USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1948-1950 > Part 59
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
218
TOWN OF NORWOOD
ary schools by Miss Dorothy Benson previous to her entrance into military service. Correction of these defects during the early formative years will do much toward the prevention of more serious handicaps in later life. "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." The Junior and Senior High School girls show considerable improvement of previously reported defects as a result of the corrective work done with these groups.
Dental Examination
Early in September, children in all grades were examined by the School Dentist, Dr. Timothy J. Curtin. Notices were sent to the parents requesting the family dentist be consulted. Those unable to meet the financial demands of the services of a private dentist were urged to take advantage of the facilities offered at the School Dental Clinic where the work is done at a minimal cost to the parent.
Too much stress cannot be placed upon the importance of dental care. A decayed or broken tooth never repairs itself as do other body tissues but must have such repair work done by the dentist. Teeth are essential to our general good health. Parents are urged not only to have all necessary dental care completed, but to supervise the children to the end that they take proper care of their teeth. Too many of the children (unfortunately many in the Junior and Senior High groups) are excessively negligent in cleaning their teeth. The teeth should be brushed morning and night and after eating to insure no food particles will be left on the teeth to cause decay.
A 40 per cent reduction in dental decay has been found to follow the use of flourine in the water supply and in the treatment of teeth. Penicillin tooth paste effected a 50 per cent reduction in the incidence of decay. Perhaps a similar pro- gram could be instituted in Norwood in the not too distant future to assure our children a better opportunity for good dental health.
The following table shows the results of the dental program from September, 1949, to June, 1950.
Grades 1 to 6 inclusive
Examined by school dentist 1169
O. K. at time of examination 456
Necessary work completed by family dentist 258
Necessary work completed by school dentist 362
Children still under treatment
68
Children receiving no treatment 29
Percentage of correction 91
Junior High - Grades 7 - 9 inclusive
Examined by school dentist 404
O. K. at time of examination 210
Necessary work completed by school dentist 63
Senior High and Peabody - Grades 10 to 12 inclusive
Examined by school dentist 631
O. K. at time of examination 332
Necessary work completed by school dentist 5
219
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Vision Tests
The Massachusetts Vision Test is used to screen pupils in need of further examination by an ophthalmologist. The test is developed to check (1 ( visual acuity, (2) latent hypermetropia, and (3) muscle imbalance. Of the 2149 pupils tested, 230 failed one or more of the tests, and all but 19 of these failures received necessary correction of the refractive error.
Dr. Hugo B. C. Riemer examined 175 children at the School Eye Clinic and made recommendations for correction for defects found.
Hearing Tests
The Maico Puretone Audiometer was used to test the hearing of 1949 children. One hundred thirty-eight failed the test, and only 19 of these children did not seek the help of a physician for correction of the defect.
Communicable Disease Control
The incidence of communicable diseases reported reached a new low. The common cold and its newly masked cousin "virus infection" was prevalent. Few of us are immune to their evils so it is advisable not only to avoid complications for ourselves but to try to protect our fellow workers from infection. Acute illness often delays school progress. Thus, if we try to develop good health habits of living, it is possible to build our bodies to resist such infections. It is wiser to keep the child who has developed a cold out of school so that he may not pass it on to others or, with his lowered resistance, to develop added infection. It is well to remember that pneumonia, scarlet fever, and other serious illnesses are, in their early stages, often thought to be simple colds.
Diphtheria toxoid inoculations were given to 157 children to help them build an immunity to diphtheria. One hundred thirty-one others who had previously been inoculated were given the Schick test. Four of these proved to have positive reactions and required a second series of toxoid inoculations.
Chest X-Ray examinations were given to the seniors in February by the Norfolk County Hospital, and in May, the sophomores and juniors were X-Rayed by the State mobile unit. A large percentage of the school personnel took advantage of this opportunity. No active cases of tuberculosis were reported as a result of the examinations.
Milk Lunches
The Womens' Club, through the Norwood Community Chest, provides free milk to some 60 children each day. Other children buy their own milk. It is regrettable that our Junior Miss and Master group do not show as active an interest in the mid-morning lunch period as do the children in the lower grades.
Handicapped Children
Miss Patricia Shortall continues to guide the hard-of-hearing children into the skill of lip reading. At present we have 13 children in this class.
Speech training classes are conducted by Miss Rita Mclaughlin, Miss Shortall and Mrs. Aileen Lee.
220
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Home tutoring has been provided for the handicapped children unable to attend the regular school sessions. Special programs have been arranged for those who attend school but are not able to carry on as rigid a program as their healthier classmates.
The need for adequate examination and instruction of the mentally retarded child is still great. We have regulations for this particular problem but no pro- visions to execute them.
A concerted effort on the part of the community is needed to reestablish the services of the Habit and Guidance Clinics which were discontinued during the war because of personnel shortages.
Personnel Changes
Miss Catherine McDonough, formerly school nurse in Canton, joined our staff on December 4, 1950. We are happy to welcome her and hope that she will enjoy her duties.
Conclusion
To you, to the School Committee, to the members of the school system, as well as to our friends outside the school family, we of the Health Department extend our appreciation and thanks, and sincerely hope we may count on the same whole- hearted cooperation in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY A. CANNING, R. N. Supervising Nurse
REPORT OF THE ART DIRECTOR
This is the annual report of the Art Department for the year 1950.
The Art Workshop
It was pleasing to note, as I observed the way our program went along during the last year, the many general changes in our art attitudes, for these changes go a long way toward making our work more meaningful to children. However, it did seem that some difficulty was still evident when it came to actual lesson presen- tation. To help improve this situation an Art Workshop was begun. Its scope has been, first; to give each teacher an adult understanding of Art and the place it has in our lives, and second; to help show each teacher how such concepts can be realized more effectively in her own class.
Our monthly meetings are held in the Studio room of the Junior High School from 3:30 to 5 o'clock. We begin first by discussing problems in the previous month's work and then the results of the outside assignment are checked. From an outline of typewritten notes presented each teacher at every session I then present new material. This is followed by a period of discussion and experimental workshop activity during which time each teacher learns to make significant and educational use of various art media.
221
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Substance of the Workshop Program
Many excerpts could be taken from the many pages of material so far presented to our elementary school teachers during the program but I believe these that follow will serve to indicate the aims and extent of our work.
The first accomplishment was to get a glimpse of the piece and purpose that Art has in our lives. Here are two paragraphs taken from the notes of that meeting.
"Art is a reflection of those universal and harmonious laws which govern all we know-when it reflects cosmic harmony we think of something as being "beautiful" because the harmony within ourselves creates a chord-when it reflects chaos, however, we feel disassociated, become emotionally upset, and feel dis- satisfied."
"The broader this base of expressing experience the more exploration of how things are can be conducted and therefore, again re-acquaint more people for more exploration-this becomes the basis of a civilization. The more expressive a people the more their culture expends."
1. The Essentials of Art Structure
Following such an introduction of basic philosophy we delved into the problem of art structure by attempting to understand the properties of Line, Shape, Form, Color, Texture, Space and Function. In grades Onre to Three we studied one of these elements at each meeting. Since this material is new to our system, I quote the following:
On Lines: "The most elemental and simplest art structure is "Line". Almost every work of art is based (or can be adequately described-visually) upon the space harmonies and suggested emotions that a simple line can convey."
On Shapes: "Lines create shapes-a shape is an area separated by a line, enclosed by a line, or a separation of color which could be shown by a line."
On Form: "Form is that quality of art and life which we attach to the words 'three dimensional'. Light imparts a feeling of depth to the things we see-a roundness-a going in and coming toward feeling not truly represented by the triclky perspectives of a picture on flat paper. Sculpture is predominately accom- plished in form."
During these discussions many references are made to the rat of children and how these art qualities apply to their work. Some of these, accompanying the sessions above, are briefly mentioned.
"Children between 4 and 6 express themselves primarily by the elemental prop- erties of Line".
"Children, ordinarily, do not see things as Shapes except that wich summiarily shows up through their use of lines. They 'experience' more than they see-adults 'see' more than they experience."
222
TOWN OF NORWOOD
"In the class room; tabletops, plasticene modeling, cut paper, blocks, puppetry, sandtables, are all qualities of Form."
2. Art and Child Psychology
The double function of art in the elementary school classroom as self-expression and as a means of self-adjustment must become evident to our teachers if they are to understand a child's approach to his art work. The following will indicate the problem.
"Art, in addition to its problem of reflecting the essence of life itself-exists in school that children may find in it a way of expressing their ideas, and by such expression to develop better meanings. Art to a child also has the power of developing his emotional maturity since its aspects of color, rhythm, line, etc., reflect the happiness of his internal harmony-or, in some intsances-the chaos of disorder. A child's drawing can reflect his intellectual and emotional maturity."
3. Conducting the Art Lesson
Following this understanding of how a child goes about his work I tried to show our teachers how this knowledge is associated with the classroom situation and in many instances demonstrated when I made my regular visits. Here are some salient points which should serve to give an idea of how the workshop is improving classroom presentation and how it is helping teachers to analyze their results-not in terms of the teacher's adult idea of the so-called 'perfect' picture, but at the child's level-what it is doing to fulfill his personality.
"Ordinarily, children must re-live the experience of the type of line in question and should be able to convince themselves through their own experiments. To afford them better ways of expressing their own experience is the primary purpose of all our work."
"The child's ability to think for himself should always be credited with teacher enthusiasm. Teacher stimulation to get him to express his individuality should be vigorous and sometimes playful-as the occasion demands-a stoic personality hardly presents the excitement of witches and goblins!"
"We cannot develop personality by pouring into each child the same material or by training him to give us the usual responses. Copying pictures, therefore, has no value to him."
"The expression of 'ideas' rather than visible descriptions is always sound when you expect a class to respond to the impact of an important holiday. It was not the dress of the Pilgrims that was so important but their innate character as they sought their ideals in a strange land. The emphasis should be on the 'meanings' -the decorative quality is secondary.
4. The Art Lesson in Grades Five and Six
In the upper elementary levels we have developed units entitled: Art In the Home, Art In Dress, etc. These notes are in reference to the first unit of Grade Five:
223
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
"This unit is primarily conducted to develop initial interest in creating a har- monious living place-as contrasted with the elementary provision for shelter alone. It makes art utilitarian and of use for all, regardless of the ability to apply them- selves creatively to the specific fields of drawing or painting."
"The creative problem is to fit the necessary rooms together in a workable and functional unit utilizing all space to its best advantage and striking a plan adapted to the child's own family."
From notes on "Art In Our School": "Purpose: To make youngsters aware of the fact that the aesthetic environment of their school contributes greatly to their interest in what takes place within the school. In other words-an attractive school attracts-ugly schools are repulsive-being human and emotional by nature we tend to repel the education in the ugly school and accept it more readily in the attractive one."
From notes on "Craft Unit", Grade Six: The purpose of this unit is to give each youngster an understanding of the types of personality and work involved in the skilled occupations as compared with the creative ones. The craftsman coodinates his experience, follows instructions, applies high degree of ability in his craft. The creative personality imbues the original conception and formulates its appearance.
From notes on "Famous Picture" unit, Grade Six: "To interest children in the work of artists and to acquaint them with the possibilities of this form of expression and to have them become reasonably familiar with the work and purpose of a few outstanding people."
From notes on "Graphic Arts" unit, Grade Six: "Graphic Arts includes the huge field of printing-to make "graphic" by a repetitive (or reproduction) process. Art in quantity-if that makes it clear. The designing, illustrating, and publishing of books and printed matter-with some indication of the processes and how this differs from the original work of an individual artist."
Conclusion
To compare the above notes with our problem is expressed in this report of some three years ago, and to know that, in addition to appearing here, the elaboration of this material has, and is being conducted today in each classroom with confidence and a good degree of understanding, this is a sign of our healthy and forward-looking program.
Use of Visual and Audio Equipment
We now have a carefully selected group of 25 color filmstrips of basic art material which is available to all the schools. Our collection of color slides amounts to over 150 master paintings, 50 which show various art processes, and 50 which show student work.
With our present equipment we are prepared to produce for any school, mono- chrome or Kodachrome slides, strips, or photographs.
224
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Since photography is a major visual art field we feel it properly belongs within the scope of this department. Mr. Schultz, Mr. Lindgren, and I have made many experiments to find out how this important art media can be made to become, educationally, more a part of our total school programn.
The Audio Recorder has been used at the Junior High level only, though with our receipt of new tapes we have in production, a series of discussions which we shall use at the secondary levels until the elementary level has developed more interest.
A New Department - Ceramics
Because vitrified clay has so many uses in our lives, both domestic and scientific, we felt it important enough to introduce as a new art activity. We have two small kilns. In another year we hope to add a potter's wheel which would greatly increase the possibilities of student work.
Youngsters of all grades make use of this equipment. Since the kilns are difficult to move the dry pieces are sent to the Junior High for firing and glazing. As a beginning some grade children have made pendants; Junior High people have produced some interesting trays, pins, bowls and jars. Senior High people are experimenting with small sculpture.
The Studio Groups
On Thursday afternoon of each week youngsters from the Junior High meet in our Studio room with Mr. Lindgren and myself to participate in a specialized type of art work equal to their inherent talents. On Friday afternoons each week youngsters from our elementary schools meet with me for the same purpose. This is our attempt to accommodate those children who have specialized aptitudes and interests in Art.
Art - Junior High School
1. Grade Seven
The use of lines, shapes, and color in the selection of objects used in everyday life, and the way Art can play an important part in living a happy and full life, have been the general problems at this level. Under general topics were included: Art In the Home, In the Community, In Industry, In Advertising, and in Painting and Sculpture.
2. Grade Eight
General assignments in this grade covered: Color Reproduction, Trade Marks, Industrial Design, Theater and Television, Furniture Design, Textile Design, Photography, Architectural Design, and Ceramic Design.
3. Grade Nine
In addition to work in water color and crayon this grade has been experimenting with ways of proving the idea that it is more practical to obtain information from a picture since it explains an incident or process at a glance, and can be universally understood. Since such a picture is only valuable when it has meaning, Mr. Lind- gren is doing some worthwhile work in acquainting his classes with the problem of finding these important points.
225
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Art - Senior High School
This department shows a remarkable amount of growth in the contemporary spirit of its work. Mr. Schultz has done an excellent job in a short time toward making this division of the school comparable with the best. Some of this is attributed to the use of a new text entitled, "Exploring Art".
Most class work is related to specific art problems-some include: Meaning and Structure of Art, Experimental Color, Art and Abstraction, Three-Dimensional Design and a study of the "Isms" in Painting.
Related Activities
Reproduced in November 1950 Red Cross Journal is an illustration done by Joyce Johnson '50, entitled, "Saturday Square Dance". This picture was one of twenty submitted to the Internatinal School Art Program by the High School Art Department.
This department designed the program for the Norfolk County Teachers Annual Convention. I discussed "Art and Emotional Maturity" in the Elementary Program while Mr. Schultz acted as Chairman of the Secondary School Art Meeting.
I appreciate this opportunity to thank each grade teacher and principal for the success of this school year.
Mr. Schultz and Mr. Lindgren also deserve a note for their willingness to devote extra time in order to make their respective rooms more functional.
My sincere appreciation is extended to Mr. Lynch and the School Committee for reflecting a cooperative and democratic spirit.
WALTER E. LUNSMAN
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
I herewith submit my report as Attendance Officer for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1950.
Total number of investigations
164
Number of truancies
20
Number of illness cases investigated 71
Assisting at home 17
Investigation of cases where children left school
3
Investigation of cases where home permits were desired 3
Investigation of cases where working certificates were desired 2
Moved
0
Miscellaneous cases 48
164
Total number of children returned to school
4
Number court cases 0
HENRY F. BREEN, JR.
ALL SCHOOLS .. AGE-GRADE MEMBERSHIP OCTOBER 1, 1950
Grade
*4
5
6
7
8
9
10
II
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
and over
Total
Kdg.
Boys Girls
35
62 58
83
I
Boys Girls
26
75
9
2
85
2
27
65
8
4
90
29
54
7
0
117
3
Boys Girls
41
63
II
2
90
4
Boys Girls
21
42
7
I
I 0
73
24
35
11
2
72
21
48
5
I
76
6
Boys Girls
I
13
43
7
3
67
7
Boys Girls
19
41
5
I
66
8
Boys Girls
21
33
6
1
61
9
Boys Girls
13
36
9
I
10
Boys Girls
I
24
71
15
2
2
1
23
40
28
4
96
11
Boys Girls
I
38
70
12
4
125
12
Boys Girls
30
45
13
88
Vets. P. G.
Boys Girls
4
7
2
-
1
15
Totals .
60 - 174 186
202
180
149
128
158
147
134 |
144
208
200
139
45
3 1
I
2260
*_ 4.0 to 4.99 - 5.0 to 5.99 - etc. as of October 1, 1950
226
TOWN OF NORWOOD
80
20
13
14
1
I
1
22
37
24
5
88
26
31
11
1
I
73
59
19
48
18
5
90
5
Boys Girls
16
59
9
2
86
31
57
2
0
72
22
44
7
0
104
Boys Girls
28
55
2
97
25
1 |
1
2
21
42
15
78
115
I
112
227
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMISSION
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMISSION
To the Citizens of Norwood:
The Finance Commission was organized for the year 1950 as follows:
Thomas F. Riley, Chairman John Ahearn, Member Thomas M. Hayden, Clerk
On Monday, January 1, 1950 the debt of the Town of Norwood was $118,000.00 with maturities in 1950 of $23,0000.00. No money was borrowed during the year for any purpose.
After examining the request for appropriations submitted by various depart- ments the Commission met with Department Heads and Committees charged with the disbursement of appropriations and discussed in detail the basis for such requests.
On completion of the work of the Commission a public hearing was held prior to the Adjourned Town Meeting.
The sum of $20,000.00 was apropriated for the Reserve Fund and transfers were made as follows .:
Drains Construction
$3,630.00
Town Clerk and Accountant New Equipment
,243.00
New Industires Committee 100.00
Police Department Salaries
1,000.00
Police Uniforms
610.00
Police Department Salaries
550.00
Travel Out of State
250.00
Civilian Defense Committee
250.00
Aid to Dependent Children Administration
100.00
Assessors Incidentals
50.00
Schools, Maintenance of Buildings
1,126.00
Old Age Assistance, Incidentals
2,000.00
Aid to Dependent Children, Personal Service
50.00
Building Inspector, Incidentals
65.00
General Manager, Salary
125.00
Maintenance and Control of Traffic
250.00
Board of Health, Personal Service
1,100.00
Sick Leave, Public Works Department
500.00
Town Clerk and Accountant, Incidentals 191.14
General Manager, Incidentals
39.68
Town Engineer's Salary
.08
Assessors, Incidentals
18.98
Garage, Gas and Oil
69.76
Public Works, Personal Service
129.28
Soldiers' Relief
2,474.01
Public Welfare Administration
99.85
228
TOWN OF NORWOOD
Interest
.50
Purchase of Electric Energy
3,096.66
Schools, Maintenance of Buildings
369.47
Schools, Fuel
432.61
Schools, New Equipment
118.24
Light Operation
16.54
$19,055.80
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS F. RILEY, Chairman THOMAS H. HAYDEN, Clerk JOHN AHEARN, Member
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER
January 1, 1950 to December 31, 1950
Balance January 1, 1950
$830,326.53
Received from:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
Income Tax
120,239.28
Corporation Tax
172,465.22
Corporation Tax
172,465.22
Meal Tax
2,196.08
Highway Reimbursement Ch. 90
13,701.34
Veterans Benefits
6,495.24
Vocational Education
24,725.97
H. & P. License
42.00
U. S. Grants:
Old Age Assistance
53,437.94
Aid to Dependent Children
9,632.99
Smith-Hughes & George-Bardon Fund
1.658.28
Norfolk County:
Dog License Returns
1,187.37
Highway Reimbursement Ch. 90
1,000.00
Taxes and Assessments:
Property Taxes
1,084.565.63
Polls
9,882.00
Motor Vehicle Excise
98,131.66
Sewer Assessments
13,387.01
Street Betterments
150.65
Water Liens
723.50
Committed Interest
16.76
Costs
734.75
229
REPORT OF TOWN TREASURER
Interest:
Taxes and Assessments
1,059.67
Tax Titles
55.34
Cemetery Trust Fund
1,919.14
High School English Prize Fund
14.40
Alice H. Plimpton Fund
275.00
Harriet W. Lane Fund
20.00
Warren H. Cudworth Fund
12.50
Anna M. Day Fund
125.00
E. Florence Morse Fund
12.50
Post War Rehabilitation Fund
1,312.50
William T. Whedon Fundon
12.50
Electric Service Deposits
300.00
Chickering Fund
8.00
Electric Light Revenues:
Rates
530,078.97
In Lieu of Taxes
13,000.00
Water Revenues:
Rates
109,332.50
Hydrant Rental
6,832.00
Certificate of Liens
191.00
District Court Fines
57.00
Cemetery:
Sale of Lots and Graves
6,134.00
Interment fees
2,565.00
Private Work
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.