Randolph town reports 1932-1937, Part 47

Author:
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: Town of Randolph
Number of Pages: 1396


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194 Orchard St. 93 North St. South Main St. Woodlawn Ter. West St. Lafayette St. North Main St. 5 Norfolk Rd. 123 North St. 17 Wales Ave. Mount Pleasant Square Warren St. 10 Norfolk Rd. 631 North St.


1115 North Main St. 30 Pleasant St. 47 South St. Lafayette St. Gordon St. 166 Union St. Warren St.


6 Marion St.


Richards, Noe, Restaurant Manager Rudderham, William, Painter


222 Liberty St. Maitland Ave. High St. Russ St. Vine St.


21 Norfolk Rd. North St.


Druid Hill Ave. 391 South Main St.


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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


Shea, James, Shoeworker


Ward St.


Truelson, Charles H., Farmer


250 Chestnut St.


Tangen, Christopher, Moulder


Wilbur, Herbert C., Painter


48 Lafayette St. Wales Ave.


Wright, John H., Expressman 1138 North Main St.


ERROL M .. THOMPSON, MARTIN E. YOUNG, HAROLD W. MACAULEY,


Selectmen of Randolph.


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


Report of the School Committee


To the Citizens of Randolph :


The following report of the School Committee embodies the major activities of the Board for the year 1936.


In the administration of our public schools, econ- omy and necessity have been two controlling factors governing the policies and activities of the Committee. The Board has endeavored at all times to practice economy when that economy was consistent with edu- cational needs and requirements. There has been no waste in the expenditure of public money.


The school population of Randolph is excep- tionally large as compared with its total population. In the list of sixteen towns having a population approx- imately between six and seven thousands, Randolph has by far the largest school enrollment. This means added cost to the tax payers, and yet according to the tabulation of the Department of Education for Novem- ber, 1936, the per capita cost of public schools in Randolph is so low in the average cost that the town ranks fourth from the last among eighty-three towns in the State. It is fair to say that on the basis of such a comparison there has been no unnecessary expendi- ture of public money. It is very possible that there has been too great an emphasis on economy. Not- withstanding, our schools are doing good work and our High School retains its "A" rating.


244


TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


Below is another tabulation of our per capita cost of operating all schools in Randolph as compared with our neighboring towns under similar headings:


COST COMPARISON WITH NEIGHBORING TOWNS


Report of State Dept. of Education, Nov. 30, 1936


Enrolment


Cost per Pupil Ave. Membership


Rank, Cost per Group Pupil Net Ave. 2, 83 Membership Towns


Canton


833


$116.07


$120.97


5


Abington


1121


80.97


80.97


40


Bridgewater


1437


84.66


86.60


26


Rockland


1460


76.18


77.71


55


Stoughton


1595


64.47


67.48


76


RANDOLPH


1815


60.41


63.78


80


As there are many citizens in town who are un- aware of the financial assistance received from the State and other sources, it has seemed fitting to the Committee to repeat again the amount of money re- ceived during the year 1936. This money does not go to the School Department in Randolph but to the Town Treasurer for the purpose of reducing local taxes.


RECEIPTS FROM STATE AND OTHER SOURCES


General School Fund, Part 1


$25,225.00


Tuition, State Wards


2,620.29


Tuition, City Wards


2,144.67


Reimbursement, Trade Schools


789.72


Tuition, High School, non-residents


91.56


Coddington Fund


57.42


Town of Holbrook, reimbursement, Supt.'s telephone


44.60


Cash paid Town Treasurer, tel. tolls, etc.


23.80


Total received $30,997.06


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


NET COST OF SCHOOLS


Appropriation, 1936


Transfer, 1936


$105,982.29 2,059.84


Total appropriation


$108,042.13


Total receipts


30,997.06


Net cost to the town $77,045.07


The Committee recommends that the school ap- propriation be appropriated under two items : salaries and expenses.


IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS TO SCHOOLS


On our tours of inspection and examination of school property we have been convinced that there is much to be done to keep our buildings in repairs and in good condition so that teachers and pupils alike may have some of the common improvements and conven- iences so necessary for the work of our schools today. With the money at our disposal we have completed the following :


Prescott School


Installation of new boiler with oil heater in the primary building; new chimney; new toilet and sanitation; new floors where needed; grammar building painted ; safety fence ; playground equip- ment; shrubbery and a few clocks.


Devine School


Two substantial stone walls built, north and south sides; graded grounds under WPA supervision ; new sidewalk in front of the school with the co- operation and interest of our Street Commissioner ; new playground equipment.


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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


McNeill School


The erection of posts at the dead-end streets to safeguard children and for traffic regulation ; new playground equipment.


High School


Kitchen painted and the floor of the lunch room; completion of the tennis courts and with the aid of public subscription a wire fence was erected ; new shrubbery.


Belcher School


Playground equipment.


Tower Hill School


Installation of new pump and playground equip- ment.


Pauline Street School


New fence and shrubbery.


RECOMMENDATIONS


The establishment and organization of a State- aided Vocational School for Household Arts in the high school at a cost of approximately $1200, one-half of which will be reimbursed to the town together with a further reduction of trade school cost in that de- partment.


Oil burners be installed in the Devine and Pres- cott grammar schools.


New toilet for the Prescott primary school and proper grading of the school yard for greater safety to children.


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


For better protection to school property, electric lights should be placed on standards in front and in back of the high and Devine schools, such lights includ- ing the two now at the high school to be connected to the Town's service system.


That all sidewalks in front of schools be built or reconditioned along the lines of the newly completed sidewalk at the Devine school. This walk and ap- proach to the school is a credit to the Town and of real service to our pupils.


That serious consideration and study be given to the introduction of manual training in the junior high school department; that an addition of two rooms and an auditorium-gymnasium be made to the Devine school and the recognition of a recent request by citizens from Tower Hill for a new and modern school in that district.


That in the interest of better playground facilities at the Prescott primary school, land should be acquired for school playground purposes.


In closing this report the Committee expresses its thanks to all who have in any way co-operated with them and to Messrs. Shea and Mahoney for their very effective work as school traffic officers.


Respectfully submitted,


School Committee


ELMER L. FRENCH, Chairman FRED P. CHASE, THOMAS E. DALY, JOHN E. KELLEY, WALTER J. FLANAGAN.


248


TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


Report of the Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee, Randolph,


Mr. Chairman and Members :


In keeping with the modern emphasis on prepar- ing our students for the social-economic environment in which they live, our endeavor has been to enrich and motivate our subject matter and instruction along the lines of what is most practical, serviceable and con- ducive to wholesome life, character and citizenship. The obligations of school administrators and particu- larly of teachers as to what constitute legitimate and proper instruction, subject matter and objectives in a fast changing social order and growing democracy are exceedingly great if not confusing. No definite answers to these problems have thus far been made and yet in the light of possible errors and hasty judg- ments it may well be that we shall need more time for sober thinking and unified action in order to reach a satisfactory solution for a common good. While new and progressive curricula are in the making we have still the schools, teachers, pupils and parents in our midst. I am happy to say that there is a splendid spirit of work and comradeship within this quartet of social security. It means to us better schools, better students, better work and better citizens.


We are most desirous of expressing our apprecia- tion for the many and various improvements and re- pairs made to our school buildings during the year.


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


If this systematic procedure is observed each year our schools will not only be attractive and well-kept but the cost of repairs and upkeep will be greatly reduced.


The comprehensive reports of the Principal of the high school, Mr. Gilgan, supervisors, nurse and school physician, Dr. Higgins, follow this report. They re- late clearly the work of the year and their interest in the schools.


During the year a study has been conducted by grade teachers for the purpose of clarifying and unify- ing reading in the primary grades. Miss Jane Lynch and her group of teachers have shown keen interest in the work and will endeavor to work out new and effective methods for primary classes.


As an aid to instruction, four motion picture machines have been purchased by our pupils in the high school, Prescott, Devine and Belcher Schools. These projectors are of the 16 m.m. size and suitable for films loaned by the Department of Education and other sources for visual education.


Special emphasis and attention have been placed on safety of children on the public highways. At dis- missal times, children are lead in groups by teachers to a cross-over where an officer is stationed for traffic control. The Safety Patrol under Principal Dillon has worked well at the Prescott School where no less than five streets and as many cross-overs add to the prob- lem of safety around his immediate buildings. Street markers and signs have been added. This with the wholehearted co-operation of the Police Department and Messrs. Shea and Mahoney have been contributing factors in our local safety campaign.


250


TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


Each year there are new and growing demands on lunch-room service. The improvements made and to be made by your committee for this service have been of great value to us. Good food and hot dishes are served daily but there is much to be done by us in the direction of proper selection of foods and a bal- anced diet. The State Department of Health and Hygeine has very generously volunteered to assist us in this important work so that our pupils may enjoy good and wholesome food at a minimum cost to service and pupils.


If our schools are to serve all pupils and not only the academically-minded students which our colleges seem to control, learning must be associated with doing. We cannot begin to train for this social-economic order unless we begin to liberate our activity-pupils to and in a field of doing. The immediate fields to which I refer are those of the State-aided Household Arts, Manual training (often colled prevocational training) and some class of special activities for pupils in grades five to eight in which they can work out their special abilities along creative and practical lines. The splen- did work of our Special class under Miss Harhan could be expanded, enriched and adapted to a larger range of pupils who are not "misfits" but who have pro- nounced abilities along lines often ignored by the tra- ditional methods of evaluation.


As an indication of professional improvement among our teachers, their interest in their work and pupils, I am submitting the following list of grade teachers who have taken courses after graduation and who have received during the past few years the fol- lowing credits for work completed-the list does not include the teachers of the high school.


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


Prescott School


Frank Dillon 12 Boston University


George Crimmins 10 Boston College


Dorothy Boothby


2 Harvard


Mary McLaughlin


2 Boston Univerity


Martha Harhan


2


Boston Library Course


Belcher School


Mrs. Ethel Chatfield 9


Louise Maguire 35


Mass. Extension Courses


McGill and Boston College


Martha Parshley 16 Fitchburg State College


Bernice Francis


7 B. U. and Mass. Extension


Kathleen O'Neill 2 Mass. Extension Courses


Jane Lynch 14


Emerson and Mass. Ext.


Devine School


Margaret Donovan 5


Martha Foley 8


Anna Good 10


B. U. and Mass. Extension


Mass. Extension Courses


Mass. Extension Courses


B. U. and Columbia


Elizabeth Doyle 11


B. U. and Mass. Extension


Kathleen Walsh 11 Boston University


Claire Lucey


1


Mass. Extension Course


Mrs. Florence Caples 15 Emmaline McGerrigle 3 Marshall Leavitt 4


Mass. Extension Courses


B. U. and Mass. Extension


Recommendations


The establishment of a State-aided Household Arts Course in the high school at an approximate cost of $1200. a year, one-half of which would be reim- bursed to the Town each year. The course would include instruction in the purchase and preparation of foods; purchase and construction of clothing; furnish- ing and care of the home, sanitation and management ; nursing and care of children and the application of arts and sciences as related to the home.


252


TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


Enlargement of the shower facilities, high school.


An appropriation of $300. for supplies and equip- ment under Physical Education; $200. for the high school and $100. for the grades.


Installation of gas or electric ranges (or steam tables) at the lunch counters, Prescott and Devine Schools.


Two scholarships were again presented by the Stetson High School Scholarship Fund Committee this year to worthy graduates of our school. Records show that recipients of these awards for the past few years have carried on successful work at their respective institutions.


I am gratified to report a most active and loyal corps of teachers, supervisors and principals. They are interested in their work and give unstintingly of their time to the welfare of their pupils and schools. This is equally true of your Committee whose co-opera- tion has been an incentive and a source of inspiration during the year.


Respectfully submitted,


A. O. CHRISTIANSEN,


Superintendent of Schools.


253


ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


STETSON HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S REPORT


Mr. Adolph O. Christiansen,


Superintendent of Schools, Randolph, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir :


It is my privilege to submit to you my fifth annual report as Principal of Stetson High School.


Our enrollment on October 1, 1936 was 429, which was approximately that of 1935, and slightly less than that of 1934. It would seem, then, that unless the population of the Town increases materially, we have reached the peak of our enrollment. We have at the present time no congestion, and have adequate space for all of our present needs.


The personnels of our teaching staff remained unchanged during the past year, no teachers being lost to us and none being added. This is particularly grati- fying because the loss of a teacher or two would have brought about a serious situation since we have need of all teachers now on our staff.


During the past year the school has purchased a 16 m.m. moving picture projector and a beginning has been made to augment classroom teaching with appro- priate films rented from the State Department of Edu- cation. Because of the large skylight in the audi- torium, it has been impossible to darken this room sufficiently to make a satisfactory showing of these pictures. As a consequence, it has been necessary to present films in the various classrooms, and as only a


254


1


TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


few rooms can be used for the purpose, only a rela- tively small percentage of pupils have been reached. As there is no doubt as to the place, in the education of today, of this type of visual aid, we would suggest that a curtain be provided which can be drawn across the skylight on the inside of the auditorium. Also, that electricity outlets be placed in several classrooms so that the projector can be used in those rooms when the films to be shown are of such a nature as to be applic- able to certain groups.


We find that our plan to devote part of each of the six periods to supervised study has produced re- sults. We still have a long way to go before it becomes entirely satisfactory, and to this end we wish to say that this supervised study period is not meant to sup- plant home study entirely, but rather to complement it. We are constantly striving to impress on pupil and parent that home study is necessary for good results.


We are pleased to report the addition of seventy- five books to our library. This is in line with a recom- mendation made last year and it is hoped that this policy will be continued each year. The latest acquisi- tion of books brings our total number up to eleven hundred volumes.


Our athletic situation is much the same this year as in the past. We have sponsored football, basket- ball and baseball for boys and for girls, basketball. Through these sports we are not able to reach so many pupils as we would like, but due to financial considera- tions, we are not able to offer other branches of sport. Football has been a constant drain on our resources and has been operating at a loss, as has baseball. This is due, in part, to the fact that we have no enclosed field on which to play. Basketball operates at a profit,


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


but not sufficiently as to offset the losses of the other two sports. However, during the past year, an organi- zation called the Stetson Sports Sponsors came into being, and since its beginning this group has been an invaluable help to our athletic association. The spon- sors consist of Murray Lewis, Franklin Porter, Frank Higgins, John R. Luddington, Frank Hess, Frank McCarthy, Charles Byron, Jr., Clarence Dean, Joseph Harris, Herbert Mills, William J. Lynch, Daniel W. Leavitt, Cyril W. Powderly and Hubert F. Gilgan.


The thanks of the student body and faculty is herewith extended to these citizens, and it is our hope that the Sponsors will function for many years to come.


One of the finest additions to our playground was made with the completion of the two tennis courts at the rear of the school. The courts won the immediate approval of all the tennis enthusiasts, and the fact that the courts have been in almost constant use during seasonable weather, gave evidence of their popularity.


We believe that the time has come when some consideration should be given in the schools to matter of safety education. As the years pass, the number of automobiles on the road increases, while accidents and fatalities grow in proportion. The number of deaths is appalling, particularly of children. Many of our pupils are drivers, and many are in high school when they reach sixteen, at which age they can apply for a driv- ing license. We believe that the high school is the logical place to give these young people some training in the matter of safety, and we recommend that the course of study on highway safety education of the State Department of Education be adopted.


We urge at this time that a study be made of our shower accommodations with a view toward making


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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


the showers available to a larger number of boys and girls. At the present time the showers are inadequate.


Once again, we present for your consideration the possibility of introducing a Household Arts course for girls and a Manual Training course for boys. There is a demand for this type of work in the school and it would be a worthwhile step.


If we are to meet effectively the challenge of the modern business world, consideration should be given to the enrichment of our commercial course. Once in a while, one of our graduates secures a position as a typist or a bookkeeper, but the general trend of the business world of today is gradually turning high school graduates away from that field. We suggest that facilities be provided so that our students will have a working knowledge of modern office appliances, of filing, and of other phases of the wor's about which they will need to know something when they seek a position.


Awards were made to the following students dur- ing the past year:


Stetson High School Scholarship Priscilla M. Bowley, College Course


Thelma V. Hennigar, Commercial Course


Northeastern University Awards Lena M. Thayer, Social Science Priscilla M. Bowley, Mathematics.


Washington-Franklin Medal Frances L. Bennett.


In closing, we wish to express to you our sincere appreciation of the help you have given us during the


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


past year in our endeavors to place Stetson High School on an efficient and satisfactory basis; also, to the mem- bers of the School Board for their earnestness and seriousness of purpose, for without this mutual co- operation it is impossible to reach that degree of suc- cess which we are constantly striving to attain.


Respectfully submitted,


HUBERT F. GILGAN.


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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR


Mr. Adolph O. Christiansen,


Superintendent of Schools,


Randolph, Massachusetts.


The interest in music has been well maintained during the past year ; the classes respond enthusiastic- ally and manifest a very good knowledge of the work, which includes two and three part singing together with the theoretical side of music. Music writing books in the upper grades, however, would be productive of better results along those lines.


I sincerely hope that in the near future we may be able to equip the Prescott and Belcher School build- ings with pianos. The Devine School is already so equipped and this affords much help to the Junior High classes. The purchase of such instruments would entail very little expense, and would prove to be a great stimulant for both orchestral and vocal music.


I commend very highly the work being done by the high school chorus. The group numbers approxi- mately one hundred and thirty-five voices, including boys and girls from the Junior and Senior classes. With the hearty co-operation of the Principal, Mr. Gilgan, the discipline and interest manifested are very grati- fying. I regret to state, however, that the Freshmen and Sophomores have no part in the singing. I strongly advise the purchase of a community song book whereby all pupils could participate in an occasional song period.


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


The high school orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Edward McAleer of the faculty, has held weekly rehearsals during the school year and has studied the lighter classics both for instruction and for public entertainment. A joint concert by the high school orchestra and band is presented annually at Chapin Hall.


Under the direction of Mr. Charles M. Burke, the high school band has made steady progress and is well under way toward being an outstanding school band. This is being accomplished by Mr. Burke with the co- operation of pupils, teachers, and interested parents. Unfortunately, some musicians are lost each year through graduation, and if progress is to continue, the study of band instruments should be begun in the grammar schools.


I wish sincerely to thank the superintendent of schools, principals, and teachers for their co-operation in making this musical year successful and happy.


Respectfully submitted,


ROSE G. HAND,


Supervisor of Music.


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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.


REPORT OF THE DRAWING SUPERVISOR


Mr. Adolph O. Christiansen, Superintendent of Schools, Randolph, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir :


The following is my report as Supervisor of Art in the public schools of Randolph from the first grade through the Senior High School.


The function of Art Education in our public schools is to teach children to see and appreciate beauty in the realm of art and nature; to aid them to think clearly and express emotional experiences in the language of line, mass and color, and to develop the use of leisure time in an intelligent, enjoyable and profitable way.


Comparatively few pupils are talented and will enter the field of creative art. However, all are con- sumers of art and are therefore artists in the field of appreciation. A knowledge and understanding of art helps to make living itself an art.


The art work in the Randolph public schools has been organized under six general headings : Represen- tation, color, abstract, design, Lettering, Pictorial and Illustrative Drawing, and Correlation with Social Studies.


The aim of Representation, Pictorial and Illus- tration Drawing has been to develop a readiness to illustrate ideas and a habit of using drawing commonly as a language. The visual image is strengthened by drawing directly from an object. The recognition of the design plan of beautiful things will help pupils to


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ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST ANNUAL REPORT


appreciate and retain visual images to use later in creative experiences.


The teaching of color has included both theory and practice. Color theory is based upon the spectrum colors and their variations as observed in nature and art. The refinement of the color sense is developed through experiences gained in the analysis of beautiful color combinations in nature and art.




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