USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1919 > Part 7
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November
Georgianna E. Taylor
Music
June
Blanche S. Brennenstuhl
High School, Domestic Science
June
Louise K. Emerson
High School, Mathematics
June
Louise Hannon
High School, Spanish and Latin
June
Louise M. Saunders
High School, Spanish and French
June
Jeanette L. Sturtevant
High School, English
June
Alice M. Carver
High School, Commercial
June
Ruby B. Bray
High School, Commercial
June
Alice B. Eastman
High School, Commercial September
Margaret J. Atkins
Nurse April
107
Elizabeth B. Pray
M. Abbie Dougherty
Noah Torrey, Grade VII,
1919
Appointments.
Names
Position Date
Ward Raymond
Hollis School, Principal July
Hazel M. Mc Clintock
Hollis School, Grade I June
Effie Weeden
Hollis School, Grade I and II June
Mabel M. Mundy
Abraham Lincoln Grade I June
Marion Callanan
Noah Torrey, Englsh and Reading August
Pauline Scollard
Noah Torrey, Grade VI, B June
Elizabeth Alden
Noah Torrey, Grade III and IV, B July
Mildred Hutchinson
Noah 'Torrey, Grade III, A August
July
Ingrid E. Ekman
Music
July
Sumner N. Davis
High School, Submaster and Math. August
Marie F. Stanley
High School, English June
Lulu B. Smith
High School, Commercial
September
Phyllis Thomas
High School, French
July
Alice J. Danner
High School, Commercial
June
Vera Chapman
High School, English and Latin
August
Dorothy Wilson
High School, Spanish
August
Alice B. Eastman
High School, Commercial
August
Ruth J. Bennett
High School, Domestic Science
August
Sarah E. Allinson
Hollis School, Grades IV and V
October
Claire Craig
Nurse April
Harriet Titcomb
Noah Torrey, Assistant
December
Helen Fowle
Kindergarten
December
Transfers.
Lillie Littlefield
From Penniman to Grade V, Hollis.
Helen Bartlett
From Jonas Perkins to Grade V and VI, Penniman.
Mabel Smith
From Jonas Perkins to Grade III and IV, Penniman.
Emily A. Landry
From Grade I to Grade II Abraham Lincoln.
Rosalie S. Bayley
From Noah Torrey to Grade III Hollis.
Music.
Exceptionally good work is being done in music. Modern and up-to-date methods are being used and the children show an unusual interest and growth in their music both in respect to technique and appreciation. Miss Ekman in her report says, "A Victrola can be made such an excellent medium of instruction that it would be well to furnish a machine for each of the remaining schools which do not possess one." I hope that this recommendation may be carried out at an early date. Miss Ekman also recommends " a circulating library of carefully chosen
108
Gertrude E. Saunders
Music and Drawing
records to be grouped in sets of six each, each set being chosen according to a definite educational plan." This too is an excellent suggestion. The work in the High School seems to be very satisfactory. Miss Ekman says in regard to the matter, however, "Absolutely no provision beyond the weekly chorus period is made in the local high school for pupils interested in music. I, therefore, recommend the introduction of a course in harmony and another in music appreciation."
Drawing.
The work of the drawing supervisor, Miss Nye, is worthy of special recommendation. That the work has been of a thoroughly practical nature is shown by the following quotation :
"The work in drawing has been divided into three classes, representaton, construction, and design.
"Representation includes nature and object drawing. Objects selected for study are those which the average person would like to have the ability to sketch, when a verbal explanation seems inadequate."
"In the constructive drawing the children have been taught to plan and draw patterns, which can be actually made and used, such as note-covers, cases, blotter-corners, etc. The construction of these things teaches the necessity of making the plans and of accuracy.
"The appreciation of and the principles governing design are taught rather than the making of designs. The average person is a purchaser rather than a producer of such things, hence the need of being able to distinguish between the good and the bad.
It is much to be desired that a progressive course in Mechanical Drawing be outlined and if possible a four years' course be developed in the High School. These improvements are earnestly desired by Miss Nye and are certainly worthy of careful consideration and early adoption.
School Nurse.
The School Committee elected Claire N. Craig R. N. as a school nurse. We consider this an important step in securing better health among our pupils. The duties of the nurse are as follows:
1. To supplement the work of the School Physician in school inspection.
2. To make a general inspection of pupils in each room periodically and refer to the School Physician such cases as merit his attention.
109
3. To make a special inspection of cases referred to her by the School Principal.
4. To assist the School Physician in making physical examinations of pupils and keeping records.
5. To visit the homes of pupils.
(a) To do "follow up" work in cases of serious physical defects referred to her by the School Physician.
(b) To help in preventing contagion by instructing the mother.
(c) To give directions for treatment in cases of pediculosis and impetigo.
(d) To urge that a physician be called in serious cases.
(e) In case of an epidemic to see if children absent from school are sick with a contagious disease.
6. To give special attention to the health and cleanli- ness of children in the kindergarten and first grade, that they may start school life under proper conditions.
7. To inspect children's teeth and send notices to parents when visits should be made to the dentist.
Dental Clinic.
In my report this year I am urging the need of a dental clinic for the children of Braintree. I believe a careful canvass of all the dentists in town, will find them united in their advocacy of this idea. This question of a dental clinic came to an issue through an offer to the school nurse from the local Red Cross to give a certain amount of money toward the equipment of a dental office. I believe that before the next budget is made up the few hundred dollars necessary to complete the equipment should be requested from the town.
From carefully compiled statistics it has been found that poor teeth besides being unsightly cause more dis- turbances within the human mechanism than is commonly recognized. Besides this if we can get the children to take care of their teeth we shall do away with a large amount of unnecessary pain. If we do this I shall feel that the work has not been in vain.
Continuation Schools.
The last legislature passed a law making the continua- tion schools compulsory for all towns which issue more than 200 certificates in a year to children between the ages of 14 and 16. As our town comes under this act it will
110
1
be necessary for us to make provisions to carry out the law the coming fall. The essential provision of the law are as follows:
Chapter 311, S. A. 1919.
"If this Act is accepted by a town, and within that town, during the last calendar year, two hundred or more minors under sixteen years of age were regularly employed, during the time schools were in session, (i. e., left school to go to work), by authority of employment certificates or home permits, the town involved is required, and any other is permitted, to appropriate money before September 1, 1920, for the use of the School Committee, Board of Trustees for Vocational Education, or both, in establishing and maintaining Continuation Schools to be opened at the beginning of the next school year, and kept in session the same number of weeks as the High School. The sessions are between eight and five o'clock on working days except Saturday.
While employed, minors described above who are under sixteen years of age when the schools are established, subject to so much of Chapter 44 as is consistent with this Act, must attend Continuation Schools in the city or town of employment, at the rate of not less than four hours per week, until they are sixteen years of age. When temporarily employed, (between jobs) they must attend Continuation Schools (instead of being returned to the regular schools) at the rate of not less than twenty hours per week. Time spent by a minor in a Continuation School is reckoned as a part of the time minors are permitted by law to work.
Established educational agencies and any suitable quarters, approved by the Department of Education, may be utilized. Wherever established these Continuation Schools are part of the public schools.
Cities and towns conducting approved schools shall be reimbursed by the Commonwealth one-half the total sum raised by local taxation and expended for maintenance.
Duplicates of employment certificates issued for work elsewhere than in the town of residence shall be sent to the superintendent of schools in the town of employment.
Subject to penalty, an employer shall cease to employ a minor when notified of his non-attendance by the superin- tendent of schools in the town where he is employed. The superintendent who issued the employment certificate may revoke a certificate of a minor for failure to attend Continuation Schools.
A town which neglects or refuses to appropriate the necessary money shall forfeit from funds due it from the
111
Commonwealth a sum equal to twice that estimated by the Department of Education as necessary, three-fifths of which shall be paid to the school committee of the delinquent town to be spent for establishment and maintenance of Continuation Schools."
Teachers' Salaries.
The question of adequate salaries for teachers is ever present. Upon looking over the schedule of other towns of equal size I find that Braintree is slightly under the average in regard to the amount paid the grade teachers, and more so in regard to high school teachers. I hope the time will soon come when the town may see fit to give the teachers a substantial increase in the maximum salary.
We are not only losing many teachers each year because of calls to other places, but we are constantly finding it harder to secure the kind of teachers we want to fill vacancies, because other towns smaller than Braintree are paying salaries practically equal in amount to Braintree, and really netting the teachers more.
A few years ago we could get grade teachers of ex- perience for $600. Now teachers of the same training and amount of experience demand from $1,000 to $1,200. In many instances I have not been able to interest certain teachers at all because of our low salary rate, and these teachers would have been a distinct asset to the town.
At present a college graduate of successful experience demands about $1,000 as an initial salary.
If we are to keep up the high standard we are setting for our teachers we should raise our salaries as soon as the finances of the town will warrant it.
Ungraded Room.
I wish to bring to your notice the need for separating the abnormal children from the normal. I have not made a canvass of the town to find how many children would naturally fall into this class, but in my judgment, if we had a room in each Grammar School at our disposal for the purpose, there might be collected a class of twenty or twenty- five children, who could improve immensely through a carefully planned course of instruction, under a competent and sympathetic teacher.
In Newton, where this scheme has been in operation for a number of years, it has worked most successfully. Superintendent Sapulding, in his report, speaks as follows in regard to its operation:
112
"The work they are given to do, and the manner in which they are treated is adapted to their peculiar needs. Such powers as they have are encouraged and trained - and in some cases with surprisingly gratifying results: several children from this special school are now in the high schools and are profiting by the instruction there. All are taught to do what they can: their own self-support, complete or partial, is a distinctive aim. Instead of aban- doning school in discouragement as soon as the law allows, - as the predecessors of this type of children have almost invariably done, - these children today go out from this special school, usually not until they are advised, urged, or even compelled to do so by the school authorities, but then with some ambition and self-confidence with the fixed habit of success.
I would suggest that such rooms be established as soon as our new buildings are erected.
Sanitaries.
With the exception of the Pond School our sanitary arrangements for the schools are adequate. The Principal of this school speaks of the unsatisfactory condition of the sanitaries. The trouble comes not from the wanton abuse of the toilets but from the fact that they are out of date, and should be removed immediately. An article should be inserted in the warrant for the annual meeting asking for a special appropriation to install a modern flushing system on the first floor of the building, and thus place this school on a par with the rest of the school buildings which are a credit to the town.
Recommendations and Plans.
First. A reading circle should be planned for the encouragement of professional reading and study on the part of the teachers. There is no teacher, however well- trained and experienced, who does not need to continue her study of educational problems.
Second. The town has taken a forward step in the establishment of a course in domestic science. This ad- vance should be completed by the introduction of a course in manual training.
Third. Instruction in Penmanship.
Fourth. Establishment of new rules and regulations.
Fifth. The erection of a modern high school to accom- modate the five upper grades.
Sixth. Installation of modern toilets in the Pond School.
113
Seventh. Erection of a new Grade School Building in Precinct III for children of Quincy Avenue district.
Eighth. Establishment of a Continuation School for children fourteen to sixteen years of age.
Ninth. Establishment of a dental clinic for the school children of the town.
Tenth. Establishment of an ungraded room in each of the Grammar School buildings.
In closing, I wish to thank the members of the School Committee, Principals and Teachers for their many courtesies extended to me during the past year and for their loyal support in all affairs relating to the administration of the schools.
Respectfully submitted, CLARENCE N. FLOOD.
MEDICAL INSPECTION. Teachers' Tests of Sight and Hearing, 1919.
Classification 1
Jonas Noah Abraham High Hollis Perkins Torrey Lincoln Mixed Pond man Totals Penni-
Number of pupils rolled .
291
400
425
412
219
71
156
175
2149
Defective eyesight ..
. .
18
21
28
32
10
6
12
11
138
Defective hearing
1
1
8
5
1
2
2
2
22
Parents notified .
19
2
28
37
11
8
14
12
151
en-
114
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
January 1, 1920.
Mr. Clarence N. Flood, Supt. of Schools, Braintree, Mass. Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my report for the High School, for the year just passed.
In looking back over this period several conditions and needs present themselves. At the close of the school year last June we were confronted with the problem of filling the vacancies caused by the resignations of several teachers, most of whom had been in service in Braintree for several years. This number of vacancies was increased during the two following months, so that at the present time we have practically a new teaching force. These teachers were, for the most part, of considerable experience, and have taken hold of the work well, but the many changes have necessarily brought some problems. The experience of the past year will show the need of increasing the salary maximum so that it will compare favorably with other towns of similar size. A good teacher is worth just as much to Braintree as to any other town in the Common- wealth.
At one of the special town meetings in regard to the new high school the remark was made that no one' had shown that the old building was not adequate, and satis- factory. No one who has ever visited the old building can fail to see the inadequacies of it. It is overcrowded. Rooms have been made out of corridors, store-rooms, etc. While the main rooms are in fairly good condition, except for the lack of artificial light on a dark day, some of the make-shift rooms are not fit for use. For example, No. 9, the Science room, is poorly ventilated, and is practically impossible of heating on a cold day, especially when there is a strong wind blowing from the north or north west. The room seldom warms above 60 degrees under such con- ditions, and is often much below this point. The room has been used by approximately 90 pupils each day, and everyone of them will bear me out in the statement that it is never comfortable. As for the Science equipment itself, it would not do justice to a school of fifty pupils. The claim made by one voter in town meeting that one laboratory is sufficient for all purposes is absurd. High schools are successfully attempting, to-day, the work of the smaller colleges of a few years ago, in Science. The ever increasing demand for instruction in this subject is only one phase of
115
its importance, and no school is well equipped which does not provide for individual laboratory work in both Physics and Chemistry.
Our Course of Study needs revising. Some changes have been made, but there are several others which seem desirable. The day has been changed from a five to a six period day, and several subjects increased from four to five times per week. A third year of Spanish has been introduced, beginning in the second year, and a third year of French was introduced last year. Community Civics should be reduced from four to two times per week. General Science which is offered in the second year should be put in the first year, and Biology offered in the second in its place. There are several more revisions which would be beneficial.
In connection with our Curriculum modifications, there should be a change in the requirements for graduation. Under the present system only 72 points are required for graduation, and it is possible to secure 4 of these in Spelling, 4 or more in Drawing, 4 for Music, including Orchestra work, leaving too few to be earned in main sub- jects. "Either the minimum should be raised to 80 or thereabouts, or else the system recommended by the State should be adopted, - 16 units being recommended for graduation, a unit being a subject carried four or five times per week for a year, or the equivalent. Last year we secured the privilege of sending specimen students, without examination, to colleges represented on the New England College Certificate Board, and although a relatively small number of our boys and girls go to college, our courses should be so arranged that it need not be necessary for those few to go elsewhere, or to take a fifth year in High School in order to prepare for college.
One of the outstanding features is the lack of school spirit. An attempt has been made to remedy this, in part, through the introduction of organized athletics. Base- ball was played in the Spring, with more than average success. A complete new outfit had to be provided, as well as for the foot-ball team of this Fall, which because of its light weight, and inexperience won few games, but which made a creditable showing under the coaching of Sub-Master Davis. At present basket-ball is being develo- loped among both boys and girls. On account of there being no suitable place to play, all games will have to be played out of town. Scholarship rules have been estab- lished as part of the requirements of all branches in athletics, and in several noticeable cases has had a decidedly good effect. The student body is becoming interested, and a
116
school spirit awakened in this direction. An athletic association, under the complete control of school officials is to be organized.
One of the drawbacks to the arousing of the above mentioned school spirit is the fact that the assembly hall has not seating facilities for the student body, as a whole. It is practically impossible to get them all together for morning exercises, lectures, etc. If we are to have a new building it cannot be up-to-date without an assembly hall. Likewise, if, as seems likely, compulsory physical training is to become the rule in the near future, a gymnasium will be indispensible.
One great problem confronts all high school adminis- trators to-day. It is that of irresponsibility of pupils. Perhaps it is only a part of the general unrest of the times, which is manifested in so many ways, but it is a serious condition everywhere. Pupils are contented to just 'get by' instead of striving for high, or at least creditable stand- ards of scholarship. They are putting pleasures and out- side interests of various kinds before school duties. If it is true that 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy', it is equally certain that all play and no work will not make him a success in his studies. There is a place for each, and while the need for a goodly amount of recreation is recognized as essential, it should not be allowed to become the aim of existence. The average student must do a considerable amount of work at home. Not even the brightest ones have time in school hours for all their prepara- tion, and parents could help very much by cooperating with the teachers in insisting that the pupils form regular habits of studying at home. There is no good reason why the parents' active interest in their children's progress should cease when they enter high school. On the other hand, there is even more reason for help and encouragement, for the studies are harder than those of grammar grades, and grow harder year by year. This is one of the best arguments in favor of having the eighth grade with the four upper ones, for it makes the change from grammar work to high school work less abrupt, and consequently tends to reduce the number of failures in the first year of high school proper.
The Domestic Science Department although not extensive enough is a step in the right direction. It is unfortunate that we have no corresponding course for the boys. I believe that a course in Agriculture, established under State control and direction would bring decidedly beneficial results. The arrangement whereby the State pays two-thirds of the salary of the instructor reduces the
117
actual cost of the town to a relatively small amount. In almost every case where such courses have been established, this outlay has been returned many times to the town in results obtained by the boys taking such work.
The Commercial Department is doing splendid work and at the same time its courses are the least expensive to maintain. It is imperative that a fourth teacher of this department be secured for next year. The demand for graduates from this department is such that we are continu- ally forced to turn down requests for office girls, even at $15 or $16 per week for beginners.
In closing my report I wish to present a table showing the per capita costs of instruction in the various subjects.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES L. JORDAN.
Per capita costs of instruction in the different subjects of the High School curriculum.
Music .
$.96
Drawing.
2.97
Commercial Geography
5.00
Commercial Arithmetic.
6.50
Commercial Law .
6.52
Freshman Algebra
6.65
Junior English .
6.65
Sophomore History
6.91
Sophomore English
7.35
Community Civics
7.40
Freshman Latin
7.38
Junior Stenography
7.50
Senior Typewriting .
7.50
Junior Typewriting
8.10
Senior Stenography
8.33
General Science .
8.33
Sophomore Bookkeeping
8.33
Senior History
8.80
Freshman English
9.00
Sophomore French
9.20
Domestic Science
9.37
Senior English .
9.52
Sophomore Typewriting
10.10
Junior French
10.36
Advanced Bookkeeping
11.25
Senior French
11.85
Junior History .
11.85
Sophomore Spanish
12.96
Physics.
13.88
.
118
Junior Algebra.
16.64
Junior Spanish 18.00
Sophomore Geometry 19.41 Sophomore Latin .
20.75
Chemistry .
20.87
Advanced Latin 27.66
Senior Spanish
32.40
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER.
Mr. C. N. Flood, Superintendent.
Dear Sir: - I hereby submit the following report for the year ending December 31st, 1919.
I have worked in conjunction with the State Board of Labor Industry - also the Friendly Aid Association and the District Nurse.
I have investigated 959 cases as reported to me and found the pupils absent for the following reasons: Sickness . 243
Truancy
94
Lack of clothing, shoes, etc.
38
Kept out by parents.
110
Found on street and taken to school.
83
Left school .
8
Non-registration (new pupils placed in school) .
45
Found on street, taken home
37
Left town
19
Employment cards.
18
Tardy
59
Factories and Stores Visited .
34
Found at home and taken to school.
61 1
Department of immigration cases investigated.
4
Destroying and loss of school property
9
Disturbances at schools and on streets
15
Home employment cards granted
6
Taken to court .
2
Sent to Walpole Training School .
3
Reported to Friendly Aid Association
12
Boys placed under my charge by parents.
8
From farm to schools (under 14 years of age)
26
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