USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1938 > Part 7
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2736
93%
1936-1937
2933
96%
1937-1938.
2619
£5%
Penmanship papers are judged by the Falmer Company and the awards are made by them.
THE SCHOOL SAVINGS BANK Statement December 31, 1938 Dr.
Bal. on deposit Jan. 1, 1938, including int. ($1,410.5S) . $4,091.72
Deposits in First National Bank from Jan. 1, 1938-Dec. 31, 1938. 5,655.94
Interest from November 1937 to November 193S 67.71
$2,815.37
Cr.
Transferred to pupils' individual accounts, Jan. 1, 1938 to Dec. 31, 1938. S 5,756.00
Withdrawn, 1938, from interest to cover expenses. 12.96
Bal. on deposit Dec. 31, 1938, including int. ($1,465.33) 4,046.41
$9,815.37
Total amount deposited since October, 190S $183,585.13
Number of individual accounts opened at First National Bank from October 1908 to December 31, 1937 . .6597
January 1938 to December 31, 1938. 174
6771
Number of pupils depositing in the school bank December 31, 1938 1445
Deposits Since the Establishment of the Bank in 1903
Year
Deposits
1908-1927 (inclusive)
. $116,362.48
8,752.85 1928.
1929
8,586.30
1930
7,853.17
1931
8,026.85
1932
5,165.36
1933
3,713.67
1934
3,941.93
1935
4,503.35
1936
5,072.90
1937
5,950.33
1938.
5,655.94
Total
$183,5$5.13
125
ANNUAL REPORT
The Attleboro schools do not attempt to provide all the educational ad- vantages offered in the large cities. But with the means at our disposal, we are trying to give each boy and girl such preparation for life as the pupil needs. The High School prepares for college, technical school, nursing and clerical work. It lays a strong foundation for music, art, and manual arts trades. The Voca- tion School takes boys and girls from the grades and fits them for such jobs as they arc likely to secure according to the survey made by the instructors. The Jewelry Trades School attempts to teach the fundamentals of a few trade; in the jewelry industry. Throughout the schools, teachers are trying to reach the individual pupil and to give him the corrrect attitude towards work and his social environment. How well the schools are succeeding may be judged by the output.
Attleboro is a good place to live in. The social and moral standards of the community are high. The people are intelligent. The administration of the city is clean and wholesome. There has never been any suspicion of graft or corruption in any administration. I believe the schools have done their part in bringing about these conditions. It should be the duty of every citizen to see that the present high standards of the schools are maintained.
Respectfully submitted,
Lewis A. Fales.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent o Schools:
It is a pleasure to submit the following material comprising my third annual report as principal of Attleboro High School.
Total Enrollment for the Month of November from 1928- 1938
1928 November enrollment 721
1929 November enrollment. 690
1930 November enrollment. 715
1931 November enrollment. 843
1932 November enrollment. 947
1933 November enrollment. .919
1934 November enrollment. .941
1935 November enrollment. .914
1936 November enrollment. 903
1937 November enrollment. .946
*1938 November enrollment. $51
*Post-graduates were excluded on account of overcrowded conditions. In addition, a maximum enrollment of 981 in September shows that many pupils have already dropped out in the three months of the present school year. Actually this number is 53, a loss which is partly offset by the admission of new students. In this connection, the following figures are of interest as showing why pupils leave High School: moved, 3; entered Trade School, 3; entered Vocational School, 12; illness, gone to work, at home, or reason unknown, 35. Approximately two- thirds of those who have left high school have ended their formal education. The average age of these boys and girls is 16 years, 9 months.
These figures over a period of ten years indicate a gradual stabilization of the high school enrollment in the vicinity of one thousand. Unless in the years immediately ahead there is a radical change in local industrial conditions, we may expect a student body of about this number for several years to come; although the decreased birthrate of the depression years (roughly 1930-1935) will un- doubtedly be reflected in a slight falling off in the years to come, about 1944-1950.
126
ANNUAL REPORT
Enrollment by Curriculum September, 1938
Class
Prep. Com'l.
Man'l Arts
House- hold Arts
Civic Arts
Total
Seniors
43
38
7
11
40
139
Juniors .
72
68
21
18
47
226
Sophomores
80
85
22
23
108
318
Freshmen .
69
105
46
28
50
298
Totals
264
296
96
80
245
981
(Of 951 still enrolled, Nov. 23, 1938, 443 were boys and 508 girls.)
The New Addition
No one who has not worked in daily contact in the high school with problems resulting from the badly overcrowded conditions of the last ten years, can fully appreciate the importance of the addition and improvements in the old building, made possible by the recent favorable action of the city government. in the first place, for the first time in these ten years there will be enough actual floor space to accommodate the student body. The following items, also, suggest only a few of the major improvements and better working conditions to be realized, which have been the dream of the school for several years past:
1. Greatly improved lighting, heating, and ventilation.
2. An adequate cafeteria with modern facilities for feeding and seating over three hundred students.
3. The abolition of the assembly hall as a study room and numbers of study pupils in the rear of classrooms reduced to a minimum.
4. An improved locker system, promoting greater honesty among students and increased respect for property rights.
5. Improved toilet rooms and show ers.
6. Seating accommodations for spectators in the gymnasium.
7. Better provision for instruction in band, orchestra, and glee club, and storage space provided for expensive musical instruments.
8. Seventy-five per cent of the school better provided for in non-college subjects.
Outside of the mere matter of overcrowding, the last item in the list above stands foremost in importance in the educational training of the young people of Attleboro. It is no longer a secret that only a small minority of A. H. S. graduates now go on to further study in institutions of higher education (Class of 1938, 27%).
Occupations of Graduates of June, 1938
Number of graduates 176
Working or at home. 110
Institutions of higher education . 48
Atlantic Union College. 1
Bentley School of Accounting. 2
Boston University. 4
Bridgewater Teachers College. 1
Brown (including Pembroke College)
2
Bryant College 3
Dartmouth 2
Training Schools for Nursing. . 2
College
127
ANNUAL REPORT
Massachusetts School of Art.
.3
Middlebury .
1
Northeastern University.
1
Providence . .5
Rhode Island School of Design
.5
Simmons. .
3
Stoneleigh Junior College.
2
Vesper George School of Art.
1
Wellesley
1
Westbrook Junior College
4
Wheaton ..
2
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
1
Other educational institutions 12
Post-graduate work in other secondary schools. 6
Military schools 4
U. S. Army
1
C. C. C. 1
Unaccounted for
6
Total
176
What of the greater seventy-five per cent? The addition will make possible an extension of our work in manual training, which has too largely been restricted to elementary woodwork. More boys will be provided for in larger classes, and it is hoped that eventually the program will broaden out into general shopwork that will include such subjects as sheet metal work, soldering, and automotive and electrical repair. This training, however, will be general in character. With the possible exceptions of shorthand, typewriting and bookkeeping in the com- mercial course, the school does not yet attempt to teach the specific skills of any trade or occupation. In the same way the efficiency of the commercial department will be increased by the addition of another room for typewriting and provision for advanced training in filing and the use of office equipment. The science facilities of the school will be expanded to permit laboratory work for pupils in non-college science classes which have heretofore been limited largely to the textbook. There is every reason for giving the non-college boy or girl, a general and practical knowledge of the world of science around him. While this does not require the number of technical experiments of the college course, science can not be taught satisfactorily without experience in demonstrating and handling scientific materials.
Two committees of the faculty are now at work on studies of the curriculum which should result in one or two additions to the program of studies and new teaching materials. It is hoped to provide a new commercial course in office practice for seniors, and a course in the problems of democracy to complete the school's offerings in social science.
In the household arts curriculum the present one small room for laboratory instruction in clothing, nutrition, household chemistry, and household manage- ment will be abandoned for quarters in the new wing nearly three times as large. Many girls in the school heretofore denied admission to these classes because of cramped quarters may now profit from the work of this department.
.
.
Tufts. . 2 .
.
A.H.S. BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN
E
GIRLS' ROOM
GIRLS' GIRLS' SHOW- DRESSING ERS
ROOM
GYMNASIUM
10
9
8
COACH
BOYS' ROOM
VISIT- LING TEAM
BOYS' SHOW ERS
BOY'S DRESSING ROOM
AHS AP PERT
128
ANNUAL REPORT
CAFETERIA
=
A. H.S FIRST FLOOR PLAN
GIRLS'
101
102
103
104 CLINIC
ASSEMBLY HALL
SUB MASTER
-
PRINCIPAL
-
LE OFFICE
F
MEN TEACHERS
110
109
108
BOYS' L.
07
106
105
AUNS MO DEPT .
ANNUAL REPORT
129
A.H.S. SECOND FLOOR PLAN
GIRLS'
201
202
203
204 WOMEN TEACHERS
ASSEMBLY
HALL
O
FLOOR
BALCONY
LIBRARY
+
210
-
209
208
BOYS'
207
206
205
ANNUAL REPORT
130
V
211
A.H.S. THIRD FLOOR PLAN
GIRLS'
301
302
303
1
r
304
P
1
310
309
308
IBOY S'
307
306
305
AHS MR DEPT
ANNUAL REPORT
131
,
311
132
ANNUAL REPORT
Student Activities
With the increased enrollment and the consequent wider need of social training, there are more organized activities on the extra-curricula calendar than ever before. In addition to the four class organizations, these are: the student council, the "Blue Owl", the orchestra, glee club, and new band, the senior play, the constantly improving press club, a newly organized debating club, the Fi-Y, Tri-Y, and Bi-Y organizations, and boys' and girls' athletics. These are all supervised by members of the staff or adult members of the community. They represent a new but highly justifiable demand upon the time and energies of their advisors.
The new band, though still in the formative period, is beginning to give evidence of careful organization and drilling; and the generosity of a local mer- chant plus the excellent support of interested citizens has made possible thirty- three new band uniforms which have already brought forth favorable comment. Since this bill was contracted (Nov. 1) two-thirds of the amount due has been collected. We are indebted to Captain Harry Hardsog for much time spent with the band in marching practice, and it is expected that the good work of the band's director, Alfred P. Zambarano, will continue to bring an equal improvement musically. The successful concert given in April was the first in what is hoped will be a long line of annual concerts by the school band.
The reorganized debating club, a previous worthwhile activity of the school, has already undertaken debates with Franklin and nearby high schools and hopes to participate in the district and state public speaking contests at Fall River.
A new handbook for the use of the student body, and containing information of the school's history, seal, regulations and organizations, recently made its appearance through the generosity of the Hi-Y Club. This handbook is an undertaking duplicated in only a few of the larger high schools of the state.
The recent senior play was an outstanding success both dramatically and financially. Realizing its predicament with the gymnasium unavailable and the senior prom and other socials of a money-raising type indefinitely postponed, the senior class got behind its play with a will. and a total of over six hundred seats was sold in advance. The annual socials of the four classes will necessarily be telescoped into the few remaining weeks of the year following the completion of the addition and the remodeling of the old building.
Educational Improvement
Study Helps. Realizing the importance of proper methods of study in the success of high school students, particularly freshmen, considerable time was spent early in the fall on a plan of study helps. A preliminary discussion among the faculty was followed by explanations before student assemblies. Copies of the study helps were then distributed to students through their subject teachers, who requested that they be pasted inside the covers of their books and referred to frequently in connection with their daily assignments of homework. An editorial in an October issue of the Sun brought the study helps to the attention of parents and solicited their cooperation. The work of the average high school student of today suffers from an excessive number of outside activities, and parents interested in the success of their boys and girls in school will recognize the im- portance of reducing these activities to a minimum, especially those coming on a night before a regular school day.
Social Behavior. The deportment system in the school has for several years been under discussion among the faculty. A revised plan was instituted during the past fall, which it is believed will be both fairer and more accurate in rating the ability of the student to get along with others in a social situation. The following letter was handed to students to take home to all parents to assist them in understanding the new plan.
133
ANNUAL REPORT
Attleboro High School Attleboro, Massachusetts
November 3, 1938
To Parents:
Studies made of reasons why people lose jobs in after-school occupations, reveal that 62% of these failures are due not to lack of technical skill-not to poor ability in typewriting, or at the shop bench, or behind the store counter, but to an inability to get along with fellow workers, employers, or people in general. If this be so, you will agree that the situation is serious. Along with the home, the church, and other agencies the school must accept its share of the responsibili- ty for better social behavior.
For several years the high school report card has carried a mark in conduct. This mark has been in terms of A. B. C. D, or F just as in academic subjects, but it has been the opinion of a majority of the faculty that a fairer system could be devised. Consequently the social attitude of the pupils this year will be ranked as
Successful or Satisfactory ("S") Warning ("W") Unsuccessful or Unsatisfactory ("U")
An unfavorable report from one teacher in a term will bring a warning (W). This mark will not remove a student from special privilege or membership on the honor roll. If, however, the attitude responsible for the difficulty remains un- corrected in the succeeding eight-week term, so that a repetition of the same (or a similar) offense occurs, the mark will be U.
Unfavorable reports from two or more teachers in a term, or offenses against good school citizenship sufficiently serious to require action by the office, will result in a mark of U.
All pupils not unfavorably reported will receive the mark of S. In this first term just closed 91% of the school had this successful mark. We hope your boy or girl is in this number. The other 9% is comprised of 84 individuals, 69 of whom received warnings and only 15 "Unsuccessful" ratings, an exceptionally fine record for a student body of 970.
What are offenses against good social conduct in school? In general, they are the same things which are frowned upon in the outside world as infractions of good manners. The school does not pretend to set up a specific list, but a few examples have been given to the student body as suggestive of the school's attitude with regard to good citizenship in A. H. S.
Deliberate discourtesy to teachers or schoolmates.
Dishonesty (Tests, locker rooms, etc.)
Disturbance in the cafeteria, corridors, or at social functions.
Failure to cooperate in the careful use of books, desks, etc.
Repeated disregard of the importance of a clean house at recess.
Habitual whispering in the classroom necessitating interruption of the class by teacher.
Habitual gum chewing.
Our total marking system, then, is threefold in purpose:
1. To record your child's approximate achievement in his subjects (A, B, C, D, F.)
2. To indicate the attitude with which he attacks his work (1, 2, 3, 4.)
3. To rate him on his ability to get along with others (S, W, U.)
As always the school will value and appreciate your active interest and support.
Very truly yours,
134
ANNUAL REPORT
Guidance Through Homerooms. A visitor to Attleboro High School who spent time enough to become intimately acquainted with the work in progress, would probably point out the homeroom activities as the single outstanding piece of guidance work in the entire school. In this he would be correct, as more pupils are contacted and influenced through the personal interest and effort of the home- room teacher than in any other way. Homeroom programs developed by teachers and their room committees in the past year go far to offset the lack of a dean or other trained guidance counselor. Activities like the following have character- ized homeroom programs throughout the school during the year.
Developing room spirit Discussing qualifications for leadership
Electing officers, representatives to student council and athletic associa- tion, and, as need arises, such committees as
Attendance: assist teacher, read notices, have charge of room bulletin board.
Housekeeping: regulate temperature, curtains, supervise care of desks, books, floor, have charge of decorations and posters. Social: plan parties and excursions; receive visitors.
Absentee: send cards and assignments to sick and quarantined; assist when they return.
Program: delegate speakers, select topics, arrange for observance of special holidays, work with teacher in planning tentative program in advance for the year.
Scholarship: chart progress of class at each marking period and post comparisons with other rooms.
Unifying the school Discussion of issues brought back from council meetings. Cooperation in school drives.
Educating the individual
Training for group membership through study of parliamentary pro- cedure; election of officers, representatives, and committees; dis- cussion of qualities of good citizen, good manners, dress; participa- tion in intra-mural sports and contests.
Training for leadership through discussion of qualifications necessary; delegation of responsibility in drives and committee work; carrying out will of group.
Guiding the individual
Training in proper study habits.
Remedial Reading
The program of remedial reading inaugurated last year is being continued with approximately 250 freshmen and sophomores in segregated English classes. These students are securing the opportunity of special drill and the teacher's help on difficulties experienced in reading. A very definite result of these attempts, should be the improved standing of these freshmen and sophomore students in their later years in school.
Education in Health
Since 1930, when the necessity of economy resulted in the elimination of physical education, there has been no thorough and widespread recognition given the physical needs of the student body. In the fall some 65 boys receive health- ful exercise and training through football; about 20 boys and 60 girls are now provided for in basketball. The remaining 800 or more receive little attention to their health needs beyond the annual eye and ear tests and the work of the
135
ANNUAL REPORT
Chadwick Clinic. What correctional work should we be doing to overcome such tendencies as poor posture, flat feet, and cases of malnutrition? Physical educa- tion no longer deals with classes in calisthenics and the waving of wands and dumb-bells; it rests today on a basis of organized team play in small groups and the correction of physical defects and tendencies brought out through tests ad- ministered to every student. It is a fair question: How long can we afford to place health and physical well-being outside the recognized program and respon- sibility of the high school?
Teaching Load
In 1930 there were 715 students in the high school; today there are ap- proximately 950, an increase of twenty-six per cent. Meanwhile the number of teachers remains unchanged. The result must be a decrease in the time devoted to the individual student. In 1930 the teacher-pupil ratio was 1-22; in 1938 it is 1-30. When the school moves into its expanded quarters, three more teachers should be added to the staff.
Credit
As always, credit for improvements in the work of the school is due to the enthusiasm of the faculty, the cooperation of a fine student body, and the en- couragement of the school authorities. To these individuals and groups I am glad to express public appreciation
Respectfully submitted,
Philip L. Garland.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF CONTINUATION AND VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my annual report of the Vocational and Continuation schools.
The number of students belonging to the school at the present time is 93. This is an increase of about 29% over the enrollment of one year ago. The enrollment at that time was 72. The percent of attendance for the year ending December 1, 1937, was 79, while that for this year was 80.34, showing a small increase in per cent of attendance over the preceding year. The per cent of attendance is much lower than it should be. It is a matter to which we have given much attention without fully attaining our objective. Only by regular attendance can the pupils in the school receive the full benefits of the school and become useful citizens of the community.
Last year we reported the rearrangement of the shop work into four main fields, woodworking, elementary machine work, elementary electricity and general shop. The plan has worked out very much to the advantage of the students.
Woodworking
Projects in woodworking include the making of art tables and general utility tables for school use.
136
ANNUAL REPORT
This work necessitates planning, interpreting drawings, and following specifications and dimensions. It also embraces instruction and training in the handling of hand tools and shop machinery for cutting, planing, jointing, glueing and proper use of hardware, and wood finishing. In addition to tables, several wheelbarrows and bookcases were constructed. Instruction was also given in the turning of wooden pieces to make handles, lamps (bases) and other objects. The successful completion of this type of work embraces all of the methods and procedures necessary to handle repairs and the making of simple and useful wooden objects in the home and shop.
Elementary Machine Work
In this division, four bicycle stands were constructed; each stand with a capacity of ten to twelve bicycles each. The stands are now in use at the Bank Street and Sanford Street schools. This work appeals to a large number of the pupils in the shop because they see the need and usefulness of the racks.
All metal parts for the wheelbarrows were forged in this unit, heated, bent, cut and drilled.
Advanced pupils constructed a breaking machine for the bending and forming of sheet iron.
A steel bench is under construction at the present time; this project involves the combining of angle irons, rods and flat steel and all of the problems incidental to that work for a useful purpose. This bench will become a part of the permanent shop equipment. Many of the boys have received fundamentals in the use of machine lathes.
Elementary Electricity
This work embraces talks on theory and explanations of electricity, its possibilities and limitations. It consists of simple practical circuits and apparatus, bells, flatirons, heating units, fuses, etc. Lamps were wired also. The practical care of motors is also explained. Emphasis is placed on the legal limitation of the layman in handling electricity.
General Shop
In this department the boys who have little idea of what they want to do become acquainted with the tools and machinery of the shop, and learn to do some repair work. In many cases these boys receive training in shop practices that develop a manual dexterity that fits them to take part in earning a livelihood.
The information secured from our occupational survey made last year served to indicate where minors are employed in considerable numbers. This year we are making contact with these places and seeking the cooperation of the employers to help prepare these boys for the different jobs they are most likely to secure. The managers are enthusiastic about what we are trying to do and freely give of their time to assist in the training of these boys.
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