USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1947 > Part 8
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
130
ANNUAL REPORTS
Accompanying the proposed schedule, a communication from the Salary Committees petitioned for a hearing before the Committee of the Whole to discuss their proposal. The hearing was held on November 19th, at which time reasons for the schedule were discussed and an estimated cost of the pro- posal was set at $450,000.
Policies governing the salaries of the teaching and instruc- tional force have far-reaching influences upon a school system. The quality of instruction offered in a school system is in- fluenced, because salaries help determine the quality of the per- sonnel recruited for teaching. Salaries also play a dominant role in the morale and working relationships of the staff. Pub- lic opinion demands that the representatives of the people serv- ing as members of the School Committee provide a staff of teachers capable of giving the best education for the children of the community. Such teachers must be happy, free from financial worries, with a sense of security,-in other words, adequately recompensed for their services.
A single salary schedule, which specifies equivalent sal- aries for classroom teachers of equivalent preparation and ex- perience when assigned to regular teaching positions in ele- mentary, junior high, or senior high schools, now considered to be educationally sound, will no doubt be the solution of our problem, which at the present time is extremely critical and crucial. The adoption of a single salary schedule says in effect that it is no less a service to help a child form habits of group living and individual responsibility than it is to help a youth to develop and direct his alert mind and boundless energies. In other words, it says that the elementary and the high school teachers are giving service of equal importance and consequent- ly they should receive equal pay for equal service regardless of the grade level. The question of equal pay for men and women performing the same service is based upon the same theory.
At the particular time of the hearing, the School Commit- tee, in the midst of its annual task of preparing the budget of the estimated amounts of money necessary for the support of the schools (public and vocational) during the calendar year 1948, realizing that a complete and thorough study of the pro- posed schedule could not be satisfactorily accomplished by De- cember first, the date set by law for the submission of the bud- get for 1948 to His Honor the Mayor, amended its budgetary requests for School Teachers' Salaries by adding an item of $150,000. It was felt that the details of the distribution of this
131
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
added appropriation could and would be determined during the month of January 1948 in sufficient time to be payable as of January first when the appropriation bill is finally adopted by the Board of Aldermen about April first. It is the sincere hope of the Superintendent that this time a schedule will be adopted which will be sufficiently adequate to prevent the migration of our best and most able and competent teachers to fields offer- ing more fruitful compensations; and at the same time will provide the proper incentive and inducements for more of the very capable high school graduates to enroll in teacher train- ing institutions so that the serious problem of teacher recruit- ment will be alleviated by a considerable degree.
It is the belief of the Superintendent that the statements contained in the previous pages provide evidence that the School Committee of 1947 has, during its two-year term of stewardship, formulated sound procedures for the fullfillment of its obligations and has made considerable progress towards the goals which it set for accomplishment.
CHANGES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND PROGRESS
During the year 1947 all the units of our school organiza- tion have given serious and devoted attention to the obligations implied in the postwar educational plan and have made prog- ress in providing for improvement, adaptation, and extension of the educational services for all the youth of our city, regard- less of sex, economic status, or race.
High School
The school year 1946-47 was characterized by marked changes in the administrative setup and the personnel of the faculty of the High School, and by careful and specialized at- tention to the needs of the curriculum and its adaptation to the postwar world.
One of the most immediate and important requirements seemed to be to increase the length of the periods in the High School. This was accomplished by reducing the number of pe- riods from six to five. This had the additional purpose of re- ducing to a negligible minimum the number of study periods available for a pupil. For a long time, it had been felt that study periods were not being utilized to full advantage.
132
ANNUAL REPORTS
Initial reactions to the five period program have been very favorable. The teachers report that more effective teaching has resulted and that better results are obtained in the classrooms. The pupils also report that the learning process has been sub- stantially aided by the lengthened periods. This apparent satis- faction with the High School program and curriculum is in- dicated by the improved attendance and scholarship report at the end of the first quarter. Attendance for the first quarter has reached a new high of 93.4%, and at the same time there has been a marked decrease in the number of failures.
Some fundamental changes were made in the curriculum of the High School, based to a considerable degree on the recent reports of two important educational committees, (1) "Educa- tion for All American Youth", 1944, a Report of The Education- al Policies Commission of the N. E. A. and A. A. S. A., and (2) "General Education in a Free Society", 1945, a Report of the Harvard Committee. These changes were adapted to the partic- ular needs of Somerville High School.
In the College Preparatory Section, the Normal Course was dropped, since the Normal Schools are now State Teachers' Colleges, and pupils preparing to enter the Teachers' Colleges now take the regular College Course.
As the demand for higher education continues unabated, the colleges find themselves faced with the problem of provid- ing facilities far beyond their capacities. As a result, they are simply turning away many applicants who in ,normal times would have no difficulty in obtaining admission to many schools. In order to enable our pupils to meet the stiff competition for places in college engendered by these conditions, the college course in the High School has been strengthened by extending the required subjects and by limiting the elective subjects.
Considerable attention was given to the needs of the pupils of the General Course. A survey was conducted to ascertain the reasons which prompted pupils to elect the General Course. Here, again, there was an extension of required subjects and a limiting of the electives. A greater measure of continuity in subject matter was provided. The underlying philosophy of the curriculum changes in the General Course has been to provide each pupil with a broad general education and special prepara- tion in some vocational skill subject. The proper development of the General Course is hampered by the fact that the large numbers of boys electing Manual Training are forced to utilize
133
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
the facilities at the Southern Junior High School. It is again recommended that proper steps be taken immediately to re- establish the shops in the High School.
Significant changes were also made in the Commercial Course. All pupils electing the Commercial Curriculum now take a basic preparatory course in Business Records in grade ten. Specialization in a particular commercial field has been postponed until grade eleven, at which time the pupil has a choice of four specialized fields, viz., Bookkeeping, Clerical Practice, Stenography, and (beginning in September 1948) Re- tail Distribution.
An innovation in Somerville, but common to many schools for a period of years, was attempted this year in the form of an outdoor graduation, held on Tufts Oval. For some time such a plan has been contemplated in order to allow for a greatly needed increased seating capacity, greater than could be made available either in the High School auditorium or in any hired hall. Through the splendid cooperation of Tufts College and its Maintenance Department Head, excellent accommodations were made available and an early evening program, without necessity of any lighting facilities, was carried out in an order- ly and dignified manner, much enjoyed by faculty, graduates, and parents. The only difficulty encountered was the coolness of the evening, but the condition of the elements constitute our only gamble. The success of the experiment certainly warrants a continuance of the plan.
The discipline of the High School has steadily improved. All rules regarding truancy, smoking. reading of magazines and newspapers, chewing gum, skipping classes, etc., have been rig- idly yet intelligently enforced with the result that at the pres- ent time almost all of these offenses are practically nonexistent. Regarding proper attire for girls by the frowning on slacks, bandannas, and hair curlers, and for boys by insisting on shirts with neckties and the absence of exposed suspenders and shirt- tails outside trousers, notable progress has been made, almost to the point of extinction. Truancy has been greatly reduced, and in cases where recurrent truancy necessitated suspension and appearance before the administrative board with a parent, the result of such hearings has been in most cases favorable to the pupil concerned, the parent, and the school. .
Through the cooperation of the Federal Government and the administration of the High School, it has been possible to
134
ANNUAL REPORTS
obtain some excellent equipment for the cafeteria. Two new Gartland ranges and a Blodgett bake oven, two of the most modern pieces of cafeteria equipment manufactured, have been installed, in addition to a new potato peeler, and numerous aluminum utensils have been acquired.
Much needed repairs, which were requested on many previ- ous occasions, were made during the past year, but it is still necessary that considerable attention be given to the gymnasium floor, which at the present time is extremely hazardous in spots, and to sufficient bleachers in the gymnasium to accommodate the crowds which wish to witness the efforts of our basketball teams which have in recent years compiled outstanding records of accomplishment.
No attention or consideration was manifest during 1947 to the eighth recommendation of the Superintendent's Report of 1946 to the effect that his Honor the Mayor, the City Govern- ment, and the City Engineer be urged to give all possible con- sideration and action to providing an adequate stadium located as near as possible to the High School gymnasium, which will allow for the proper program of athletic contests of all kinds, in addition to those parts of the programs of physical education, bands, and other field music groups, which can be carried on out-of-doors. In consequence, a committee was appointed by order of the School Committee to confer with the Mayor, the City Engineer, and a similar committee of the Board of Alder- men to consider what can possibly be done to alleviate the prob- lem of decreasing support and enthusiasm concerning athletics due to the necessity of playing all football games away from home on foreign and unfamiliar grounds.
Junior High Schools
The problem of curriculum development is of such conse- quence that it deserves major emphasis in the modern school system. The instructional staff is in agreement that the curric- ulum must be adapted constantly to meet the changing needs of the children. A committee of junior high school teachers work- ing with an adviser from the senior high school faculty and the Assistant Superintendent of Schools has prepared a new course of study for junior business training for the eighth grade and general business training for the ninth grade. It will be noted that general business training in the ninth grade is replacing the course in bookkeeping formerly taught. The committee be- lieved that a worthwhile type of junior high school business
135
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
education should include material which would improve the foundation of all high school pupils. Instead of the early aim of junior high school business education, which was largely vocational, the committee subscribed to the following threefold aim :
1. To serve as a foundation course for the more ad- vanced courses to be taken in senior high school.
2. To serve as an exploratory course to determine the the abilities and interests of the student,-in short, a medium of educational guidance.
3. To serve as a means of acquainting all pupils (academic as well as business) with essential business in- formation and attitudes, and those consumer-business un- derstandings and skills needed by intelligent people in all walks of life.
Added interest and impetus have been given to the work of the Household Arts Classes due to the installation of new elec- tric stoves and refrigerators which by contract will be serviced and renewed at frequent intervals.
A larger appropriation for the purchase of athletic equip- ment for the junior high schools has helped to provide more of the necessary material for the physical education classes, to the end that a more satisfactory accomplishment will result.
The junior high school library program has shown a steady progress and improvement and now ranks with the best in the State. During the past year several worth-while reference sets and volumes have been added. Book Week was observed in a very fitting manner.
The Map and Globe Study made in 1945, reported in de- tail at that time, was to cause every class in social studies to receive new map and globe equipment. The equipment has been provided for the elementary schools, and a good start was made this year in the three junior high schools.
For several years the auditoriums in two of the junior high school buildings have not been available for full and adequate use, either for the schools or for necessary civic activities, be- cause of a very serious lack of seating accommodations. Areas of this sort, expensive to build and maintain, surely should not
136
ANNUAL REPORTS
be allowed to absorb large maintenance costs with such a small resultant benefit.
Elementary Schools
Thé elementary school unit, cognizant of its continuing obligations to the furtherance, of the recently contemplated postwar educational program, gave much time during the past year to constant analysis and revision of teaching content, methods, and techniques which will provide improved efficiency of the educational functions.
Such revisions are designed also to cause increased social efficiency to be attained in every classroom, and the capacity of every student to be developed to its fullest extent. The new teachers, and at times many of the older teachers, met regular- ly with the Supervisor of Elementary Instruction to discuss and master the changes in methods and techniques of instruction, and occasionally visit the classrooms of more experienced teach- ers, to observe these devices in operation, to the end that im- provement of all classroom work has been attained. Assistance has also been obtained from specialists, in various subjects, such as reading specialists from the Macmillan Company, the Houghton Mifflin Company, and the Readers' Digest.
The Registry of Motor Vehicles and the Somerville Police Department have assisted the Safety program by showing mov- ing pictures on "Safety", accompanied by talks on accident pre- vention.
Much excellent work was accomplished by the elementary school unit, by accelerating and intensifying the objective of reducing to a minimum the vandalism at Hallowe'en of recent years. Using as a basis the bulletin of the Superintendent of Schools, in which the meaning of Hallowe'en was explained and suggestions for the celebration of the occasion were offered to the parents, an intensive course of lectures was devoted by the teachers to an explanation of "how to have fun" without caus- ing destruction or property losses. Many parents cooperated in effecting a good result by arranging home parties for children of their neighborhoods.
The Book Council is continuing to function effectively, giv- ing serious attention during the year to the subject of geog- raphy, for which much needed texts for the sixth grade were
137
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
adopted for use and made available. Such texts were not avail- able during the war because of the frequently changing political boundaries and other conditions connected with the European war arenas. The Map and Globe project, started four years ago, was brought to completion during the year and has advantage- ously strengthened the work in geography.
The annual presentation of the work of the schools for the school year 1946-47 was held in May. More parents visited the schools to see the work of their children than ever before, and the interest and satisfaction of the parents was clearly indi- cated by the numerous favorable comments expressed. Teach- ers and pupils alike realize that a united group is essential to success, whether it be among individuals in a classroom or among the nations of the world. The work of the children, as shown comparatively to the parents during the open house pe- riod, is more impressive than marks in a record book or on a report card.
Unity of purpose among the teachers of the elementary schools, supported by the efforts of the pupils, has resulted in purposeful accomplishments done under harmonious classroom conditions.
The first classes for midweek religious instruction for children of the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades on release time during the last hour of the school day on Tuesdays for one sec- tion of the City and on Wednesdays for the other portion of the City, were started on January 7, 1947.
On October 9, 1946 the School Committee voted "that in accordance with Chapter 423 of the Acts of 1941, public school children in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades be released from school upon written application of the parents or guardians, one hour per week, namely, the last hour of the school day on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, provided such dismissal is for the purpose of religious education only."
A committee of pastors and religious leaders of the several denominations interested in weekday religious classes, and the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, representing the public schools, arranged the conditions and details for the program. The students enrolled in this program meet in classrooms out- side of public school buildings. For the dismissal of pupils the following regulations were compiled :
138
ANNUAL REPORTS
1. Children of grades four to six inclusive will be dis- missed for religious instruction only. Such dismissal can be allowed by the Principal of the day school only upon receipt of the enclosed application signed by the parent.
2. The public schools are to remain open for the full session on the day the children are dismissed to attend classes for religious instruction. For those pupils whose parents have not requested dismissal, the time will be de- voted to instruction assigned by the Principal.
3. In approving the dismissal for religious instruction, the School Committee assumes no responsibility for the amount or character of the religious instruction. Its at- titude is one of cooperation only in an undertaking which the School Committee believes to be of vital importance.
4. If abused, the privilege of dismissal will be sus- pended until such time as an adjustment has been made between the parent and the day school Principal, or may be withdrawn.
5. A weekly record of attendance to the day school Principal will be required from each religious school.
The schedule of release time was arranged as follows: TUESDAY, 2:30-3:30: Glines, Grimmons, Morse, Proctor, Carr, Durell, Burns, Brown, Cholerton, Hodgkins, Cutler, Lowe. WEDNESDAY, 2:30-3:30: Prescott, Hanscom, Bennett, Bax- ter, Knapp, Perry, Cummings, Pope, Edgerly, Forster, Bingham.
The first classes met on January 7, 1947, and the program was successful from the outset. Approximately 2,035 out of a possible 3,070 were dismissed for instruction, which was about 69% participation. In September 1947, at the opening of this school year, the percentage of pupils dismissed for religious classes increased to 75%.
Vocational Schools
The postwar plans for the improvement of the Vocational Schools of Somerville, which recognized the fact that students in vocational institutions must have a real knowledge of science and mathematics and a better knowledge of the technical side of trade education, have, during the second year of operation,
139
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
affected the enrollment of the schools. Another factor causing an increase in the acceptance of the offerings of the school was the realization of students interested in developing their capa- bilities along vocational lines and who at the same time had to earn some money by after-school employment, that a change had been made in the length of the school day, in accordance with a recently adopted regulation of the State Department of Education. The school is now operated on a six-hour day in- stead of the previous seven-hour day program. The same ac- complishment must be attained by supplementing the six-hour day by home study, and by shortening recesses and the time between periods. The return of the veterans to civilian life and occupation has caused the graduates of the ninth grade, not in- tending to pursue a conventional high school course, to rec- ognize the necessity of trade instruction in order to compete in the keen competition of the industrial world.
The school has continued to cooperate with the State De- partment of Education in the setting up and supervision of the In-Plant Training Courses in Somerville. At this time 195 courses, involving 236 students, are in operation in various in- dustries in our city.
The number of students in the Automobile Department has increased by virtue of two important factors. The addition of more extensive body work to meet the demands for trained men in this line is one factor. The other factor concerns the oppor- tunity to allow again sufficient opportunity for the student of the Automobile Department to obtain machine shop practice. This opportunity had to be practically suspended during the operation of the twenty-four hour a day use of the Machine Shop for the training of machine operators for defense indus- tries during the war.
Painting and decorating contractors have been helpful in encouraging increasing numbers of students to enter the school since it has been possible to equip our shops to handle paper hanging in addition to the previously successfully established course in Painting.
The Carpentry and Cabinet Department and the Electrical Department as well as the Painting Department have contrib- uted much to the maintenance activity of the city by doing a great amount of practical work, such as building desks and chairs for classrooms, chairs and tables for kindergartens, tables for typewriting rooms, repairing and maintaining elec-
140
ANNUAL REPORTS
tric meters, and many other similar jobs, adding greatly to the students' all-round training.
The printing industry is finding difficulty in filling its posi- tions because the need far exceeds the supply. The fine all- round training obtained by students in this department makes it possible for them to secure employment as fast as they can be trained.
The Evening Vocational School courses are again proving to be extremely successful in all six of the departments in opera- tion. Automobile and Building Trades seem to be needing and demanding more trained workers, and it has been necessary to provide additional instructors in the Electrical, Carpentry, and Painting departments.
It seems advisable, as recommended in last year's report, to consider as soon as possible making provision for instruction on Diesel engines, radio, television, and refrigeration.
Special Classes
The work of the special classes, which has been constantly advancing in character and accomplishment over a period of years, has continued to set goals which are practical and spe- cific rather than theoretical and general. During the year just closing a threefold program has highlighted the work. Attempt has been made (1) to continue the follow-up work of former students of special classes, (2) to evaluate through research and estimate the success of our present methods of dealing with the mentally retarded as a basis for future planning, and (3) to interpret to the general public the many problems involved in the care of the mentally retarded and to provide understanding for further constructive planning.
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.