USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1939-1941 > Part 82
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Particularly, attention of the reader is called to the fact that it will be a school for girls and no effort will be spared by those who are responsible for it to see that the school will be organized so as to meet the needs of those whom it will serve.
Particularly, it is a substantial advantage to have the Girls' Vocational School on the same premises and adjoining the High School, for the facili- ties of each will be available to all. To cite an example-a young lady who plans to do secretarial work in an architect's office will have the advantages of mechanical and freehand drawing room facilities available for her use in the development of necessary skills. At the same time, through cooperative procedure, she will, if possible, be placed in part-time employment in the type of office in which she is later to be employed. This is the Vocational School Way of doing it.
Some reference has been made to vocational work for boys. True, no definite program has yet been prepared. However, the school may do for the boys what the High School has never been able to do and, for the same reason, which has been given for its shortcomings in meeting the needs of girls.
It is not difficult to understand why a vocational program for boys is worthwhile and, with respect to its need, especially in these times, little need be said.
There will be room for the program in its beginnings which may well be modest and such rearrangement of space facilities as may be necessary should not be difficult. Space will be made available by reason of the trans- fer of a substantial number of High School girls to the Henry O. Peabody School.
Initial expense need not be heavy, for some profitable vocational courses for boys may be established which will call for small outlay for equipment.
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Later it will, as the possibilities of the school become more appreciated, be necessary to do some large-scale planning for it.
A word in the matter of expense-in the long run, our secondary school program will be less expensive than it has been-our schools will be in a position to do more than ever before in meeting the education needs of those for whom we are responsible.
Language Arts
Miss Ruth Rogers, one of our Shattuck School teachers, was appointed chairman of a committee, consisting of Elementary and Junior High School teachers, for the purpose of revising our whole Language Arts Program.
Through the year, this group of teachers worked diligently upon this problem. The work is now finished and ready for printing.
As a result of their excellent treatment of the outline, we have an up-to- date revision of our Oral Language, Written Language. Literature, Es- sentials in Mechanics, Writing and Spelling activities from grades one to nine inclusive.
The whole work has placed a heavy burden upon this group of teachers who have unselfishly and devotedly addressed their efforts to this task and personally, I take this opportunity to render an expression of gratitude to them.
What the War Means to Us
A review of courses of study in the schools before and during the Civil War and later, during the World War period, reveals no attempt upon the part of schools to participate in the study of the reconstruction problems which are sure to follow any such major activity in the life of our Nation.
We are all agreed that these problems of peace after, are much more difficult than the problems before, or during war time.
The young people who are now in school will be called upon to play their part in working out readjustments made necessary by the present war emergency and it is our duty to provide for an understanding of the prob- lem.
This is an all-out war. The shifting of millions of competent people from peace-time production of consumer goods to defense production or armed forces is overpowering. The problems presented are tremendous and manifold.
Most of us are appalled to think of the peace and its problems which are to follow.
With these things in mind, I am proposing to all our teachers that we, as a group, attempt to give this matter our attention this coming year so that, in the first place, we shall be competent observers and students of the contemporary and, in the second place, that we may teach and guide pupils in such manner as to prepare them, in an attitude of expectancy of, and readiness for change, for the participation which must be theirs in the solu- tion of problems which must surely arise.
Hopefully, we look forward to progress and accomplishment in this task.
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Conclusion
May I express to you, members of the Norwood School Committee, to all my fellow-workers in the Norwood School Department and to the other Town officials upon whom I have to call for help and advice, my feelings of deep gratitude for the kind and considerate manner in which you have aided and supported me in my work.
LINCOLN D. LYNCH
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
I have the honor to present my sixth annual report as Principal of the Norwood Senior High School:
PART I STATISTICS
The school year of 1941-1942 began September 9, with the school enroll- ment as of October 1, 1941 shown in Table I below:
Table I. October Enrollment
Class
Number of Pupils
Senior
212
Junior
222
Sophomore
265
699
The problem of the post-graduate student is practically non-existent this year since this group contains only two girls (not included in Table 1). The opportunities for employment which have been available during the past year have been of such a character that all graduates of a year ago who wished to work have been placed.
Table II. Enrollment by Sex
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
Senior
85
127
212
Junior
106
116
222
Sophomore.
118
147
265
309
390
699
Among the Juniors listed in the two tables above, there are ten boys and four girls who may earn a diploma in June, 1942; so that the total number of graduates next June may be 226. When the elective blanks were ex-
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amined last spring, a total school enrollment of 754 pupils was indicated for September, 1941. On the basis of the above totals, approximately 50 of these pupils failed to appear; due, without doubt, to the opportunities for employment which are noted above.
Table III. Estimated Number for September 1942
Class
Number
Senior
206
Junior
25S
Sophomore-Junior High School.
190
St. Catherine's.
65
725
If the same percentage of loss is applied to this figure which was obtained last year (6%) then the expected enrollment will be 677. This figure will of course be affected by the opening of the Peabody School, but it seems impossible to make any valid prediction as to just what this effect may be. It seems reasonable to suppose, however, that the peak of our High School enrollment has been reached, and unless there should be an influx of popu- lation into our town within the next few years, it is probable that our en- rollment will continue to drop.
In the school report of one year ago, a table was compiled showing the fluctuation in the High School enrollment over a ten year period. Perhaps, as a corollary to this table, it might be of interest to record the fluctuations in the graduating classes over this same ten year period.
Table IV. Fluctuation in the Size of Graduating Classes (1931-1940)
Number of
Year
Graduates
1931
157
1932
194
1933
172
1934
235
1935
207
1936
236
1937
172
1938
221
1939
199
1940
217
1941
226 (estimated)
These figures show that the number of graduates (over a period of years) is about 28% of the total enrollment of the school.
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Table V. Percentage Distribution of Pupils by Curricula
Year
College
Commercial
General
Senior
25
30
44
Junior
28
22
49
Sophomore.
28
38
34
Average
27
29
43
A comparison of these figures with those of one year ago will show a slight increase in our College Preparatory group; a marked decrease in the Commercial group, and a corresponding increase in the General group. This is doubtless a result of the troubled times in which we are living, with the resulting emphasis (especially for boys) on the value of work in Shop, Science, Mathematics, and Mechanical Drawing. It is reasonable to as- sume that this emphasis will continue at least for the duration of the world struggle. Actually we have six more classes in the above mentioned sub- jects than were in existence a year ago.
PART II SIGNIFICANT FACTS WITHIN THE SCHOOL
Changes in the Teaching Staff
During the past summer two of our teachers resigned to be married, Miss Doyle and Miss Peabody. Miss Doyle entered our system in 1924, and Miss Peabody in 1935. The one, teacher in the field of commercial subjects, and the other, in the field of English, have thus exerted con- siderable influence upon the many pupils who have passed through their classrooms. Miss Tormey, for commercial subjects, and Miss O'Brien, for English, were elected to begin work last September. Both of these women have adjusted themselves to the work of our school and bid fair to become successful members of their respective departments.
Curriculum Changes
For the second consecutive year there have been no major changes in our curriculum. Choral singing, which has been required of all Sophomores up to September 1941, has now been made an optional subject. Our di- rector of music makes some reference to this fact in his report. Without doubt a considerable amount of adjustment will have to be made in some of our subject offerings when the Peabody School is opened, but here again no prediction of what these changes may be can be made.
Social Science in the Senior High School
Perhaps somc analysis of our electives in our Social Science program would be of interest at this time when so much is being said and written
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about our Democratic way of life. Our offerings in this field may be listed as follows:
Sophomore Year General History 55
Junior Year
U. S. History and Civics
All Economics 50
Senior Year
Problems of Democracy 53
Economics 59
In Grade X, 55 pupils (or 20% of the entire class) are taking this subject. In the Junior year, since American History is a requirement set up by the State for a High School diploma, 100% of the class take this subject. It may be said in passing that the material in this course is divided about 60-40 as between U. S. History and Government and Current Events. In the Senior Year, 53 pupils (or 25% of the class) are enrolled; while Eco- nomics, placed as it is in both years, since it may be elected by pupils in both classes, shows an enrollment of 50 in one case and 59 in the other; 22% and 27% of the respective classes. Excluding the required American History, about 25% of our pupils are taking work in the Social Sciences, and the question may properly be asked whether the schools are requiring as much as they might in this field. It is of course true that we try to teach the principles of Democracy in all the activities of the school, among which may be noted especially the following:
Eight pupils in our school entered the League of Nations Contest last year, two of whom received honorable mention.
Four pupils went to Washington under the auspices of the National Capital School Visitors Council, and seven are planning to go this year. These pupils bring back many valuable experiences to the school in their classroom activities and in our assembly programs.
Four pupils entered the Town Planning Contest sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of whom received honor- able mention.
In spite of all we may try to do, it is probably true that much more could be accomplished in an organized course which might be required of all pupils in addition to the work in American History. As this report is being written, a group of pupils have spent considerable time working on the organization of a Student Council. Such a project would give a wide op- portunity for pupils to participate in the administration of the school, and it is hoped that the organization of this project will soon be completed.
Lane Medals
The Lane Medals have been presented in connection with the graduation exercises for a long time to those pupils who met certain scholastic require- ments as laid down by the School Board. During the past 15 years the number of these medals which have been awarded each year has averaged
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about 12% of the graduating class. While no concrete evidence can be produced to substantiate the following statements, it is becoming increas- ingly evident to the administrative officers of the school that certain practices are occurring year after year which are not for the best interests of the pupils concerned, nor for their education. Some of these facts follow:
1. Certain pupils are entering the Sophomore Class each year with a vision of the Lane Medal three years hence and are electing subjects which will be most likely to produce this medal regardless of whether or not these subjects are most desirable for them.
2. Pupils in the Senior year are taking four subjects rather than five with the thought that by so doing their chances of receiving the medal will be that much greater.
3. Pupils in the Senior year are sometimes electing less difficult subjects in order to make a medal more likely, when perhaps more difficult sub- jects would be more desirable for them. Now, if these things are hap- pening, such results were probably far from the mind of the donor; and if the goal of education is the idea that each individual avail himself both in quantity and quality commensurate with his own ability of the opportunities which are offered, then it would seem to some of us at the school that a review of the conditions under which these medals are awarded ought to be made.
Use of Prognostic Tests
· For the past two years now, tests have been given to pupils in the Algebra classes in Grade IX, with a view to assisting these pupils in the election of their subjects for the following year, especially those pupils who are planning to go on with their Mathematics. Our records show that there is a close correlation between the grade which a pupil receives on this test and his subsequent work in Mathematics, so that we can say to pupils, with a very reasonable chance of being correct, that their chance of success is very poor in the Mathematics of Grade X unless they can earn a certain minimum grade on the test. We are at present working on a similar test for those pupils who expect to elect Stenography in Grade XI, and it is hoped that definite results in this field will be available in another year.
Vocations and the Activities of Graduates
For the first time in several years no detailed study of the activities of the graduates of last June has been made. Because of prevailing conditions in industry, it is probably true that all of our graduates of last June who wish to do so are working; and it was felt that the compilation of such a list would be a waste of time. Something, however, should be said about our work in Vocations. This will be the third year that this activity has been going on in our school, and we werc fortunate last year in having several visits from Mr. Roland Darling who is associated with the Job Hunters Club at the Boston Y. M. C. A. Mr. Darling visited our classes on several occasions, made the complete facilities of his office available to our pupils,
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and rendered valuable assistance to us in our vocations problems. It is entirely probable that the work which will be done by the director of the Peabody School will replace in a large measure our work in this field, be- cause it is assumed that many of the girls who expect to go to work im- mediately after High School will be students at that school.
Directed Reading in the English Classes
Much has been written in Educational Literature during the past few years regarding the fact that High School pupils read with difficulty, and much has been attempted by all schools in regard to remedial reading. The Norwood High School has not been without its problems in this respect, and an experiment has been going on now for two years which deserves some mention in this report. A brief outline of what this procedure has been, together with some of the results, is shown below:
1. Reading periods for some classes have been held in the school library once each week from January through June.
2. Books read ranged from 7th grade to adult level. All interests were considered in choosing titles: sport, romance, adventure, science, mystery, school, life, travel, biography, and careers.
3. At first pupils were allowed to make their own selections of books. Later the teacher made an effort to raise the level of reading through suggesting titles of a more difficult grade, but no pressure was used.
Results:
1. Pupils read more books than they would ordinarily have read, and they were interested in their reading.
2. Reading as a group, they saw each other's books and offered recom- mendations to one another.
3. The circulation varied from three to four for some books, to fifty-six for others. The most popular books were not necessarily the easiest to read.
Circulation Statistics
Title
Author
Number of Times Read
Silver Slippers
Bailey
56
Ocean Gold.
Ellsberg
47
Mother
Norris
39
Twenty Years Under the Sea
Williamson
32
Riders of the Purple Sage
Grey
34
When Patty Went to College.
Webster
29
Count Luckner.
Thomas
33
I Like Diving
Eadie
17
The Yearling
Rawlings
16
Good Bye Mr. Chips
Hilton
28
Royal Road to Romance.
Halliburton
24
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School Attendance
The regularity of school attendance is a problem which causes a con- siderable amount of difficulty in most schools. Practically every parent will agree that it is desirable for pupils to come to school regularly if the maximum amount of benefit is to be derived from the work of the school. This is increasingly true as the pupil progresses through the grades, since the continuity of and difficulty with the school work increases as the pupil goes on. Ordinarily most pupils have gone through the usual diseases of childhood when the Senior High School is reached, so that the attendance in grade XII ought to be better than any other grade in the school. There are, however, many factors which operate against this statement, some of which may be noted as follows:
1. Illness.
2. Inadequate protection against the weather on stormy days.
3. The fact that the High School is relatively distant from some homes as compared to the distance of some of the elementary schools which the pupil. may have attended.
The school recognizes all these factors and attempts to use its best judg- ment in the disposition of all its rules. On the other hand, it does seem to the school that some parents permit their children to remain out of school for very slight reasons, and we receive many requests for dismissal in the course of a year where it seems to us that such requests could easily have been avoided had the parents decided to do the thing at hand on a Saturday instead of on a school day.
It is obviously unfair to teachers, most of whom are concerned with 125 or 150 boys and girls in the course of a day, to expect them to reteach material which has already been taught in order that some pupils may either be absent or dismissed for what the school considers illegitimate reasons. The school is always ready and willing to co-operate with parents where illness or other legitimate causes of absences have occurred, but it also expects a reasonable amount of co-operation on the part of parents to see that their boys and girls come to school regularly and that they remain during the entire school day.
Open House Night of the Chamber of Commerce
There is at present no Parent-Teacher organization which is connected with the Senior High School, and it is probable that such a group would not be successful because of this fact: When such a group exists in a neighbor- hood which is served by one elementary school, the parents know the teachers and they know each other. When the pupils go on to one Senior High School serving a complete community, the above situation no longer is true, and parents as a rule do not attend the meetings of the more widely scattered group. It is unfortunate that the parents of our High School boys and girls do not visit the school more often than they do, and for that reason
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the school was most anxious to invite the Norwood Chamber of Commerce to be the guest of the school at one of the meetings last spring. The school believes that such meetings make for better co-operation among parents, teachers, pupils, and the school.
In closing this report I wish to record my appreciation to the teaching force for its co-operative work; to Miss Phillips and her corps of assistants at the Norwood Public Library for their co-operation in inviting classes to the library for instructional purposes, and to the Superintendent of Schools and to the School Board.
A list of pupils to whom Lane Medals were given last June, together with a copy of the High School graduation program concludes this report.
Lane Medal List, June 1941
Marion Elizabeth Bailey
Margaret Mary Hayes
Beatrice Felicia Bartulis
Dorothy Hermanson
Ruth Ann Berezin
Erina M. Ippoliti
Marjorie Holbrook Bodge
Pauline McKelvey
Dorothy Freda Carpenter
Kathleen M. Meissner
Mary Elizabeth Center
Elizabeth Margaret O'Connor
Anne Elizabeth Costello
Leona Skolfield Anne Marie Seery
Ann Elisabeth Flood
Evelyn Marguerite Sternberg
Ethel Louise Gustafson
Michael Joseph Thornton
William Joseph Harrington
Frances Pauline Wetta
Alice S. Whedon
LEIGHTON S. THOMPSON
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Graduation Exercises of Norwood High School Class of 1941 Tuesday Evening, June 3, 1941 Junior High School Gymnasium
Program
PROCESSIONAL-"March Processional" H. Wadsworth High School Orchestra
INVOCATION
Rev. F. Gerald Ensley
"Hail Flag"
Chorus and Orchestra
The Commercial Curriculum
Dorothy Hermanson
E. Grieg
Pauline Elizabeth Coury
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Emil Bronté
Duet
Mary G. Bernier Helen Zuke
The College Curriculum
Donald James Cody
GIFT OF THE CLASS OF 1941
Ethel Louise Gustafson
ACCEPTANCE OF THE GIFT FOR THE SCHOOL Paul M. Murphy
The General Curriculum Florence Helen Rehnstrom
"Nightfall in Granada"
L. Bueno
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 Scholarship
High School Scholarships
Lane Mcdals Norwood Woman's Club Scholarship Edward S. Costello Memorial Trophy
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS
Mr. Dennis P. O'Leary, 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 Stanza)
John Smith
RECESSIONAL-"March of Peers"
Sullivan
High School Orchestra
The audience will please remain seated during the entire reccssional. Senior High School Orchestra directed by Professor John V. Dethier.
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Graduates
Sophie G. Aidukonis Pius Joseph Amirault Harold R. Anderson
Angelo Danny Antonelli William Bader Austin James Bailey, Jr.
Edward Leo Donovan James Joseph Donovan, Jr. Margaret Constance Donovan
Marion Elizabeth Bailey
Frank Anthony Dovidauskis, Jr.
Dorothy C. Balboni
Carmela Theresa Fabiani
Evelyn Mary Balduf
Richard F. Fardy, Jr.
Marion Victoria Bamber
George Horton Farnham, Jr.
Francis Barjod
Olga Mary Fatch Mary Louise Feaver
Muriel Catherine Barrett
Beatrice Felicia Bartulis
Ruth Ann Berezin
Arthur Norman Ferguson John Joseph Flaherty, Jr. Mary Elizabeth Flaherty
Mary G. Bernier
Florence Marie Bilotta
Ann Elisabeth Flood
Marjorie Holbrook Bodge
Matthew Francis Foley
Edward David Bowles
Kathleen A. Franklin
Alfred Leo Breen Alice Agnes Breen
Priscilla Jean Gardner
Robert Richard Brissette
Russell James Garland
William Francis Butters
Eleanor P. Giampa
Emily Elizabeth Cappuccino
Barbara Elizabeth Gove
Mary Josephine Guillemette
Joseph L. Carchedi
Dorothy Freda Carpenter
Ralph David Cashen
Mary Elizabeth Center
John Murray Clapp, Jr.
Donald James Cody
Earle Colburn Hartshorn
Margaret Mary Hayes
Mary Margaret Hayes
Robert John Hennessey
Raymond Vincent Conton Anne Elizabeth Costello
Charles Robert Henry Dorothy Hermanson Barbara G. Hood
James Michael Costello Edmund Joseph Coughlin
Halem Howard
Erina M. Ippoliti
Ethel Arline Jackson
Barbara Jean Johnson
Eva Jeannette Jurgevich
Stanley G. Kaliesauskas
Constance Kallgren
Herbert Algot Kallstrom
Barbara Louise Carchedi
Theresa Marie Gulla
Ethel Louise Gustafson
Donald G. Hamlin
Jean A. Hansen William Joseph Harrington'
John Vincent Collins, Jr.
Mary Margaret Connolly Evelyn Mary Conroy
James Joseph Coughlin Pauline Elizabeth Coury Eleanor Ruth Davenport Margaret Louise Davol Frederick Thomas Deeb Calvin Joseph DeRoma Daniel Thomas Devine
Florence Barbara Devine Julia Anne Dillon Lawrence Edward Donlon
Inez J. Gallazzi
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Mary Stephanie Karkota Alexander John Kavall Julieanna Kazulis Carleton Henry Keeler Joseph Robert Kelly Winslow Gilbert Keyes John J. Kiander Marie Anne King Ray F. Kinney
Aira Karina Koski
Joseph Benedict Kudirka
Patricia Anne Lane
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