USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1924 > Part 8
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There should be more time allowed for supervised study. Had we the room, the children could be taught how to study and to get for themselves something of value from the printed page. A larger measure of responsibility could be placed upon the pupil for the preparation of his work, and he could be held to a stricter accountability in the performance of his tasks. There would be less temptation and encouragement to get by than at present, notwithstanding all the efforts that are put forth for its prevention.
Unless more emphasis and attention are given to this feature of our work, the child will be absolutely helpless when he leaves school. He must be taught, here and now, how to interpret the written word, and to apply the knowledge so gained to the development of all his powers. Books are the heritage of the ages; but unless the child is taught how to make the best use of them, our sowing will be in vain and his reaping little indeed. Here is the key to all knowledge, all success; all service. Let us put it into his hands: but, first, let us teach him how to use it. No matter what our theories of educational procedure may be, the old maxim, "self-help is the
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best help" still stands, and challenges contradiction.
A reorganization of this school, combining some of the fea- tures of the Winnetka System, could be easily made, and a lar- ger opportunity for good work, and better work, by both teach- ers and pupils would thereby be secured, This community can ill afford to hinder or hamper the progress of this school. It is the school of the people, and serves the dual purpose of prepar-
It is one ing for higher schools of education and for life itself.
of our most dependable institutions. It has always held, and will continue to hold, a large place in the respect and regard of all right-minded, straight-thinking people. and class consciousness have no place here. It is the true
Class distinctions source of all democracy and plays an important part in the char- acter of our civilization. Millions upon millions of boys and girls throughout the world end their educational careers in schools of this type. We make no apology for these graduates. Examine them, compare them: and then give your own unbiased opinion of the real, practical value of such school in accordance with all the facts.
No group of teachers anywhere is putting more time and energy and thought into their work than here in this school. They are doing as good and as thorough work as all the circum- stances will allow. They know that improvement would come with better conditions; they are conscious of the handicaps un- der which they are working; they realize that some of these eb- stacles should be removed, and they feel it to the point of dis- couragement. I make my plea for this school, You, the school committee, have pointed out the way of relief. May the legal voters of the Town concur in your opinion, and give your find- ings the solidity of accomplished facts.
For further information in reference to this school, let me refer you to the report of its respected and worthy principal, Miss Katharine F. Sullivan.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Senior High School.
The school is to be congratulated for the position it already occupies in reference to the longer school day. This question is forcing itself to the front in many of our cities and towns at the present time, in response to the recommendations of the State Board of Education and of educators in general.
From an economic standpoint the shorter day is wasteful in the extreme and tax-payers as well as school men are justi- fied in their opposition to such a program.
The management of school affairs is just as much a business proposition as it is an educational one. Would it be considered good business practice to allow your plant to remain idle the greater part of the time? What, then, shall you say of a policy that not only permits but enforces and prolongs this period of idleness? Is it economical or business-like? Could any busi- ness corporation meet its competitors on such a basis? We know it could not: failure would be inevitable.
But this is only a minor consideration of the question. The welfare of the youth of our community and of our land is vastly of more importance than any pecuniary features that the prob- lem may present. To prepare for an intelligent, broad-minded citizenship is the chief function of the schools, and time alone is a factor of no small significance in the performance of that task. How much more we all could do if we had the time. He does most who employs his time to the fullest and wisest degree. Time is money, and it never returns to us. The wasted years are those that fill us with regret.
The custom of cities and of some other towns that still adhere to the single-session plan, is often urged as an example of "what they do in other places". But this is no argument. Such places may be under the domination of political leaders
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who court this popularity for political reasons, by most of us fully understood. Others, still, may be controlled by social influences which refuse to recognize the rights and aspirations of those below themselves on the social plane; and this, too, in direct opposition to the best judgment and the settled convic- tion of those charged with the direction and guidance of the educational affairs of such communities. Does this provide equal opportunity for all, or is it a sop for the few? Whatever it may be, it is not conceived in the spirit of democracy, and should not warrant serious consideration by other and wiser communities. Moreover, the children in such communities have the privileges(?) of expensive private schools.
Do the great majority of our pupils enjoy the benefits of such social exclusiveness?
In other places still, especially in the large cities, where school accommodations are inadequate, the authorities are obliged to make use of this plan. In such cases necessity con- trols, and necessity knows no law. Surely, we do not want to follow this example. So much for what "they do in other places."
Every locality has its own peculiar, community needs that must be met in its own peculiar way. What will answer in one community will not suffice in another. Therefore, the practice of other communities, except in a general way, will not meet our local conditions, nor solve local problems.
Our present two-session plan was not adopted hastily,, nor agreed to until all the factors entering into the situation had been gone over carefully and had been given deliberate con- stderation.
Under the old plan, pupils who failed in their daily work were obliged to return to school in the afternoon. And it fre- quently happened that teachers failing these pupils in the morn- ing were assigned for afternoon work on some other day. The
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pupils came back, usually, but as no teacher in their department was in attendance, there was nothing for them to do except to kill time. This they did to perfection, and systematically, too. Qthers found it more congenial to loaf around in the drug stores, the billiard saloons, or upon the street corners, Such practice is not conducive to scholastic attainments, and this was one of the factors that influenced the school authorities to make the change.
The matter of health was another issue to be considered. And this was decided, as may be supposed, without delay.
The children, too, were not being taught how to study - if they studied at all. They simply bluffed their recitations, and made them up by loafing. Many of them did good work, of course, but too large a percentage of them followed the routine as outlined in the foregoing.
Many of the teachers, too, were opposed to the change, and continued to manifest their disapproval for some time after the plan had received the sanction of the school authorities.
Since the adoption of the two-session plan, the school has grown both in numbers and in efficiency. We are sending more of our boys and girls to college and higher institutions of learn- ing than ever before in the history of the school.
Our graduates are giving a better account of themselves, and the school spirit is growing stronger each year. The pupils are taught how to study, and are becoming more self-reliant, They are held more rigidly to their work, and assignments are receiving more personal attention. The pupils are studying un- der the eye and the direction of their teachers, and one hour of such work is worth more than any two under ordinary home conditions. Best of all, the wreckage here is extremely small. In our cities and in the larger high schools generallv, a pupil failing in his work is dropped summarily. He gets little or no individual help from his teachers, and if he is not mentally equal
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
to the requirements, he gets no consideration and he passes out of school. In such schools the number of fatalities is far above what we are getting here. This is the crowning glory of every school system -to interest and save to the last one.
Our athletics, too, are a genuine help to the growth of the membership and spirit of the school. The taint of commercial- ism has not touched it, and all school activities are subordinated to scholarship. This is as it should be, and no member of the faculty nor member of the School Board has any desire to do as " they do in other places." Our ambitions lie in other directions.
What I have said under the caption of the Junior High School in reference to the senseless criticism applies with evual force to the affairs of this school. All constructive criticism, all suggestions looking to the betterment of our school methods and practices, are entitled to and shall have a patient and a respect- ful hearing. The faculty and the school authorities have no sym- pathy nor patience with the idea that knowledge is to be gained without work. All experience is to the contrary, and when our pupils learn that success is dependent upon persistent, intell- gent effort they are certainly facing the right direction. Scholar- ship is something more than a graduation; and, if the parents would co-operate more fully with the teachers in trying to impress this truth upon their own children, they would be rendering a most valuable service to the whole school. Let good common sense and experience be the guides of all our actions, especially in dealings with our youth, and success and happiness will sure- ly follow.
May I refer you to the report of the principal of this school, Mr. Ralph C. Whipple, for a detailed account of what is being attempted and accomplished.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
MANNING HIGH SCHOOL,
To the Superintendent of Schools:
It is with pleasure that I submit to you a report of the work of the high school for the past year.
In other years I have called to your attention the nature of the work we are trying to do in the high school. I could repeat much that was included in those previous reports that needs more definite consideration. I will, however, mention just a few of those problems that still confront the school.
Pupils are kept out of school for no legitimate reason. They are allowed to spend the evening in what they consider pleasure, coming to school the next morning tardy, sleepy, and unable to do the work of which they are normally capable. Pupils capa- ble of preparing for college or other higher institutions are dis- couraged outside of school from taking work that prepares for college. The college demands regular definite work in a def- inite list of subjects, and if we hope to continue sending pupils to college, we must continue to meet the requirements. Our courses are outlined after careful study of the demands upon us, and it has been definitely proved that the average pupil can successfully carry four subjects a year, graduating in four years. The pupils interested in going beyond the high school can do work suitable for certification, but to prepare for college or nor- mal school requires sacrifice and hard work. I sincerely feel that some of our pupils capable of this work are discouraged in the home, or at least not encouraged to do good work. Some pupils do not get their work done as readily as others, and if we expect those pupils to make a success we must help them, and this help necessarily comes outside of school hours. I do not wish to complain, for even though we have an occasional crit-
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icism because a pupil is kept after school for work, I realize that with the exception of a very few cases, parents are ready to co- operate for the best interest of the pupils in the school.
In school, as in the community at large, there must be a cer- tain amount of routine. Pupils must learn to think of others as well as of themselves; they must learn to think for themselves and discover means of gaining the desired result. I feel that our pupils do show a very decided gain in self-control and accom- plishment from year to year.
The classroom work accomplishes much in the general de- velopment of the individual and, in addition, the associations, brought about in our athletics, school paper, entertainments, glee club, commercial club, and other school organizations give the individuals a chance to discover special abilities in leader. ship.
I will not go into detail in regard to our extra curricula activ- ities, but I feel that there has been a very material development in our school athletic policy, and we have maintained, developed and added to our other activities.
School opened this fall with an enrollment of 253, and since that time two have entered the school. The class enroll- meut is as follows: Seniors, 27; Juniors, 55; Sophomores, 57; Freshmen, 113; Specials, 3.
The number in the senior class is small, but we lost only three from last year's junior class, and practically all of those in the three lower classes last June returned this foll.
Since the opening of school in September, five pupils have left school; three of those have moved from town, and one left to attend a special school. One unable to attend at the opening has recently entered. The spirit of the school is good and in general the pupils are happy in school.
Even though I realize my report must be short, I feel that I must call your attention to our graduates of last year and say
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just a word in regard to those who have gone cut in the last few years.
Last June, 26 were graduated and they are engaged at pres- ent as follows:
Name
Course
Present Occupation
George Bean
College
Jarvis Cartledge
Clarence Gould
General
Christos Karigeanes
Angelo Minichello
Commercial General
Harry Saunders Edna Peabody
.
Antoinnette Burns Zella Zuoski 66
66
Dorothy Harrigan
Vera Blaisdell
College
Madeline Chase
Commercial
Hazel Smith
Vera Morong
Davida Perley
Alice Scott
Margaret Hawksworth
Violet Levesque
Lillian Brown
Evelyn Webber
Raymond Callahan
General
Theo Boylan
Charles Denningham
Commercial General
Commercial College Commercial
Harvard College Norwich University Colby College Bentley School
Northeastern University General Electric Salem Normal Salem Normal Salem Normal Salem Normal Posse Gymnasium Salem Commercial Salem Commercial Burdett College Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (Training) A. J. Barton & Son Howard Seminary Ipswich Motor Co .. Ipswich Hosiery Shop Mill Office Titcomb's Ipswich Mill Ipswich Mill
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
Leo Fannon Wilmot Hall Elwyn McCarthy
Ipswich Mill Bixby's Ipswich Mill
Seventeen of the twenty-six are definitely going on with their education, four are making direct use of the commercial training in office work, and I feel confident that the remaining individuals of the class are interested in making some definite- advancement.
I enjoy looking over the lists of recent graduates and finding in practically every case that the individual is making good in the line of work he planned for himsely.
In general, the graduate of the high school has formed habits of industry, and even though I regret that any are de- prived of a higher education if they have the desire for it I feel that all are profiting by their high school experience.
Many of the recent graduates of the school have visited , us, and I assure you the kind things they say encourage us to go on as nothing else can. It is a pleasure, too, to talk with pupils who have moved from town and come back to call on us. find for the most part that pupils are getting about the same credit for their work in the new school as they got here.
In general, our salaries are lower than teachers' salaries in other schools and we necessarily suffer for it. School opened this year with three teachers new to the work of Ipswich, and this means that some time is needed for adjustment. I do not feel that it is economy to keep our salaries so low that it is necessary to replace experienced teachers by less experienced teachers each year.
In spite of the handicap in starting the year with one third of the teaching force new to Ipswich, I feel that we were fortun- ate in securing the services of those who are so readily adjusting themselves to our conditions.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
It is necessary only to indicate the number of our teachers who are taking advanced work both in their subjects and in general school problems. Mrs. Lord and Miss Martin spent their summer in study at Bates College, and the following are taking courses at the present time: Miss Blodgett. Miss Allen. Miss Catherine Brown, Miss Damon, Miss Martin, and Miss Erma Brown.
I feel that our teachers are making every effort possible to help the pupils in school, and even though we sometimes make demands upon the pupils that seem unfair, I think in most cases a close study of all sides of the question will show an effort to help the individual pupil.
We have 255 individual pupils to deal with, and these indi- viduals have come from nearly as many different homes.
We can not expect and do not want them all to meet their problems in the same way, but it does seem very necessary for them all to learn that each is a part of an organization in school as he is in the community at large and must enter into those things that are for the good of the mass. .
In conclusion, allow me to express my appreciation of the helpful interest shown in the school by parents and friends. Please accept my thanks for your sincere advice and consider- ation of our school problems.
Respectfully submitted.
R. C. WHIPPLE, Principal.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
FIFTIETH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF MANNING HIGH SCHOOL THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1924.
Marching Song
The Call of Duty
School Chorus
Invocation
Rev. Carl H. Raupach
Overture --- "Mignonette"
J. Baumann
School Orchestra
Salutatory The Citizen's Military Training Camps George Washington Bean
Greeting to Spring
Essay
Strauss School Chorus The Japanese-American Problem Francis Jarvis Cartledge
Mariquita
Glee Club "Ad Astra Per Aspera"
Valedictory
Edna Carleton Peabody
Address
"If I Had Wings" Rev. Frederick T. Kenyon
Carnival Chorus (From La Tarantella) Jacobowski
School Chorus
Presentation of Prizes
Presentation of Diplomas
Ralph W. Burnham, Chairman of School Committee. Benediction.
Rev. Carl H. Raupach.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
GRADUATES
College Course
George Washington Bean Josephine Antoinette Burns Margaret Hawksworth
Vera Gertrude Blaisdell Francis Jarvis Cartledge, Jr. Zella Zuoski
General Course
Theo Harris Boylan Raymond William Callahan
Charles Francis Wing Denningham
Clarence William Gould
Elwin Erancis McCarthy
Edna Carleton Peabody
Edward Leo Fannon Wilmot Edwin Hall Angelo Minichiello Davida Virginia Perley
Harry Melvin Saunders
Commercial Course
Lillian Mabel Brown Madeline Rita Chase Anna Dorothy Harrigan Christos Michael Karigeanes Vera Gertrude Morong Violet Rose Levesque Hazel Louise Smith
Alice Marguerite Scott
Florence Evelyn Webber
Class Officers
Francis Jarvis Cartlege, Jr,, President Vice-President
Edna Carleton Peabody
Anna Dorothy Harrigan Josephine Antoinette Burns
Secretary Treasurer
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
To the Superintendent of Schools,
Ipswich, Mass.,
Dear Sir :---
I hereby submit a very brief report of the Junior High School.
Our enrollment this year has again increased notwithstand- ing the fact that nearly one hundred pupils received diplomas at the graduation in June. Of this number thirty boys and girls were promoted into the Senior High school in February at the close of the second quarter. During the first two quarters these pupils did extra work, thereby covering most of the work out- lined for the year.
Many of our pupils have not formed the reading habit. order to inculcate this habit, reading table has been placed in one of the eighth grade rooms, where the English teacher has charge. Books have been donated by friends, and a set of fifteen volumes of the "World's Story" has been purchased by the school. Our library is growing slowly.
The first two months of the present school year we received the assistance of a teacher whose duty it was to help the boys and girls who, through absence or other cause were behind in their studies. This plan did not work out as well as antici- pated, because of the lack of a recitation room where these pupils with their teacher might work by themselves. Accord- ingly the teacher was called to another school.
Physical training is conducted on the same general prin- ciples as in former years. During the fall term the Junior High
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
girls have very much enjoyed basketball in the yard after school.
The opening of schools for an evening session during educational week, proved as much a success this year as it did last, judging from the number of parents and friends who visited during the evening. During the year many parents have visited our schools quite regularly. This interest shown in our schools has been a source of satisfaction and ยท encouragement as well as pleasure to teachers and pupils alike.
Our graduation exercises in June consisted of the drama- tization of Longfellow's poem, "Evangeline", together with several musical selections. For the success of the graduation play too much credit cannot be given to the eighth grade English teacher who gave much of her time and energy to the preparation of the play.
Through the generosity and goodwill of many of our public-spirited citizens, the boys and girls have enjoyed several good times this past year.
Many of our boys were royally entertained at dinner by members of the Rotary Club. Last Spring this same club made it possible for most of our boys to enjoy a very interesting trip to Boston. In the boys' parade held the same week our boys won a prize of ten dollars which helped very much in the purchase of Victrola records for the school.
The Rotary Club was especially interested in the boys, but the ladies of the "Nature Club" manifested their interest in the girls. To them the girls are indebted for their delightful and instructive visit to Boston.
On the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale the eighth grade pupils were invited to visit the Cable Memorial Hospital. Generous friends again loaned their automobiles to convey the pupils. Miss White, the efficient superintendent of the hospital guided them in a tour of the building, explaining many things to them. At school the pupils
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wrote a story of their visit, The writer of the story best describing this visit received a prize of five dollars which was donated by.another kind friend of the pupils.
The Problem-project method has been used to a great extent in all our teaching this year. In connection with this method the teachers make much use of the socialized recitation.
At the end of the school year a field day and an exhibition day are held. The work presented on these days is not especially prepared for the occasion.
The exercises and dances on Field Day are selected from those taught and developed during the year. This is also true as regards the exhibition work. Each teacher sends to the principal once a month sets of papers covering the work taught during the month in the various subjects. These papers are kept until the day of the exhibition.
In closing, allow me to state that in spite of the fact that we have been very much hampered for the want of a recitation room, the regular work of the school has steadily progressed under our efficient teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
KATHARINE F. SULLIVAN, Principal
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION JUNE 24, 1924
Programme
1. Prayer
2. Piano Duet Alice and Stella Ciolek
3. DRAMATIZATION OF EVANGELINE
Act 1. The Betrothal
Act 2. The Mandate Music --- "Ave Maria"
Act 3. The Embarking
Tableau --- "The Bayou of Atchafalaya"
Music --- "The Boatman's Song" "Lead Kindly Light"
Act 4. The Search
Act 5. The Search Ended
4. Violin Solo Florence Bourque
5. Music --- "On the Chapel Steps"
6. Conferring of Diplomas
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