USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1932-1937 > Part 56
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
167
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
the High School would include sewing, cooking, furnish- ing and care of the home, nursing and care of children, etc. Half of the money spent in the maintenance of this course would be reimbursed to the Town Treasury by the state, thereby reducing the expense of operating this. department.
It is to be regretted that the Town of Randolph has never found it possible to establish vocational education courses for the boys in our public schools. The nearest. to such a course we have ventured, has been the dress- making class in the Stetson High School, for girls. Your Committee pledge themselves to a careful study of the situation relative to the establishment of a state-aided, district vocational school in order that children not wish- ing to continue college or commercial work, might learn to express themselves with their hands. A district suffi- ciently large to offer the student a better equipped and. manned school would be a distinct advantage and would. be in a position to give the students a more thorough training at a lesser cost to the town than any small. effort that the local communities could put forward.
In the Fall of 1937 the School Committee was faced. with the necessity of providing for a larger additional enrollment in the High School. Sixty-two pupils were enrolled in excess of the previous year. This increase, crowded to capacity, every possible room in the build- ing that could be used for home room purposes. It was. found necessary at the opening of school to add an ad- ditional teacher to the faculty. With the Stetson High School, now crowded beyond its capacity, and with an increase of students entering the high school, (eighty- two above the number to be graduated), your Committee will be faced with a more serious problem beginning the school year in September 1938. It will be found neces-
168
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
sary to provide home room space, wardrobes for clothing and books and an addition to the teaching force to take care of this added enrollment of eighty-two pupils. Your Committee feels that the situation can be handled with- out the necessity of a two-session day.
Your Committee submits the following budget for the operation of the School Department for the year 1938:
COST OF INSTRUCTION
Salary
Expenses Total
Salaries of teachers, principals
and supervisors 82,907.50
Books and supplies &
miscellaneous
5,500.00 88,407.50
COST OF OPERATING SCHOOL PLANT
Salaries of Janitors 7,395.00
Cost of fuel
3,400.00
Cost of light and power
1,300.00
Janitors' supplies & tel.
and expense
1,301.55
6,001.66
13,396.66
COST OF MAINTAINING SCHOOL PLANT
Repairs, replacements & renewals 9,215.00
COST OF AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Salary of School Nurse 1,350.00 Salary of School
169
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Physician 700.00
Tuition, Trade and Con- tinuation Schools
2,000.00
Transportation
3,800.00
Miscellaneous items
75.00
2,050.00
5,875.00
7,925.00
GENERAL CONTROL
Superintendent's salary 1,604.44
Salary of clerks
554.66
Attendance officer
250.00
Superintendent's expense
175.00
School committee expense
100.00
Miscellaneous expense
50.00
2,409.10
325.00
2,734.10
Total expense
$26,916.66
Less dog tax
1,084.90
Less coddington fund
56.20
1,141.10
Total appropriation
94,761.60
$25,775.56
120,537.16
We respectively ask that the above be appropriated. in two items, one as Salary and the other as Expense.
RECEIPTS FROM STATE AND OTHER SOURCES
General school fund
25,585.00
Tuition, state wards
2,766.00
170
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Tuition, city wards
2,683.85
Continuation school
1,934.23
Miscellaneous tuition
56.20
Other miscellaneous receipts
19.70
Total
$33,044.98
Total cost of schools from local taxation 87,284.18
The definite function of the School Committee, is to act as a Board of Directors of the School System, and as such, to lay out the educational and financial policy and to ascertain that its duties are fulfilled. The Super- intendent of Schools is the executive officer of that Board and we earnestly recommend that you read his report, together with the reports of the various departments, which are appended hereto.
Respectfully submitted,
The School Committee of the Town of Randolph.
JOHN E. KELLEY, chairman
WALTER J. FLANAGAN MRS. GEORGE W. BREWSTER FRED P. CHASE EDMUND J. BRADY
171
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee, Randolph,
Mr. Chairman and Members;
We are in accord with the principle that education is the tempered tool which will skillfully shape our democracy and preserve for us that American principle of liberty, self-government, tolerance and justice for all which have been our inheritance for so long a time. These in truth, constituted the pillars of construction. erected by the Founders of this great Republic. These, too, are our principles today. In the poetic words. "In Flanders Field" the American classroom has taken up the torch passed on by them "Who fought to make the world safe for Democracy." We recognize this sacred obligation. We recognize, too, that in order to attain these objectives that the best approach to a practical demo- cratic society is through our classroom organizations, their pattern of democratic behavior, diversified courses and the study of current social, economic and political. problems. That is our immediate job.
The task of our teachers today, particularly in the secondary schools, is difficult. They offer no complaint. but they realize that they are confronted with an old traditional course of study serving only about 40 per cent of our high school pupils who are so-called academi- cally minded. What about the other 60 per cent? Many, to be sure, have crowded our commercial department as: the only way out but do not belong there. The others
172
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
have been very fittingly termed "the forgotten boys and girls" in our American system of education. They con- stitute a real problem. They are real, wholesome and worthy students, having special skill and ability and are entitled to recognition and training in the public schools of a democracy.
Some two months ago an experiment was tried out in Avon. Mr. Carrol Gilgan with the aid of a C C C instructor, Mr. Johnson, organized a class in shop mechanics in the basement of the high school building. The class sprang into existance over night; composed of boys who donned overalls, worked in groups and in shifts, were happy and actually forgot to watch the clock and were often told to go home when the day's work was done. Here was an actual and practical example of job morale; qualities which cannot be brought out or taught by lectures or scored on an academic test sheet. At the height of the course, Mr. Johnson was removed for the reason that such a class and its type of work was intended for adults only, such as were out of school. True, his removal was justified on the basis of regu- lation but wrong from the point of view of what was good for the adults was denied our boys, particularly during this their flexible and adventurous period of learning, their spirit of achievement and determination to succeed. This same spontaneity and desire to work in the trades has likewise been noted by Mr. Hubert. Gilgan, principal of our local high school.
A revision of high school studies has been under consideration and study for some years. When it comes it will recognize hand training as well as academic. It. will cost more but the investment will pay.
173
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
We are informed that it costs $14,000,000,000 to sup- port crime in the United States. If that is so, very likely society will soon prefer to pay it by way of educational institutions and not correctional institutions. However, schools cannot alone carry the load. The qualities of the home and church are essential. Industry or the world of business and trade unions must lend their assistance. Leading industrialists have already begun to recognize the obligation. With the breakdown of the apprentice system our students today are denied the right to choose or learn a trade. Their only recourse is the trade schools which in themselves offer excellent facilities but are limited as to enrolment and are scattered over the State in the larger communities. We are told, moreover, that there is an actual shortage of skilled labor. If that is so, let us begin to do our share of the training, co-operate with local industry, prepare for the job, find the job and make worthwhile citizens of our students.
Under the coordinator method of vocational training now under consideration and study in this State, it may not be amiss to propose that this school district of Ran- dolph, Holbrook and Avon go on record as in favor of such a training. There could be established here a center with a coordinator whose job it would be to sit in and study local industry, understand it and assist in the ad- justment, training and care of the student employed. In the words of Robert O. Small, Director of Vocational Education, Mass. Department of Education, "We pro- pose to use the Federal funds that are coming to Massa- chusetts to such an extent as we can in financing that kind of service, putting a man in industry to find the needs we are not meeting, to find the ways that industry could co-operate to help get the job done that should be done, and then go to the schools and set up that pro- gram."
174
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
Study is under way to accommodate an extra large entering class in the high school next fall. Out of a class of 179 graduates of our junior high schools, it is safe to say some 159 or more will register. This will mean a change in our organization, a crowding of classes and the probable use of our library and other available floor space in the building for classes. Everything will be done to take care of this situation both from the point of view of education and minimum cost to the town.
According to Commissioner Reardon, the Depart- ment of Education is endeavoring to organize and unify a course of study for all grades to be used throughout the State. This will be of great value to school systems every- where. It will establish minimum essentials for each grade and bring about a continuity of work and achieve- ments heretofore lacking in our school systems.
Randolph teachers are credited with the introduction and organization of an Extension Course for teachers in this town. The class is held in the Prescott school once a week and is made up of teachers from Randolph, Hol- brook and Avon with the major enrolment from Ran- dolph. The instructor is Mr. John Maloney and the sub- ject of his lectures is "Modern Tendencies in Education."
We are looking forward to the opening of the new Tower Hill school. This building is a distinct addition to the educational system in Randolph and will be a building of real service, having four spacious classrooms, offices for principal and nurse, clinic room, library and accomodation for 4-H work and assembly in the base- ment. We express our appreciation, therefore, for this equipment both to the town and to the Building Com- mittee who have made possible this new and modern school.
175
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
Safety education is a necessity and a definite part of our school work today. Our fair town has had its high quota of accidents. To be sure, this does not mean that our inhabitants have caused these accidents but it does mean that our inhabitants and particularly our children have been the victims. We propose to continue this campaign for safety by classroom instruction, motion pictures, slides, posters and school traffic patrols to the end that we can say and have observed that "Our Chil- dren Are To Be Seen And NOT HURT".
In this safety drive we wish to acknowledge the valuable service rendered by Mrs. Ina Curley, Supervisor of Safety Education, Inspector Coldrick of Quincy, Chief McDonnell and his officers, school principals, teachers and janitors.
The following teachers in the high school have taken advanced or graduate work during the past four years. Last year a similar list was given for teachers in the grades.
Winifred M. Brennan B. C. Graduate School.
Mary E. Connors
B. U. Graduate School.
George E. Crimmins B. C. Graduate School. Joseph W. Daly St. Anselm College.
Helen T. Dole
B. U .; B. C .; Boston T. College.
Hugh W. Heney
B. U. and Uni. Extension.
B. U. Graduate Work.
Eleanor M. Kelley William J. Lynch Louise H. Maguire B. C. and Harvard " "
Genevieve R. Steffy
Harvard and B. U. "
B. U. Graduate School.
Farmer's School of Cooking.
176
-
Matthew V. Walsh Helena K. Krupka
Harvard & B. U. Graduate Schools.
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
No greater compliment can be paid any school sys- tem, large or small, than the one expressed by so many of our teachers during the past year, "I enjoy my work." Such an attitude in ones work is most ideal; it knows no fear or defeat, needs no supervisor nor the array of so-called educational gadgets for classroom motivation. It is the quality which makes for deeper enthusiasm and better instruction which, in turn, are the products of cooperation and coordination from the School Committee down to the little folks in grade one.
Respectfully submitted,
A. O. CHRISTIANSEN
Supt. of Schools.
177
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF STETSON HIGH SCHOOL
To Mr. A. O. Christiansen
Superintendent of Schools
I herewith submit to you my sixth annual report. as principal of Stetson High School.
Faculty Changes
The year 1937 saw more changes than at any time during the past five years. Mr. Edward McAleer re- signed to take a position in Greece, Miss Dorothy Gavin and Miss Dorothy Powers to be married, and Mr. James Riley to accept a position in Dedham. The following ap- pointments were made to fill the vacancies: Miss Louise Maguire, Miss Elizabeth Mead, Mr. W. Joseph Daly, and Mr. George Crimmins. Miss Helen Dole was an addi- tional appointment to the faculty to relieve a heavily overburdened commercial department.
Cost of Education
A study of the school budgets for the town of Ran- dolph will show a large increase over a span of years and the question will naturally arise as to the reason for it. The logical conclusion for this rise in costs would seem that schools have increased in cost because of in- creased attendance, even though such an increase in at- tendance would seem to be entirely out of proportion with the increase of the town's population. Higher costs have been reached also, because increased enrollment has been greater in the high school than in the grade schools. This is not merely a local situation, but a nation-wide one because, while in 1910 there were about one million.
178
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
pupils in the nation's high schools, in 1930 this number reached approximately four million. Teacher standards are higher; our buildings are more modern, safer, and more comfortable; the school year is longer; we try to think of the health, physical condition, and safety of our boys and girls; in short, we try to give educational op- portunities to a greater degree and in such a manner as to enable the young people to reach that goal which their native intelligence and ambition make possible. All of these things mean higher costs, but to quote from an address made by President Roosevelt, "The main point is that we need to make indefinitely better the average education which the average child now receives. The crisis can be met, but not in a day or a year, and educa- tion is a vital factor in the meeting of it."
Enrollment
The total enrollment for the year at the close of 1937 was considerable larger than for 1936.
Freshmen
157 Seniors 97
Sophomores
127 Post-Graduates
4
Juniors
105
Total 490
At the present time our high school building is taxed to capacity, and in view of the fact that the next few years will bring increases in enrollment, we believe that now is the time to give serious thought and study to a situation which will arise in the immediate future.
The enrollment for the past six years is as follows:
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
393
418
440
425
429
490
179
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
In 1927, the enrollment was exactly 200, so it can be readily seen that the high school population has more than doubled itself in the period of ten years from 1927 to 1937. According to the statistics of your 1936 report, there were 197 students in the seventh grade which will be next September's high school Freshman class. With 97 more seniors graduating and 197 potential Freshmen. entering, there will be at least 80 more pupils in our school, allowing for a loss of 20 pupils between grades. 8 and 9. The loss may not be so great, and, if not, the enrollment will be even larger. The fact has been al- ready mentioned that the high school building is, even now, crowded to capacity. The problem is how to ac- commodate these additional pupils.
At the present time, every available room is being: used for home rooms, including the science laboratory and the sewing room, and all the rooms are used for classrooms and study rooms with the exception of the science laboratory. Even that room has been put into- use two days a week for drawing classes. As we see it, one immediate solution to the situation is to use the. lunch room for both home room and classroom purposes .. This, we believe, is highly undesirable because this room is not suited for either purpose and could not be used. for the periods just before and after the lunch period.
Another solution is the use of the two platoon sys- tem whereby part of the pupils go to school in the morn- ing and part in the afternoon. The two lower classes could attend school say from 8 to 12 and the two upper classes from 12:30 to 4:30. The disadvantages of such a plan, however, are immediately apparent. Some of the teachers would have morning and afternoon classes. There would be a transportation problem, to say nothing of the difficulty to parents who might have children.
180
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
attending both sessions as well as the grade schools. The pupils, themselves would suffer from shorter hours with less time for their studies. All extra curricula ac- tivities would have to be curtailed and some even elim- inated. This plan, however, is a possibility but practi- cally every school that has used it has found it unsatisfactory.
We recommend that a study be made of future enrollments of the high school and if large high school enrollments are to be constantly high, that more room be provided the high school either by means of a new building or an addition to the present building.
Study Pupils
Except in isolated instances, all study pupils who have free periods are placed in the rear of all recitation rooms. Such practice brings many complaints from pupils, themselves, that they cannot place sustained and concentrated attention to the work at hand because distractions are bound to occur when some pupils are
reciting while others are trying to study. From the teacher's point of view, the teacher should be giving her undivided attention to the class, without the neces- sity of caring for study pupils. This is only another in- stance of more room being needed.
Saftey Education
Every citizen of Randolph knows that there is need of some type of safety education particularly for young people, because this town has had a bad accident record. In our report of last year, we mentioned that the schools could and should help in this matter. We are pleased
181
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
to report that during the past year a course of study in safety was put into effect through the cooperation of Mr. Hugh W. Heney of the faculty. This course em- braces such topics as vehicular and pedestrian traffic, coasting, skating, and all activities in which young people are involved. We have worked out this safety course with the help and assistance of the State Department of Education and the Governor's Safety Council. It is our hope this course will be enlarged as time goes on and that it will prove to be a valuable addition to our cur- riculum.
-
Commercial Course
In our report of 1934 it was brought out that about seventy per cent of our students were in the commer- cial course and this situation has not changed in the years following. We have in our eleventh and twelfth grades one hundred and fourteen boys and girls taking stenography, one hundred and thirty-eight taking Type- writing and seventy-three taking Bookkeeping. We be- lieve it is safe to say that many of those seventy-three in Bookkeeping will never become capable bookkeepers or that many taking the other two subjects will ever be placed in actual employment along the lines in which they are being educated. We believe that a great many of these pupils are taking this work because there is nothing else to take; that if other courses were pro- vided such as Manual Arts and Household Arts many of these misfits would find work more suitable for their natural inclinations.
A survey of modern business needs will show that there is far more opportunity for employment in other fields besides bookkeeping, shorthand, and typing. There are salespeople, billing clerks, duplicating clerks, filing
182
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
clerks, cashiers, and others. This being the case, why not revise our commercial course to enable the pupil to cope with these opportunities? The skills best calcu- lated to insure initial employment would best be classi- fied under the following headings: clerical, stenographic, bookkeeping, and retail salesmanship. Too, we already have and we give some time to clerical and retail sales- manship, but we believe that the same amount of time should be given to all. There should be opportunity for the pupil to get actual practice in the use of modern devices and methods for the filing and indexing of im- portant records. There should be given instruction in the care and use of such modern office machines as the comptometer, adding machine, addressograph, ediphone, and mimiograph. These last two suggestions would in- volve some expense but we believe that the results would justify expenditures.
The Assembly
A regular program of assemblies has been organized this year on the basis of pupil participation. These as- semblies are presented twice a month with the aim of realizing higher standards of citizenship and scholar- ship through cooperative effort. The programs already presented have had a popular appeal, and have been received with enthusiasm. Twice a month, too, we now have homeroom assemblies with the purpose of im- proving school spirit and loyalty. Good results have been apparent from the start.
Vocational Guidance
All school officials feel that at the present time, with so many pupils of varied capacities and inclinations seeking an education, there is a great need for some type of vocational guidance in the schools. Such a course
183
ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
should include a study of the trends of employment op- portunities open to high school graduates, a study of all means of earning a livelihood, the necessary preparation for each vocation so that each pupil might be directed into that type of work where he will best fit according to interest and adaptibility. To be properly done, such a program needs the services of some teacher trained in this work. Lacking this, much of this work is being done, as time permits, by the homeroom teacher and the principal.
Conclusion
We take this opportunity of expressing sincere thanks for the cooperation of students and teachers. This kindly relationship makes our work pleasant and team work highly successful. Your generous assistance and advice and the understanding support of the School Board have done much to make the past year one of enjoyment and achievement.
Respectfully submitted,
HUBERT F. GILGAN
Principal of Stetson High School.
184
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASS.
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
Mr. A. O. Christiansen, Superintendent
In compliance with your request, I submit the fol- lowing report as Supervisor of music.
Teachers and pupils respond very enthusiastically, and considering the limited time allotted to music, good results are maintained.
I have introduced group singing in many of the . schools, and find it very helpful to the pupils, as it develops a spirit of confidence and pride in being able to stand before the class and sing in one, two and three parts. In some schools this work is excellent.
I am in need of material at the present time, but feel certain that I will be permitted to obviate this difficulty very soon.
I still emphasize the fact that music writing books would be a great factor in developing the theoretical knowledge of music. A writing lesson once a month would be sufficient and helpful. I do not mean to infer that the pupils are not taught the fundamentals, but with the aid of the writing books, the pupils would acquire a more lasting and advanced knowledge.
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.