USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1922 > Part 12
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A new phase of music development is making itself felt in the grades namely the interest in instruments of the orchestra. At the suggestion of the pupils themselves I called a meeting to form a grammar school orchestra and was surprised to find twenty-five children representing the Sanford, Bliss, Richardson and Bank Street Schools. When they had taken their places I found we had twelve violins, four clarinets, five cor- nets, one drum and three piano players. The grades represented were fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. The grammar school orchestra now plays every Monday afternoon in High School Hall from 3:30 to 4:30.
Grade Eight.
The new song books in the eighth grade are proving very satisfactory. The songs are very fine and of high standard and are well arranged for the vocal difficulties of this grade. The music problem of the eighth grade is somewhat similar to that of the first grade. In the first grade we have the monotone; in the eighth grade the boy whose voice is changing, this is a most trying period for the growing boy and much time and patience are needed to help him find his voice again. In general the singing of the eighth grade pupils is excellent.
I have not taken the time to mention in detail the work in music appreciation, history and biography of great musicians but will state in passing that it has been of great help to the music student and has proved my contention that a pupil may love music even though he may not be able to sing.
High School.
The regular music work in the high school consists of chorus singing, glee club, band and orchestra, all showing progress from year to year.
I have always maintained and still insist that a great injustice is being done to the music student in the high school, due to the fact that nearly seventy-five per cent of those taking lessons on any musical instrument have found it necessary to stop their music study altogether in order to keep up with their school studies.
HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA 1922
157
ANNUAL REPORT
I firmly believe that the time has come to give credit for outside music study thereby encouraging the musical growth of this city.
The high school orchestra numbers fifty-two members and their annual concert has become of great interest to music lovers. From the orchestra has come the band which is developing rapidly into a fine high school band.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES LAING GIBB.
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing.
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The general plan of our work has not changed this year. The work all comes under the heads of Representative, Constructive and Decorative Drawing. We have new problems emphasizing the principles we want to teach. These problems are definite and the work within the grasp of the pupils.
The year's work has shown that a higher per cent of children do creditable work. The pupils in most cases seem interested and have a desire to express themselves well.
New Perry pictures and pictures from the Art Appreciation collection have been added. This year we are using larger pictures which are kept before the children two or three weeks. The sets of small pictures are kept at the office and sent to the schools upon the request of the teachers. Each teacher has a list of pictures for the grade. Picture study is hard to handle successfully, but the children should have an opportunity to become familiar with some of the works of great painters.
Clay is an old medium, but this is the first year we have made it a part of the course in the first grade. No doubt the children like it and it is a valuable means of manual expression.
In the high school I feel that every piece of work well done quickens the appreciation of what is fine in work about us. Not many pupils taking free hand drawing in high school will follow any line of art work when they leave school, but they will be more alive to fine things in the world and find greater enjoyment in life.
There are more pupils taking free hand drawing in high school than ever before. One hundred and seventy-four pupils entered the classes this fall. Two periods a week are required from all pupils taking drawing. Fifty pupils are taking four periods and eighteen pupils six periods a week.
Respectfully submitted, PERSIS A. CROWELL.
158
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Supervisor of Manual Training.
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I take pleasure in submitting the Manual Training Report for 1922.
We are told that our duty as teachers is to be real educators, to stimu- late creative power, to broaden, to make larger and more inclusive the spirit of the pupils with whom we are dealing.
In these days of labor shortage Manual Training teachers are being called upon to give the pupil as much of a real education in a trade as he can get in the time at his disposal.
A boy is entitled to as thorough a training as possible. No one has any right to steer him away from his education to fill only an immediate need. He is preparing for fifty years ahead. "Schools exist not for the industries or for any other interest; they exist for the pupil. By helping him they help the community and the industry."
Manual Training apart from Vocational Training stimulates creative power, broadens and makes larger and more inclusive the spirit of the pupil-hence it is a valuable asset in the education of our boys.
In some instances Manual Training teachers are expected to turn out just as much as he can regardless of quality.
Unfortunately the idea is that the beauty, fine finish, and the attractive work should all be on the outside. "We are not sincere in our work." We are not living up to the nation's ideals, up to its possibilities unless we instill into the minds of the pupils the ideal of craftmanship plus character.
Manual Training teachers as well as other teachers must ever be guided by the principles of sincerity, truth and honesty.
We have tried to develop and to hold up these principles of sincerity, truth and honesty in the work produced in the manual training depart- ment, believing that the boy is of more value than the material.
Manual training is a great stimulant, not only in providing an outlet for a boy's creative power but also in developing his creative power.
It has been said schools should create a desire for as much education as the individual is capable of getting. In these days of intelligence tests it is found that some boys do not have the ability to study in the classical branches of education etc., but have ability to do creative work- a valuable asset. Here the manual training department provides oppor- tunity for such development. The individual needs of the pupil are care- fully considered.
The number of pupils electing manual training in the high school is as follows:
Freshmen 39
Sophomores 14
Juniors 5
Seniors 13
Number of pupils in grammar grade. 147
71
Total 218
It will be noted that the number in the high school electing manual training has decreased. This is not because pupils do not desire to work in this department but because they are kept close to the course of study they elect and also on account of the increased number of credits now being required to graduate; five periods manual training giving 212 credits while five periods in some other subject give 5 credits.
159
ANNUAL REPORT
Course of Study.
Freshmen cover the basic principles of bench work in wood and simple furniture making.
Sophomores and Juniors, advanced bench work, furniture making with inlaid work and wood turning. The wood turning course carries the pupils through the necessary steps to produce the turning of furniture parts e. g. chisel and screw driver handles, vise handles, candlesticks, electric table lamps, electric floor lamps, card trays, bowls, spindles, table legs, etc., inside and outside screw face plate work.
Seniors do work of their own generally in advance of the under class- men. They are also called upon to do repairs around the school and to do work for the grade schools when it is within their power to do it. To do the latter kind of work effectively the installation of a bandsaw, surfacer, jointer and boring machines would do much to attract and make it possible to produce work quite comparable with that of the trade.
Work Done.
High School. Letter rack for the office. Step ladder. Shelving in office, store rooms, library and chemistry department. Cutting out table for Domestic Science department. Filing and key cabinets for office. Record boards and shields for the athletic department. Goal posts and marking out field for football. Repaired desks, chairs, locks, etc. Bliss School. Lunch tables and settees. One long bench for fifth and sixth grade manual training.
Richardson School. Lunch tables and settees. Back board for bask- et ball.
Sanford Street School. Lunch tables and settees.
Dodgeville School. Coat rack for the kindergarten.
Tiffany School. Two sand tables.
Some of the furniture made by the pupils :- Telephone table and chair, book shelves, book racks, dining table, jewelry and tool cabinets, morris chair, fern stand with cane woven panels, skis, medicine cabinets, hall trees, travelling tea tables, record cabinet with inlay, console radio cabinet, graphophone cabinet, piano stools, screens, model boats, wireless cabinets, etc. Several pupils have cane seated chairs for home and school. Home furniture has been repaired at school.
Grammar Grade.
"The principle in this work should be not so much that the boy should make the project as the project should make the boy." When he is especially interested in something he wishes to construct he should be encouraged provided the project is not beyond his capabilities. The re- pairing of household and school effects are also of great value in building character. Not only that he learns to do things, but learns to do for other people. There are always small things to be done about a school building and home that boys take a great deal of pride in doing. The forcing of a boy to construct some object that he practically has no use for is not always productive of the best results and therefore should not be forced to making any extent.
It is necessary to learn the elementary rules. This is accomplished by making one or two common objects.
160
ANNUAL REPORT
The first lessons were the use and care of a plane-to dissemble and assemble one correctly-to whet and care for the blade. A thorough knowledge of squaring a piece of stock without wasting an unnecessary supply, sandpapering without injuring the edges, staining and simple finishing. At present the boys are working on small projects, e. g. boxes, knife and fork boxes, ring tosses and key boards. In fact anything to become absolutely familiar with a plane and to teach coordination. They have been doing several odd jobs about the building and they are going to continue doing his. Each boy is requested to make a drawing of all plans put on the board and keep a folio. He is also encouraged to hunt for working drawings of easy projects found in the different boy's maga- zines to put into his folio.
Mechanical Drawing.
The number of pupils in the high school electing mechanical drawing is as follows :-
First year 56 students
Second year 27 students
Third year 13 students
Fourth year 14 students
1 students
Fifth year
Total 111 students
For the first time in A. H. S. a girl student has elected this subject
The work is systematically planned and posted for each year. There are just so many drawing plates which must be completed before any credit is given. A student may inform himself as to the next plate by consulting the plan of work for his particular year. In this way he knows just where he stands and how much work must be completed. It also encourages a certain amount of competition. Each plate is marked and registered.
First year consists of 29 plates for 4 periods or more. This consists of lettering, geometrical problems, elementary working drawings with dimensions, projection problems, screw threads and isometric drawings.
Second year. Most drawings to be inked. Drawings of castings to scale, 2nd and 3rd view drawings of any part of a machine that may be given, projection, intersection and developments. Tracing paper is used for inking instead of the customary inking on the pencil drawing. Blue prints can then be made later in the year.
Third Year. Section views of drawings, paths of motion and cams.
Fourth year. Architectural drawing. Direct inking on the drawing is customary unless a blue print is required. Correct style and technique is insisted upon.
Inspection trips to study methods in such institutions as the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology, Wentworth Institute, Sturtevant Blower Works, Brown & Sharpe, some lumber yard, box making factory, window sash and door factory, etc., are recommended as being valuable means of broadening the education of nianual training pupils.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM F. EASTWOOD
161
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Teacher of Sewing.
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I submit the following brief report for 1921-1922.
The course in sewing is as practical and useful as our experience has enabled us to make it. The first year's work requires more patience and self control than that of any following years and teaches, with the funda- mental stitches, neatness, exactness and economy.
That sewing trains the hand and the eye has been proved again and a- gain, by the improvement in the work of pupils who at first had the greatest difficulty in mastering their simplest stitches and who later showed much skill. Sometimes I have been surprised after weeks of patient work, to receive good results from those who have seemed hopeless cases.
Interest in the work is very essential and we find that the making of useful articles attains and retains the interest especially in grades seven and eight.
If a pupil's mother has any preference as to what her child shall make it is respected as much as it is possible to do so. We have been asked recently to certify as to the ability of the girls to do the work required to obtain the Scouts' Needle Woman's Badge. It seemed wiser to make each girl responsible for her own work so we have spent eight weeks since September in reviewing fundamental stitches and processes and preparing a Scout Test book containing a specimen model of every kind of work re- quired. Not only have the girls enjoyed this work but it has proven of untold value to them. When construction of the first garment began, the girls were able to take up the work without further assistance.
Our outside work has also been a pleasure. We have made arm bands for the special police boys, laundry bags for soiled towels, hemmed desk covers and dish towels, made two silk door curtains and mended several flags.
I think our exhibition at Bliss Hall, last June was the most satisfactory report of sewing that could be given. All those who attended had an opportunity to see the results of the work for the year. We are always pleased to have anyone interested visit our classes and see the work in progress.
It may be of interest for those who saw the exhibit to know that the total number of girls in the sewing department for the school year Sept. 1921 to June 1922 numbered 657 and that the total cost to the city, in- cluding material and repairs of sewing machines was only $35.30.
Respectfully submitted,
MINNIE A. WALKER
Report of the Supervisor of Physical Training
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
My policy this year has been to continue and enlarge upon the system of physical education through trained boy and girl leaders, to organize recess play periods under teacher supervision, and to conduct after school athletics.
162
ANNUAL REPORT
Physical Education in the School Room.
The exercises used have been selected with great care, aiming at correct posture and bearing, precision and accuracy of movement, attention, concentration, quick response, poise and control, and sense of rhythm. Training classes for leaders are held regularly once a week in all the schools, and in some cases two periods are necessary. All physical training leaders have been selected by the school principals with the approval of the super- visor. The work in each room is inspected once a week, the principals and captain leaders assisting.
At the Tiffany School an experiment is being tried out whereby the leaders are allowed to rank their rooms each week according to the excel- lence of the work accomplished. I feel that the right spirit as regards the work is being developed, and wish to thank the leaders for their efficient work.
Organized Recess Play.
I have laid special stress on this feature of the work as it has been, in my mind, one of the crying needs of the department in the past. While things are progressing slowly, due no doubt to the newness of it all, I feel that an important step forward has been taken. Through Mr. Carl L. Schrader. Supervisor of Physical Education for the State of Massachusetts, I have secured copies of the booklet, "Physical Education in the Public Schools", which deals with this subject, and have distributed them to all rooms in the schools of the city.
Equipment has been secured through the cooperation of the School Department, and the principals. - Several schools have outdoor basket ball courts and inter-room leagues have been organized. An earnest effort is being made to have every child take part, and games in which any num- ber of players may participate are selected. Children who are known to have weak hearts, or who are otherwise organically disqualified, are not required to play, but are encouraged to take part in quiet games, in which there is at the most only moderate muscular activity and mental excite- ment. With the advice of the physician games may be found which are safe for any child able to to go school. Weak children are more frequently hurt by too little exercise than by too much.
I wish to thank the principals and teachers sincerely for their whole- hearted cooperation in this matter.
After School Athletics
This is a big subject to cover, and I am only going to try to give an idea of the work which has been, and is being accomplished; also plans for the future.
Football. For the first time this sport was started in the eighth grades of the city. Both Bank and Bliss Schools had two practise sessions each week, and'were taught the fundamentals of the game. At the end of the season a game was played at Hayward Field, with Bank the winner by a score of 28-6.
Basket Ball Activities.
Grammar School League. Bliss, Richardson, Tiffany, Hebronville and Sanford Street entered. Games on Tuesdays and Thursdays, five o'clock at the High School. Schedule ends February first.
Grammar School Girls' League. Tiffany, Bliss, Richardson, and San- ford Street entered. Schedule starts on January eighth. Games will be played at the High School on Mondays.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Bank Street. Regular schedule of twelve games. Practise on Tues- days. Games on Saturday Mornings, High School Gymnasium, Bank Street Girls. Practise and games on Fridays at High School. Bliss eighth grade. Regular schedule of eight games. Practise on Thursdays at State Armory. Games on Saturday morning at the High School. Class in basket ball officiating meets once a month. The following is the schedule of practise sessions.
Monday-Tiffany boys and girls, six o'clock at High School. Tuesday-Bank Street, at High School, six o'clock.
Wednesday-Richardson boys and girls, State Armory, 4 o'clock. Sanford boys and girls, high school, 6 o'clock. Thursday-Bliss boys and girls, State Armory, 4 o'clock. Friday-Bank Street Girls, high school, 6 o'clock.
Arrangements are made for Hebronville to practise with either Richard- son or Bliss at the Armory. Interest in this sport is centered at Dodge- ville and Hebronville and a series is arranged annually between the schools.
Base Ball.
Plans are being completed for an eight team league in the Spring. Bank and Bliss eighth grades will have separate schedules. A girls' league will also be formed, using the regulation indoor base ball.
Track.
A series of three meets will be held between Bank and Bliss eighth grades, Also three Grammar School Field Days.
Folk Dancing.
The following folk dances are being taught under teacher supervision.
Children's Polka Danish Dance of Greeting
Shoemaker's Dance Nixie Polka Chimes of Dunkirk Norwegian Mountain March
Special classes for exhibition work will be organized from time to time.
Special Features. Hare and Hound Chases
Treasure Hunts
Skating Parties Hikes
Under this head might also come the tennis team which is to be organ- ized at the Bank Street School and also their new Athletic Association.
In closing I wish to thank the School Committee for the. leave of absence granted me to attend the Recreation Congress at Atlantic City. Assuring you that my whole hearted interest is in my work, for the better physical welfare of the children of Attleboro.
Respectfully submitted,
J. RAYMOND COONEY.
4
164
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of School Physician.
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my report as school physician for the year ending December 31, 1922.
The health program in the schools during the past year has been marked most particularly by the study and practise of better nutrition among the pupils.
A nutrition contest beginning in the fall of 1921 and ending in June 1922 was held, in which the majority of the schools took part. The re- sults of this contest, as shown by carefully kept graphic charts, were most gratifying. Sanford Street school with a percentage of 31 was declared the winner, having brought the greatest number of pupils up to normal weight. It may be mentioned that the first four contenders, namely, Sanford Street, Richardson, Tiffany and Bliss showed very little margin between them.
An exhibit was held in the spring showing the nutrition work in detail which was well attended by interested parents.
This Fall it was the intent that instruction in nutrition be limited to those schools which formerly had had little or none.
With the exception of an outbreak of measles during the month of November the schools have been free from serious epidemics. Approxi- mately seventy cases of measles occurred at the Bliss School. Scattering cases were reported from the Richardson, Sanford Street and Farmers Schools. It was thought that the epidemic might better be controlled by keeping the schools open than by closing them.
There was a notable increase in the number of home calls made by the nurse during the year, which I believe, is a necessary adjunct to the annual physical examinations. Through the medium of these home calls some sixteen cases of tonsillectomy were done during the summer vacation at the Sturdy Hospital. Many other cases were attended by their family physicians, which would probably have passed unnoticed had not the importance of attention to the condition been emphasized by the nurse on her visits.
Some provision should be made for the increasing number of mentally deficient children. Special instruction along lines best suiting their mental adaptability should be given them in order that they may become self dependent and not become public charges.
Examinations by School Physician.
Schools
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May 25
June
Sept.
Oct. 19
Nov. 20
Dec. 17
Total. 214
Special ex-
aminations 195
65
49
249
21
8
92
37
34
133
883
Vaccinations
15
7
6
19
1
7
2
57
Vaccination
certificates
..
4
3
25 17
16
3 22
18
197
Physical ex-
aminations 454
579
772
332
505
337
418
490
167
4,054
Working
certificates.
Office visits 102
75
161
60
20
54
67
90
476 63
47
739
Prescriptions
(Impetigo) 2
2
2
First Aid
1
1
2
House calls
1
1
. ..
2
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE W. BATTERSHALL, M. D.
visited .. 24
17
19
17
23
23
5
5
46
Exclusions 34
32
40
11
7
1
3
10
.
476
ยท
165
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of School Nurse.
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I hereby submit my report as school nurse for the year 1922. Improve- ment in the dental line continues to be a great source of satisfaction to both nurse and teachers. Health talks on general health subjects in nutrition, cleanliness, the care of teeth, and personal hygiene were given in all the schools during the year. More attention was given to the follow up work, and defects which were noted by the school physician were given special attention at my home visits. Two hundred and seventy-six tooth brushes were sold to the pupils at actual cost price.
The splendid cooperation of the principals and teachers was great aid in the nutrition campaign which was carried on during the year. A room in the Sanford Street School was given the nurse for use as an office and was opened late in the spring of the year. The need of such an arrangement was great, and although it has been in use but for a short time, it is an invaluable aid in the health work. Some two hundred and forty-eight children have been examined at this office during the year.
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