USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1938 > Part 10
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Gilchrist Company-Van Gogh prints to be used in the Art Department.
Milford High School Student Association
The Milford High School Student Association has been reorganized this year under the guidance of the student officers with Sidney Werber as president, Joan Luby as vice president, and Claire Adams as secretary.
The purpose of this organization is to take care of the ordinary needs of students. Flowers and fruit are sent to pupils out with illness. Flowers are sent to the homes of students where misfortune has come.
This association has been the sponsor of many activi- ties which are for the best interests of the pupils of the school. The association has held benefits which might have been otherwise impossible. The annual Christmas Party, held in the auditorium, was again a huge success. Twenty-nine baskets were distributed to the lucky win- ners. Each basket contained a ten-pound turkey, poultry seasoning, potatoes, squash, sugar, butter, cranberry sauce, coffee, oranges, bread, cookies, bananas, celery,
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candy and mixed nuts. The entertainment for the eve- ning was supplied by John Hines, who read Dickens' "Christmas Carol."
Everything which is undertaken by this organization has come out on top, and we wish to keep this our goal in future time.
SIDNEY WERBER, President. CLAIRE ADAMS, Secretary
Freshman Science Club
The Freshman Science Club, under the direction of Mr. Benjamin F. Consoletti, was organized on September 30, 1938. The membership of the Club is one hundred twenty. The purpose is to instill a scientific attitude and to promote a greater and better interest in science. It is also the purpose of this Club to take up work outside of our classroom that is not possible to take in class, such as field trips.
BENJAMIN F. CONSOLETTI.
Self-Aid Forum
The pupils of Home Room A-6 who so desired were given an opportunity to form a home room guidance club. After organizing, the group chose the name, "Self-Aid Forum," and voted to meet each Wednesday during a study period for the entire year. The purpose of the Forum is to aid in the solution of student problems.
The idea of self-aid was carried out by having pupils present their questions and problems anonymously. Dur- ing the discussions, suggestions were made by pupils and supervisor, but the final decision was always left to the interested pupil.
During the year local and outside business and profes- sional people were invited to speak on subjects of direct interest to the pupils.
JAMES V. ZURLO.
David Garrick Dramatic Club
The David Garrick Club of the Milford High School re- organized this year with a membership of ninety. The Club aims to develop among its members a greater appre- ciation of good drama by producing and witnessing such whenever possible.
SADIE A. O'CONNELL.
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Junior Science Club
The Junior Science Club, now in its ninth year, is composed of those Juniors and Seniors who are particu- larly interested in the study of science in all its branches. Monthly meetings are held and programs by students or visiting lecturers are given. Field trips of scientific in- terest are important parts in the program.
FRED A. METCALF.
The Oak, Lily and Ivy
The Oak, Lily and Ivy committee, consisting of Jacob Heitin, '38, editor-in-chief; Robert Scott, '38, business manager, and twenty-two associates also of the senior class, was appointed in January. Working under the faculty supervision of Miss Margaret M. Pyne, Mr. James A. Higgiston, and Mr. Harold M. Moran, it produced an excellent yearbook which was dedicated in June during the Senior Night exercises in the Auditorium to Mr. Fred A. Metcalf, science teacher.
The book was divided into three parts, the first of which was printed in two colors, and dealt with various phases of school life. Although primarily a senior activ- ity, the book also contained sections devoted to the under- classes.
We are pleased to report that we submitted this year's issue to the National Scholastic Press Association for judgment and received a first-class honor rating for our publication.
We again extend our thanks to the sponsors and ad- vertisers who helped make the book a financial possibility.
MARGARET M. PYNE JAMES A. HIGGISTON HAROLD M. MORAN
Dante Club
The Dante Club was reorganized once again this year with the same purpose in mind, that of supplementing the class work in Italian by other knowledge which may be obtained outside of the class rooms. Discussions and talks are given both in English and Italian on Italian subjects such as art, music, literature, history and sci- ence. As many pupils as possible will be given an op- portunity to take part in Italian plays.
JAMES V. ZURLO.
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Hobby Club
The Hobby Club was organized in October with ninety Freshmen eager to become active members. Each mem- ber has shown considerable interest in one of the several hobbies: photography, wood carving, aquarium, scrap- book, stamp collecting, radio and airplane models.
CLAIRE D. LYNCH.
GIFTS DURING THE YEAR GEO. E. STACY SCHOOL
One Leather Sewing Machine, presented to the Voca- tional School by the Milford Shoe Co.
One Mimeograph presented to the Stacy School by the members of the Stacy Junior High School Association in April, 1938.
Two Steel 4 Drawer Filing Cases Cahill News Agency.
GEORGE E. STACY SCHOOL
In the following report Principal David I. Davoren re- views the progress of his school during the past year, states the need of better lighting, more and better train- ing in reading and the introduction of Guidance and com- mends them to the consideration they deserve. Principal Davoren's report follows :
There were no major changes in policy or principles governing the administration and functioning of the Stacy Junior High School throughout the year.
The faculty and pupils of the school deeply mourn the death of Miss Grace F. Brown, an efficient, industrious and accomplished teacher. We were happy to welcome Miss Mildred O'Brien to our midst as the successor to Miss Brown.
The Stacy Junior High School Association enjoyed a highly successful year. The chief activity sponsored by the association was a minstrel show, presented in the Lynch Auditorium. The diligent work, enthusiasm and cooperation of teachers and pupils resulted in an excel- . lent show which drew comments of praise from those who witnessed the performance. Mr. Ben Lancisi di- rected the show and to him we are deeply grateful. The proceeds of the show were used chiefly in the purchase of a mimeograph machine which was presented to the school. This machine cost approximately two hundred
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dollars and is used in reproducing printed material and in the administration of the school.
In September the following pupils were elected as offi- cers of the association :
President-George Gould.
Vice President-Shirley Mckinley.
Treasurer-Barbara Niro.
Secretary-Jean Celley.
The American Legion Medals for School Citizenship were won by and presented to Concetta Celeste and Weston Gould.
In January of the past year, teachers' meetings were inaugurated. These meetings are held after the regular school hours and the various procedures, objectives and methods of education are explained and discussed. Prob- lems that arise within the school and classroom are analyzed and solutions for these problems are sought. The purposes of these meetings are: to consolidate think- ing in terms of objectives of secondary school education, and to improve classroom instruction. It is planned to further seek the improvement of classroom teaching by a continuance of teachers' meetings and by supervisory procedures such as class visitation and conferences.
In my previous report, I called attention to the need of more adequate lighting in the classrooms and corridors of the Stacy School. To date there has been no action taken to remedy this condition and I earnestly urge that this matter be given attention in the immediate future. As was previously stated, there are at present provi- sions for switches and outlets in every room, and all that is needed is the hanging of fixtures from these outlets and connecting them with the switches. The present condition is not conducive to the good eyesight of the children being taught in every room in the building. Consequently, once again I recommend that additional lights be installed in the classrooms of the Stacy School.
After observing the reading abilities of our seventh and eight grade children I am convinced that there is a dire need for work to be done in remedial reading. We have done some testing in this field and have found to our amazement that many of our pupils are deficient in reading abilities in varying extents ranging from one to four years. With instruction given by a teacher trained in the testing and remedial reading fields, I am positive
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that these deficiencies can be eliminated or at least diminished. Our educational life is built upon the ability to read. English, History, Geography, in fact almost every subject in the secondary school curriculum except those involving manual skills presupposes the ability to read. If a boy or girl cannot read well, he or she will find untold difficulty in almost all of the subjects in both the Junior and Senior High Schools. He or she will leave school and enter the world of work with a very severe handicap.
The instruction of children who have reading difficul- ties cannot be adequately and satisfactorily accomplished by a graduate of a two-year normal school course, unless these normal school graduates take up further study along these lines. Our present staff of teachers cannot take time enough away from their ordinary reading classes in order to aid those who are having difficulty. In my opinion is a definite need for a teacher who is trained to teach remedial reading classes and I therefore recom- mend that this matter be given serious attention and con- siderable thought.
There is also a need for what is termed in educational circles as "Guidance." There are many phases of this particular field of education, but I am thinking in terms of guiding and directing our pupils through their school life, aiding them in the development of proper attitudes and habits, in the selection of courses of study based on intel- ligent consideration and examination of the pupils' abil- ity, interests, aptitudes and circumstances. This direct- ing, guiding and counselling of our children is not being done at present and, in my opinion, we are wasting plenty of time, money and effort by not doing it. A guidance program could be inaugurated in our school without additional cost to the taxpayer. I heartily recommend that a guidance program for the Junior High School be considered by the School Committee and the voters of the town.
In conclusion, I am happy to report that the teachers and supervisors who come in contact with the Stacy Junior High School have at all times been interested, co- operative and industrious. I appreciate having been associated with these people and I am deeply grateful to each and every one of them for the many kindnesses and courtesies shown to me.
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I wish also to express my gratitude to Mr. Caswell and to the members of the School Committee for the interest and cooperation given me during 1938.
REPORT OF TEACHER OF HOME SCHOOL FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
There were nine pupils, six boys and three girls, during the year, ranging in ages from seven to fifteen inclusive. Three of these children had heart affections, one arth- ritis, one diabetic, one mastoids, one anaemic, one infan- tile paralysis, one tubercular hip. These boys and girls had Miss Gillon's help for varying lengths of time and all went back to school at one time or other, one in grade 2, one in grade 3, one in grade 5, two in grade 6, three in grade 7 and one in first year, High school.
GENERAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
This school, in operation for several years in cramped quarters in the Stacy School, where excellent training was given and much fine work turned out in a number of trades, was moved to better quarters in the new section of the High School last September. The school is still in crying need of twice as much room as is yet available. By the transfer of $500 at the recent town meeting, there is set up a special fund for additional equipment. I heartily commend Director Davoren's report which follows :
At present we are accommodating about all of the boys that we are able to satisfactorily handle. The number of girls in our school is less than that of the boys, but we feel that the girls' enrollment is on the upgrade and in a few years we will reach the same level as the boys.
In dealing with both boys and girls there is a very close connection between the home and the teacher. The teachers go into the home and become acquainted with the parents. The school activities, the home background, the pupils' habits and abilities are discussed during these visits, and it is felt that a great amount of good results from the efforts of the teachers in making these home visits.
There is a better field for the placement of girls in gainful occupations than there is for boys at present here
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in Milford. The teachers of the school are constantly on the alert looking for opportunities to place our pupils. We have been able to place about one-fourth of all the girls who have attended our school. The major portion of this girl placement has been in the field of home-making. Owing to the age at which our boys leave the school, we are not able to secure gainful employment to the extent which we would like, yet we are constantly working toward improvement in this line.
The teachers and myself are very glad to report that not one single boy has been sent to the reform school since the school was begun, four years ago. This fact is particularly gratifying to us and we hope that our record will not be broken.
The shop has been moved to better quarters in the high school building. Some needed equipment mentioned in last year's report has been added and we are to receive still more in the near future. Mention of the various activities taking place in the shop has been made in pre- vious reports and to those activities we have added a greater concentration on leather work; made possible by the addition of new equipment.
A considerable amount of work has been done by the vocational school boys in the various public schools throughout the town. Following the high school fire much of the damaged furniture was repaired, refinished and upholstered. Approximately 100 desks were re- paired, sanded and refinished. Screened frames were placed on the basement windows on three sides of the Stacy School building to prevent window breaking and to protect the school property. Countless minor repairs in many schools were made. Following the hurricane, a roof which had fallen into the Stacy schoolyard was dis- mantled and removed. In brief, the town has saved many dollars and the schools have gained some much needed minor repair work through the efforts of our Vocational School.
Last year slightly more than one hundred dollars was earned by selling some of the projects made at the school. This money has been turned over to the Town Treasurer by Mr. Caswell, as it cannot be spent legally by the School Department.
The Fourth Annual Open House Day took place late in
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the school year and our largest crowd visited us and viewed the projects, exhibits and observed the typical classroom procedure as presented by the teachers.
As in the past, the teachers of the school join me in recommending that the work of our school be extended so as to embrace two more years of study. The educa- tional trend is, and has been, very definitely toward more vocational education and we feel that there is a positive demand here in Milford for an extension of the present two-year course to a four-year course.
Concluding, Mr. Davoren expresses his appreciation to the four teachers of the school, to the members of the School Committee, and the superintendent for their co- operation during the year.
CONTINUATION SCHOOL
Miss Beatrice J. Fleming of the Continuation School reports as follows :
There are four-hour sessions of the Continuation School on Thursday and Friday afternoons. These groups are for girls who through some circumstances be- yond their control must leave school before their six- teenth birthday.
The school endeavors to aid toward better citizenship through character development to train for better home- making and finally to help in securing profitable em- ployment.
The home-making course includes cooking, table serv- ice, sewing, home hygiene and care of the sick. As a result of this course we are pleased to report that we have been able to secure both part and full-time positions for a large number of these girls.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Mr. Frederick E. Steeves, Physical Director, reports on the work of 1938 as follows:
The Intramural Basketball Leagues, both for boys and girls, so successfully inaugurated in 1937, were continued through the winter of 1938 with the participants more enthusiastic than ever. Plans were made to join the Bay State League for the 1939 basketball season.
In the grade schools physical exercises were continued,
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with good posture again being stressed. In the Stacy School the entire student body assembled on Town Park on Open House Day and went through a set of exercises to the music of the High School Band. Over five hundred boys and girls in systematic array going through co- ordinated maneuvers presented an interesting spectacle. We plan to repeat this activity this spring as pupils and spectators enjoyed it immensely. I extend my thanks to the teachers of the Stacy School, Mr. Davoren, Mr. Lancisi, and the members of the band for their unstinted cooperation in making the affair a success.
Milford High School again presented a powerful team on the baseball field, winning fourteen out of twenty-one games. This team probably set up a high school record for scoring, chalking up some of the following deluges:
Milford 27
Wellesley 1
Milford 15
Wellesley 0
Milford 19 Natick
6
Milford 12 Natick 6
Milford 23
Marlboro 7
Milford 27
Marlboro 3
Milford 12 Maynard 1
Milford 11
Maynard 1
Milford 10 Dedham 3
In all her games Milford played clean, hard ball, and only the length of the schedule, coupled with a scarcity of pitchers, made her average lower than the capabilities of boys deserved. Milford, Norwood and Walpole tied for the top in the Bay State League.
The football team, with a fair array of veterans, quickly found its stride and defeated in turn Clinton, Marlboro and Natick. It bowed to Norwood and May- nard-teams which, incidentally, were unbeaten through- out the season-and tied Hudson and Framingham. A better team than the record shows, Milford had good reason to be proud of the clean, hard play of the boys.
For the first time in the history of Milford High School a regular program of Physical Education was instituted in September. This program encourages the theory of "play for all" rather than just the varsity teams, and two hundred girls and two hundred boys take part. In the fall, regular scheduled classes were held on the park for softball throughout the day and in the winter basketball
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became the activity with intramural games in the after- noon rounding out the day.
A varsity basketball team has been selected to repre- sent us in the Bay State League, our first in many years, and although inexperienced, can be counted upon to do its best.
VOCAL MUSIC
Miss Helena F. Swift, Supervisor of Vocal Music, pre- sents the following report:
The study of vocal music, with its admitted cultural attainments, plays an important part in enriching our human life and is recognized as a valuable contribution to the pupil's program of refinement of mind and taste.
In all our work we have tried to teach music for the sake of the joy and satisfaction which it brings into the lives of the many ; not merely as a means of enabling the few to receive professional training. Thus we stress that side of music which results immediately in aesthetic pleasure rather than that which concerns itself only with elaborate technical training in preparation for future achievements and enjoyments. We try to give to the children abundantly, while still in school, training in music of high quality-and the opportunity of hearing beautiful music worthily rendered.
Four successive steps have been followed :
1. Rote singing as a point of contact.
2. Ear analysis to discover musical facts.
3. Representation of the rote song as an introduction to notation.
4. Application of knowledge gained in the preceding steps.
In the primary grades remarkable progress has been made in rote singing, resulting in excellent tonal quality. Two and three-part songs are studied in the intermediate grades. Individual singing as a means of recognizing in- dividual differences ; ear training for the further develop- ment of tonal and rhythmic thinking; and the solution of both old and new problems receive added attention dur- ing these years.
In the Junior High School the first few months are spent in a general review of the work previously under- taken. Special emphasis is then given to the strengthen- ing and extension of technical knowledge and to the sing-
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ing of more difficult songs, many of which are in four parts.
In the High School a glee club of mixed voices from the senior class was formed, meeting each Thursday morning for the singing of part music. The group participated in various programs held in the school auditorium and re- ceived much deserved praise for its efforts.
In addition to vocal work, the class in Theory and Har- mony has been continued as a preparation for advanced study in music.
In accordance with a pleasing custom which we have established for several years, this class attends in Boston the annual production of the Chicago Civic Opera Com- pany.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Mr. Ben C. Lancisi, Jr., instructor in instrumental music and band leader, reports on a year's work as follows:
Our enrollment in the student body of the instrumental department has increased this year to two hundred and sixty members.
A new instrument called the "Glockenspiel" was intro- duced in the High School Senior Band and aroused much favorable comment.
Our Senior Band has had an unusually active year, participating in the dedication of the Sacred Heart Ceme- tery, Memorial Day exercises in Milford, Hopedale and Mendon, several church lawn parties, the annual Ameri- can Legion Convention in Worcester, and was selected from fifty districts as one of two bands to play at the finals of the Eastern Massachusetts Spelling Bee, held at the Municipal Auditorium in Worcester before a congre- gation of six thousand people. . The band also took part in the annual Milford-Framingham football classic and was highly complimented by officials of both towns on their musical ability and splendid appearance. Their rendition of carols at Christmas time added much to the holiday spirit.
They are now preparing for the annual concert which will be presented during the latter part of May. Over two hundred and fifty boys and girls will take part in this instrumental program.
In the Stacy School a decided improvement has been shown in the enrollment. These children will make their first appearance in the spring concert.
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In the High School sectional rehearsals are held each morning and a new class in solo playing has been insti- tuted. The students benefit greatly by their individual playing, especially in the self-confidence they thereby gain.
ART DEPARTMENT
Miss Whipple reports as follows on the work of the Senior and Junior High Schools:
The opening of school in September, 1938, found the art department once more installed permanently on the third floor of the rebuilt High School in a large, attractive and well lighted room. A fine display board running the length of the room makes an excellent background for the many fine pieces of art work done by the High School pupils while the large closet gives ample room for art supplies.
A gift of four framed pictures of art subjects pre- sented to the school by Mrs. Sumner Reynolds are much appreciated. Also a large portfolio of Van Gogh prints in color was presented to the school by the Gilchrist Company of Boston for which we are very grateful.
With the addition of a new activity period pupils who wish now have the opportunity to do extra art work, both freehand and mechanical, get more individual help or do make-up work.
Good blackboard space gives the pupil expecting to teach a chance to learn blackboard drawing. When possi- ble, student teaching is encouraged so that the pupil not only learns himself, but is given the confidence to teach someone else.
Posters were made in March last year for the Milford- Hopedale District Nursing Association and this year a poster for each school activity has been made and dis- played on the bulletin board from time to time.
After a study of the human figure, original composi- tions using the figure were sketched by Seniors to make murals showing various activities in the school. These later are to be enlarged several times by the squared-off method used by artists.
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