USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1953 > Part 4
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Robert W. Burke, returned from military service in September, was assigned to grade 8 and as coach of basketball and baseball in the Ipswich High School.
Ralph D. Butler, B.S. in Education, Salem Teachers College, was elected and assigned to grade 5 in the Winthrop School.
Margaret I. Doucet, A.B. in Liberal Arts, University of Maine, Ed.M., Boston Univer- sity, was elected and assigned to grade 1 at the Winthrop School.
Mary E. Fitzgerald, A.B. in Education, Drama and English, Tufts College, was elected and assigned to grade 2 at the Shats- well School.
Elizabeth C. Harrington, B.S. in Educa- tion, Fitchburg Teachers College, was elected and assigned to grade 1 at the Shats- well School.
Mary L. Kilfoyle, A.B. in English and Education, Regis College, was elected and assigned to grade 2 at the Burley School.
Frank J. O'Malley, Jr., returned from military service in October, was assigned to grade 5 at the Burley School.
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Gloria A. White, B.E. in Home Eco- nomics and Science, Keene Teachers College, was elected and assigned to clothing in the Ipswich High School.
Other Personnel Changes:
Ralph C. Whipple, principal of the Ips- wich High School, retired June 30, 1953.
Wilbur F. Stanton, B.S. in Business Ad- ministration and Education, Fordham Uni- versity, Ed.M. in Secondary Administration and Guidance, Boston University, was
elected principal of the Ipswich High School August 1, 1953.
James W. McKenna, A.B. in English, Bos- ton College, graduate work in Guidance, Boston University, was elected and assigned as guidance director in August, 1953.
Mary E. Spurling was elected in March as secretary to the High School principal, but resigned this position in July, 1953.
Margaret G. Graves was elected in Aug- ust as secretary to the High School prin- cipal.
STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Ipswich:
The increasing interest of the towns- people in their school system has been a source of great pleasure and gratification not only to the School Committee but to the personnel and administration of your schools. It is only with the full cooperation of the citizenry that your schools can ful- fill their obligation to the youth of today in recognizing the need of individual an- alysis of each child as he goes through his 12 years of public education. To follow this policy, many more changes in the cur- riculum have been effected in the last year to gear the system to the needs of the child instead of the traditional method of making the child fit the curriculum. Objectives have included a recognition of the gifted child and his need for an expanded program; the average child and his abilities to be treated as such; the slower student and expecting him to work up to his capacity but not beyond. This is sometimes difficult to ac- complish in overcrowded rooms but cer- tainly our teachers are meeting the chal- lenge with definite success.
The School Committee has regretted the necessity of housing even younger students (7th grade, Shatswell) in the High School. With the limited building plans, the un- avoidable move of placing students on double sessions in September 1954 will be extended over a period of time until some facilities are made available.
The School Committee is charged with two important duties: to provide the best
education possible and to do so within the ability of the town to pay. The rise in the school budget-of interest and concern to all taxpayers-has been inevitable with the evergrowing school enrollment but despite this factor and including the increased services available in our schools, the per pupil cost is still way below average in ex- penditure for towns our size in Massachu- setts.
The School Committee and the citizens owe a debt of gratitude for the untiring effort put into the school housing problem of Ipswich by the School Building Com- mittee and the Alternate Building Commit- tee. Also we would extend a word of ap- preciation to the several citizen committees who have participated with the staff in vari- ous studies aimed at improving our system.
To our administrators, staff, secretaries and custodians, we acknowledge with sin- cere thanks the services rendered the youth of Ipswich by giving unselfishly of their time.
Respectfully submitted, Ipswich School Committee
C. Louise Richardson, Chairman Edward T. Foley
Richard R. Mansfield
John V. Hubbard, Jr. William J. Wallace
Seward S. Tyler Harold E. Staunton
January 18, 1954
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and the Town of Ipswich:
In conformity with the by-laws of the School Committee, I present the annual re- port of the schools for the fiscal year 1953, continuing the form of report started last year. Included are excerpts of reports by administrative and supervisory personnel. These reports have been included to give more detailed descriptions of the activities in our school system during the past year.
A LOOK BACKWARD
In last year's report, six major needs of the Ipswich school system were listed, and there follows a report of progress on what has been accomplished in each of these areas.
1. The Need to Provide More Ade- quate School Housing
The special Town Meeting in January, 1954, did not see fit to approve plans for a new 4-year high school which were proposed to solve the school housing problem in Ips- wich. However, repairs and renovations to the Winthrop School were passed. This leaves Ipswich in a position where no con- crete plans are afoot to provide housing for about 600 more pupils anticipated by 1963. The solving of this problem must take pre- cedence over any other by the school staff and by members of the community. In the years immediately ahead, the Ipswich teach- ing staff is faced with the challenge of providing a proper education for pupils who will be in overcrowded classrooms and on half-day sessions. The staff's past service indicates that they will do everything pos- sible to meet this great challenge. The power of solving the school housing problem lies entirely in the hands of the voters, and the problem gets more serious each passing day.
2. The Need to Attract Promising New Teachers and to Retain Proven Teachers
This past year, the new teachers brought to Ipswich have proven their merit and have provided outstanding teaching service to the children under their direction. Several of our proven teachers, thanks to an im- proved salary schedule, have refused to ac- cept opportunities for professional advance- ment in other communities. However, the problem of keeping our schools well staffed will become increasingly difficult if we have nothing to promise our teachers except oversized classes and inadequate teaching facilities.
3. The Need for Improving Instruc- tion Through Professional Committee Study -
Principals and supervisors in their reports have described professional study work of teachers in detail. Suffice to say here that the teachers should be commended for their efforts in putting in long hours of study on their own time to improve instruction in such areas as handwriting, provision for in- dividual differences, and curriculum revision and reorganization. Professional studies of this type aid teachers in meeting the in- dividual needs of pupils.
4. The Need to Reorganize the Super- visory Set-Up in the School System
During the past year, the art and music supervisors have become more than travel- ing teachers. They now act as resource pro- fessionals for the teachers, utilizing their time in classrooms where they are most needed rather than visiting each classroom on a regular schedule. A more extensive program of teacher-administrator super- vision has been initiated with numerous in- dividual conferences held at which time plans are cooperatively developed for im- proving instruction.
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5. The Need to Stimulate Citizen In- terest and Support for the Public Schools
Encouraging developments in this line have been the work of several citizen com- mittees that have studied school problems. It still is not possible for us to get as many people interested in the schools as we would like, and again an invitation is extended to parents and citizens to visit the schools at any time to become acquainted with what is being attempted. One real sign of parent interest has been the response to the individual conferences arranged by the guidance director and teachers with a very high percentage of parents coming to school to discuss the individual problems of their children.
6. The Need for Expanded Services for our Teen-Age Pupils
This is one area in which great strides have been made during the past year. The expanded activity program and recreation room at the High School have done much to provide worthwhile outlets for the energy of our teen-age people. Our aim continues to be to make the pupils in this age bracket more self-reliant by bringing these young- sters more and more into the planning of the activities in which they are involved.
Summary of Needs Met During the Past Year
Many of the needs listed in last year's report have been wholly or partially met. Those that have been most successfully at- tained involve teachers and pupils. Needs involving community members, such as providing more adequate school housing, re- main unaccomplished, thus indicating that new approaches should be made to interpret the school needs to the general public and to gain community-wide support for the schools.
A LOOK AHEAD
1. The Staff and the Future
A. ATTEMPT TO MEET THE CHAL- LENGE OF OVERCROWDED AND INADEQUATE
FACILITIES: This will be the primary respon- sibility, the first objective of teachers and administrators in the months ahead. The whole philosophy of the Ipswich school sys- tem centers around meeting the individual needs of the children, and the combined ef- forts of administrators and teachers must be exerted to the utmost so that this philos- ophy can hold true even in spite of the large number of pupils in each grade. In- genuity must be employed not only in teaching procedures, but also in utilizing every available bit of space within the school buildings for instructional purposes. With no new school building as an immedi- ate prospect, the Ipswich school staff must "make do" with what is available.
B. EXPANDED PROFESSIONAL COMMIT- TEE ACTIVITY. The work in coordinating and reorganizing the curriculum in the various elementary schools will be continued with science and arithmetic receiving the attention that social studies, handwriting, music and art have had in the past year with the hope that, by the end of 1955, the entire elementary curriculum will be coordi- nated. On the high school level, the need for curriculum reorganization is apparent. We must assume that a revitalized and ex- panded high school curriculum is a "must" whether or not we house it in a new school building. Our program, as it presently stands, is not designed to meet the educa- tional needs of all of our pupils. Study of the curriculum will be continued in the high school this year so that, when more adequate facilities are available, the new program can start without delay. It is hoped that this program of curriculum reorgani- zation will involve a citizen educational ad- visory committee to work cooperatively with the staff on this vital matter.
C. COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE STAFF WITH THE HOME AND THE COMMU- NITY. Parent-Teacher Association activities should continue with many of these meet- ings used to interpret the work the schools are attempting to accomplish. Individual parent-teacher conferences are the basis for any program of mutual understanding of home and school problems, and the staff will continue to carry on such projects.
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2. The Schools and the Community in the Future
During the past few years, various educa- tional leaders and members of several com- mittees have persistently attempted to bring to the attention of the community the need of new school housing. They have been per- sistent because they have been aware of the serious problem that we are now facing and the more serious obstacles to good education that lie immediately ahead. Those who are most responsible have felt that they must take every opportunity to make others in the community as aware of this problem as they were.
Almost everyone is now aware of the school housing problem, and most realize that something must be done and done quickly. There remains some difference of opinion as to how this problem can best be solved, with a great many believing that a new high school is the solution to the prob- lem. But even here one major area of dis- agreement exists, and that is how much the Town can afford for new school build- ing construction when it is faced with the possible expenditure of large sums of money for other capital construction items. Until these difficulties can be ironed out, a favor- able vote for new school construction at subsequent Town Meetings seems unlikely.
This problem of providing necessary new school housing should concern not only those involved in the schools, but every citizen in the community in the year ahead. While realizing there are limits to what the Town can afford, it is hoped that whatever is finally provided will include facilities that will accommodate a well-rounded school program in terms of desirable educational standards and will not merely put a roof over the heads of the pupils.
A Message From The Superintendent
Ipswich stands at the educational cross- roads beset with problems common to all school systems like curriculum reorganiza- tion and adapting instruction to individual needs. We have some specific problems of our own like the need for new school hous- ing and for meeting rising educational costs due to the increased number of pupils at-
tending our schools. The extent to which the community will aid in the solution of these problems in the months ahead will de- termine the educational welfare of our younger generation for decades in the future.
All citizens of Ipswich share ownership in the public schools and have a right to feel proud of the schools' accomplishments and to feel concerned for their shortcom- ings.
I have confidence that the citizens of Ipswich, as they have in the past, will con- tinue to provide the necessary financial sup- port necessitated by increased enrollment, resulting in a rising school budget and the need for new housing.
I wish to close this report by expressing sincere thanks to the townspeople for their increasing concern regarding our problems. to the elected officials for their cooperation, to the school staff for their professional support, to the children of Ipswich for their continuous inspiration, and to the School Committee for their sincere and devoted service.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert F. Savitt, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent, to the School Com- mittee and the Town of Ipswich:
I submit my first Annual Report in two parts. The first section, Looking Backward, will only cover the past few months I have been here. The other, Looking Forward, will present a brief summary of what we hope to accomplish the rest of the calendar year.
A LOOK BACKWARD
Although only four months have elapsed, real strides have been made towards develop- ing a more dynamic education in the High School of Ipswich.
As a means of insuring a growing sense of responsibility among the students, several
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projects were suggested. By excellent cooper- ation of students and faculty they were brought to a successful completion.
Chief among these are the following:
1. Institution of a Recreation Room.
2. Development of student operated con- cessions.
3. An advisory board of Home Room Representatives to serve as an interim body for student participation.
4. Faculty-student planned Variety Show.
5. Student planned assemblies.
A growing sense of pupil individuality and awareness of pupil problems on the part of the staff was evidenced by the following:
1. Individualizing instruction to an in- creasing degree.
2. Suggestions for modernizing the cur- riculum.
3. Use of field trips for first hand in- formation.
4. Introduction of new mathematics course-Everyday Mathematics.
5. Extended use of audio-visual aids in teaching.
6. Development of a supplementary re- port to keep parents informed when a student encounters scholastic difficul- ties or is not working to capacity.
A LOOK AHEAD
Any program of education, to merit its continuation, must ever go ahead and not rest on whatever laurels it may have earned. Many things are planned for the future. There is a real need for the following if we are to establish a firm foundation on which our education system is to prosper:
1. Development of a Student Council.
2. More efficient operation of our Recre- ation Room through a Recreation Council.
3. Development of a real Intramural ac- tivities program.
4. Curriculum surveys with an eye to greater utilization of subject matter.
5. Greater use of the physical facilities of the school.
6. Development of a Study Habits pro- gram.
7. More adequate reporting system to in- form parents of educational success of students.
8. Initiation of Parent Bulletins on School happenings.
9. Development of Parent-School meet- ings.
If we are successful in the objectives for which we are striving, it will be because of the excellent cooperation which has pre- vailed thus far this year.
This report would be lacking if it failed to indicate one of the most important fac- tors in the development of a school-conscious community. An ever growing segment of our community is becoming aware of the important place of the High School in a town of this size through the continually extended use of its facilities for public in- formation meetings, hobby groups, recre- ation and physical fitness classes, as well as meetings of various organizations. This in- creased utilization only points up one of the more obvious ways in which such a building may serve.
May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Supt. Savitt for provid- ing the assistance and freedom of action necessary to the existing program. Without a completely cooperative and untiring staff as well as such a fine group of students, what successes that have been enjoyed could not have been approximated.
The alert and efficient manner in which our school committee has dealt with the many demands on their time has provided a leadership which has been extremely stimu- lating to the entire system.
My sincere thanks to those lay members of our community for their expressions of confidence as well as their moral backing which has meant so much-so many times.
Respectfully submitted
Wilbur F. Stanton Principal, High School
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Student planned recreation room-before
Student planned recreation room-after
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REPORT OF THE BURLEY AND SHATSWELL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent, the School Com- mittee, and the Town of Ipswich:
As principal of the Burley and Shatswell Schools, I herewith submit a report of prog- ress in the Elementary Schools under my di- rection.
Curriculum Development
A LOOK BACKWARD - During the past year we have continued our endeavors to bring the curriculum for all buildings closer together. After a series of meetings on "Individual Differences", our Primary teachers were able to fit the patterns de- veloped to their own situations. The Hand- writing Committee made its report to the School Committee and the program was adopted whereby manuscript writing would be continued through the 3rd grade with certain provisions made for the future. In- formation on Social Studies after a years study was resolved into a report to the School Committee that was adopted to go into effect in September 1954. The Princi- pal at his monthly meetings encouraged the development of a common pattern of think- ing in regard to Recess Program, Spelling through the Grades, common practices in school routine matters, Stamp Program and others.
A LOOK AHEAD - During the first part of 1954, the individual classroom teacher will be constantly concerned with experimental units in Social Studies, en- deavoring to find the best approach to topi- cal units included in the overview pattern as planned for the new school year.
The handwriting committee has before them the task of preparing a course of study in manuscript writing for the fourth grade.
There should be an inservice study started in two areas, Arithmetic, and Science. The Arithmetic study should come up with a general list of grade objectives that would help the teacher in planning the years work, taking into consideration the individual child's capacity to learn and past achieve-
ments in this area. The Science study should be concerned with the development of science experiments for all grades. This would mean that from the first grade on through the High School our children would have an opportunity to see, to work with their hands, plus read about science.
We need to go further than we have in remedial reading. The facts are before us, the teachers recognize and for the most part are doing all that can be done on an individual basis. What we need is some- one on a full time basis to bring these children along at their own rate.
Home and School Relations
A LOOK BACKWARD - To know more about the child's needs, the teachers have been concerned with seeking part of this information from the Home. Parents have been invited to sit with the teacher or principal and to just talk about the child-his habits, his likes and dislikes, his achievements in school, his health, his social relationship with others. This program has met with approval from both parents and teachers.
After several meetings of parents, teachers and Administration, a report was sent to the School Committee on A Single session Day for Elementary School in Ips- wich. This was adopted by the School Com- mittee for the school year now in progress.
The principal has endeavored throughout the year to place before the parents certain problems that all should be concerned with. These have been in the form of notices, news letters, or individual conferences. Re- ports on activities for newspaper publica- tion have been encouraged.
The Associations in both schools have had a successful year. The Joint Meeting held during Education Week was attended by a large number of parents.
A LOOK AHEAD-The schools should continue to place before the public its pro- gram. There are still many parents who for one reason or another do not become active participants with their children in school affairs. It is our job to strive to correct this.
There should be an evaluation of the Single Session Plan before the year is over, either by the same committee or by a new committee.
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Building Conditions
A LOOK BACKWARD - During the year many things were accomplished to make our schools more useful, safer, more lasting.
The Shatswell front yard was redone from a Safety approach. A basement room was redecorated for use as a music room. The floors were worked on during the sum- mer.
At the Burley School, the school yard was given a liquid oil treatment after being graded. This now makes an ideal play area. The lunch room was completely redecor- ated and refinished. The floors in this building were refinished also.
A LOOK AHEAD-There are still many problems to be concerned with, in making our buildings usable for the years ahead. We look ahead to brighter classrooms with movable furniture and storage area, and a working area, with corner libraries.
At the Burley School the children, teachers and parents are looking ahead to a Hot Lunch Program within the School next year. Being the only school unable to serve or make available hot lunches has made our
single session year somewhat different than the others. A preliminary survey indicated that a very high percentage of our students would avail themselves to this program. The Burley School Family (Children, Teachers, Parents) hope that the Townspeople will make this possible soon.
As Principal, I could go on and list the Values of the Stamp Program conducted in both schools, the After-School Activities Program for both boys and girls, or the Music Program where the instrumental pro- gram is beginning to demand so much of the Supervisors time, or the Art Program. Perhaps it is sufficient to say that the schools are humming, the children are in- terested in what is taking place, and the teaching staff as always are constantly on the lookout for ways to make the learning situations more meaningful, more interest- ing, more lasting. We appreciate the en- deavors of all that have made this possible and we look forward to their continuous and growing support.
Respectfully submitted,
Bertram H. Bennett, Principal Burley - Shatswell School
Objective of the Teacher-Supervisor Program is improvement of the learning situation by cooperative planning
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REPORT OF THE WINTHROP SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools, to the School Committee, and the Town of Ipswich:
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