USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1945-1947 > Part 17
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
is called the Arts and Crafts Club, and each of the twenty-four members is privileged to draw, paint or decorate objects as he or she wishes. Many placques were painted for Christmas gifts, glorified glass pictures are now being painted, with the cutting of original stencil designs and their application to cloth soon to be started.
Senior High Level
Art classes in Senior High School continue to be large, with the Art instructor teaching every period during the week. As for several years, there are two courses, a General Art, twice a week, and an Art Major, with the pupils electing the latter having Art lessons five times a week. Pupils in both courses have practical experi- ence in Design, Color and Representation, using many media and doing much ori- ginal and creative work.
Some of the subjects covered were many compositions and illustrations with figures of people, much figure work from the model, much design, especially for ad- vertising, stencil design and their application, the making of plasticene and papier- mache masks and the very thorough study of Perspective.
The usual calls came for posters to advertise the many school activities, the Senior Play and outside civic affairs, as well as very large panels to decorate the gymansium walls for school parties. The scenery for the Senior Play. was also painted by the Art classes, with the help of some of the Peabody School Art pupils.
Conclusion
The evaluation of any Art program cannot be made by viewing or considering the finished products alone. The real value lies in the producing and developing of ideas, through the imagination, with the thinking out and planning of problems related to every day life and the ability to carry all through to a profitable and satisfactory end.
We, of the Art Department, wish once more to express our appreciation of the helpful interest and spirit of cooperation shown by all with whom we come in con- tact.
HELEN L. ARNOLD.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
I herewith submit the report of the Music Department for the year ending December 31, 1945.
Now, more than ever before, music is recognized as an integral part of life rather than merely an isolated experience.
So, in dealing with music, we strive to teach it, not in isolation, but as a part of the common experience which is the life of humanity.
Elementary Schools
The teaching of the basic principles of music, without which no real progress can be made, is progressing satisfactorily in the lower grades. Singing and instru- mental classes are progressing equally well, giving the children a good musical knowledge which can be used later on, either for recreation or vocation.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
The number of pupils in instrumental classes under Mr. George Farnham is as follows:
Rhythm Band (Grade I and II)
Melody flutes (Grade III)
181
Violins 35
Bugles 35
Trumpets
44
Drums
66
Clarinets
23
Glockenspeils 2
Saxophones
10
Cello
1
Trombones.
14
Baritone Horns
6
Bass Horns
4
French Horn
1
Alto Horns.
4
Mellophones
2
Many of these pupils have two or more lessons a week as they play in more than one organization.
Junior High School
As already mentioned in previous reports, vocal music suffers a serious set-back in this school owing to the fact that the classes meet only once a week and in some cases less often.
This, of course, slows up considerably any progress in vocal and theoretical work and practically eliminates the course in music appreciation.
Senior High School
There are now 146 students enrolled in the various music classes. This enroll- ment is divided between the classes as follows:
Music Appreciation 43 Orchestra 37
Harmony 21
Voice Training. 45
Many of our former students are thankful for the training we were able to give them during their school years. That training gave them many opportunities which were denied to others less fortunate.
The spring concert given this year by the Elementary, Junior and High School Bands and Orchestras also included a Junior Glee Club under Mrs. Marie Brown, and a Senior Voice Training Class.
Besides this concert, all organizations have played at many public functions and were very well received.
Peabody School
A chorus of forty-eight voices is now meeting once a week and progressing satisfactorily.
Plans are under way to include a course in Music Appreciation in this school.
Conclusion
I wish to express my sincere appreciation of the helpful interest and the co- operation of all who have aided in the work of this department.
JEAN V. DETHIER.
344
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
I herewith submit the report of the Physical Education Department for the year ending December 31, 1945.
During the period of peace as in war, we must strive in physical education for a goal that is nothing short of total fitness. Our national goal, represented in the goal of each individual, must be:
1. A body free from disease.
2. Muscles, heart, and lungs to supply enough strength, speed, agility, and endurance to do easily the maximum tasks with which we may be faced.
3. An alert mind, free from worry, fear, and tension, capable of relaxing utterly the moment an opportunity is presented, and capable as quickly of becoming totally engrossed by the challenge of the next event.
4. A spirit that feels itself, with others, part of an important venture and im- portant to that venture.
If we would have our human machines strong enough to do our daily physica tasks without undue fatigue, we should build muscles capable of doing at least twice the work required of them routinely, i.e. - by proper exercise - by work and sports we can build muscles so strong that only half of the muscle mass will normally work, while the other half rests.
With these thoughts in mind we must rely on, and be certain, that the schools of our land provide adequate programs of physical fitness.
It is the school's responsibility to provide the tools, the skills, the desires, and actual participation, so that every boy and girl knows what to do, can do it, and has ยท the attitude of mind to want to do it throughout life.
As in past years, we have eliminated non-essentials. We strive to teach the essentials.
With the cooperation of the school physicians, dentist, and nurses all pupils are given a thorough examination at the beginning of the school year, with the thought in mind of finding out the efficiencies and deficiencies that have developed. We prescribe corrective measures to meet individual needs. We always have one thought in mind, to do everything to help the boys and girls and use the greatest care to do nothing to harm them.
Senior High School Girls
Under the direction of Miss Erna Kiley, the program at Senior High School consists of marching, corrective exercises, folk dancing, practice teaching, and games.
Athletics for girls were carried on as in previous years with intramural games in basketball, volley-ball, and softball. Archery classes are held in the fall and spring, and instruction in tennis starts in April each year. Because of the war and trans- portation difficulties, we gave up our plans of past years of playing class games and varsity games in basketball and tennis with other schools. This year, in addition to our intramural program we plan to continue our sports as we did before the war.
Health and Hygiene Education
Classes in Health Education are given once a week to Sophomore girls and boys, in which lectures are given on the subjects of the muscular growth of the body and the value of good posture.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Classes in Hygiene are given once a week to Senior girls and boys. In these classes, subjects such as first aid, life saving, posture, muscular development, health rules, and general care of the body are taught.
Senior High School - Boys
The program at Senior High School consists of exercises, apparatus, tumbling, corrective exercises, and games.
Athletics for boys included varsity football, varsity, junior varsity and intra- mural basketball, hockey, outdoor track, golf, varsity and intramural baseball.
An intramural basketball program was set up in December, 1944, under the supervision of Mr. Joseph Donovan, which called for the regular participation of twelve teams, involving some seventy to eighty boys. Games were arranged in regular rotation. Most of these games were played in the afternoon at the Senior High School, although along toward the end of the winter, some play-offs were arranged for the evening in the Junior High School.
A regular varsity and junior varsity schedule of twelve games for each was played with outside schools. Fifteen boys participated in this program.
The hockey season, under the direction of Mr. Everett Learnard, started in November with a meeting of the eight coaches of the Bay State League. Schedules and rule changes are agreed upon at this meeting.
This year the team was able to obtain a supply of lumber from the collapsed ice- house at Ellis Pond, through the generosity of Winslow Brothers and Smith Com- pany. From this lumber the boys constructed several low boards which, however, we were unable to use because of weather obstacles, and also because of insecurity due to the fact that the pond cannot be supervised.
This year, by persistence, we were able to preserve a small area on Ellis Pond for skating. By immediate hand plowing of our surface after storms we had ice when no other natural ice was available in the vicinity.
The hockey squad consisted of thirty players in December. Transportation for the team to the Boston Arena will be by bus arrangements underwritten by the School Committee.
Twenty-four boys reported to Mr. Clifford Wheeler in April for outdoor track. Two Triangular meets and four Dual meets made up a limited but intensive schedule. The schedule was limited because of transportation difficulties. The team displayed fine sportsmanship in all competition, winning all dual meets contested. Several boys showed considerable individual ability and outstanding performance (on their part) in all competition they were called upon to enter.
Thirty candidates reported for varsity baseball in April and a representative schedule was played with outside schools. In May an intramural schedule was played under the direction of Mr. Lewie Lugton, and some interest was displayed.
Mr. Angelo Antonelli was appointed assistant football coach to succeed Mr. Richard Murphy, who resigned to give his full time to his business.
In September, fifty-eight boys reported for football, and a schedule of ten games was played.
In December an intramural basketball schedule was played before the varsity team was called out.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Junior High School - Girls
Under the direction of Miss Ellen Gifford, the program at the Junior High School consists of corrective exercises, formal marching, apparatus, dancing, pupil leader- ship, games, and health hints.
School parties for the ninth grade were held last year and at this time the Guidance and the Physical Education Departments are in close cooperation.
Junior High School - Boys
Under the direction of Mr. John P. Dixon, the work included marching, exercises, tumbling, apparatus, corrective exercises, games, health hints and a sports club.
Varsity and Junior Varsity teams played a schedule of seven games, and an intra- mural schedule of seventy-six games was played, which included nineteen teams.
In baseball, eight varsity games were played with outside Junior High Schools and an intramural schedule of thirty-eight games with ten teams participating was also played.
In December an intramural schedule was started with twenty-seven games already played, with twenty-one teams participating.
Elementary Grades
Once again I feel we are greatly handicapped by not having a Physical Education instructor in the elementary schools. There is, especially at this time, a great need for a trained physical education teacher in the lives of children of this age in regard to their posture and minor physical defects.
Athletics
In baseball, Mr. Lewie Lugton was appointed as an instructor of the funda- mentals in this sport and devoted many afternoons at each school instructing the boys.
Conclusion
May I at this time take the opportunity to thank all members of the Schoo Department for their fine cooperation with this department.
H. BENNETT MURRAY.
REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
We herewith submit the report of the School Health Service for the school year of 1945.
Physical Examinations
During the fall term all children in the schools were given a physical examination by Dr. George R. Allen or Dr. Harriet E. Rogers, school physicians. Parents have been notified of defects and have been advised to consult their family physicians for treatment, or for referral to such a clinic as the attending physician considers necessary.
Dental Examinations
All children in grades one to twelve have been given a dental examination by Dr. Timothy J. Curtin, school dentist. Parents were notified and urged to secure dental care for their children.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Communicable Disease Control
Common cold, sore throat, grippe, and gastro-intestinal disturbances have been very prevalent during the year.
During the fall there were sporadic cases of scarlet fever, poliomyelitis, whooping- cough, chickenpox, and mumps. In December there were several cases of pneumonia.
Parents are strongly urged to keep ill children separated from others, to consult their physicians and to report communicable disease to the school at once. Such cooperation would aid greatly in the control of communicable disease, for it is then possible to check all contacts so that exclusion can be made of those students who show symptoms of infection.
Diphtheria Immunization Clinic
Toxoid inoculations, followed by Schick tests, have been administered to children in grades one to three. Parents are urged to have their children immunized. Al- though diph theria is a preventable disease, there were two cases in Norwood in 1945.
Audiometer Tests
During the fall term audiometer tests were given to all children in grades three to twelve.
While there are several methods of testing auditory acuity, to date the group- phonograph method is considered superior for schools.
Within the last year the Massachusetts Division of Child Growth and Develop- ment has inaugurated a testing program for children in grades one and two. During the spring term Norwood will be included in the testing area.
Vision Tests
The Massachusetts Vision Test is being given to each child in the public schools. This test is considered superior to the Snellen test in that the student is tested not only for visual acuity, but also for latent hypermetropia and for muscle imbalance.
Eye Clinic
During the past year the eye clinic has been conducted by Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer. 260 patients attended the clinic during the school year.
Tuberculosis Clinic
Although the Division of Tuberculosis has felt that emphasis should be placed upon industry rather than schools, we fortunately were able to resume Tuberculosis Diagnostic Service in the schools in 1945. Because of the lack of personnel, this service had been suspended for three years.
In February, 1945, 656 skin tests were administered to students in grades nine to twelve. 65 X-rays were given to the positive reactors and to contacts. We were happy to learn that no active, pulmonary tuberculosis was discovered.
The trend in tuberculosis case-finding is to eliminate skin-testing, but to give a chest X-ray to every individual in selected grades. This plan will be effected in 1946.
Mid-Morning Lunch
The Woman's Club, through the Norwood Community Chest Fund, defrayed the cost of milk and crackers for 111 children. Many other children, who pay for their own lunches, also take advantage of this opportunity.
223
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Guidance, Speech, and Retarded Children's Clinics
During the war years these clinics have been discontinued in Norwood because of the lack of personnel.
Conclusion
We express our sincere appreciation to Mr. Lincoln D. Lynch, to the School Committee, to all members of the school department and of the community for their interest and cooperation.
JANE O'SULLIVAN, R. N.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ADULT EDUCATION
The following is the report of the Supervisor of Adult Education for the year ending December, 1945.
The most recent adult education project to be sponsored by the Norwood De- partment of Public Schools is the establishment of a Regional Veterans' Education Center in Norwood. Evening High School Courses for Veterans began on December 13th, at the Junior High School and are now being held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 o'clock. Eighteen veterans are now enrolled and it is hoped that enrollment will continue to increase. There are five veterans from other towns attending classes, two from Walpole, one each from Canton, Sharon, and Norfolk.
The purpose of these courses is to aid the returning veteran in the following ways:
1. In meeting the requirements for a High School Diploma. Any veteran who began his High School Education in Norwood and who, in the opinion of the Norwood School Committee, completes the required amount of work, will be awarded a Norwood High School Diploma. Veterans from other towns will have to make diploma award arrangements with their own High Schools. In the event that this is not possible, they may work for a State Equivalency Certificate issued by the Massachusetts Division of University Extension.
2. In preparing veterans to meet college entrance requirements.
3. In furthering or reviewing early collegiate education.
4. In further training in special fields not necessarily leading to a diploma.
The plan of instruction is somewhat unique in that provision is made for group or tutorial instruction as the need arises. The classes are formal. Much of the teaching is done in individual conferences with the instructors. This permits the veteran to accelerate at his own pace.
More than half of the veterans now enrolled are taking courses in order to review necessary subjects in anticipation of their enrollment in a college. Most of them are taking two courses.
The present schedule is as follows:
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
7 to 8 p.m.
8 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings at the Norwood Junior High School
English, Ninth Grade Instructor, Miss O'Sullivan
English, Twelfth Grade Instructor, Miss O'Sullivan
Mathematics Review Instructor, Mr. Dunn
Elementary Algebra Plane Geometry Instructor, Mr. Dunn
Mathematics
Instructor, Mr. Klugh
Mathematics Instructor, Mr. Klugh
Wednesday Evenings at the Norwood Senior High School
Physics Review - Two-hour course Instructor, Mr. Learnard
The veterans' program is being operated with the cooperation of the Massa- chusetts State Department of Education. Salaries of approved teachers are paid by the State and Norwood furnishes places of meeting for the classes and, for Nor- wood veterans, textbooks as well. Other courses will be added as the need arises.
University Extension Courses
Again during 1945 courses have been offered with the cooperation of the Division of University Extension. In January the course "Exercises for Health" with Mrs. Mildred Albert, Director of the Academic Moderne of Boston, as instructor was ended and as there was much interest created in this course, it was decided to repeat the course for a second group in March. Thirty-one women were enrolled in this second course of eight lessons, which held meetings in the gymnasium of the Norwood Junior High School.
A course called "This Changing World" with Dr. Daniel O'Leary of the Boston School Department as instructor now meets on Monday evenings at the Morrill Memorial Library. This course began on October 29th and will meet for sixteen lectures.
A short course of six lessons in "Interior Home Decoration" with Miss Lillian Phillips of the faculty of the Massachusetts School of Art as instructor began at the Norwood Junior High School on October 30th. Twenty-four women were en- rolled in this class.
Other Adult Courses and Activities
In January a second course in Beginners' Dressmaking was organized with Miss Simpson of the Henry O. Peabody School as instructor. This course met once a week for a three-hour session.
The first Course in Beginners Dressmaking closed at the end of April and dresses and aprons made by the members of this class were modelled by them at the Closing Program of the Adult Civic Education Classes.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
In cooperation with the Norfolk County Agricultural School and The Norwood Victory Garden Committee, a lecture on "Vegetable Gardening" was given by Mr. Foster Weiss of the faculty of the Agricultural School. Twenty-five people attended this lecture which was held at the Norwood Junior High School.
Adult Civic Education Classes
Closing Exercises of the Evening Adult Civic Education Classes were held at the Norwood Junior High School on April 11, 1945, with a large audience present. In connection with the Folk Festival which featured the songs and dances of other lands, a display of the beautiful handicrafts for which many nations are famous was arranged. All of the needlecraft, laces, weaving, rugs, and woodcarvings exhibited were made by men and women who were students in the Adult Civic Education Classes.
The program will be found at the conclusion of this report.
Day classes for women continued at the Balch School until June, 1945.
English and Citizenship classes are now being held at the Balch School on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. There are three classes, a beginners, an inter- mediate, and an advanced class.
Because of the decrease in regular class attendance at Citizenship classes through- out the nation, the U. S. Dept. of Justice recently published a number of Home Study materials. Many of these materials are excellent and can be used by people whose household duties prevent them from attending a regular class or who are too old or too ill to go any distance to a school. Materials for home study have been given to fourteen people so far. It is necessary for the people who use these materials, in most cases, to have someone at home who can act as a helper.
Naturalization Aid
During 1945 assistance was given to sixty-two people with Citizenship problems. These people, for the most part, needed help in filling out applications for second papers. Citizenship applications are now going through the courts very rapidly and it takes only about three to five months from the time application is made, before a person becomes a full-fledged citizen of the United States.
Students who became citizens while classes were in session were given information as to how, where, and when to register for voting. Reminders to register for voting were sent to 24 others who had become citizens with the help of the school Adult Education Office. 1
More home visits in connection with naturalization aid have been necessary this year, due to the number of physically handicapped people who wish to become citizens.
Educational Information Service
There is available at the Adult Education Office, Room 11, at the Norwood Junior High School, information on a great variety of courses being given in and around Boston. Requests for information on courses being offered on such subjects as forestry, millinery, physical education for women, photography, restaurant management, etc., have been received during the year and lists of courses being offered in a particular subject, time of meeting, place, fee, and other pertinent in- formation has been sent to the individuals making these requests.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
Future Possibilities in Adult Education
In cooperation with the Morrill Memorial Library a course to be called "Small House Architecture" is being planned. This course is intended to be of real value to prospective home-builders. It is hoped that this course will materialize within the next month or as soon as a competent instructor can be secured.
A survey to determine what courses local teachers might find of interest, shows that many of them would like courses in Art or Music Appreciation.
It would seem that this is an appropriate time for a course in Labor Relations. In an industrial community such as Norwood it would seem that a course of this type should contain information of value to members of both Labor and Manage- ment as well as to the ordinary citizen.
With the proper sound equipment for showing films, many worthwhile educa- tional films on a variety of subjects could be obtained at little or no cost for showing to interested adult groups.
The greatest difficulty in planning courses at the present time is the scarcity of competent instructors who appeal to adult groups.
Other Activities
On September 24th, at the request of Miss LeCompte, the supervisor spoke to four ninth grade Social Science classes on the subject Immigration and Naturaliza- tion, taking one class period for each group.
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