Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1956-1960, Part 33

Author: Duxbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1510

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1956-1960 > Part 33

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In a nationally publicized report on high school edu- cation last fall, Dr. James Bryant Conant, former presi- dent of Harvard University, recommended that superior students should have the opportunity in American high schools to take four years of English, three years of social studies, four years of mathematics, three years of science, and four years of a foreign language. All of these courses

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are available at the Duxbury high school in the amount recommended except in the field of foreign language. The high school now offers three years of French and two years of Latin. The school committee has approved the extension of the foreign language program to provide four years of French beginning in September, 1959.

Teaching Staff

The quality of the present teaching staff in the Dux- bury schools can be measured in part by the nature and extent of its experience and training as well as by pupil results on achievement tests. The typical teacher in the Duxbury schools has had four (4) years of teaching ex- perience before coming here, and has been teaching in the Duxbury schools six and four tenths (6.4) years including the current year. The average number of years of experi- ence of the entire faculty, both elsewhere and in Duxbury, is ten and four tenths (10.4) years including the current year.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS Telephone Wellington 4-5321

Name

Position

Training

Years of Service in Duxbury

Principal A.B. and M.A., Tufts College 1

Kindergarten

Perry Kindergarten School

Kindergarten New England Conservatory of Music; Curtis Institute of Music 6

Mrs. Lena A. Macomber

Grade One Salem Normal School; Bridgewater State Teachers College 17

Mrs. Mildred E. Glass

Grade One Bridgewater Normal School; Bridgewater State Teachers College 8

Mrs. Caroline L. Fife

Grade One

B.S. in Ed., Ohio State University 6

Mrs. Virginia G. Craig

Grade One

B.A., Mt. Holyoke College; Wheelock College

Mrs. M. Abbie Peckham

Grade Two

Partridge Academy; Hyannis Normal

Mrs. Clare D. Wadsworth

Grade Two

B.S., Lesley College

Mrs. Genevieve A. Keenan

Grade Two

B.S. in Ed., Bridgewater State Teachers College

Miss Mary Jane Smith

Grade Two

B.Mus., Boston University College of Music; Hyannis Teachers College

Mrs. Emily P. Loring

Grade Three

Bridgewater State Teachers College

Mrs. Dilla J. Battista

Grade Three

B.S., Bridgewater State Teachers College

Mrs. Marjorie McN. Sullivan

Grade Three

B.S., Simmons College

Mrs. Helen L. DeWolf

Grade Three

B.S., Bridgewater State Teachers College

Mrs. Barbara P. Cooper

Grade Four

B.S., Salem State Teachers College

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Mr. James M. Cain, Jr. Mrs. Marion K. Baker Mrs. Dorothy J. Scott

Mrs. Flora Ann Wood

Kindergarten A.B., Tufts College

Name

Mrs. Priscilla D. Morton

Mrs. Marie E. Dick

Mrs. Beatrice A. Chase

Grade Four

B.S., Lesley College; Boston University

Grade Five A.B., University of Massachusetts; M.Ed., Fitchburg State Teachers College 4

Grade Five B.S., Maryland State Teachers College

Mrs. Nancy P. Hennessy

Grade Five B.S. in Ed., Bridgewater Teachers College

Mrs. Alice L. O'Neil

Grade Six No. Adams Normal School; Bridgewater State Teachers College 18

Mr. Richard E. Woodsum

Grade Six A.B., Brown University 2

Grade Six B.A., Harvard University; M.A., Trinity College, Dublin 5

Music

B.M. in Ed., Westminster College 1

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HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS Telephone Wellington 4-2951

X -

Mr. Rodney R. Wood Mr. Robert B. Mendenhall

Mr. Ralph N. Blakeman

X = Miss Shirley Christopher Mr. Lawrence R. Dunn

Principal A.B., M.Ed., M.A., Tufts 10

Assistant Principal: B.S. in Ed., Boston University; M. in Ed., Boston University 6

Guidance Director Mathematics and Driver Training

B.S. in Ed., M.Ed., Boston University; Bloomsburg State Teachers College 19

Household Arts B.S., University of Maine

Mathematics, Science and Driver Training

B.A., M.Ed., University of Maine 3

Years of Service in Duxbury

Grade Four

B.S., Bridgewater State Teachers College 3

Grade Four A. B., Regis College

Mr. Kenneth W. Lovejoy

Mrs. Lucy E. Ellis

Mr. James F. Queeny Mrs. Marjorie H. Jarvis

Position

Training

Name

Position

Training

Years of Service in Duxbury

Languages

B.Ed., Keene Teachers College A.B., Maturite Real, College DeGeneve; A.M., Middlebury College

Mr. Raymond N. Jenness, Jr.

A.B., Brown University

Mr. Walter T. Kennedy

Mr. Ralph H. Long, Jr.

Biology, Chemistry and General Science Mathematics B.S., Bates College

Mr. Ralph H. Long, Sr.

Mr. Geoffrey Mattocks

Social Studies

B.S., Boston University

Miss Sheila McNabola

English

A.B., M.A., Radcliffe College

Mrs. Nancy A. Mullen

English

A.B., Tufts

Latin

B.S. in Ed., Bridgewater State Teachers College; Mt. Holyoke 1

Mr. Arthur H. Ratcliffe, Jr. Commercial Subjects V B.S. in Ed., Indiana State Teachers College

× Mrs. Agnes Reed

Commercial Subjects B.S., Boston University

Mrs. Irene W. Sherwood

Head of English Dept., English and Social Studies

B.A., University of New Hampshire; M.A., Columbia University

Mr. George E. Teravainen

Physical Education and General Science English

B.S. in Ed., Boston University; M.Ed., Springfield College 3

B.A., Colby College

Arty Boston University

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Mr. David R. Murphy Mrs. James C. Pye

General Science

B.S. in Ed., Boston University

DON HNOO 2 1 1 0 0

Miss Celeste A. Travers Mrs. Frances R. Wolfe

Industrial Arts

> > Mr. Edwin T. Greene, Jr. . Mrs. Florence J. Harrison

English Social Studies

B.S., Providence College 6

B.S., Cornell University

------

SUPERVISORS AND SPECIAL INSTRUCTORS

Name

Position

Training

Years of Service in Duxbury

V Remedial Reading

A.B., University of Washington; A.M., Teachers College, Columbia University

Mrs. Lauretta M. Cushing

V Special Class

A.B., Fitchburg Teachers College; M.Ed., Boston University 1

iArt

B.S., Art Ed., Rhode Island School of Design 4

Miss Anna Bigelow Davis Mrs. Ella S. Donovan

Americanization Classes

Lesley College; Hyannis State Teachers College; Boston Teachers College; Boston University

Mrs. Emily McWade

Tutor of Physically Handicapped Children

L Physical Education

Posse, Bouve, Tufts 3

CLERKS

Mrs. Muriel O. Ferrell

Miss Helen F. Hanigan

Mrs. Margery S. Trout

High School

Superintendent's Office Elementary School

Norwich Academy; Packard Commercial School 4 Quincy High School; Boston Secretarial 2

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× Mr. Roger E. Jarvis -

Music

B.M., Ed., Westminster College 5

Boston University; Hyannis Teachers College

Mrs. Mary E. Stott

Librarian

Partridge Academy

Mrs. Elesebeth B. Bencordo Mrs. Josephine L. Bush

Partridge Academy; Bryant and Stratton 13

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JANITORS

Name

Mr. Charles W. Schwab

Mr. Frederick L. Rauh

Mr. James E. Walke

Mr. Michael J. Sheehan

Mr. Russell W. Edwards

Head Janitor, Elementary

Elementary School Janitor 4

Elementary School Janitor Head Janitor, High School 7

High School Janitor 4

HEALTH AND SPECIAL SERVICES

Mrs. Carol T. Colburn, R.N.

School Nurse 3

Dr. Walter E. Deacon

School Physician 11

Dr. Francis C. Ortolani

School Dentist

Dr. Gillis K. Turner

School Dentist

Mr. Earl W. Chandler

Attendance Officer 23

Mr. T. Waldo Herrick

Transportation 33

LUNCHROOM STAFF

Mrs. Thelma P. Redlon

Manager 10

Mrs. Marie Caron

Cook 12

Mrs. Gladys MacKeown

Assistant

Mrs. Verna Schwab

Assistant

Miss Doris Viall

Assistant

Mrs. Ruth LaFleur

Assistant

Mrs. Frances Sollis

Assistant

EVENING PRACTICAL ARTS

Mrs. Phyllis Gray

Tailoring

Mrs. Louise Snell

Cake Decoration and

Party Refreshments

Mrs. Margaret Brunette

Rug Braiding

Mr. Daniel H. May, Sr.

Furniture Refinishing

Years of Service in Duxbury

Position

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Distribution of School Department Personnel 1958-1959

Elementary School Teachers

High School Teachers 20

Supervisors and Special Instructors

Superintendents

Principals

Special Instructors-part-time

Evening School Teachers

Janitors

Clerks

Dentists

Physicians

Nurse

Attendance Officer

Lunchroom Staff

Total

Instructional Materials

Except in the commercial subjects, workbooks are not used in connection with teaching at the high school. They are used extensively in the primary grades of the elementary school, however.

Textbooks are provided in sufficient quantity so that each pupil is well provided for in each subject.

Other teaching aids provided for use in both schools include: tape recorders, motion picture projectors, strip film and slide projectors, an opaque projector, record players and television sets.

Special equipment in connection with science teach- ing, physical education, industrial arts and home econom- ics is also provided. More equipment is needed in the industrial arts program in order to offer greater variety in the training program.

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Supervisory and Special Services

The school department employs the following super- visors and special teachers.

Superintendent 1

School principals

Supervisor of art 1

Supervisor of music

Supervisor of physical education

Librarian 1

Remedial reading teacher 1

Special class teacher 1

Teacher of homebound pupils (part-time) 1

Teacher of handwriting (part-time) 1

Teacher of natural science

(Audubon program, part-time) 1

Guidance and counseling

School nurse 1

Space does not permit a report on each of these special services. The SUPERINTENDENT and PRINCI- PALS administer the schools and supervise the instruc- tion. The SUPERVISORS in the special fields teach in all grades and plan the work to be carried on by the regu- lar classroom teachers between their visits. In general, supervisors visit each classroom once a week.

The LIBRARIAN handles all details in connection with the operation of a 3,000 volume school library. Her work is limited to the high school and includes pupil instruction in the use of the library as well as the handling of all library books and materials.

The REMEDIAL READING TEACHER works with pupils in the elementary grades who are having serious reading difficulties. She is currently instructing about sixty elementary school pupils. In addition she assists in the school's testing programs, and aids elementary teach- ers in the selection of reading materials.

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The SPECIAL CLASS TEACHER works with those elementary school pupils who are having such serious dif- ficulty with all their school work that they cannot progress with their regular grade group. Such a program is re- quired by state law when there is a minimum of five pupils who fall into this category.

Whenever a child is physically handicapped so that he cannot attend school, the state law required that he be given instruction at home. At the present time we have one such pupil. This pupil is taught by an experienced teacher on an hourly basis.

The HANDWRITING TEACHER visits all elementary classes once each month, instructs the pupils and lays out the work to be done by the teacher and the pupils for each four week period. This program provides uni- form handwriting instruction in all grades.

The special teacher from the AUDUBON SOCIETY teaches in grade six only, and supplements the regular science program with instruction in nature study and conservation. She visits each sixth grade class once every two weeks.

The GUIDANCE DIRECTOR works in the high school only. He administers the high school testing program and counsels with pupils in grades nine through twelve con- cerning progress in school, educational choices, and voca- tional plans. He also makes follow-up studies of gradu- ates, and assists pupils in choosing and making applica- tion to colleges. His report on the 1958 graduating class showed that 32 applications were made to 25 colleges with 26 acceptances. Of the remaining students one planned to enter a preparatory school, two entered directly into em- ployment, and one planned to enter the armed services. A list of the colleges to which these students applied and were accepted include: Smith, United States Military Academy, Pembroke, Earlham, University of Massachu-

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setts, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Northeastern Uni- versity, Westminster, Bridgewater State Teacher's Col- lege, North Adams State Teacher's College, Lowell Tech- nological Institute, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Vassar, Bryn Mawr, Lafayette, Brown, Harvard, Rhode Island School of Design, and Lesley College.

A follow-up study of graduates made during 1958 showed that Duxbury high school graduates are earn- ing satisfactory grades in their college courses. Thirty- five inquiries were sent out and 33 replies were received. These replies indicated surprisingly few problem areas. Another study by the guidance director showed that, dur- ing the period 1953-1958, 46 per cent of the graduates actually entered some institution of high education. The average for Massachusetts is 41 per cent of each gradu- ating class.

The following is a list of Duxbury high school gradu- ates now attending colleges and other institutions.

April, Edward University of Massachusetts

April, Janet Brockton Hospital School of Nursing

April, Paul Bentley School of Accounting

Arney, Barbara Lesley College

Atwood, Russell Northeastern University

Berzins, Ilmars Northeastern University

Bridgham, Paula University of Miami

Brock, Donald Bridgewater State Teachers College

Bush, Linnea

Vassar College

Chase, Lawrence Westminster College

Cushing, Gordon

Boston University

DeLorenzo, John Worcester Polytechnic Institute

DeLorenzo, Joseph

Boston University

Faulkner, Linda Fisher Junior College

Handy, George United States Military Academy

Hardy, Edward North Adams State Teachers College

Lantz, Richard Northeastern University

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Locke, Brenda Massachusetts General Hospital

MacGibbon, Heather University of Miami

Mugford, Lois Simmons College

Nelson, Donald Bridgewater State Teachers College

Nelson, Kenneth

Rhode Island School of Design

Nichols, Edith Framingham State Teachers College

Nichols, Ralph University of Massachusetts

Nightingale, Gerald Babson Institute of Business Admin.

Noyes, Peter Northeastern University

Patrick, Sandra Skidmore College

Perry, Patience

Bucknell University

Playfair, Susan

University of Massachusetts

Reed, Richard Bridgewater State Teachers College

Ricker, John Boston University

Seaver, Barbara

Smith College

Seaver, Edward

University of Wisconsin

Thomas, Diane

Cornell University

Wadsworth, Barbara Westbrook Junior College

Woodward, Mary Skinner Columbia University

Woodward, Susan Smith College

Students - 37 Institutions - 26

That health is a matter of considerable concern to the school department is shown in the report of the SCHOOL NURSE for the year 1958. Detailed reports are given in another section.

Grades one, three, five, seven, nine and eleven were given physical examinations by the school physician, Dr. Walter E. Deacon. All boys and girls engaging in competitive sports were examined, also all known cardiac and rheumatic fever cases.

Dr. Francis Ortolani and Dr. Gillis Turner examined all grades for dental defects. It is the general opinion of both dentists that children are receiving more dental care. A limited number of children are receiving free dental treatment in accordance with the Board of Health policy.

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Blood counts and urinalysis were done in grades one, four, seven and eleven. One referral was sent home on an urinalysis and four for low hemoglobin count.

The school nurse made 63 home visits, gave minor first aid 246 times and conducted 82 teacher-nurse con- ferences. All personnel x-ray records were checked. Follow-ups were made on accident and absence reports. The school nurse also gave vision and hearing tests to all grades except Kindergarten. Retests were done where necessary and referrals were sent home to parents.

Stress has been made the past year on the correct way of standing, walking and sitting. In connection with this a film on "Dynamic Posture" was shown. This film was produced by the Association for the Aid of Crippled Children. It demonstrated the application of dynamic posture in our daily living, showing the relationship of posture to comfort, mechanical efficiency and physiologi- cal functioning.

In the Elementary School particular emphasis has been made on the individual child's relationship to the safety of himself and others. A large chart keeping a total of accidents for the day and week (made by Miss Anne Davis, the Art Supervisor) has been placed in the School Cafeteria. This helps make the children more aware that safe living is essential to healthful living.

Those who have given volunteer service in many of the activities listed are: Mrs. Everett Handy, Mrs. Robert French, Mrs. Earle Grenquist, Mrs. Stanley Merry, Mrs. Carl Tobey, Mrs. Alexander Colburn, Mrs. George Chapin, Mrs. Richards Beane and Mrs. William Reggio.

Adequacy of School Buildings

Our school building situation presents a two-fold problem. Not only is more space required at the high school, but there is an immediate need for more elemen- tary school classrooms. This year (1958-59), maintaining

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a pupil-teacher ratio of 25 to 1, the elementary building is short four classrooms. This situation is being met by utilizing the teacher's room as a classroom, holding after- noon sessions for Kindergarten pupils, and by increasing the pupil-teacher ratio in grade six from (25 to 1) to (33 to 1). Class sizes will have to be increased in suc- ceeding years until more classroom space is available.

The working capacity for the present high school is 380 pupils. This year there are 370 pupils enrolled. In September, 1959, it is expected that 400 pupils will have to be provided for. This year the guidance directors office, which was equal to one half a classroom, was converted into a small classroom. Next year it will be necessary to house some of the class sessions in the cafeteria.

If a new high school is provided the present high school building could be used by grades four, five and six, which would occupy 12 classrooms. The kindergarten and primary grades would occupy the present elemen- tary building using 17 of the available classrooms the first year. It is estimated that each of these buildings would not reach capacity until 1969-70.

Our growth studies indicate that a new high school with a capacity of 600 pupils would be adequate to the same year, namely, 1969-70. At that date a new elemen- tary school could be considered for another part of the town; grades seven and eight could return to the present high school building, thereby becoming a junior high school; and the new high school would become a four year school. At this date, 1969-70, there would be two elementary schools, one new school and the existing ele- mentary school. Each would be organized to include grades kindergarten through six.

School Buildings in 1969-70

Elementary Schools (K-6) 2

Junior High Schools (7-8) 1 High School (9-12) 1

DUXBURY SCHOOL POPULATION PREDICTION 1958-1959 - 1969-1970

Percentage of Survival

1.25

1.12

.97

1.02

1.01

1.04

.99

.97

.94

.93

.96

.91

.89

Number of Births 5 Yrs. Previous

Years

K-6

7-12 K-12

1958-59*

112

662

370

1032

1959-60

107

102

107

102

684

403

1087

1960-61

107

120

111

101

736

404

1140

1961-62

104

120

116

101

112

101

753

420

1173

1962-63

105

116

118

102

116

772

442

1214

1963-64

83(est.) 104

118

112

118

119

106

115

796

463

1259

1964-65

106

119

114

119

124

105

112

801

488

1289

1965-66

110

123

115

116

115

124

123

102

105

826

495

1321

1966-67

112

125

119

117

120

123

119

833

536

1369

1967-68

116

130

121

118

122

119

112

847

555

1402

1968-69

119

134

128

123

122

123

121

115

112

104

870

568

1438

1969-70

122

137

130

124

127

122

117

104

100

892

579

1471

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*Actual membership as of October 1, 1958.

------ - -- .

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Financial Report

The cost per pupil in the Duxbury schools is a little higher than the state average. The cost per pupil figure is determined by dividing current expenditures by the average membership. Higher cost figures, therefore, are due in part to the small size of the Duxbury school sys- tem. As the number of pupils increases the index of cost should come nearer to the overall state average.

Other factors which affect cost are the size of classes, salaries, and the various expenses of operation. We have tried to maintain an average class size of twenty-five pupils per teacher in the elementary grades. The state average is higher than this. At the high school we have provided a double track plan for the college preparatory pupils so that the more capable students can move ahead rapidly and can cover more course material. This pro- cedure has made for smaller classes in some subjects. The largest portion of our school budget goes for teacher salaries (72%). Five years ago, salaries made up 64 per cent of the total budget. This has meant keeping a close control of expenses on all non salary items in order that as much money as possible could be applied to instruction. A chart showing the distribution of appropriations for schools over the past five years is given on page 213.

During 1958 the Town of Duxbury received reim- bursements from the State and Federal Government in the amount of $87,308.50. This money is deposited with the Town Treasurer.

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General School Fund

$49,458.60

Vocational Education 2,546.42

Transportation

29,202.81

Public Law 874

3,077.96

Tuition and Transportation of State Wards

620.00

Americanization Classes

285.00

Education of the Mentally Retarded

2,117.71

Total

$87,308.50

---- - ---

SCHOOL APPROPRIATIONS COMPARED FOR THE YEARS 1955 - 1959

1955

1956

1957

1958

1959

General Control

$12,094.00

$12,468.00

$13,769.00

$14,462.00

$15,185.00

Instruction

172,074.00

207,775.00

240,049.00

262,435.00

289,859.00

Operation

27,431.00

28,056.00

30,343.00

32,915.00

35,471.00

Maintenance and Repairs

24,483.00

9,785.00

4 11,364.00

9,033.00

11,214.00

Auxiliary Agencies

29,827.00

38,351.00

39,499.00

40,319.00

43,022.00

Capital Outlay

2,702.00

3,447.00

1 3,059.00

2,956.00

4,322.00

Totals

$268,611.00 100 $299,912.00 100

$338,083.00

100 $362,120.00 100

$399,073.00 100

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Financial Statement

Allocation

Adjusted Allocation $14,464.00

Expendi- tures

Requested for 1959

GENERAL CONTROL $14,462.00

$14,462.65

$15,185.00

School Committee Expense

250.00

204.75

250.00

Expense of Office

13,912.00

14,259.25

14,257.90

14,935.00

INSTRUCTION

262,435.00

261,142.00

261,126.24

289,859.00

Sa aries, Elementary School

117,939.00

115,513.00

115,505.80

125,805.00

Salaries, High School

90,552.00

94,201.25

94,199.07

106,188.00

Supervisors and

Special Instructors

36,132.00

35,287.00

35,280.42

38,353.00

Classroom Supplies,

Elementary School

5,764.00

4,794.75

5,970.00

Textbooks,

Elementary School

1,792.00

2,437.00

Classroom Supplies, High School

7,289.00

7,217.00

7,815.00

Textbooks,

High School

2,937.00

2,337.00

3,291.00

OPERATION

32,915.00

34,315.00

34,309.56

35,471.00

Salaries, Janitors

18,669.00

18,952.00

18,948.15

19,901.00

Other Expenses of Operation

14,246.00

15,363.00

15,362.41

15,570.00

MAINTENANCE AND

REPAIRS

9,033.00

9,032.82

112,214.00

Elementary School

5,271.00

6,121.00

6,120.82

6,800.00

High School

3,762.00

2,912.00

4,414.00

AUXILIARY

AGENCIES

40,319.00

40,210.00

40,207.50

43,022.00

Libraries

1,000.00

998.54

1,000.00

Health

4,137.00

4,485.00

Transportation

34,733.00

34,695.50

34,695.41

34,833.00

Graduation

250.00

179.00

178.15

250.00

Insurance

199.00

198.50

1,454.00

Lunchroom

. .

1,000.00

OUTLAY

2,956.00

4,322.00

Elementary School

1,337.00

1,662.50

High School

1,619.00

2,659.50

TOTALS

$362,120.00

$362,094.77 $399,073.00

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School Committee Leadership

The Duxbury School Committee has been forward- looking in respect to our schools. Each year it has con- cerned itself with ways of improving the curriculum, methods, materials and equipment, teacher status and building facilities. During recent years the Committee has approved such curriculum changes as the extension of mathematics, science and foreign language teaching at the high school. Courses in art and music appreciation have been added. Work experience in business offices has become a regular part of the commercial training pro- gram. The program in health and physical education has been extended by assigning a man to teach this program in grades four, five and six. A technical course was approved for high school students interested in vocations requiring this kind of training.

The Committee recently approved a program of for- eign language instruction for the elementary grades to begin in September, 1959.

In the field of teaching methods the Committee joined a group of towns and cities in the Boston area to partici- pate in a program of teaching by television. Elementary grades now receive some instruction in science, social studies, art, and literature by television. In addition, grades five and six have been reorganized on a depart- mental basis.

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Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1956-1960, Part 33

Author: Duxbury (Mass.) Publication date: 1956 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1510

Author: Duxbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1510