USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1929 > Part 13
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ACHIEVEMENT TESTS
In addition to the tests in reading already mentioned, Public School Achieve- ment Tests were given in May and June to the upper grades as follows:
Language Usage-grades VI, VII and VIII
Arithmetic Computation-grades VI, VII and VIII Arithmetic Reasoning-grades VII and VIII Reading-grade VIII Grammar-grade VIII
159
ANNUAL REPORT
These tests have been given to thousands of pupils and from a tabulation of the results standard scores for each grade have been established. In all but one case the Attleboro schools made scores equal to or better than the standard for the grade. The results were highly satisfactory. Where the scores were low, attempts will be made this year to improve the work so that the next tests may show improvements.
The scores by grades and subjects follow :
LANGUAGE USAGE
Standard Score
Attleboro Score
Grade VIII
47
48.9
Grade VII.
43
45.2
Grade VI
41
42
ARITHMETIC COMPUTATION
Standard Score
Attleboro Score
Grade VIII
62
63
Grade VII
.56
60.
Grade VI
.50
50.5
ARITHMETIC REASONING
Standard Score Attleboro Score
Grade VIII
38
37.2
Grade VII.
.29
32
GRAMMAR
Standard Score
Attleboro Score
Grade VIII .34
43.3
READING
Standard Score
Attleboro Score
Grade VIII .50
50.6
Such tests, with a definite standard for each grade, are of great value in showing a teacher just where her class stands in respect to other schools in the city and to the country as a whole so far as the tests have been given.
SCHOOL NEEDS
The schools need several new buildings. They need also several additional teachers. Some have been mentioned in this report, one for primary grades at Richardson School and two for Lincoln School. Others previously recommended are an assistant to the Supervisor of Music, and another drawing teacher for the elementary grades. These can be provided only by increasing the amount ap- propriated for salaries of teachers. If the amount appropriated is no larger than the amount appropriated last year, additional teachers can not be employed. Progress depends on the appropriation. A larger appropriation will mean a better education for many pupils.
160
ANNUAL REPORT
RESIGNATION OF TEACHERS
Only thirteen teachers resigned during the year 1929. This is the smallest number of vacancies that has occurred in years. Out of 158 teachers only 9 were new in September. If teachers are doing satisfactory work and are contented, the fewer the changes the better work the schools will do. Every change in teachers may mean a possible break in the education of some boys and girls and the more continuous the process the more certain the results are likely to be. The resignations are as follows:
Date 1929
Teacher
School
Cause of Resignation
Jan. 19
M. Hazel Knopp
Tiffany
Ill health
Feb. 15
Helen K. Peterson
Hebronville
May 14
Marjorie Griffith
Lincoln
To be married Ill health
May 27 Eleanor M. Albee
Bliss
New Jersey
June 25
Doris P. McDuffie
Farmers
June 25
Alice J. Kingsley
Asst. Drawing Supervisor
Watertown
July 26
Mary M. Bagley
High
Medford
July 31 Myra M. Coombs
Tiffany
To be married
Aug. 14
Earl C. Perrin
Manual Training Providence
Aug. 26
Louise F. Sawyer
High High
Malden
Nov. 20
Helen F. Drake
Bank Street
Connecticut
Miss Myrta Nute was granted leave of absence for the year 1929-1930.
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
1929.
8,586.30
$133,701.63
Westfield
Sept. 3
Robert Blair
161
ANNUAL REPORT
Statement January 1, 1930 Dr.
Balance on deposit Dec. 27, 1928, Including Int. ($882.67) . ... .$ 3,957.70 Deposits in First National Bank from January 1, 1929 to December 31, 1929. 8,585.30
Interest from November 1928 to November 1929 111.44
Cr. $ 12,665.44
Transferred to Pupils' Individual Accounts, Jan. 1, 1929 to January
1930. $ 8,392.00
Withdrawn, 1929, from interest to cover expenses . 65.00
Balance on Deposit December 31, 1929 Including Interest ($929.11). 4,208.44
$ 12,665.44
Total Amount Deposited Since October, 1908. $133,701.63
Number of Individual Accounts Opened at First National Bank from October, 1908 to January, 1929. 4,991
January, 1929 to January, 1930 188
Total 5,17.)
Number of Pupils Depositing in the School Bank January 1, 1930. 1,339
The past year has been one of progress. The schools are moving in the right direction. The attempt now being made to make the teaching of the schools fit the needs of the individual child is the most important step taken this year. This principle should be applied to all classes from the kindergarten through the High School. Every child has a right to an education suited to his ability, and only when this has bee accomplished can education at public expense be justified. We are trying to carry out this principle in a large way in the Attleboro schools. Teachers are making an honest effort to determine the mental ability of the pupils and to make the teaching fit the child. Only one result can follow such a pro- cedure, and that is-better schools for Attleboro.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS A. FALES, Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales. Superintendent of Schools:
The following is my ninth annual report as Principal of the Attleboro High School for the year ending December 31, 1929.
A Study of the Graduating Classes of 1927-1928-1929
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
Total
63 43.3%
102
ANNUAL REPORT
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%
1929
Number of Graduates 129
Attending a Normal School
4
3.5%
Attending a College or University
33
25.5
Training in a Hospital
9
7.
Total
46
36. %
COLLEGE
Class 1929
Helen Beatrice Anderson
. Simmons College
Garo Artinian.
Fordham University
Dorothy Tarbox Bryant
Southern Seminary
Mabel Bourgeois
.St. Elizabeth College
Anderson Briggs.
. Tufts College
Doris Thelma Campbell
. Simmons College
John Chase.
Tufts College
Marjorie Caroline Cook.
Boston University
Ruth Dolan
St. Elizabeth College
Hyman Fine.
Rhode Island State College
Tilde Irma Fratoni.
Portia Law School
Frank Havey
Massachusetts Agricultural College
Myron Fred Holbrook
R. I. School of Design
Herbert Aaron Jerauld.
Lehigh College
Hubert Allen Johnson.
Dartmouth College
Evelyn Mae Johnston
Boston University
Gertrude McBrien
Boston University
William Albert Nerney
Boston University
Charles Richmond Ostiguy
Northeastern University
Edward Hiron Perrin.
Mansfield Normal College
Robert Lyr den Pitman.
Northeastern University
Rufus Curtis Read.
Dartmouth College
Kenneth Bernard Roper
R. I. School of Design
Laura Henrietta Sanborn
Columbia University
Irma Genevieve Searle
Brown University
Edward Sillman
Boston University
Irma Waite Smith
N. E. Conservatory of Music
Geraldine Sweet
Wheaton College
Edward Francis Towle.
Rhode Island State College
Muriel Elizabeth Tyndall
Simmons College
Milton Veno
Brown University
Carl Burton Wilmarth.
Tufts College
Herbert Everett Whittemore.
Northeastern University
163
ANNUAL REPORT
NORMAL
Catherine Bruen.
Framingham Normal
Jane Shephard Hodges.
Gorham Normal
Mary Katherine King
Bridgewater Normal
Doris Zelda Sherman
Bridgewater Normal
TRAINING FOR NURSE
Anna Anderson
Sayles Memorial
Marjorie Butler
Sturdy Memorial
Dorothy Collins
Sturdy Memorial
Ruth Gordon
Maryland State Board
Marion Anna Lewis. Worcester Memorial
Catherine MacDonald.
Sturdy Memorial
Estelle Veronica McKay
Sayles Memorial
Geneva Wheaton Rogers
Rhode Island
Claire Sturdy Whalen
Sturdy Memorial
Post Graduates
Kenneth Andrew Bell
Ralph Oswald Brown
John Herbert Davis
Mary Fine
Harold Edmund Gingras Arthur Sherman Guild Herman James Tyrance
Why Pupils Leave the High School
The study takes in consideration the pupils who have left the High School since school opened in September, 1929 to December 8, 1929. This group is composed of thirty-four pupils, twenty-three of whom are freshmen, five sopho- mores, four juniors, and two seniors.
Seniors:
The members of the Senior Class who left school would be expected to graduate with their class. One girl would have graduated her third year in school.
Both pupils were justified in withdrawing from the High School.
Juniors:
This group of four pupils, as a rule, had low grades and not more than one or two of them could have passed the year's work.
Two of this group are working, one had to remain at home due to sickness in the family, one remained in school only six days, the other failed to give us any record.
Sophomores:
This group of five pupils did work which was in general unsatisfactory. They did not remain in school long enough to have their grades recorded this year.
Two are working, one moved from Attleboro, two went to work because it was necessary to help out at home.
Freshmen:
The majority of these Freshmen did not remain in the High School long enough to have their grades recorded in the office. Among the few grades recorded we did not have an E grade placed on file.
164
ANNUAL REPORT
In this group of twenty-three, three left because they would not do any studying, three more did not give any reason for leaving. The remaining seven- teen left for personal reasons connected with the home and which was acceptable to my office.
Freshmen Advisors
I consider the plan whereby a faculty advisor is appointed for each Freshman, one of the best methods we have had so far to help Freshmen adjust themselves to the High School.
The Freshman Class has been divided into groups of ten and a teacher as- signed to each group. The duty of the teacher is to advise with his group either individually or as a group during the school year regarding studies and other matters that would have a bearing on the membership in the High School.
Blue Owl
"The Blue Owl", a quarterly publication published by the Attleboro High School Literary Association which is composed entirely of pupils, has started what looks like one of the most successful years in its history. The size of the publi- cation has been increased, new advertising rates formed, as well as many features inside of the covers. The "Attleboro Sun", which publishes the magazine this year, has furnished the staff with a great deal of practical information on how to do their work.
The officers of the organization are:
"Blue Owl" Staff 1929-1930 Editor-in-chief C. Dungan Smith '30
Associate Philip Athanas '31
Associate Basil Simms '32
Business Manager Gertrude Miller '30
Associates Edna Spettigue '30 William Morse '30 Arnold Lundgren '30
Associates Roland Weldon '30 Edwin Bears '30 David Slattery '32
Subscription Manager Arthur White '30
Faculty Advisor-Charles O. Dalrymple
Faculty Treasurer-Miss Ruth Ramsdell
Literary Advisor-Mrs. Lorette Cummings
Department Editors
Literary Editor-Margaret Spellmeyer '30 Thomas Wallace '31 Louise Lobdell '32
School Notes-Marjorie Rhodes '30 Margaret McBrien '31 Madeline Redding '32 Alice Ingerson '32 Frank Goddard '33
165
ANNUAL REPORT
Orchestra Notes-Annie Holther '30 Lois Studley '31
Hoots-William Hannon '30 Laban Bond '31 Eugene Hawkins '32
Athletic Notes-Ruth Estee '30 Joseph O'Donnell '31
Art Department-Ralph Cameron '30 Eleanor Guild '31 William Blackwell '32
Assembly of Comments-Thomas O'Keefe '30
Exchange Editor-Stanley Slosek '30 Joseph Keil '31
Alumni Notes-Dorothy Colby '30 Dorothy Berman '30
Boston Repertory Theater
The pupils and teachers of the High School have been given an opportunity to attend, free of cost, any of the plays produced in this theater. This has been made possible by the generosity of a number of Attleboro people in purchasing tickets and presenting them to the High School.
Last November a party of sixty sophomores attended a production of Mid - summer Night's Dream. This fall about seventy-five sophomores attended the performance of Julius Caesar. Arrangements are being made at this time to send a large group of pupils to see the Merchant of Venice.
The opportunity to see these splendid plays is one which has been deeply appreciated by all who have been benefited by them. A better understanding of Shakespearean genius is always the result of seeing a Shakesperean play actually produced.
School Play
The school play, "The Arrival of Kitty", was given by the pupils Friday evening, April 19th. The play was coached by Mrs. Edward M. Coe.
Cast
Herbert Jerauld.
William Winkler
Margaret Eden.
Aunt Jane, his sister
Evelyn Johnston
Jane, his niece
Herbert Johnson
Bobbie Baxter
Phillip Gatchell
Benjamin Moore
Edward Towle
Ting, a bell-boy
Ariel Taylor
Frank Havey .
Doris Sherman
Kitty, an actress Sam, the colored porter Suzette, Aunt Jane's maid
The High School Library
The Attleboro High School Library is used by an average of one hundred and seven pupils each day. Special topics, current events, note book material and supplementary reading are some of the demands which are met here. Each division of the Freshman class comes to the library five times during the year for
166
ANNUAL REPORT
lessons in the use of the library. Frequently English classes meet here for the study of special types of literature such as biography, drama, poetry, and essays. In order to stimulate a permanent interest for good literature in each student, a large variety of books is necessary. Last year we borrowed five hundred and thirty-eight books from the Public Library. We hope that each year an increasing number of these books will be purchased for the permanent collection at the High School.
The Debating Club
The Debating Club has grown to be one of the most instructive clubs in the High School during the past year. Interesting and instructive talks are given to the members of the club by the faculty members.
Some of the subjects debated in a formal way are: "Resolved: That Capital Punishment Should be Abolished", "That All High Schools Should Adopt Military Training", "That the Child Labor Amendment to the Constitution Should be Ratified", "That the Regent's System of Examinations Should be Adopted in Massachusetts".
Other subjects for debates are being developed and negotiations with other schools for interscholastic debates are two of the problems keeping the members busy at the present time.
Attleboro Hi-Y Club
The Hi-Y Club is a group of older high school boys who, having united in a common and challenging objective, are seeking for themselves and their fellow students the highest standards of life and conduct. Their expressed purpose is:
"To create, maintain, and extend throughout the school and community high standards of Christian Character."
The Attleboro Hi-Y Club. was organized November 1922 with a few high school pupils who were interested in improving conditions as they found them in the school. Since then the club has steadily grown until the membership contains leaders in every walk of high school life.
The accomplishments during these years have been noteworthy and will bear mentioning. A Hi-Y Gospel Team has been formed and has conducted services in churches in this city and surrounding towns. This organization has been very successful and has received state-wide comment.
One of the outstanding events each year has been the annual Faculty Banquet. The purpose has been to acquaint the members of the High School faculty with the objective and program of Hi-Y. It has resulted in a much deeper and finer cooperation between students and faculty. Mr. Roy E. Coombs, State Secretary for work with high school students and young men, has this to say: "I know of no city where so fine a spirit exists between the faculty and students as in Attleboro".
The printing each year of a Freshman Guide made possible by the annual Hi-Y dance, the distribution of athletic schedules, student awards, and Alumni nights are only a few of the projects attempted and carried out.
Membership is not restricted to members of the Y. M. C. A. Those more matured boys of the high school who represent the two upper classes and who are willing to band themselves together to help carry out the purpose and ideals of the Hi-Y Club compose the membership of the club.
German Correspondence
The German department has always felt that the purpose of the study of a foreign language is not only to be able to read and write that language, but to know and understand better the people who speak it. For several years past, the members of the Junior and Senior German classes have had the privilege of corresponding with boys and girls of their own age in Germany.
167
ANNUAL REPORT
'The general plan is as follows: The student receives a letter written in Ger- man from his new friend in Germany, and answers it in his own mother-tongue; the successive letters are written part in German, part in English, each correcting mistakes of his correspondent in the foreign language. Some very delightful friendships have arisen from this exchange of letters. Pictures of Germany, photographs of the writer, books, and Christmas gifts are frequently received by our pupils here, who, of course, return the favors. The students are expected to continue the correspondence for at least one year, and to average at least one letter a month, but in many cases the exchange of letters has lasted for several years and bids fair to continue indefinitely.
Besides the indirect result-appreciation of the other's point of view-the direct results are: enlargement of the vocabulary, especially in the vernacular; improved ability to read and write German; increased interest in the language and in the customs and geography of the country; and stimulation of the desire to travel. At the same time pupils are being, probably unconsciously, drawn into the great international movement for world friendliness.
The French Club
Membership in the French Club is open to pupils registered for French II and French III whose work is of a high standard.
Meetings are held four or five times a year. Programs are prepared and games arranged to give the pupils an opportunity to speak French informally. The last meeting of the year is guest meeting and all pupils of French are invited.
Dramatic Club
A Dramatic Club of fifty members was organized at the High School in September. Meetings are held once a month. At each meeting one or more one- act plays are given.
We try to use plays which are typical of the modern trend in drama and which are interesting to the students. For the three months, October, November and December, the club has given "The Crystal Gazer" by Leopold Montague, "Moon- shine" by Arthur Hopkins, and "Squaring It With the Boss" by J. C. McMullen. Other plays which are being used are, "Confessional" by Percival Wilde and "The Florist Shop" by Winifred Hawkridge. Some of these plays will be given before the school in assembly programs.
The plays have been received most enthusiastically by the club and each group of players has found a keen enjoyment in rehearsals as well as an appreciable gain in imagination, confidence, and cooperation. For each play some member of the club has been responsible for selecting the cast, arranging the rehearsals, and securing properties. This is a real job which has been done cheerfully and well.
It has been customary each year for the High School to give a three-act play. The Dramatic Club, or as it is unofficially known, the Footlight Club, is looking forward to this occasion this year to make its first appearance in public.
The Varsity Club
This is a new organization in the Attleboro High School. This club is com- posed of boys and girls who have been awarded the privilege of wearing the school A by the athletic council.
The purpose of this club is to work with the school on problems having to do with athletics.
16S
ANNUAL REPORT
Commercial Club
A Commercial Club has been organized in the commercial department. The main purpose of the elub is to develop ideals in business as well as to give the pupil more confidence in himself when he accepts a position.
High School Exhibit
The exhibit this year was held in the High School gymnasium on April 15. Work from the Mechanical Drawing Department, Manual Training Department, Free Hand Drawing Department, and from the department of Domestic Arts, Chemistry, and physics was on display.
The work of each department showed in a general way what was covered in each of the four years' work.
Department of Physical Training and Athletics
In physical training work all boys receive two periods a week of work in the gymnasium. This work consists of calisthenics, marching drills, and games. Due to the fact that students are not in gymnasium clothes and have no chance to bathe at the High School, the work is necessarily light and designed to go as far as possible toward developing the body and teaching the fundamentals of several popular games.
In athletics we have a football squad of thirty, a basketball squad of twenty- five, a baseball squad of twenty-five, and a track squad of a varying number work- ing at intervals throughout the year under a separate coach.
In addition to this work of intensive training for a comparatively small number of boys the department is building the intramural side and is creating opportunities for all who wish to participate in athletic sports. In the fall the coach is too busy for extra work. Last winter the class leagues in basketball kept from fifty to seventy-five boys active at the High School gymnasium for two afternoons each week. Last spring the class leagues in baseball kept from forty to sixty boys active at Hayward Field for one game and usually two games each week.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES O. DALRYMPLE
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CONTINUATION SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The following is my tenth annual report as Director of the Attleboro Con- tinuation School, and is for the year ending December 31, 1929. It is the purpose of this report to touch only those phases of the school activities that have not been reviewed in previous years.
Realizing the value of the project method in teaching and wishing to em- phasize pupil enterprise and pupil responsibility, the classes studying interior decoration are taking up the problem of redecoration of the office at the Bank Street School. After a discussion in the classroom of certain underlying principles of good taste in house furnishings, color harmony, good balance, etc., a visit is made to the office and an attempt made to put these principles into practice. We discuss the exposure of the room, the colors to be used, and the suitable ar- rangement of the furnishings. The girls expect to clean and polish the furni- ture, select the material for the curtains, make, and hang themn.
169
ANNUAL REPORT
The boys are included in this project, their contribution being the making of doors for several open bookcases, the laying of a new floor, and the varnishing of the woodwork.
An estimate of the expense of this project will be obtained by the pupils, and then a request will be made for permission to put into effect the result of their study. The care of the office in the future will give ample opportunity for practical demonstration in house cleaning.
In the past the Continuation School has had no definite form by which the work of the school has been measured. however, this year a uniform standard for measuring the functions and methods of the school has been adopted by the State Department of Vocational Education.
It is intended that, after this school year, the work of each continuation school shall be reviewed in accordance with this schedule of characteristics and measured in the particulars therein set forth.
The school serves the pupils on an individual basis in (a) General improve- ment, (b) Adjustment, and (c) Guidance values particularly useful to working minors. These functions of the school are to be measured by the material selected particularly for the working boy or girl in both academic and non-academic classes; and also by the co-operative assistance received from health and social welfare units, public library and other agencies.
The school should adjust, guide, and improve the individual minor in his or her immediate employment. The Continuation School boy and girl should be taught to realize their own capacities as developed through the present job. Guidance is more than a knowledge of the world's work. It is this, plus a realization of indivi- dual ability. One of the chief duties of the continuation school is to study the boy and girl on the job in order to assist in the discovery of latent and undeveloped capacities. These characteristics of the school work are to be measured by the controlled knowledge of the certification factors and also by the knowledge and use of employment facts encountered by the minor. Our school work is also to be measured by the training material which relates to and directly increases the minor's earning power on the job or fits him for more valuable service in his present occupation.
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