USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1929 > Part 7
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BOYS' SCHOOL
"The boys' continuation school began sessions on Sept. 4, 1929, with classes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons. The mornings of Thursday and Friday being used for records, follow-up work, preparation and ma- chine repairs.
"The enrollment at the start was 54 pupils. This num- ber increased to 75 pupils so rapidly that on Sept. 18, 1929, an extra class was held Wednesday morning.
"The work of the pupils has been the same as in previ- ous years, with slight changes to fit individual cases.
"In the follow-up work some conditions were found not according to law, but these were soon corrected.
"Better facilities for handling this school are needed, storage room for raw and finished materials and more varied equipment."-MY Chilson's report.
NIGHT SCHOOL REPORT
"Night school opened October 7th and closed on Decem- ber 18th. The length of the session was eleven weeks. The average membership was 30. The percent of attendance was almost 87. Ages ranged from 16 to 44 years. With the more regular attendance this year the teachers were able to accomplish more than in the previous years.
We had seven races represented-Italian, Armenian, American, Lithuanian, Polish, Jewish and Russian. The number from each follows in the same order-21, 10, 5,. 2, 1, 1, 1 .- Principal F. C. Borry.
23
SPECIAL CLASSES
Early in the fall, it was possible by some reorganiza -- tion in the Claflin and Plains Primary schools to add to the comfort, and largely extend the educational opportun -- ity, of the special classes, that, up to then had been housed! in the High school portables with an afternoon session. from one to five o'clock. The two classes, each of which. was getting too large for one teacher to secure the best results, were redivided into three classes by localities, so- that one class, living in the Plains district, could be sent: to the Plains Primary school; another, living close to the Claflin school, could be sent there and the third, whose members were as near the portable as anywhere, could continue there. Thus the classes have been made smaller, a distinct advantage educationally, two thirds of the whole group have been given an all day session, in place of a half session, in their own neighborhood, with no necessity for transportation, decidedly to the improve- ment of the attendance of these pupils.
CLAFLIN SCHOOL GROUP
Miss Esther L. Gagliardi, teacher of this group through the fall gives her impression of the change substantially as follows :---
"As a result of my experiences with the class at the Clafiin school, I found that although this arrangement decreased the number of children in the class, it placed in one class children ranging from nine to fifteen years of age with no two pupils doing the same grade of work, As a result, the amount of individual work was consider- ably increased and the problem of busy work arose.
"No assignment for study can be given to this type of group for busy work, the only solution found was hand- work and drawing for which every pupil, without excep- tion, showed marked ability. With what materials they were able to procure for themselves, their attempts along this line were highly successful and commendable.
"Thus the smaller class and longer hours gave the class
24
more time for individual work and created for them the new subject-handwork-which, I think, should be the routstanding feature of every atypical class. With ade- guate handwork material the atypical classes of the Mil- ford Public schools would be a credit to the town.
"The group division resulted also in a marked im- provement of the daily attendance, registering few un- called-for absences and tardy marks.
'"The class at the Claflin school had one difficulty to "face; that is, age difference. When placing a subnormal :group of twelve children from nine to fifteen years of „age, with children of normal mentality from six to ten years of age, one can see that there is little for the older child to gain from the younger and there is much that the younger child can lose by contact with the older. Con- sequently the two groups in this particular instance did not fit together. If, in the future, it should be possible to place them with children nearer their own age it would surely be to their advantage.
"Altogether the group division obtained for the class the results aimed for, and although only four months in "session the class as a whole shows noticeable improve- ment."
FLAINS DISTRICT GROUP
Miss Isabelle MacLachan, teacher of this group, has this to say of the new grouping :-
"Naturally the classes are smaller which fact gives greater opportunity for individual work; a shorter walk- ing distance to the school for the pupils, resulting in less tardy marks and better attendance; a five-hour day, which gives an increase of five school hours each week.
"Their departure from school at 3:30 is an advantage over last year's hour-five o'clock, when it was dark and some children had a long distance to walk.
"There are thirteen pupils in the Plains Special Class compared with twenty pupils of last year. Their ages range from ten to fifteen years.
25
"The subjects taught are Reading, Arithmetic, Lan- guage, Spelling and Hygiene, according to the needs of each child.
"More time is given to Drawing and handwork, this year, and some children who cannot do creditablo work in other studies show great interest and good results in this line of work.
"All this indicates that the new arrangement is an improve- ment."
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Mr. Albert D. Riopel, Physical Director and Coach, comments on the year under review as follows :--
"It is extremely important that pupils of the grammar school age should develop health habits and a health con- science.
"Children should early be made to realize that they are to have only one body in this life and that this body must be nourished by proper diet and developed by suitable exercise if they are to live useful and happy lives.
"It has been my constant endeavor as Physical Director to impress upon the minds of the pupils the importance of good posture, exercise, good food, sunlight, fresh air and pure water. To this end, the work has been carried on in the grammar schools in much the same way as in former years.
"In the High school the major emphasis has been placed upon athletics.
"The teams of the school have been successful as never before. The baseball team is again champion of the Mid- land League. In football, Natick, Milford High School's chief rival, was defeated for the third time in 25 years and for the second time since entering the Midland League, the Milford High School football team won the League championship.
"The victories were all the more glorious because of the extreme youth and the light weight of the players.
26
What the boys lacked in weight, however, they made up in speed and aggressiveness."
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
"In cur work: this year, we have endeavored to teach Music both from the aesthetic and technical points of view.
"In the primary grades, stress has been laid on the three essential qualities of music : freedom of tone, reson- ance and rhythm.
"A new series of books have been introduced into the in- termediate grades, which emphasize that side of music resulting in a sense of appreciation, rather than in a development of technique. However, much technical work has been done in these grades. These books are a great contribution in their special field.
"Brief though our time is, we have succeeded in devel- oping excellent work in the Stacy school where songs in three and four parts are studied, with attention paid to the technical side of music.
"Our high school classes, numbering over 200, have studied many of the standard classics arranged by the greatest composers. Good results have been attained. It is pleasing to note that many of our girls attending Nor- mal school have been selected as glee club members.
"As has been my suggestion in previous years, I still re- commend the purchase of a musical instrument as an aid toward appreciation of good music .- Report of Miss Hel- ená F. Swift, Supervisor.
ART DEPARTMENT
"Art is something to make the heart beat a little warmer. It won't make life longo, but it will make it richer."-Homer Saint-Gaudens.
HIGH SCHOOL
The art lessons are planned by the supervisor with the idea primarily of benefiting the greatest number of un- talented students. To the student with unusual talent in
27
some particular line of art, special problems along that line are given him to work out. If his talent is toward architecture, then plans are drawn, blue prints are made, iron gateways are designed, etc. Thus the student's inter- est is more easily aroused and splendid work is the result. Special problems have been the making of minature stage settings; the modeling and casting of a head for a wall plaque; stained glass window designs, and seals for sta- tionery, costuming of figures, etc. In competition for the Commencement cover, five very fine designs were worked out, the one by Evelyn Merrilees being accepted.
The cover for the Oak, Lily and Ivy was made by Nat- alie Cumming, while headings for the columns were drawn by Doris Nash, Rena Richards, and Natalie Cum- ming.
One graduate of the 1929 class is studying art at a higher institution.
STACY SCHOOL
The art classes in the Stacy school are having much the same type work as previously, with special attention given to the appreciation of famous paintings.
Although a few posters were sent to the Savings Bank contest, most of our enthusiasm and effort was directed this year toward the Mass. Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals contest. Three first prizes, two seconds, and two honorable mentions were awarded us in this contest.
The Christmas project was the making of a tinsel pic- ture-a picture painted on glass and mounted on tinfoil. The project not only developed originality but brought out salesmanship and gave some of the boys an opportun- ity of cutting glass to the required size .- From the re- port of Miss Whipple.
For the past year in addition to the usual fundamental drawing lessons the children in the first six grades have drawn illustrations and free brush designs. They have
28
also made attractive decorations for the class rooms and windows.
The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Dumb Ani- mals offered prizes of medals for the posters having the best ideas for their work. Although poster work is a difficult subject for such young children they succeeded in submitting some very acceptable posters. The fifth and sixth grades won three first prizes, four second prizes, and twelve honorable mentions.
It has been most interesting to see the results accom- plished in drawing, painting, and handicraft in the atypi- cal classes. The teachers conducting these classes deserve great credit for their unfailing interest in a work that seems to have a special appeal to these children .- Report of Miss Condon, Asst. Supervisor (for the grades.)
M. S. P. C. A. AND AMERICAN HUMANE EDUCATION SOCIETY PRIZE WINNERS.
George E. Stacy school :-
Blue ribbon medal or first prize-
Cataldo Gogliomella
William O'Donnell-Michael Sannicandro
Dorothy Smiley
Red ribbon medal or second prize-
Amy Lipman
Edith Samuelson
Honorable mention and one year's subscription to Our Dumb Animals-
Christopher DelVecchio Dorothy May
South Grammar school :- Blue ribbon medal or first prize- Thomas Pomponio
Red ribbon medal or second prize- Florence Paradiso Philip Perkins
7
29
Honorable mention and one year's subscription to Our Dumb Animals-
Jean Sunderland Lloyd Hixon
Plains Grammar school :-
Blue ribbon medal or first prize-
Adele Gattone
Red ribbon medal or second prize- May Carbone
Honorable mention and one year's subscription to Our Dumb Animals-
Antoinette Lancia
Frances Conchieri
Joseph Filosa
Edmund DiGiannantonio
Park school :--
Blue ribbon medal or first prize- Mildred Kuntz
Robert Bickford
Red ribbon medal or second prize-
Theresa Consoletti
Sarah Pressman Rose Santacroce
Honorable mention and one year's subscription to Our Dumb Animals-
Blaine Libbey
Fred Cugini Annie Alberto
Margaret Trotta
John Constantino
SCHOOL SAVINGS
The following statement by Mrs. Brooks of the Milford Savings Bank indicates the success of School Savings of the year under review :-
"This is the fifth year of School Savings and the pupils and teachers are to be commended for their record, which is the best that has ever been attained. At the close of the
30
fall term, December, 1929, there were 2262 pupils partici- pating in School Savings out of 2319 enrolled in the Pub- lic Schools or 97.5%. The average number of weekly de- positors has been 1888 or 83.5% average weekly record for those enrolled in Thrift work. The largest number depositing on any one bank day was 1980 on October 8. The largest number of rooms on Honor Roll, above 80% of pupils depositing, was 52 out of 67 rooms. This fine record occurred four times. The lowest number of rooms on Honor Roll was 40 on December 17. The average weekly deposits this fall have increased 123 over the num- ber in the fall of 1928.
"Thrift Certificates were issued to 49 rooms,-the larg- est number ever. There are 10 out of 15 buildings with every pupil a School Saver and two other buildings, South Grammar and Oliver St., with all but one saving. The 100% buildings are : Spruce St., Purchase Primary, Pur- chase Grammar, Bear Hill, Hoboken, Fountain St., Chapin St., Claflin, Park and West Sts. Rooms receiving a Thrift Certificate are:
1929
Sept. 17 Spruce St .- Miss Frost, Miss Kennedy, Miss
Waters, Miss Gallagher and Miss McNamara Park-Miss McDermott, Mrs. McManus and Miss Brown
South Grammar-Miss McDermott
Purchase Primary-Miss Davoren
Bear Hill-Miss DiGiannantonio Fountain St .- Miss McCarthy Claflin-Miss Tully
Sept. 24.
Park-Mrs. Cronin
Hoboken-Miss Rooney Purchase Grammar-Miss Davoren Claflin-Miss Edwards and Miss Greeley Oliver St .- Miss Curran and Miss Hogan Plains Grammar-Miss Toher and Miss Hogan Stacy-Miss Fitzpatrick, Miss McDermott and Mrs. Bird
31
Oct.
1 Park-Miss Mulligan South Grammar-Miss Scully and Miss Leland Chapin St .- Miss Beckett and Miss Ames Fountain St .- Miss Julian
Plains Primary-Miss McGann and Miss Keany
Stacy-Miss Mullane, Miss Barlow and Miss Wallace
Oct.
8 Park-Miss Scully Oliver St .- Miss Kenney
Plains Primary-Miss Meighan West St .- Miss Gilmore and Miss Swift
Oct. 22 Oliver St .- Miss Youngson (Also her room at Claflin on Sept. 24)
Oct.
29 Oliver St .- Miss Kearnan West St .- Miss Miller and Miss Edwards
Nov. 5 Chapin St .- Miss Aldrich
Nov. 12 Claflin-Miss Parks and Miss Gagliardi
Dec. 10 Claflin-Miss Cahill
"Milford Schools made a good record of 95% in the National Bulletin of School Savings work throughout the United States for the school year 1928-1929. The Milford Savings Bank hopes for a higher record if possible for the bulletin at the close of the school year in June, 1930. This would necessitate the regular weekly deposits. The fol- lowing extract from the National Bulletin seems of im- portance to those interested in Thrift work in the schools : "All education is based upon the idea that the teaching in youth will become the practice in adult life, and this rule may be applied to School Savings as well as to other sub- jects. The instruction and practice in the meaning and use of money in the public schools of the United States will, without doubt, bring in ensuing years better understand- ing of the factors affecting our National life."
1
LIBRARY READING COURSE
In his account of the work in the George E. Stacy school for the year under review, Principal Davoren re-
32
fers to the Library Reading Course. In the Library re- port of Miss Ethelwyn Blake, Librarian, there is a more complete account from which I quote :- .
"State Certificate Reading was used for the fifth and sixth grades, with results shown on another page. Anoth- er registration is now running until the close of school in June.
"Stacy school pupils were provided with cards and books as last year. The same system was used, the books left at the library at noon, and sent to the school at re- cess ; certain specified rooms exchanging books, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This necessitated the usual eight or ten hours a week extra work by the librarian, but the results are worth it.
"One hundred sets of the lists of books selected for the use of the Stacy school, were mimeographed by the pupils of the High school, through the kindness of Principal Thomas J. Quirk and the typewriting department. Thus each of the fourteen teachers has a list and can direct the reading of the pupils so that the best results may be ob- tained.
"Principal Davoren offers five dollars as a first prize for the best book review. The librarian has offered a second and third prize.
"In order to encourage children to use the public li- brary and to become acquainted with a few of the best books, The Massachusetts State Board of Education, through the Division of Public Libraries, offers a certifi- cate to any child who reads and reports on five books in a stated list. Honor Certificates may be given to any child who has won four ordinary certificates provided at least five of the books read are non-fiction."
STATISTICS
"199 children read at least 5 books and won an ordinary certificate.
HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA, 1929.
33
"148 children won Honor Certificates, 20 books, 5 nom- fiction.
"26 children won 1 certificate, 5 books.
"16 children won 2 certificates, 10 books.
"9 children won 3 certificates, 15 books.
"2 Honor Certificates were won by Gilda Tumolo, South school, fifth grade and Vincent Grossi, Plains school, fifth grade.
HONOR CERTIFICATES
"Park school; Fifth grade-Silvio Bellantonio, Elimer Bird, Americo Grassi, Albert Taylor, Edith Rose, Frances Mason, Dora Berman, Marian Garland, Carmella Grillo, Janet Bacon, Ger- trude Smith, Anna Ovsanian.
"Park Portable; Fifth grade-John Constantino, Carmine Pilla, Sarah Pressman, Patsy Chianese, Frank Niro, Barbara Droney, Herbert Shaw, Joseph Grillo, Theresa DeCesare, Lillian Luby, Anita Consoletti, Christine DeCaesar, Pauline Mc- Master, Bertha Rice, Joseph Murray, Thelma Abrams, Clara Tosches, Congetta Scudieri, Herbert Spaulding, Rose Iacovelli, Rose Caf- farelli, Robert Besser, William Dillon, Eliza- beth Johnson, Rose Santacroce, Carlo Melo, Joseph Santacroce.
""Park school; Sixth grade-Albert Calagione, Ernest Ro- berti, Frank Iadarola, Keyonoush Ohanian, Sylvia Sainio, Marjorie McMaster, Richard Siegel, Florence Consigli, Celio Pillarella, At- · tonio Scudieri, Flora Celozzi, Mary Cimino, Michael Sacco, Florence Smith, Jennie Beal, Jessie E. Iacovelli, Charlotte Helfand, Har- vey Marcus, Margaret McCarthy, Louis Dro- Palma, Theresa Consoletti, Robert Andersom, Mildred Shackleton, Jennie Chludenski, Doris Julian, Robert Nealon, Clara Morgan, Mary DelSignore.
1
34
"South school Fifth grade-Shilla Markakis, Lena Spe- roni, Marco Caffarelli, Barbara Smethurst, Peter Maietta, Congetta Cugini, Fred Cres- cenzi, Hugo Mazzini, Mildred Flanders, Har- old Indursky, Frank Fantini, Dorothy Mar- cus, Marie Greene, Anna Harrington, Nicho- las Bocaccino, Helen Hamm, Joseph Manella, Robert Williams, Margaret Meomartino, Rose DiCrescentis, Ralph Fantini, Dorothea Mac- Laughlin.
"South school; Sixth grade-Gilda Tumolo, Helen Mc- Avoy, Helen McDonough, Vernon Howatt, Min- nie Markakis, Joseph Consigli, Helen Stanley, Clara Hensel, Jean Sunderland, Sylvia Wer- ber, Virginia Nadreau, Alfred Imbruno, Mi- chael Gaetani, Theresa Compagnone, Fred Andreola, Humphrey Sullivan, Evelyn Pascoe, Gertrude Gladman, John Lynch, Mary Para- diso, Douglas Tower, Helen Andrew, Edith Rosen.
"Plains school; Fifth Grade-Fanny Monica, Mary Gan- dolfi, Mary Tolenti, Arthur Delfanti, Mary Ruotolo, Gino Ruscitti, Romeo Divitto, Valen- tino Candela, Vincent Grossi, Stephen Deletti, Helen Perna, Francis Iadarola, Louise Ros- sacci, Concetta Volpe, Serina Vitali, Natalina Federici, Rheta Christie, Ida Creasia, Elvira DeFazio, Lawrence Catella, Lucy Fontecchio.
"Plains school Sixth grade-Joe Testa, Louis Giampietro, Alfred Macchi, Irene Deletti, Mary Canali, Louis Luchini, Mary Creasia, Peter Tolenti, Erminia Iannitelli."
MOTHERCRAFT
This subject has made a place for itself among the co- operating agencies and a large number of our girls have come under its beneficent ministrations. The work
35
this year was under the direction of Mrs. William F. Sherborne who comments as follows :-
"Forty-nine pupils were selected by Principal Davoren to take the course in Mothercraft in the Stacy school this year. A donation of $52 to further the work of the classes has been received from Quinshipaug Woman's Club. This money has been placed on interest until such time as a suitable room can be provided for the proper Mother- craft teaching and housing of material used in the lessons."
MILFORD TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
Helen W. Bird, President; Anna A. Calabrese, Vice- President; Alice B. Barlow, Secretary ; Gertrude A. Wal- lace, Treasurer.
PROGRAM 1929-1930
September Business Meeting.
November Membership Luncheon Bridge.
December Business Meeting.
January
Business Meeting.
March Reading Lecture by Florence P. Tuttle.
Business Meeting.
April Bridge for Riverbank Lodge.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Number of children weighed and measured twice ... 2,095 Number of children found 10% underweight 280
Number of children weighed three times or more ... 263 Number of children examined at underweight clin-
ic 17
Number of children having X-Rays of chest 14
Number of children examined by Dr. Paterson 26
Number of children sent to Health Camp at Ster- ling 2
Number of children taken to various clinics in Bos- ton 32
36
Number of children taken to Oculist in Boston 12
Number of Health Conferences attended. 5
Number of children having measles 42
Number of children having chicken pox 24
Number of children having scarlet fever 12
Number of children having diphtheria.
1
Number of home calls made
730
Number of children found with defective hearing
having audiometer tests at Mass. Eye and Ear 15
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER. RECORD OF SCHOOL CALLS FROM JANUARY 1, 1929, TO JANUARY 1, 1930.
Calls on Account of
Reason for Absence
Disposition of Court Cases
Calls from
Principal of
High School
Stacy School
Night School
Teachers
Special
Classes
Totals
Truancy
Illness
Parents
Truants
Lack of
Left School
Left Town
Excusable
Over 16
Court Cases
Totals
Jan.
36
11
22
21|
31
85
15
30
5
7
5
19
3
1
85 Probation for Three Months
37
March
14
10
16
11
34
63
1
24
0.
5
1
2
1
23
63
April
29
4
28
0.
21
59
8
22
6
1
1
1
18
1
1
59 Committed to County Training School
May
A
19
44
8
11
82
9
26
4
14
19
2
82
June
34
9
34
8
17
68
8
27
2
1
5
00
2
00
Sept.
22
72
19
3
13
107
10
13
3
3
36
23
11
20
107
Oct.
53
6
29
35
00
12
901
22
24
3
1
00
4
27
90
Nov.
30
01
26
9
5
00
53
11
23
ـه
4
-
10
1
53 Fined $5.00 for Non-Attendance at Night School
Dec.
29
3
39
25
10
10
87
10
44
2
3
6
1
20
1
87
270
136
292
69
85
158
740
96, 260
41
00
23
90
31
171
17
3
740
Visits at schools, 65.
RAPHAEL, MARINO,
Attendance Officer.
Feb.
9
5
35
5
1
46
2
27
3
8
6
46
Superintendent
Principal of
Principal of
Grade
Carelessness of
On Street
Clothing
to Work
0, 00
38
REPAIRS CARPENTER WORK
Plains Grammar school :---
New windows and window stops on about 20 windows. Park school :-
New window stops on about 24 windows; gutter re- paired on front of building.
West Street school :-
New steel ceiling installed in Miss Higgiston's room. A. Sonne, Contractor for all above group (lowest bidder) , $158.00.
Oliver Street school :-
Leaks in roof repaired.
Purchase Primary school :-
Rope on ventilator; new door knob on closet; new sill at side door ; leaks in roof repaired.
Bear Hill school :--
New dividing fence from rear of building to outbuild- ing.
Spruce Street school :-
Roof repaired ; floor patched in a number of places. Stairs to boys' basement re-treaded, new threshold at top.
High School Portable :-
Steps repaired ; some reboarding next ground on north side .- Thos. F. Maher, Contractor for all of above group, (lowest bidder) $92.00.
Plains Annex school :-
New lock-set for front door; floor patched at head of stairs on second floor.
Claflin school :
Floor repaired in first floor corridor ; new half window sash in Miss Greeley's room.
Braggville school :-
Leaks in roof patched .- Wm. C. Waters, Contractor for all of above group, (lowest bidder) $21.00.
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PAINTING
Braggville school :-
Painted one coat outside; blackboards done over; ceil- ing tinted one coat water color.
West Street school :-
Painted one coat outside; blackboards done over , (Walls in rooms and hallways painted one coat fiat oil. ₺ Chapin Street school :-
Front and side blackboards in three rooms done over, Purchase Grammar school :-
School room ceiling tinted one coat water color. Walls. of hallways painted one coat; ceilings tinted one coat. water color .- Pantano Bros., Contractors for all of above group, (lowest bidder) $304.50 ..
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