USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1926 > Part 8
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CHANGES IN TEACHERS High School-Left the Service.
At the end of May, 1926, Miss Mary G. Condon, teacher of Civics in the High School since 1923, asked for a leave of absence owing to failing health. After a brave but unavailing struggle, Miss Condon entered into rest June 5, 1926.
While one of the younger and less experienced teachers, Miss Condon showed great promise and most creditable accomplishment as a teacher, and on the personal side, her happy disposition and cheery ways won the hearts of her associates on the faculty and the students of her classes.
IN MEMORIAM.
Mary Gertrude Condon. 1901-1926.
A teacher in Milford High School 1923-1926.
A light bear e- here For a little span- Into light celestial borne.
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High School-Entered the Service.
Miss Condon was succeeded by Miss Mildred E. Col- lins of Boston, A.B., Emmanuel, 1926. Miss Collins is an earnest worker and has made a good beginning in her field of History and Civics.
Grades-Left the Service.
April 20 1926, Miss Helena M. Shea, for several years teacher of Grade IV, Claflin School, resigned to become Mrs. Chas. V. Touhey. As Miss Shea, she will be missed by her associates in the work and happily remembered by hundreds of her pupils in the Claflin School.
Towards the end of the school year 1925-26, Miss Marie I. Casey, teacher of Grade II, Claflin School, resigned to become Mrs. F. V. Terry. Miss Casey's bright, happy spirit will be long remembered in the Claflin School.
May 21, 1926, Miss Beatrice L. Battles, teacher of the Hoboken School for a number of years, resigned to be- come Mrs. James L. McGill of Milford, leaving the service with the best wishes of a host of friends.
At the end of the school year 1925-26, Miss Madeline H. Burke, Grade VII, Stacy School, resigned to become Mrs. James T. Slattery. Although in the service but a brief two years, Miss Burke won the esteem of her co-workers and the warm regard of her pupils.
Early in the fall term, Miss Gertrude C. Downey of Marlborough, Mass., teacher of Grade III-IV afternoon platoon at the Fountain Street School, resigned to accept an appointment in her home city, a well-deserved recogni- tion.
Grades-Entered the Service.
Miss Teresa Julian, M. H. S., 1923, F. N. S., 1925, assigned to the Fountain Street School, Grades III-IV (afternoon class) .
Miss Margaret Scully, M. H. S., 1923, F. N. S., 1925, assigned to Bear Hill.
Miss Alice M. Carroll, M. H. S., 1918, F. N. S., 1920, assigned to Grade IV-V, Plains Primary School.
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Miss Rita Edwards, St. Mary's Academy, 1923, F. N. S., 1926, assigned to the special classes.
Miss Flora Youngson, F. N. S., 1925, assigned to Grade IV, (afternoon platoon) Claflin School.
Miss Ada DiGiannantonio, M. H. S., 1923, F. N. S., 1925, and Miss Rita Fitzpatrick, M. H. S., 1924, F. N. S., 1926, assigned to the atypical class.
Assistant Drawing Supervisor.
In November, 1926, Miss Vetrana Mazzarelli resigned her position as Assistant Supervisor of Drawing to be- come Mrs. Louis Solano, Mt. Vernon, N. Y. Miss Mazza- relli made a distinct contribution to the school-art life of Milford and left the work with the sincere good wishes of pupils and fellow workers. Miss Mazzarelli was suc- ceeded by Miss Margaret V. Condon of Milford, a gradu- ate of the School of Practical Arts, Boston.
Girls' Continuation School.
During the summer vacation of 1926, Mrs. Myrtle R. Dunn, teacher of the girls' continuation school since 1922, resigned, greatly to the regret of pupils and fellow work- ers, to accept a position in Household Arts in the Essex County Agricultural School at Danvers, Mass. Miss Frances J. Goodwin of Hollis, N. H., is her successor.
Transfers.
Miss Mary A. Parks, Stacy portable to Claflin IV ; Miss Regina M. Swift, Bear Hill to Claflin II; Miss Ruth Ed- wards, Special classes to Hoboken; Mis Mary H. McDer- mott, Spruce Street IV to Stacy School; Miss Catherine M. McNamara, Stacy School to Spruce Street IV; Miss Alice Birmingham, Plains Primary IV-V to Stacy School V.
HIGH SCHOOL .
The seventh annual report of Principal Thomas J. Quirk of the High School follows:
GRADUATION EXERCISES
The largest class to be graduated from the high school,
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95 in number, received diplomas in June, in the presence of the greatest number of people ever assembled for the graduation exercises. The program differed somewhat from the 1925 program but was very much along the lines of our previous graduations.
The program in detail will be found in another part of this report.
The musical program in connection with the gradua- tion exercises was in charge of Miss Helena F. Swift, Supervisor of Music, and all of the numbers were excep- tionally well rendered. As in previous years, Miss Dor- cas Whipple had charge of the beautiful decorations.
Hon. John C. Lynch, a member of the school committee for over twenty-five years and recently elected chairman, presented the diplomas to the members of the class. Before the presentation of the diplomas, he spoke eloquently and fittingly of the late George E. Stacy. Mr. Stacy had been a member of the school committee for over fifty years and for over a quarter of a century its chairman. After concluding his eulogy of Mr. Stacy, Judge Lynch paid a very appropriate tribute to the late Miss Mary G. Condon, a member of our high school faculty who passed away last June. Mr. Stacy and Miss Condon were both keenly interested in the welfare of the children of Milford, and death has removed from the School Department and particularly the high school two very capable and lovable persons. Mr. Lynch afterwards spoke on Education and ably presented the need of more school buildings in the town of Milford.
The following awards were made after the diplomas had been presented :
Albert L. Knox, '26, third prize of ten dollars in gold for the Patrick Peace Essay on "Will the World Court Bring Peace?" The Dr. John V. Gallagher medal, awarded annually to the boy making the "M" in athletics at least three times and also obtaining the highest scholastic standing of those eligible for this prize, was given to Alfred W. Alzerini, '26.
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The special book prize, the gift of the class of 1917- interest from Liberty bonds-awarded annually to the senior with the highest average in English, History and Latin for four years, was awarded to Ruth E. Volk, '26.
The Washington and Franklin Medal, given annually by the Massachusetts Society S. A. R. to create a greater 'spirit of loyalty and patriotism by acquainting the youth of America with the history of this country from 1620 through the events and battles of the American Revolu- tion, Civil War, minor wars and the World War, was awarded to David C. Cavanaugh, '26.
The medal awarded for Faithful Service during his membership in the Garrick Dramatic Society was awarded to Albert L. Knox, '26. Mildred Crandall, '26, was awarded the Miss Sadie A. O'Connell Posture Medal, given annually to the student in the Expression classes showing the greatest development in posture during the year. The two medals presented by the National Society, S. A. R. and given on the basis of dependability, co-opera- tion, leadership, personal conduct and patriotism as mani- fested by loyalty and knowledge of the Preamble of our Constitution were awarded to Evelyn B. Moore, '26, and Albert L. Knox, '26. Miss Moore and Mr. Knox each wrote an essay on "How Shall One Live to be a Model Citizen ?" These two essays were judged by Rev. Leo T. Rock, Rev. L. W. West and Rev. Joseph Belcher and the ten dollars in gold given by an aged friend of the school was awarded to Miss Moore.
Typewriting medals for proficiency in that subject were given to: Grace Sibson, '26, silver medal; Bessie Pressman, '26, gold pin; Helen Palm, '27, gold pin ; Florence Ozella, '27, silver pin; Mary Perna, '27, and Josephine Roberti, '26, bronze pins.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
During the past year, the General Science Club has been functioning with Miss Catherine A. Somers as facul-
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ty advisor and trips have been made to several of the local manufacturing plants.
The athletic teams have been in charge of Mr. Albert D. Riopel and much creditable work has been done. The baseball team won the first Midland League baseball pennant since 1915, and I want to extend my congratula- tions to Mr. Riopel and to the members of the team upon this achievement. The team played about twenty games and made an excellent showing. The football team played eleven games and while the number of victories did not correspond to our records in past years, all things con- sidered, the record was creditable.
The Oak, Lily and Ivy was published as usual in June under the supervision of Miss Marion A. Ryan of the English Department and was the same literary and financial success. Miss Mae E. Birmingham, who has had charge of the business arrangements in previous years, acted in the same capacity last year. From the proceeds sweaters were purchased for the boys who earned the "M" in athletics during the school-year 1925- 1926. I want to thank Miss Ryan and Miss Birmingham and the Class of 1926 for their co-operation in making this publication possible.
I am very pleased to announce that when the Boston Traveller made its decision on the best short stories sub- mitted by the students of the various high schools throughout New England, the fourth prize, fifteen dollars in gold, was awarded to Bessie Pressman, '26, for her short story "In the Hut." Jacob Broudy's short story "The Pink Pearl," was listed in the Stories of Distinc- tion. Five other members of our '26 class received honorable mention : Estelle Harlow who wrote the short story "Little Joe"; Ruth M. Despeau who wrote "A Life , Lesson Learned"; Eva S. Ramee who wrote "A Question of Courage" ; Blanche Marcus who wrote "A Family Mat- ter"; and Edward S. Mitchell who wrote "The Eternal Lure." Much praise is due Miss Ryan of our English
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Department and the above students for the excellent work.
The David Garrick Dramatic Society has had a very successful year and the exceptional accomplishments of the society have been due to Mis Sadie A. O'Connell who has been very active in all of its undertakings. A public entertainment was held during the year and three short plays were presented, "The Shutting o' the Door," "The End of the Rainbow" and "The Valiant." All credit is due Miss O'Connell for the presentation of these plays and congratulations are due those who played the parts.
SOCIAL
The Class of 1927 held its Junior prom in Legion Hall, February 5, and was a great success. Three small dances and the annual May Dance in Town Hall were conducted by the class of 1926. The receipts of the dances con- ducted by this class were turned into the 1926 treasury.
GIFTS
Class of 1926, $138.03 (added to Honor Roll Fund). Class of 1901, $32.00 (a picture for the school) .
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. A longer school day which naturally will mean longer school periods and more time to study in school.
2. An experienced teacher to take charge of two dif- ferent groups of pupils who are now failing in some of the course. This teacher will conduct supervised study for two hours in the morning and for the same period of time in the afternoon. By this means we expect to raise the scholarship of some of those who are failing now.
GEORGE E. STACY SCHOOL
From the report of Principal W. A. Beaudry of the Stacy school, it appears that :
This year the principal has taken on the work of direct- ing those pupils who for various reasons find it difficult to secure grade standards in the major subjects.
The principal recommends a new course in literature.
..
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Principal Beaudry speaks in high praise of the banking system adopted a year ago.
The American Legion medals for 1926 were won by Gertrude Webber and William O'Brien.
The D. A. R. medals were won by James Romiglio, Enez Taddie, Marion Hixon, Otis Morey, Margaret Con- lin, Edwin Eden, Gertrude Webber, William O'Brien, Rudolph Perotti, Avis Ruhan, John Caswell, and Silvia Granholm.
Edward Porter won a first prize for Junior High Schools for the best thrift poster.
Anna Smith won first prize for the best essay on "Old - Ironsides" in this district.
CONTINUATION SCHOOL GIRLS' SCHOOL
Upon the resignation of Mrs. Dunn, referred to else- where in this report, Miss Frances J. Goodwin of Hollis, New Hampshire, with two years of practical experience as a teacher of Household Arts and Home Economics, was placed in charge of the Girls' school.
The Girls' Continuation School opened the week of September 8, with an enrollment of 63 pupils. The aim in the academic work has been to teach citizenship, economy in the use of time, money and opportunity; expression and understanding through the use of English, and knowledge of health. During the first ten weeks of the Household Arts course we studied foodstuffs, their use in preserving and methods of serving; also general housekeeping. The second ten weeks of the course was in connection with sewing and making of garments in accordance with the needs of a girl in her home.
BOYS' SCHOOL
The Boys' Continuation School opened on September 6, 1926, with an attendance of 44, soon increased to 53. The work this year has been along much the same lines as in the past, two hours of academic study daily, including
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Arithmetic, Science, English and Hygiene, with two hours of shop work daily, including carpentry, building, elec- tricity and repairs.
Many repairs have been made to school property such as desks and chairs with the re-installing of the same. In the shop there have been built radio tables, sleds, stools, towel holders and necktie racks. Projects have been brought in from the homes to be repaired.
The instructor appreciates the co-operation that the industries have given in the matter of employment and attendance.
Projects made during year, January 1, 1926 to January 1,1927:
(See half-tone illustration)
2 Costumers (Parts are shown in illustration)
3 Auto creepers
4 Drawing Boards
10 Bread Boards
6 Weather vanes. (Completed projects and parts shown)
20 Necktie racks (Parts and complete projects shown)
18 Fern stools (Parts and completed projects shown)
8 Paper holder's (Complete project shown)
1: Bureau (Parts shown)
1 Money till (Parts shown)
5 Towel holders (Project and parts shown)
1 Screen door (Project shown)
2. Screens
2 Radio tables
4 Carpenter's Tool Boxes (Project shown)
Child's desk
1 Ironing board
2 Window Ventilators (Project shown)
12 Fishing Tilts (Shown)
2 Step ladders
Repairs for the School Department and pupils' home articles:
BOYS' CONTINUATION SCHOOL-1926
GIRLS' CONTINUATION SCHOOL-1926
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NIGHT SCHOOL
There was general regret when Principal William J. Moore severed his connection with the evening schools, when he had presided with the ability, as sub-master and later as principal, for 17 years. The work was very well carried on by Mr. Frank C. Berry, Sub-Master in the High School, during the season just closed. Prin. Berry's account of the work follows:
The Night School opened Monday, October 4, and closed Wednesday, December 22, covering the period of twelve weeks. There were three two-hour priods each week, making a total of seventy-two hours of instruc- tion for the whole course. The classes were well at- tended and much was accomplished, as can be attested by the number of pupils who came through their own initiative to learn to read and write. We had nine pupils paying tuition.
The total enrollment during the whole session was fifty-two; fourteen of these being compulsory and thirty-eight voluntary pupils. There were thirty-six males and sixteen females, ranging in ages from four- teen to thirty-eight. The average age was 22.05 years. The average membership was 36.45. The average at- tendance was 30.21. The per cent. of attendance was 82.75.
There were ten nationalities represented :
Americans 6, Armenians 2, Brazilians 3, Canadians 1, Dutch 4, French 1, Greek 1, Italians 31, Polish 2, Swedish 1.
The members of the Night School were employed in the following concerns :
Wm. Lapworth and Sons, Draper Corporation, Taft Woolen Mills, Hopedale Mfg. Co., Archer Rubber Co., Vernon Grove Cemetery, Wellesley College, Milford Shoe Co., Mazzarelli and Sons, Huckins and Temple Shoe Co., Cavigoli's Market, Natick Shoe Co., Swift and Co.
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THRIFT TEACHING
The "Massachusetts Savings Banks" system of school savings and thrift teaching, begun under the leadership of the Milford Savings Bank early in the fall term in 1925, has continued.
The savings by schools for the fall term of 1925 and 1926 follows:
1925
1926
In- crease
De- crease $297.93
Stacy
$1,865.50
$1,567.57
Spruce
403.86
619.97
$216.11
Park
479.49
609.64
130.15
South
357.44
446.04
88.60
Plains Gram ...
694.61
669.84
24.77
Plains Prim ...
845.70
864.47
18.77
Claflin
509.90
650.03
140.13
Oliver St.
501.68
558.50
56.82
Chapin St. ..
188.14
266.77
78.63
West St.
99.02
134.12
35.10
Hoboken
45.29
65.95
20.66
Fountain St ...
114.86
151.33
36.47
Purchase Gram.
101.92
78.14
23.78
Purchase Prim.
80.31
62.22
18.09
Bear Hill
18.47
17.63
.84
Braggville
7.03
5.65
1.38
Continu ation
School
21.15
8.15
13.00
$6,334.37
$6,776.02
$821.44
$379.79
Net increase.
441.65
441.65
$6,776.02
$6,776.02
$821.44
$821.44
Junior Special
$20.99
Senior Special
12.72
33.71
Grand Total
$6,809.73
.
.
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SCHOOL SAVINGS SHOW IMPROVEMENT
"School Savings has opened for the winter term with a better record for depositors who number 1,356 and have saved $1,033.99. The bank is anxious to have a higher rate of weekly depositors. There are 1971 pupils enrolled but not all follow the weekly plan of depositing, which it is desired to emphasize.
"Spruce Street School leads with 100 per cent pupils depositing. Other teachers who have high ratings are: Mrs. Agnes McManus, Park, 100 per cent; Mrs. Catherine Cronin, Park, 100 per cent; Miss Mae Miller, Plains Primary, 92 per cent; Miss Florence Aldrich, Chapin, 83 per cent.
"The number of deposits, with amount, for each build- ing the first week is: 100, Spruce, $90.71; 88, Park, $123.56; 75, Purchase Primary, $6.53; 74, Hoboken, $8.60; 71, Chapin, $37.17; 64, Claflin, $90.66; 63, West, $21.91; 59, Oliver, $64.85; 57, Fountain, $18.15; 56, Plains Primary, $141.10; 55.8, Purchase Grammar, $9.50 ; 49, Plains Grammar, $119.25; 45, South Grammar, $48.29; 42, Stacy, $253.96; 36, Senior Special Class, $2.50; 25, Bear Hill, 75 cents."
-Milford Daily News of January 8, 1927. MILFORD'S STANDING IN THE SAVINGS BANKS POSTER CONTEST
In the Massachusetts Savings Banks Association poster contest of 1926, Edward F. Porter, grade 8, George E. Stacy School, won the first prize in the Junior High School class, Miss Irma Antonini of the Plains Grammar School, won the first prize in the Grades V and VI class, while Misses Elmira York and Virginia Nason of the High School, and Miss Marjorie Flint and John A. Cas- well of the George E. Stacy School each received honor- able mention. There were nine prizes and thirty honor- able mentions in the entire state, of which Milford young people won 15.4%.
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POSTER PRIZE ESSAY CONTEST
Honorable mentions in the Massachusetts Savings Banks Association Essay Contest last spring were won by Joseph Ochedowski of the Park School and Howard Ricketson of the South School.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Mr. Riopel, Physical Director, presents the following report of the year's work of this department :
"There can be no sane, wholesome, moral national life in the long prospective without a people with sound bodies," said Dr. Clark W. Hetherington of New York University in a recent address. If this is true of a nation as a whole it must also be true of its constituent parts and Milford cannot have the finest type of citizens unless its boys and girls are taught how to gain the health which is so essential to good conduct, right living and happiness.
When most of the children were born and grew up on the farm there was little need of attention to physical growth for the out-of-doors life with its sunshine and exercise developed sturdy youths and maidens. With the growth of manufacturing came the crowding of people in villages and cities and a consequent lowering of physical standards.
Until quite recent years little public attention has been given to the development of the bodies of those who have been denied the benefits of farm life. Schools have. cxisted solely for the cultivation of the mind and children have been left to grow without any thought as to how they grew. It is to be feared that even now we do not seriously realize the importance of physical education.
In the 1925 annual report of the school physicians of the Town of Milford the fact was noted that nearly one quarter of the school children were 10% or more under- weight and that 45%, or nearly half, of all the children hove serious physical defects. It is without argument that in every case there was a cause for the defect and it can be argued further that most of the defects could
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have been avoided if the child had received proper treat- ment early in life.
One of the best preventatives of physical defects and ailments is found in a proper course in physical training, for such a course not only strengthens the body, stimu- lates the functions of its organs and promotes normal growth, but it furnishes the best possible means for the teaching of the laws of health.
It is with these objectives in view that I have en- deavored in the past year to give the children of the first eight grades of the schools of the town those exercises which will not only correct defects of posture, but also strengthen those muscles which ordinarily are neglected, with consequent uneven growth and development. These exercises have been changed every two weeks that the in- terest of the children might be maintained.
There are many cases of incorrect posture on the part of the children and I fear that some of these cases are aggravated by improper adjustment of seats and desks. It is extremely difficult to correct such defects as curva- ture of the spine, sagging of the abdomen, stooped shoulders and flat chest, in a few minutes of exercise when pupils are permitted to sit for hours in seats which are so high that the feet do not touch the floor and when the desks are not of the correct height. I most earnestly recommend that some action be taken to correct this fault.
I regret that the crowding of the high school building has made it impossible to give the pupils of this school the attention which is due them. During the past season high school baseball and football teams have been a credit to the school and the town. This year a league of the high schools of the Towns of Milford, Maynard, Marlboro, Hudson and Westboro has been formed and great interest has been shown in the league games.
The Milford high school baseball team won the league
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championship but the football team was forced to be content to take second place, winning two games, tieing one and losing one.
MUSIC
Miss Swift presents the following comment on the work of her department:
"Considering the overcrowded condition of the school rooms and the double platoon system which prevails in many of our schools, great patience and interest has been shown in the study of music by the teachers and pupils during the past year.
"In the High School the pupils are studying choral work and much time has been spent on phrasing, attack, re- lease, enunciation and pronunciation. Fifty per cent of the pupils have elected music as one of their studies, the largest percentage in the history of the school, and splendid results have been attained by the large chorus. I have hopes that in the near future more boys will elect music as one of their studies.
"In our Junior High, Intermediate and Primary grades, we have taken special care to have the child read intelligently the song he sings and sing it with musical feeling. Technical work including the scales, octave and arpeggio is taught; each child writes and recites in the various keys, thus aiding him in his sight singing.
"I strongly recommend the installation in each building of a Victrola or some musical instrument as an aid toward the appreciation of good music."
DRAWING
A report of the Drawing Department, from the pen of Miss Dorcas Whipple, Art Supervisor, follows :
"During the last fifty years many changes have come about educationally, industrially and commercially. Art is no longer a fad; it is an essential part of the training of boys and girls. In industry today the problems of advertising are demanding art knowledge and experience with increasing force. All this involves an ever expand-
39
ing need for an art training to keep pace with the situa- tion. This is being met with a curriculum suited to the needs of the pupil both in our grades, our high schools and art schools-a common knowledge of elemen- tary subject matter in Representation, Design, Handi- craft and skill in its expression, with increased acquain- tance with and enjoyment of Nature and Art.
"In High School the number of pupils in the draw- ing classes for 1925-26 was slightly larger than the year previous.
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