USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1922 > Part 9
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At our last graduation in place of the usual exercises of re- citation and essay, we presented the drama, "Hiawatha." A good part of the preparation for the play fell to the English teacher, who worked hard and long to make it a success. Two of the teachers, including the Domestic Science teacher, did much toward helping the boys and girls in making their cos-
tumes. The friends and parents of the pupils willingly respon- ded in lending whatever they had suitable for decoration or costume. As the play itself was interesting and the children very responsive, the time and effort given to the preparation of the drama was much enjoyed by pupils and teachers. Be- low will be found the program and the list of the graduates taking part.
The attendance in the school the latter part of the year has fallen off, caused by illness among the pupils. The following pupils in Junior High School have neither been absent or tardy since school opened in September:
Ericles Bokron Earl Greenlaw
Elizabeth Glover John Jaslowich
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Roger Lord
Viola Jianakountzos
Doris Scahill
Mary Surourec
Eleanor Sheppard
Wallace Wile
Allce Ciolek
Theodure Ciolek
Joseph Carey
Lawrence Henley
William Yenokopoulous
Frank Smith
I have made mention of a few points which have been per- haps a little different from past years. Otherwise the drill on fundamental subjects has been constantly and persistently fol- lowed.
Respectfully submitted, .
KATHARINE F. SULLIVAN, Principal.
GRADUATION - OF THE -
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1922
Program
I. PIANO SOLO Antolena Kmiech
II. DRAMA --- "HIAWATHA"
Act 1. Smoking the Peace Pipe
Act 2. Hiawatha's Youth
MUSIC --- "Morn Rise' Junior High School Chorus
Act 3. Hiawatha's Wooing
Act 4. The Wedding Feast
MUSIC --- Violin Solo. Theodore Dunham
Act 5. Hiawatha Teaching His People Picture Writing MUSIC --- "Greeting to Spring" .... Junior High School Chorus Act 6. Hiawatha's Farewell
III. AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS Chairman of School Committee
IV. MUSIC --- Class Song
V. MUSIC --- "Star Spangled Banner"
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.
Mary Adelman Madeline Bailey
Virginia Critchley
Minerva Dunbar
Robert Garrette
George Hayes
Antolina Kmiech
Gertrude Lovell Carroll Perry Ida Rand
Elizabeth Torpey
Frederick Twaragowski
Albert Grenier
Mary Barkowsky
William Bodwell
Stephen Damon
Ruth Denningham
Theodore Dunham Annie Kuconis
Hazel Manzer Phyllis Moran John Torpey Hilmer Williams Leonora Pollard
Albert Avery
Annette Boulais
Helen Davis
Clarence Flewelling John Grant
Thomas Jianakountzos Ruth Lord
Herbert Morrill
Barbara Pickard
Helen Sullivan
Dorothy Williams
John Healey
Nicholas Anistosopolous
Stanley Bartnicky
Lucy Brown
Ralph Dodge
Earl Ewing
Mary Frazer
Effie Langmaid
Georgiana Martel Ruth Norman
Janice Whittier
Sadie Wood
Marion Cummings
PENMANSHIP.
To the Superintendent of Schools :-
The same schedule has been in effect as in other years, and all the rooms in each grade up to the ninth are visited once in three weeks.
Much improvement is to be noted in those rooms where the teachers are watchful and alert, and compel the pupils to maintain the correct position during every written exercise. Unless this is aocomplished, the right habits for free, easy writing movement can never be acquired, and time and the ability to write a clear and legible hand will be forever lost.
More attention should be given to this subject in all the grades. More of the pupil's time should be given to black- board writing in the first grade, where form can best be ac- quired. Many of the children in even the primary grades are doing good work indeed, and this is due to watchfulness cn the part of the teachers. There is no reason why every pupil should not be able to write a clear, legible, and rapid hand by the time he reaches the eighth grade.
If more attention were given to position and movement in all written work which the pupil is called upon to do while in the grades below the high school, much time would be saved for other work when that school is reached.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Mr. Mason, the chairman of the School Committee, has given gold prizes-a first of $5.00 and a second of $2.50-for the best specimens of handwriting from each grade from the fourth to the eighth. The following is a list of the pupils who won prizes:
PRIZE-WINNERS FOR WRITING.
Annie Giouzdz Grade V.
Antonina Merchant V.
Mona Munroe. X
VI.
Loretta Martel VII.
Florence Hardy .
VII.
Bolka Klopotoska
Helen Davis.
CERTIFICATES.
Burley School
Grade V., 22
IV., 12
III., 3
Winthrop School
Grade VIII., 1
VII.,
44
=
n
VI.,
44
n
V., 18
IV., 3
147
Respectfully submitted,.
NELLIE T. SMITH,
Supervisor.
DRAWING.
To the Superintendent of Schools :- I herewith submit my second annual report of progress in the courses in drawing in the Ips- wich public schools.
The modern tendency to return, in a measure, to some old- fashioned method of laying good foundations in school sub- jects instead of being content with a "smattering" of various things, has influenced my plans again this year.
It is a great temptation, especially for teachers of Art, to in- troduce to their school-work many new and interesting things. In my department, weaving, basketry, stencilling, book binding, clay and cement modeling, oil and water color work-printing, etc., etc., -- all have their appeal, and I only wish we had the time and opportunity to do more. But I feel sure that the care- fully laid plans in fundamentals will result in the ability of the pupils to do more and better work in the industrial projects, as I take them up in due time.
In the case of the fifth grade, some special industrial work and constructive design has been begun. It is my intention to stress this work here, since it is to help fit this grade for the Do- mestic Science and Manual Training work of their next year. In this fifth grade work we emphasize measuring, and we use our
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
constructive designs on paper for making miniature card board models, then furniture for a child's room, the boys specializing on the furniture, and the girls on the interior decorations. Also a "circus project" carries out the same ideas in a manner very entertaining as well as instructive to the children.
We are beginning work in clay-modeling, in elementary book-binding, in stencil-cutting, and hand-printing; and we will continue to add such industrial projects in all grades and High School as time and occasion allow.
This is the general plan, in brief, for the art work in the Ipswich Schools at present:
Month
Subject
September October
November
December
January
February March
April May June
Color, Plant drawing.
Applied Art. Composition of September's work in designs. Same, with teaching of design principles.
Same, and industrial projects for Christmas.
Lettering, construction and lay- outs, posters, book covers etc. Same, and constructive design. Working drawing and pattern- making.
Old-fashioned "object drawing" and perspective.
Same. Nature drawing, house and gar- den design.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
I am especially pleased with the work of the Senior High School this year. A number of our pupils are developing ar- tistic talent of unusual character, that would seem to promise that some of these young people are going to be of much credit to their school and town in coming years. One project of in- terest is the arrangement of a High School entertainment in the form of a small costume pageant. The proceeds of this will be devoted to the purchase of a book and prints by Arthur W. Dow, as memorial gift to the Manning School. The decora- tions and costumes will be made by the pupils after Mr. Dow's "workshop methods." As a former pupil of Mr. Dow, I am greatly interested in this.
The schools and colleges of our country are now as never before awaking to the importance of their art teaching. To quote from one of the State Board of Education's reports on drawing: "There seems to be a growing conviction that a sep- arate course in drawing, or any other study, is a crude tentative device, for use only until the arrival of teachers who under- stand that not courses are to be taught, but children. 'One-hour- a-week-Art' is no longer the ideal. The ideal is tasteful school work every hour of the day, and every day of the week."
It is part of my work to help bring this to pass, in school life and, through that, in town life. With the assistance of Su- perintendent and teachers it can be done.
I wish to offer my sincere thanks to all of you, both for what you have done for the art work in our schools, and for what you are going to do,
Respectfully submitted,
SARA G. HOUGHTON,
Supervisor.
MUSIC.
To the Superintendent of Schools :--
It hardly seems necessary at this time to give you a detailed report of the course of study in music, as it was fully explained in my last report and has not materially changed.
There are, however, a few additions. An orchestra of thirteen pieces has been formed in our High School; and, con- sidering that we have but one rehearsal a week, I feel that the pupils are doing most satisfactory work.
A girls glee club of eighty voices has, also, been started in the Junior High. This chorus meets at the close of school each Monday and is under the direction of Miss Smith and Miss Hamilton of the faculty. This should prove to be of great ben- efit to the girls upon entering the Senior High, where a glee club has been organized for a number of years.
I would also like to take this opportunity to tell you that on Christmas Eve over fifty girls from the Junior and Senior High went to various parts of the town singing their carols and, I trust, bringing some measure of happiness to those people unable to leave their homes. Thanks are also due Mr. Burnham and Mr. Wile for the use of their trucks on that evening.
May I thank you and the teachers of Ipswich for the hearty co-operation that I have received in my work during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR HAROLD TOZER,
Supervisor.
.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
To the Superintendent of Schools: -
In submitting my first report as director of physical education in the grammar schools of Ips- wich, I wish to acknowledge the hearty co-operation of the teachers of the several schools.
The course in physical education is planned with a fore- sight into the future. It was found when the United States en- tered the World War that a very large percentage of her men were physically unfit for service.
The schools are able to teach the principles of health far better than they can be taught in most of the homes. If a child is taught the principles of health while he is young, he will make them a part of his daily living. None of us would live in houses that are falling apart. Then, why should we expect our children, who will be our future citizens, to live in bodies that are physically unfit?
Our aim in physical training is to improve the hygiene of the body.
We work with open windows, for fresh, cool air stimulates the body. After a child has been sitting quietly for any length of time in a warm room, he needs something to start the blood rushing through his body. . During this time the child does not
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
take cold, for he participates in rhythmic marching and run- ning. It is surprising to see how quickly the children of the first grades perceive the idea of rhythm. The marching is varied in the upper grades, the rhythm still being retained, so that the child does not become tired.
After the child is warmed by marching and running, he is given a few formal gymnastics. These are given with the fol- lowing in view:
1. Straightening of the spine.
2. Strengthening the muscles back of the shoulders and around the shoulder blades.
3. Enlarging the chest.
4. Strengthening volitional control of the body.
5. Strengthening the waist muscles.
6. Improving strength of joints and general skill.
After this period, the child indulges in a game or two. It is essential that skill and organization are of such a nature that practically every child is kept vigorously active, and that the whole musculature of the child is more or less actively engaged throughout this period.
The rhythmic repetition of large movements of the body is a most valuable form of recreation for children and adults; therefore, we add our folk dancing. There are rhythm and beauty and joyful feelings in every child. We try to cultivate these and give them a chance to express themselves in graceful muscular movements and in harmonious rhythmical co-opera- tion. Children love rhythm and respond naturally when given the means of expression.
The work of the physical director is closely allied with the work of the school nurse, inasmuch as the aim of both is to im- prove the general health of each child.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
In the various rooms we have found that the per cent. of underweights is by far too great. Let me recite the results of health work in two different rooms of the same grade, each room having forty-two pupils.
In one room nothing was said with regard to underweights, other than the daily routine of the teacher in regard to her health work.
In the other, the possibility of decreasing the per cent. of underweights was kept daily before them. They were given health charts on which they were asked to do certain things. I make mention of some of these things.
1. Washing the hands before every meal.
2. Cleaning the teeth night and morning.
3. Drinking four glasses of water between meals.
4. Eating candy only after dinner, as dessert.
5. Being in bed by eight.
6. Sleeping with at least one window open.
As a reward for fulfilling all the requirements, the child's name was placed on the honor roll. Each child made a spec- ial effort to obey his chart. Every morning a short time was set apart for inspection. Any child who had neglected to per- form these duties was reported. It was interesting to notice the big improvement in the appearance of the children. Those children who were very far underweight were excused from the vigorous exercises and were allowed to rest quietly in a warm place. This left in the class room the children who were phys- ically fit for vigorous exercise. For ten minutes these children went through their exercises with windows wide open.
At the end of ten weeks we found the following results: In the room just mentioned the per cent. underweights had de- creased from 38.63% to 30.7%. The number of pounds
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
gained by the underweights ranged from one-fourth of a pound to six pounds, while those above weight gained from one-fourth of a pound to twelve pounds.
In the room where no special effort was made, the per cent. of underweights decreased from 35.71% to 31.6%.
The fact also remains that those children who are under- weight and physically unfit, are the children who are behind in their studies, for they have not the strength and ability to do the work. Therefore, I say if we wish to increase our stand- ards of scholarship in the grades, we must put great stress on the personal hygiene of the body.
I sincerely trust that this report may meet with your ap- proval.
Respectfully submitted,
GERTRUDE R. SHEPPARD, Director.
MANUAL TRAINING.
To the Superintendent of Schools :-
The first item to which I wish to call your attention in reference to this department is the general unhealthy condition of the room in which the manual training work is done. As you very well know, the floor, which is of concrete, is five or six feet below the surface of the ground out- side the building, and the windows are walled in for about one- third of their area, so that very little light and air get into the room. In addition to this, the heating is not equal to keeping the room at a proper temperature, and after every heavy rain the floor is flooded, so that classes have to be dismissed, some- times for a whole day.
This year, owing to the increase in the number of classes, we were obliged to refuse all fifth grade pupils; and even then, the boys in some of the classes outnumbered the benches. This overcrowding makes it very hard to hold every pupil up to the work he is given to do, and encourages him in an attempt to get by.
We feel that more room and more time should be given to this work, if we wish to give the pupils a thorough training in those matters of home repairs which everyone is called upon to make as soon as he has a home of his own.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
The work has been kept along the lines of other years. We have tried to teach the pupils the name and use of the tools and how to take care of them. All work is done by hand, and fil- ling of loose joints or gaping seams is not allowed. In the con- struction of every article we have tried to secure good, honest work, and to limit all such work to articles of practical value.
We have taught the classes how to stain and finish their work, either in varnish or shellac. Some little upholstering has been done. The use of cement has been shown, and drinking fountains of this material successfully moulded. To repair leaky faucets, to mend broken locks, to hang doors and win- dows and make other repairs about the home, are to be under- taken this year. The older pupils are allowed to select their own project and quite a few of them, especially the girls, have done some good work.
If more mechanical drawing could be taught along with the manual training, or before the boys came to us, it would be of great advantage to them. This subject is becoming more im- portant every year and is entering into a greater number of dif- ferent lines of work than ever before. It is valuable in itself, and every mechanic should know something about it.
Respectully submitted,
ARTHUR W. GOULD, Director.
DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
SEWING.
To the Superintendent of Schools: -
The work in the sewing depart- ment is planned to teach the girls the fundamental stitches and how to apply them on simple garments. Other years this work began in the fifth grade; but this year, because of the increase in classes in the Junior High School, no time could be given them.
The sixth grade girls make underclothes and aprons of various kinds. They are taught to sew on the machine and to use simple commercial patterns.
In the first half of the seventh grade the girls make their cooking outfits, which consist of an apron, cap, towel, and holder. They get practice in both hand and machine sewing. They are taught patching and darning.
The eighth grade girls make various articles of clothing, including dresses, blouses, and underwear. Their costumes for their graduation entertainment were made in their sewing classes.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
The work in the High School is more advanced. These girls have made woolen and cotton dresses, woolen skirts, waists, little children's clothes, and many other things. They also learn to make over garments from used material.
This course aims to teach the girls to make and repair their own clothes and gives them a simple knowledge of textiles.
COOKING.
The work this year in the cooking classes was much the same as last year. ยท The course is planned to make the girls more interested in household tasks. It gives them a knowledge of food materials and their preparation.
The girls begin cooking in the second half of the seventh grade. They prepare simple and nutritious dishes and each lesson get instruction in housekeeping duties. Nearly every girl is interested in cooking and would like to try out her recipes at home, but some are not allowed to. It would be a great help if every mother encouraged her girl to cook at home. The girls prepared meals for their class, either dinner or sup- per. They planned the menu and cooked the meal. The gen- eral classes of food are studied with regard to their composition and use in the body.
In the fall the girls did canning and preserving for many townspeople. They made one hundred and eighty-five jars of jelly, one hundred jars of conserve, canned forty quarts of fruits and twenty-five quarts of vegetables, besides making grape juice and pickles. The girls gained a practical knowl- edge of canning and became quite efficient in it.
The High School girls have cooking this year. Some of those girls have never had cooking, some have had one year
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
and some two, but the work is planned to help them all as much as possible.
All work done in this department is of a practical nature and aims to make the girls capable, neat, and helpful at home.
Respectfully submitted,
MARION E. BROWN, Director.
ATTENDANCE REPORT.
To the Superintendent of Schools :-
Following is the report of the Attendance Officer for the year ending December 31, 1922:
I have investigated 252 cases of absence. Four cases have been brought to the attention of the Court, of which two were sent to the Essex County Training School and two were returned to the public school.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE W. TOZER, Attendance Officer.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN'S REPORT.
To the Superintendent of Schools :-
The detailed findings of the ex- aminations of the school children this year are well set forth in the report of the school nurse. This report shows a good deal of constructive health work, carefully performed and regularly carried on.
Preventive medicine is now recognized as a most import- ant part of medical practice, and prevention at the present day looms larger than cure, clinically speaking. This the public gets in a sub-conscious way, and will gradually arrive at a fuller un- derstanding of its importance. The State Education and Health departments are working together hand in hand, not only to promote better health conditions, but to carry to the people at large this greater understanding which is necessary in order to obtain the desired ultimate results.
One of the most important measures now carried on in progressive school systems for health promotion is physical training, and it is gratifying to note that Ipswich early took that progressive step forward, and its results are shown in the exam- inations of the last two years.
While the percentage of underweights shown by the tables in the nurse's report is larger than it ought to be, the deductions
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
to be made from those figures do not present an accurate pict- ure of the facts. These weights and measures are made in ac- cordance with a standard fixed by some bureau of the federal government many years ago. The war-time examinations showed that while that standard was excellent as an ideal, it did not present facts at their potential worth, and if followed at its face value would have seriously handicapped the war depart- ment in obtaining recruits. The change in the draft standard at that time worked admirably. While I do not deny that there is underweight and undernutrition among our pupils, the per- centage actually is much less than the standard used would show. The opinion here expressed is based both upon expe- rience and the published research findings of the United States Department of Public Health.
Diseases dangerous to the Public Health were the occasion of many absences from school last year. There were thirty cases of diphtheria, but the disease was not epidemic. The Board of Health, recognizing the value of the Schick test in de- termining who is susceptible to diphtheria, has arranged with the State Department to hold some clinics for the school chil- dren where susceptibility may be determined and preventive vaccination performed for all who desire it. This is not com- pulsory and will be performed only for those children whose parents sign the request forms which have been sent out. I strongly urge all parents to give their children this protection. There is no danger attached to it, and the work will be done by representatives of the State Department of Health who are ex- perienced in it. The Board of Health will give due notice of when and where these clinics will be held. At this writing 164 parents have given signed permission for their children to have the test and be immunized.
I congratulate you, Mr. Superintendent, on the excellent piece of constructive health work you have started by furnishing
-
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pure milk for lunches in several of the schools. This should be extended to include all pupils where it will be of benefit. Some do not need it, but the majority do. I have advocated this measure for a long time and hope it may be adopted as a part of the permanent health policy of our schools.
In all cases where the examinations have shown children to be in need of medical or dental advice or treatment, notices have been sent to the parents or guardians. Most of the parents have received these notices in the spirit in which they were sent, and have shown a desire to follow the suggestions made, and in many cases have done so. Some have shown resent- ment at receiving the notices. Only a few of these, however. The spirit on the whole has been one of appreciation and a de- sire to co-operate.
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