USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1941 > Part 8
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Machine shop.
1
1
Housework.
3
3
Mfg. tennis rackets.
1
1
Laundry (at hospital)
1
1
31
43
74
The pupils attending this school are a heterogeneous group. Their grade attainments range from low grades to High School. The results of a recent Achievement Test administered to the pupils bears out this statement. It showed that the pupils who took this test ranked in grade equivalent from 3.4 to 9.3.
A few have left the grade school to go to work because of economic necessity, but many of them have left because they will not or can not carry the work of the grade school. Most of them are not academically inclined. This type of pupil does not always measure up to standards in grammar school. Therefore we find them somewhat retarded.
To serve this group presents a great problem and a great deal of attention must be given to the individual's ability and considerable tact and diplomacy is necessary on the part of a teacher in dealing with them.
For good adaptation to individual needs and for good results the classes should be kept small. At the present a few more girls could be instructed but the classes for the boys are too large.
Additional space acquired by the change in location of the school made it possible to fulfill the recommendation of the State Department for a six hour day.
The removal to the Thomas Willett school building has made possible the enrichment of our curriculum with the following additions:
a. Choral singing under the direction of Mr. Gibb.
b. Attendance at the weekly school assemblies.
c. Visual education program.
d. School of the Air radio broadcasts.
99
ANNUAL REPORT
This school year brought a change not only in location but also in director- ship. The faculty of the school feels keenly the loss and guidance and super- vision of Mr. Dutton under whose leadership the school was established in 1920 and who has served as director until July 1, 1941.
The regular attendance of the teachers at summer school conferences, the helpful criticism of the state supervisors, and frequent revision of program and subject matter in accordance with the changing trends in the educational field are reflected in the work of the school.
Home Projects
Home Projects give opportunity for close cooperation between the home and the school. They provide opportunity for using old knowledge and gaining new; for stimulating student's interest in assuming duties at home; for developing a sense of responsibility for the home; and for fostering an appreciation of home affairs.
The following excerpts are from Home Project reports made by the girls:
"Painting the bureau was rather new to me. I tried to get the paint on smoothly and evenly."
"In doing this Home Project I have taken my task of helping the family more seriously. I have found that I do better and enjoy it. It does not seem like work but a game or a favor to my mother."
"I learned to cook more than one thing at a time and saved my mother work. As I did it on Saturday, I did not have to do any cooking on Sunday."
"After dinner they told me that they thought the table looked very nice." "I have learned that if I had watched the thermometer on the oven door and kept the temperature right, my cake would have been much better."
"The people at my aunt's house thought that the turtles (table favors) very very nice."
Shop Work
The shop work is planned with special regard to training the boys in good habits as well as in specific skills.
In the shop program an opportunity is provided for the boys to try various kinds of work, so that the young person may discover his abilities and aptitudes and may be given some guidance in preparing for private employment in a field where he can be most useful and successful.
At the Thomas Willett School provision is made for a more diversified course which is in keeping with demand for trained help in industry.
Our boys have had no previous shop training. We offer them fundamentals in the following fields:
a. Elementary machine shop
b. Hand wood-working processes
c. Machine wood-working d. General mechanics
In 1935 the annual report of the Vocational School recommended a line of sheet metal tools suitable for carrying out fundamental instruction in this field of work. A part of that equipment has already been installed. Plans have been made to give the boys training and practice in the use of these machines.
A list of jobs planned are:
a. trays
b. funnels c. pails d. sprinklers
The work will include layouts, templates, cutting, bending, forming, seaming, wiring, riveting and soldering.
Thus there will be open to them new fields in industry previously not avail- able to them.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Four days per week the boys have shop work on productive jobs and one day per week is devoted to the related work of the shop. This includes:
a. blueprint reading
b. shop terms c. shop arithmetic
d. shop science e. mechanical drawing
The work that the boys have done up to December 1, includes shop set-ups. They have completed a lumber rack for the school of one and one-quarter inch pipe, saving considerable additional assembling. The boys assembled and set up fifteen benches. At present all shop tools are being mounted on a back board ten feet by six feet which the boys have attached to the lumber rack. This will save many tools and facilitate their use.
Productivity
For the purpose of figuring the productivity of the shops, the boys' work is designated as Household Mechanics and the girls' work grouped under Foods and Clothing.
Material Value
Labor Value
Market Value
Household Mechanics.
$ 64.10
$ 70.20
$318.25
Foods
91.15
103.70
247.50
Clothing
72.02
88.90
199.50
Total Tangible Productivity.
$765.25
In closing my report I make the following recommendations:
1. A restriction of the home permits issued to the girls.
a. Survey of home conditions before issue of permit.
b. Requirement of the renewal of permit at the end of three months.
c. Further investigation before renewal of permit.
2. An adjustment in the bus schedule to allow the discharge and the taking on of pupils at the school.
Respectfully submitted,
Norman S. Tukey
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE JEWELRY TRADES SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I submit h. rewith the report of the Attleboro Jewelry Trades School for the year 1941.
In my last report I spoke of the manufacturers raising a fund to buy new equipment for the school. $6,900.00 was the amount finally raised. Of this amount $5,491.90 has been spent under the supervision of the advisory committee consisting of:
Mr. Leland B. Smith Mr. Joseph R. Brooks Mr. Harry R. Holbrook Mr. Philip Leach Mr. Percy L. Wood Mr. Carlton Bagnall
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ANNUAL REPORT
The following items were purchased:
3 10-inch Hallwell steel benches
3 Hallwell steel foremen desks
60 Hallwell steel chairs
6 Hallwell steel tool stands
1 No. 5 Boland positive pressure blower
1 Delta floor grinder
1 No. 5a Dumore tool post grinder
1 Builders Iron Foundry hand surface grinder with magnetic chuck
1 Time saver tool grinder
2 No. 677z South Bend bench lathes with attachments
1 14-inch x 6-inch Vernon lathe and motor
1 Brown & Sharpe universal milling machine, motorized
1 No. 1 Brown & Sharpe plain miller, motorized
Equipment to motorize three lathes
3 new lathe chucks
Equipment to motorize a reed surface ginder
1 17-inch Delta drill press, floor model
1 11-inch Delta drill press, small, bench model
12 Parker 4-inch machinists vises
1 set hand reamers and reamer drills 1-4 to 1-inch by 1-16 Sweet Mfg. Co. gave us a F. E. Reed Co. 14-inch lathe
Spencer Thermostat Co. gave us a S. W. Putman 14-inch x 8-inch lathe, and the Watson Co. gave us a No. 4 Thurston cutter miller and a No 3 Standard Mach. Co. 350 lb. hand stamp.
In order to utilize the additional space to the best advantage every piece of machinery and every department had to be moved. This necessitated consider- able carpenter, plumbing and electrical work. All moving, setting up of new machinery and relocating of the old was done by the students under the super- vision of their instructors.
Forty-three, 4-ft. double fluorescent fixtures were installed which gives us a beautiful light throughout the shop.
We very carefully made out a four year course of study for each of the trades being taught, this spring, and they were approved by the advisory committee, the school committee, and the State Department of Vocational Education.
We also laid out courses under the supervision of Mr. Flynn of the State Department in related and academic work.
These all went into effect this past September when our new plan started. Under this plan the students spent one week in the classroom and the next in the shop. To make this possible Mr. John A. Cocci and Mr. Morton Ely were added to our teaching staff to teach related and academic work respectively, and the students were divided into two groups. Two rooms at the High School were assigned to us.
Mr. Ely teaches English, history, civics and hygiene. Mr. Cocci teaches shop science, shop mathematics, blue print reading, machanical drawing and calisthenics.
Early in September the School Committee voted to give Trades School students, who complete the four year course, High School diplomas. This puts the students on a level with the high school students and made them eligible for athletics. I believe this has raised the morale of the school more than anything else could have.
Mr. Homer A. Tetreault joined our staff on April 7, as an additional tool- making instructor. Mr. Wilbur Kiff resigned on May 7 and his place was filled by Mr. Douglas E. Williams on June 30.
Displays this year include one at the Boston Foreman's Club, February 18, one at the Court House, May 10, one in the Attleboro Gas Light Company window October 21, and one at the A. V. A. convention, Hotel Statler, Boston, December 9.
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ANNUAL REPORT
During the first half of this term the following films were shown: "Twist Drills, Their Uses and Abuses" in October, "The Making and Shaping of Steel" in November, and "Bridging San Francisco Bay" in December.
All students have been given the Detroit aptitude and wriggly block tests and are to be given the finger dexterity and tweezer dexterity tests.
Twenty-three boys left school to go to work and one to go into the army during the year.
During the year we made 21 medals for John Anderson for use at Capron Park, 15 traction arm splints for Attleboro Public Safety Committee, a branding iron for the same committee, 6 bronze washers for the Fire Department, four placques for Mr. Cooney for prizes in the grade schools, five batons for the High School Band and 1200 souvenir keys for the A. V. A. convention. We also made a couple of galvanized boxes for use in the City Clerk's office.
We made some special milling cutters for the Stevens Arms Company for which the city received $281.49.
On June 30 we started National Defense Training classes. These classes are aimed at training unemployed men as machine operators so they may be placed in defense industries. The classes start at 3:30 p. m. and let out at 11:30 p. m., five nights a week. We have two instructors, Mr. Robert Straker and Mr. Roland E. Carlson.
In addition to being taught to be machine operators each man gets an hour's instruction nightly in blue print reading and simple mathematics. At the end of twelve weeks men are placed in jobs. To date we have placed 24 at an average starting wage of $27.45 per week.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank H. Straker
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The Grades
In all our grade schools the pupils seem to find great pleasure in learning to sing. The type of music used in our schools corresponds to that in use in all the public schools of America. We begin with nursery rhymes and folk songs. We pay particular attention to patriotic and community songs because this is the kind of music that will be sung by the majority of the pupils for many years. We have many songs for special occasions and art songs perfect in text and music are all a part of our music work.
Study of the necessary signs, notes, staffs, signatures, etc., for the develop- ment of music reading is also included in the music program. Some very fine singing was heard at the monthly assemblies of the Bliss School, especially the Stephen Foster program where many of those well known songs were dramatized in a delightful way. A similar program was given at the Lincoln School. The songs of Stephen Foster, America's contribution to the folk songs of the world, are a good basis for the musical experiences of the pupils in the grades.
There is excellent singing in the schools of our city and I am satisfied that our pupils in the grades are getting a good education in singing which is the foundation of music appreciation. I think that special mention should be made of the Christmas pageant at the Lincoln School where the story of Christmas is dramatized in song and story in a most beautiful way. This idea has been adopted by the Bliss School and the Christmas exercises have taken on a ne w interest to the entire school. It is possible that the new Willett School with its fine hall will also turn to the pageant for its Christmas exercises in the future.
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ANNUAL REPORT
With the opening of the Willett School with its finely equipped radio system, a new feature has been added to the musical life of the school. Through the radio we are now able to join up with the music program of the Walter Damrosch hour from New York City. These programs are devoted to music appreciation and are illustrated by the finest musicians of the country. I have no doubt that these new opportunities will add greatly to the advantage of the pupils of the Willett School.
High School
Singing
There are two singing periods each week in High School, both elective, one is the first period Monday morning and the other is on Thursday after school. The first is given over to the study of the best choral music and the other is given over to the study of some special cantata or operetta which is given a public performance at the annual concert. Special groups have sing at the school assemblies and at the Lincoln School P. T. A. programs, also t the school quiz which was broadcasted over WEEI. The annual concert this year consisted of part songs and well known choral works and was enjoyed by the musical people of the city.
The Orchestra
The orchestra during the first months of this year was it its very best and was invited to supply music for the inauguration of the Mayor. The annual concert of the orchestra was of a general character consisting of standard music selections and some special string ensembles.
The orchestra was invited to give a program of music at the P. T. A. Lincoln School, and with the assistance of special singing group, this was accomplished. Transportation was provided by interested parties.
In June the orchestra graduated seven players, mostly violins, which left the orchestra stripped of its most valuable instruments. However, the orchestra is still able to play at all assemblies and also supplied the music for the school play.
The Band
The appearance of the band is always of great interest to the general public. It has proved most valuable in the city by its services on Memorial Day and Armistice Day parades and by playing for the parade of the Halowe'en festivities. But it is at the football rallies and games that the band is at its best and adds to the spirit and enthusiasm which is the joy of sporting fans.
Mr. Zambarano teaches the various instruments of the band during one whole school day. This is one of the best opportunities pupils have to learn to play and instrument and take part in a school act,vity that carries over into the future. The annual band concert is now one of the musical events of our High School.
Respectfully submitted,
John Laing Gibb.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE TEACHER OF ART
High School
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I present herewith the annual report of the Art Department of the Attleboro High School for the year 1941, the data having been compiled from daily records of the pupils' work.
A schedule of classes was arranged for six single periods rather than the double period setup formerly used. Although this type program lessens con- flicts with other subjects, the shorter period is not so efficient for an art class where the care of materials is necessarily time-consuming. If possible it would seem better to resume the double period arrangement another year.
The course of study contained, daily, two classes in Art I, one each in Illus- tration, Advertising, Crafts, and Fashion Drawing. Art I has not been primarily a first year study, but since it is a course in fundamentals in art education, it is preliminary to any of the other courses.
Pupils in advanced courses provided and arranged material for bulletin boards, completed special projects in connection with extra-curricular activities, and carried out assignments such as wall decorations for the library, Latin, science and art rooms. Also, those especially interested in water color worked outdoors on problems in landscape painting. One of the most important and interesting class projects was a joint problem with the manual training classes in the preparation of the community Christmas decorations featuring a boys' choir. In addition to the usual work in handicraft this year paper sculpture and pottery making gave opportunity for the pupils with no outstanding talent to use three-dimensional material satisfactorily. Table decorations and various kinds of favors for school parties, Teachers Association banquets, and holiday affairs were a part of the Crafts course.
All of the art classes studied conservation lessons. The crafts class experi- mented in creating worth-while objects out of "waste materials" and odds and ends; the drawing classes used news print and scrap paper in studying structural design. Even the pupils' amusing pictures and cartoons depicting the "Average Life of a Paint Brush", "Scraping the Paint Jar", etc., emphasized the importance of economy through caring for materials.
The extra-curricular activities in the high school frequently required the help of the Art Department. An outstanding task, the work done for the Blue Owl, necessitated the Art Editors' learning lettering suitable for typesetting and cutting in linoleum blocks, lay-out designing, and page spacing. Their responsi- bility also were cartoons, cover designs for both the magazine and the year book, and the year book end papers. Preliminary to this work, the pupils visited a print shop and an engraving establishment to learn about professional equipment. They attended the conference of the Southeastern Massachusetts School Publica- tions League, and at the Attleboro Meeting of the League our department gave a demonstration for the visiting Art Editors.
Decorations for school parties, dances, concerts, and graduation festivities, were prepared by the art pupils who worked with the class committees. During the year five murals were made to decorate the gymnasium, decorations prepared for two banquets, and properties for various assemblies.
School advertising has been part of our work, too. Posters for all school events such as plays, games, dances, Blue Owl drives, class elections, and rallies, were designed and made by the class in Advertising Art. For community service we made posters for the Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Sturdy Hospital, the Art Chapter, and the National Defense Program.
At the request of the local Art Chapter the high school classes prepared an exhibit representative of their year's work. This was displayed in the Museum Rooms of the Court House in May, 1941, under the care of the Sketch Club. The members helped to arrange the material, held an opening tea, and received and explained the work to the guests.
105
ANNUAL REPORT
Our Sketch Club, with membership of thirty-five and an average weekly attendance of twenty, is an extra-curricular activity of very great value. Pupils work after school hours without academic credit, but, they provide for themselves recreation through their own efforts. At a time when so much recreation means merely passive enjoyment, activity of this kind is important. It is an achieve- ment when pupils realize that they attend Sketch Club meetings because it is fun to draw and paint.
Particularly gratifying is the number of our graduates who study for a career in Art. At present Attleboro High School is represented in the Rhode Island School of Design, the Massachusetts School of Art, Vesper George School of Art, and the Jackson von Laudau School of Fashion.
As in the year 1940, I have devoted one day a week to supervising and teaching in the primary grades and special class. The work for this age group has aimed to stimulate and encourage the natural creative instinct of the small child without interrupting his normal growth in manipulative skill for handling simple tools and materials. The decided contrast in the two phases of my work is most refreshing.
With the permission of the Superintendent I attended meetings of the Eastern Arts Association, Massachusetts sectional meetings for Art Supervisors and Teachers, as well as local discussion groups. Examples of pupils' work were used at some of these meetings, exchanged with other schools, and presented at the Young America Paints exhibit in New York.
I wish to thank the Jewelry Trades School, the Manual Training Depart- ment, the teachers and all others who have given their time and cooperation to help our work.
Respectfully submitted,
Ardith Perry Todd.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
Elementary Schools
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith present my annual report for the year 1941.
This year Art Education in the elementary grades has contributed greatly to the building of a richer and fuller school program.
To maintain an organized program of study, Art Education outlines have been issued. These present to the teachers graded aims and objectives, pro- gressive trends, methods for the development of originality, skills, ideas and basic principles. Although the outlines are planned for a necessary definite standard, they are not limited to any scope of teaching or achievement beyond their pur- pose. All teachers are urged to try new ideas and activities; and they are con- stantly encouraged in these endeavors by the supervisor during her regular visits in the classrooms, in conferences with principals and at the supervisor's office.
Because of these extra-curricular activities, the entire school program is necessarily enriched. Through the integration of Art with academic subject matter and correlated work, our elementary schools have produced many class- room projects and several auditorium programs of merit. In this way new actual experiences in planning, designing, building of scenery, backgrounds, stage arrange- ments, costume and poster making, and the handling of varied materials are gained.
For example, the pupils in a fifth grade at Bliss School who were studying the life and music of the American composer, Stephen Foster, under the direction of their teacher wrote and produced a stage production around this study. This is well worth special mention at this time, because the art periods were turned
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ANNUAL REPORT
over to the constructive work of making the scenery, backdrops and other prop- erties. By special request, this was also presented before the Bliss School P.T.A. where all received due praise.
Large murals and colorful friezes were also made in several of the schools. One frieze made by the fourth grade at Tiffany School, with colored chalk on brown project roll paper, measured approximately 14 feet in length. It depicted the life of William Blackstone and early Attleboro, and was exhibited by the local paper in the windows of the Attleboro Steam and Electric Company. Men- tion was made of it in an article written in the Attleboro Sun.
This year, I exhibited the Animal Posters in Attleboro before taking them to Boston. Both the Attleboro Gas Light Company and the Electric Company generously loaned the use of their windows for this exhibit. The posters were exceptionally well made and drew the attention of large crowds. One man who has charge of the window displays in one of the stores stated that they had seen few exhibits which merited so much attention and interest.
The final report from Boston, where the posters were judged, showed that there was a total number of 105 awards granted to the Attleboro Public School pupils of grades IV-VIII. There were 26 1st awards, 38 2nd prizes and 41 honor- able mentions.
In accordance with your suggestions relative to observance of Flag Week, another letter was issued from this office to all principals and teachers giving suggestions and ideas for the respective grades along with 12" x 18" paper for every pupil for this special work correlating Art with Flag Week observance in our schools. All schools complied and there was a profusion of colorful blackboard illustrations, shields, posters, creative expression pictures and flags.
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