USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1920 > Part 7
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"Fifty-seven young ladies and gentlemen received diplomas in June. Of these nineteen entered colleges or technical schools; three entered normal school; several entered business schools and the remainder are either in business or employed at home. In June Typewriting Diplomas (for excellence in typewriting) were awarded to Rose Vitalini, 1920, Florence Tellier, 1921, Francis Han- nigan, 1921. Ruth Fales, Valedictorian of the 1920 class, won the third prize in the Patrick Prize Peace Essay Con- test, the book prize for Excellence in the Classics, and the five dollar gold prize, offered by Miss Florence Whitte- more, for the best editorial on "Education". Edith Rose, 1920, won a second prize of two dollars and one-half in gold, offered by Mrs. V. N. Ryan, for an editorial on the "Perils of Prosperity". Miss Eleanor Metcalf, 1920, won the fourth prize in the Patrick Prize Peace Essay Contest. The 1920 class gave to the High School, on the eve of graduation, the main plate of a beautiful bronze honor roll which will be dedicated to the World War Heroes - some time soon. The dimensions of this plate are 22 inches by 19 inches and it bears the inscription-
"THE REVOLVING WEDGE"-HIGH SCHOOL DRAMATICS, 1920-1921.
33
F DEDICATED TO THE MEMBERS, OF THE MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL
WHO ENTERED THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY TO FIGHT IN THE GREAT WAR FOR WORLD-WIDE LIBERTY 1917-1919 IN MEMORIAM
PHILIP JOSEPH CALLERY
The program of graduation and the lists of graduates willl be found elsewhere in this report.
"Considerable progress has been made in athletics. during the past four or five months. Our foot-ball team completed a ten game schedule on Thanksgiving Day and met on the field some of the best teams of this vicinity" and made a very creditable showing against opponents- who in most cases out-weighed our boys 15 to 20 pounds: per man. Through our efforts the old Midland League: has been re-established and thus greater competition will be offered to the pupils of Natic, Marlboro, Hudson, Need- ham and Milford. At this time we wish to thank King Bros. for their splendid gift of twenty pennants to the. foot-ball team.
"Following out the precedent established so success- fully by other classes, the class of 1921 presented on the . evening of November 22, the comedies "The Revolving Wedge" and "Quits". The thespians were well coached. by Miss Ruby F Sutherland of the M. II S. Faculty, to whom high praise is due for the time and care she devoted to the preparation of the plays. The members of the cast did excellent work and won the hearty applause of the - large audience who saw the performance. Miss Helena F. Swift, Music Supervisor in our schools, was in charge». of the musical program given in conjunction with the pro- duction of the comedies and we are deeply indebted to her-
34
for the fine musical numbers on this program. The pro- ceeds of the entertainment were given to the Athletic Asso- ciation.
"The honor roll of students who do 85% work or over is posted every two months and published in the Milford News. The list for September and October had thirty- three names of students while the last list showed a gain of eight more or twenty-five per cent. The posting of this list seems to have encouraged the pupils to do better work.
"The maps which have been placed in the High School for reference work have proved very satisfactory and have been of great assistance to the teachers and pupils.
"A very successful dance was conducted in January under the auspices of the Senior Class and the proceeds of this pretty mid-winter dancing party were also presented to the Athletic Association. .
"About the middle of October an orchestra was or- ganized and has furnished fine music for all our High School entertainments. The personnel of the orchestra is Leo Dickson, leader; Edward Lord, pianist; John Julian, Frank Todino, Donald Miller and Walter Wall, violniists ; Ralph Volk and Samuel Bean, cornetists."
GEO. E. STACY SCHOOL
In his first report as Principal of the Geo. E. Stacy School, Prin. Beaudry says in part, after deprecating, with becoming modesty, snap judgments :-
.. We may safely form some judgment regarding the system in vogue as compared with systems of other schools.
"A close study of our present system together with results attained through the administration of standardized tests prompts me to recommend that the school system be organized anew. With this recommendation in view I have prepared a thesis on the junior high school system, which I submit under separate cover for your consideration
35
as being better suited to the needs of the school child of Milford.
"The children under my supervision have made mani- fest upon several occasions a zealous desire to aid in pro- moting the welfare of any humanitarian cause.
"This manifestation on the part of the pupil body has convinced me that the junior high school system would prove a marked success for our children because the ulti- mate purposes of this system is the training of children in self-reliance and service to others.
"The teaching staff of each school responds with a splendid co-operative spirit to any professinal request and are rendering conscientious service.
"A musical production was presented by the children of the school at the Opera House, January 31st. Parents, teachers and pupils all worked arduously to effect success, socially, and financially.
"Some four hundred-fifty dollars was realized and this money will go towards the promotion of physical educa- tion.
"Amount realized from Christmas Seal Sale . . $39.00."
EVENING SCHOOL
The enrollment at the night school and the average attendance was the largest for several years. From Prin- cipal Moore's report I quote as follows :-
"The steady attendance was due in great measure to the continuous cooperation given by the manufacturers employing compulsory students; their cooperation was very gratifying during the entire term.
EVENING SCHOOL
Attendance :- School opened October 4, 1920, and closed December 22, 1920-term twelve weeks. Total en- rollment-78; average membership-53.3; average attend- ance-47 ; per cent. of attendance-88.
Statistics ;- Boys 62, girls 16, literate 16, illiterate 62.
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36
Places of Employment :- Draper Corporation, 44; Milford Shoe Co., 8; Milford Iron Foundry, 3; Miscellane- ous, 23.
Nationality of Pupils :- Italian, 36; Portuguese, 22; Armenian, 6; Jewish, 4; Swedish, 4; American, 2; French, 1; Polish, 1; Lithuanian, 1; Roumanian, 1."
MUSIC
In her report of the Music Department Miss Swift says :-
"The course of study which was arranged last year for the various schools has been followed and the teachers and pupils are working with splendid enthusiasm.
"On May 12, 1920 our grade pupils gave a public re- cital which attracted a capacity audience and gave unusual satisfaction. The unison and part singing and versatility of musical expression was a revelation to the large audience. A sum of $100 was netted and this money has been set aside as the nucleus of a fund to meet the needs of the Music Department.
"In the High School 108 pupils have elected music as one of their studies. Four part music is being taught and splendid results have been attained, especially when it is recalled that only two periods a week are given to this work. At a recent play given by the Senior class a double quartette of boys and a double octet of mixed voices con- tributed many numbers to the evening's program.
"Throughout the grades we are studying breathing, tone-production and expression-three essentials in vocal work; in the Primary Grades Rote Singing and Sight Sing- ing are taught and in the Grammar Grades the study of Sight Singing is continued.
"To encourage the children in vocal culture, much of our time is spent in the formation of trios, quartettes etc. and the results are very gratifying.
"May I suggest that at least twenty minutes daily be devoted to Music in the High School; that this daily prac-
-
37
tice work be under the guidance of a member of the High School Faculty; that more time be allotted to the music course, so as to secure practical results and that all who have singing voices should take the Music course as part of the required curriculum."
DRAWING
During the past year the same general lines of work have been pursued as in former years, with the addition of a new subject "Commercial Advertising." This subject has been studied in the grammar grades and in the High School, and has proved to be an excellent incentive to bet- ter work in object and figure drawing, as well as in hand lettering.
Considerable time has also been devoted to the mak- ing of posters for school entertainments by Stacy School and High School pupils. We aim, as usual, to develop good taste and art appreciation, since this development is one of the most important reasons for an art course. The training in color and design, which a pupil has received in school, later in life guides his selecton of a home, its furnishings the kind of advertisements he will insert in - street cars or newspapers, his dress, even the arrangement of his store window.
Original designs were made and executed in hand embroidery and crocheting by the girls, and in stenciling and gesso on wood by the boys.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
The Attendance Officer reports 129 complaints by teachers, of which 56 cases were found to be truancy, 21, carelessness of parents, 26 to sickness, 11 to lack of proper clothing, 7 excusable, and 8 were taken from homes and the streets and brought to school: The Superintendent reported 115 minors, 14-16 years of age, not in school during periods of non-employment. Most of these cases had been reported more than once, and every case has been
38
investigated. Some were returned to the schools and others have obtained working certificates. One case of truancy was prosecuted and the offender put on probation for 6 months. The Attendance Officer made 90 visits to the schools. At present there are no minors known to be working without proper certificates.
CO-OPERATING AGENCIES. DENTAL CLINIC.
The Dental Clinic recommended for several years by the writer of this report is now an accomplished fact. The. following account is based on the report of Mr. Paul Williams, Chairman of the Red Cross Dental Clinic Com- mittee.
Impressed by the reports of the school nurse as to the need for a School Dental Clinic in the towns served by her, the Civilian Relief Committee of the local Red Cross branch a year ago took the matter under considera- tion, secured financial support to the extent of $1250 from the Worcester chapter of the Red Cross, raised further funds by subscription, and furnished a complete dental outfit, viz: furniture, instruments and supplies, all of the highest grade and latest type. On October 25, 1920 the Clinic began its work at the Red Cross Headquarters, Room 11, Grant Block.
Dr. Herbert F. Wright, D. M. D., a graduate of Tufts Dental School, with a long training at the Forsythe Den- tal Infirmary, was selected as first manager and operator, and to his tactful and efficient management is due in no small degree the success of the institution. The public schools of Milford, Hopedale and Mendon, also the Par- ochial Schools, are each allotted a certain proportion of the time. Save Saturday, which is divided into five fore- noon periods, all working days have nine periods each. Therefore, there may be fifty treatments per week. A small fee for the work is charged, and the income therefrom
39
has proved sufficient to pay the sundry running expenses,. barring, of course, the salary of the operator.
Children are-admitted for treatment only upon pre- sentation of a card bearing the consent of a parent and' the recommendation of the teacher. A report of the treat- ment administered, with dates for future appointments, when necessary, is taken back to the teacher by the pupil. In December, Dr. Wright tendered his resignation to accept a lucrative position in Honalulu. Dr. Wright's successor is Dr. John A. Cleary, D. M. D., of Holyoke, his experience and training being substantially identical. with that of his predecessor. Dr. Cleary is still in charge.
It is exceedingly doubtful if this year it will be pos- sible to treat all those children whose teeth would, with- out this or a similar institution, in all probability, be ne- glected.
SCHOOL NURSE.
Most wisely, I belive, the services of the school nurse, furnished last year, by the Milford, Hopedale, Mendon District Nursing Association, were secured for another year, this department paying a proportional part of her salary for three days of her time. Miss Lillian M. Sinclair,. the efficient school nurse of 1918-1919 retired at the end of that school year, Miss Nora Rowell, the efficient and. popular district nurse taking her place until October, 1920, when the services of Miss Fannie S. Buck, R. N., were. secured. Miss Buck has entered upon her new work with intelligence and enthusiasm. During the fall term Miss Rowell left the service to enter a larger and more lucrative. field and was succeeded by Miss Kelley, R. N.
Synopsis of the Work of the School Nurse for the Fall Term
1920
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. All
No. of school rooms visited
19 47
No. of homes visited
49 98 86
55 71
40
No. of children examined with physician 1099 (in the five months) No. of children taken to Boston 2 3 Operations arranged for 4 4 4
"Crippled children operated
on at Milford Hospital 1
Children accompanied to oculist for glasses 1 3 3
"Children taken to Wrentham for examination 4
1
Children taken to dentist 1 3
Cases of children treated
at home or office 4 3
Cases of neglected eyesight - treated in office 1
"Cases sent to school for deaf 1
Brief talks have been given in schools visited. Tooth brushes have been distributed at cost to those need- ing same.
Extracts from Miss Buck's Reports.
Dental work is slowly being attended to. As many pupils as possible are encouraged to go to their own dentist, but there is a large number which should go to the dental "clinic. The dental work at the Chapin and South Schools is nearly completed, while a few from the Stacy and Spruce St. Schools are still going. The last week of the term, work was begun on four from Bear Hill. The other outlying : schools are waiting for appointments.
There is need of a great deal of visiting to secure the "establishment of better hygiene in the Schools and all the time outside of school hours that can be devoted to that will be utilized.
SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
The playgrounds were open for five weeks, with an average atterdance of 150 in the Plains district and 50 in the Town Park.
41
The children were taught various games and dances, as well as the industrial work given at the Milford Hos- pital and to the district nurses.
The financial report given farther on shows that the Town's appropriation of $200.00 is not enough to pay the teachers even the small salaries they receive. Last summer the playground managers had to appeal to the Quinshipaug Woman's Club for funds.
The managers of the playgrounds section feel that a town of the size of Milford should appropriate money enough to hire competent teachers and keep the appratus in repair so that Milford's children could be kept off the streets and out of danger for at least three hours a day.
Mrs. Wilson, in her report, asks that the Town ap- propriate $500.00 for playgrounds, and I hope that this appeal may not go unheeded by the voters.
This movement has borne good fruit in joyous, happy childhood, during several summer vacations,-fruit out of all proportion to the trifling contribution that Milford has made.
Financial Statement. Receipts
From the Town of Milford $200.00
From the Quinshipaug Women's Club
165.00
From the Rummage Sale and Donations 43.60
$408.60
Expenditures
Teachers' Salaries
$275.00
F. C. Townsend
56.95
Supplies
54.20
$386.15
Balance in the Treasury
22.45
$408.60
REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS Four new room unit furnaces at the Park School,
-
42
(fully described in last year's report), Clark, Elis & sons, Roberto Costa, and Waters & Hynes; Park School fence, and blackboards redone in various schools, E. F. Porter ; South School fence rebuilt, Waters & Hynes; South School fence painted, H. J. Baily ; various school walls and ceil- ings repaired, Roberto Costa.
In addition to the above there were various repairs to seats and desks, window shades, and heating and plumb- ing systems throughout the year.
CHANGE IN STAMP SAVINGS.
It is with regret that we learn of the decision of the Social Service department of the Quinshipaug Woman's Club, to give up the Stamp Savings in the schools. Every Friday afternoon during the school year for 20 years, mem- bers of the Woman's Club have met the youthful deposit- ors, at first in the High school and afterwards at the Stacy school, and conducted the Stamp Savings work.
Thus has been met the obligation, always a moral one, and lately a legal one, to teach thrift in schools. During the two decades under review, under the energetic leader- ship of Miss Josephine E. Thayer, some $16,000 has been deposited by the children in Milford schools.
Savings accounts started 533
Deposited in Savings Bank accounts .. $2214.87
The obligation, moral and legal, to conduct this work exists and an effor is being made to revive the failing War Stamps Savings in all the schools and let it take the place of the earlier effort now unfortunately given up, as recom- mended at a recent, Washington Conference of Treasury Department officials and leading educators.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
The following, previously recommended, are now ac- complished :-
(1) The services of a school nurse secured and re- tained.
(2) Dental Clinic.
1
43
(3) Relocation of the cooking school (authorized).
The following recommendations I respectfully re- new :-
(1) Manual work for boys.
(2) A different type of High school graduations.
(3) The South School should be remodeled as recom- mended a year ago and more room and more suitable room should be furnished in the Plains District; but recent ex- perience in relative congestions in different sections leads to the conclusion that the latter is more urgent than the former.
For myself and in behalf of my co-workers I thank your committee for your consideration during the year, and I tender to them this sincere expression of my sense of appreciation of their loyalty and helpfulness.
ALMORIN O. CASWELL,
Superintendent of Schools Milford, Mass., February 4, 1921.
Report of the School Physicians.
Milford, Mass., Feb. 1, 1921.
To the School Committee of Milford : schools.
We present herewith the usual statistics relating to the defects which are found in the children of our public schools.
TABLE I-SHOWING THE GRADE OF DEFECTS Primary Grades
French. Gallagher. Total. Per Cent.
No. pupils inspected,
533
681
1234
No. of normals,
33
72
105
9
No. having only silight defects,
268
231
499
40
No. having serious defects
252
378
630
51
Grammar Grades
No. pupils inspected
431
441
872
No. of normals,
37
85
122
14
No. having only slight defects
198
65
263
30
No. having serious defects,
196
291
487
56
High School
No. pupils inspected,
154
125
279
No. of normals,
34
34
68
24
No. having only slight defects,
63
30
93
33
No. having serious defects,
57
61
118
43
Whole School
No. pupils inspected,
1138
1247
2385
.
No. of normals,
104
191
· 295
12
No. having only slight defects,
529
326
855
36
45
No. having serious defects, 505 730 1225 52 TABLE II-SHOWING THE NATURE OF DEFECTS
Primary Grades
French. Gallagher. Total. Per Cent.
No. pupils inspected, 553
681
1234
No. having mouth and teeth defects,
460
303
763
62
No. having nose and throat defects,
337
583
920
74
No. having miscellaneous defects,
47
83
130
11
4
Grammar Grades
No. pupils inspected,
431
441
872
No. having mouth and teeth defects,
343
260
603
69
No. having nose and throat defects,
259
230
489
56
No. having miscellaneous defects,
33
71
104
12
High School
No. pupils inspected,
154
125
279
No. having mouth and teeth defects,
34
55
89
32
No. having nose and throat defects, 63
41
104
37
No. having miscellaneous defects,
57
33
90
32
Whole School
No. pupils inspected,
1138
1247
2385
No. having mouth and teeth defects, 737
618
1355
57
No. having nose and throat defects, 659
854
1513
63
46
No. having miscellaneous defects,
1
137- 187 324 13
It must be evident now to nearly all the Milford Par- ents that medical inspection in the schools is a very im- portant and valuable public service. Each year it becomes more effective in improving the health of the pupils. To the school physician who has the opportunity of compar- ing the conditions from year to year and noting the records of individual pupils on their journey through the grades the results are quite encouraging, many children whose intellectual progress has been impeded by real physical defects and abnormalities, have been seen to brighten up and show increased interest in their studies after treat- ment by their family physician or dentist. Much credit also should be given to the school nurse, whose persistent efforts have succeeded in drawing serious attention to the little cards sent home by the doctors. The sole objective of the inspection work is the welfare of the pupil, and it is most gratifying to observe the growing appreciation and cooperation of the parents.
Respectfully submitted,
J. M. FRENCH, M. D., J. V. GALLAGHER, M. D., School Physicians.
Eye and Ear Tests.
School.
Number
Examined.
Number Defec-
tive in Eye-
sight.
Number Defec-
tive in Hear-
ing.
Parents and
Guardians No-
tified.
High
291
25
7
23
George E. Stacy
394
30
3
31
Spruce Street
156
Park
169
19
5
24
South
134
10
2
9
I'lains Grammar
168
12
]
,12
Plains Annex
82
5
0
5
Plains Portable
36
‘2
0
2
Plains Primary
350
19
3
22
Purchase Grammar
21
0
1
0
Purchase Primary
31
3
0
3
Claflin
225
21
4
19
Oliver Street
135
8
2
8
Chapin Street
98
1
1
2
West Street
65
1
0
1
Fountain Street
32
2
1
3
Hoboken
32
U
0
0
Bear Hill
22
0
0
0
Braggville
18
1
0
1
Total
2459
166
31
173
1
8
1
Report of Stamp Savings.
The war savings stamp and thrift stamp savings business of the public schools during 1919 amounted to $479.45. The report of the regular savings stamp follows : FEBRUARY 1, 1920-JANUARY 24, 1921. RECEIPTS.
To balance, February 1, 1920
$573 27
To schools for sale of stamps :-
Claflin, 6 rooms .
$458 81
Plains, 6 rooms .
504 83
Spruce, February-June . ,
12 44
Hoboken, September-January
47 95
Stamp Savings Office
10 72
1,034 75
Stamp cards .
01
Interest ·
19 86
$1,627 89
EXPENSES.
By children, redeeming stamp cards $1,023 72.
Sundries
1 27
Balance
602 90
$1,627.89
$40.94 has been deposited in Savings Bank on 16 children's accounts.
$21.97 on nine new accounts.
$19.97 on seven old accounts.
[Signed]
JOSEPHINE THAYER,
Treas Milford Stamp Savings.
ER
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAMME · MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL
JUNE 30
20
M. CENEDELLA.
50 TOWN HALL, Wednesday Evening June 30, 1920.
PROGRAM.
Entrance of Senior Class escorted by Junior Class March-"Victory"
£ Von Blon M. H. S. Orchestra.
Overture-"Orpheus" ,
. Offenbach M. H. S. Orchestra.
"Legend of the Bells" . Planquette M. H. S. Glee Club. (Solo by Anna Provost )
Salutatory - "Reconstruction : European Phases." Mary Santosuosso.
"Until" Sanderson
Catherine Dillon.
Class History
John Davoren.
(a) "Forsaken"
Winternitz
(b) "Ballet Music (Rosamond)" . Schubert- Kreisler
Henry Volk,
"Six O'clock in the Bay" · Veazie
Selected Chorus.
Class Prophecy
Willard Frost.
"A Secret"
Sobeski Anna Provost.
Presentation of Class Gift . Thomas E. Nelligan, President Class 1920.
Acceptance of Class Gift
Paul F. San Clemente, President Class 1921.
"Awake, Ye Bards Smieton
M. H. S. Glee Club. (Solo by Dorothy Cahill).
Valedictory-"Reconstruction : American Phases."
Ruth Fales.
Class Ode
51
:
Presentation of Diplomas George E. Stacy, Chairman of School Committee. March-"The Banner"
Carson
M. H. S. Orchestra.
CLASS OF 1920.
Bragg, Leslie Bartlett Kurlansky, Abe Arthur Bourcier, Claire Therese Kurlansky, Bennie Kurlinsky, Sylvia Lundgren, Harriet Lavenia
Cahill, Dorothy Veronica Calabrese, Attilio Joseph Carter, Hester Williamson Casey, Marie Isadore Cenedella, Maria Charlotte
Cronan, Louise Anna Davoren, John Larkin Dibs, Adele Di Giannantonio, Alba Dillon, Catherine Margaret Doane, Walter Bradford Edwards, Annie Mary Fairbanks, William Warren Fales, Ruth Anna Fister, Hortense Fitzgerald, George Lakin Frost, Willard Chalmers Gilfoyle, Richard Bolton Gilroy, J. Louis Gould, Ida Frances Hartwell, William Henry Haven, Mildred Irene Hill, Warren Eames Introini, Guido Ferdinand Jackson, Christine Elizabeth Jones, Elmer
Kynoch, Carrol Louise.
Lynch, Paul Edmund Mahan, Pauline Helen Mahoney, Phyllis May Mazzarelli, Vetrana Florence Magurn, Katherine Frances McKenna, Agnes Elizabeth McRae, Elizabeth Parker Mellen, Frank Edward, Jr. Metcalfe, Eleanor Wilkinson Moore, Herbert Carlton Morey, Marion Rita Nelligan, Thomas Edward Paquet, Wolfred Joseph Provost, Anna Marie Rose, Edith Thelma Santosuosso, Mary Shea, William Albert Thatcher, Mildred Georgene Thomas, Francis Haskell Visconti, Joseph Anthony Vitalini, Rose Rita Volk, Henry Isidor Watson, Evelyn Viola Werber, Rose Ella
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