USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1930 > Part 16
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Stanley Slosek
The play was directed by Miss Beatrice Smith, school librarian. Miss Dorothy Simonds of the history department acted as faculty business manager.
Commercial Department
The curriculum of the commercial course remains unchanged from that of last year. Commercial arithmetic and penmanship and spelling are required of all freshmen, commercial geography, typewriting and bookkeeping of all sophomores, bookkeeping or stenography and typewriting of all juniors, and economics, commercial law and either accountancy or stenography and type- writing of all seniors. The combined enrollment of these classes at present numbers over eight hundred, the largest registration being in the freshman classes. The senior class of twenty-five in stenography and typewriting is the largest which we have had for a number of years.
Two pieces of equipment have been added to our typewriting room during the year-a Dalton adding maching and a duplicator.
As an incentive to better work the pupils have been encouraged to work for awards in stenography, typewriting and penmanship. As a result of the new ruling whereby no pupil can secure credits in penmanship unless he earns a High School certificate, the number of High School certificates earned last year was much larger than ever before. Many pupils earned certificates and pins offered by the typewriter companies for writing at a given rate of speed with accuracy. This service offered by the typewriter companies has been discon- tinued this fall, much to the disappointment of many pupils who were looking forward to a higher award this year. All the members of last year's senior stenography class earned certificates in the sixty and eighty-word transcription tests.
The Commercial Club which was organized last year for juniors and seniors taking the commercial course held monthly meetings during the winter and spring with an average attendance of twenty-five. The club was fortunate in securing for two of its meetings the following speakers, Miss Hamilton of the First National Bank and Mr. Watson, agent for the New England Life Insurance Company. Educational movies were enjoyed at another meeting.
In order to improve the work in bookkeeping I recommend that it be changed from an unprepared subject of 2 1/2 credits to a prepared subject giving 5 credits.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Curricula Changes
Elementary Science has been changed from a one semester subject to a subject requiring two semesters. Community Civics which was a one semester subject has been changed to Civics and Vocations and requires two semesters' work. A Manual Arts Curriculum has been formed for the freshman year. The subjects are:
English I.
Periods 5
Credits
5
General Science
5
5
Civics and Vocations
5
5
Manual Training.
.6
3
Mechanical Drawing. 4
2
Radio Club
A radio club was organized at the beginning of the school year. Member- ship is open to any pupil in the High School who is interested in radio.
Meetings are held each Wednesday evening at seven o'clock.
The club is making a study of short wave radio apparatus and has constructed a short wave receiving and sending set. The class has heard many foreign stations including England, South America, and Cuba, on the set.
Fifteen members of the class are preparing for the amateur tests which will give them the right to operate a short wave code station.
The club expects to receive a license to operate its transmitter.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES O. DALRYMPLE.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CONTINUATION SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The following is my eleventh annual report as Director of the Attleboro Continuation School, and is for the year ending December 31, 1930.
The activities at this school are along the same general plan that was out- lined to considerable extent in my last report. The school is running along smoothly. It has met the requirements by the State Department, and the following courses have its approval: Academic, Household Mechanics, Wood- working, Child Care, Clothing, Foods and Home Nursing.
The annual banquet in May was given to the members of the school board, a representative of the Attleboro Daily Sun, and Miss Anna Kloss, State Super- visor of Teacher-Training. The objective of this banquet was to demonstrate to those present what had been taught the girls during the year in preparing and serving meals. The demonstration was so well executed that the instructors and students received high commendation from the guests.
From time to time we have placed quite a number of girls in homes as mothers' helpers. So well trained are they at the school that their employment has been satisfactory in nearly all the cases. We have more calls for this kind of help than we can fill. We like to have the girls enter this kind of employment as we feel it will best supplement what they have been taught here, and will fit them for real homemakers.
The one outstanding accomplishment undertaken this year was the project to completely renovate the principal's office. A study of the room was made
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ANNUAL REPORT
and it was decided that there should be a new floor, that the ceiling and walls should be redecorated, the woodwork cleaned and varnished, the window sash drawn, the open bookcases built over and enclosed, new shades and curtains for the windows and electric lights installed.
The real work on the project had to be preceded by extensive study and training. The pupils studied the exposure of the room and decided on the color of the ceiling and walls. They interviewed a decorator and let the contract for the work. The next question was what kind of floor to lay in regard to ex- pense and service. They obtained the price and learned the durability of lino- leum, inquired the price of a hardwood floor and the best kind of wood to use. They finally arrived at the conclusion that an oak floor would be much cheaper than linoleum, and that a great deal of training would be obtained in laying it. When the floor was completed, sanded, filled and varnished it was a job well worthy of much more experienced workers.
The next object of their attention was the woodwork and office furniture To remove the old varnish and put on new without marring the newly decorated walls required unusual care. The window sash was repainted. The building of the bookcases and supply closets with glass doors entailed a great many opera- tions. They learned the importance of exact measuring, and received training in sawing, planing, setting glass, making mortice and tenon joints, and squaring and hanging doors.
The girls went to the store with the instructors, bought the shades and selected the materials for the draperies, and the curtains for the bookcases. Practically all the girls took part in making and hanging the curtains and draperies. They selected the fibre rug for the center of the room, the electric light fixtures, and made new pillows for the couch.
When the boys and girls had finished their objective there was a remarkable change in the appearance of the office.
After the office was completed, Mrs. Abbie C. Hill, principal of the Tiffany School, visited it and was so well pleased with the improvements made that she asked if we could send a committee of girls from the continuation school to look over her office and teachers' room and offer suggestions in regard to making them more attractive. We gladly sent the committee. They made suggestions which were accepted and their plans were put into effect. They themselves had no small part in the actual work of making the improvements.
The project method of teaching is very good procedure to follow whenever possible. The pupils come into contact with actualities. They learn the im- portance of correct figuring, correct measurements, and good letter writing. They receive practice in buying, in letting contracts, and in judging values. We as instructors when doing this kind of work realize more and more that boys and girls between the ages of fourteen and sixteen under proper direction can ac- complish a great deal more than is generally expected of them, and that they become greatly interested in the right kind of projects.
In closing I wish to express my appreciation to all who have helped to make the continuation school work pleasant and progressive.
Respectfully submitted,
MILTON P. DUTTON.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF AMERICANIZATION
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
This is my eighth annual report as Director of Americanization. It covers the period from December 1, 1929 to December 1, 1930. It is necessarily much the same, except in minor details, as the reports submitted in past years.
As usual my activities covered many phases of citizenship work, the more important of which included class and private instruction and the filling out of citizenship application forms.
A summary of the work for the year is as follows:
First papers filled out . 39
Second papers filled out. 32
First papers mailed to examiner 33
Second papers mailed to examiner .37
Personal interviews for other than papers 31
Home visits. 2
Personal letters written. 20
Class instruction 92 hrs.
Private instruction. 4 hrs.
Telephone calls made and answered innumerable
Lost papers recovered .. 2
30
Notices sent to first and second paper applicants ..
Attended two naturalization sessions at Taunton Court
Attended examination of petitioners for citizenship at Attleboro Post Office
Addressed the following organizations on Naturalization Work in Attleboro: American Legion G. A. R. Dining Club Republican City Committee Lions Club
Secured legal advice for aliens summoned to court for minor offenses
Secured and filled out blanks as follows:
For Record of Registry 2
For Derivative Citizenship 1
For Extension of Visit. 1 For affidavit concerning residence. 1
Went to Taunton as witness for applicant
Visited Council Session and voting booth with class
Attended convention at Greenfield
Visited Washington and Lincoln Schools and spoke to pupils about assisting parents with citizenship papers-later spent two evenings in each school filling out papers.
Other unclassified services included distribution of literature in person and by mail, record of entry to United States obtained, notices and articles written to the Attleboro Sun, assistance rendered to those who failed to qualify for citizen- ship at Taunton, a business letter in Spanish translated, information given relative to securing passports, to visiting in Canada, to registration of voters, to admission to U. S. extra quota, to new law concerning status of native born woman married to an alien, to starting classes for aliens in Norton.
From the above it will be seen that this work covers a wide range of activities. One must be prepared either to give help or refer the applicant to some source of help. It has been my earnest endeavor to serve each seeker as fully as possible and to secure the desired results if within my power. In some instances this has required much time and persistent effort. One case will illustrate. It concerns a gentleman who came here many years ago, arriving as a sailor and
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ANNUAL REPORT
at last settling here. When work became dull he went to Canada for a time and returned later. No record of his original arrival could be found and no citizen- ship papers could be secured without one. After much correspondence with the naturalization officials and much questioning of the man himself, it was found that he had the proper passport records from the Swedish consulate in Canada, issued when he returned to the U. S. from his stay there. This man obtained his final citizenship certificate in September and he and his wife were proud and happy voters in the recent city election. Both are extremely grate- ful for the service rendered. It is a source of great satisfaction to me to see frequently, about the city, those whom it has been my privilege to assist to citizenship.
There have been some calls from persons out of town, from North Attleboro, Mansfield, Seekonk, and Norton. In each case the same assistance was given as if they had been within the city limits. In fact it might almost be said that the scope of this work recognizes no territorial limits.
In September, two young ladies from Wheaton College called to ask how to go about organizing classes, as they contemplated opening some at Norton. Recently I learned that classes have been started there under their direction.
Under the new law, requirements for citizenship are more exacting. Two photographs of the applicant, of very definite specifications, a post office money order, and any records such as passports, must accompany the application form. These exacting requirements make it necessary for each applicant to call twice before the preparation of his papers is completed. Experience has shown that applicants make errors in some of these details if left to themselves, so that extra oversight is needed to save both time and trouble. All this to- gether with the increased fees has no doubt deterred many from taking out their papers. I know of some who, after learning the cost, decided not to continue. In order to lessen the expense to those who apply, it has been my endeavor to have one session of the naturalization court brought back to Attleboro, as in former years. To this end I have enlisted the aid of our representative, Dr. Holden, our state senator, Mr. Moran, and the Republican City Committee. As yet the result is not known, but earnest efforts are being made. If this is successful it will benefit people of Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield and Norton, who might wish to become citizens.
During the year, the citizenship class visited the polling place and a council session, after which the work of both places was explained and discussed in class. It is my purpose to invite men holding various civic positions, to speak to the class during the coming year.
On invitation of the Republican City Committee the class attended a banquet as guests of that organization.
Twenty persons who had been at some time connected with the class, re- ceived citizenship certificates in September and March at Taunton. These persons are taught in class, not simply the answers to the questions concerning history and government which the naturalization examiner may ask them, but are given as much as instruction can give the meaning, the purpose and the spirit of that which we call our American form of government. Classes vary from year to year in intelligence and interest .. This year the class is unusually alert.
Every possible source of supply of citizenship literature is used. This year some very helpful material was obtained from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. There are many civic and patriotic organizations which are glad to furnish such matter free.
It is a source of great satisfaction to me to have been able to open a school at South Attleboro. Forty-three people have enrolled and two classes are organ- ized. The attendance has been excellent. Only four sessions were held to December 1st. The first night sixteen attended, the next night thirty-two and this
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ANNUAL REPORT
average has been kept. Beginners English is taught in one class and intermediate English in the other. The interest is keen and I believe would justify us in opening two nights per week.
During July there were many calls made upon me, an average of one a day. Many of these were by persons who contemplated a vacation in Canada and were anxious to be certain of being allowed to return.
Although immigration from Europe is reduced, there is no reduction from Canada, and many Canadians are now seeking citizenship. This is due in part to a policy adopted in some places, of employing only those who are citizens. In this time of business depression this seems only fair to our own people. Then, too, lack of employment has brought some to a realization of their handicap through lack of education. They now seek to remedy this and are enrolling in evening school classes. The state is promoting a plan which is intended to supply further and specialized work for continued study to four classes of people, namely:
1. Pupils in advanced classes of adult aliens.
2. Graduates of Americanization classes.
3. Men and women who feel the need of further education along special lines.
4. Adults unemployed or "misfits" in their jobs.
The plan which is too lengthy to discuss here is being recommended by the Commission on Enrichment of Adult Life. Its purpose, as expressed in the name, is to give greater opportunity to adults to enrich their lives by study along chosen lines. I believe this is worth while and should be given wide publicity to the end that many in Attleboro may take advantage of it.
Classes as organized December 1, 1929, compared with classes December 1, 1930.
Enrollment
Begin- ners 17
Inter- mediate 11 12
Ad- vanced 15
Grammar School Subjects 12 50
Citizen- ship
1929
9
1930.
6
16
25
Average Attendance
1929
13
9
13
13
7
1930
4
10
10
23
12
It will be seen that the enrollment in all classes except beginners is larger than in 1929 and that the class in grammar school subjects is unusually large.
Classes in Washington School :
Enrolled Av. Attendance
Beginners.
15
Intermediate.
20 23
17
The racial groups represented in all these classes are:
Polish
Swedish
Portuguese
Irish
English Italian
Canadian (English)
Russian
Canadian (French)
Negro
German
Scotch
American
During the coming year I would like to see the school at South Attleboro opened two nights a week instead of one. I believe it would also be helpful if some plan could be worked out along the lines suggested by the Committee on Enrichment of Adult Life, so that courses might be offered in many subjects
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ANNUAL REPORT
to those adults who wished to continue their education along special lines. This might necessitate the opening of another class similar to that taught by Miss Palmer.
In my own class work it would be very helpful to have a set of specially selected slides on History and Civics. These would be useful, not only to me in this work but could be used to good advantage in the upper grades and high school classes. I wish some way might be found to obtain such a collection.
In closing this report I desire to thank the editor of the Attleboro Sun for his cheerful cooperation in the publicity which he has always been so willing to give the citizenship work. I desire also to express my gratitude to you and to the committee for the interest and support you have given, especially in the matter of opening the school at South Attleboro.
Respectfully submitted, A. IRVIN STUDLEY.
FINBERG SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The vocational activities of the Finberg School for the year 1929-1930 were as follows*
Adults
Home Arts Classes Mrs. Tennant Monday, Thursday 6:30-8:30 Tuesday, Thursday 6:30-8:30
Dressmaking and Sewing Miss Ryan
Home Nursing
Mrs. Wendell Monday 6:30-8:30
Children's Clubs
High School Girls
Miss Hirons
Wednesday 6:30-8:30
Senior Girls
Miss Heywood
Tuesday 3:30-4:30
Senior Boys
Mr. Ousley Monday 6:30-8:30
Junior Boys
Mr. Ousley
Thursday 6:30-8:30
Community Cottage
Branch of Public Library
Tuesday 2:30-7:30
Child Welfare Conference, District Nurses'
Association
Tuesday 3:30-4:30
With the completion of our new building it is expected that the community activities of our building will increase.
The auditorium will foster the use of moving pictures, lectures and other large gatherings. It is also hoped that the gymnasium will interest the older boys.
It seems just at present as if the opportunity for service to the community is unlimited.
Respectfully submitted,
MARTHA J. ROBERTS.
Miss Jacques Tuesday 6:30-8:30
Junior Girls
Miss Claflin
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
Someone has said that "Music is a joy forever" and to write a report of the music activities of the pupils in the Attleboro schools is to tell of the joy of the children in participating in that part of the school program which they can so well perform, and that is singing.
Beginning with the first grade, action songs, and other songs of childish interest are taught, emphasis being laid on the development of tone purity and good articulation. Special help is given to those who are deficient in pitch, in order to bring them into the realm of music. This in the majority of cases is accomplished although there may be exceptional cases where due to heredity, environment, or physical defect this may be retarded, we find that the association with singing children and a patient teacher the pupil learns to sing in tune with the rest of the class.
Though learning to sing is the principal function of Music in the schools, there is an effort made to teach the pupil to read music. This is started in the second grade, through the use of simple exercises in which class and indiviual recitations are combined. This method is continued in the third and fourth grades. Two part singing is added in the fifth grade, and three part singing in the sixth and seventh grades.
In the eighth grade we are able to begin the study of four part singing.
If singing is the finest thing a pupil can do in music, then I think something has been accomplished for in all the schools of the city, the children sing well, sing in tune and sing as children should sing. This is due to the intelligent cooperation of the regular teacher in bringing the joy of singing into the lives of the pupils.
In all school buildings where there is an assembly hall, singing has become one of the greatest inspirational exercises, where it is possible to measure the music work of the grades, and to see the great value of that work in its relation to the good of the school as a whole. When the entire school sings, patriotic songs seem to inspire us to a greater service to our country. Christmas music seems more beautiful, and the great hymns and folk songs of our generation take on a new and deeper meaning.
The interest in musical instruments in the grades is one of continual growth.
The Bliss, Sanford, Richardson, Tiffany and Lincoln Schools have formed orchestra groups which are of value in keeping alive the spirit of music. The Bliss School has also a harmonica band that helped to add variety to the school programs.
I have always believed that it was beneficial and not detrimental to the educational life of a pupil to associate himself with some form of instrumental music, therefore I have encouraged any and all effort that appears to bring him in closer touch with music.
High School
Music in the High School has been of unusual interest this year, because we are now enjoying the opportunity of hearing the entire school in assembly singing. This has been made possible through the use of a song book for each pupil and the music accompaniment of the large orchestra. This exercise is one that is enjoyed by pupils and teachers alike at the morning assembly and is at times very inspirational.
The Glee Club meets once a week after school hours and devotes its time to the study of part singing. It also takes a very important part in the annual
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ANNUAL REPORT
concert and is available for any special occasions where vocal music is needed. The Glee Club received high commendation for its singing of the incidental music for the pageant presented by the schools at the Tercentenary Celebration.
The High School orchestra graduates from its ranks every year from ten to fifteen members. This is of course a great set back as far as musical growth is concerned, but we have been fortunate in having enough of younger players to take their places, and we attempt to carry on using the best music that it is possible for them to play. The orchestra is used at all school affairs and also gives one of the best public concerts of the season. I am not ready to change my policy in regard to the orchestra and though many musicians do not agree with me I still believe that the orchestra should give the opportunity to play to all pupils who wish to do so.
That the orchestra is of great interest to the musical people of the city is evident from the donations from time to time of new music from various people and the special gift this year of a Boehm flute from the Chaminade Club.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN LAING GIBB.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
As in the past our objective is to develop the power of appreciation, and to encourage creative work. We do not limit appreciation to our picture study, but are trying to get the children to feel the importance of art in life, and find that the principles we emphasize in school problems exist in the outside things within their range. Creative work leads also to appreciation, for after the child has produced he is more interested in the expression of others.
Our drawing course changes somewhat every year in the application of principles. We are always trying for problems in which the child is interested.
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