USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1932 > Part 12
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Herewith is submitted my fifteenth annual report as Principal of the Braintree High School.
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE
Figures for membership and attendance for the school year 1931-1932 are as follows:
Total Membership
.803
Average Membership 743.48
Percentage of Attendance 95.08
The above figures represent an increase of 94 in the total, an increase of 86.53 in average membership, and approximately the same percentage of attendance as of last year.
One hundred fourteen were graduated last June and about the same number should graduate this year.
Registration to date for the present school year shows and increase of 94 over the figures for the corresponding date last year, or approximately 12%. The total registra- tion for the present school year to date is 889, divided as follows :
Boys
Girls
Total
Post Graduates
23
21
44
Seniors
58
67
125
Juniors
119
101
220
256
Sophomores
147
116
263
Freshmen
122
115
237
All
469
420
889
An analysis of these figures shows several interesting facts. The large number of Post Graduates is more than twice that of any previous year. Ten of these students have succeeded in securing positions since the opening of school so that the present number is reduced to 34. Several of these are taking work in anticipation of entering college or training school for nurses next Sep- tember. Nearly all of the others are graduates of the Commercial Department, who, unable to find positions, are back with the idea of keeping up in their Shorthand, Typewriting, Office Training, etc. Since these Post. Graduates are scattered throughout the various classes of the two upper years their presence has meant no additional expense so far as teaching is concerned, the only additional expense being for a few textbooks and supplies. It would seem that the Town is not only justi- fied in meeting the needs of this group by allowing them to return for the additional year, but also has an obliga- tion to them in that respect.
The Senior class is approximately the same as of last. year. The Junior class on the other hand shows an in- crease of 61 over the corresponding class. The Sopho- more class shows an increase of 40, while the Freshman class, owing to smaller eighth grades in all the grammar schools, is 34 less than the corresponding class of last. year.
The registration as shown above represents an increase somewhat in excess of that predicted in the last high school report. Indications are that with the Senior class. of only 125 potential graduates and a Freshman class
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which is estimated at approximately 250 for next year, allowing for withdrawals for one reason or another the September 1933 figures should be in the vicinity of 950.
To care for the additional pupils, approximately 100 each of corridor and gymnasium lockers were installed during the summer vacation and a similar number will be required to take care of the anticipated enrollment of September 1933, as there is bound to be a substantial increase at that time.
DOUBLE SESSION
The predicted change to a two-session day materialized with the opening of school in September. Under this plan all of the pupils, except the Freshmen, are in session from eight until twelve-fifty and the Freshmen from one until five minutes after five.
According to the present rate of increase, if no addi- tion is made to the building previously, two more years of two-session operation would make it necessary for two classes to be in session in the afternoon instead of one.
This double session arrangement is far from desirable considered from any standpoint. The shortening of periods in order to make possible an eleven-period day has made itself felt to the disadvantage of the work done in every class. The Freshmen come in at one o'clock in many cases tired out with activities of the forenoon and in a condition not conducive to their best work. They leave the building after five o'clock which means, throughout a considerable portion of the year, after dark. Even with transportation to the remote sections of the town this offers many problems. There are many other disadvantages such as the gradual lessening of school spirit, the confusion in corridors with one group being:
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dismissed as another comes in, the inability of many pupils who happen to have work with teachers on an overlapping schedule to get help from those teachers, and others of similar nature. The two-session plan is considerably more expensive in point of operating cost due to the additional janitorial service, electric lights and particularly for fuel since it is necessary to keep up the steam pressure until five o'clock or after on each day.
The present would seem to be an inopportune time to talk of additional expense in school house construction, but every individual who is really interested in the wel -- fare of his children and the success of the School will desire to see the proper high school accommodations. Relief of the present conditions in some form should come at the earliest possible date.
TEACHING FORCE
The High School faculty for the present year includes six members who were not with us last year. Miss Esther W. Paul was appointed to fill the vacancy in the Commer- cial Department caused by the resignation of Miss Olive M. Avery, who had been a member of the high school faculty for nine years. Five additions to the faculty, occasioned by the increase in size of the school and the change to the two-session plan are as follows : Miss Eula I. Hutchins, English and History; Miss Belle E. Wright, Spanish and German; Mr. James M. Dysart, Mathema- tics, Science and Civics; Mr. Christian W. Ehnes, Com- mercial Arithmetic, Penmanship and Typewriting; Miss Lucy H. Doane, Drawing and English. It is expected that two more will be required in September 1933.
Several of the teachers are on an overlapping schedule, teaching all morning and a portion of the afternoon or some classes in the morning and all afternoon. All first
259
session teachers are required back two afternoons each week and all afternoon session teachers are required to report in the morning on two days each week to help pupils who may have lost time due to illness or who may need help for any reason. In addition to this, group teachers' meetings require extra time from all teachers every other Monday.
TRANSPORTATION
The failure of the Town at the annual meeting in March to appropriate sufficient funds for transportation of pupils living two miles or more from the high school made it necessary for the School Committee to discon- tinue the busses at the close of the school year in June. However, an appeal to the State Department of Educa- tion by many parents from the east part of the town resulted in an order from the State Department to resume the transportation which had been in effect for recent years. According to this order the bus service to East Braintree and the trolley car service to the Highlands were resumed on October 24, six busses operating for the morning group and two for the afternoon. The earlier opening of school in the morning has made it necessary for the Highlands pupils who come by trolley to leave at seven o'clock, arriving at the building at seven-fifteen or soon after, in order not to lose a portion of their first period class. The hourly service on that line is incon- venient in that respect.
EXTRA-CURRICULA ACTIVITIES
The modern attitude toward extra curricula activities of various kinds is such as to require no justification of said activities to the general public. The fact that such extra curricula activities, outside of music, are conducted
260
and financed at no expense to the Town of Braintree removes any possible objection to them on the grounds that they add to the school budget. The interest in such activities carries through to the regular class work and in almost every case is an advantage to the student and to the school as a whole.
The football season just passed was the most success- ful in the history of the school, considered from the stand- point of percentage of games won, while the results of the girls' hockey games was only slightly below that of the football team. More than thirty boys were in the football squad throughout the whole season and in addi- tion to this there were more than sixty Freshmen able to secure some instructions, coached by one of the after- noon faculty members for an hour or so each morning. In general, parents seem to approve of the idea of giving these first year students, who because of the double ses- sion were not able to interest themselves in the regular school teams, a chance to get the benefits of the outdoor exercise and coaching for a period of time during the forenoon.
The school magazine, The Wampatuck, has maintained its high standing among the very best magazines pub- lished in the East and with the aid of its annual drama has been again self-supporting, which is unique in the present day school magazine.
Due to the fact that the gymnasium is in use all day on four of the five school days, plans for a representative basketball team were dropped for the present year. In their place, however, an extended series of short intramu- ral games between teams representing the various home- rooms has been put into operation for the boys, and class games for the girls. This has many advantages over the older plan of varsity teams, in that it makes it possible
261
for a much larger number of boys and girls to receive the benefits of the activity. However, the fact that basket- ball has always been somewhat more than self-support- ing and has helped to square the losses of the sports which were played in the open air, on unenclosed fields, has brought another serious problem to those who have the responsibility of financing the athletic programs.
The only way that our athletics budget has been bal- anced during the last four years has been as a result of profits of our annual magazine subscription drive which has been conducted during the middle of November. The failure this year to secure the customary response to this drive has put our athletics in a situation where they must be curtailed to a greater extent to keep within the avail- able funds. This means that our baseball schedule will probably have to be shortened to save the expense of a portion of the season, because baseball is not self-sup- porting, and track activities may have to be eliminated entirely.
Because of the two-session day the Band work has had to be given up and the Orchestral work scheduled at such a time that those of the upper classes who take part must remain for a period in the afternoon and those of period in the afternoon to that work. This has resulted the Freshmen who take the work must give their first ín a reduced number who are taking part.
The same two-session arrangement has made it neces- sary for the Freshmen who elect Chorus work to report an hour earlier on Friday and for the upper classmen who are interested in the work to remain for an hour after school on Friday. This necessarily has cut down the number who are actively interested in Chorus work, but has resulted in a bigger percentage of those who take it being really interested in it, and not merely taking it for the points.
262
CONCLUSION
I would like to close this report with a personal word and appeal to parents of present high school students and of those to come.
Ninety per cent of high school failures are due to lack of effort. This, in most cases, means lack of home study for nearly all the work of preparation must be done out- side of school hours. The most important business of your children today is getting an education. If your high school boy or girl is not studying faithfully at home for from two to three hours daily throughout the school week he or she cannot be expected to do satisfactory work, and in most cases is doomed to failure in one or more sub- jects.
In recent years the tendency has been toward a longer school day with longer periods, so that in the supervised study part of each period at least a portion of the next day's work could be done. With the shortening of all periods, due to the two-session plan in operation at present, it is practically impossible to do more than the minimum essentials each day in class. Therefore, more emphasis must be placed on home preparation.
The finest service the parents can render the school and their children is an insistence on regular attendance at school and regular prolonged periods of school work at home.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES L. JORDAN, Principal.
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REPORT OF THE ART SUPERVISOR
January 1, 1933.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, Superintendent of Schools, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
I herewith present my report on the drawing in the grade schools of Braintree for the year 1932.
As a report made at this time must cover the last part of the school year ending in June, and the first part of another school year following it in September, I will mention first the exhibitions of drawings made by the children which were arranged and shown in each build- ing as the climax of the year's work. Exhibitions were hung in the Jonas Perkins, Noah Torrey, and Abraham Lincoln School halls, and in the first floor corridors of the Hollis, Monatiquot and Penniman Schools. In the Thomas A. Watson School a special exhibition of design work was arranged, graded to show the progress made by the pupils from grade to grade in applying design principles. The work of the Highlands School pupils was shown in each room. Having the exhibitions in the school buildings gave all the children opportunity to see their own work and the work of other grades in the building. Parents and friends were invited to view the exhibits and all showed a great deal of interest in the work of the children.
Early in the spring the sixth grades were asked to make original Forestry notebooks to be submitted in a state-wide contest. A great deal of work and effort was spent on them with the result that one of the Braintree notebooks carried away the first prize in the state and others were mentioned as "good."
264
We have from time to time made posters to advertise local and school activities. An excellent set of posters was sent to the Massachusetts Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals. We make these posters each year, and the children look forward with pleasure to making "Animal Posters" and to the possibility of win- ning a medal with the poster.
The course of study which I have planned and given in outline to each teacher aims to develop youthful ar- tistic talent and encourages creative expression. This re- sults in a certain joy of accomplishment by affording many opportunities to express individual ideas and ex- periences through art. It strives to further the enrich- ment of life and promotes the enjoyment of leisure through the appreciation of beauty in nature and in fine arts which, in turn, develops good taste in the individual and eventually in the community.
I wish at this time to express my appreciation of the interest and cooperation given by the teachers in correlat- ing drawing with other subjects such as history, litera- ture and geography. This correlation is very valuable to the children and often an aid in teaching those sub- jects. I wish to thank the principals and the superinten- dent for their continued interest and support in my de- partment.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH H. JOHNSON.
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REPORT OF THE VOCAL MUSIC SUPERVISOR
January 1, 1933.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, Superintendent of Schools, Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my annual report of vocal music in the Braintree public schools.
This is the first year for many years that I have not had new classes added to my schedule. Because of the consolidating of the chorus work in the High School this year I have a day for each of the Noah Torrey Schools where last year I had only one day for both.
While the course of study remains the same, the lesson plans are revised every year with the aim :
1. To have the songs fresh and attractive, delight- fully appealing to the children, and absolutely sound musically.
2. To have carefully graded practice material.
3. To have the sight reading work kept strictly within the pupils' reading vocabulary.
4. To preserve the quality of the child voice, select- ing such material as will call for only the flute-like head tones for the younger children. To make the correct use of the vocal equipment during adolescence, and to assign each voice to its proper part.
5. To develop music appreciation through singing.
Whereas learning to sing is our first concern, we also are striving to include listening lessons with the phono-
266
graph and radio of the great masterpieces of music litera- ture. I regret that only three of our schools can take advantage of the music broadcasts on Friday mornings conducted by Dr. Damrosch. To train the children to appreciate the best products of music is one of the most fundamental contributions which education can make to the socialization of the children, the citizen of the next generation.
I wish to express my appreciation for the fine co- operation and sincere helpfulness of every teacher, and because of their faithfulness in carrying out the lesson "- plans we have many classes doing high standard work in all phases of the vocal music.
Because there are two sessions in the High School this year we have no school time classes in music. All sing- ing is carried on either before or after school on Fri- days. This is a great blow to our high school music.
Although these choruses are small the students who take part show enthusiasm in their singing, and also fine ability in music reading. A new selection has been presented at each lesson to test and develop accurate sight reading.
During the past year the High School gave two credit- able performances. One in the form of a light opera, "Pinafore", by Sullivan and Gilbert; and the other a half-hour broadcast from radio station WEEI. We were proud to have the chance to give a second broadcast from this prominent station. The girls in the choruses are learning the trio "Lift Thine Eyes" from "Elijah" by Mendelssohn, which they will sing at the Braintree Choral Society concert in January.
This is the age of self-expression, and it is through music the feelings find their richest expression. The joy
267
of singing in chorus, solo, duet, quartet, is the most genuine, the most natural, the freest way of expressing the musical emotions.
We need no longer defend Music's place in the curri- culum. It is more and more recognized as one of the principal subjects on the school program since it is now generally recognized as a universal need.
Educators, business men and government executives agree that the gravest peril in the increase of unemploy- ment and shorter working hours is not the danger. of starvation or hardships, but the menace of unrest bred of idleness. We must educate the older as well as the younger children in worthy and enjoyable use of leisure time. Music is of the greatest value in doing this. Music is the universal hobby, the most socializing subject, the most popular recreation, and therefore the most impor- tant remedy for idleness.
Respectfully submitted,
INGRID E. EKMAN.
REPORT OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INSTRUCTOR
January 1, 1933.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher,
Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my annual report of the Instru- mental Music Department of the Braintree public schools.
It always has been the aim of instrumental music in the public schools to equip the boy and girl with the best
268
possible means which will enable him to attain or make for the best happiness in daily living or social contacts.
The greatest measure of happiness reaches its fullest in being of use not only to one's self but in participating and contributing by such service to the enjoyment of others.
Our school orchestras meet this contribution by such efforts as playing for their various school and other assembly functions during the school year.
The High School orchestra proceeds a step further beyond the routine requirements of school activities by playing for organizations in the town.
Instrumental music offers the best known means of supplying this contribution to the Community, chiefly because it teaches the boy to act, think, and do for him- self, socially, which is fundamentally and essentially educational.
Much can be written and said about music concerning the affairs of men at this particular period. Suffice it to be said that at no time is there the need of something to occupy the leisure time of our young people more de- sirable than to place in their hands a musical instrument. which cannot only be turned to favorable account now, but fulfil a profitable advantage in later life.
It is a well-known fact that the public school system. is doing its part in anticipating and meeting the actual. demand of this cultural and educational development.
I wish to express my appreciation to the principals, teachers and parents of the children for their great help and cooperation in making for the success of this de- partment.
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The list of school-owned equipment is as follows:
7 string basses
7 bass drums
7 pairs of cymbals
1 violin
1 bugle
1 B flat cornet
1 B flat trombone
3 B flat altos
3 B flat baritones
2 E flat upright basses
1 BB flat Helicon Sousaphone
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK W. J. LEWIS.
REPORT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR
January 1, 1933.
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
The Department of Health and Physical Education in the Braintree public schools holds an important position: in meeting the needs of the individual child, and par- ticularly so during the period when health of so many pupils may be impaired by the feeling of "depression" so prevalent in many homes. What is Health? It is the "capacity for activity," and Life is Activity, so it is plain to be seen that in order to enjoy life we must improve that "capacity for activity" by means of proper food.
270
rest, the avoidance of giving harmful bacteria to others, and securing proper exercise. Physical Education chang- es human behavior through muscular activities for the improvement of health, and this is the primary objective of this department.
Because of the morning and afternoon sessions in the high school, classes in physical education have necessarily undergone a change in program. The forty-two minute periods at high school allows a minimum of activity with the unusually large class enrollment so noticeable last year. Three of the six gym classes of upper classmen -- average sixty-five pupils, and the other three approxi- mate some fifty or more members. The freshman class meets in four groups in the afternoon, two days a week, and the classes are nearer the ideal, even though time does not allow the proper type of program to be pre- sented. After the usual assignment to classes, all stu- dents were outfitted with gym suits and in many cases "needy" ones were fitted from the miscellaneous equip- ment which accumulates from year to year.
During the fall term the popular game of "tag foot- ball" was enthusiastically played by both morning and afternoon groups. This year a total of thirty-eight teams were scheduled, and held daily competition by class groups. It gives boys of similar age, height, and weight an opportunity to play together and develop team play, leadership and enjoy exercise out of doors, all of which are conducive to good health. This activity continued until the advent of cold weather, which necessitates an indoor program, informal marching, calisthenics, correc- tive individual and group exercises, games, relays and stunts. Leadership in class work is being developed by using student leaders and assistants, who handle roll call, absentees, discipline in class and locker room, pre- paration of material for class use, arrangement and dis-
-
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posal of usable apparatus, care of ventilation, and shower bath routine. Every boy is required to take a shower bath after each gym session in carrying out one of the health principles. Clean towels are checked and very little difficulty is being experienced in this daily hygiene rule. Because of the prevalence of ringworm (Athlete's Foot), lattice drip boards were placed in the locker room in order that students passing from the shower room to their locker could use the added precaution in preventing the spread of the disease. Instructions concerning the care for the disease have been posted in the locker room.
Several new health projects were successfully carried out this year-the use of a Pedograph (machine which gives foot prints) indicated all students in need of at- tention for corrective work because of foot faults, and was used for the first time. Monthly meetings of gym classes in the school auditorium for discussion of health topics have proven beneficial. Among the topics already discussed and those to be presented are: Care of the Feet; Athlete's Foot-what it is, How to recognize it, What to do for it; Colds; Care of the Skin and Bathing; Posture; Nutrition; Rest; Care of the Teeth; Communi- cable Diseases; Recreation. Visual tests were given to all high school boys and the results were above average, only twenty-two of four hundred boys were notified of the need of attention.
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