USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1941-1945 > Part 43
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The Union High School was discussed at length. This plan would bring the High School pupils of half a dozen towns together in one building at some convenient point.
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Our secretary, Mr. Edgar Davis, got information from other states and from the Massachusetts Department of Education on the subject of a Union High School. We corresponded with the Boards of Education of Minne- sota, Iowa, Nebraska, New York and Connecticut, and also with the Federal Bureau of Education. We received much material and were particularly impressed by re- ports from Connecticut. It is thought that a larger High School would give the children better and broader oppor- tunity to compete with the children of larger towns and cities. The union would draw to its management and faculty better material and would be able to pay better salaries than the small town can afford. U. S. Bulletin 1938, No. 11, says we could expect "Lower per pupil costs for equal or better services".
We discussed the matter with the Duxbury School Com- mittee who were unanimously in favor of the Union High School idea. It was then decided to invite the School Com- mittees of nearby towns to attend a meeting with Mr. Julius E. Warren, Massachusetts Commissioner of Edu- cation, and talk over the question. Such a meeting was held in Duxbury on October 17, 1944 and the towns of Hanover, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Plympton and Scituate were represented, as well as Dux- bury, and a sympathetic word was received from Hanson. No definite action was taken. There was full discussion and much interest was shown. The committee has in mind that other men who are qualified to speak on the question (perhaps one from outside our state, as Con- necticut) might be invited to come here and give us some first-hand information in a meeting for the general public.
The committee ask that an appropriation of $200.00 be allocated to this work. They believe that further study
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should be made in the hope of finding a proper solution and being in a position to start work when the times permit.
The Boston Herald says re Massachusetts schools, "Our rural schools are not the worst in the country, but they are below the standards of many of the eastern states."
People are locating here with the hope and belief that Duxbury should and will have good schools. There is no reason why the schools of Duxbury should not be among the best in the State. The additional cost of being among the best is not great and whatever the difference, it is money well spent. Studying and planning our program in advance can aid greatly in improving our schools and in keeping down the expense of education.
HOWARD M. CLARK EDGAR DAVIS PHILIP W. DELANO KENNETH G. GARSIDE STEPHEN A. REED PERCY L. WALKER WARREN G. WENTWORTH, Jr.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of DUXBURY
MA'S
R
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1944
180
School Committee
For the Year Ending December 31, 1944
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Kenneth G. Garside
Term expires 1947
Joseph W. Lund
Term expires 1945
J. Newton Shirley, M. D.
Term expires 1945
Herbert C. Wirt
Term expires 1947
Harriet B. Borgeson
Term expires 1945
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the office of the Superintendent on St. George Street at eight o'clock on the evenings of the first and third Wed- nesday of each month.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
George E. Green, Duxbury, Massachusetts Office Telephone 465
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Connie H. King, M.D., Telephone Duxbury 212
SCHOOL NURSE
Susan E. Carter, R. N., Telephone Duxbury 175
SCHOOL DENTIST
Wm. O. Dyer, D.M.D., Telephone Duxbury 298
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ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Earl W. Chandler, Telephone Duxbury 358
EDUCATIONAL ADVISER
Margaret K. Elliott, Telephone Duxbury 46
DUXBURY HIGH SCHOOL
Walter E. Scott, Principal, Telephone Duxbury 346
TARKILN SCHOOL
M. Abbie Baker, Principal, Telephone Kingston 8931
VILLAGE SCHOOL
Sara E. Paulding, Principal, Telephone Duxbury 243-W
POINT SCHOOL
Elizabeth O. Kelley, Principal, Telephone Duxbury 137-W
STAFF
M. Abbie Baker Tarkiln Primary School Partridge Academy; Hyannis Normal School; State Extension Courses.
Genevieve M. Collins Commercial B. S., Boston University.
Hazel M. Cornish Home Economics
Simmons, University of Maine, George Washington University, Harvard, Boston University.
Mrs. Rose B. Delano Fifth Grade
Hyannis Normal School.
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Ellen W. Downey Junior High School Subjects Partridge Academy; Boston University; Harvard Ex- tension Courses.
William M. Dunkle Manual Arts The Country Day School; The Clark School; Boston Technical School.
Edmond B. Gesiak Science and Social Science
A. B., Boston University.
Elizabeth O. Kelley Point Preprimary School
Leslie Normal School.
Mrs. Ruth Krueger Village Primary School
Bridgewater Normal School.
Mrs. Eleanor F. McKey Languages A. B., Boston University; MA, Clark, Harvard and Boston University.
Constance L. Newton Tarkiln Primary School B. A., Smith College; graduate work at Boston Uni- versity.
Mrs. Alice L. O'Neil Sixth Grade North Adams Normal School.
Sara E. Paulding Village Primary School Partridge Academy; Study at Columbia University ; Harvard, Hyannis Normal School Diploma; State Ex- tension Courses.
Mrs. Helen L. Philbrick Opportunity Class A. B., Wheaton College; Boston School of Occupational Therapy.
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Robert Warfield English
A. B., Rollins College.
Charles L. Sewall History, Commercial B. S., Boston University, Harvard Extension Courses.
Mrs. Ella B. Hebberd Supervisor of Drawing Bridgewater State Teachers College, Harvard, Massa- chusetts State.
Mrs. May Blair McCloskey Supervisor of Music
Margaret K. Elliott Educational Adviser Ed. M., Harvard; B. S., Simmons, A. B., Smith.
Leroy N. MacKenney On leave of Absence with the Armed Forces
B. A., University of Maine; M.Ed. University of Maine; graduate work at Columbia.
Ralph N. Blakeman On leave of Absence with the Armed Forces
B. S., Boston University ; M.Ed., Boston University.
A. Kempton Smith On leave of Absence with the Armed Forces
B. A., Brown University; graduate work Boston Uni- versity.
Winthrop E. Jackson On leave of Absence with the Armed Forces
A. B., Colby ; graduate work Boston University ; Epis. Theo. Sem.
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Report of School Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
In our last annual report, your school committee men- tioned three recommendations of the recent Harvard Survey of the Duxbury Schools which we considered basic to any further improvement, namely,
1. Improvement of Supervision.
2. Construction of a fully developed course of study.
3. Improvement and modernization of teaching standards through training-in- service and through outside courses for the teachers and for the superintendent.
Considerable progress has been made in reaching these objectives. During last spring and the current year, many members of the faculty have engaged in advanced study. With the cooperation of the State Department of Educa- tion, a course of study has been introduced into the ele- mentary grades where it is being developed in use and where it is working quite successfully. The system of a combined superintendency-principalship has been term- inated as recommended by the Survey. Mr. Walter Scott, Principal of the High School, is emphasizing supervision and organization of the teaching program in grades seven through twelve while Mr. George Green, now Superin- tendent of Schools, confines his direct supervision to the first six grades. The committee considers that this plan
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of organizaiton is only an interim arrangement, princi- pally because it entails a high expense of administration. Accordingly, the committee is attempting to arrange par- ticipation in a satisfactory superintendency union.
The Island Creek School building has been moved to the High School grounds where it has been partially re- modeled into a laboratory for the Home Economics courses of the High School. Additional funds will be necessary to complete this project. The committee has received advice and help from the Home Economics Division of the State Department of Education. The plans which have been drawn include provision for a possible future addition. Mr. Franklin Brett has generously helped the committee in selecting the proper site for the building.
The committee urges the continued study of the possi- bilities for a union high school in this area.
Crowded conditions exist in many elementary grades. The committee is studying the problem of providing the necessary space at minimum expense. Any adequate housing program for the elementary grades, however, must probably await the end of the war. We urge the provision of a consolidated elementary school building at the earliest possible date.
As the Superintendent of Schools has mentioned in his report, the cost of operating the schools has increased and may continue to increase. Some increase in the cost of materials and supplies is expected, but by far the greatest portion of the increased cost is for salaries- additional teachers required to meet increased teaching load, increases in salaries necessary to attract and retain good techers, and the increase in administrative expense previously mentioned. The average salary of a full time
186
teacher as budgeted for 1945 is $1710 which when com- pared with a corresponding figure of $1310 for the year 1942-43 gives some idea of the trend to date. The com- mittee requests the appropriation of $67,000.00 plus Dog Tax for the regular use of the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
KENNETH G. GARSIDE, Chairman HARRIET B. BORGESON, Secretary JOSEPH W. LUND J. NEWTON SHIRLEY HERBERT C. WIRT
187
Report of Superintendent
To the School Committee of Duxbury :
I present herewith a statement covering operation of the schools during the year of 1944, together with such reports as have been presented by the high school prin- cipal, the supervisors, the school nurse, the school physi- cian, the school dentist and the educational adviser.
This report will be brief. Since this may be the last I shall make as your superintendent of schools, a recital of my achievement is of little importance, and recom- mendations for future action can best be left to my suc- cessor.
Several changes in the teaching personnel have taken place during the year. Some of the resignations were caused by the inducement of more attractive positions, others were at the request of the school department in order that the staff might be reorganized and strength- ened. During the war emergency it has been necessary to call back into service many married ex-teachers. The women who have heeded the call at no small sacrifice to their home life and personal comfort are doing an excel- lent job and deserve the highest commendation. New teachers and old are working loyally and diligently on the many details of their teaching assignments, which are augmented by many distracting influences of these troublesome times. We have good teachers doing a good job and they should be given every possible encourage- ment and the fullest cooperation in their work.
With the wholehearted cooperation of Miss Alice B. Beals of the State Department of Education all of the
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elementary school teachers of Duxbury were organized into a study group during the spring months. Miss Beals brought to us the new course of study prepared by com- mittees from the State Department during the past three or four years. The teachers worked enthusiastically on this assignment and as a result have developed several ex- cellent units of work in their classrooms. A number of the high school teachers enrolled in courses at Hingham and at Boston University during the winter and several were taking courses in education at various institutions during the fall.
Following as closely as possible the recommendations of the Harvard Survey, the elementary school system was reorganized during the summer. This change, coupled with an increase in membership in our elementary schools, brought about a serious overcrowding in some of the rooms, particularly that of grade 2 at Tarkiln and grade 3 at the Village School. Such a situation creates not only an alarming teaching overload but also an unhealthy crowding of children into limited spaces. The condition can be remedied only through finding classroom space other than in the school plants now in operation. It should be done at once.
Considerable remodeling of the elementary classrooms was necessitated by the reorganization of our schools. A new fence was built across one side of the Point School lot. High winds damaged the cupola on the High School and ripped some shingles from each of the school build- ings. Other than this, repairs and upkeep were limited to emergencies and were of a routine nature.
Materialization of the Cottage Laboratory for which a special appropriation was voted last March, has been slow. With the labor shortage that exists, to find a mover
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was difficult. The War Production Board used the short- age of critical materials as an argument to hold up ap- proval of the project. This obstruction has been removed recently and workers are now engaged on the project. Because of increases in the costs of labor and construc- tion material the funds available will be insufficient to carry the work to completion. I strongly urge that the release of additional money be made for this as soon as possible, in order that the job may be completed and further curtailment of our home making program be obviated.
In conclusion may I say, on my own behalf, that I have enjoyed working with and for the children of Duxbury for more than twenty years. I have tried by example and by teaching to equip every youngster to go forth to the happiest and most successful life. I have worked dili- gently not only to provide the most education possible with the money appropriated for the schools but also to effect every possible economy in the interest of the tax- payers. I have given the best I had, which was obviously not enough.
In reference to your letter of August 5, 1944 contain- ing the following motion of the School Committee passed on August 2, 1944: "it is the intent of the School Com- mittee that, by September 1st, 1945, Duxbury enter into a Superintendency Union and that the School Committee estimates its share of the cost of such a superintendent's salary at less than two thousand dollars," I assure you I shall make every effort at friendly cooperation with my successor in any matters that pertain to the continued welfare of our children.
Costs of operating our schools have increased steadily and if we are to carry on the expanding program we have
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outlined we must expect them to increase for some time to come. A careful budgeting of our expenditures for 1945 indicates that $67,000.00 will be necessary.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. GREEN,
Superintendent.
>
191
Report of High School Principal
The chief responsibility of the school is the fitting of the individual for worthy home and community mem- bership. In order to meet the changing conditions of home and community the work of the high school must be adjusted frequently to meet the needs of its pupils. This we are attempting to do. Today, nearly all elemen- tary school pupils enter high school, but not all will go on to higher institutions. Some of our pupils will find employment with little or no further training than that we can provide at Duxbury High School; but many will wish to enter advanced training schools. We must pre- pare both groups to take advantage of the opportunities that will be theirs. The most opportunities will come to those with the best preparation and training.
Enrollment
As of October 1, 1944 the school membership was as follows :
Grade 7 31
Grade 8 38
Grade 9
20
Grade 10
26
Grade 11
21
Grade 12
15
The fact that the 8th grade is of abnormal size has made for some difficulty in seating because most rooms in the building are made to seat about 25 pupils. How- ever, by the use of extra folding chairs and arm chairs
192
in certain rooms the arrangement, although not the best, has worked reasonably well. Three pupils who had formerly left school, realizing their lack of training, returned this year to secure more high school prepara- tion.
Curiculum
The course of study was changed in some respects at the beginning of school this Fall. In general, no choice of subjects is offered in the 7th and 8th grades. In the 9th through 12th years English and Social Studies are required each year and there are several electives from which to choose to make up a satisfactory course. New subjects offered are Business Training, Fundamentals of Electricity, American Citizenship, and Fundamentals of Radio and Code Practice. The English courses have been completely reorganized. New report cards giving marks four times a year are now in use. New special re- ports have been issued in an attempt to keep in close touch with parents.
The number of periods per day was reduced to six with each period 55 minutes long. This is in line with present tendencies in other schools. The fourth period each day is an activity or laboratory period during which classes such as chorus music, orchestra, physical educa- tion and drawing meet. Activities such as student clubs and committees also meet at this time. Some of the pupil organizations meeting at the school include the Partridge Staff, which is doing a commendable job of publishing our school paper, Dramatic Club, Science Club, Assembly Committee, Student Council, and Junior Red Cross. There are two gym periods a week for boys and one for girls.
A rotating schedule was tried this year so that sub- jects now meet at a different period each day of the week.
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This is an attempt to have the best and the worst parts of a teaching day shared by all classes. Assemblies, in charge of a pupil committee, are held the last period of each Friday except the first Friday of the month when class meetings are held.
There has been an attempt to improve library condi- tions this year and through the interest and efforts of Mr. Robert Warfield of the English Department the books have beeen classified and grouped, and the shelves marked. Under his direction a group of students have assumed some responsibility for care and checking of the books during their study periods. He has also made a very valuable arrangement with the Public Library whereby 300 books have been loaned to the High School for circulation in the English classes. As a result there has been a gratifying increase in the amount of reading done by pupils.
Plans are now being made for a work program for Seniors, to take place this Spring. Arrangements are be- ing made with business concerns to take Senior pupils for a week's work to acquaint them with business or work procedures at first hand.
To share in the war effort our High School has been faithfully purchasing stamps and bonds. Our minute-man flag has been flying since September. In a recent six- weeks' campaign, money enough for two jeeps was col- lected in stamps and bonds. The Junior Red Cross is active in collecting money and materials to be used for our service men and our allies. We are offering Pre-Induction Courses in Fundamentals of Radio, and Fundamentals of Electricity, as well as teaching Manual Arts and Physical Educaiton. In the Spring we expect to begin Military Drill.
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In an attempt to encourage high scholarship a chapter of the National Honor Society is being formed. Our Stu- dent Council has joined the National Association of Student Councils and has benefited by this membership through increased knowledge of the work of other student councils.
Supervision
Faculty meetings are held weekly in which, besides classroom problems and techniques, teachers are ac- quainted with pupils' aptitudes, interests and individual differences as discovered in our testing and guidance pro- gram, thus aiding them in adapting subject matter to the needs and abilities of the individual pupil. Our teachers are conscientious workers and nearly all of them are now taking extra courses on afternoons or Saturdays in order to improve their teaching. For more detailed information on our testing and guidance program I refer you to the report of the Educational Adviser.
Duxbury High School is accredited in Class A by the State Department of Education and by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Athletics
Through the efforts of Mr. Charles Sewall in the busi- ness department, we have this year developed two boys' basketball teams. One girls' team has been attempted but with no woman coach it has been difficult. A group is practicing for a badminton team, and in the Spring we expect to have a baseball and track team for boys and soft ball for girls. Transportation to games away from home has been a serious problem, especially to after- noon games. This resulted in the scheduling of all games
195
in the evenings in order to secure cars. Even then the situation has been very unsatisfactory. The solution would be the use of a bus, which at present is prohibited.
Teaching Aids
During this year our Audio-Visual Aid Program has been expanded considerably through the wider use of more material. Flat picture collections have been started by several teachers, three or four exhibit boxes of speci- mens, models and pictures have been borrowed each week from the Children's Museum, several transcriptions of radio programs have been used, as well as other record- ings, and about five different classroom motion pictures are used each week. By the addition of projection and playing equipment these aids could become considerably more valuable for teaching. To vitalize certain subjects, school journeys to appropriate places are of great value. The class studying the Town of Duxbury visited the Police Station, the Fire Station, and the site of the first John Alden House. We hope to be able to arrange more of these trips, both for teaching and guidance purposes.
It has been difficult this year to complete satisfactorily our teaching staff in the field of mathematics and science. Since September a substitute arrangement has been in effect. It is unsatisfactory as a permanent plan, since it takes so much of the time of the Principal in teaching that the special work he should do in Supervision and Administration is necessarily curtailed. Good teachers in the field are hard to find now at any price, but we hope to fill the position soon.
Another difficulty encountered this year is the lack of a period in the afternoon for pupils who should stay for extra help in certain subjects. Due to the lack of trans-
196
portation home most children cannot stay. We have ap- plied for permission to use a bus for this purpose but have been refused by the O. D. T.
I recommend that the Art Supervisor be employed in the town for two days instead of one so that all pupils in the High School who wish can elect Art. I also recom- mend that beginning next year the Music Supervisor be employed a whole day at the High School to enlarge our musical offerings. There should be improved locker facil- ities provided for both boys' and girls' gym clothes and more room provided in the boys' locker and shower room. The Home Economics classes are meeting under extremely difficult conditions, but we hope with the coming of Spring to see the new Cottage Laboratory completed. The Manual Arts Classes and Printing Department are not housed satisfactorily and I recommend that steps be taken soon to provide larger quarters for both groups.
Our High School Library should be supplied with tables and chairs and more shelf space. Several classroom tables and chairs are also needed. I hope these can be supplied in 1945. We should look forward to purchasing a number of good film strips each year in order to help build up our own library of teaching aids which will always be ready for a teacher to use.
If we are going to develop a good orchesetra it seems advisable that the school own several instruments that can be loaned to pupils. I recommend that money be pro- vided to purchase two or three instruments in 1945 and tow or htree in 1946.
Our Office Practice course needs some additional equip- ment if it is really going to give the pupils some practice
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in office work. Our budget for 1945 should include money to provide equipment for this department.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER E. SCOTT,
Principal, High School.
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ENROLLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDREN
BY SCHOOLS AND GRADES
December 31, 1944
Grade
Pre- Prim. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Sp. Tot.
High School
34 38 31 38 21 26 21 15 8
232
Tarkiln
- 38 46
84
Village
40 40
80
Point
25
25
Totals
25 38 46 40 40 34 38 31 38 21 26 21 15 8
421
PERFECT ATTENDANCE 1943 - 1944
Mary Cincotta
Marion Pratt
Sally B. Short Roberta White
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Financial Statement
December 31, 1944
General Expenses
$4,069.06
Salaries-Teachers and
Supervisors
30,261.76
Text Books
1,495.62
Stationery, Supplies, etc.
1,519.93
Wages-Janitors
5,671.47
Fuel, Lights, etc.
2,049.34
Repairs
2,496.19
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