USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1939 > Part 8
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The Youth Problem
The greatest challenge facing the high school today is the question: WHAT BECOMES OF ITS GRADUATES AND SCHOOL-LEAVING UNDER- GRADUATES? The time is past and gone when the high school can be thought of as something apart from life outside-something isolated ,functioning in itself without reference to the success of and the demand for its product-young people. What is the present lot of the 23 boys and girls who have left school in the four months since September, 1939, and for whom no information is available? For what has the school prepared them? Again, what are the problems of our grad- uates of June, 1939? How might the high school have assisted them to a more ready adjustment to the work-a-day world? Why have so many found difficulty in locating a job and keeping it? The New England Council, composed of hard- headed business leaders who appreciate the seriousness of this problem to New England's future, has made a definite recommendation for joint action by school and business in every community. The Youth Commission in Massachusetts, authorized by the last Legislature, is an evidence of concern in our own state about the same problem. The findings of the Commission, which will be re- ported to the Legislature in October, 1940, will focus the attention of the entire state upon its young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Attleboro will prove no exception to the prevailing trend. The local high school, in cooperation with local enlightened business men, must be ready to make a joint attack upon the problem. There may have to be a study of the requirements of industry, a further adjustment of traditional and academic courses to meet actual needs, an organization for discovering job opportunities in the city; and there will certainly need to be an increasing readiness among school people and business leaders to understand and work together on their mutual problems. There is no other safe way in a democracy.
Acknowledgment
Whatever progress has been made in the past year toward a better education of the young people of Attleboro in the high school, acknowledgment is due to the understanding and support of parents and teachers, to a fine student body, and to professionally minded school officials.
Respectfully submitted,
Philip L. Garland.
109
ANNUAL REPORT
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 enrollment last year in these schools at the end of November was 99, 52 boys and 47 girls. At the end of November this year the enrollment was 99, 53 boys and 46 girls. The per cent of attendance for the year ending December 1, 1938 was 80.34, while that for this year was 80.20, showing a slight decrease for the year. The attendance for the last three months has averaged 85.22%. The habit of irregular attendance has not been acquired since enrollment at the Vocational School. In looking over the pupils' records for the past three years I find for the most part that their attendance at school has not been good. A renewed effort on the part of all concerned should be made in order that the attendance be raised to a good standard.
The Vocational School, like any established business which has been function- ing successfully for several years, has nothing spectacular to report. Rather there is evidence of a steady, healthy growth, and a continuing development of this important part of our educational set-up.
While there are specific standards for all vocational schools in the state, the type of school varies in each community. Here in Attleboro we have no elaborate facilities for many kinds of instruction which would be very beneficial to our students. However, we believe that our work, though necessarily limited in its scope and aim, has been most fruitful.
A great deal of time is given to the curriculum in the girls' department. No topic is included in the program of study unless it has a vital, definite and im- portant relation to home-making or to the personal life of a young woman. Every year the subject matter is revised to include any advance data in keeping with modern progress. A girl spends half of her time in doing things, cooking and sewing, but before doing the work, she has specific and accurate instructions just how those things are to be done. The advantage of this balance of manual and mental activity in the vocational school is obvious. We are still continuing the home visits which maintain that important close relationship between the home and the school. They create a cordial understanding which is mutually beneficial.
One of the things that makes us feel that we are making some progress is the fact that we were asked to exhibit our work last summer at the State conference and one teacher was invited to demonstrate her work before the teachers.
There is still a large number of girls, who, because of home permits, attend school but one day a week. This group constitutes our continuation class. Of course these students do not receive the complete training that we would like them to have. If more parents realized the value of work offered them, at the school, there would be less demand for home permits. These same girls, who, the parents claim are absolutely needed to help in the home, are the first to leave home duties and accept outside employment when the opportunity presents itself. We recommend a limiting, if possible, of the number of home permits issued and the shortening of the period for which any certificate is issued.
Two years ago it was decided to send a group of shop boys to the Jewelry Trades School for the manual part of their training. We selected the more advanced boys, those who would benefit most from a jewelry trade course. This took away from our shop those who were capable of successfully running the metal and wood turning lathes. As a result we are unable to produce so high a grade of work at the school with a group having much less ability. It seems expedient, however, for these pupils to acquire a certain amount of manipulative ability in general non-technical fields before reaching that age when the law allows them to seek employment in the community. After staying two years with us some boys of the above type have obtained employment and are doing a creditable piece of work.
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ANNUAL REPORT
We are continuing the building of bicycle racks this year. The construction of them gives the pupils the required training in measuring, sawing, drilling and following a plain drawing. One interesting project is the construction of a three- legged kitchen stool, made mostly from waste materials. This gives experience in both wood and metal work. The boys are still doing many little repair jobs about the building. They have made several tables and bookcases for our own and other schools. Many repair jobs come in from the homes. An extra amount of materials has to be supplied, because much is destroyed in learning how to do the work. Equipment suffers when placed in the hands of young and untrained workers.
There seems to be a service that the school can render to those who have become 16 and left the school. This year some of the members of last year's class, who are now classified as withdrawals, returned to the school for help, advice, and in some cases for further training. We could not accommodate all who wished to return because some of the classes were filled to capacity. Taking the situation into consideration we firmly believe that some help could be rendered to these boys and girls by maintaining a complete registration of the withdrawals and a periodical followup of all withdrawals. In this way we can find out what the boys and girls are doing after leaving school. This is the period during which many of them need help and we feel that by keeping this registration of with- drawals and by doing the supplementary followup work, that the school can be of some further aid to those who have become 16. When the report of last year's class is completed, it will be studied by this year's class so that its members may see what they can expect to find in the workaday world. The report will show what kind of employment is available and the opportunity it offers. This survey we intend to carry out in a spirit which will show to these former students that the school is still interested in them and also give them a sense of being valued.
Respectfully submitted,
Milton P. Dutton.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWELRY TRADES SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I submit herewith the report of the Attleboro Jewelry Trades School for the year 1939.
Due to the decrease in our appropriation we have not been able to add much new equipment this year but we have made the following improvements:
For a long time we desired to build a tool crib in which to keep all small tools, attachments and supplies for the toolmaking classes. The only space where this could possibly be built was the space being used to hang the coats and hats, and this could not be used for a tool crib until a new place was found for them. We finally solved this problem by making three racks from pipe and suspended them from the ceiling by means of rope and pulleys. We put twenty wire coat hangers on each rack and suspended a snap clothespin from each hanger for the hats. We placed one of these racks in the aisle of each department. As soon as the pupils have hung up their coats and hats these racks are hoisted to the ceiling and fastened, by means of cleats, out of the way. This arrangement made available the space formerly used by the coats and hats and we immediately proceeded to build our long wanted tool crib.
The changes brought about by building the crib suggested other changes and when we had finally finished we found we had realligned our sinks and plating tanks, rewired our plating outfit, put a motor drive on our dynamo, got rid of our large polishing head and blower, built a steel rack on which to store our stock of
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ANNUAL REPORT
steel, built a large cabinet in which to keep tools for the bench classes, built a new bench for our motor driven filing machines, bought and installed a Delta motor driven bench grinder for our tool crib, installed a steel desk for the tool instructor, put in two cheap electric clocks, installed a gas tempering pot for heat treating steel, put Thermo breaker switches on all fractional horse power motors, put in a water cooler, purchased a new oak desk and two chairs for my office, also three small steel filing cabinets in which to keep various records, and made and installed, over the die cutters' bench, four long lights using 22-20W fluorescent daylight tubes which furnish a beautiful light at a saving in current consumption.
Early in the year, Mr. Robert O. Small, director of Vocational Education in Massachusetts, had one of his staff make a survey of placement of the Attleboro Jewelry Trades School. The results of this survey were made in a report to the School Committee and to members of the advisory committee in April. A copy of this report was delivered to all the teachers attending the conference at Fitchburg in June. As a matter of record I am including a copy of this report
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Walter F. Downey, Commissioner
DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION Robert O. Small, Director
M. Norcross Stratton, Assistant Director SURVEY OF PLACEMENT Attleboro Jewelry Trade School Attleboro, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts June 1939
ATTLEBORO JEWELRY TRADE SCHOOL
Sixty-five cases (boys out three months or more) were selected for study from list of pupils withdrawn from the Attleboro Jewelry Trade School and entered upon employment in jewelry or allied manufacturing plants. Length of school training, placement by the school, and character of employment were factors operative in the selection.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYMENT
Em- ployed in
Jewelry Unem- Industry ployed
Other Cases
Aver- age length length of training
Range in
of train- ing
Aver- age length of time in em- ploy- ment
Range of time in em - ploy- ment
Aver- age wages in first job
Range of wages in first job
Aver- age earn- ings 1939
On Range same work for of earn- which ings 1939
training is given
61*
2
One U. S. Army One R. I. School of Design
9 mos.
2 mos. to 2 yrs.
2 yrs., 2 mos.
3 mos. to 5 yrs.
35g per hour
From 30¢ to 40₫
45¢ per hour
From 35¢ to 95 ¢
Yes 44 No 17
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ANNUAL REPORT
Selected Comments by Pupils :
The school taught me the value of a trade and got me started.
As a cripple and without experience, difficult for me to get work. The School trained me and placed me in a position that brings in a good week's pay.
Because of the school training, I can handle more jobs in tool making than a boy without the training.
I am married, with a family. While out of work, went to trade school, learned to run lathe and secured work.
I would suggest that the school take special care to teach sharpening of tools in the tool-making division.
Haven't been out of work since I left the school.
The school teaches a fellow what a shop is like.
I was a textile worker-no work-went to trade school. Last year earned 95c an hour on piece work.
*10 of the 65 studied were from towns other than Attleboro. On the average they measure up well with the Attleboro boys.
Selected Comments by Parents
My two boys have been helped. The school is fine.
The school gave my boy his chance for a job. After graduating from high school, he could not secure work because of not having experience. The trade school trained and placed him.
I shall send my other son to the trade school.
School recommendation helped him to get work at the Charlestown Navy Yard as a machinist.
Processes learned at school apply on the job.
School has done well by the boy.
Showed him that he would like shop work.
Thirty (30) employers have been interviewed in connection with this study.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYER STUDY
In Attleboro
Outside of Attleboro
Employer
Use School
Comment
Placement Service
Favorable
26
Yes.
16
23 7 Unfavorable . . 4 No 14
Selected Comments by Specific Employers:
Can rely on recommendations of the school as to the abilities of those recom- mended for employment.
The chance to develop mechanical skill and knacks, as provided by the school, is a good thing for the young worker.
Employers may easily expect too much of the school.
Can assign a variety of work to the young worker from the trade school faster than to untrained workers.
Boys employed on recommendation of the school advance at least twice as rapidly as do boys without such training.
Used this boy as a handyman and regarded him as a "cracker-jack."
Boys from the school have proved satisfactory employees. Their training shows in their grasp of the ground work. Are much better than boys without training or experience.
Show their training in greater versatility.
Find them well prepared in the processes, but lacking a sense of the value of time on the job.
Earnings on piece rates by this boy above average after the first week of employment. The school can justly claim credit.
Hired boy on recommendation of the school at advanced rate; satisfied with results.
School can train for greater versatility than can the shop.
School training cuts the time of training on the job.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Considers basic familiarity with the tools and machines an advantage to the young worker who has been trained at the school.
The school seems to help them to know at least what it is all about.
There is a value in the shop atmosphere and real work at the school.
The instructors rated as competent men in the shops.
The trained workman of the future is to be in an enviable economic position.
Selected Comments of Specific Criticisms by Employers:
A program featuring work and school would be more ideal (cooperative).
More training in applied sciences and drawing desirable.
Doubts that the school has well-balanced program.
More definite educational goals and procedures desirable.
The school should keep to ground work.
Try to develop greater sense of time value and other production factors. Employers and school should have better contacts.
If expansion possible, teach engraving.
School should not compete with manufacturers for work.
School has not yet succeeded in preparing young workers for production speed.
Keep the boys for longer periods of training.
General Observations by the One who made the Study:
By far the larger number of cases of dismissal from work of former trade school boys has been due to slack periods of business. Most of those dismissed have secured new work relatively soon.
"Training period" on the job from one to five years, at a minimum cost of 32 1-2 cents per hour. The school cost per pupil hour of training less than half that amount.
A schedule of wages based on length of employment is much in evidence. The school has succeeded in securing a recognition of the school training by placing boys in employment at an advanced wage in a number of cases.
There is some evidence that a trade extension service would be of value to mature workers.
Many instances of employment through a relative or friend are in evidence.
There is a feeling on the part of most employers, interviewed that no source of trained engravers exists to meet a current demand, and that the school could give the problem some consideration.
The time the boys remain in training at the school is relatively short. The lure of the job is great. A trade extension plan might help these boys secure a more nearly complete training.
Many employers know little of the school. Some method of direct contact should be worked out by the school.
Most of the working boys have it in mind to keep the school informed of their progress in employment.
These jewelry firms in general maintain a semblance of apprenticeship training. Approcimately 5,000 persons are employed in jewelry manufacturing or its subsidiaries in Attleboro. No single instance of any formally organized apprenticeship agreement or plan was found, though boys are hired into the industry and rated as apprentices. The foremen recognize the "training" element and do provide as far as possible a graded variety of work for each "apprentice."
The minimum pay in this industry is 32 1-2 cents an hour. A worker without previous experience or training will be paid at this rate, and, according to the statements of a majority of the employers interviewed, will make no pro- ductive return in less than a year's time. In one of the larger firms, the super- intendent said that the actual cost of training on the job was at least double the hourly 32 1-2 cent rate, and that from one to five years is required for the training period.
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ANNUAL REPORT
That the training at the school is effective, is illustrated in the case of Joseph Cerreto who, in his second week of employment, earned $42.50 on a piece-work basis.
One case was cited by an employer in which the training cost to him for one specific job was in excess of $800.00.
In contrast with these figures, the last annually recorded expenditure per pupil hour for training at the Attleboro Jewelry Trade School is 13 cents per hour. There is a per capita expenditure of $175.45 for the average period of time (9 months) in which those young workers have received training at the Attleboro Jewelry Trade School.
We again had a display of our work at the State Teachers College at Fitch- burg during the week of the teachers' conference in June, and put the same dis- play in the Attleboro Gas Light Company's window in September. Both these displays brought us many favorable comments.
Because of the increased room at the High School, and through the co- operation of Mr. Garland, we are able to start our afternoon classes, in related and academic work, at one o'clock instead of two o'clock, as we did in the past. This gives us three full periods of fifty-five minutes each, instead of one half-hour, and two forty-five minute periods. This gives the teachers a better chance to cover their subjects. Also the fact that classes are being held while the High School is in session gives the program an added importance in the eyes of the pupils themselves.
Through the efforts of the Peoples Institute, the School Committee and Mr. Small, night classes were inaugurated for the benefit of those who are employed but who wish to improve themselves. Each class meets two nights a week from seven to nine for a period of twenty weeks.
There are two classes in toolmaking for men, one in soldering for men, one in soldering for women, one in die cutting for men and one in designing and model- ling for both men and women. The enrollment for the night classes is 102 with a waiting list of from twenty to thirty. Our regular instructors are teaching the night classes with the addition of Mr. Allison Macomber of Taunton, who is teaching design and modelling.
The attendance to date has been good. Many additional people have re- quested information as to how and when they can enroll and have expressed their intention of enrolling next year.
There are forty-nine boys enrolled in the day classes at present and thirty boys have gone to work from the school during the year.
Many interesting projects have been completed during the year. At present we are working on dies for a pocket piece to be given away at the Silver Jubilee at Attleboro's City Government banquet to be held January 2, 1940.
It seems to me that the time has arrived when plans should be made to en- large the trade school and make of it something of which a city the size of Attle- boro can be justly proud. The maximum number of students that we can ac- commodate in our present quarters is fifty. It seems to me that there must be at least five hundred students (both boys and girls) who could and would be benefitted by a well equipped and well run trade school.
At present we are only teaching three trades. There are many more that could be taught with profit to all, as well as many operative jobs for those who are not capable or who do not desire a trade.
I hope some progress will be made in this direction during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank H. Straker.
115
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The Grade
The musical experience of the pupils in our schools begins with simple song singing and ear training. Patriotic songs of America, folk songs of all nations and songs of the best masters of music are in our music program for the grades. Our pupils receive a grounding in music fundamentals, time problems and tune difficulties that can be carried over to any phase of music study. Every effort is made to interest grade pupils in musical instruments that will better prepare them for the band and orchestra in the High School. Grade school orchestras are now in Bliss, Richardson and Finberg schools. An additional musical interest has been created by the harmonica bands that have been started in the Richard- son and Bliss schools. A teacher of the harmonica has been sent from the Federal WPA and is giving expert instruction to this band.
High School
Music Theory
One of the most interesting musical activities in our High School is the theory and harmony class. This class is for the musical pupils of the school, members of the band, orchestra, Home Music Class and Glee Club. Some knowledge of music is necessary for admission to this class. Our studies are based on the harmony book in use at the New England Conservatory of Music and consists of scales, intervals, triads, principal and seventh chords and their inversions. This class meets once a week, and the work of the pupils is corrected and credit is given.
Home Music Class
Credit for piano and voice lessons taken outside of school has proved an encouragement to pupils to continue their lessons while they are in High School. Monthly reports are checked and annual playing tests given. Freshman Singing Class
There are 130 Freshmen in the singing class. The study of part singing which was started in the grades is continued. This class is proving most enjoyable. We sing all types of music and aim to get all the joy and pleasure that the practice of singing can give.
Orchestra
The High School Orchestra has shown quite an improvement this year. The violin section is much better than last year and we have added two cellos, one banjo and an accordion to the instrumentation. This year we played the incidental music for the inauguration of the Mayor and City Council. The orchestra plays at all weekly assemblies and supplies music for the school play and for graduation exercises. There are thirty members in the orchestra and we meet for rehearsal once a week.
Band
The band concert given in the High School this year showed a marked improvement over that of last year and much credit should be given to Mr. Zambarano for his work with the band. He is at the school one day each week and is able to teach the various instruments of the band during school hours and also direct the band in rehearsal. The splendid appearance of the band in uniform on parade and at the football games has won the enthusiastic acclaim of the entire city. To Mr. Freeman Hall goes the credit for the improvement and general appearance of the band in marching. He has given military drill that has made our band one of the best marching units in the State.
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