USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1939 > Part 9
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116
ANNUAL REPORT
Glee Club
The Glee Club varies in number from year to year. It is open to the three upper classes and this year performed very successfully the Gilbert and Sullivan opera "The Pirates of Penzance". This is the third in the series of Gilbert and Sullivan operas and was a commendable musical effort that had the support of the pupils and the musical public. The assistance of the art department was very much appreciated and added greatly to the success of the opera. The Glee Club numbers 70 pupils and meets for singing once a week after school hours.
Recommendations
In the High School to date over one-third of all the pupils are engaged in some form of music study or another. While we have reason to be proud that such a large number is thus being instructed, I believe that some further effort should be made to reach the others. I wish to recommend that separate singing periods for each class be set up in the regular program of studies in order to in- crease the influence and beneficial effect of music. This is the beginning of a new world-a world in which radio and motion pictures bring music into a prominent place in the lives of all. We are teaching a generation of children who are so amazingly clever, so marvelously gifted, so learned and yet so innocently ignorant that educators are taxed to the utmost to discover some common ground upon which the varied talents under their instruction can be brought together and imbued with a sense of group consciousness. Music provides that common ground. It is the one subject in the public schools today that is big enough to reach the life and experience of every single pupil.
I would throw into the educational system of today all the agencies of music that I could find. I would have first of all every pupil a singing pupil and I would double the number of instruments now available for band and orchestra. In fact I am of the opinion that music with its great emotional power should be the cornerstone of our public school system. Music is the common meeting ground for all the pupils in that system no matter how greatly their personalities differ. Through the extension of facilities for musical education we can greatly help to coordinate our whole educational processes and assist in bringing pupils together in a strong emotional bond of mutual understanding.
Respectfully submitted,
John Laing Gibb.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART High School
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
It is my privilege to submit the annual report of the Art Department. Although all of our objectives have not been attained, the accomplishments have been sufficient to inspire greater ambitions for the future.
In our high school the courses of study which had been carried out as ex- periments for the past two years are now quite firmly established. A foundation course, called Art I, has been prepared to give freshmen and others having no previous art instruction the necessary fundamentals in observation and technique, and an opportunity to work with different materials which are new to them. After the completion of this basic course, a pupil may choose any of the advanced courses, such as advertising, which includes lettering, poster design, and sign painting. Pupils interested in the fine arts may study composition, color, and figure sketching in illustration. Others find interest in fashion design or in crafts. One of the most valuable courses for girls is called Personal Appearance. This course aims to foster intelligent interest and improvement in general appear- ance, poise and personality.
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ANNUAL REPORT
To meet the needs of the more talented students and for those who enjoy drawing for its own sake there is a Sketch Club. Two afternoons each week and one school period are devoted entirely to this group. The projects are selected and carried out by the pupils with help and suggestions from the supervisor.
Art in our public schools is to be considered a social study. While there is keen interest in the relatively small group of graduates who enter Art School to study for a profession, this department attempts to help all pupils to be intelligent critics and purchasers of products, to spend leisure hours more happily, and to be of service to others. For this reason especially valuable are the projects of painting the scenery for the annual operetta, furnishing material for the "Blue Owl" and the "Tattletale", decorating for various social functions, making posters and signs for publicity work and contests, doing research for other departments, and meeting many other demands for hand work.
At a recent supervisors' conference, teachers' college authorities expressed regret that so many young people fail to receive training in art in the secondary schools before entering college to train for teaching. Supervisors were asked to suggest that art be included in the course of study for all pupils planning to be teachers.
I wish to express my appreciation to members of the School Department and to the teachers for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
Ardith P. Todd.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
Elementary Schools
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit the following report of Art Education in the elementary schools.
It is my pleasure at this time to report definite progress in this field of en- deavor.
While fundamental principles and objectives are a part of the course of study in art education in our elementary schools, the program is constantly undergoing changes in the continuous effort to expand, keep up with the latest progressive trends, and, at the same time, reach the needs of the individual pupil.
While monthly outlines containing grade objectives, methods, charts, picture study, lessons, activities, etc., are still in use, it is my purpose that they be not restrictive, and notice to this effect is given to every teacher. That this method is bringing more work and greater results in the art work is proven by the growing almost daily, demands which are being made upon this department, for extra and more varied materials.
In general, teachers are no longer "squeezing" time for art into their pro- grams. Instead, they are planning their schedules and program to ullow for art education, and in many instances correlating various units of study around the art work, thus, making this study necessary, practical, and all-purposeful. In fact, teachers are constantly requesting that they be allowed more time for work of this kind.
Such requests are readily understood when one considers the number of enterprises and activities in which our schools have engaged this past year.
As in former years, pupils in grades four to eight participated in the annual S. P. C. A. poster contest, and the results were most gratifying.
Posters have also been made in many classes, in recognition of American Education Week. These were exhibited in classrooms, corridors and assemblies.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The work of three eighth grade pupils was exhibited in the Young American Paints exhibits in Radio City, New York. Each pupil used a different medium in which to work; water color, colored chalk and crayon.
Many sets of stage scenery have been designed, made, and used in conjunc- tion with school programs and assemblies.
Two puppet shows have been put on by pupils of the eighth grade at Lincoln School and pupils of grade six at Richardson School respectively. In both instances the pupils created the entire set-up: stage, scenery, puppets, papier- mache masks, and the original story. Both projects were well done and credit is due to both the teachers who inspired and guided the pupils in this valuable instructive work, and the pupils who did the actual work. Both shows were presented several times to very appreciative audiences.
Those who have watched and encouraged the progress of this type of work know its value and far reaching effects. For instance, as a result of this integrated work, one boy who was a rather poor student showing a lack of interest and under- standing of reading, has manifested such an extreme interest in puppetry that, during the summer, he did outside reading upon the subject, and created and produced two puppet shows in a garage at his own home, for which he charged admission to an audience of some thirty children and adults at one showing.
In several class projects pupils have made colored lantern slides in correlation with their regular academic studies, and presented them in assembly programs to the entire student body of their respective schools.
Of course it would be impossible to list all of the worthwhile art activities in which the pupils of all our elementary grades have participated, but, I have tried to give a general insight into our varied, busy and purposeful program.
This year Attleboro has also been well represented and honored at various conventions, and group conferences called by the State Department of Education. During our spring vacation I attended the annual convention of the Eastern Art Teachers Association, held at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City. This convention is always an inspiration. It would be an impossibility for anyone to attend such a convention and return without new ideas.
In May a conference for Supervisors of Art was called by the State Depart- ment at Bridgewater State Teachers College. As Supervisor, it was requested that I speak at this conference and show examples of the type of art work done in the Attleboro schools. I am pleased to report that our work was well received.
Again, on Friday and Saturday, November 17th and 18th the Attleboro schools were well represented at another similar conference sponsored by the State Department of Education at Bridgewater. At this conference, on Saturday, two of our teachers, Miss Alice Larson, Chairman, and Miss Elsa Johnson con- ducted an able and well organized art conference group. At this time various phases of art work from our schools were exhibited. This work included: a Pueblo Indian project, which received much praise, several attractive and original friezes, and creative expression pictures.
In summing up the past year's work in art education in the elementary grades, I would like to point out that our art education curriculum is planned for general education. It incorporates the fundamentals of such studies as drawing, painting, illustrations,/arts and crafts and designs, with activities which allow for practical application and greater sources of experience for our pupils.
For the development of appreciation of the possibilities of art work, and for even greater sources of experiences for the individual pupil, I would like to see arrangements made whereby pupils in the upper grades could participate in field trips to nearby museums, jewelry factories, and stores.
In order that more art work might be worked into a now already crowded school program, I would like to see the development of organized school art clubs in our respective schools.
This has been a busy year for the art department. Principals, teachers, and pupils have given much to add to its success. Many obstacles have been success- fully overcome. It is my desire that we may continue to keep active and grow. Respectfully submitted,
Myrtice A. Perrin.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The activities in the physical education program are tools by which boys and girls may become physically, morally, and socially fit for the duties of citizenship and to enjoy living. The physical education program is the activity section of the general subject of health supervision and health instruction. The activity program provides necessary relief from academic education, and also carries over into the immediate out-of-school play periods. A regular period is devoted to physical education daily. They are conducted in the open air as long as weather permits, and then in suitably ventilated schoolrooms and playrooms. The indoor periods provide necessary relief from the fatigue of regular school routine, and result in refreshed children and improved posture. Children show immediate results in better color, brighter eyes, quickened breathing, relief from physical restlessness, and improved mental receptiveness. Over a period of time they contribute to improved posture, increased endurance, freedom from fatigue, and increased skill and muscular coordination. The time devoted to play and games not only helps to relieve the school day of some of its tedium, and adds to the joyousness of childhood, but contributes much to the physical development of the child, and gives something of greatest value to both pupil and school in a finer and stronger group feeling.
An after-school activity program of considerable magnitude is carried on in the public schools, involving several hundred boys and girls in the course of a year. Grammar school leagues for sixth and seventh graders includes soccer football, basketball, baseball and track. Members of these leagues are Sanford Street, Tiffany, Richardson, Bliss, Finberg, Dodgeville, Farmers and Briggs Corner schools. The eighth grade league members are Bank Street, Lincoln, Bliss and Finberg schools. They enjoy their own leagues in all sports, and have a special eligibility rule regarding studies, and age, which all members have to live up to. Lincoln, Bliss and Finberg schools are allowed to use their seventh grade boys in eighth grade competition if they wish. Lincoln and Finberg schools have gym- nasiums for their basketball programs, but all of the center schools have to use the High School gym, each being assigned one afternoon weekly during the basket- ball season. The hours, 4:30-7 p. m .- are very bad, but are the only ones available. Dressing room facilities are inadequate. No spectators are allowed as the director has to supervise the entire program alone. This rule is rather hard to enforce as the entrances cannot be locked until the high school players leave the building. In the meantime the grammar school program is well under way, requiring his services on the gym floor. All children are out of the building before seven o'clock. No pupil is allowed to take part in any physical education ac- tivity either during school hours, or after school; unless he has passed the regular school physical examination as given by the school physician. In addition, all taking part have to return a permit signed by their parents. The director is in charge of all league contests, usually acting as an official. By vote of the princi- pals he is in complete charge of all league matters.
Other after-school activities include six-man football for the eighth grade boys, basketball for the eighth grade girls, tennis and horseshoe tournaments, public school city-wide basketball tournament, inter-class hockey at the high school, the high school track team, swimming campaign for boys and girls, life- saving classes, first-aid instruction, and figure skating class.
At the start of the last basketball season the high school gym was not avail- able. The Y. M. C. A. generously allowed the eighth grade league in basketball the use of their gym during the entire schedule. In addition the high school track team had the use of the gym one afternoon weekly during the months of January, February and March. Sincere thanks are due the Association, Mr. William Blackburn for the use of Horton Field, Mr. John Anderson for the use of Capron Park and the Highland Country Club for the use of the pond at the rear of the club house for hockey and figure skating.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The annual health day programs were held early in June at all schools, and were largely attended by parents and friends of the pupils.
During the season I attended the State Bridgewater College and Boston University conferences on physical education, the summer school of physical education at Boston College, and the National Recreation Congress at Boston.
May I extend my sincere thanks to you, the school committee, and to all who have in any way assisted me in my work.
Respectfully submitted, J. Ray Cooney
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I submit herewith my annual report as School Physician for the year 1939.
The school has now become one of the foremost agencies in the formulation of an adequate public health program. It is through this medium that physical defects are found. Various clinics are held throughout the year. The defect found is in most instances corrected, an action which will benefit the child the rest of his life.
A pre-school clinic is conducted under the auspices of the local District Nurses Association with several physicians and dentists donating their services so that defects can be noted and corrected before the child enters school.
An annual physical examination is given each child by the school physician.
Tuberculosis is detected and prevented by the state and county clinics operated in the schools.
The mental health of the child is cared for by two clinics.
A tonsil clinic is operated at the Sturdy Memorial Hospital for the prepara- tion of children for the summer camps.
A dental clinic is functioning throughout the schols and is accomplishing a great deal in prevention and treatment of dental defects.
All children participating in athletics are examined for their physical fitness
Two summer camps are in operation in the city for the benefit of under- nourished children needing special supervision. The gains made by these children amply warrant the continuance and expansion of these camps.
Private sources have made funds available for the purchase of eye glasses for needy children.
In consideration of the above noted activities one can readily appreciate the extent of health work that is going on in the schools constituting the school health program.
The year was notable for a decrease in the number of contagious diseases. No cases of disease reported took on the character of an epidemic.
A detailed report for the year follows:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Totals
Schools Visited.
16
10
22
10
18
15
17
10
17
15
150
Physical Examinations
587
517
480
334
357
185
2460
Office Visits
82
76
61
38
34
12
32
36
36
53
460
Vaccinations
A
20
1
25
Examinations for Athletics
25
23
69
00
35
160
Special Examinations .
1
12
31
1
25
34
76
180
Working Certificates
CT
2
01
3
1
5
1
4
14
4
1
45
Respectfully submitted,
Jesse W. Battershall, M. D.
ANNUAL REPORT
121
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my annual report for 1939.
Generally speaking, in regard to the children's health, this has been a very good year. Fewer communicable diseases and skin infections were noted, necessitating the absence of pupils from school.
In December, 1938, there were numerous cases of chicken pox at Tiffany School, 796 examinations of pupils being made in the various rooms where cases occurred. One hundred ninety-seven annual physical examinations were made at Bliss School by Dr. Battershall assisted by the nurse, and two vaccinations were done at the Sturdy Hospital under the supervision of the Health Depart- ment. When basketball practice was started at the High School, 75 physical examinations of these athletes were made. A series of three lectures on "Habits," in Rehoboth, were attended.
January is always a very busy month. Colds and grippe were present this year in several schools, but there were fewer communicable diseases than usual. Sporadic cases of whooping cough occurred at Briggs Corner, Carpenter Street and Tiffany schools. Twenty-eight High School girls who participated in basket- ball practice were examined, one being excluded because of a heart condition. Five hundred eighty-seven physical examinations were completed at Bliss and Richardson. The heads of all the children in the elementary schools were examined for evidences of pediculosis, and precautions were taken with those infected. We are glad to report that there are fewer cases each year. Thirty-five mental examinations were made by the doctors from the Wrentham State School.
February, although a short month, was a busy one. Scarlet fever occurred in the High School necessitating the examination of chests, hands and throats of all pupils and teachers daily, during the incubation period. This year for the first time the St. Joseph's School, at the request of the Health Department, was examined. Two hundred and fifty-one children received their first annual physical examination by the school physician and nurse. Three hundred twenty- six other physical examinations and 26 examinations for athletics were made. Two vaccinations were done at the hospital. A class in Infant Hygiene was started at the Bank Street School, for the girls of the Vocational and Continuation group. This class is held weekly over a period of four months, and is closely correlated with their other class work in cooking and sewing, where layettes are made and formulas and menus prepared suitable for the baby's need. The Bristol County T. B. School Clinic X-rayed twenty-two pupils at the High School as part of their follow-up program.
In March, both the Chadwick (State T. B. prevention) Clinic and the County clinic functioned. The School Clinic group of 22 had their X-rayed plates read and their physical examinations made by Dr. Leonard Hill. The Chadwick Clinic group of 43 were X-rayed and examined the following week by State physicians. These examinations take about a week in all to complete, making it necessary to discontinue the nurse's regular daily schedule.
April. During this month 35 visits were made to the schools, and the doctors from the Bristol County Hospital re-examined several children on their list to recommend them for Health Camp.
May. Fifty-four schools were visited this month and five visits were made to the hospital in regard to the Tonsil Clinic. Twelve children had their tonsils removed in preparation for admittance to camp. Home calls were made to 30 homes to obtain camp histories. The annual Pre-school Clinic, under the auspices of the District Nursing Association was held at the Y. M. C. A., where the school nurse with the other Public Health Nurses assisted the local doctors and dentists in their examinations. A mental hygiene meeting was attended at the Foxboro State Hospital, and an inspection of the hospital was made. The heads of all children were again inspected for evidence of infection. The last weighing and measuring of all the children were completed. Health Day was
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ANNUAL REPORT
held in the form of "Play Day" with every child participating in some sort of game.
June. Camp records were completed for the boys and girls who were selected for the Bristol County Health Camp. Those girls chosen from our poor nutrition group for the Lions' Health Camp were taken care of by the nurse of the Health Department. Forty-eight school visits were made, and assistance was given at Sanford Street School in the final weighing and measuring of these children.
September. The opening month of school is always a busy one with all the activities starting. First aid kits in all the schools are inspected and filled the day before schools open. All children are weighed and measured as early in the month as possible. Eye and ear tests, by the teachers, are checked as to what cases are likely to need special attention. Annual physical examinations were started, with 480 examinations completed by Dr. Battershall during the month. Vaccinations were checked, with twenty vaccinations being done at the hospital. All heads were examined for evidences of pediculosis. A talk was given to the senior class of the Sturdy Hospital on School Nursing. Forty-six members of the football squad were examined by the School Physician, and records were made out for each boy. A meeting was attended at the Wrentham State School, with a tour of the buildings and a lecture by Dr. Stanley Raymond, which proved most interesting and enlightening.
October. Three hundred four physical examinations were completed. Three hundred eleven special inspections of children in rooms where there were cases of scarlet fever were made. There was one case in Dodgeville and one in Richardson schools. A few cases of chicken pox occurred at Washington School. Mental histories, for the children who are three years retarded and those in the special group, were started. As these histories are five pages long, they necessitate considerable time in taking and recording. Often more than one home visit is necessary because of the absence of the parent on the first visit.
November. Mental history taking was continued. One vaccination was done at the hospital by Dr. Battershall. Three hundred eighty-four physical ex- aminations were completed. Notices were sent to the parents of any defect found. Special examinations of throats were made at the Sanford Street School because of a number of sore throats reported. Examinations of chests, throats and hands were made at the Bliss School in the room where a case of scarlet fever occurred. A health talk on the "Care of the Skin" was given to a group of freshmen girls during their home room period, and a talk on "Health Habits" was given to a mixed group at another time. A Mental Hygiene meeting was attended in Boston, November 23. Thanksgiving baskets, assembled by different class- rooms were taken to the Family Welfare Association for distribution. Several health conferences were attended.
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