USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1925 > Part 9
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MUSIC REPORT.
January 18, 1926
Mr. Joseph I. Horton, Superintendent of Schools, Ipswich, Massachusetts.
My Dear Sir:
Perhaps the most accurate report of the progress that has been made in music in the Ipswich Public Schools dur- ing the past year, is that given me by the teachers. They say, without exception, that our boys and girls are doing much bet- ter work this year than ever before. This is due, in a great measure, to the change that has been made in the course of
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study. New music readers, "Music Education Series," were pur- chased last year for all grades above the first and the results obtained are far beyond our expectation. The investment is certainly paying dividends.
Another change has also been made; and that in the Junior High School. Previous to the last few months, it was necessary ยท to crowd approximately one hundred and twenty-five pupils into one small class room for their bi-weekly music period. This, of course, was wrong in every way. The lack of an assembly hall made it necessary. Through the courtesy of Mr. Whipple, who gave up one of his class rooms, Manning Hall is now used each week for the full Junior High Chorus. (This is called an assem- bly hall. Why, I do not know.) We find the work so much im- proved under present conditions, that I do not believe the teach- ers would even consider our old method.
We are also planning a course in "Music Appreciation." This, of course, is vitally necessary. Work will begin immed- iately upon the arrival of our records for the victrola.
Last spring, at the Opera House, the combined chorus and glee club of the Senior High School, gave a concert and presen- ted, with their solo numbers, the cantata "The Erl King's Daught- er." They were assisted by Mrs. Burke, soprano, and Mr. Field, baritone. It is planned to make these concerts an annual affair. In fact. the chorus is working upon a cantata for presentation in the near future. In order to be a success, we must have the co- operation of the townspeople. Will you help us?
May I say just a word at this time in regard to our present Glee Club, and of which I think I may feel justly proud? We rehearse each week at the close of school; and from an enrol- ment of nearly 150 girls in the High School, 125 have joined the Glee Club. I doubt if there is another town or city in New England that can boast such a membership, in proportion to the size of the school.
These girls, with a few from the Junior High, followed their
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
usual custom of carol singing Christmas Eve. Automobile trucks were furnished through the kindness of the Ipswich Mills and F. L. Burke & Son, and over one hundred girls were driven to various parts of the town, singing their Christmas carols and leaving a small gift for elderly people unable to leave their houses, --- a custom, I believe, that should never be allowed to die.
I would suggest that your committee purchase a Victrola for the Payne School. It is the only school building in town with- out one. And this building will have to be excluded from our music appreciation course unless this is done.
Also, I would suggest the purchase of fifty records for use in the upper grades and high school. These records would be used for the purpose of having a "Music Memory Contest" late in the year. The contest has been given in hundreds of cities and towns.
May I thank you and all those who have been so generous with their loyal support?
Sincerely yours,
ARTHUR HAROLD TOZER.
DOMESTIC SCIENCE.
To the Superintendent of Schools,
Ipswich, Mass.
Dear Sir :---
A few changes have been made in this department since last year. A definite course of study has been made out
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and is followed by all the classes from the sixth grade through to the freshmen class. The object of having and following such a course is to lay a foundation in the principles of home-making upon which the students can work in the laboratory asd in their homes as well. We endeavor to develop individuality and re- sourcefulness in each student.
This year the work in high school has been considerably changed. The freshmen were offered a course in Domestic Arts for the entire year and devote two periods a day to the work. The first half of the year was devoted to food study, the last half to dressmaking.
Seventeen girls have elected this course. Most of them have been exceedingly interested in the work and in many cases the results have been gratifying.
New equipment is needed in order to bring this department up to the standard of Household Art Departments in other schools and also in order to do more work and thus obtain bet- ter results.
This department, I feel, does not receive the attention it merits. Every girl should learn to be a good home-maker. Busy mothers do not take the time to teach their daughters the art of home-making, thus the responsibility falls upon the schools. Surely the work of this department should interest every thinking citizen.
In conclusion I wish to thank you and all of those who have aided me in any way in my work.
Respectfully submitted,
MARION F. WHITNEY.
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MANUAL ARTS.
-
To the Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :---
The work in the Manual Arts department has been changed slightly this year owing to the change in the Junior High School program.
Last year each class consisted of pupils of a single grade at each recitation. This year the seventh and eighth grades re- cite together, each class being made up of part seventh and part eighth grades.
This change has been beneficial to the seventh grade pupils as it has permitted them to gain an insight into the next year's work, and in many cases seventh grade boys are doing eighth grade work.
The enrollment this year is about the same as last year. The High School class is smaller, as Manual Arts is considered as a full point credit. This necessitates ten periods a week in the shop. Many were unable to enroll in this subject because of other subjects conflicting with this in their programs.
The Junior High School classes, however, are larger than in the past, which balances the enrollment.
The boys are taking active interest in the work and many remain after school in order to advance themselves.
I wish to invite the people of the town to visit the Manual Arts Department and see the work which is going on. It is not an encouraging thing for a teacher or for the class to do a high class of work comparatively unnoticed. Anyone is welcome at any time and I am sure any person who spends a few minutes with us will leave us with a better opinion of the work we are accomplishing.
Respectfully submitted,
E. BENJAMIN CURRIER.
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MECHANICAL DRAWING.
To the Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir ;-
Every boy in the High School class is required to spend two periods a week in the Mechanical Drawing class.
Every piece of work must be carefully planned before the actual work is attempted. Between these problems I have intro- duced some Machine Construction and some Architectural Drafting.
Many boys are enrolled in the drawing class who do not take manual arts. Many are preparing for Electrical Engineer- ing and are doing Electrical and Machine Construction Drafting only.
I have planned a course to meet each of their individual needs and the results are very gratifying. All indications point to a good exhibit of Mechanical Drawing at our school exhibit in June.
Respectfully submitted, E. BENJAMIN CURRIER.
ATTENDANCE REPORT.
To the Superintendent of Schools, Dear Sir :-
I have investigated two hundred and three cases of absences and found the majority of them due to the prevalence of measles and whooping cough with some few cases of scarlet fever.
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No serious cases of truancy have been found and all have been returned to school.
I have issued one hundred ninety certificates to minors dur- ing the year.
Very truly yours, GEO. W. TOZER, Attendance Officer.
PENNY SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
I have collected $90.03 from the teachers and have depos- ited the greater part in the Savings Bank as requested. Owing to the fact that the children bring money for their milk it has caused a falling off in the penny savings.
GEO. W. TOZER.
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION.
In the Parent-Teacher Association the policy was pursued of having monthly meetings in Town Hall, free to any grown-up person who cared to come. These meetings were planned so that all present, whether able to understand English or not, could enjoy them. Of necessity they had to be for the most part pictures, and the attempt was made to have these of very practical character. Some of the subjects were:
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Use and Mechanism of the Telephone.
How Paint is made. How Glass is Made. Early Spring Flowers.
Besides these entertainments, the Parent-Teacher Associa- tion undertook to provide milk for under-nourished school chil- dren and crackers for all children who took milk. Considera- ble money was collected for books for a School Library now in use.
The Playground was maintained during eight weeks in summer, again proving its value. With the beginning of Au- tumn, 1925, a new policy was undertaken, to have public enter- tainments half as often and to develop a sound plan of Amer- icanization. In pursuance of this plan, classes in dressmaking and millinery are now in progress. It can not possibly be an overtax to anyone's imagination to realize how much expense the society is under, nor why, besides our money-making even- ings, it is absolutely necessary from time to time to solicit gifts, our dues being only 25 cents a year. Any persons or societies who in any way have assisted the Parent-Teacher Association can surely have the satisfaction of knowing that they are doing a great deal of good, and that their gifts of whatever character are received with sincere gratitude.
MRS. MARION HUMPHREY.
SCHOOL GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION,
The Field Day exercises were given up last year, as the time devoted to training the school children for the Boys' Week Par-
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
ade was fully as much as could profitably be given for this fea- ture of our school work.
While the parade was considered a complete success from nearly every point of view, excepting that of the teachers,' it failed to add anything to our financial resources.
Little was done the past year towards beautifying our school grounds. An attempt was made to plant a few ampelopsis vines about the blank walls of the Burley School which was not suc- cessful. But more caution will be used the coming spring to give these vines better protection until they have established them- selves, and gotten beyond the reach of geese and goats.
Some arrangement should be made between the School authorities and the Rotary Club whereby the date for these events could be pushed forward into June. Then all the civic and business forces of the town should be invited to unite in their contribution to make this day one general holiday in which all might have a share
The schools would not expect to receive all the proceeds from such a gathering, but a very small percentage of the receipts would be satisfactory, and keep our School Grounds Improve- ment Account in better condition for making future improve- ments. A great deal more will be required this year, as the grounds about the New School will need considerable attention.
MRS. BESSIE B. DAMON, TRUSTEE.
In Account with School Grounds Improvement Association
Dr.
Cr.
1925
1925
Jan. 1. To Balance in Bank $208.57
Aug. 24. Francis Wade, shrubs $7.90
$208.57
Dec. 31. Balance in Bank 200.67
1926
$208.57
Jan. 1. Balance in Bank
$200 67
Respectfully submitted. MRS. BESSIE B. DAMON, TRUSTEE.
Dr.
JOSEPH I. HORTON, In account with School Milk Fund
Cr.
1925
1925
Jan. 1. Balance on hand
$ 29.08
Jan. 6. J. E. Lombard, Milk Bill
$ 14.52
31. Rev. P. J. Durcan
5.00
Feb. 3. " 13.11
Feb. 7. John T. Heard Lodge Masons
14.00
Mar. 4. 9.72
" 14. Legion Auxilliary
2.00
Apr. 9. 13.23
Apr. 2. Unknown Friend
3.00
May 5. Miss Helen Wright, Teacher 4.80
2.
1.00
July 3. J. E. Lombard, Apr., May, June bills 37.92 Oct. 15. " 8.97
8.76
June 24. Parent Teachers' Asso.
25.00
Dec. 7.
6.21
Oct. 5.
25.00
26.
10.32
" Miss Rowe, Teacher
1.92
31. Balance in Bank
1.60
1926
Jan. 1. Balance in Bank
$ 1.60
$ 131.08
24. Parent Teachers' Asso.
25.00
May 14. Unknown Friend
2.00
Nov. 4.
$ 131.08
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH I. HORTON,
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
Obituary.
U SUALLY obituary notices have no place in a School Report. But the schools, occupying as they do so im- portant a place in community affairs, should strive in every way to develop those broad and sympathetic relations which put man above the brute. They should never lose the human touch, especially in the smaller communities; and so I record the passing of three of our pupils during the past year-
MYRON HOWE. . Senior High THELMA JOHNSON Warren Street ANTHONY KIEPAZ Burley School
Measured in years, their lives were short indeed; but be- fore the close of their little day, they had endeared them- selves to many friends, and had given promise of that nobil- ity of character, that purpose of right living which many of us older ones would do well to emulate. Their record, though brief, lacks nothing of completeness, and will remain unsullied and free from soil through all eternity.
"And yet, dear heart, remembering thee, Am I not richer than of old? Safe in thy immortality, What change can reach the wealth I hold? What chance can mar the pearl and gold Thy love hath left in trust with me?"
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Needs.
The law requires that the superintendent of schools, in ad- dition to the annual report required by the School Committee, shall make such special reports as are necessary to inform the committee and citizens of the conditions, work, and needs of the schools. The general practice is to consolidate all reports into a pamphlet thereby giving the maximum of information at the minimum of expense. Our needs are varied, and some of them of very long standing.
The walls and ceilings of the westerly rooms in the Mann- ing, all those in the Winthrop, and a few of those in the Burley Schools, should be painted and whitened before the opening of school in September. It was planned to have a good part of this work done during the last summer vacation, but owing to delay in starting upon these improvements, much still remains to be done. Chairs and a teacher's table are sadly needed for the physics laboratory. The floor of the assembly hall should be relaid.
At the Payne a dozen storm windows for the northerly side and ends of the building would assist materially to lessen the fuel bill. In Miss Bowlen's room thirty desks are needed to replace the old ones which happen to be the odds and ends taken from the various school attics of the town. With a full complement of slate blackboards for the three rooms, this building should need no special repairs or equipment for some time to come.
Storm windows, a storm porch, new thresholds, and repairs to the lower floor are needed at the Burley School. Reference and text books will also be needed.
Coming back to the central group of school buildings, your committee should consider the advisability of installing a sep-
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
arate line of wiring for the Winthrop School. During the exer- cises of Education Week the rooms were left in darkness as the wires were unable to carry the load required for both buildings. Temporary repairs have been made, but this is simply a make- shift measure, which is bound to fail when the demands of an emergency are placed upon it.
The line-fence between the Manning Street abutters and the school grounds on the east, has already been under consider- ation. A right-of-way out to this street would prove a great con- venience and a means of safety to hundreds of our school child- ren. This has been pointed out to former committees and a partial solution of the problem was secured by a temporary lease or rental charge. But this privilege was only temporary and after a while was wholly withdrawn.
This group of buildings will in all probability be used by our school children for many years to come. Many of these will come from lower High Street and down Warren Street from the east. A cut-off of a few rods in length would save them miles and miles of travel and protect them from the dangerous traffic of the street. The same is true of the situation directly in front of the Manning School across Central Street. The street from the other side of the brook should be extended. This would be of immense advantage to the business interests of that locality, and it would also furnish an outlet for the schools. Nearly seven hundred children meet at this point four times a day, and every possible safeguard should be provided for them as soon as possible.
There is another matter to which your attention is invited and that is a dental clinic for the schools as a whole. We are beginning to realize the important part the care of the teeth plays in promoting our bodily health. But we have not realized the loss, in the aggregate, to pupils suffering from tooth troubles. It has been proven repeatedly that the rank or class standing of children improves in direct ratio to the attention and scientific
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treatment given to their teeth. Individuals as well as classes have shown a net gain in class rank from 15 to 60 per cent. No child can accomplish anything in his studies if his teeth are troub- ling him. An impacted tooth would send any of us to the mad-house.
So important has this knowledge become that progressive communities are employing full-time dentists to look after this. special feature of educational work, and it pays splendid dividends.
For many years our local dentists have been giving of their time and skill in this splendid service. Every two weeks Miss Stewart, in charge of a group of children, finds her way to the Cable Hospital for this purpose. Little credit, due rather to the fact that it has become customary than to a lack of appreciation, has ever been given these people. Outside those personally in- terested, it may be almost unknown. But their work stands ap- proved and will some day receive that measure of recognition which is the reward of all true service. A part-time dental clinic, open to all the children of the town, would be a most useful adjunct of our school system --- something that is worthy of your careful consideration.
But our one great outstanding need is a new High School. Next year's entering class will be one of the largest to enter the school. All available space is taken. The assembly hall and the room in the rear of the stage are used as classrooms every day.
The new school building, while admirably adapted for the intended purposes of better housing, grading and supervising the lower grades, with the additional advantage of economical upkeep, will not relieve the tension of the higher grades where the crowding is more serious.
We need more class rooms. Seating capacity is not the sole requisite of a school building, although some few seem to be possessed of that idea. Class rooms, laboratories, and assem-
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bly rooms should be in sufficient number and so arranged as to provide the largest measure of convenience and comfort to those having any part in the activities of the school.
It should provide also for those ultra-curricula events which have so large a share in the all-round training of the youth of today. Nearly a dozen of these organizations, right here in our midst, are held in abeyance and suppressed simply because they have no place in which to grow and expand. We have no place for Boy Scouts, or Campfire Girls, or Basket Ball teams, etc. What outlet will this youthful energy and enthusiasm seek in lieu of their wholesome recreation? What place have we that will serve as a community center?
Those of you who were privileged to hear Dr. Barker's lect- ure last fall, may well judge of the value, the moral significance, of such an address to the young people of this community. We should have more of them; they should be given in the assembly hall of some school building, and be considered as a feature of the regular school work.
Objections have been raised to the admission 'of Rowley pupils to our high school. These, to the number of about forty- five, are scattered among fifteen or twenty classes covering a range of three four-year courses. If you will divide the total num- ber by four, you will find that the number to be distributed among the various classes is very small indeed and does not constitute nor contribute any over-burden to the classes of which they become members. In fact, the upper classes, say those of the junior and senior years, are usually small and it is simply a question of economy whether we shall teach five or eight pupils. The overhead will be the same, and, at present, they are paying part of it. A class may become too small. In such a class it is hard work to secure either enthusiasm or interest; the subject becomes dull, the pupil indifferent and we are frequently com- pelled, in the interest of economy, to drop the subject altogether. Right here is where the Rowley pupil fits in. By reason of the
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
larger class membership we can offer more subjects to our own children, secure a deeper interest and maintain a higher stan- dard of class work.
Again, there are rarely more than fifteen to enter the fresh- man class, and these are the "pick" of the Rowley schools. This small number doos not and can not offer any serious obstacle to the promotion of our children; nor does it, in the least de- gree, curtail any of their school privileges. In fact, it is most helpful to them. More than that, their withdrawal from our high school will not give any perceptible relief from existing conditions.
At the present time the pupils of the Junior High School are obliged to make use of the assembly hall of the Manning School once a week for their chorus work. This arrange- ment was forced upon us at the expense of time and inconven- ience. Fifteen or twenty minutes are lost in passing from build- ing to building, and Mr. Whipple loses a period in his school.
But the risk of crowding one hundred and twenty pupils into a single room was too great even for a moment's consider- ation. In case of fire which might block the main stairways, the only exit remaining would be one narrow, crooked stairway, on which, in case of panic, scores of children might be trampled to death. This was a possibility. The responsibility was too great for anyone to assume, and therefore the change was made.
A new high school would permit the Junior High School pupils to occupy the Manning Building, and both schools would then be better accommodated and do better work.
The land on Green Street, now owned by the town, offers one of the most favorable locations for such a building. In fact the building is already there, and I am credibly informed that it can be remodelled at a considerable saving over the cost of a new building. This building would give us a sufficient number of class-rooms, laboratories, assembly hall, and gymnasium which might also serve the purpose of a lunch room. With such fa- cilities our high school could expand, and enlarge its field of use-
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fulness both to our young people and to the adult portion of our population. It would be a real community center, where every reasonable taste would be given an opportunity for self- expression and enjoyment, and make the Town itself a better place in which to live.
No person living can predict the changes that will take place in our educational aims and purposes during the next fif- teen years. No one doubts that they will be broader in scope and have more of the vocational element in their makeup. The larger manufacturing industries are leading the way by estab- lishing schools of their own. Their skilled employees, overseers, and superintendents are selected from these graduates instead of being imported. To emphasize this point of view a little stronger, let me quote from a Director of Industrial Education :-
"When industry is forced by circumstances to depend upon the product of these schools, some attention must be given to the quality of the school product. In the very nature of things, another generation will find our industries being operated, and, to a considerable extent, managed by persons who began their training in our public schools. These industrial leaders are now interested, as a matter of protection, in the character of youth the public schools are preparing to send to the factories. It is vastly important that young men who come to industry are willing to work. Technical information, although of great value, is much less important than a wholesome attitude towards work and social obligations. Many national leaders, parents, and schoolmen are beginning to ask if there is not something wrong with a school system whose chief aim seems to be to train our children away from work instead of training them into useful service in occupations."
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