USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1936 > Part 10
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CHRISTMAS PARTY
The first annual school Christmas party was held in the John C. Lynch auditorium. On Monday, Decem- ber 21, twenty-two Christmas dinners, and three ten- pound turkeys were drawn. Each student was given a number, and the members of the faculty drew the numbers. If some definite way could be arranged so that the winners would be those needing these baskets, this party might develop into a great success. Each basket contained a ten-pound turkey, one peck of po-
23
tatoes, five pounds of squash, two pounds of sugar, one pound of but.cr, cranberry jelly, one pound of cof- fee, one dozen oranges, four pounds of bananas, two loaves of bread, one pound of assorted cookies, one pound of Christmas candy, one pound of mixed nuts, and one bunch of celery.
GIFTS
A framed copy of the Pledge of Allegiance was pre- sented to the school by the cons of union Veterans' Auxiliary.
A book, Young Folks' Life of Washington, was pre- sented to the school library by Mis. Mary and Miss Olie Brown. The book was awarded to the late Hor- ace A. Brown as a special prize at the second Indus- trial Exhibition at Milford High School in 1385.
Miss Elizabeth Riordan, class of 1926, gave the school two pictures, The Colosseum at Rome, and Ruins of Pompeii.
OAK, LILLY AND IVY
One of the major extra-curricular activities of the Senior year is the publishing of The Oak, Lily, and Ivy, the year book of the school. Although intended prin- cipally for the Seniors, all of the four classes have a section devoted to them and their activities. The year 1936 marked the fifty-second number of the book, which has been steadily improved since its initial ap- pearance. The last four years particularly have noted a marked change in its layout, purpose, and content.
The activity is supervised by Miss Margaret Pyne, faculty treasurer, Mr. James A. Higgiston, faculty business manager. and Mr. Harold M. Moran, faculty editor. The student editor-in-chief of the 1936 edi- tion was Herbert W. Shaw, Jr., and the business man- ager was Joseph E. Murray.
SCIENCE CLUB
The Science Chib holds its regular meetings every third Monday night.
The purpose of the Club is to stimulate interest in the study of Science.
The annual May social will be held during that month.
FRED A. METCALF.
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DAVID GARRICK DRAMATIC CLUB
The David Garrick Dramatic Club helds its regular meetings every third Monday of the month.
The early meetings of the Club are under the direc- tion of student members, giving them a chance to show their interest in various phases of stage work.
The rest of the year is devoted to preparation of plays for Drama Day Contest and public perform- ances. The Club hopes this year to present publicly a group of plays previous to Massachusetts Drama Day, which is April 10, and then give the usual pro- duction during Commencement.
SADIE A. O'CONNELL.
CRITICS' CIRCLE
The Critics' Circle, organized by Mr. Robert Cene- della, will meet Tuesdays to write short stories, essays, poems, book reviews, movie reviews, and news stories of various types. The best of these will be submitted to the Scholastic contests. It may be that we shall enter the Scholastic news examination contest.
CURRENT EVENTS CLUB
In October, the Current Events Club was formed by members of the Mediaeval History classes by Miss Marie Cenedella. There are thirty members and three officers: a president, secretary, and treasurer. The Club meets every three weeks.
The object of the Club is to acquaint the pupils with important events which are taking place today, to al- low them to have discussions, and to encourage them to read more than the headlines in the newspapers. The topics on which they speak are approved by Miss Cenedella first so that anything which is uninteresting or unimportant is eliminated.
FORUM
The Forum, recently organized by Miss Gertrude Webber and Miss Dorothy Callahan, meets on the first Wednesday of each month. The membership require- ment is that each student attain an average of seventy- five percent in his studies.
The purpose of the Club is to give the students an opportunity to perfect themselves in their speech and to discuss and report on subjects of interest to them.
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Many short debates will be held in order to give all members the experience of public speaking.
BUSINESS CLUB
The membership of the Business Club is limited to Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores attaining an average of eighty percent. The Club is organized like a cor- poration-with a board of directors, etc. Miss Agnes Crane and Miss Margaret Rooney are the sponsors of this Club. They plan to secure outside speakers, make field trips to banks or factories to see how business is actually conducted, and to have a store-a candy coun- ter in the corridor at recess-run like a business enter- prise. Later, they plan to have a typewriting contest open to second-year students. A prize will be given to the pupil typing the most words a minute.
DANTE CLUB
The Dante Club this year consists of about seventy- five members of the Italian classes who are interested in obtaining knowledge in Italian in addition to class- room work.
During June of 1936, the Club gave its first public performance of plays and sketches in Italian. The Club held its fourth Christmas party this year. The entertainment both in English and Italian helped .to maintain the high standard set by this Club in social activities.
Plans for this year consist of discussions and debates in Italian, and a more ambitious program of plays which it is hoped will be put on the stage during May.
The Club activities are under the supervision of Mr. James V. Zurlo of the faculty.
In concluding, I wish to thank the members of the High School faculty, the Superintendent of Schools,- Mr. Caswell, and the members of the School Commit- tee for the co-operation and help given to me during the year passed.
FRANK C. BERRY, Principal.
MILFORD GENERAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
This school has been in operation long enough, now, for Mr. Anastasia, the shop director of the boys, with less than half the room he needs, and worn-out ma-
26
chinery, to have produced a diversity of practical and artistic products.
We are indebted to the Quinshipaug Woman's Club for the gift of more than $100 worth of new machin- ery, comprising a lathe, drill press and jointer, and for these fine gifts the Club has the gratitude of the boys who will benefit, and the sincere thanks of this department.
The report of the director, Mr. Davoren, follows :-
At the outset of the year 1936, the Vocational School continued as previously organized. This was the first year in which the boys as well as the girls were served by this school.
The establishment of this type of school was found necessary because a great many of our children left school, at a very early age, to go to work. A survey of the jobs and fields of industry into which these chil- dren went was made by Mr. Geoge Ford, of the State Department of Education. Mr. Ford visited every store, factory, garage, farm, etc., in Milford and vicin- ity where pupils, who had left school, had found work. He inquired into the nature of work being done by these former pupils. The results of this survey of working places guided us in the selection of types of instruction to be presented to the boys in the Vocation- al School. Consequently, we now have as part of our course of study the following units of instruction :
Electricity Furniture Repairing Simonizing
Painting Leather Work Lamp Shade Making Woodwork
Blue Printing Upholstering
Show Card Writing
Odd Jobbing
Mechanical Drawing
Paperhanging
Carpentry Metal Work
The general objectives of the Boys' School are : first, to develop better citizenship through character build- ing ; second, to inculcate and foster the ideals of good workmanship; third, to give a broad overview of the nature of the work inherent in the various trades and jobs mentioned above.
The pupils at end school five full days every week, spending one-half of each day in the shop, under the direction of Mr. Samuel Anastasia, and the other half
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in the classroom doing academic and related work, un- der the guidance of Mr. Paul Raftery.
In the girls' division of the school Miss Beatrice Fleming is the Home Economics teacher and Miss Cecelia Apicella has charge of the academic and re- lated work. Mrs. Mary Naughton conducts classes in Hygiene and First Aid. The Charm Health series of lectures were delivered last year by Mrs. Ruth Mac- Kellar, from the State Department of Health.
An "Open House Day" was sponsored in May of last year by pupils and teachers of both divisions of the school. During the day classes were held as usual and the public was invited to visit the school and be- come better acquainted with its work. The work which the pupils had completed throughout the year was on exhibition, and a style show was held with the pupils as models. A lunch was served to all visitors.
Plans for expansion of this relatively new phase of education are being considered, and it now appears that the pupils of the ninth and tenth grades will have the opportunity to take advantage of this offering in the near future.
I extend my appreciation and thanks to the mem- bers of the School Committee and the Superintendent, Mr. A. O. Caswell, for the fine cooperation they have given me in support of this worthy educational en- deavor, the Vocational School, during its infancy.
DAVID I. DAVOREN,
Director
CONTINUATION SCHOOL
(Report of the teacher, Miss Beatrice J. Fleming.)
The Continuation school classes began the fall term on September 17th, 1936.
These girls meet once a week for a four-hour period. They take up a general improvement course consisting of household arts, related academic work, home hy- giene and care of the sick.
The first group of Continuation school girls that took the Home Hygiene course with Mrs. Mary E. Naughton, school nurse, all passed their test and re- ceived a Standard Red Cross Certificate from Wash- ington.
This year they will take up a course in First Aid.
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CO-OPERATING AGENCIES
4-H CLUB
New Projects for the 4-H club members, a recrea- tional project for the leaders, better monthly meet- ings, and a two-day annual exhibit, climaxed by a ban- quet, are the outstanding innovations in local 4-H club work this year.
However, this year the same two problems had to be faced : lack of junior and senior local leaders, and a meeting place for a boys' 4-H club for handicrafts. As a result, over 40 girls were refused membership and there was no boys' club, although the 24 boys had both tools and a leader.
Nevertheless, 125 4-H club members were led by seventeen junior and senior leaders in the following projects : clothing, foods, homecrafts, Red Cross home hygiene and care of the sick, and the new local proj- ects, music appreciation, news writing, and conserva- tion. In addition, a group of leaders formed a gym- nasium and swimming club.
The outstanding monthly meetings were : the Christ- mas gift meeting, at which Dorothy A. Crandall, as- sistant county club agent, not only displayed gifts which could be made by 4-H club members, but dem- onstrated individual wrappings; an instructive and entertaining lecture on the state slogan, "Protect Your Smile", by W. J. Clancy, local dentist; and the show- ing of motion pictures by Leon O. Marshall, county club agent.
The Heart "H" deeds performed at Christmas time by various clubs of the Busy Bees were: contributions of toys, money, and time spent dressing dolls and re- arranging toys for Milford Daily News Toy Chest; money sent to two neighboring hospitals to be used . for toys and fruit; and bean bags made to be given to children in the county hospitals.
At the first county-wide leaders' meeting held in Worcester, in December, 12 local junior leaders pre- sented a model business meeting as part of the enter- tainment.
To climax the year, in order to do justice to the 500 articles made by the club members, the exhibit this year was held in a local vacant store and was open to the public for two days and nights. On the second
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night a banquet, over which George L. Farley, state 4-H club leader, presided, was held for the parents of the members. The banquet was prepared by the leaders and served to 220 parents and members.
MRS. ELMER O. ROSE,
Town Director
THRIFT SAVINGS
Under the strong leadership of the Milford Savings Bank the school savings for 1936 reached $10,586.36, two hundred dollars in excess of the previous year's effort.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
The posture club has been carried on through 1936 with gratifying results. The winning boy and girl in each grade in town were selected and their pictures were inserted in the local paper.
Profiting by the experience gained in 1935 when the baseball team was composed mostly of Sophomores and Juniors, the squad of 1936 established a fine rec- ord, with sixteen victories and four losses in the reg- ular season. They won the Midland League pennant again, and tied with Norwood for first place in the newly formed Bay State League. The team's fine rec- ord earned it the invitation to represent this section in the State Tourney held at Fenway Park, Boston. Mil- ford defeated Milton's all-scholastic ace pitcher, O'Leary, but was defeated by Somerville's powerful club. With a large part of this fine squad back for 1937, another good season is anticipated.
The 1936 football team played an abbreviated schedule of seven games, as the Norwood game was cancelled because of bad weather. Of these seven games, three were won, one tied, and three lost.
The team showed marked improvement at the end, after injuries had handicapped it greatly in mid-sea- son. Fortunately no one was injured seriously, and with eight letter men returning, a bright season for 1937 seems assured.
With the completion of the new auditorium, a win- ter program has been introduced for the boys at the High School. A basketball intra-mural league has been formed, comprising sixteen teams with one hun- dred seventy-five boys participating. Four games are
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played daily, and the enthusiasm is keen. Boys who have never had a chance to participate in athletics be- fore are now coming into their own and thoroughly enjoying it.
FRED E. STEEVES, Physical Director
MUSIC
The interest manifested in music during the past year has been most satisfactory. In all grades the usual high degree of co-operation from the teaching staff has played its important part in making music the worth-while subject that it is, both from the cul- tural and practical points of view. From the primary grades on, through all the grades of the system, pupils have become acquainted with songs chosen for their particular merit.
The usual amount of part singing and technical study has been taken. In the lower grades, of course, the stress has been placed more upon the development of the voice. Pupils are separated into divisions dis- tinctive of vocal range, and as time progresses, they are developed for part singing, which is introduced in the fifth grade and further developed in the Junior High School.
This year, in some of the rooms, a pictorial repre- sentation, as well as a historical background, of the songs studied was introduced. It has been one of our chief aims to develop the quality of tone and increase the technical knowledge of music fundamentals.
In the Senior High School songs of universal appeal are taught until such time as final numbers for gradu- ation are selected. When they are determined, in- tensive work on them begins. The course in Theory and Harmony, part of the High School curriculum, has been continued. Although intended primarily for prospective teachers, it is not restricted to those who intend entering that profession.
An opportunity was presented this year for the stu- dents of our schools to put into actual practice what they had been taught along the lines of vocal study, for on November 6, a group of thirty girls rendered in a capella style an enjoyable program at the Worcester County Teachers' Convention held in the Worcester Auditorium. Although much extra work after school
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hours was necessary for this, the group enjoys the sat .- istaction of knowing that its efforts were well and fa- vorably received. On December 18, the group ren- Lered a program of Christmas songs in the John C ... Lynch Auditorium of the High School and again did well.
Now that all of the four classes are attending the High School in one session, I hope that a mixed Glee» Club of selected voices may be organized, since sing- ing is the most natural and spontaneous form of music.
i wish to thank you. and the Committee for your many courtesies during the past year.
HELENA F. SWIFT
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
(Report of Mr. Ben C. Lancisi, Jr., Instructor)
It gives me great pleasure to report the progress of the Instrumental section instituted this year.
In the grammar grades we have a new enrollment of seventy-five pupils in addition to the already or- ganized group of one hundred students.
The new group has started on the theory of music, while the more experienced pupils are studying sol- feggio.
The band has taken part in several patriotic ob -- servances and has also assisted in the annual concert' where they were highly complimented.
The High School orchestra of sixty pieces is pro- gresing along more advanced lines and will take part in various school activities, as well as preparing for- their final effort in the spring.
ART DEPARTMENT (Report of Miss Dorcas Whipple, Supervisor)
There is every indication that the art department. of the High School will in the near future be moved. from the teachers' room of the Stacy School to the new" art room in the old High School building.
As in no other class the teaching of drawing is all individual work and a pupil may advance as rapidly as his talent and time allows. By specific problems the pupils are taught the basic rules for blocking in: a drawing, tests for proportions, how to express light- and shade, types of letters and correct spacing and the use of color in such mediums as chalk, water color
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and poster paint or the feeling for form by modeling. Block printing and lay-outs for advertisements and magazine covers are problems for the advanced stu- dent to conquer.
The drafting division after learning the rules of careful workmanship, good lettering, working draw- ings, detail drawings, developments, and isometric drawings, advances to the making of plans, front and side elevations of houses and blueprinting.
In the Stacy School the art lessons are of the class room type with the home room teacher supplying the needed help when the supervisor is not present. An art project (an imaginary trip abroad) was most suc- cessfully completed in these classes. It correlated with every other subject in the school curriculum. Each room selected a foreign country to visit. After classroom discussion and study, sketches were made of trunks, boats, passports, clothing needed, money used, maps, costumes of the country, types of houses, climate, industries, etc. Songs of the country were surg. One student or several students were given the opportunity to lecture on the material gathered togeth- er by the class. Some unusual talent was displayed along this line.
The classes of the girls' vocational school studied costume design and made some very neat. and excep- tionally good booklets. In May, as part of the second annual open-house day, a style show was conducted with gowns supplied by The Louis Fashion Shoppe and modeled by vocational girls and High School girls.
The study this year is "Home Decoration and Plan- ning".
The classes of the boys' vocational school are study- ing types of lettering for use in commercial lay-outs and posters.
May I express at this time my appreciation of the help given me by teachers of the Stacy School.
The Report of the Assistant Art Supervisor, Miss Margaret Condon, follows :-
Art is an inheritance given to every person and our Public School system recognizes its importance in the curriculum. As people become trained in the funda- mental principles of good taste, the community, as a whole, is enriched. Even the industrial field calls on
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artists to improve its merchandise, for not only utility but beauty is demanded from the best products.
All children cannot be trained to be finished artists, but, what is more important, every child can be taught to be more observing and to appreciate the importance of the beauty in everyday life. With this in view, our art course includes lessons that will be beneficial in the child's future, such as :- color harmony, design work, illustrating, figure construction, poster work, lettering, and art appreciation.
The boys and girls designed trays, plates, calendars, and toys for Christmas, in addition to making decora- tions for their class rooms.
One often hears that children in the atypical classes are exceptionally gifted in drawing. From my observ- ation, with the exception of a few children, their work is only average for their age. A few boys would be capable of accomplishing commendable work in the opportunity classes and, given the opportunity, the girls would benefit greatly from lessons in hand work.
MILFORD TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
OFFICERS
President, James A. Higgiston
Vice-President, Margaret M. Scully
Secretary, David I. Davoren
Treasurer, Catherine E. Curtin
Chairman of Executive Comm., Mary H. McDermott Chairman of Social Comm., Gertrude A. Wallace
As its first enterprise of the 1936 season the Associ- ation sponsored a testimonial banquet for Mr. John L. Davoren, upon the occasion of his resignation as Principal of the Stacy Junior High School to accept a position as head of the Teacher Placement Bureau, in the State Department of Education. Among the in- vited guests were members of the School Committee, officers of the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation and the Commissioner of Education, James A. Reardon.
Upon his retirement as Chairman of the School Com- mittee, Atty. A. B. Cenedella was tendered a testimon- ial banquet sponsored by the Association.
Monthly meetings were held, at which time business was transacted relative to worthy educational, civic and charitable activities. Outside speakers were heard, and at present arrangements are being com-
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pleted for the establishment of a University Extension Course by which teachers will be afforded the oppor- tunity of securing professional knowledge which will be of assistance to them in the ever-changing and con- stantly improving field of education.
The Association as organized for the school year 1936-37 has the largest enrollment of its twenty-three year existence.
DAVID I. DAVOREN, Secretary
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE, JAN. 1, 1936, TO JAN. 1, 1937
Calls on account of-
Reasons for absence, 1936-
Superintendent
of Schools
Principal of
High School
Principal of
Stacy School
Grade
Schools
Special
Total
Truancy
Illness
Careless
Truants on
the Street
Clothing
to Work
Left Town
Excusable
Habit'l School
Offenders
Court Cases
Total
January
5
28
69
15
28 140
17
61
7
14
10
28
3
140
February
7
7
30
4
2
43
CO
17
1
March
3
27
40
5
4
76
14
38
2
5
5
12
76
April
7
13
26
5
co
47
14
12
2
May
5
14
21
7
12
54
8
18
6
3
6
0
10
1
54
June
co
10
10
7
9
36
15
3
6
1
4
7
36
September
2
34
or
2
1
42
1
1
23
7
10
42
October
2
13
4
6
7
30
1
8
2
1
8
1
8
1
30
November
07
4
5
1
17
1
2
1
1
6
6
17
December
5
12
10
5
27
1
6
2
2
1
13
2
27
44 165 219
61
67 512
80 166
29
1
24
65
11 120
14
2
512
*Guilty of Truancy and sent to Oakdale.
Called at the Superintendent's office daily when schools were in session.
Superintendent's calls, 44; all others, as above, 512; total calls 556.
RAPHAEL MARINO, Supervisor of Attendance Milford, Mass., December 31, 1936.
35
2
16
1*
47
5
10
1
1* 43
Parents
Lack of
Left School
0
-
36
REPAIRS (Projects).
The largest and most important item of repairs was a W. P. A. project for redecorating the interior of the original High School. This department paid for the materials-$861.51. The individual bills making up this amount are to be found in the financial report of non-salary budgets. In addition to this, there was the usual over-hauling of various heating plants and emergency items caused by flood and tempest.
RECOMMENDATIONS EDUCATIONAL
1. (a) (Renewed from last year)
Modify certain High School courses in the inter- est of Vocational School pupils.
2. Improvement of the plant (renewed from last year).
(a) Regrade Plains District yard. *
(b) Grading the Spruce Street school yard.
(c) Stacy School given outside trim and re-decor- ate inside.
LAST YEAR'S RECOMMENDATIONS REALIZED
1. High school portables re-erected at Oliver Street yard.
2. Wiring Chapin Street School building finished.
3. Original section of High School re-decorated inside (W.P.A.).
In conclusion, I thank your committee, as well as my associates in the work, for many evidences of con- sideration.
ALMORIN O. CASWELL, Superintendent of Schools
Milford, Mass., January 16, 1937.
N. B. After the above was written, we were glad to learn of a W. P. A. project properly to grade and drain the yard in the Plains dis- trict. A large number of men are at work and the project is making splendid progress.
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