USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1960-1963 > Part 10
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Note: Excessive speed, inattention, lack of courtesy and failure to use directional or hand signals by drivers are major factors in highway accidents.
CHARLES E. OLSEN, Safety Officer
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
In January, Harold W. Macauley, former supervisor in the Bureau of Accounts, State Department of Public Welfare, Boston, Mass. was appointed by Town Manager Robert A. Hancock, to the membership of the Randolph Board of Public Welfare, replacing Mrs. Loyal R. Safford who resigned. Mrs. Safford served faith- fully as Secretary of the Board from its inception in 1955. We wish her much happiness in the years to come.
The members of the Welfare staff remain unchanged, one Junior Clerk, one Senior Clerk, two Social Workers, and one Director of Public Assistance.
As of December 31st, the number of active cases in each of the categories follow :
Old Age Assistance 121
Aid to Dependent Children
14
Aid to the Disabled
9
Medical Assistance for the Aged
19
General Relief
9
TOTAL 172
On November 23, 1960 the Massachusetts General Court en- acted into law Chapter 781 entitled "An Act Relative to the Granting of Medical Assistance for the Aged," the effective date being October 1, 1960." The sections of this law are too numberous to mention in this report. Basically, this new category of public assistance - M. A. A. (Medical Assistance for the Aged) - is for any individual sixty-five years of age or over "whose income and re- sources are insufficient to meet the costs of necessary medical services." Children are liable for the support of parents and a needs test is conducted on each application.
For the first time in the history of Massachusetts Public Welfare, the Federal - State reimbursement formulae not only provides a seventy-five per cent return on assistance costs, but also the same percentage return on administrative costs in all of the categories of Public Welfare except General Relief.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
Total expenditure was $256,874.57. Total reimbursement was $187,772.62 or a net cost to Randolph of $69,101.95. The Town Accountant's report gives a complete fiscal breakdown of the oper - ations of this Department for 1960. It is interesting to observe from an old Town record that for the period April 1, 1835 to April 1, 1836, the cost "For the Support of the Poor" in and out of the Randolph Poor House totalled $1,248.59. One hundred and twenty-five years makes a big difference - in cost, social progress, and social consciousness.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH E. MacLEOD, Col. U.S. Army, Ret. Chairman GEORGE H. FOLEY, Secretary HAROLD W. MACAULEY, Member
143
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT of the
TOWN OF RANDOLPH
OF
AND
D
TOWN
INCORPO
317938
H
ETTS
ASSACHU
S
For the Year Ending December 31
1960
TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1960
The Randolph School Committee herewith submits its annual report to the Citizens of the Town of Randolph:
The School Committee meets regularly on the first and third Mondays of every month at 8:00 p.m. and the public has always been cordially invited to be present. Committee members are elected by the people, under the General Laws of the Common- wealth, for a period of three years, and they serve without re- numberation.
All School Committees in Massachusetts are, in general, agents of the Commonwealth, and carry out the conduct of edu- cation in conformity with and as delegated to them by the State Legislatures under the General Laws. Specifically, the General Laws charge the Committee with the duties of policy formation, budget making, personnel appointments, approval of curricula and textbooks, planning of school services, and evaluation of the educational program.
During the past year, the growth and expansion of the school system has necessitated more time being devoted to the work of the committee, and as a result weekly meetings have been held, with many hours devoted to the expanded work of research activity, conferences with other committees, inspections of buildings and programs.
In the fulfillment of its obligations to the General Laws, the Committee has ever been keen to appraise the housing problems of the schools and to call attention to the need for school rooms and buildings. The Annual Reports from 1956 through 1959 detail the appeals made for providing relief from the pressure of crowded conditions, and for planning of new school buildings to accomodate the growing school population. It is therefore with justifiable pride that the Committee looks forward to September of 1961 for relief for the first time in many years from double ses- sions and truncated classes. With the opening of the new North Junior High School and the two additions at the Tower Hill School and the McNeil School, we shall be able to contain our educational program within desirable bounds for one year, a goal of achieve- ment which is a tribute to the alerted concern of our townspeople, parents, building committee and town officials.
The Committee encourages the reading and study of the var- ious reports herewith submitted by our school administrators and departments which enlighten the public on the growth of our student body and the consequent need for educational space re- quirements and budgetary increase.
The Committee suffered a great loss in March of the past year in the death of Mr. John Churchward. The meeting of the Com- mittee held on Sunday, March, 1960, caused the following to be spread upon the Minutes:
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
"HEREWITH BE IT RESOLVED
That the Randolph School Committee in special session con- vened, do hereby cause to be spread on the minute pages their deep and profound regret at the death of their fellow Committee- man, Attorney John W. Churchward, who has given so generously of his time, scholarship, and valued counsel to the ideals of education, and to the advancement of the educational system of the Randolph Schools."
"The School Committee, and the School Department, in con- junction with the Town Government, and the Townspeople, extend to Mrs. John Churchward, John Jr., and Mary, their deepest sympathy in the loss of so fine a husband, so ideal a father, and so valued a public servant, and we offer to Almighty God our humble prayers for the repose of his soul."
"Requiescat in Pace."
Mr. John Griffin who had served on the committee for the year 1956, 1957, 1958, and 1959, was elected to serve the balance of Mr. Churchward's term which expires in March 1961.
Concern with the calibre of academic progress had occupied much of the committee's deliberations during the past year and the pertinent implementation of this achievement is detailed in the report of the Superintendent of Schools.
Such advancements in the educational program offered in the Randolph system as the phonics reading program in our elemen- tary schools, the accelerated group program, and our installation of a language laboratory in our secondary program have already merited the attention of educators and the press, and will, indeed, redound to the greater benefit of our pupils.
As our expansion continues and our pupil demands increase, your committee urges our Townspeople to consider the possibili- ties involved in cooperation with neighboring communities in the establishment of a regional vocational school in the near future.
It is a fond hope that the present attitude of the Administra- tion in Washington of Federal Aid to Education may shortly re- ceive Congressional implementation which will enable the states and municipalities to feel some financial relief in the growing burden of construction and course programs.
The Committee expresses its deep appreciation to the Super - intendent of Schools and his Staff of administrators, to the teachers, clerks, and custodial staff, and to all town personnel for their loyal cooperation and whole-hearted interest in the task of pro- viding our town's educational system.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
Your committee is most grateful for your support, and it feels that the school system of any community is but the pattern of the wishes of the citizens. We are persuaded that the citizens of Randolph want their schools to be among the best. With your help, your comments, and your constructive criticisms, they will be very best that we can provide for our children.
RANDOLPH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
RAYMOND P. McGERRIGLE, Chairman PETER J. DAVIN, Secretary CHARLES E. GREEN, JR. JOHN J. GRIFFIN MRS. PATRICIA M. MCDERMOTT
149
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
1960
To the Members of the Randolph School Committee, and to all other Citizens of Randolph, it is my great pleasure to submit here- with my sixth annual report, and a summary of my five years as Superintendent of Schools in Randolph.
During this period, our progress has been ever upward and certainly our expansion has been almost phenomenal - from 3120 students in 1955 to our present enrollment of 4342.
Our staff has increased from 112 to 181. Appropriations have had to increase also, not only because of the increased school population, but because of the ever-shrinking value of the dollar, the increased costs of all materials, increased salaries, and the need to constantly improve the educational program. Despite all of the aforementioned factors, figures recently released by the Massachusetts Department of Education show that Randolph has the lowest per pupil cost of all the communities on the South Shore.
This low per-pupil cost does NOT indicate low quality of edu- cation, for we can point with pride to the fact that we have had dozens of visitors, not only from within the Commonwealth, but also from distant states who have come to see our outstanding reading-phonics program in action.
Recently, Dr. Thomas Bledsoe, Executive Direction of the National Council for Basic Studies, Dr. Charles Welcutt of Queens College, and Dr. Glen McCracken of the New Castle, Pennsylvania Reading Institute came to Randolph to witness reading demonstra- tions.
They were very much impressed and the following is an ex- cerpt from a subsequent letter received from Dr. McCracken:
"You people must be proud of that reading program. The Randolph children canread! And thanks to administrators who want something better, to reading supervisors capable of such leadership, and to teachers who are adventuresome enough to enter into such a project with wholehearted enthusiasm. I liked everything we saw at Randolph. What fun I shall have at future reading conferences, dangling before my audiences the choice bit of information that we saw a beginning teacher at Randolph who had taught nearly a thousand words to her First Grade class by January 16."
Within the past five years, after a year of self-evaluation car- ried on by the members of the High School staff, an evaluation of the entire secondary program was carried on by a visiting team of teachers and administrators, and subsequently a certificate of accreditation was received from the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. This is the sole agency for the accreditation of high schools in New England. The report filed by
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the visiting evaluation committee with recommendations for the improvement of an already acceptable program of studies has served as a guide in the implementation of our secondary program.
The need for all high schools to meet the ever-increasing de- mands and competition for college entrance has been recognized at Randolph, and appropriate action has been taken to enable our coll- ege preparatory students to enter the college of their choice, pro- vided that THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK. Proof of this is found in the fact that two of the 1960 graduating class applied for and were admitted to Harvard University, this despite the fact that less than 1300 of more than 5200 qualified applicants were admitted. Graduates of Randolph High School may attain admission to any college or university, but only by having worked most diligently for the entire four years of high school.
An accelerated group has been established in this year's fresh- man class and will be continued. Under the direction of the Ran- dolph School Committee, a definite policy of homework assignments has been established which challenges the temper and ability of all high school students.
The marking system has also been improved, and prerequi- sites for continued study in a given area have been increased. All of this has been accomplished through the cooperation of the mem- bers of the Randolph School Committee, the administration and the faculty members. The objectives necessary for college admission may be attained by cooperation and diligent work of pupils, tea- chers, and, yes, parents.
The High School curriculum is being revised to fit the needs of all students, not just those in the college preparatory groups. The graduates of our business education department have always been well prepared and they are eagerly sought by the businesses and industries of the Greater Boston area.
However, in order to meet changing techniques in this area, course content is being revised, and it will be necessary to pur- chase new machines similar to those now found in industry so that our future graduates will be familiar with them.
The students now needing attention are those who will ter- minate their formal education with graduation from high school. These pupils must be provided with more meaningful and practical courses which will make them better informed and prepared to accept their responsibilities as well as privileges as citizens of the United States.
A definite beginning in this direction has been made with the budgeting for in 1961 of an additional teacher to teach commercial geography, economics, and commercial law. Another teacher will enable us to offer basic mathematics and review mathematics.
The installation of a languate laboratory, presently out to bid, will enable our language students to develop the proficiency and fluency which are called for by both Dr. Conant and our govern- ment officials. Another step in this direction will be the inaugura- tion of a foreign language program in the lower grades next Sep- tember.
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
The lack of sufficient classrooms was a major deterrent to both our elementary and secondary programs during the past year. All concerned, pupils, parents, teachers, administrators, and school committee members, abhor double, or rather abbreviated session, and we look forward eagerly to the completion of the North Junior High, and the two elementary additions in order that we may again operate all classes on a normal school day.
However, if we are to maintain this normal schedule, imme- diate steps must be taken to construct another elementary school, and a South Junior High.
I urge the townspeople, and particularly, the Town Meeting Members, to vote for these new projects when they are presented, and also for the taking of land for future school sites, keeping in mind the predicted school population of 7500-plus made in the re- port of Shurcliff and Merrill.
The Randolph Vocational High School completed five years of operation in June, 1961. This vocational program is producing qualified automotive mechanics who are so necessary in this machine age. The success of these young men, as well as the other pupils of Randolph, who attend vocational schools in neighboring communities, indicates the value and need for vocational education.
Soon our neighboring communities will not be able to accept our pupils because of their own increasing populations, and our own vocational school, with a capacity of thirty-two boys, is able to accept only eight boys each year.
As a reasonable solution to this rapidly approaching problem, I urge that Randolph investigate the possibility of becoming a part- ner in a regional vocational school for which preliminary ground work has been accomplished by the members of the Randolph School Committee, through a series of meetings with members of neighboring school committees.
All of this expansion, of course, is very costly, both in the ini- tial construction and in the annual operation. The time has come when this town and indeed all towns and cities need greater State and Federal aid.
We strongly hope that with the new administration, Federal Aid will be forthcoming in sufficient amount to be felt. The National Defense Education Act passed two years ago was a step in the right direction but the amounts received have been trivial and too bound up in red tape.
I ask all to contact our Congressmen and Senators in order to urge them to vote for substantial Federal Aidin order to allow us to provide the essential educational advantages and yet provide the relief for the home owner who is already overburdened with taxes.
The administration of a school system the size of ours be- comes increasingly more complex and demanding. Administrative office space and personnel which were sufficient for the operation
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
1900-pupil system ten years ago, is, of course, grossly in- adequate for our present needs. More personnel have been pro- vided during the past decade as the swelling population necessitated, and now the need for sufficient office space must be met.
Moreover, the increased high school population demands more classroom space. The contemplated move of the school system administration to the new Veterans of Foreign Wars building on Highland Avenue will help to solve both needs, and will also enable us to increase efficiency.
The attention of all is invited to the reports of other staff members of the Randolph Public Schools. The reading of them will serve to acquaint everyone with a more thorough knowledge of our work. However, lest a reading of this entire report should indicate a feeling of complete satisfaction and complacency, I wish to call your attention to the fact that every elementary and secondary teacher is a member of one of many study committees.
The purpose of these committees is to develop courses of study from grades one through twelve, in order that there may be a com- mon understanding by all personnel of what we wish to accomplish in each subject in each grade.
In closing, I wish to thank all school committee members with who I have had the pleasure of working-from those who in 1955 elected me to be the Superintendent of the Randolph Public Schools, to those comprising the present committee.
The willingness of all of these people to give so unstintingly of their time, energy, and ability for no renumeration, has con- tributed enormously to the successful growth of the Randolph Schools. The fact that the present Committee has had fifty-seven meetings during the past year is ample indication of the spirit of self-sacrifice, cooperation, and public service, possessed by the Committee members.
The success of any venture is dependent to a large degree upon the personnel involved, and so I wish to commend and thank Asst. Superintendent William J. Lynch, principals, supervisors, teachers and clerks for their devotion to duty in providing for the youth of Randolph an educational program of which every citizen of Randolph may be proud.
I also wish to thank all those employed in the other depart- ments of the town who have cooperated so well with us at every opportunity.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS L. WARREN, Superintendent of Schools
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ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Herewith we submit our twenty-ninth report as Principal, first of Stetson High School, and now of Randolph High School. During that time we have seen many changes take place. We have seen the years when our total enrollment in the high school was slightly higher than the present numbers of our seventh grade; we have seen the time when the teaching force of the entire system was little more than the present staff of the high school building, grades seven to twelve. We have seen changes in administrative and teaching personnel over the years, while the numbers of stu- dents who have passed through our doors have been veritably countless. It has been a satisfying and challenging position in which to have a part. There have been many other changes taken place, which we do not have space to enumerate, but we hope it will be our privilege to help Randolph High School make these traditions to meet modern educational thinking, so that our school will stay up at the top, with the best.
For the first time, Randolph High School has started an ac- celerated program with one group of ninth graders, with a view toward the future growth of an advanced placement program in the school. One main philosophy behind this type of program is that as the very slow student needs a slower pace than the average student, so the very able student may be encouraged to proceed at a faster pace than the average. This is exactly what we are doing with this accelerated group. It is our aim that in the course of time our ac- celerated groups will receive training, while still in high school, in college-level courses offered by our school to qualified students. The establishment of accelerated groups, we feel, is the first step towards the avhievement of the second phase, namely the Advanced Placement program. The selection of pupils for this program is careful. We try to select pupils, not only with high ability but also with motivation, desire, persistence, and a disposition to do hard work as being at least important as a high I.Q. Among either factors, we want to know:
1. Is the student a volunteer ?
2. Interested, willing and able to extend himself.
3. Do his parents approve?
4. Is his past record good enough?
5. Does he have the recommendation of his former teachers ?
We feel that the success of this program depends now on the selection of the right students because the rewards can be so great.
It is our plan to offer to the superintendent of schools and the school board, our plans for curriculum enrichment which we hope we may put into operation as soon as housing facilities make is possible. While we are on double sessions and until relief is given us by the use of the new junior high school, we just do not have room for any such additions to the curriculum. We are now using every room in the building for grades nine through twelve on our present program and even with the use of the two rooms now oc- cupied as administrative offices, the increase in enrollment next year will take care of these two rooms even with our present pro- gram arrangements. More space is desperately needed.
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TOWN OF RANDOLPH, MASSACHUSETTS
Examination of library records over the past year indicates a much greater use of library facilities by the pupils than ever be- fore. There are many reasons for this, too many to enumerate here, but it does indicate that more and more of our students are reading. To us this should mean we should hold our budget for purchase of library books as high as possible.
We have again been successful in placing our graduates in colleges or in business, whatever the choice of the pupil has been. We assume this matter will be dealt within detail by the Director of Guidance, so we will not go into the matter here. NWe wonder, though, why so much emphasis is placed on a college education. Certainly, some people should go to college professional people, doctors, teachers, lawyers, social workers, etc., but we know that all students will not go to college and even though headlines and commentaries are filled with the need of college students, no men- tion is made that we also need people who do not go to college. The service industries, for instance, are expanding more rapidly than the professions; who will maintain them? There are pupils who will not go to college but they will become legislators, painters, will write a hit tune or play. College educations do not bring accomplishments - men do. We think it is time for an ob- jective analysis of what happens to the boy who doesn't go to coll- ege. Will hard work, stamina, persistence, pay off or will a boy be successful only because he has a college degree? If this is true, then perhaps we should take another look at our philosophy of education and thereby aim everyone at college whether or not he should or could go.
As a result of a cooperative study of the homework assignment program, the decision to increase the quality of homework expecta- tions put into operation this year has been most timely. With the rather general demand by schools of higher learning and from prospective employers for greater output of energy by students and results from schools, we feelitis fair to pupils to expect them to better face up to what will be required of them in later life, that they develop attitudes of hark work, better work and good work habits. This we hope to accomplish by the general raising of homework assignments, both in quantity and quality.
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