USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1924 > Part 11
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developing both of the above mentioned. As an example of one of the worthwhile extra-curricula activities, I would call attention to the High School Orchestra. We have, at the present time, an orchestra of twenty-one pieces. Under the direction and leadership of Mr. Lewis they have done very good work and have played at numerous outside affairs. The indications are that next year our orchestra should be comprised of nearly twice that number, and it is hoped that a band can also be formed.
One of the disappointments of the school officials is the failure on the part of the parents to show more active inter- est in our school, as evidenced by visits while school is in session. During national Education Week, beginning No- vember 7, although a special effort was made to have par- ents visit the school, only four so responded. The parents can best determine what the school is attempting to do and better cooperate with the teacher in obtaining results after seeing the school in operation. There seems to be a wide spread feeling among parents that visits to the High School are undesirable and unnecessary. Such is not the case. Cooperation between the parents and teachers is never so much in need as during the high school period, and a large part of the discouragements and failures of the younger pupils could be avoided by proper cooperation between the home and the school.
I feel that comment should also be made on our school paper. "The Wampatuck." This paper, under the direc- tion of Miss Avis C. Walsh, had a very successful year last year from every standpoint. The paper was self-supporting and won the silver shield offered by the South Eastern Massachusetts League of School Publications for the. best magazine for 1924. This League consists of twenty schools within a radius of thirty miles, each of which submits to a committee, picked from the Teachers' College, Columbia University, its publications for a year, and the Wampatuck was given the prize for all-around excellence. In addition
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to this, the Philergian essay, "What a High School Can Do to Train Citizens," written by Miss Elsie Bunker and given as a part of the graduation exercises last June, received honorable mention among the formal essays.
In closing my report, I cannot do any better than to urge through the pages of this issue, the further interest of the parents of the High School pupils in the work of their children, and to again declare that inspection of our school and classes on the part of parents is most cordially invited.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES L. JORDAN.
Report of Continuation School
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- I herewith submit my report of the boys' department of the Braintree Continuation School for the year ending December 31, 1924.
The enrollment from the opening of school in Septem- ber to date is eighty-five boys. The attendance increases and decreases with the demand for unskilled labor.
The school is accomplishing the things for which it was established, principally to bridge the gap between the full time school pupil and the fourteen year old wage earner.
Many boys come to school more often than the law requires, and some have come after they have passed the compulsory school age.
We do not follow the individual project method on instruction as many schools, but use group projects where a number of boys work on the same article until it is com- pleted. Then we also use progressive projects where every
231
day a different group works on the same article, taking up the work where the preceding group left off.
The exhibit shown by the Continuation School in the Town Hall last November was representative of the school, some of the best and some of the poorest work being shown.
I have personally visited every place in Braintree where minor labor is employed and as yet have not seen a single boy or girl working hard enough to injure their physical health.
The lighting and sanitary conditions in the local shops are good and compare very favorably with the best in the state.
I have found the heartiest cooperation among the employers and particularly the shop foreman.
Respectfully submitted,
RICHARD W. JOHNSON.
Report of Continuation School
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Massachusetts.
1
Dear Sir :- I herewith submit my report of the Girls' Department of the Braintree Continuation School.
In September the daily attendance averaged fourteen, in October eighteen, and more recently has dropped to twelve.
1
The fluctuation in attendance seems to parallel the con- ditions of employment. The general attendance has been regular, and the girls have shown appreciation of all efforts to help them.
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The work in sewing has been extensive and varied. The girls have made simple garments for their own use, covering many principles of sewing in each garment. They have made curtains and hangings for the school room, lamps, which were shown at the exhibition and of late have made some attractive Christmas presents for their friends.
The work in cookery has included the planning, prepar- tion, and serving of simple meals. Canning of fruit and vegetables was successfully carried out in all classes, and much individual work was done by girls who brought materials from home.
The academic work has been of such a nature as to correlate with the cookery and sewing in an endeavor to make the girls self-reliant in household duties and better homemakers.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH T. HANDLEY.
Report of Art Instructor
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- Beginning in January, 1924, there was a marked improvement in art work by the children in the grades. This was brought about by the use of other Indus- trial Art Text Books, and the Industrial and Applied Art Text Books. The work in these books is graded so that each teacher has her own special grade drawing books and finds in them illustrations and directions for most suitable problems. Nature drawing, object drawing, construction work, interior decoration, costume design, printing, and poster work appear in all eight books, but with a noticeable degree of improvement in skill required each year for satis- factory results.
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Much enthusiasm and interest was shown by pupils and teachers in preparing for the exhibition during November. All tried their best, and finally, the selecting of the papers proved that surprisingly many must be eliminated on account of lack of space.
The exhibit consisted of work accomplished since the opening of school in September. The drawings were of fall fruits and flowers, harvest scenes, Hallowe'en illustrations, various compositions of Pilgrim and Indian life, the May- flower, Columbus' three ships on the high seas, and many attractive country houses and homes with well planned arrangements of walks, driveways, shrubberies, arbors, and trees.
At High School, as in previous years, those pupils having any free periods on Wednesday may, if they wish, take drawing. As a result freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors must be taught in the same classes, and are taught which they prefer, free hand or mechanical drawing. This happens for six periods one day each week. Since Septem- ber some pupils coming to two of the periods must sit two at a desk and one pupil at the teacher's desk.
Even though these inconveniences exist many excep- tionally good papers come to the front. The beginners ex- hibited some fine free hand printing in ink. The animal sketches were interesting. Now, small pictures showing various styles of costumes are being enlarged, and changed if necessary, with simplicity and directness the predomi- nating feature so as to finish with poster paints. Pupils are quite enthusiastic over the painting even though it takes several lessons to finish one picture.
With the apparent improvement in drawing in the grades it seems that this same gain should be made the most of at High School. Those pupils interested in Art should be given an opportunity to have their full share of time for instruction, by making it possible, at least, to have
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free hand and mechanical drawing taught in separate classes.
Respectfully submitted
ATHALIE HOBELL.
Report of Vocal Music Instructor
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- I herwith submit my annual report of vocal music in the Braintree Schools.
The standard of our music work this year is much ahead of standards of previous years. One of the principal rea- sons for this improvement is a more adequate supply of music material. Where more books were needed a new text book is supplanting the old books. Thomas Watson School, Noah Torrey School, and all the second and eighth grades are now supplied with a new book-Music Education Series -one of the latest productions in music text books and an entirely new departure from music material thus far pub- lished for grade schools.
Much time and effort was spent in selecting these books, making a careful study of all new school music material and I am convinced that we have the last word in the matter of the character and aims of proper music material.
I wish to thank the Superintendent of Schools and the members of the School Committee for making it possible to adopt the Music Education Series.
In making the Music Education Series the editors have given their first consideration to the child, his mental and emotional condition, his tendencies and possibilities for absorbing music. The next step was to furnish songs that. would give the child the basic experience of good music.
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These songs comprise the best from the folk song to the great art work with carefully selected poems rich in imag- ination and literary content, original compositions from a large umber of musicians and poets in the country and abroad. There are rollicking songs of joy, graceful, quiet melodies, spontaneous rhythms, songs for Boy Scouts and Camp Fire Girls, songs which permit the pupils to enter into their rightful inheritance of beautiful music. The harmonic content in the part singing is rich and effective. Through the distribution of interest through the different parts, spontaneous singing is stimulated, and a properly balanced ensemble singing result.
Throughout the course very careful consideration has been given to the matter of voice ranges. The compass as well as the character of melodies which children sing are most important matters, because the tone quality is affected more by the compass and construction of the melody than by any other feature.
The difficult vocal situations which constantly arise for changing voices have been adequately met in the book for the seventh and eighth grades.
The plan and arrangement of this song material may be described as the modified plateau plan. Instead of a constant upward pull, due to continually increasing difficulties, the same level is maintained sufficiently long to assure the mas- tery of one problem of music study before another is pre- sented. The ability actually to learn music and enjoy learn- ing music follows. The pupil not only acquires power through this constant experience with music within his abil- ity, but his musical growth is constantly expanding through broad experiences with a number of beautiful songs.
Music appreciation is the ultimate aim of the Music Education Series. While the most progressive educators of today believe that singing is essential, they also believe that school music should mean something more than singing
4
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and playing. The musical activity common to the greatest number of people is listening. Pupils therefore should be taught how to listen in order that they may appreciate music.
The plan of paralleling the Music Education Series with appreciation, first of the selections in their books and then of selections outside, requires only about a dozen double- faced records for each grade. It begins with the child voice and extends to the artist voice and the tone quality of the various instruments and leads directly to the intelligent enjoyment and appreciation of the best known music mas- terpieces.
The appreciation work in our music course heretofore has been limited practically to the music which the children themselves can produce because of the lack of educational records.
Once we have secured these records and distributed the text books of the Music Education Series throughout all the schools, the musical equipment in our grades will make it possible for us to give the children, abundantly, while they are in school, the joyful experience of hearing and sharing in the rendition of beautiful music. In thus learning to appreciate and to love beautiful music, we believe that our boys and girls will be inclined to observe and to acquire a taste for all beauty. Such stimulation of the children's aesthetic instincts will in turn tend to enrich, refine, and ennoble their entire lives, thus amply justifying the time devoted to music.
To learn, know, and love music is a great part of music education, but it is not all. A very important part is to let others hear it; therefore concerts and entertainments are to be considered as a part of any educational plan.
During each year opportunities are given the pupils to entertain with their musical talents. This year a splendid occasion was arranged. Education Week gave . an.
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opportunity to exhibit the children's ability in chorus singing. At this concert the vocal music consisted of a chorus of selected voices from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, together with a chorus of a hundred voices from the High School.
These selected voices will be the glee chorus in the va- rious schools for the coming year, and rehearsals at regular intervals to be ready to furnish music when occasion demands.
In the High School this year we have a half hour period once a week with a chorus of selected voices. We are also trying to arrange a weekly rehearsal for a double male quartette.
The aim in this work is to give the more gifted pupils an opportunity to better develop their talents in singing and to furnish music for special occasions.
In closing my report I wish to thank the members of the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, prin- cipals, and teachers for their splendid cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
INGRID E. EKMAN.
Report of The Director of The School Orchestras
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- The Department of Instrumental Music which was established a year ago has met with such encour- aging results and corresponding growth as to exceed the fondest expectations of this Department.
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In point of fact, this was reached during the third month of the school year, when the capacity of time pro- vided and allotted for same had been crowded to the ut- most.
Since this time, notwithstanding the response through- out the schools as already mentioned another school has come forward with a class in Instrumental Music, which by reason of funds invested in various instruments by parents and others, require the need of instruction and attention of the Instrumental Supervisor.
These facts surely bear testimony and proof of a cul- tural desire on the part of our young people for a richer program in school music.
The training of the boys and girls on various musical instruments point to the many possibilities of value and use not only as a means of pleasure and profit in the future but as an aesthetic social accomplishment for present and imme- diate use in the many activities of school and class room pur- poses.
The educational advantages of music is not only of decided personal advantage to a young man or woman of today, but also a credit and asset in the home and recognized source of pride in the community.
To the principals and teachers to whom much credit is due for their interest and cooperation in making this year's accomplishment a success, I wish to extend my sin- cere appreciation for their encouragement and helpful efforts.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK W. J. LEWIS.
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Report of The School Nurse
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, Superintendent of Schools, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- I take pleasure in making the following report of the health work carried on in the Braintree Schools, since the beginning of the present school year.
All schools in town have been visited at least once a week under a regular schedule, and a great deal of work has been done in the line of physical examinations, control of contagious disease, and general health education.
So far with the help of our school physicians approx- imately 150 children have been physically examined. This work was started in November and will be completed early in January. Parents are notified in cases where serious physical defects are discovered, and are urged to arrange for a more thorough and detailed examination by some physician of their own selection. As a result of this work a number of children have had treatment for defects which were unsuspected by their parents.
All children are weighed and measured at regular inter- vals and records are kept of those who are ten per cent or more below normal, as those are likely to develop ill- ness of various sorts.
Advice is given to children and parents as to food, sleep, exercise, clothing and general conditions of growth and development.
Between eleven and twelve hundred children have been examined for defective teeth and the dental clinic is treat- ing a large portion of these at a nominal cost. It is expected that this work will greatly improve the general health of the schools in the near future.
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All pupils are examined at intervals to discover their general physical condition and advice is given in some cases as to care of the skin, scalp, and body in general. A great improvement in the general health is becoming apparent, and better understanding of the care of the body is causing a decrease in communicable disease.
Whenever symptons of contagious disease is suspected, or detected, that child is excluded from the school until it has been determined whether or not the disease is present. In this way spread of such disease is being checked.
I have given a number of health talks on general health topics such as posture, food, sleep, exercise, etc.
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A number of home visits have been made and treatment advised and suggestions given as to where such may be obtained.
The use of milk in the schools is encouraged and at present four fifths of our schools take milk regularly for the smaller children.
I plan to have lectures and talks given later by repre- sentatives of the State Department of Health.
Our new health books have proved of great benefit and have enabled the teachers to connect health educatioon with their regular class room work.
I feel that one of our greatest needs is a definite pro- gram of physical education, and if we could have a qualified physical director in charge it would be of wonderful bene- fit to the boys and girls.
In closing I wish to thank all the members of the School Department who have cooperated to make this work a pleasure.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPHINE D. CARSON.
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Report of Attendance Officer
January 2, 1925.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :- I hereby submit my report as Attendance Officer for the year ending December 31, 1924.
I have worked in conjunction with the State Board of Labor and Industry, also the Friendly Aid Association and the School Nurse.
I have investigated 760 cases as reported to me and found pupils absent for the following reasons.
Sickness 164
Truancy 101
Lack of clothing, shoes, etc.
21
Kept out by parents
142
Found on street and taken to school
61
Left school
7
Non-registration (new pupils placed in school)
9
Found on street and taken home
30
Left town
12
Employment Cards
16
Tardy
51
Factories and stores visited
14
Found at home and taken to school
60
Department of Immigration cases investigated
0
Destroying and loss of school property
3
Disturbances at school and on streets
6
Home employment cards granted
3
Taken to court
1
Sent to Wrentham School 1
14
Reported to Friendly Aid
9
Reported to School Nurse
Boys placed under my charge by parents 17
From farm to schools (under 14 years) 18
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I have investigated all cases of the schools including the Continuation School and High School, in the interest of parents, superintendent of schools, and at all times having in mind the welfare of the Town in general.
Respectfully submitted,
C. S. HANNAFORD.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES OF THE BRAINTREE HIGH SCHOOL
Town Hall, Wednesday Evening, June 18, 1924 at Eight P. M.
ORDER OF EXERCISES
March, "Metropolitan" Ascher
High School Orchestra
Song, "Tripping O'er the Hill" Bohm
School Chorus
Salutatory Essay, "A Glimpse of Our President" Evelyn Leben
Essay, "The American Boy's Inheritance"
William Ellis
Philergian Essay, "What a High School Can Do to Train Citizens"
Elsie Bunker
Presentation of Philergian Prize
Mrs. H. A. Bryant, President of the Philergians
Orchestra Selection, "Cupid's Heart"
Ascher
High School Orchestra
Essay, "Modern Miracles of Science"
Herbert Davis
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Essay, "The American Public School" Grace MacAllister
Award of Scholarship Prizes
Mr. Otis B. Oakman
Treasurer of Trustees of the Braintree School Fund
Song, "Oh, Italia, Italia Beloved" Donizetti
School Chorus
Essay, "The Quality of Leadership" Milton LaRiviere
Valedictory Essay, "The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes" Astrid Moline
Presentation of French Medals and Diplomas Mr. Henry D. Higgins, Chairman of School Committee
Class Song, Tune of "Departure" Words by Berget Reese
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Astrid Celia Moline Stewart Albert Gates
Webster Evans Fisher*
Berget Gunvor Bolette Reese Evelyn Elizabeth Leben George Milton LaRiviere William Eugene Ellis Grace Goldie MacAllister Herbert Gibbs Davis Myrtle May Armstrong Margaret Ellen Bostock Ameido Bregoli Evelyn Wadsworth Brooks David Bruce Elsie Mae Bunker Bessie Mae Butler
Malcolm Alexander Gordon
Helen Lincoln Greeley Lillian Mary Grohe Francis Edward Haynes Francis Thompson Henley Richard Hooper Henley Alice Beatrice Henshon Jeannette Louise Holmes Elmer Clarence Jernberg Elida Josephine Le Vangie Ruth Elizabeth LeVangie Edward Harold Libertine Doris Margaret Long Catherine Maloney
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Harold Edward Cross Anna Mae Cuff Mae Katherine Curran
Arthur Allen Maxwell Doris Estella McDorman James McFarlane
Helene Elizabeth Muirhead
Daniel Joseph Dacey Rita Magdalene D'Arigo Isabelle Hazel DeCoste John Philip Doucette Dorothy Elizabeth Dyer Helen Agnes Reed
Hilda Leona Nelson Kathryn Rita O'Toole Helen Elizabeth Reardon
Helen Wilhelmina Fitzgerald Lawrence Elbridge Remick
George James Gallivan Florence Madeline Roberts Mary Agnes Welch
CLASS OFFICERS
Francis Haynes, President Berget Reese, Secretary Astrid Moline, Vice President David Bruce, Treasurer
FRENCH MEDAL WINNERS
Astrid Moline, Berget Reese, Webster Fisher
PHILERGIAN ESSAY PRIZE WINNER
Elsie Bunker
First eight names are arranged according to rank.
* Has completed a College Preparatory Course in three years.
The folowing is a list of all the grammar school graduates in the Town of Braintree, June 17 and 19, 1924.
HOLLIS SCHOOL
Edith Katherine Anderson Helen Erma Boardman*
Miriam Blair Brooks
John Joseph Cleggett
Paul Martin Collins
Signe Matilda Maki
Mary Elizabeth Meara
Madaline Luce Meisner
Helen Theresa Murphy
Russell Lawrence Piercy
*French Medal Pupils
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Mabel Milburn Cordell Robert Charles Damon Virginia Dee
Mary Frances Flaherty
Hazel Bates French
Ethel Louise Harnish
Lloyd Fisher Harvey
George Henry Klay
John Edwin Luoma*
*French Medal Pupils
Edwin Ensio Pinola Richmond Chilton Potter John Joseph Reardon
Katherine Louise Stoddard
Winslow Eldredge Symmes Edmund Thorne Thomas Ellen Elsa Waldecker* Myrtice Florence Walls Francis Edward Walsh
JONAS PERKINS SCHOOL
Ronald Nairn Alison
Mae Emma Lord
Gottfrid Bertil Anderson
Dorothea Belinda Lucia
Edward Joseph Beaulieu
Mary Gardner Mead
Alfred Peter Bennett
Viola Margaret Mortimer
Gladys Ruth Brown
Doris Sibella Musen
Mabel Frances Caskin
Julia Emma Oatley
Benjamin Joseph Curran
Gladys Edith Oliver
Ralph Steven Frazier
Charles Phillips
George William Garland
Mary Laurie Porter*
Charles William Haviland
Sterling John Richards*
Kenneth Joseph Kelley
Benjamin Snow Rogers
Francis Albert Lamarine
Robert Robinson
Phoebe Elizabeth Lavery
Gladys Mae Ryan
Wilfred Levangie
George Sydney Storm
Herbert Webster Lewis
Louise Agatha Storm
Edna Theodora Ulwick
*French Medal Pupils
PENNIMAN SCHOOL
Albert Evans Annis
John William Callahan*
Paul Stevens Davis
Gertrude Anna Benson* Evelyn Rose DeCoste
*French Medal Pupils.
Mary Frances Bates
F
Barbara Davidson
Gladys Rosalind Otway*
Mary Madaline Dugan
Florence Parker
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Edward Lawrence Evans James Gavin
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