USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1934-1941 > Part 29
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"The last five classes which we have graduated have given us a total of 79 graduates. Of these 16 have entered college. Each of these students has made such a record dur- ing his first term in college that our standing with the New England College Entrance Certificate Board will be readily maintained. This in itself is a record to be pointed to with considerable pride. When, however, we consider that most of our graduates who have gone on to college have done out- standing work we have further and very valuable evidence that our educational product is, when judged by its college record, a very good one. Since this is in many ways the most serious test to which a school may be put I feel we may justly feel satisfied with what we have accomplished.
During this five year period, of the 16 students who have entered college, three, or approximately 19%, have graduated and 11, or approximately 69% are still in college. Four of this group now in college will graduate in June, 1938. So much for the statistical features of the picture.
Now for a consideration of what has been done by our grad- uates in college which is of particular note. We now have as a member of our local teaching staff one who made such a fine record in the Hyannis Teachers' College that she was strongly recommended for the position which she now holds and in which she is making a very creditable showing, Miss Irene Brockway. A second college graduate in the class of 1933 is Miss Barbara Rhodes who, last June, received her Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the Kirksville College of Osteopathy in Missouri. Her record at that institution was much above the average. It is with a great deal of satisfaction to me per- sonally to be able to point to this case since it was solely on my letter of recommendation to the Dean of her Alma Mater that she was given the opportunity to enroll there since she had not taken sufficient credits in all subjects to give her un- qualified entrance.
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Miss Corris Hofmann, Salutatorian at the 1933 Gradua- tion exercises, continued her excellent work at the University of Illinois where she majored in Chemistry. She graduated with honors from Illinois, and, due to the influence of two professors under whom she studied and did research, was able to get an appointment to a Fellowship at Bryn Mawr Col- lege. She is now there continuing her researches in Organic Chemistry and teaching that subject to undergraduates. Since her start in this field was received in Plainville High School I think we may again feel that our efforts have been given a significant approval.
Two members of this class are still in college, both at Brown University. Miss Winifred L. Hayes, our Valedictorian in 1933, is completing her work in Biology. She was for two years on the Dean's List and has always maintained a very high standing in her classes. She has shown other desirable qualities in the way she has entered into various campus activities at Pembroke College. Many of these activities have been in positions to which she was elected. We feel that al- though our school is a small one we managed to give her enough of a social background that she was able to find her- self and out-shine many girls who came from larger and bet- ter known schools.
Edward C. Heintz, Jr., president of the class of 1933 is continuing to do very creditable work at Brown University. During his second and third years he was taking the Honors Program which privilege is granted to only those students who have a very high rating. His work last year, his third at Brown, was the best of the three which again placed him on the Dean's List and afforded him the opportunity to take the Honors Program again this year. He is President of the Liberal Club at Brown and is interested in other campus activities there.
Miss Priscilla Washburn is now in her senior year at Simmons College where she is majoring in Library Science. She is now, and has been for over two years, connected with a number of different student activities. She, too, is able to carry these added responsibilities and at the same time to do very creditable work in her regular college work.
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Roderick Chisholm is again on the Dean's List at Brown and will undoubtedly be a candidate for final honors since he is now making a straight A record. He is majoring in Philoso- phy and has served one term as Steward for the Philosopher's Club.
Charles Peasley, Salutatorian for the class of 1935, is at Rhode Island State where he is now a junior, taking major work in Education, preparing himself for a teaching position in that state.
Miss Ruth Clampitt, Valedictorian in 1936, entered the Framingham State Teachers College that fall and is in her second year there. Complete reports last June show that she won high honor standing.
Of last June's list of graduates four of the thirteen have entered college. Only in one instance have we received any report from the college and that was a letter from President Jacobs of Bryant College, regarding the very fine record being made there by Frances Patton, last June's Valedictorian. There is every indication that when the first reports are pub- lished this class will continue the excellent record of the pre- vious classes.
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL Miss Mildred H. Robbins, Principal
The following quotations from the report of Miss Rob- bins show the educational results from added school equip- ment and materials. An excellent statement is made of sev- eral school enterprises and objectives which have been started during the past year or advanced to successful operation. Special attention and commendation is warranted by the work which is being done in organized play. This activity is carefully planned. Today there is a realization that play and health have a basic place in the school program.
"In the English department, two new sets of Reading books were added for eighth grade, which were interesting, up-to-date in material content, and highly educational.
New and supplementary texts for use in Social Studies have greatly facilitated the splendid work which Miss French is doing with her classes in Geography and History.
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Recently a new text in 'Health and Safety' has been put into the entire system and meets a long felt need. Through these texts and in more tangible ways, the school is trying to educate its youth to become 'Safety Conscious.'
The program of organized play, begun two years ago, has been carried on with increasing success. While both equip- ment and suitable space are limited, yet pupils and teachers alike, enjoy the daily playground period. A very successful 'Field Day', held in the Town Park, featuring competitive matches between the various groups, served as a fitting cli- max of the year's playground activity program.
Beginning with the fall term of 1937, an effort was made to carry on more enjoyable and effective 'Club' work in the Grammar School. Each pupil elected the club to which he or she wished to be affiliated, namely, 'Dramatic,' Handi- craft or Hobby, under the direction of Miss Robbins, Miss French and Miss Gricius respectfully. These were carried on simultaneously for the last hour on Friday afternoons. Some very effective work was done, but owing to the unevenness in membership in the various groups it was thought wise to discontinue them, and Home Room Clubs have been organ- ized for the remainder of the year. These will carry on the same type of work, but under the guidance of the home room teacher.
One very interesting and worthwhile activity of the Gram- mar School, during the past year, was an education trip, un- der the able direction of Mr. and Mrs. Austill of Somerset, Mass., known as the 'Longfellow Tour', to Boston, Cambridge and Sudbury- Mass. This afforded the pupils an opportun- ity to visit the Museum of Fine Arts, Bunker Hill, 'Old Iron- sides', Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 'Wayside Inn' and other points of historic interest.
A second tour, known as, 'A World Tour of Boston' is scheduled for April of 1938.
Through these and other progressive plans, both in regular classroom work and outside activities, we, as teachers, have gone about our solemn duty of laying the foundation for better civilization of to-morrow."
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PRIMARY SCHOOL Miss Katharine I. Howard, Principal
As an example of careful planning well ahead it is worthy of note that Miss Howard held a conference of the teachers of the primary school immediately following the close of the school year last June for the purpose of planning the major objectives and activities for each month of the follow- ing school year. The comments on the playground activities of the grammar school apply fully as equally to the splendid work which is also carried on by the primary school teachers. An impartial survey of many school programs in actual operation would show few schools with the same size staff carrying on as complete and valuable a program. In con- nection with the Safety Patrol which has recently been or- ganized in this school the following quotation from a letter sent out early in 1937 by the Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles is appropriate. Ever since the first state- wide program for teaching safety in the schools was or- ganized several years ago the plan has been in operation in our school. This quotation from the Registrar gives excep- tional proof of the value of the instruction of safety in the public schools in the state of Massachusetts.
"This table shows that in 1924 there were 227 children killed by automobiles while walking or playing in the streets, and in that same year there were 223 adults. In 1935, with over a million cars, the number of children killed had dropped to 93, while the number of grown people had jumped to 381, and in 1936, with more than a million cars, the number of children dropped still further to 87, while 376 grown peo- ple were killed."
The following quotations from Miss Howard's report give an interesting account of several new enterprises which both the teachers and pupils are undertaking with enthusiasm and valuable educational results.
"Student Council.
Under teacher supervision a Student Council was or- ganized. The council has made a splendid start toward over- seeing the primary building. The officers are from the fifth grade with a class representative from each grade. Several
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school projects were organized by the Council. The first was the making of helpful suggestions for school discipline.
The next was a Hall-o-we'en party for the school com- pletely managed by the Student Council.
The Student Council has charge of the weekly assembly periods on Monday mornings, and the school news.
The lunchroom activities are under Student Council leaders.
A new set of rules were made, and the result has been a happy, quiet lunch period as near home atmosphere as possible.
II Safety Patrol.
In addition to the Student Council a Safety Patrol has been organized to meet the demand of the most important phase of student activities, the problem of safety in our schools.
The Safety Patrol consists of a corps of patrol leaders from the fourth and fifth grades. The main rules for the members have been made by the Massachusetts Safety Coun- cil. The Plainville Safety Patrol have added safety rules for sliding and safety rules for the playground. Later a set of safety rules for the bicycle rider will be made.
III A Glee Club.
A Primary Glee Club has been organized under teacher supervision. The Glee Club will have charge of putting on the school operetta and Memorial Day Exercises.
IV Kite Carnival.
In connection with Health Day a Kite Carnival has been planned during March.
Once a month the four teachers in the Primary Build- ing have a teachers' meeting for the benefit of professional improvement. Many worthwhile discussions have been held.
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Miss Wood took a reading course which formed the basis of one meeting's discussion. Miss Howard attended a safety conference which gave material for another meeting's discussion. Miss Moore had charge of a discussion on kite carnivals, having been influential in running one at Teachers College.
MUSIC Mrs. Harriet F. Washburn, Supervisor
The following quotations set forth the high ideals and the present practices in this department.
"After many different plans tried, I have found that after Christmas in the fourth grade is the best time to start the reading of music. By that time the children are anxious to do their own music reading and I feel they are ready for the thrill of interpreting the notes themselves. Up to this time note singing, singing games, rhythm both in Eurhythmics and rhythm band and music appreciation have all been do- ing their part to develop a love for music in each child.
In the higher grades special emphasis has been put upon individual oral reading. The results have been gratifying.
The radios have been used to some extent to listen to Walter Damrosch's programs. Since his hour is on Friday afternoon this year, there is a conflict with the club work in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The children in the primary grades have listened to the American School of the Air programs. They also listened to the Christmas Carols over WEEI.
During the spring and fall the childen have had classes in Eurhythmics. They enjoy these classes very much. I try to correlate the written music with the rhythmic patterns.
We are fortunate in having so many pianos. Two or three more would put one in each room which would be ideal. Miss Howard particularly has found a piano very helpful in teaching melodies to her children. At the Christmas pro- gram the result of her work was obvious in the correct sing- ing of their many songs.
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A number of different carols were taught this year, so that there was an added interest in the carol singing. We had two periods in the primary building when all of the children and I went to Miss Moore's room and we sang Christmas Carols together with piano accompaniment. I think they de- rived a great deal of pleasure from this group activity. There was a reverence about their carol singing that was very beau- tiful.
The graduation operetta 'The Smiling Sixpence' was well done. We were assisted by Mrs. Schwenk in the dance num- bers.
In the High School I am alternating chorus work with a simple music appreciation course. I feel very strongly that those who are going to college need this as a basis for what- ever they may have in music appreciation in college. For those who are not so fortunate as to continue their schooling anything that will help in their cultural education should not be kept from them.
Our orchestra is working consistently well and very har- moniously. We hope to accompany Mrs. Schwenk's Modern Dance group in their recital later on. The orchestra consists of four violins, one saxaphone, one trumpet, one drum, and a piano. We have a small but a good quality repertoire. I feel the boys and girls are gaining in their ability to work together, which after all is a pretty important part of successful living.
Classes in instruments were started this fall, which mean a growth in the orchestra in future years."
ART
Mrs. Rowena B. Rice, Supervisor
Emphasis has been placed on the creative ability in child- ren in expressing their own experiences in crayon, water colors, and cut paper. Easel work has improved in the first four grades. In the grammar school the outstanding special activity has been murals correlating with geography, history, language and reading. Book binding, lettering, creative de- sign, posters, block printing and stained glass windows have been other topics of interest in the art work of the elemen- tary grades.
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In the high school the mechanical drawing classes and the freehand classes have been carried on as in past years. The purchase of a new type of equipment for making de- signs has made possible some very interesting results. Covers of magazines, booklets and Christmas cards have had some exceptional designs made by the pupils with this new process. The curtains for the windows in the high school art room were designed and block printed by Dorothy Jakubajtis. The same pupil also made the cover design for the Plainville Parent Teacher Association programs.
In the annual poster contest conducted by the Massachu- setts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the following awards were won by Plainville pupils. First prize, Burton Murchy; Second prize, Jane Patton and Anne Dur- fee; Honorable Mention; Ruth Skinner, Helen McNeil and Chester Davis.
NURSERY SCHOOL Mrs. Helen M. Munroe, Head Teacher
From a very small start the Nursery School has grown by the untiring efforts of Mrs. Munroe until at present there are thirty pupils with two teachers and a cook. Mrs. Munroe is the head teacher, Mrs. Florence B. Falk, assistant teacher, and Mrs. Helen O'Reilly, cook. At a recent meeting of Nur- sery School teachers, conducted by the State Department officials, the reports and projects activities prepared by the pupils and teachers of our school received special commenda- tion. This school has been in operation long enough to test its results by those who have entered the primary school. It has been proved valuable in quicker adaptation and greater progress in the primary school. In addition to the results for the usual child, for many pupils with special needs the school has accomplished exceptional results in preparing such pupils physically and educationally for normal progress in the pri- mary school. Many pupils with special needs are through the noon lunch securing the physical help which they can get in no other way. The government has furnished the food sup- plies until recently. The W. P. A. authorities now state that after the Town Meeting the local community must support this part or the funds for the teachers' salaries will not be furnished. It would be difficult to find any place in the civic
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program where the same amount of money could accomplish as much good. The following quotation from the report of Mrs. Munroe states very clearly the objective of this school.
"One of the things which we hear most frequently is that the time from birth to the school age is the most im- portant period in the life of the child. Certainly this is pre- eminently the one for setting up desirable methods of doing things. It is here that the basis for standards and ideals is formed and also the power to meet daily problems and ad- just to new conditions and surroundings in a normal happy and healthful way. Thus, health, happiness and efficiency of the adult depend largely upon the methods acquired dur- ing the training and experience in very early life.
So, in our little nursery school we are aiming at all times the development of wholesome, well-rounded personalities. We give the child first of all the best physical environment possible. He grows through play. He is given blocks that he may build garages, boats and the like. The child has oppor- tunity to try his powers at will, whether he is using the toy telephone coaxing along, perhaps, his slow speech or manipu- lating clay, beads, or pegs. Therefore, our first hour of the day is spent in what is known as free play where the child learns social habits of good sportsmanship, control of the will, honesty, co-operation and the sense of responsibility. Toys, therefore, are as important to the child under school age as textbooks and school materials are to the child in school. Play is his education, whether the child is playing with his toys in the school nursery, or using the slide or tee- ters in the Town Park.
After the free play time the child attends to toilet, washes his hands, has his cod liver oil, tomato juice and cracker. He is then ready for rest and a blanket for at least five minutes.
We are then ready for music time, simple songs with definite rhythm related to the child's interest and experi- ences. Stories are told dealing with experiences in the child's realm of understanding, not fanciful fairy stories; the pre- school child is not yet ready for this. Then game time or a walk in the woods, to see and talk about nature, to learn color from the birds, the leaves, the sky and so on.
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The noon hour arrives and it is to me the most import- ant time of the day. Lunch time! It has been a long recognized fact that a child's physical growth and well being are in a large measure directly due to nutrition. We have more re- cently come to believe that his mental development and be- havior are also influenced by the quantity and quality of the foods he eats and the amount of rest he obtains. The pre-school age is a time of very rapid growth and as only certain foods can be built into body tissues, the choice can- not be left to chance but must be a matter of careful study.
After lunch time the children attend to toilet, wash up, remove shoes, and are ready for sleep on matresses with sheets and blankets. After one to one-and-a-half hours of sleep the child is ready and happy to go home having lived five to six hours among those of his own age developing good social habits to prepare him for a useful, healthy, hap- py life."
SCHOOL NURSE Mrs. Ruah M. Harris
This report gives very complete information on the gen- eral health program of inspection and health education. The usual examinations have been made, defects noted and the notices sent to parents. With funds furnished by the Christ- mas Seal committee and the Dental Fund a dental clinic was held in May with Dr. Paul Tuttle as dentist. Mrs. Helen O'Reilly and Mrs. Harris gave assistance for this clinic. The T B clinic was held in the spring in cooperation with the County Health authorities. One pupil was sent to the health camp by the Christmas Seal committee. Several town organ- izations and several individuals contributed to finance the sending of six Plainville children to the tonsil clinic at the Sturdy Hospital in Attleboro.
During December a diptheria clinic was conducted under a committee consisting of Dr. Allen R. Howard, Mrs. Isabel Maddocks, Mrs. Dorothy Palmer, Mrs. Maude Cheever and Mrs. Harris. A systematic plan of health education is carried on by the school nurse throughout the year.
Annually the teachers are required by law to give all pupils an ear and eye test. During the past year through co-
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operation with the State Department of Health the hearing of all school pupils was tested by means of the audiometer. Thus, much more accurate results were possible. Notices of defects were sent to the parents.
The usual school statistics as required by law, or custom, are attached. The careful attention and constant zeal of the School Committee members in the performance of their duties are perhaps most fully known by the Superintendent. I wish to make greatful acknowledgement of this by means of this report.
Respectfully yours, LAURENCE G. NOURSE,
Superintendent of Schools.
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PLAINVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION EXERCISES June 25, 1937
-Program-
Processional Seniors
Invocation Rev. W. Henry Shillington
Songs-"March of Triumph" Arthur Nevin "The Challenge of Youth" Robert W. Gibb
Salutatory-"Horace Mann, Educator"
Elizabeth Page Weatherbee
Essay-"Fredrich Froebel" Ruth Martha Beyersdorfer
Orchestral Selection-"Light Cavalry" Franz von Suppe arranged by Zamecnik
Valedictory-"Character of Horace Mann"
Frances Oakman Patton
Presentation of Alumni Awards
Mr. Milton F. White
President of the P. H. S. Alumni Association
Presentation of the Washington and Franklin History Medal and
Presentation of Diplomas
Mr. Henry S. Tamblyn Chairman of the School Committee
Benediction Rev. W. Henry Shillington Recessional Graduates
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Class Officers
President
Vice President
Elizabeth Page Weatherbee Ruth Martha Beyersdorfer
Secretary Grace Myrtle Etter
Treasurer
Beatrice Peachey Falk
Class Roll
College Preparatory Course
Grace Myrtle Etter
Miriam Eunice MacNeill
Beatrice Peachey Falk Elizabeth Page Weatherbee
Commercial Course
Ruth Martha Beyersdorfer Frances Oakman Patton Doris Marcia Waterman
General Course
Rita Cathrine Fountain Louis Jakubajtis
Adeleve Andrews Hamant Fredrick White
Robert William Hayes
Howard Nelson Wilkins
Class Motto Effort Brings Success
Class Colors Red and Silver
Class Flower Dark Red Rose
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PLAINVILLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL GRADUATION EXERCISES June 17, 1937
-Program-
Processional Graduates
Operetta, "The Smiling Sixpence" presented by the Graduates Presentation of the American Legion School Awards Mr. Wesley H. Burton John Edward McNeill Post, No. 217
Presentation of Diplomas
Mr. Henry S. Tamblyn
Chairman of the School Committee
Program under the direction of Miss Mildred H. Robbins and Mrs. Harriet F. Washburn
Graduation List
Marjorie Rose Anderson
Howard Ballou Bigelow
Jeannette Leona Caron
Kenneth Donald Snell
Willa Maude Cheever
Robert Irvin Snell
Anne Durfee Chester Herbert Davis, Jr.
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