USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Douglas, for the year ending 1938 > Part 5
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Allow me to express to the School Committee, principals, teachers, and all those connected with school work, and the taxpayer, my appre- ciation for all the kind consideration and cooperation that has been afforded.
Respectfully submitted,
A. B. GARCELON,
Superintendent of Schools.
AGE-GRADE TABLE
Total Number of Students Enrolled October 1, 1938-499
BOYS
Age
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Totals
23
Grade
1
10
9
4
·
·
.
2
·
8
7
8
2
.
3
.
·
8 14
2
2
26
4
.
·
5
8
4
1
1 4
3
1
.
.
·
·
.
7
8
4 5 4
5 4
9
1
23
8
·
9
10
·
11
·
16
Totals
10 17 19 27 19 21 29 24 19 23 26 15 13
GIRLS
Grade
1
3 11
2
·
·
.
.
.
·
·
.
.
.
.
·
.
·
11
7
5
.
4
1
2
1
.
18
2 10
3
2 3
1 2
1
·
1
5
7 5
5
3
10
·
.
11
·
·
2
6
5
1
14
Totals
4 17 30 13 27 21 14 24 22 20 18 13
6
5
. 0
0
1 235
.
10
4
2
9 13
3
4
1
.
23
66
6 7
8
9 13
28 18
9
14
10
12
.
4
·
4
1
1 2
·
8 4 10
1
1
·
·
·
1
1
· 0
264
0 .
.
25
2
1
6 18
16
29
24
5
1 11
3
7
3
6
1
.
33
6
25
7
14 14
.
.
.
.
·
11
11
12
·
35
5
7 13
7
4 12
1
6
1 11 1
6 3
·
.
16
3
4
25
19
ATTENDANCE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1938
SCHOOL
TEACHERS
Enrollmene
Under 5 years
5-7 years
7-14 years
14-16 years
Over 16 years
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Number of
Tardiness
Number of
Dismissals
High
Clarence W. Holmes
15|
15|
29| 2
55.89| 54.10 96.83
248
9|
Sophomores
T. Sweinberger
27
23
1
27.52|
26.93
97.88
84
0
Freshmen
Myra H. Jillson
41
26
14
1
40.30
38.93
96.60
148
13
Grade 8
7
Lola H. Dudley
57
37
19
1
55.82
54.32
97.31
73
5
Eunice Buffington
35
31
4
34.78|
33.59
98.04
17
8
Grammar 6
Dorothy Scribner
32
31
1
27.83
25.96
93.06
10
6
D.C.
4-5-6
19
17
2
18.94
18.32|
95.91
1
0
66
5
Mary Joy
36
36
35.84
35.04
97.78
14
26
4
Elinor M. Dunleavy
36
36
36.59 35.23|
96.27
19
1
3
Maria C. Buxton
33
33
32.13
31.47|
97.94
10
3
D.C.
1-2-3
. .
Daisy E. Sweet
21
7
14
20.94
19.96
95.31
24
3
66
2
Betsy Reid
39
19
20
38.88
37.41
96.22
8
0
Mollie H. Kelly
28
28
27.75
26.09
93.93
6
0
1
·
Gertrude M. Smith
26
10
16
22.57
19.58
86.70
3
3
13.96| 13.65| 94.05| * 60|
9|
seniors
C. A. Gagne
Juniors
J. Leboeuf
L. Anderson
28
6
21
4
12
1 & 3
Alice L. Fairfield
4-5-6
LIST OF TEACHERS, JANUARY, 1939
NAME
SCHOOL
HOME ADDRESS
GRADUATE OF
When Appointed In Town
C. W. Holmes
High
East Douglas
Brown University
1918
Linnea Anderson
High
East Douglas
Boston University
1937
Clarence Gagne
High
East Douglas
Bay Path Institute
1931
Lena M. Rinfrette
High
East Douglas
Worcester Normal
1938
Tabea Sweinberger
High
Holyoke
Mt. Holyoke College
1932
Myra Jillson
High,
8
East Douglas
Worcester Normal
1924
Lola Dudley
High,
7
East Douglas
Boston Normal
1926
Dorothy Scribner
Douglas Center
7-8
East Douglas
Worcester Normal
1936
Eunice L. Buffington
Grammar,
6
East Douglas
Douglas High
1890
Mary A. Joy
Grammar,
5
East Douglas
Worcester Normal
1928
Elinor Dunleavy
Grammar, 4
East Douglas
Boston University
1932
Maria C. Buxton
Grammar, 3
East Douglas
Worcester Normal
1916
Betsy Reid
Grammar,
2
Peacedale, R. I.
Wheelock Training
1931
Mollie Kelly
Grammar,
1
East Douglas
Douglas High
1908
Daisy E. Sweet
Grammar,
1-2
East Douglas
Symonds T. School
1916
Gertrude Smith
Douglas Center 1-2-3
Douglas
Middlebury, Vt. High
1900
Constance M. Callahan
Douglas Center 4-5-6
East Douglas
Worcester Normal
1938
David Gellatly
Music Supervisor
Uxbridge
Atl. Associated Studios
1932
Frank O. Dodge
Band Instructor
Worcester
1931
Howard C. Barre
Orchestra Instructor
1931
W. L. Rinehart
Writing Supervisor
1933
13
14
Douglas Memorial High School Report
Mr. A. B. Garcelon,
Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my 21st annual report on Douglas Memorial High School.
The most important event in the history of the high school dur- ing the past year was the addition last June of another teacher to the staff, increasing the number of full-time teachers in the school to eight, including the principal. The new teacher, Miss Dorothy Scribner, was appinoted to work in the 7th and 8th grades with Miss Jillson and Mrs. Dudley, and the appointment resulted in several marked improvements in the system.
First, the 7th and 8th grade pupils are now entirely in the care of three teachers especially trained for work in those grades, where- as, for the past six years, some of the 7th and 8th grade work had to be done by teachers trained for high school work. Second, no 7th or 8th grade pupils now climb the stairs several times daily to share the study hall with the older pupils up-stairs. They study where they should be under the eyes of the teachers who do their class work. The five teachers up-stairs now devote all their time to the work of the four upper grades, that is, the high school, and so we are able to meet the State requirement that there be four teachers, not including the principal, in a high school of approximately 100 pupils.
At this point a definition of "high school" is needed. Six years ago we organized a "six-year" high school, intending to develop it along the lines of the "Junior-Senior" high school ideas. The de. pression precluded much progress in this direction. Since the town could afford neither the teachers nor the equipment needed for ade quate development of a Junior-Senior high school organization, we now return to the old system, which is perhaps just as efficient any- how, of eight grades of elementary work and then the four-year high school; and the term "high school" as I shall henceforth use it, means as of old, the four upper grades, Freshman, Sophomore, Jun- ior and Senior.
The only features of a Junior-Senior high school we have had were departmental organization introduced into the 7th and 8th
15
grades and partial promotion from the 8th to the 9th grade. De- partmental organization was a success and has come to stay. Par- tial promotion to some extent we have always practiced in the high school but it has not worked well in my opinion, between the 8th grade and the high school. In many cases it has resulted in poorly prepared students, obliged to repeat some of their 8th grade work, taking one or two subjects in the high school at the same time, and the next three years cramming with enough of the easier subjects up-stairs to win a cheap diploma by little more than three years of actual high school work.
I would not relapse into the old error of keeping back every pupil who has not finished up all 8th grade work according to stand- ard. The question of promotion is always, "Can this pupil do high school work?" rather than "Has he passed all his 8th grade work?" If an 8th grade pupil is strong in two major subjects only, and if one of those subjects is English, it would sometimes be best to pro- mote, provided he is not too far below the mark in other work. Just where the line should be drawn where there are questions of work not much below standard, is a matter of study of the individual case. The main point I want to make is that when one is near enough through the grades to do any high school work, he should do all high school work. Part promotion from the 8th grade to high school en- courages hurrying to get through high school, and why hurry? Ad- justment to life after graduation demands more and more training, instead of less. High school work should be exacting enough to keep the best students very busy for four full years.
In my last report I wrote of an apparent drift in the school away from the college preparatory subjects. This year the pendulum swings back the other way. Thirty are beginning Algebra and 24, Freshman Latin, and nearly all are doing well in both these sub- jects. Classes in Plane Geometry (eleven members) and in Caesar (seven) are small, since few began Latin or mathematics last year. Twenty-four Sophomores are beginning French this year, 14 are tak- ing French II and 6 are taking French III. There are 10 in the Jun -. ior and Senior advanced mathematics class and 18 in the Chemistry class. I give this enumeration to indicate the considerable interest in the college preparatory subjects. The enrollment in the other classes has no especial significance. The over-crowding of the commercial department was not so bad as anticipated and need not be feared for the immediate future, since so many Freshmen are doing well in Algebra and Latin.
When the Committee decided to assign another teacher to our building, relieving the high school teachers from grade work, Senior French was promptly restored to the curriculum, which had been
16
discontinued for some years, and the history teacher took over Com- mercial Geography, relieving the crowded Commercial department of that subject.
The total enrollment in the high school is now 110. We shall graduate 30 this year, if all pass, the largest graduating class we have ever had.
With the help of the new teacher, the 7th and 8th grade schedule is running smoothly and well, and next year we expect a Freshman class better prepared than ever.
As for the group up-stairs, in conduct, morale, cooperation, ap- plication, progress in studies, and in all that makes for the kind of education we strive for, our high school this year is, in my opinion, the best we have ever had.
Respectfully submitted,
C. W. HOLMES,
Jan. 16, 1939.
Principal.
17
Report of Athletic Director
To the Superintendent of Schools,
East Douglas, Massachusetts. Dear Mr. Garcelon :
I herewith submit my eighth annual report as Director of Athlet- ics in the Douglas Memorial High School. It is an extreme pleasure this year because our program has been successful in so many de- tails. The athletic program in the school has now reached the status befitting the modern high school. There will necessarily be occasional improvements and changes to be made, but we now have a program which provides an opportunity for play to all who are interested. Our teams have been most successful and our equipment is adequate to our needs, and best of all we have paid for much new equipment and we have a balance on hand in anticipation of future necessities.
The spirit and support shown by the student body has been un- usually fine, and the attendance at games shows that the townspeople are becoming interested in interscholastic athletics. This improved at- tendance at games may be attributed to some extent to the unusual success of the teams during the past year.
The football team played the strongest schedule ever played by any team representing Douglas High and built up the best record in the history of the school. The team got off to a bad start, but learned a great deal in its defeats, and finished the season with glory by win- ning the last four games. Not ony did the team have a fine record, but I woud term it the best yet in team play, cooperation, and sports- manship.
The winter program was two-fold: to provide an opportunity for all interested to play basketball and to organize a team to represent the school in competition. Forty-two boys are taking part in this pro- gram and are rapidly learning the fundamentals of team play and basketball. The varsity team is showing much improvement and again the record gives promise of an outstanding season.
Due to the reconditioning project at Schuster Field, it was not possible for the school to have a baseball team in the Spring, but all are looking forward to the coming season. The fact that there was no team last spring will undoubtedly have its effect, but it is expected that the interest will be as good as ever.
.
18
The main problem which confronts us is that of storing equip- ment during and after each season. With some $1,000 worth of equip- ment (both boys' and girls') on hand, a safe and convenient place should be provided for this material. The character of the equipment is such that it should be well preserved. It goes without saying that the present gymnasium facilities are far from adequate, but we do ap- preciate very much the fact that it gives us all a place to play and an opportunity to spend an occasional evening witnessing worth while activities. The teams are handicapped throughout the year for the lack of shower and dressing facilities and for that reason many schools hesitate playing in Douglas. However, there are many schools who want to play Douglas and do because of the fine spirit and sportsmanship displayed by our students and we are particularly proud of that fact.
May I express my sincere appreciation to you, the members of the board, Mr. Holmes and all our many friends who have by their generosity and cooperation, helped make the past year so successful.
Respectfully submitted, C. A. GAGNE,
Director of Athletics.
19
Report of Supervisor of Music
Mr. A. B. Garcelon,
Superintendent of Schools,
East Douglas, Mass.
Dear Mr. Garcelon,
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1938.
The singing voices in the Grammar Schools are very good. The children employ the natural and proper method of tone production, progressing easily from chest to head tones with no straining. There are very few monotones in the primary grades, and the work in mu- sical theory is being done well in all of the grades.
There are some very fine voices in the seventh and eighth grades, and also in the High School. Next year, we plan to give an operetta, combining the voices of these groups.
In May, we produced our annual Music Festival. The program consisted of two short pageants by the Grammar School, and songs and folk dances by the seventh and eighth grades and High School groups. There were also selections by the orchestra and brass en- semble.
On the twenty-seventh of May, a patriotic program was pre- sented on the grounds of the Grammar School, and on December twen- ty-third, musical programs were given in the Grammar School and High School buildings.
The musical standards in the Douglas Schools are high, and com- pare favorably with those of larger towns.
In closing, I wish to thank you, the school committee, the teachers and principals for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID N. GELLATLY,
Supervisor of Music.
20
Report of Teacher of Brass and Wind Instruments
Mr. A. B. Garcelon,
Superintendent of Schools,
East Douglas, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Garcelon,
I herewith submit my annual report of the pupils studying wind and percussion instruments, in the Schools of Douglas.
Last year there were 43 studying, and this year there is an in- crease of six, making a total of 49. There are seven on Clarinet, Four- teen on Trumpets, Four on Trombones, Three on Bugles, one Bari- tone, one on Bass, Seventeen on Drums, one Bass Drum, one on Symballs.
I am very much pleased with the progress each and every one of the pupils have made during the past year and the interest they have shown.
I wish to thank you, Mr. Garcelon, the School Committee, the principals and the teachers for the interest they have shown.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK O. DODGE,
Teacher of Brass and Wind Instruments.
21
Report of Supervisor of Writing
January 1, 1939.
Mr. A. B. Garcelon, Supt.,
Douglas Public Schools,
Dougas, Mass.
My dear Mr. Garcelon :
I am pleased to report a continued improvement in the handwrit- ing situation in the Dougas schools. Our records show a 50% im- provement in the number of gold seal (Superior) rooms for December 1938, as compared with December of 1937. In grades I to VIII, 3221 out of 4447 monthly test papers were graded "A" or Excellent. This shows that 69.9% of the papers were Excellent and compares favorably with 67.8% for 1937.
We were especially pleased with the record of your high school. In 1937 the yearly average of Excellent papers was 72.8%. In 1938 this average was increased to 86.6%. This remarkably high average enabled your school to place third among the high schools in the state under our supervision. The Dougas high school was awarded a blue ribbon for this fine achievement.
During the school term, 5287 monthly test papers were graded and diagnosed. A total of 14,350 daily work papers were graded in the various classrooms by our supervisors.
During the school year, we supplied pupils and teachers with the necessary outlines, scales, room certificates, junior and senior high school individual certificates for graduates, achievement charts, diag- nostic charts, etc. Classrooms were visited monthly for the purpose of placing new units of instruction on the blackboards, and for the grad- ing of informal handwriting. A diagnosis of the handwriting of each pupil was sent to your teachers each month for remedial instruction.
We appreciate greatly the fine cooperation you have given in this work.
Sincerely yours,
W. L. RINEHART.
22
Report of School Nurse
Mr. Albert Garcelon, East Douglas, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Garcelon :
I herewith submit my annual report as school nurse, two days a week each week, for the year ending December 31, 1938.
During the past year I have worked with four definite goals in mind.
1. Adequate dental care for every child.
2. A more general knowledge of nutrition.
3. A closer cooperation between school and home.
4. Correction of other physical defects.
Adequate dental care has long been a problem in the schools of Douglas. A dental clinic was conducted from January to June this past year but was not very successful for several reasons: mainly, lack of interest and cooperation. During the summer and fall the Child Health Association, Mrs. Cornelius Callahan, chairman, took the dental problem under consideration. With the cooperation of Dr. Blanchard and the school committee a clinic, sponsored by the Child Health Association and conducted by Dr. Blanchard was planned, and is being conducted with very good results. Since December 13, 46 stu- dents have attended and the waiting list increases every week. It is the desire of all connected with the clinic that this success continue and that the dental clinic may become permanent and self-supporting. To accomplish this we need more than anything else the continued confidence and cooperation of the parents of school children.
The study of nutrition has justly come into the foreground of Health Education in recent years. The problem which confronts us now is to present it to the parent and child in an appealing manner. We are too much inclined to think of nutrition in terms of under- weight and overweight. These are minor items; decayed teeth, im- paired vision, lack of resistance to disease and inability to concen- trate and study are often results of poor nutrition. Last March, Miss Bienert, a nutritionist from the State Department of Public Health visited the schools and conducted a meeting for the mothers at the Town Hall in the evening. This was sponsored by The Child Health Association and was well attended. I hope that during the coming
23
year we will be able to have more such meetings where parents, teach- ers and the nurse may meet and discuss their problems.
The correction of other physical defects is work which goes on yearly. A large percentage of defects are corrected each year.
Correction of Eye Defects
Number of pupils examined by specialist 20
Number of new glasses prescribed 13
Number of glasses changed 4
Number of glasses not necessary
3
75% of all eye defects were corrected.
Correction of Nose and Throat Defects.
Number of children having adenotonsillectomies at
clinics in Milford and Worcester 20
23% of all nose and throat defects were corrected.
Last March the hearing of all school children was tested by means of the audiometer by Miss Eleanor Hansen of the Department of Public Health. 23 Children were found to have defective hearing. 4 attended a clinic and 19 were referred to their family physicians. The League for the Hard of Hearing, hopes in the near future to es- tablish clinics to help these children.
One girl from the Junior High School attended Sterling Health Camp for eight weeks this summer and showed much improvement on her return.
The students in all four grades of the Senior High School were given the privilege of having the skin test for tuberculosis. This clinic is conducted by the Worcester County Sanatorium. 85% of the high school responded. 31 were found positive and x-rayed. The re- ports of these x-rays are sent to the family physician.
We are grateful to the Red Cross, The Kiwanis Club and the Child Health Association for financial assistance in the correction of defects. The Red Cross also rendered a valuable service by providing hot cocoa for children who bring their lunches.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the splendid cooperation and support given me this past year.
Respectfully submitted,
(Mrs.) ESTHER JOHNSON, R. N.,
School Nurse.
24
Report of Child Health Board
Mr. Albert B. Garcelon, Superintendent of Schools,
Dougas, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Garcelon :
At your suggestion, I respectfully submit a report of the activities of the Child Health Board of Douglas.
This committee is the result of the need of a board to work with the school nurse and to assist her with problems which may arise in the course of her work.
It is made up of representatives of the various organizations of the town, and meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Town Hall.
The Child Health Board is now embarking upon its third year, and during that time, we feel that we have actually covered a great deal of ground that was formerly impossible.
Owing to the fact that no funds have been available for any work in Physical Education, I, personally, have been doing volunteer work in that line in all the schools. My time is necessarily limited, be- cause of my own personal activities as well as the fact that the school curriculum is a very full one. However, in spite of this fact, much has been accomplished. The most important thing in my mind is knowing and understanding the children with whom we are working, - and I know many more than I did two years ago, and feel sure that the par- ents as well as the children know that the Child Health Board has as its primary purpose a desire to maintain good health in those already blessed, and to improve whatever needs to be improved in such a way that we will be a happier and a healthier community than ever before.
A program of games and sports has given the children a better understanding of the meaning of fair play, cooperation and team play, respect for authority and ability to accept defeat and severe decisions with a good spirit; and eagerness to attain greater ability in those fields which appeal most to them.
Rhythmic work and marching is not entirely new to them having been a vital part of the program offered by Mr. Galately; but it has been used in my work to emphasize posture, good carriage and poise, - all things that can never be emphasized too much for the growing child.
25
In the Junior and Senior High Schools, the girls have been given ar opportunity to play Field hockey, Basketball, Table Tennis and Lawn Tennis. Tennis out of doors is not new, of course, but to stim- uate interest a fall tournament was played off. Ten girls took part in this tournament, but it is hoped that many more will take advantage of the opportunity that is given them in having a court so convenient to the school.
Forty-nine girls signed up for Field Hockey, forty-eight for Table Tennis, and forty-seven for basketball, with ten taking part in the tennis tournament. As no girls were allowed to take part in more than two fall sports, more girls were kept busy and interested than the previous year when there was only Field Hockey.
We were most fortunate in securing officials for our games who were members, as well as coaches, of the Greater Boston teams, other officials who were All-American and one who was formerly a mem- ber of the Scottish women's team. All of these officials were very helpful in giving the girls a better idea of good hockey, and good sportsmanship, and were most generous in giving coaching talks and pointers to the teams after the games were over.
So impressed were they by the most unusual spirit of the East Dougas girls, that Miss Gertrude Hooper, president of the United States Field Hockey Assciation, and Miss Helen Libby, chairman of the committee on officials, have offered to cooperate to the fullest in the planning of a sectional Field Day in which we hope to include at least seven or eight of the surrounding towns. The Field Day will be held on October 12, with the alternate date of October 14 in case of rain, and will include field hockey games between the various schools en- tering, as well as coaching periods under the direction of the best coaches of the U.S.F.H.A., and an exhibition by two all star teams from the Greater Boston district. There will be no expense to all this, - which shows the extent of the cooperation that we have found all the way along in whatever we have done.
The Child Health Board felt, however, that it was vitally neces- sary to have a treasury, and to accomplish this an auction and series of bridge parties were arranged during the week of May 1, 1938. This netted us a very good sum and with contributions from the Fire- men's Association, and other organizations, our treasury held enough for proposed activities.
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