USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1945-1947 > Part 59
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To further student interest in Technical Drawing for our eighth grade pupils, several film strips introducing the subject were shown, the result being an added stimulus to the development of an interest and understanding of some of the more difficult problems encountered by our beginners.
Industrial Arts - Senior High School
It is unfortunate for our high school boys that industrial work along some pre- vocational line is not available to them. If some sort of program where an opportunity for the boys to discover and develop their avocational, leisure or hobby interests could be devised, it would contribute materially for a general education.
Mechanical Drawing, offered as a technical subject and diversified considerably to meet the needs and requirements of the students, creates a teaching problem that taxes to the limit our teaching resources.
Conclusion
In concluding this report may I express my grateful and sincere appreciation to Mr. Lynch for his interest and cooperative spirit shown at all times in the problems of our school. To our administrators in the high school, to the Director of Guidance and to all members of the school department who helped to make the year a success, I express my thanks.
CLIFFORD H. WHEELER.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
This is the annual report of the Art Department for the year ending December 31, 1947.
The Reorganized Program
In our last report we tried to indicate why this department had initiated a major reorganization of its curricula. We outlined our hope to make art a living and vital knowledge applicable to the needs of all our students. The purpose in attempting such a reorganization, as far as it pertains to art education, was in advance accord with the general recommendations contained in the recent Report of the President's National Educational Advisory Committee.
Last April it was my pleasure to attend the 36th Annual Convention of the Eastern Arts Association at Philadelphia. The forums and conferences at this meeting had as their underlying theme: "What Is The Place and Function of the Arts in General Education?" The prominent art educators and administrators who discussed this theme had many new ideas to offer, and where possible, we have tried to incorporate these thoughts in the program we are working toward here in Norwood.
Progress -- Elementary Level
More than any other single factor which will help bring us closer to the goal is teacher understanding. Again this year we have held one class a month for all elementary school teachers and separate conferences for the Junior and Senior High School. This is a joint attempt to clarify the objectives of our new program and to
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ease the difficulties which have been a result of the inauguration of such a different type of art work. Teacher response, in the majority of cases, has been most gratifying and I sincerely feel that a great break has been made from the traditional type of art lesson. We have reached the point where the problem has become, primarily, that of conducting the actual art classes. Freed from the responsibility of judging childrens' work on the slim basis which most teachers received from their limited art studies in teachers' college, many of them are now beginning to grasp the essential ideas of how we should - develop art understandings, explain art facts and sponsor art appreciation.
In addition to the Art Program manual, and the brief monthly outlines contained therein, we now give to each teacher each month a more complete outline which tells in some detail the materials, the approach, and the general directions for the month's art work. In most cases these additional outlines have been issued at our grade meet- ings at the first of each month, thereby enabling even more familiarization with this work before it is attempted in the classroom. To try and adhere to any schedule requires conscientious teaching, cooperation and an understanding of the aims of such a program. Room for continued improvement lies ahead.
Considering, however, the teaching obstacles in the face of a completely revised policy and the short period of time since its inception, we cannot doubt that the elementary schools have made basic progress in their attempt to better understand the fundamentals of the Art Program.
Activities
Experimental color work, paper construction and studies which have included collections of various types of pictures were well conducted by the first three grades.
Projects in Community Planning, work with the Crafts, the understanding of differences between Drawings and Paintings and studies of reproductions of the Old Masters have been the outstanding highlights of work in grades four to six.
Progress - Secondary Level
The Junior High School has planned for the development of a realistic art program which will grow to become an important factor in the life of all children. Efforts to consolidate the basic principles of our general program are being made and we are working steadily to improve the inspiration and leadership of the department as it concerns itself with art activities throughout the school.
It is regretted that we could not give more time to the specific problem of the Junior High classroom art lessons - but only because the elementary schools had to be considered first.
The Art Room walls and radiators have been greatly improved by repainting. Many attractive bulletin boards have been in evidence throughout the year.
Activities
1. An interesting unit on "Modern Illustrators" was completed by the 7th and 8th grades as a study of the types of painting done by well known contemporary illustrators.
2. A notebook of "Comparisons" by 8th grade classes was the most vigorous element in the year's work. It consisted of many carefully arranged pages, each displaying two pictures of similiar objects which were then compared in order that their good or poor characteristics could be judged - particularly those characteristics demanding artistic discrimination.
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3. "Modern Homes" was the theme of another 8th grade project which attempted to acquaint children with the various integrating aspects which create an up- to-date home. This also was in notebook form.
4. "Arranging a Home" was a practical 9th grade problem which was built inside a box, using cardboard furniture made to scale. Simulated carpents, wallpaper, curtains, etc., resulted in many well planned room arrangements.
5. Assistance with the "Junior Narrator" and craft projects in leather, plastic, metal, and yarn have also been conducted during the Club Period.
The Senior High School, due to many complex factors, has found it most difficult to initiate the type of classroom work which would be a direct outgrowth of our general program. Classes now occupy every period of the instructor's day which makes it difficult for her to find time enough to fully absorb the precepts of our new program and to plan for a schedule of work for those classes. We shall attempt to develop a satisfactory solution to this problem in the coming year.
Where conflicts have risen in the matter of class schedules, major students have been given preference over those who desire to take art as an Elective subject.
Freehand drawing, water color, block printing and crayon work have been carried on as usual, and in some cases individual problems have been assigned to those who would benefit most by them. The department has also cooperated with the school in the matter of posters for sport and social events and has helped plan the decorative arrangements of the gymnasium for class parties. Assistance is also given to the staff of the school yearbook in the matter of illustrations and page arrangements. There is room for much general improvement.
Conservation of Supplies
Every teacher concerned with the daily use of art materials has co-operated most wholeheartedly in the attempts we are making to conserve supplies. Excess stocks of old paper which have been distributed throughout this year were cheerfully accepted and put to many practical uses. The use of expensive papers and heavy white paper has been kept to a minimum. Each school now operates on a small marginal basis and the elementary schools receive their supplies from our Central Stockroom as their use is called for by our program. We know that this system has already resulted in considerable savings.
To stress the importance of making secondary colors by mixture we have made an individual distribution of the full eight color crayon palette to the first and second grades only. The other elementary grades have received the three primary colors and black. This procedure, in addition to its educational advantages, has also effected savings without limiting art activities in any way.
Teacher Guidance
By conference and classroom visitation we continue to support the teacher of art as much as possible. Several pertinent books have been distributed, and in addition, we have advised each teacher to forward her completed units of work to us for a sympathetic appraisal of their educational value.
We have also offered what assistance we could to the arrangement of bulletin boards throughout the schools and in the construction of scenery and stage properties.
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Recommendations
Elementary Schools
A pleasant and clean working environment is an essential psychological factor in our classrooms - for the teacher as well as her pupils. We recommend that consideration be given to the renovation of the ceilings and walls in the hall and two rooms at the Shattuck, and the hall and four rooms at the Winslow. Painting alone, in appropriate pastel shades, which can be achieved at moderate expense, would be a tremendous improvement.
We have also recommended to each school principal that attention be given to the possible removal and storage of irrelevant monotone reproductions in the hope that these may gradually be replaced by full color reproductions more pertinent to the happiness of young people - and - to be hung at such a height that they might be able to see them.
Junior High School
Art is primarily visual in its physical aspects. We feel we are neglecting the need to show children the full beauty of color as it exists in master paintings, and even more important, as it exists in the selection of things with which we shall always live. To do this job adequately we need a projector and screen designed to handle 2 x 2 Kodachrome transparencies and film strips. With this essential equipment we would be in a position to make our own slides and film strips, which would from time to time, be supplemented by the ready-made transparencies. This machine would also be used by the Elementary schools and the art department of the High School.
Senior High School
The physical aspects of the Art Room are so limited and contained that it is uncomfortable and almost impossible for students to work on anything larger than a 12 x 18 size paper. Storage space and bulletin board space are equally limited. We believe that consideration should be given to the possible transfer of these activities to another room which would be large enough to allow a more ample use of space.
Conclusion
Progress has been made in our general plan to reorganize the art program and we feel confident that another year will continue to show improvement.
I wish to express to Mr. Lynch my sincere appreciation for his unfailing interest, understanding and cooperation. And to each of the principals and teachers associated with our work, my sincere appreciation for the cooperation which has brought about the progress we have made this year.
WALTER E. LUNSMAN.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
I herewith submit the report of the Music Department for the year ending December 31, 1947.
The word "Music" to the educator means among other things:
1. Strict discipline (mental and physical)
2. First essential to sensitizing the ear and guiding the voice and the fingers,
3. Skill in translating music symbols,
4. Self expression, creative attitude,
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
5. Development of the Social Spirit, and,
6. Enlarged horizon (facts about composers, compositions, countries.) There are three important and closely related groups in Music; the Listeners, the Performers and the Creators.
The Music Course now in force in our schools embodies all the objectives given above and is so arranged and graded as to reach all children regardless of the group or groups to which they will eventually belong.
Elementary Schools
After one year of excellent services, Miss Haeuseller resigned her position as Music Assistant in the Grade Schools. Her resignation is being felt very keenly by pupils, parents and teachers alike who had many occasions to view and hear the result of her work in Rhythm and Song. We hope that her position may be filled in the near future so that the progress achieved is not lost but may continue to grow. While the Rhythmic work is thus suffering a set-back, the singing, theoretical and instrumental classes are progressing equally well. There are now 734 children in the various instrumental classes under Mr. Farnham.
Junior High School
In the Junior High School, the Music Classes have only one period a week (some- times less) to study Voice, Theory and Music Appreciation. While excellent work is being done during that short time by Mrs. Brown, it is regrettable that these classes cannot have two periods a week instead of one. Two periods a week do not seem excessive considering the Ethical, Social, Intellectual and Vocational value of music.
Senior High School
There are now 211 students enrolled in the various music classes. A boys' Glee Club has been organized and meets once a week during the homeroom period. The Orchestra, Voice Training Classes and other musical groups have given several concerts in, and out of, town. The Band played at all football games, at the Ports- mouth and the Medford Festivals, at the B.U .- Colgate game and in all local parades.
Conclusion
I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation of the helpful interest and the cooperation of all who have aided in the work of this Department.
JOHN V. DETHIER.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The report of the Physical Education Department for the year ending December 31, 1947, is respectfully submitted.
Introduction
Education in America has a responsibility, as have other great social institutions, to help boys and girls live effectively in a democratic society. Education dedicated to the democratic ideals of this society must provide -
An opportunity to deal honestly and realistically with problems which come within the experiences of boys and girls and within the experiences of teachers,
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A program rich in knowledge, skills, techniques, and understandings in all areas of life,
An opportunity to recognize and deal effectively with needs and purposes of boys and girls, and
An opportunity to translate ideals of democratic society into every day living and teaching.
Physical education has the same responsibilities and the same objectives as has education in general. It is that area of education which, because it deals with the body in action, in movement, has one of its major aims the development of the more sensitive control of this instrument for more effective functioning. It is significantly that area which deals constantly and continuously with the individual in his most dynamic learning, for he moves, sees, thinks, feels at once in situations of social and democratic import.
The physical education program must provide: -
An opportunity for the promotion of vigorous normal growth through a wide range of large motor activities such as natural activities of daily life, free and individual play, games and sports, dance, athletics, self-testing activities, relaxation and rest, remedial and adapted activities, co-educational and co-recreational activities, trips, and parties,
An opportunity for the development of sound attitudes, habits, and knowledge of wholesome living, and
An opportunity to develop interest, joy, and satisfaction in many skills, and these skills in terms of sports, dance and recreational activities, now and which will continue in the mature use of leisure time.
Physical Education Program Senior High School - Boys
An integrated program of physical education that included calisthenics, group correctives, combative activities and group games was carried on during the year.
The Athletic program consisted of the following sports:
Varsity football
Hockey
Junior Varsity football Outdoor track
Varsity basketball Golf
Junior varsity basketball Varsity baseball
Intramural basketball Varsity Tennis
Mr. John A. Sullivan started the intramural basketball program on December 1, 1947, and continued through December 12th. This activity was enjoyed by ninety- six boys divided into twelve teams. The first week was a round-robin affair. The second week was devoted to an elimination tournament.
A varsity and junior varsity basketball schedule of fourteen games in competition with Bay State League teams was completed in a successful manner. More than twenty-five boys participated in this activity.
Varsity hockey under the direction of Mr. Everett F. Learnard began in Nov- ember. The schedule included teams in the Bay State League. Practice sessions were held in the Skating Club and Arena in Boston. At this writing, Mr. Peter Z. Amirault is our new hockey coach.
Mr. Clifford Wheeler, outdoor track coach, inaugurated the outdoor track season early in April and over forty boys responded. A rather heavy schedule was arranged, consisting of five dual meets, two triangular meets and two interscholastic meets.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
These meets were held at home and away. The boys enjoyed a meet held on the carrier deck of the U. S. S. Randolph at the South Boston Navy Yard. In general, the squad enjoyed a most successful season.
The tennis team under the direction of Mr. Stanley Fisher had matches with Dedham, Needham, and Wellesley.
The varsity baseball team enjoyed a very successful season, winning fifteen of sixteen games played. Thirteen of these games were with teams of the Bay State League of which Norwood is the 1947 League Champion.
We were invited to play in the Writer's baseball tournament held yearly at Fenway Park. We were eliminated by Belmont in our first game.
The first varsity football meeting was held on August 18th at the Senior High School. This meeting was attended by over sixty boys. The first week was devoted to organization, such as doctor's examination, giving out equipment and lockers. Our first official practice took place on August twenty-fifth. Calisthenics, warm-ups and conditioning exercises were scheduled for about a week, followed by body contact work and dummy scrimmages.
The 1947 record was as follows:
Norwood 12
Needham 0
Norwood 0
Framingham 13
Norwood 12
Belmont 13
Norwood 0
East High
Norwood 6
Braintree 0
Norwood 13
Canton 7
Norwood 12
Cambridge Latin 0
Norwood 6
Natick 26
Norwood 6
No. Quincy 28
Norwood 18
Dedham 32
The junior varsity football team, coached by Mr. John A. Sullivan, was composed entirely of sophomores. Approximately twenty-five boys reported for practice sessions and completed a five-game schedule. The season ended on November 11th with a game played at Dedham. This game was witnessed by approximately twenty-five hundred people. The game was won by Dedham 13-12.
Senior High School - Girls
This program under the supervision of Miss Erna H. Kiley, included corrective exercises, apparatus, marching, dancing, hiking, games and posture work.
The after school athletic program consists of Archery, Basketball, and Tennis. About fifty girls reported for Archery this fall.
Basketball started in mid-November and seventy-two girls reported for practice. A schedule of six games is played with opponents from neighboring towns. The intramural program was carried out at the end of the basketball season.
Miss Ruth Johngren, tennis coach, received fifty-two girls for her first indoor practice session early in April. Instruction and practice were transferred to the courts as soon as the weather permitted. Four matches were played, two at home and two away.
Junior High School - Boys
Under the supervision of Mr. John P. Dixon, the program at the Junior High School included Calisthenics, gymnastics, marching, apparatus, health hints, group games, social dancing and a sports club.
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TOWN OF NORWOOD
The Athletic program consists of the following: varsity basketball, varsity base- ball, intramural basketball, and intramural baseball. A carefully planned schedule of twelve games is arranged for both basketball and baseball.
An excellent intramural program in basketball and baseball was carried out, over one hundred and fifty boys participating.
Elementary Schools
No formal program by a Physical Education instructor is carried on in the ele- mentary schools. However, the classroom teacher practices daily health lessons and supervises a play program for these children.
Health and Hygiene Education
Health education classes are organized in the sophomore classes for boys and girls while classes in hygiene are given weekly to senior high school boys and girls.
The general objectives of the health program are:
To improve the general condition of the individual so that he may function normally, may avoid disease, and may fit himself for his life work,
To develop the functional power of each individual consonant with his needs and capacities,
To develop in the pupils an interest in good body mechanics through self-appraisal and group judgment, and
To present to the pupils health instruction material that is progressive, scientific, social, and individualized.
Conclusion
I sincerely thank the Superintendent of Schools, School Committee, faculty, and the other members of the physical education department for their splendid cooperation and assistance this past year in aiding me to realize the aims and objectives of our physical education program.
ORLANDO M. SCAFATI.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ADULT EDUCATION
Annual Report
The following is the report of the Supervisor of Adult Education for the year ending December 1947.
Veterans' Program
The Norwood Regional Veterans' Education Center contined its program of aiding veterans - to complete a sufficient number of courses to meet the require- ments for obtaining a high school diploma or a state equivalency certificate; to review certain subjects in preparation for college entrance examinations; and to take subjects to enable them to meet college entrance requirements.
The following is a brief statistical summary of the Regional Veterans' Education Center from its inception to the present time:
Date on which Center began December 13, 1945
Total number of veterans enrolled from opening date to present .. . 316
Number of veterans who received high school diploma. 45
Number of veterans who received state equivalency certificate. . 9
Number who went to college after studying at Norwood Center. 113 Number who went to all other Post Secondary Schools. 48
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REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Peak enrollment in veterans' courses was reached during the months of January, February, March, and April of 1947. The average enrollment for these months was 105 with an average attendance of 87 students.
As has been done each year since the center was established, a summer session for veterans was held during the summer of 1947.
Since the months when peak enrollment was reached, there has been a gradual decline in enrollment and attendance each month indicating that the time is not far distant when the need for this type of program for veterans will have been met. With this in mind, the School Committee has voted to close the Veterans' Educational Center at Norwood on May 1, 1948. All veterans who are now enrolled in the center have been notified of this fact and help has been given them in arranging their pro- grams so that they may complete their studies by this time.
In some cases arrangements have been made for students working on night shifts to continue with their school work by taking required tests during the day at the Adult Education Office.
Enrollees are still being accepted at the Veterans' Center and ample notice has been given veterans so that they may, if registered soon, complete their courses.
The program at present is as follows:
Norwood Regional Veterans' Education Center Program
SUBJECT
TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
INSTRUCTOR
Algebra I
Algebra II
Tuesday & Thursday evenings 7-9
Geometry
Norwood Junior High School
Mrs. White
Solid Geometry
Trigonometry
Business Arithmetic
Tuesday & Thursday evenings 7-9
Mrs. White
Norwood Junior High School
English
Tuesday & Thursday evenings 7-9
Miss Newcomb
Norwood Junior High School
Chemistry
Wednesday evening 7-9
Mr. Learnard
Physics
Norwood Senior High School
U. S. History & Problems of Democracy Business Law
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