USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1936 > Part 8
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At one time the adage "art for art's sake" was a familiar saying in industry and education alike; and its adaptation as such has proven satisfactory only in effect.
Today such common phrases as "fitness to purpose", "beautifying the use- ful", "art for better use of leisure time", "art for a more rounded, richer life" and many more similar sayings, make art more vital and purposeful in the aims and ideals of our modern system of education.
With these objectives in mind, the curriculum for art education in the elementary grades has been planned for the school year from September, 1936, to June, 1937, as follows:
Every month every teacher receives a carefully planned outline of work suitable for the grade she teaches. In order to stimulate ideas on the part of both teachers and pupils, a list of objectives for the grade for the year is placed at the beginning of every outline. This enables a teacher to deviate from the regular outline, in so far as the main objectives for the grade are carried out. It also makes art work more purposeful as it allows the teacher more time to work out specific problems of her class, at the opportune time when they will be most effective.
The outlines also contain extra charts for general information on the subject. The following methods are incorporated to achieve all objectives.
Freehand drawing Project work Picture study a. creative expression Mechanical drawing, simple measuring
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ANNUAL REPORT
Two schools and several classrooms throughout the system have already applied their art work to the regular school work effectively through the develop- ment of projects. Projects help to make regular classroom studies more real and interesting to the pupils, also instructing them in the proper use of materials through the actual applications of all the principles of their art education.
I hope that through art, the progress of visual education will be furthered in our school system.
Respectfully submitted,
Myrtice A. Perrin.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
There are certain characteristics that are basic to an adequate program of physical and health education in our schools.
I believe that every pupil enrolled should have a health and physical educa- tion program daily. Physical activity is essential for normal growth and develop- ment, and for health maintenance.
The length of the physical education periods should be related to the age of the pupils. Our time allotment of thirty minutes each day divided into three periods, two recesses and one physical education period, is ample. Lower grades may have extra periods when they are judged necessary by the teacher.
The physical education program should be largely natural in type, rather than formal. Play which involves natural body movements and the big muscles is more interesting to children than participation in formal exercises invented by adults, although these have their place in posture work, and are used to a great extent.
All children should be taught the groundwork of good posture. A very definite program of posture education is now being carried on, and will be added to from year to year.
Girls should not engage in inter-school athletic contests; intramural games and play days are more developmental for the great mass of girls.
Boys' inter-school athletic leagues are valuable, although no highly organized inter-school athletic competition should be provided for pupils below the seventh grade.
With only one gymnasium in the center of the city, all our grammar school gym work has to be there. The following schools use the high school gym from four-thirty to six-thirty p. m. daily from September to March: Bank St, Bliss, Richardson, Sanford St. and Tiffany. The time schedule is bad, but it is the only solution. One fine grammar school gymnasium in the center would allow for a much better time schedule for the boys and girls, and would make possible a broader program. At present we have over three hundred pupils using the gym during the basketball season. Lincoln and Finberg schools with their fine gymnasiums have far greater opportunities than the central schools. At Fin- berg school the seventh and eighth grade girls and boys enjoy half-hour gymna- sium periods weekly. At Lincoln school, half-hour outdoor gym periods for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades are held during the good weather. On account of the cement floor in this gym, indoor work is practically impossible with the exception of basketball. All of our schools have very fine outdoor organized play periods during most of the year. When it becomes recessary to go indoors, the following activities are enjoyed: posture exercises, marching tactics, games, stunts, achievement tests, dancing, rhythms and inter-room
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ANNUAL REPORT
athletic competition. All of the major sports with the exception of football are fostered in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
After School Athletics
Soccer Football-6 teams, 150 boys, 12 games.
Fall Baseball-4 teams, 50 boys, 4 games.
Touch Football-12 teams, 132 boys, 23 games.
Basketball-8th grade: 9 teams, 125 boys, 32 games.
6th-7th grades: 6 teams, 250 boys, 50 games. 8th grade: 125 girls received instructions in fundamentals. City-wide Public School Basketball Tournament: 24 teams, 168 boys.
Hockey-High School Inter-class league: 4 teams, 100 boys.
Swimming-Arranged for 275 boys to receive instructions.
Tennis-175 boys and girls playing informally. 1 tournament for Bank Street girls.
Baseball-Eighth grades: 6 teams, 125 boys, 18 games. 6th-7th grades: 12 teams, 350 boys, 20 games. Suburban School League: 3 teams, 45 boys, 6 games.
Grammar School Track: Annual grammar school meet: 10 teams, 175 boys. High School Track-1 team, 57 boys, 8 meets.
Horseshoes-1 tournament, 20 boys, Vocational School.
Football-Older Boys' City League: 4 teams, 100 boys, 16 games.
This league was under my supervision, although most of the boys had left school.
Red Cross First-Aid-1 class, 22 boys and girls.
Red Cross Life-Saving-1 class, 35 boys.
Championships Awarded
Soccer Football-Tiffany School
Eighth Grade Basketball-Bank St. School
Sixth-Seventh Grade Basketball-Bliss School
Eighth Grade Baseball-Bank St. School Sixth-Seventh Grade Baseball-Bliss School
Suburban League Baseball-Dodgeville School
Grammar School Track Meet-Richardson School
Sixth-Seventh Grade Girls Gym Meet-Bliss School
Eighth Grade Girls Gym Meet-Bliss School
The eighth grade eligibility rule as finally adopted reads as follows:
A pupil must attain a general average of 70%, and must not fall below an average of 60% in any major subject, in order to be eligible. An ineligible pupil may not play until his next report card brings him up to the average required.
A boy becomes immediately ineligible upon reaching his seven- teenth birthday.
The annual health day programs this year took the form of physical educa- tion field days. Capron Park was used by Tiffany School and Horton Field by Bank St. School.
I wish to emphasize again the value of grammar school athletics as a ground- work for our high school teams, as well as worthwhile physical education activity which gives instruction and pleasure to five or six hundred boys and girls in the course of a year.
During the past year I have attended the annual coaching school at North- easterr University in Boston, the coaching institute at LaSalle Academy, nad the New England water sports institute at the Boston Y. M. C. A., in cooperation with the American Red Cross.
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ANNUAL REPORT
To all who have assisted me in my program, principals, teachers and alumni of the various schools, I wish to extend my sincere thanks. The cooperation of the Park Commissioners, Recreation Board and Y. M. C. A. has been much appreciated. League awards made at the Jewelry Trades School has been a wonderful help in the athletic program, and the Vocational School has been ready and willing to assist me at all times.
Thanking you and the school committee for your cooperation, I submit this report.
Respectfully submitted,
J. Ray Cooney.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I submit, herewith, my report as School Physician for the year 1936.
It is difficult for the public to appreciate the number of health measures which are carried on annually in the public schools in behalf of the school child. Numerous clinics are held for disease prevention in addition to the annual physi- cal examination.
Dental caries still remains the outstanding problem that confronts us from a health standpoint. The time has arrived for something definite to be done towards its alleviation. Our greatest defensive weapon is education applied both to the child and to the parent. It is impossible under present conditions to carry on an adequate program of dental education. A sound dental program should be insisted upon. Many localities have experimented with makeshift arrangements which have resulted in failure. They have on many occasions even been a detriment to the child's health. I hope that some system can be effected in the very near future for a dental program which will meet with the approval of our local dentists as well as the health authorities.
Among the communicable diseases prevalent during the year were German measles, chicken pox, mumps, common cold and intestinal grippe. Special examinations were made in the individual rooms reporting the incidence of these diseases. An attempt was made to control the spread of the contagion. Children reporting back to school were first required to present a medical certificate stating that they were free from all symptoms.
The Chadwick Clinic was held and 137 children were X-Rayed and examined.
A "Chest Clinic" was operated under the direction of Dr. Garnet Smith of the Bristol County Tuberculosis Hospital, during the early part of the year. The clinic was concerned with children in the upper grades. Its main object was the prevention of adolescent tuberculosis. 834 pupils were examined in this group.
At a clinic held for the examination of mentally retarded pupils, 70 children were examined.
A Diphtheria Prevention Clinic was carried on at the Finberg and Washing- ton schools, under the supervision of the local Health Department. 70 children were immunized by the School Physician.
A Vaccination Clinic was held at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital where children were vaccinated, having been referred to this clinic by welfare agencies. Twenty-one children had tonsilectomies performed at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital, the School Nurse making the arrangements.
Health Day was observed in the schools as in the past year. The subject "Play" was stressed in the program as recommended by the state. Appropriate talks, movies and playlets stressing health were given.
In closing I would recommend for your consideration the establishment of additional rooms for the mentally retarded children.
A detailed report follows:
104
January
February
March
April
May
June.
July.
August .
September
October
November
December
Totals
Schools Visited
10
20
13
17
16
24
14
18
15
13
160
Physical Examinations
101
664
115
576
759
293
257
529
459
614
4367
Office Visits
57
243
322
63
46
121
16
26
43
54
991
Vaccinations.
1
47
7
55
First Aid.
0
Examination for Athletics
92
17
45
154
Home Calls
1
2
3
Special Examinations .
37
16
43
37
1379
1
160
18 1691
Diphtheria Immunization
70
70
Working Certificates.
5
1
4
1
3
2
12
8
3
4
43
Respectfully submitted,
Jesse W. Battershall, M. D.
ANNUAL REPORT
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my annual report as School Nurse, for the year 1936.
School nursing, often called the step-child of Public Health Nursing, has four distinct, yet closely allied services to offer. Service to the child; service to the parents; service to the teachers and service to the community. I hope that through this report you will feel that each has had its share.
Communicable Diseases
Daily class room inspections were carried on in all rooms where the children had been exposed to a communicable disease during the incubation period.
German Measles. Occurred during March and continued until the closing of schools in June. Many high school pupils were afflicted. The mildness of the disease made it difficult to control.
Scarlet Fever. Several sporadic cases occurred.
Chicken Pox. Many cases reported through the schools, although in most cases, the pupils were not seen by their family doctors.
Mumps. Several sections reported cases during the year, while in November some 14 cases occurred at Sanford St. School.
Grippe and Colds. Were prevalent in January, while in March a Gastro- Intestinal disturbance caused such distress that Dr. Richard McKnight, County Health Officer, came here to check on the situation. Fortunately it lasted but a few days, with no ill effects.
Absentees
Children, absent from school for three days or more, are required to present a certificate from the School Physician or their family physician. This safeguards the health of the other children, by preventing a child from returning to school before his complete recovery, or the danger of infection is over.
First Aid
First Aid is given whenever the occasion arises. Instructions to the princi- pals, as to the proper procedure, are given. Except in minor injuries, parents are notified and advised to take the child to their family physician.
During the year, several serious accidents have occurred on the playgrounds, three necessitating hospitalization. This should be a challenge to all of us to be on guard constantly in our supervision of the children and our instruction in Accident Prevention.
Physical Examinations-Home Calls-Correction of Defects
The following is a detailed report of the findings of the Physical Examinations:
Children enrolled . 3064
Children examined. 2954 or 96%
Children free from defects 1466 or 48%
Children with poor nutrition. 491 or 16%
Children with dental decay. 1080 or 35%
Children with diseased tonsils. 76 or 2%
Children with heart murmurs. 20 or 1%
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ANNUAL REPORT
Notices of these defects were sent home to the parents stressing the ad- visability of consulting with their family doctor or dentist at once. If time permitted it would be ideal to follow up each one of these notices with a home call to further discuss and explain the necessity for immediate correction.
Two hundred twenty-two home calls were made whereby a closer bond between school and home was established. Case histories for clinics, consent for tonsil operations and permission for children to go to camp was obtained on these visits.
Tonsil and Adenoid Operations
Twenty-one tonsil and adenoid operations were done at the Sturdy Hospital in May and June. These were done upon the advice of either family or clinic physicians, in preparation for camp or for general health improvement.
Glasses
Of the 196 children in school wearing glasses, 26 received their eye examina- tion through the kindness of Dr. Conro, who every year aids greatly in the correction of these defects. As we haven't any fund to provide free glasses after the eye examination has been made, contact with either a welfare organization or some interested group like the Parent-Teacher Organization or Mothers Club has to be made. They in turn either purchase the glasses outright or else finance the glasses, allowing the parent to pay back the cost in small amounts. In this way the child receives the benefit of his glasses sooner than otherwise.
Dental Work
Only those who have close contact with the children in our schools can fully realize the urgent necessity for proper dental care. We hope before another year passes that a well organized dental clinic will be functioning, supplemented by a well planned educational program in the schools.
Ten camp children received dental care in May and June, provided by the Public Welfare and Family Welfare Association.
Clinics
Vaccination clincs under the supervision of the Health Department were held at the Sturdy Hospital. The first and largest was held early in September with smaller ones in October and November. Only those children whose families were financially unable to afford a private physician were vaccinated by Dr. Battershall.
The Diphtheria Prevention Clinic, under the supervision of the Health Department, was held on October 8, 15 and 22 in South Attleboro and Hebron- ville. Seventy children and babies were immunized.
The Mental Clinic, under the supervision of Wrentham State School, ex- amined 70 retarded and problem children in April.
The Chadwick Clinic for the prevention of tuberculosis, under the super- vision of the State, X-Rayed and examined 137 children in January and March. Ninety-eight per cent of the parents were present. Two weeks were required for the X-Raying and three weeks for the physical examinations.
Another clinic, called the "School Clinic" is operated by the County. This clinic, started here for the first time in February, is also for the prevention of tuberculosis. As statistics show, the increase in tuberculosis is greater in the
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ANNUAL REPORT
adolescent age group. This clinic examines children annually in grades 7-9-11. The following is a detailed report of the findings of this clinic:
Number of children in Grades 7:9-11. 834
Number of children tested for tuberculosis. 496-59%
Number of children reacted. 163-19%
Number of children X-Rayed 163-19% Number of children examined. 26- - 3%
Number of children with positive or suspicious X-Rays.
22- 2%
Number of children with observation cases . 26- - 3%
Every year this last group will be examined along with the new group. Eventually this clinic will absorb the State Clinic.
From 6-8 weeks are required for the operating of these clinics. They re- quire the full time services of the nurse, which necessitates the cancelling of her regular daily program. This is far from satisfactory but unavoidable.
Health Camp
Ten boys and ten girls were given the opportunity to spend four weeks each at Bristol County Health Camp. These 20 children were recommended to camp by the two clinics, mentioned above. Gains in weight and a better under- standing of healthful living were accomplished.
Child Health Day
May 1, Child Health Day, was celebrated in all the schools with suitable activities. As "Play" was the subject suggested by the State Physical Director, the children had plenty of opportunity to express themselves in field day stunts. Health movies, lectures and plays were also given.
Classes
Classes in Infant Hygiene were held throughout the year in the Continuation School. These classes prove of great value to the girls, who use the certificate they receive at the completion of the course, as a guarantee to the mothers who hire them to care for their children and babies, that they are well informed of the best in infant and child care. Talks to the pupil nurses at the Sturdy Hospital on School Nursing are given, as well as to other interested groups such as the Mothers Clubs and Scouts.
First Aid has been taught daily to small groups of Scouts this fall.
Professional Improvement
June. A luncheon, followed by a lecture on mental hygiene, at the Taunton State Hospital was attended. Inspection of the Hospital, and the meeting with social workers, doctors and teachers of the institution proved most interesting.
October. The State and Public Health Nurses Health Institute was attended. Newer trends in Public Health Nursing were discussed.
November. A two-day Institute on "Communicable Diseases" at the Teachers College, Bridgewater, was attended. Regular class room review and the discussion of the care and treatment of these diseases, made this institute of great value to all who attended.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Weekly meetings of Attleboro Public Health Nurses and Social workers are held, when a round table discussion of local problems and cases are heard.
The summary of the year's work is as follows:
School
Visits
School
Visits
Bank Street
31
High
21
Bliss ..
58
Lincoln. 38
Briggs Corner 28
Plat. 29
Capron.
30
Pleasant Street. 32
Carpenter Street
32
Richardson .
39
Continuation
34
Sanford Street.
59
Dodgeville
37
South Attleboro.
22
Farmers
35
Tiffany 42
Finberg
32
Washington 46
317
328
Total
645
Total number of visits to schools
645
Total number of visits to homes.
222
Total number of miles covered on school duty 2507
Total number of sanitary inspections
158
Total number examined at Mental Clinic.
70
Total number examined at Chadwick Clinic
137
Total number tested at County School Clinic.
496
Total number given eye examinations by Dr. Conro
26
Total number for whom glasses were obtained
26
Total number referred to Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston
6
Total number referred to Children's Hospital, Boston.
2
Total number sent to Bristol County Health Camp
20
Total number given T. A. T. (diphtheria) innoculations
70
Total number of tonsil and adenoid operations.
21
Total number given First Aid. 243
Total number of children taken to Sturdy Hospital for First Aid treatment. 3
8
Total number referred to Public Welfare
34
Total number referred to S. P. C. C. 5
In closing, may I thank all who have helped me in the fulfillment of my many duties, by their assistance, cooperation and encouragement.
Respectfully submitted, Dorothy B. Wendell, R. N.
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I hereby submit my report as Attendance Officer for 1936. I have in- vestigated 133 cases and have found the causes of absences as follows: Absent on Account of Clothing 9
Absent on Account of Illness
24
Absent to Work.
24
Detained by parents for other causes.
22
Left school.
2
Taken to Court.
1
Truants. . 34
Attending School out of Town 3
7
Negligence
Disciplinary cases 7
133 Thirty-six of the above cases were for Continuation and Vocational School. Respectfully submitted, Charles T. Crossman.
Total number referred to Family Welfare
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE CUSTODIAN OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my annual report as Custodian of School Buildings.
In rendering my report this year I feel that we have accomplished some very needed improvements. The only work we did under WPA was an extension of our last project of 1935, in which there was a balance left that allowed us to re- finish the stairways, coat rooms and toilet rooms in the Middle Building at Sanford Street.
Two other projects were submitted-one for painting Lincoln, Tiffany, Bank Street and Pleasant Street Schools outside, and one to refinish basements in most of the schools. While the Government made an allotment to do this work, no money was appropriated by the City because no painters were available.
However, the City did appropriate money enough to overhaul much of our heating equipment.
At Briggs Corner the two old hot-air furnaces were replaced with a steam boiler and oil burner and the building is now up to date in heating system.
At Dodgeville two hot-air furnaces were repaired with new fire pots and domes. One hot-air furnace was removed and replaced with a steam boiler and an oil burner to heat hallways and two back rooms.
At Tiffany School all four hot air furnaces were reset with new fire pots and domes. A new steam boiler replaced the one that gave out last spring and the entire return system renewed. Also five Vacu-Drafts were installed, one for each heating unit.
At Washington School, four hot-air furnaces were repaired, two reset and two had new fire pots and domes. Five Vacu-Drafts were installed in this building.
At Bank Street two hot-air furnaces have new fire pots and domes with two Vacu-Drafts.
At Sanford Street one furnace has a new fire pot and dome, and also one Vacu-Draft.
Another big improvement is the new wire fence at Finberg School on the Knight Avenue and Webber Avenue sides of the school lot. Wire fences have also been erected at Bliss, South Attleboro and Sanford Street schools.
As usual there have been minor repairs too numerous to mention in detail, but which run into a cost of from $4000 to $5000 each year.
I feel that we can look back upon this year's work with considerable satisfac- tion in that we will save quite a sum of money in the heating cost of our schools.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles T. Crossman.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the Police Department
To His Honor the Mayor and the Municipal Council, City of Attleboro:
Gentlemen:
I hereby respectfully submit a report of the receipts and expenses, together with a detailed statement of the work of the Police Department of the City of Attleboro, during the year 1936.
Financial Statement
The appropriation for the Department, with the expenditures for the year 1936, are in summary as follows:
Appropriations
For Payrolls of Officers
$49,062.24
For Care and Maintenance of Equipment.
5,050.00
For Other Expenses.
3,472.00
For New Equipment.
1,000.00
For Committing Prisoners to Jail.
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