USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1942-1944 > Part 18
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Part I The High School in War Time
Since this report. was written one year ago much has hap- pened which has had a considerable effect upon the work of the High School and no doubt some of the changes which have been brought about will produce a permanent effect upon secondary education.
It has been said that "Schools in general reflect the wishes of the people who are served," and it will be the first function of this report to enumerate some of the changes which have taken place in the High School which are directly in line with the war effort.
Mathematics
One of the subjects which receives the most backing by all branches of the service is Mathematics because of its relationship to so many phases of army and navy work. The guidance de- partment of the High School has had this fact in mind during the past two years and our figures show that there has been a steady increase in the proportion of pupils enrolled in these sub- jects during the past two years. It would be safe to say that at present 95% of our pupils who are capable of doing Mathe- matics are enrolled in some one of our classes.
It should be added in this connection that much reorganiza- tion has been brought about in the fourth year of this subject so that more Trigonometry is given than has been the case in other years and it is given earlier in the year.
Physics
Perhaps Physics would be considered second in importance to Mathematics and a considerable amount of reorganization has been brought about in this field. At the present time the boys in the College Physics Class are being given eight hours of in- struction each week as opposed to five in most other subjects. This extra time is made possible in the one case by depriving these boys of study periods and in the other by borrowing some time from the English Classes. It seems probable that if the war goes on more and more time will have to be taken from subjects which at the moment seem to be of relatively less im-
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portance in order that Mathematics, the Sciences and allied sub- jects may be stressed so that the schools may be of more as- sistance to those boys who are about to become members of our armed forces.
The extra time in Physics is now being devoted to work in pre-flight aeronautics and navigation.
The work in Navigation began last year as an after school subject which came once a week during the second half year and has been added to the Physics course this year because of the request of the boys. At the present time there are twenty-three boys who are taking this work and who apparently think it of sufficient importance to sacrifice one of their study periods.
We have been especially fortunate during the past two years in having sextants, charts and other navigational material made available by friends of the school.
At the time of writing this report a class in Cryptography is about to start.
Short Wave Radio
About a year ago it seemed likely that the school was to receive some apparatus for short wave sending and receiving. A room was constructed in the tower of the High School and a group of boys in last year's Senior Class were quite enthusiastic about the prospects.
For some reason the plans did not materialize so that our position at the moment is that we have a capable man ready and willing to teach the fundamentals of the subject; we have an excellent opportunity to set up the equipment and we have groups of boys coming along year after year who are interested in the subject and who would undoubtedly profit a great deal from the type of instruction which we could offer. It seems especially unfortunate at this particular time when this phase of pre-war training is so important that we are unable to do anything with it.
Shop Work and Mechanical Drawing
This phase of our curriculum also has shown a marked in- crease during the past two years because our boys are being told repeatedly that machine shop practices, the art of putting plans on paper along with the intelligent reading of blue prints is a very important part of the war effort. This work has suf- fered somewhat this year because of our inability to get certain materials because of priorities, but in general we have tried to give large numbers of our boys elementary work in these subjects.
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Physical Training
Recently much interest has been shown by Army and Navy Recruiting offices regarding the type of physical training pro- grams now being offered in the Public Schools and the reader is referred to the report of our own physical director which appears elsewhere in this book for more detailed statements in respect to this activity.
We have maintained our football schedule during the past fall largely through the assistance of parents and friends of the school who have been willing to provide transportation facilities in order that our trips could be possible. Obviously this pro- cedure can not continue indefinitely and it begins to appear now as if inter scholastic competition would have to be discontinued until after the war and replaced by some type of intra-mural games.
As this report is being written plans are being laid to curtail our basketball activities during the coming winter and substitute hockey. We have had a group of boys in the school who have been interested in this sport for some time and circumstances seemed to indicate that this is an appropriate time to begin.
Faculty Participation
It would be quite unfair to conclude our war time discussion without giving recognition to the many phases of this work with which the members of our faculty have been concerned such as the teaching of extra courses, the long and complicated rationing programs, Red Cross interests and many others. No attempt has been made to list these activities because some project or person would perhaps be omitted quite unintentionally but it is safe to say that the demand upon the teachers' time in addition to the regular work of teaching have never been as great as has been the case during the past year.
Part II Changes Within the School The Henry O. Peabody School for Girls
The most significant change within the school during the past year has been the opening of the Henry O. Peabody School for Girls. Figures pertaining to this school will appear in the third part of this report and the reader is urged to study the report of the director of this school for further details.
Changes in Our Teaching Staff
With the opening of the Henry O. Peabody School last Sep- tember we were faced with the problem of dividing the time of
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certain members of our teaching staff between the High School proper and the new building. This plan has worked out well, but it must be evident that as the enrollment of the new school grows a greater proportion of the time of these teachers must be given to that building.
Since last June two members of our staff have resigned to accept positions with the Bendix Aviation Corporation.
Miss Alice Howard, Secretary Mr. Robert O'Neil, Shop Instructor
Miss Howard came to the High School as Secretary in 1929. During her years of service she came into intimate contact both with teachers and pupils and was very successful in her work. Her knowledge of the pupils, of the town and with the detailed work of the High School Office has been of very great value.
Mr. O'Neil has been a teacher of Shop Work since 1930. During that time many boys have availed themselves of instruc- tion in his department and both of these people leave our school system with the best wishes of hosts of friends.
Miss Howard's position has been taken by Miss Elizabeth Glancy, a graduate of the Norwood High School in the Class of 1937. Miss Glancy is fitting into the many details of our school work in a very satisfactory fashion.
Mr. O'Neil's place has been taken by Mr. Lewie Lugton who comes to us with a wide and varied training in the wood working trades. As time goes on and as greater numbers of girls become interested in the offerings of the Peabody School we hope to set up an organization offering a variety of trade opportunities for boys which will be comparable to the opportunities now offered for girls in the Peabody School.
It seems extremely likely that we are going to lose some of our men on the faculty to the armed forces before the end of the year,-especially our men who are concerned with Mathe- matics and Science. Since the places left by these men must be guaranteed to them on their return it is going to be extremely difficult to replace them.
The Student Council
In this report of one year ago a very brief paragraph was devoted to the proposed formation of a Student Council. Since that time the organization has been effected and a fund of ap- proximately $246.00 was earned under the direction of Mr. Hay- den as a result of a paper salvage drive during the months of last April and May.
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The pupils voted a substantial contribution from the money thus earned to our assembly fund and most of the balance is now being used as a rotating fund each week for the purchase of War Savings Stamps. Our records show that an average of $135.00 - $140.00 per week has been spent for these stamps by our pupils and the United States Treasury Flag which now flies from our pole showing 90% participation of our pupils is a tribute to Miss Hubbard and our Student Council.
Health Courses and Physical Education
For a considerable number of years a course in Health, Nutrition and Communicable Diseases has been given to Sopho- mores. This work was originally started by the State Department of Education and was given first in connection with the Gym- nasium Classes. It then became evident that nurses, nutritionists and others in specialized fields were in a better position to con- duct some of this work than were our own physical education teachers and the course then became separated from the work in physical training.
There were several administrative problems involved in the manner in which the work has been done during the past few years and when it became evident that Miss Canning was going to disappear from our scene there seemed to be no other choice except to put the work back again-as a part of our physical training program because it would be most unfortunate if it were to disappear from our curriculum entirely.
The work is now being taken care of on an alternate week basis by our own physical education instructors so that Sopho- mores now have gymnasium assignments on two periods one week and three the next.
The Problem of Spanish
At the end of the school year of 1937-1938 Spanish was dis- continued in the High School after having been taught for sev- eral years.
Since the war has been going on much has been said about the "Good Neighbor Policy" with South America and recommenda- tions have been made both by the Federal and State Departments of Education to the effect that our High Schools should make an effort to teach South American relationships in terms of History, Commercial Geography, Spanish, and so on.
With this thought in mind as well as because of the demands of about 30 pupils Spanish was introduced into our school again last September. At the present time there are 27 pupils in our class, 7 of whom are Seniors so that there would be about 20
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pupils who might be the nucleus of a second year class begin- ning next September. It is hoped that a reasonable amount of interest may be maintained in this subject so that we may con- tinue with it for at least two years.
The Problem' of Attendance
In the school report of one year ago a considerable amount of space was devoted to this subject. Many of the difficulties which were pointed out in this report still exist and several have been added this year due chiefly to two factors:
1. The shortage of workers in local stores, shops, industrial concerns, etc. so that these employers have been forced to get considerable of their assistance from High School boys and girls.
2. The permanent change from Eastern Standard Time to Eastern War Time has complicated our tardiness prob- lem to a large degree and to some extent has increased our absences.
An axiom usually accepted by School men is that one of the ear marks of a good school is a good attendance record and in this respect the following statistical tables should be of interest:
Percent of Attendance Record in the Norwood Senior High School
First four months of the years 1938-1942
Month
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
September
96.64
97.12
96.94
97.22
96.49
October
95.86
97.28
95.33
96.99
96.17
November
96.33
96.23
93.33
96.00
92.87
December
94.16
94.42
81.65
93.46
90.78
Percent of Tardiness Record in the Norwood Senior High School
First four months of the years 1938-1942
Month
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
September
.052
.012
.047
.028
.031
October
.055
.083
.058
.073
.141
November
.043
.090
.134
.075
.118
December
.069
.097
.148
.099
.285
Number of Dismissals in the Norwood High School First four months of 1942-1943
Month
Seniors
Juniors
Sophomores
Total
September
108
13
5
126
October
118
25
6
149
November
116
22
8
146
Docember
222
133
21
376
Totals
564
193
40
797
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In regard to Item 1 above, the Bible tells that no man can serve two masters and in most cases where the pupils work the school suffers. Parents should understand that the chief business of boys and girls ought to be regular attendance at school and any other demands which are made upon these young people are usually detrimental to their chief job.
In regard to Item 2 there are only two instances (other than for October, November and December of this year) where the first figure after the decimal point is greater than zero. There seems to be no question but that the change in time has con- tributed in a large measure to our poor attendance record, and to the increased number of cases of tardiness during the present year.
Because of the demands which industry is making upon our High School boys and girls, and probably will continue to make, many of these people are finding remunerative employment after school hours as the dismissal table above shows.
It seems as though the committee should give serious thought to the last three tables above because our school can not function properly if upwards of 10% of our pupils are going to be absent regularly, if increasing numbers of them are to enter school in the morning after the regular work has begun and thus cause serious interruption for the classes to which they go and if in- creasing numbers of them are going to request dismissal before the work of the day is finished. This last mentioned group find no opportunity to avail themselves of any extra assistance offcred by the school in the afternoon.
If the opening time is delayed in the morning then further restrictions are placed on those pupils who would like to work in the afternoon and it almost seems as though the time would be appropriate even though it is only an emergency measure, for some shortening of the school day.
Part III Tables and Statistics
The school year of 1942 - 1943 began on September 9 with the enrollment as of October 1, 1942 shown in Table 1 below:
Table I
Class
Number of Pupils
Senior
168
Junior
200
Sophomore
228
Total
596
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The above figures do not include girls who are enrolled at the Peabody School but the statement should be made here that there are now 19 girls taking work in this school who expect to receive our regular High School Diplomas. In addition to this group there is one boy listed as a middle Junior so that the possible number of graduates in June 1943 is 184* as compared to 218 in June 1942.
*4 pupils have left the Senior Class since October 1.
Table II
Enrollment by Sex
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
Senior
82
86
168
Junior
91
109
200
Sophomore
116
112
228
Total
289
307
596
Actually there are 62 girls who have left our High School to attend the Peabody School and if this number of girls were included in Column 2 above the girls would outnumber the boys by a considerable margin. Then too, the demands of industry are such that boys are probably likely to drop out of school in a greater proportion than the girls. Both of these factors will make for a greater proportion of girls than boys in our school.
Table III
Estimated Enrollment for September 1943
Class
Number of Pupils
Senior
185
Junior
216
Sophomore:
.
St. Catherine's
62
Junior High School
165
Total
628
If we subtract from this total the number of pupils who will disappear from our system between now and next September to- gether with that group of girls who will undoubtedly enroll in the Peabody School it seems likely to suppose that our enrollment will be less in September 1943 than was the case in 1942.
Table IV Percentage Distribution of Pupils by Curricula College Preparation
Peabody School
Senior
24.1
22.5
42.8
10.4
Junior
23.6
25.6
39.1
11.5
Sophomore
30.6
29.3
31.0
9.0
Average
26
25
37
10
Commercial
General
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The above figures show the same trends away from the General and Commercial curricular toward the College Prepara- tory which were pointed out in this report of one year ago, and is due, as has been mentioned before, to the demands being made by guidance teachers and the armed forces of the government for pupils to prepare themselves in subjects like Mathematics, Sciences, etc. which of course places these pupils within the College Prep- aratory group.
This report closes with the usual list of pupils to whom Lane Medals were given last June and a copy of the graduation pro- gram.
I am mindful of the cooperation and support which has been - evident at all times on the part of the Superintendent of Schools and the School Board.
LEIGHTON S. THOMPSON
Lane Medals, 1942
Therese M. Harrington
Gladys M. Oelschlagel
Joseph H. Frates
Henry M. Foley
Ruth M. Steele
Blanche R. Trask
Robert W. Griffin
Lillian E. Karol
Corrine L. Rehnstrom
Ethel A. Johnson
Jeannette Chamberlain
Hazel C. Traquair
Tyler S. Roundy
Graduation Exercises of Norwood High School Class of 1942 Tuesday Evening, June 2, 1942 Junior High School Gymnasium
Program
PROCESSIONAL-"The Honor Legion" C. H. Vance High School Orchestra
INVOCATION
Rev. G. E. Rehnstrom
"Pomp and Circumstance" E. Elgar
Chorus and Orchestra
ADDRESS
Rev. John T. McGrory, S. J. President of Campion Hall
"Pioneers"
Chorus and Orchestra S. B. Hoppin
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GIFT OF THE CLASS OF 1942 Joseph H. Frates
ACCEPTANCE OF THE GIFT FOR THE SCHOOL Harry L. Butters
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
High School Scholarships
Lane Medals
Norwood Woman's Club Scholarship
Edward S. Costello Memorial Trophy Washington and Franklin Award Norwood Mothers' Club Home Economics Award
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
Everyone
RECESSIONAL-"Festival March" Batiste-Roberts High School Orchestra
All music under the direction of Professor John V. Dethier The audience is requested to remain seated while the graduates march out.
.
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Graduates
John Charles Adelmann Anthony Alexandrowicz John Lewis Allen Charles Frederick Anderson Dolores Anthony Helen M. Armstrong
Russell Howard Babcock
Bertha Louise Balduf Curtis Leon Balduf Helen Marion Beasley Paul Ignatius Bernier, Jr.
Lillian Elizabeth Blake
Robert Thornton Bodge
Donald John Bonica
Barbara Ann Bouchard Sophie Boulis
Joseph Greer Breen
Phyllis Ruth Brennan
George Wallace Brock, Jr.
Jean Marie Bunker
Eleanor Cecelia Burns
Mary Bearnardette Dillon
Sadie Ann Domet
Francis Thomas Donovan
John Robert Doyle
Mary Helen Driscoll
Mary Frances Drummey
Alice Carolyn Dwane
Robert Eklund Catherine Esper
Catherine Rita Flaherty
Joseph Paul Flaherty
Margaret Anne Flaherty
Robert Brendan Murray Flaherty
Henry Martin Foley
Mary Teresa Foley Robert Francis Foley
Joseph Henry Frates
Frank Xavier Frueh
Marjorie H. Gardner Mary Charlotte Garner Arline Lillian Geroso Dorothy Jeanne Golden
Florence Elizabeth Grande Robert William Griffin
Eino Oscar Gronroos
Francis Ignatious John Conton Carolyn Mitchell Cook
Mary Helen Cormier Barbara Jane Costello William Francis Costello Joseph John Coyne Patricia Brooks Coyne James Albert Crites Constance Louise Curran Martin Bernard Curran Mary Catherine Curran Peter Joseph Curran
Margaret Lorraine Dalton
Mary Theresa Damico
Veronica Joan Daunt Frances Mabel Deeb Marion Deeb James Francis Dervan
Rita Margaret D'Espinosa
Catherine Mary Devine
Lola Marie DiBerto
Domenic Antonio DiGiandomenico
Irene Loretta Butler
Mary Jacquelyn Butler
Helen Frances Byko
Dorothy Evelyn Byrne
Lillian Frances Byrne Emma Calderone
Catherine Mary Campbell
Helen Dorothy Carlson
Knute E. Carlson
Francis Leonard Charles Carroll
Jeannette Chamberlain
William J. Chandler
Margaret Mary Charron
Vincent Charles Chubert Paul Edwin Cleary
Barbara Anne Cloherty
Mary Margaret Collins Barbara B. Concannon Edward Robert Conley Muriel Jean Conley Joseph Louis Connolly Mary Evelyn Connolly John Francis Conroy Barbara Lorraine Centon
Angelina Stella Grosso Mary Josephine Grugnale
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Therese Marie Harrington Charles Adam Harukewicz, Jr. James Arthur Hathaway Gerard Lawrence Hawkins, Jr. Neil George Hawley, Jr. Mary Helen Hayes Francis Christopher Heylin George Arthur Hillman, Jr.
Elizabeth Anne Hills
Henry Edward Hines, Jr. Philip Ray Howard Ethel Augusta Johnson Evelyn Betty M. Johnson Henry Oswald Johnson Lillian Elsie Victoria Johnson Madeline Joseph Lillian Elizabeth Karol William Peter Kazulis, Jr. Ida Kelley
F. Marion Elizabeth Kimball Marie Eileen Kimball Edward Alexander Koval Charles Kuietauskas John Kuszynski Leo A. Lanzoni Ruth Norma Larson Lester Norman Lechter Francis Edward Lewis Frank Libertowicz Priscilla Jeanne Lonergan Josephine Frances Lorusso Warren Hastings Lovelace Bernice Esther Lowe John Lukashewicz Peter Joseph Lydon Myrtle Ruth MacAloney James A. Machum Barbara Louise Maguire James Joseph Maguire Toivo Louis Manninen Marianne Masino Thomas Henry McAuliffe Patricia Agnes McDavitt Mary Ellen McDonough Rosemary Ann McDonough Helen Josephine McGrath Annamarie McLatchey Rita Georgina McLatchey John Francis McLean
Agnes Marion Meyer Catherine Mike Richard Mike Albert Mills Lois May Muehlberger Paul Carton Murphy
Vivian Marie Murphy
William Patrick Murray
Mary Nikituk Carl Elmer Nordblon Josephine Aileen O'Brien John Patrick O'Donnell Gladys Marion Oelschlagel Rose Palmerini Mary Palsic Julius John Paolucci
Frances Janet Patinsky
Jeanne Frances Patterson
Margaret Irene Pendergast Frieda Lena Petrovick Catherine Rose Phalen Robert Conner Pike James Leslie Porter Mary Catherine Praino Sabina Carmela Puopolo Corinne Louise Rehnstrom Carl Austin Rich Leonard John Richall
Elizabeth Louise Richardson Florence Mildred Richardson Paul Vincent Riley William Robert Ritvo Alan Paul Rockwood Tyler Stockwell Roundy Robert Bernard Rowen Catherine Ann Ruscio Leona Orene Russell Dorothy Marion Ryan David Calvin Sakrison Ann Salloom Teresa Sara Salmon
Gertrude Ann Samson Arthur John Schramm Margaret Agnes Sears 'John Francis Seastrand Marjorie Mary Simoni Frederick Cabot Skolfield Viola Edith Smith George Solomon
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Shirley Elizabeth Spearwater Ruth Margaret Steele
Shirley Stepanowich
Robert Edward Stewart
Mary Margaret Sullivan Frances Claire Suriano
Veronica Margaret Tarpey Margaret Thomas
Eugene Lawrence Wilford Ruth Pearl Wiseman Elizabeth Caroline Worster
Hazel Grace Traquair
Robert Donaldson Worster
Blanche Rose Trask
Edward William Wozniak
William Lewis Turner
Helen E. Valatka
Edmund John Vasilaukas
Mary Elizabeth Ann Wallace Margaret Mary Walsh Marion Webber
Priscilla Beatrice Wenstrom
Mary Bridget White
Rose Marie Yelapi
Joseph Zablowski
Lena Mildred Zizis
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE HENRY O. PEABODY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
It is a distinct privilege to submit the first report of the Henry O. Peabody School for Girls.
This school, long hoped for and long planned for, is now a reality-a splendid achievement for those who have brought it into being in most unusual and difficult times. I truly appreciate the responsibilities placed upon me as its first director, and I plan to organize a school which will grow on its own merits, measured by the kind of service it actually renders.
It is hardly necessary to outline the history of the estab- lishment of the school, but I should like to make a suggestion regarding the name. In order to avoid confusion. which has already become apparent, the full title "Henry O. Peabody" should be used to distinguish this school from those institutions in Massachusetts bearing the name "Peabody." By this small gesture we can also do honor to him whose generous bequest means so much in making this school continuously possible.
The interested citizens of the town of Norwood who estab- lished this school have made available a very timely and excep- tional educational opportunity for girls. More satisfying and vital recognition will be theirs, through the graduates, who will pay convincing dividends industrially and socially to their community.
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