USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1928 > Part 12
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The law requires a special class for pupils three years or more retarded. We have one such class at the Richardson School. Another class is recommended for the Lincoln School. There are enough pupils in that section to form such a class. Only the money to hire the teacher is lacking.
In music, also, there is need of an additional instructor. Mr. Gibb is now at the High School to conduct the orchestra for opening exer- cises three mornings a week, and for orchestra practice three afternoons a week, for the glee club one afternoon a week. He is able to visit the grade rooms only once a month. An assistant to take care of the lower grades leaving Mr. Gibb more time to devote to the upper grades and the High School would produce better results in music.
Two important members of any school department at the present time are the school physician and the school nurse. The law requires that every pupil in the public schools be given a physical examination once a year and that the records be kept on blanks furnished by the State. The examinations for sight and hearing are made by the teach- ers. These physical examinations, however, are a small part of the work of the school physician and the nurse. The nurse visits each school regularly to inspect any children who may have symptoms of any contagious disease. Any suspicious cases are referred to the school physician. Pupils who have been absent for a week or two for an un- known cause are visited in their houses. In case of an outbreak of a contagious disease like scarlet fever we have been having this fall in the Richardson School, the school physician and the school nurse examine all the pupils in the school two or three times a week and many home visits are made to determine the cause of the pupils' ab-
158
ANNUAL REPORT
sence. There are 3,300 pupils in the schools below the High School. To visit the schools regularly to make inspections, make the home visits required, make special visits to schools where there may be suspicious cases of diphtheria or scarlet fever, help the school physician in taking cultures or in making special examinations of the pupils, prepare the histories of those pupils three years retarded for their examination by Dr. Patterson, to recommend pupils for the open air room, to select pupils for the health camp at Briggs Corner and to get the consent of the parents that the pupils may attend, to assist the health officer in selecting boys for the Lions' Health Camp, to keep in touch with the work of the teacher regarding the monthly weighing of the underweights and the gain or loss shown by the charts, and to give the time necessary to help individual pupils who need to have tonsils and adenoids removed, or be fitted with glasses, or to be taken to a hospital for an operation- to do all this is almost more than one person can do. The time is not far distant when a second school nurse should be provided.
RESIGNATIONS
Eighteen teachers have resigned during the year, and one has been granted leave of absence.
Date 1928
Teacher
School
Resignation
March 30
Alice A. Hoyle
Farmers
To be at Home
April 2 Dorothea L. Chapman High
To be Married
May 4 Katherine S. King Continuation
May 12 Louise C. Witherell
Dodgeville
To be at Home Winthrop
May 15 Mildred M. Leonard
Lincoln
To be at Home
May 16 Pauline O. Elliott
Lincoln
To be a Nurse
May 21 Dolly B. Laliberte
Richardson
To be at Home
May
28 Ruth J. Ulmer
Richardson
To be Married
June 4 Helen N. Labrie
Special Teacher
To be at Home Providence
June 18 Annise B. Kane
June 25
Elizabeth P. Oakes
Bank Street
Malden
June
25 Myra N. Horton
Bliss
To be Married
June 25
Elwyna A. Blair
High
To be at Home
July 13
Amey P. Staples
Hebronville
To be Married
July 19 Amelia Bilotti
High
To be Married
july 28 Helen B. Lewis
Bliss
Swampscott
Aug. 4 Lolo L. Cox
High
California
Sept. 1 Kathrene Adams
High
Medford
High
Cause of
Miss Mary Clements was granted leave of absence for the year 1928-1929.
159
ANNUAL REPORT
Summary of Penmanship Awards for Year September, 1927-June, 1928
School
Grade I
Silver Star Button
Grade II
-Gold Star Button
25 Drills
Button
30 Drills
Merit Button
o Progress Pins
Improvement
-Certificate
SeStudent's
Final Certificate
"High School
Certificate
0 0 Certificate
-Total
Bank Street.
0
0
11
0
22
0
32
0
65
Bliss ..
24
46
87
106
76
17
26
0
0
382
Dodgeville
0
0
24
25
15
5
0
0
0
6.9
Farmers
0
0
34
23
12
0
0
0
0
69
Hebronville
1
8
39
34
27
2
1
0
0
112
Lincoln.
0
0
42
29
32
0
20
0
1
124
Pleasant Street ..
0
16
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
24
Richardson ..
0
0
96
0
26
8
4
0
0
134
South Attleboro
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
Tiffany
0
0
54
46
34
11
8
0
0
153
Washington.
0
0
24
16
6
1
0
0
0
47
Total.
25
70
426
289
256
44
126
20
1
1,257
1926-1927
10
68
480
229
231
69
66
18
1
1,172
15
2
-54
60
25
-25
60
2
0
85
The School Savings Bank
Deposits for each year since the establishment of the bank in 1908:
Year
Deposits
1908 (3 months)
$2,429.00
1909.
4,497.85
1910
4,198.25
1911.
4,142.16
1912.
3,826.22
1913.
4,406.50
1914.
4,658.13
1915.
3,680.00
1916 ..
4,927.27
1917.
5,487.04
1918.
3,185.91
1919 ..
5,176.32
1920.
10,886.16
1921.
7,637.33
1922.
6,902.89
1923 ..
8,271.24
1924.
7,849.22
1925
8,459.52
1926.
7,366.52
1927.
8,374.95
1928.
8,752.85
$125,115.33
High
0
6
8
160
ANNUAL REPORT
Statement January 1, 1929
Dr.
Balance on Deposit December 21, 1927, Including Interest ($791.45) .
$3,933.63
Deposits in First National Bank from January 1, 1928 to De- cember 27, 1928
8,752.85
Interest from November, 1927 to November, 1928. 105.22
Cr.
$12,791.70
Transferred to Pupils' Individual Accounts, January 1, 1928 to January 1, 1929.
$8,810.00
Withdrawn, 1928, from Interest to Cover Expenses.
14.00
Balance on Deposit December 27, 1928, Including Interest ($882.67)
3,967.70
$12,791.70
Total Amount Deposited Since October, 1908.
$125,115.33
Number of Individual Accounts Opened at the First National
4,656
Bank from October, 1908 to January, 1928 January, 1928 to January, 1929.
335
Total. 4,991
Number of Pupils Depositing in the School Bank January 1, 1929.
1,723
Repairs
The amount expended for repairs each year is inadequate to keep the buildings and grounds in good condition. The newer buildings are, of course, in good condition and should be kept so. The High School and the Lincoln, Bliss, Richardson, Tiffany and Washington Schools, are brick buildings and do not require money for shingling and painting as the wooden buildings do. The High School building, however, has been in use nearly fifteen years, and each year the inside of the building grows a little shabbier looking. The hall was redecorated last summer, but many of the walls need painting and calcimining, and the desks re- finishing to keep the building up as it should be. Of the wooden build- ings the small schools like Farmers, Capron, Carpenter Street, Pleasant Street, Briggs Corner and the Plat are in fair condition. The other build- ings, Bank Street, Sanford Street, Dodgeville, Hebronville and South Attleboro are old and have not for years had sufficient money spent on them. The grounds and walks at the older buildings add nothing to the attractiveness of the schools and many of the walks need to be replaced. The amount available each year has been insufficient to do all that should be done to preserve the property as it should be, and the build- ings and grounds show it. The school property is valued at $1,250,000 and the amount spent for repairs is about $12,000. This takes care of repairs absolutely necessary, but is not enough to keep the buildings in a condition that the city would be proud of. A special appropriation of $3,000 for five years to replace old boilers and furnaces, lay cement walks, improve the grounds and varnish and calcimine some of the, older buildings would not only improve the property but react on the education of the children by providing the proper environment for the pupils.
161
ANNUAL REPORT
Accomplishments
In carrying out the recommendations of last year, the following are some of the things that have been accomplished:
1. New geographies for Grades VI and VII have been placed in most of the schools. A beginning has been made in Grades IV and V.
2. New textbooks in language have been bought for Grade VII and a few sets for Grades V and VI.
3. New duplicators have been supplied for three schools.
4. A new self-feeding mimeograph has been placed in the superin- tendent's office, and the old one moved to the High School.
5. Sidewalks have been built at the Lincoln and Washington Schools.
6. A wire fence has been built on the Washington Street side of the Lincoln School Playground.
7. The "No School Signal" has been changed as recommended.
Recommendations
On the following recommendations, made last year, nothing has been done, and I repeat them here.
1. Continue to buy new maps.
2. Purchase sets of Health Books for Grades V, VI and VII.
3. Urge the city to build cement walks the entire length of Wash- ington Street.
4. Petition the city to accept Rex Avenue and build a driveway into the yard of the Washington School.
5. Build a wire fence along the South Main Street side of the lot at Hebronville and grade the lot. Total cost not over $500.
6. Install a new boiler at the Bank Street School.
7. Rebuild the walks at several of the old schools.
8. Purchase 50 chairs for the Bank Street School.
9. Give the principals better office equipment.
To the above I would like to add the following new recommenda- tions:
1. Build a new building at Hebronville.
2. Study the needs of the Washington School section.
3. Provide an assistant to the supervisor of music.
4. Consider the need of an additional school nurse.
5. Improve the looks of the school grounds by replacing hedges and regrading.
6. Remove the portable school building at Richardson School.
The last three years have seen many forward steps taken in the school department. Much progress has been made in many lines. All standard tests given indicate that the work of the schools is good. We have many progressive teachers who are ambitious for their schools. They in turn inspire others and thus the whole teaching force is enthused. To the earnest sincere efforts of the teachers is due whatever of success the schools have attained.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS A. FALES, Superintendent of Schools
162
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The following communication is my eighth annual report as Principal of the Attleboro High School for the year ending December 31, 1928.
Tables showing the distribution of pupils in the Attleboro High School on November 27, 1928, as to
1. Year in the High School
2. Curriculum.
3. Class.
Requirements for Promotion
Sophomore Standing
15 Credits
Junior Standing.
35 Credits
Senior Standing.
60 Credits
Graduation.
80 Credits
Many pupils who are not promoted one year pass extra credits the following year and graduate with their class.
Fifth Year
Fresh.
Soph.
Junior
Senior
P. G.
Total
College.
0
0
0
1
5
6
Technical.
0
0
0
0
5
5
Commercial.
0
0
2
2
0
4
General
0
0
2
3
0
5
Fourth Year
Fresh.
Soph.
Junior
Senior
P. G.
Total
College.
0
0 .
3
41
0
44
Technical.
0
0
9
24
0
33
Commercial.
0
0
5
24
0
29
General
0
1
10
13
0
24
Third Year
Fresh.
Soph.
Junior
Senior
P. G.
Total
College.
0
3
48
0
0
51
Technical.
1
3
27
0
0
31
Commercial.
0
17
48
0
0
65
General.
1
2
8
1
0
12
Second Year
Fresh.
Soph.
Junior
Senior
P. G.
Total
College.
1
54
0
0
0
55
Technical.
5
25
1
0
0
31
Commercial.
11
81
0
0
0
92
General.
1
2
0
0
0
3
163
ANNUAL REPORT
First Year
Fresh.
Soph.
Junior
Senior
P. G.
Total
College.
68
0
0
0
0
68
Technical.
35
0
0
0
0
35
Commercial.
104
0
0
0
0
104
General.
1
0
0
0
0
1
Promotion Table for the School Year Ending June, 1928
1931
1930
1929
Number Passing all Subjects.
131
126
117
Number Promoted.
160
139
128
Number Failing One Subject.
42
18
14
Number Failing Two Subjects
S
10
1
Number Failing Three or More Subjects
12
2
1
Number Not Promoted
16
19
3
Scholastic Standing of the Freshman Class in 1927 and the Freshman Class in 1928 at the Close of the First Ranking Period
College 1928
1927
Technical 1928
1927
1928
1927
Passing all Subjects
60
55
28
26
63
65
Promoted.
64
57
32
27
87
81
Failing One Subject.
5
2
5
1
24
16
Failing Two Subjects
2
1
3
0
13
4
Failing Three or More Subjects. .
0
0
0
0
7
1
Not Promoted.
3
1
3
0
20
5
Survey of Grades for the First Quarter
A
B
C
D
E
1926-1927
316
1284
1613
559
142
8%
32.8%
41.2%
14.2%
3.6%
1927-1928
258
1180
2044
688
180
5.9%
27.2%
46.9%
15.8%
4.2%
1928 1929
201
877
1457
623
261
5.9%
25.3%
42.6%
18.2%
7.9%
A Study of the Graduating Classes of 1926-1927-1928 Who Are Continuing With Their Education
1926
Number of Graduates.
101
Attending a Normal School.
12
11.8%
Attending a College or University
24
23.4
Training in a Hospital.
10
9.8
Total
46
45. %
Commercial
164
ANNUAL REPORT
1927
Number of Graduates.
122
Attending a Normal School.
18
6.5%
Attending a College or University.
34
27.9
Attending a Business School
6
4.9
Training in a Hospital.
5
4.
Total
63
43.3%
1928
Number of Graduates.
135
Attending a Normal School.
3
2.2%
Attending a College or University.
31
23.
Attending a Business School.
4
3.
Training in a Hospital
6
4.4
Total
44
32.6%
College
Anderson, Blanche
.Tufts College
Blake, Janet.
.Pasadena College
Bliss, Muriel
Bates College
Cameron, Gwendolyn.
Arcadia College
Cooke, Virginia.
Vesper George School of Art
Crook, Henry.
Rhode Island State College
Cummings, Margaret.
Mansfield Normal College
Cunningham, Mary
St. Elizabeth College
Cushing, Constant.
Boston University
Donlevy, William.
Massachusetts Nautical School
Douville, Jeanne.
Wheaton College
Dunham, Marjorie ..
Wheaton College
Friensehner, Victor
Northeastern University
Grant, Marjorie.
Simmons College
Habershaw, James
Providence College
Hardt, John.
Brown University
Keil, Carl
Boston University
Killion, John.
Boston University
Linkhamper, Hans
Brown University
Munroe, Ralph
University of Maine
Neff, Karl.
Wentworth Institute
Nerney, Virginia.
Simmons College
Randall, Lyndall.
Mansfield Normal College
Rotenberg, Henry
Suffolk Law School
Salinger, Ronald.
Providence College
Smith, Mary
Wheaton College
Swanson, Florence.
Tufts College
Swanton, Kenneth.
Boston University
Thomas, Edwin.
Massachusetts Agricultural College
Thompson, Charles. Tufts College
Wright, Raymond.
Boston University
Normal
Howard, Catherine
Bridgewater Normal
Potter, Alice. . Fitchburg Normal
Roffee, Dorothy
Fitchburg Normal
165
ANNUAL REPORT
Commercial
Buckley, Mary
Business College
Carpenter, Marie.
Bryant & Stratton
Elsbree, Norman
.Burdett College
Foreman, Gladys.
Bryant & Stratton
Training for a Nurse
Bruen, Mary.
. Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Conniff, Bernadette.
. Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Caswell, Gladys
. Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Cullen, Helen.
. Sturdy Memorial Hospital
Denham, Henrietta
.Rhode Island Hospital
Gatchell, Barbara.
Boston Children's Hospital
Post Graduates
Bowen, Gladys
Keena, Frances
Cosgrove, Francis
Levis, Mildred
Dunham, Russell
Merritt, Doris
Hiorns, Albert
Rohman, Eugene
Hunt, Edith
Torrey, Doris
Curricula Changes
The following changes are recommended in order that the High School Curriculum may more closely coincide with that outlined by the College Entrance Examination Board.
Algebra
Freshman Algebra, Elementary Algebra (Part I) represents one year's work in Algebra. The course we give at the present time fulfills the requirements-5 credits.
Junior Algebra, Elementary Algebra (Part II) represents the second full year's work in Algebra. I wish to substitute Intermediate Algebra which is taught for one half year for Elementary Algebra (Part II)-5 credits.
Senior Algebra, Advanced Algebra is taught at the present time, the second semester of the Junior year. I wish to place this subject in the Senior year as a year subject coming twice a week-2 credits.
Review Mathematics. This subject to be taught the senior year and given three times a week for the school year-11/2 credits.
Spelling
I wish to recommend that pupils receiving a grade of A during the work of the first semester be admitted to a final examination in January. Pupils receiving a grade of A in the final examination to be excused from further work in Spelling and given full credit for their work.
Penmanship
I wish to recommend that pupils who have received all of the Gram- mar School Awards for Penmanship either in the Grammar School or High School, have completed one semester's work in the High School,
166
ANNUAL REPORT
and have been awarded the High School Certificate in Penmanship be excused from further work in this subject and given full credit for their work.
A Financial Budget for the High School
This would call for certain sums of money placed in the school bud- get, with definite amounts credited to the different departments of the High School, and subject only to the requisitions of the High School Principal, to the Superintendent of Schools.
This budget would be made out of the High School Principal, checked with the Superintendent of Schools, and then presented to the School Committee.
Health
One of the rooms in the manual training department is 20'x32' and contains a band-saw, lathe, circular-saw, jointer-surfacer and grinder.
When these machines are in operation, the air in the room is sat- urated with very fine dust, a very unhealthy condition for the pupils who work in this room. This condition should be corrected by placing blow- ers on each machine.
Manual Training Projects
The work in this department should be organized so that the ad- vanced pupils will spend a certain number of hours each month on prac- tical projects for the School Department. This should consist of minor repairs in the High School, as well as equipment for other schools. Some means of compensation for these pupils should be devised, who work extra time in this department.
Filing System
The Library Bureau Divisions have placed on the market the fol- lowing indexing and filing system.
1. Seventy-five Pieces of Correspondence for Practice.
2. Cards and Card Guides.
3. Direct Alphabetical Correspondence File.
4. Trays for Files.
5. Trays for Correspondence Filing.
6. Cross Reference Sheets.
Each pupil could have the above equipment at a cost of $5.75. This work should be connected with Typewriting III.
Gymnasium
Every pupil in the High School, unless excused by a physician, must take physical training two hours a week.
This means a population of about 2,800 pupils on the floor of the gymnasium each week.
Detaining a group of pupils for one hour twice a week on a bare floor does not register in that pupil's mind the real value of this work.
Pupils like to note their own improvement and take pride in their physical efficiency.
167
ANNUAL REPORT
I think that this course can be placed on a plane interesting enough so that they will want to continue this work after leaving High School and not wait until they are past forty when they are often forced to take exercise.
The school should have at the present time, two horses, two bucks, and one parallel bar. Other equipment could be made by the manual training department.
Crowded Condition in the High School
The High School at the present time has 720 pupils and 662 home desks. About 60 pupils must use movable desks and chairs in rooms not adapted to the purpose for which they are used. Not counting the laboratory courses, we have 116 recitations each day which contain study pupils. The recitations that do not contain study pupils are located in rooms not adapted to either study or recitations. Study rooms free from recitations are practically eliminated from the school.
A very careful study of this situation should be made at an early date.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES O. DALRYMPLE
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CONTINUATION SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The following is my ninth annual report as Director of the Attleboro Continuation School for the year ending December 31, 1928.
In my previous reports I have treated of the purpose and the ob- jectives of the school, and of the apparent results of the work done. The outline of instruction and the many activities that are carried on in the school have also been considered in previous reports. As it would be mere repetition to consider these points, and tedious to deal with the routine work, which has gone on as usual, it might be advantageous for me to point out some of the features of our work which are but little known, but of which a knowledge is requisite to an understanding of the work of the school.
One phase of our work which is not generally known is that which is required by the State Department in the form of a survey for individual enrollment, analysis and assignment. To obtain the information that is desired it is necessary to have a conference with the minor, his parents and his employer. A portion of the data that is called for on the blank is as follows:
I. Questionnaire with the Minor:
1. Employer. 2. Business.
3. Address 4. Employment.
5. Immediate Boss-name. 6. Title.
7. Job. 8. Working Hours.
9. Duties.
10. Net Income.
11. Paid: by hour, day, week, month, piece.
12. What do you do most? Stand, sit, ride, walk, lift, run.
13. Must you be good at reading, talking, writing, drawing.
14. What do you like best about your job ?
168
ANNUAL REPORT
15. Its most disagreeable feature ?
16. Is your job clean ? dusty? hot? wet?
17. How long would it take to break in a new worker?
18. What helpful advice would you give a new worker on your job ?
19. What job ahead would be a promotion ?
20. How can you get it?
21. What is the best job ahead in this employment?
22. How can you get it?
23. What change in employment would you make if you could ?
24. Why?
II. Questionnaire With Employer:
1. Job.
2. How is the minor doing his job?
3. Duties.
4. What does minor need to know?
5. Time required to break in worker.
6. Jobs successively.
7. What minor must know for each.
8. Best opportunity ahead, without training.
9. Best opportunity ahead, with training.
10. Training needed.
11. Does concern give opportunity for it?
III. Questionnaire With Parent or Guardian:
1. Your attitude toward this job for this minor?
2. What do you see ahead for this minor?
3. What are your plans for this minor?
4. To what extent will you help minor in his plans?
5. How can you help the school to help the minor?
IV. Digest of Questionnaire:
1. Name of job. 2. Wages.
4. Duties.
5. Net Income, 3. Hours.
6. Abilities job requires.
7. Time takes to learn.
8. Requires special training ?
9. Is it one step in a trade, with logical promotion?
10. Temporarily educative, with limited promotional chance ?
11. Is it a job with little or no educative value?
12. Interesting features.
13. Disagreeable features.
As is evident from a perusal of this questionnaire the information obtained helps the school to co-operate with the pupil and bring out in him his best, so that he may be of the greatest possible service to him- self and others. While the compilation of this information is a con- siderable task, yet we feel that the advantages gained repay us for the efforts made.
Another part of our work which requires considerable expenditure of time and labor is our accounting of the cost and market value of all manual productivity of the pupils. We keep a record of all such work whether it is the soldering of a teakettle or the construction of a book- case, whether the serving of a meal or the making of a dress. This cost does not include overhead or instruction, but just the cost of labor and the value of materials. Detailed productivity reports are required by
169
ANNUAL REPORT
the State Department in June.
The Continuation School law is not yet thoroughly understood. The law clearly states that no one between the ages of 14 and 16 shall be employed without a working certificate. The law also states that tlie employer shall return to the Superintendent's office the employment cer- tificate within two days after the minor has left his employment. Yet scarcely a week passes without some violation of this law. There have been comparatively few cases where minors have been employed more hours than is legal, or on dangerous machinery, or in places forbidden by the law. It has been our purpose to interpret the law to those who do not understand it and to see that they comply with its requirements. By a new ruling made at the State Office during the last year minors employed as domestics or in farm positions must attend Continuation School.
The matter of attendance by the pupils at the Continuation School is one that requires special attention. We have given this so much time, and the employers have been so helpful, that at the present time a very large percentage of the pupils are never absent. There are a few who have left the regular school because they did not like it who will attend the Continuation School when pressure is brought to bear upon them. Since school opened last September, 121 pupils out of a total enrollment of 179 have not lost a day's attendance. I consider this an unusual record.
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