conclusion
I wish at this time to thank the School Committee and Mr. Lynch for their fine cooperation, which has made it possible for me to carry the work of this department through a successful year. I also wish to thank all who have assisted me in any way.
ALFRED M. DISNARD
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REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
I herewith submit my report as Attendance Officer for the year ending December 31, 1940.
Total number of investigations, 219, as follows:
Number of truancies 32
Number of illness cases investigated 89
Lack of shoes or clothing 5
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