USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1951-1959 > Part 24
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Office Clerk
WOMEN
Clarke, Viola L., South Street King, Maida L., South Street Patton, Violette G., Grove Street
Jeweler Clerk
Secretary
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN,
Town Clerk
63
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1954.
The required reports were sent to the State Department of Public Health.
Respectfully submitted,
EARL B. THOMPSON, Inspector of Slaughtering
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1954.
All cattle brought in from out of state were identified by ear tag and released.
The full inspection asked for by the State has been com- pleted.
Respectfully submitted,
EARL B. THOMPSON,
Inspector of Animals
64
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF MILK AND DAIRIES
To the Board of Health:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Milk and Dairies for the Town of Plainville, for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1954, as follows:
Milk Licenses issued: 37 @ $1. $37.00
Oleomargarine Licenses: 8 @ $1. 8.00
Cash paid Town Treasurer $45.00
Respectfully submitted,
EARL B. THOMPSON,
Milk Inspector
TOWN PHYSICIAN REPORT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
The past year has been a rather uneventful year relative to Welfare care.
There were six (6) office calls, and only one house call during the year.
Medicines were given free in most cases, and no serious cases were noted.
Thanking you for past consideration, I remain.
Respectfully yours,
DR. MAURICE D. GRANT Town Physician
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
School Committee
of
PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
PLAIN
ILLE
MASS
COLONY
128
NMOL
WREN
THAM
1673
-1905
PLAIN
VILLE
INCOR
19
05.
19
4.
RATED
APRIL
E. MASS.
For Year Ending December 31, 1954
5
66
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL OFFICIALS
EDWARD H. HEMMINGSEN, Chairman Term Expires 1955 Telephone North Attleboro 8-1391-R
MRS. HELEN A. SMITH, Secretary Term Expires 1957 Telephone North Attleboro 8-0653
CLINTON E. BARTON Term Expires 1955 Telephone North Attleboro 8-0214-W
CHARLES O. PEASLEY Term Expires 1956 Telephone North Attleboro 8-1811-M
ROBERT W. ROOT Term Expires 1956 Telephone North Attleboro 8-1826-W3
Meeting of the School Committee is held in the Super- intendent's office of the Plainville Elementary School on the third Tuesday of each month.
Union Superintendent of Schools, Norton and Plainville LAURENCE G. NOURSE Residence Telephone, Norton 5-7952 School Telephone, North Attleboro 8-1166
Superintendent may be reached at the office in the Plain- ville Elementary School every Tuesday, and other days by appointment.
AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE WORK CERTIFICATES
KENNETH L. SHARP, Principal Telephone, North Attleboro 8-0146 or 8-1166
School Physician DR. JOHN T. COTTER Telephone, North Attleboro 8-0204
School Nurse MRS. JANET CLAUDY Telephone, North Attleboro 8-678-M
Attendance Officer
ELMER PEASE
67
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1954-1955
Elementary and High Schools:
First term opens September 9, 1954 First term closes December 23, 1954 Second term opens January 3, 1955 Second term closes February 18, 1955 Third term opens March 1, 1955
Third term closes April 15, 1955
Fourth term opens April 25, 1955 Fourth term Closes: Elementary School, June 17, 1955 High School, June 24, 1955
Holidays for all schools:
October 12, Columbus Day
October 29, County Convention
November 11, Veterans Day
November 24, 1/2 day Elementary
November 25-26, Thanksgiving
December 23, 1/2 day Elementary
December 24-25, Christmas
April 8, Good Friday May 30, Memorial Day
School Sessions:
High School: Regular session 8:30 to 2:30
Elementary School 8:45 to 2:45
7:30 A. M .- Three double blasts on fire alarm system signifies no school for all pupils for the day.
7:45 A. M .- Same signal signifies no school for Ele- mentary pupils.
11:30 A. M .- Same signal signifies no school in the afternoon and Elementary pupils will stay in school until 1 P. M.
Plainville NO SCHOOL signals are broadcast over Station WARA 7:00 A. M., 7:30 A. M., 8:00 A. M. and 8:30 A. M.
68
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Plainville:
The Plainville Public Schools have been the first to feel the serious effects of our expanding community. The ever increasing enrollment is over crowding available facilities. Where and how to accommodate this increase constitutes a serious problem for the school committee and entire faculty. This problem should resolve itself, at least temporarily, when the Regional Junior-Senior High School begins operation. However, serious study and planning should be considered immediately to insure that our elementary program will be adequate in the future.
After careful survey and based upon estimates received for the repair work, the school committee has inserted a sepa- rate article in the warrant for repair of the High School build- ing roof and gutters. This expense is only for those repairs which will prevent deterioration of the building from weather and water damage and extremely necessary if this building is to be used for any purpose in the future.
The school committee revised the teacher salary schedule in this year's budget for the purpose of solving two problems:
1. To discourage "teacher turn-over".
2. To attract the highest possible teacher candi- dates to Plainville.
In preparing our budget for this year, we have taken into consideration the transfer of our local High School to the Regional program; however, we did not intend to sacrifice any educational advantage to which the High School students are entitled. We intend, instead, to maintain the highest possible standards.
The School Committee wishes to express appreciation to the faculty and employees of the schools of Plainville for their efforts which have contributed to our successful operation the past year.
69
ANNUAL REPORT
We wish to acknowledge the interest and cooperation of such groups as the P.T.A., Alumni, Board of Selectmen, Fire- men, Highway Department, Police Department and all other groups and individuals who have in any manner helped us in our efforts the past year.
We urge careful study of our budget and the reports of Superintendent Laurence Nourse and Principal Kenneth Sharp.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD H. HEMMINGSEN,Chairman HELEN A. SMITH, Secretary CLINTON E. BARTON CHARLES O. PEASLEY ROBERT W. ROOT
70
ANNUAL REPORT
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS IN 1954
Appropriation
$83,986.00
Interest on Town School Fund
19.09
Refund
18.00
$84,023.09
Expenses
General Expenses
School Committee
200.00
Superintendent's Salary
2,660.04
School Union Travel
240.00
Clerk's Salary
552.98
Miscellaneous Expenses
576.86
Expenses of Instruction
Salaries
55,751.92
Books & Supplies
4,258.62
Operation of School Plant
Janitors
5,681.00
Fuel
3,291.32
Miscellaneous
2,511.34
Maintenance
851.47
Health
1,103.25
Transportation
4,956.02
New Equipment
1,156.57
Driver Education
163.84
Total
$83,955.23
Balance
$ 67.86
71
ANNUAL REPORT
THE TOWN RECEIVED FROM THE STATE ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS
1951
1952
1953
1954
Chapter 643
State Aid
$14,001.49
$14,811.80
$17,686.81
$19,196.18
For Superintendent 1,458.60
1,493.33
1,477.46
1,457.88
For School Bus
Transportation
2,305.86
2,136.89
2,170.00
2,763.02
From Tuition
Youth Service
Board
787.36
362.09
442.89
, State
184.14
17.10
Private
75.00
100.00
50.00
100.00
$18,025.09
$19,346.48
$21,746.36
$23,959.97
Total
Expenditures
$62,769.06
$68,710.22
$76,650.52
$83,955.23
Receipts from
outside sources $18,025.09
$19,346.48
$21,746.36
$23,959.97
Expenditures by
the Town of
Plainville
$44,743.97 $49,363.74 $54,904.16
$59,995.26
1955 ESTIMATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 643, 1948
Chapter 643 State Aid
$20,913.99
For Superintendent
1,457.88
For Transportation
2,700.00
For Youth Service Board
450.00
$25,521.87
Additional Receipts 1954
1. Rental
$275.00
2. Cash for damages
16.81
3. Sale of old equipment
3.95
$295.76
PLAINVILLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUDGET 1955
Budget 1955
Expended 1954
Expended 1953
Expended 1952
School Committee
$ 315.00
$ 200.00
$ 195.00
$ 120.00
Superintendent
Salary
2,810.00
2,660.04
2,560.00
2,460.00
School Union
240.00
240.00
240.00
240.00
Clerk
600.00
552.98
497.19
562.25
Miscellaneous
325.00
576.86
342.79
205.48
Special Education
100.00
Teachers' Salaries
62,150.00
55,751.92
49,971.63
43,847.48
Books and Supplies
4,100.00
4,258.62
4,052.65
3,278.94
Operation of School Plant Janitors
5,749.00
5,681.00
5,315.00
5,300.00
Fuel
3,377.00
3,291.32
3,368.63
3,611.02
Miscellaneous
2,500.00
2,511.34
2,930.67
2,509.21
Maintenance
800.00
851.47
437.13
545.19
Health
1,245.00
1,103.25
983.20
946.12
Transportation
4,921.00
4,956.02
4,552.19
4,270.00
New Equipment
2,905.00
1,156.57
1,094.97
683.95
Driver Education
150.00
163.84
109.17
130.58
$92,287.00
$83,955.23
$76,650.52
$68,710.22
Total Reimbursements (Est.)
25,521.87
23,959.97
21,746.36
19,346.48
Net Expenditures (Est.)
$66,756.13
$59,995.26
$54,904.16
$49,363.74
Athletic Budget
$500.00 300.00
(Increased expenses for transportation and officials is covered in this request.)
73
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Plainville School Committee:
I have the honor of submitting to you my thirty-first annual report and the forty-eighth in the series of reports. The progress of the Plainville Schools in the past year is re- ported under several main headings. The reports which I have received from staff members are included in this report. Full appreciation of the excellent progress made in many lines of activities, as well as the careful consideration of current and future problems involved in the functioning and growth of the Plainville schools, is urged.
School Building Accommodations
The acceptance of the Regional High School with Norfolk and Wrentham will furnish superior educational opportunities for grades 7 to 12, Junior and Senior High School. The present plans call for the start of this school in September 1957. Careful study for meeting the school building needs for the next two years is essential. Overcrowding in the Elementary School is probable unless some temporary facili- ties are found. The long range implications of this new or- ganization of the Plainville Schools is urged by the Plainville School Committee and the Plainville School Planning Com- mittee. In addition to the regular Elementary School needs, opportunities and facilities for kindergarten, special education classes, special facilities such as library and visual education, need to be considered. The following table of school popula- tion data gives, as completely as possible, the present picture. With the extensive building developments going on at the present time in Plainville, the estimated school population data cannot be considered final, but only the best estimate possible at the moment. Plans are underway for a school cen- sus in these new developments early in the Spring. This will make possible a revision of the plans for September if con- ditions warrant.
Plainville Schools Enrollment Data
Past
Present 1954
Estimate
1948
1951
1957
1960
High School
Grades 7-12
115
140
160
192
235
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ANNUAL REPORT
Past
Present
Estimate
Elementary
1948
1951
1954
1957
1960
Grades 1-6
178
216
250
300
350
(Comparison of recent past data with the present and estimate of future)
Plainville Birth Records
Number of births recorded
by years.
Pupils in first grade in cor- responding year.
1948
34 Pupils
1954
40 Pupils
1949
39
1955
45 Est.
1950
48
1956
55
1951
48
1957
55
1952
51
1958
60
1953
56
1959
62
1954
59
1960
65
Number of New Pupils Moving to Plainville
July 1, 1954 to September 1, 1954
20
September 1, 1954 to January 1, 1955 11
Total School Enrollments on Following Dates
September 1953
386
September 1954
413
December 1954
421
The above data is based on current information. With the extensive building development now under way much larger enrollments are probable.
The School Staff
Mr. Kenneth Sharp as Principal of the Plainville Schools is doing outstanding work in that position. The daily admin- istrative problems are met promptly and with efficiency and courtesy. The educational supervisory duties which he has carried on in cooperation with me have been most effective. Further details are given in his report. All teachers in the Plainville High School are teachers with experience. This makes a more effective scholastic program. Mrs. Lucille Zwicker in Grade 8 and Mrs. Phyllis Martin in Grade 1 have both had excellent previous public school experience. The new teachers, starting in their first experience, have all had
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ANNUAL REPORT
excellent professional training and come to their work with outstanding enthusiasm. The whole staff deserves a sincere word of appreciation for their efforts and activities.
Salary Schedule
The new salary schedule adopted by the Plainville School Committee December 20, 1954 will be an aid in attracting and holding good teachers. This schedule goes from $2800 to $4250 for teachers with the Bachelor's Degree and $3000 to $4450 for teachers with the Master's Degree. The change from the old to the new schedule will be in yearly steps. Approved professional credits are required every three-year period. Partial credit for teaching experience outside of Plainville is allowed in the new schedule.
With the staff of seventeen full-time teachers last year there were six changes in the elementary school and one in the high school. Two left due to marriage and five secured teaching positions with substantial salary increases. Also one additional staff member was added. The new salary schedule should do much to increase the "holding power" for members of the teaching staff.
Special Education
For many years, Massachusetts State laws required any town having ten pupils, three years mentally retarded, to have a special class for the instruction of such pupils. Plain- ville has never had such a class. The Massachusetts Legisla- ture on May 28, 1954 passed a new Act, Chapter 514, establish- ing a Division of Special Education in the State. This new Division is in charge of the enforcement of the new and broader plan of Special Education. All pupils judged coming within the possible application of this law shall be given medical examinations by the family physician or school phy- sician and psychological examinations given by qualified ex- aminers employed by the public schools and approved by the Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health. Such pupils are classified into three classifications as set forth in the law quoted below. One-half of the expense of instruction, training, and support of the children in Special Classes will be reimbursed to the town by the Commonwealth. The parent or guardian of any child classified under the pro- visions of this Act may apply in writing to the Department of Education for a review of such determination. The Plainville
76
ANNUAL REPORT
budget has an estimate for the preliminary testing under this program in September 1955. The regulations from the De- partment of Education and Mental Health have just been received. These give the procedure for the classification of pupils under this Act and the requirements for the conduct of classes and the preparation and training of teachers for such work. The following quotation from the new law gives the essential part of this Act:
"The school committee of every town shall annually as- certain under regulations prescribed by the department and the department of mental health, the number of children re- tarded in mental development in attendance upon its public schools, or of school age and resident therein. Such children shall be placed in the following classifications: (a) the educable mentally retarded; (b) the trainable mentally retarded; and (c) the custodial mentally retarded. At the beginning of each school year, the committee of every town where there are five or more such children, as determined in accordance with the first sentence of this section, shall, and every town where there are less than five such children may, establish special classes for the instruction of the educable mentally retarded children and for the instruction of the trainable mentally retarded children according to their mental attainments, under regula- tions prescribed by the department."
Phonics At Work
For the past two years, the Plainville Schools have given extensive study and special emphasis to the teaching of read- ing. This has been done through encouraging teachers to take extension courses in the teaching of reading, the holding of conferences for all teachers under the leadership of experts in this field, the attendance at regional meetings, and the use of the latest available professional books and magazines dealing with the teaching of reading and the supervision of classroom instruction. There is a popular concept that the modern school does not teach phonics in its program. I am sure anyone who has been in contact with the Plainville Schools will realize that phonics do have a place in our school. The proper use of the phonetic approach to reading is set forth in an excellent bulle- tin recently published by the Massachusetts Department of Education as a supplement to the Curriculum Guide, "Phonics At Work". The teaching of phonics is only one approach to the mastery of reading, but it is an important one. This new
77
ANNUAL REPORT
publication sets forth many principles to guide the teacher in the full use of this aid. Techniques, skills and methods are outlined for the guidance of teachers in each stage: read- ing readiness, initial reading, rapid progress and extension of efficiency in reading, and refinement of habits, skills, ability and appreciations related to reading. The following principles on the teaching of phonics are based upon the publication, "Principles for Developing Independent Recognition" from the Forty-Eighth Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education.
1. Readiness for the application of phonics as a method of word attack required well-defined skills; the amount of application is determined by the degree of readiness.
2. Beginning steps in the teaching of reading emphasize through units, phrases and words, so that children acquire the concept of reading as gaining ideas. The teaching of phonics should be considered as one part of the whole word attack program, together with the use of context clues and structural analysis skills.
3. Pupils are taught particular phonetic and structural elements only after they have appeared several times in their reading vocabulary, and when the generalizations developed will be used extensively in increasing the reading vocabulary.
4. Sounds for letters and combinations of letters are learned, practiced, and applied as recognizable elements in the pronunciation of entire words, not as isolated, ex- plosive sounds.
5. In the application of any or all of the principles, flexibility of word attack is encouraged, so that the main characteristic of the ability to use phonics becomes that of the selection of techniques suitable to the immediate reading situation.
Extension Courses for Teachers
For the second consecutive year, the Plainville Schools with the Norton schools have conducted a Harvard-Boston University Extension Course for the inservice training of teachers. "Human Relations in the Classroom" is the topic of the Course taught this year by Dr. Dugald S. Arbuckle of Bos- ton University. Fifty-eight teachers are enrolled; nineteen
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ANNUAL REPORT
from Norton, nine from Plainville, ten from Easton and the others from surrounding towns. This is a general course that is valuable and helpful for teachers whether in the primary school, grammar school or high school. It is designed to aid teachers in helping children to become emotionally mature during their school days. The conflicts and problems of chil- dren as they are seen through the eyes of the teacher and the child are discussed. The emotional climate affects all children for good and for ill and the teacher is a vital element in the creation of this atmosphere. The optimum learning cannot occur unless the classroom atmosphere is conducive to learning and the mental health of teachers is thus of supreme importance. The course is designed to help teachers under- stand better the behavior of boys and girls and their own re- action to this behavior. Day by day experiences of the teacher in the classroom are the basis of study in this course. Several teachers are taking other professional courses at nearby colleges.
PLAINVILLE HIGH AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Mr. Kenneth L. Sharp, Principal
The annual Norton-Plainville Pre-School Conference was this year held in Plainville. The topic "The Teachers' role in a Mental Health Program" was discussed by Dr. Dugald S. Arbuckle, School of Education Boston University. A movie "Skippy and the 3 R's" and group discussions by the teachers completed what was an informative, purposeful day. These conferences have proved a valuable part of the school year. Therefore, plans are being made to continue them.
The faculties of both schools have shown a very definite desire to keep abreast of the educational field. During the first term, all of the high school teachers and five from the elementary school were enrolled in extension courses. All have shown evidence of professional reading. To foster and encourage this, several professional magazines are now pro- vided for the use of the staff.
During the spring term the Commercial Department, under the direction of Mr. Valaitis, plans to initiate a student school-work program. It is planned to place the better pupils in actual office jobs for a period of two weeks
79
ANNUAL REPORT
without pay. Evaluation of the work done will help the school to prepare pupils more effectively for this work and his plan will give the students actual work experience.
National Education Week Programs this year were suc- cessful. During the week, over two hundred parents and friends visited school, either during regular session or during the Open House at the P.T.A. meeting. Several special pro- grams prepared by individual teachers were well received and again showed the desirable initiative of the staff members.
The schools were pleased to receive a new phonograph from the P.T.A. through one of their projects. This machine is being used in music appreciation classes, in developing rhythm bands and for entertainment.
One of the most significant phases of our educational program was the Adult Education Classes which were com- pleted in May 1954. Sixty-three people took advantage of six classes in Ceramics, Furniture Refinishing, Public Speaking, Photography, Rug Braiding and Typing. The program was self-supporting. Last fall an attempt was made to organize adult classes again. The only interest shown was in Driver Training; so a class of eighteen enrolled and completed the course. It is hoped that sufficient interest will be shown in early 1955 to warrant other courses.
In the spring of 1954, two of the better programs which involved all pupils were the Art Exhibit and the Music Festival. Both drew many praises from the public and were a credit to the students, teachers and supervisors who worked during the year to make these activities possible.
Twenty-one Seniors were graduated in June 1954. Mr. Herman V. LaMark, Personnel Director of Swank, Inc., was the principal speaker; with Nancy Wilson giving the Salu- tatory and Marilyn Bowmar the Valedictory.
Considerable time has been spent over the past year in - supervisory work. This has included classroom visitation, teacher conferences, consideration of textbook additions and changes, discussions on yearly plans and other necessary assistance to teachers. Perhaps two of the more important results of this cooperative work have been the study and
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ANNUAL REPORT
writing of a Curriculum guide in Phonics, Word Analysis and Arithmetic for Grades one through three, plus a rather com- prehensive study of the Reading program in the Elementary School.
The first of these set forth suggested standards for teach- ers to follow so that pupils in the same grade but with different teachers would follow the same course and so that the work of all teachers would not overlap unnecessarily.
The second concerning Reading was an attempt by the staff to discover reading difficulties and to remedy them. Intelligence and Reading tests were given and recorded. Charts indicating factors that might possibly affect a child's reading ability were made and individual pupils were con- sidered on it. As a result many children received individual help with their difficulties, changes were made in the reading material and the general emphasis on the subject was strengthened. It was gratifying to note that the grades tested scored above the national norms set by the tests.
The Plainville teaching staff should be commended for excellent professional spirit and a sincere desire to be coop- erative in all phases of their work. It is a pleasure to be working with such a group.
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