USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1959 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
1958-1959
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TERM EXPIRES
Dr. Robert E. Waite, Chairman
1961
Mr. Joseph Riley
1960
Dr. William Wigglesworth
1960
Mr. Leon Purington
1961
Mr. Ben Collins
1961
Mr. George Geanakos
1962
Mr. James Smyth
1962
Meetings of the School Committee:
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first Thursday of each month at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, Tyler Building 2 Central Street, Ipswich, Massachusetts at 8:00 P. M.
RODNEY R. WOOD-Superintendent of Schools
BERNICE B. ARSENAULT Secretary
ESTHER A. DAVIS- -Part-time Bookkeeper
OFFICE ·2 Central Street
OFFICE HOURS- -8-4 and by appointment
Summer Schedule arranged.
31
STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF IPSWICH:
Following the form of previous years we would like to report accomplish- ments and plans for the future regarding the public schools system of Ipswich
The summer school, which had its beginning over a year ago, was expanded to cover other areas besides remedial reading. To the curriculum of the sum- mer school was added remedial arithmetic, art, music, typing, and science. Attendance was at a high level and the results were most gratifying.
Probably the most significant accomplishment in the system was made in grade 4. Assignments in the elementary area were made to allow the use of the Winthrop School as an intermediate school, housing all grades four, five, and six. This decision was made after months of study and evaluation of the lan- guage arts program tried in two fourth grade classrooms. It was apparant that these pupils would profit by the same program we have been offering the fifth and sixth grades for over three years. In order that this program be carried out in the most efficient manner, it requires that all fourth grade pupils be in one location. The Burley and Shatswell Schools now house all the primary grades.
Another significant accomplishment was the re-creation of a library at the high school. The bulk of the credit for this belongs to the Trustees of the Manning Fund who provided the funds necessary to equip the area. The School Committee has provided for a full-time trained librarian to administer this worthwhile and greatly neglected area.
Additional classrooms have been provided by the use of folding partitions in the high school cafeteria which can be utilized for some periods of the school day. The office of the superintendent was removed from the high school to provide space for a health room which did not exist before and better space for the Guidance Director and the Junior High School Principal who had no office before.
The major problem still remains, namely, the lack of space. At present, the high school is at capacity in the morning session. The junior high occu- pies it in the afternoon and the elementary schools are filled including the usage of a sub-standard space as a classroom in the basement of the Shatswell School.
Since it is obvious that we will need at least two more classrooms next fall, the Committee is considering renovation of sub-standard space in the old shop building adjacent to the high school. This would result in more space in the overall system and allow us to provide room for these additional pupils.
Increased enrolments have resulted in planning for more teachers, furni- ture, and equipment as well as expenditures in renovations in existing struc- tures. This naturally reflects itself in the overall school budget. Some of these expenses would normally be a part of a bond issue, but since the town has taken no action in regard to new school construction, it must be included in the school budget.
Another factor in the overall increase of the school budget, and certainly the most influential, was the new salary schedule for teachers, providing the minimum salary required by the Commonwealth for beginning teachers and also providing for a differential among teachers relative to academic preparation teaching experience.
32
Looking ahead, the School Committee plans to initiate the study of a foreign language in the elementary schools on a selective basis. We feel that in the areas where it is possible, we must continue to enrich our educa- tional program to allow our children to compete with children from other com- munities. It must be obvious to all that in some areas, principally the sec- ondary level, we must first solve the housing problem before we can even catch up with other systems more fortunate regarding facilities.
The School Committee looks forward to another difficult year of adminis- tering a system which needs improvement, but we shall strive to make these improvements whenever possible to assure the school children of Ipswich an education that will serve their best interests in the years to come.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert E. Waite, D. M. D., Chairman
George Geanakos Dr. William Wigglesworth Joseph Riley Leon Purington James Smyth Ben . Collins
Ipswich School Committee
Changes in Teaching Personnel:
The following persons terminated their employment since the last annual town report: E. Margaret Allen, Ethel Archer, Lena Atherley, Robert Brooks, A. Catherine Carson, Joyanne Christensen, Arthur Forgetta, John J. Grady, Marie Grady, Sally Hutton, Patricia Patch, Hilda J. Schofield and Barbara Waitt.
Elected to the Teaching Staff were:
Arolyn Antognoni, Junior High School Home Economics (part-time) ; Douglas Blake, High School Social Studies; Virginia Bowen, Burley School, Grade 1; Anne P. Cowles, Shatswell School, Grade 1; Richard Cusack, Grade 7, Junior High School-English, Mathematics, Reading; Malcolm Hart, Jr., Elementary and Junior School Guidance; Harriet Higer, Burley School, Grade 2; Barbara Johns- ton, Shatswell School, Grade 2; Bradford Lucas, High School-English; Joye Lucas, Junior High School, Grade 7-English, Social Studies; Mary Lynch, Win- throp School, Grade 4; Stella Mattarocchia, Winthrop School, Grade 5; Donald H. Mclaughlin, Junior High School, Grade 8-Mathematics and Algebra; Irving Stafford, High School-Mathematics (part-time); Norma Talmadge, Winthrop School, Grade 6; Marjorie Von Suck, High School Librarian; Marjorie Worthington, High School-English, Latin; Theodore J. Yeannakopoulos, Winthrop School, Grade 6.
33
RODNEY R. WOOD, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and the Citizens of the Town of Ipswich:
This annual report presents some of the more important developments in the areas of organization, curriculum, teachers, pupils, plant, and associated statistics.
Perhaps the most significant process is the continuous growth in numbers of students. For six years the Ipswich Schools have been adding the equiva- lent of two classrooms of pupils each year. Quite naturally, the outstanding problem of the schools centers around this continual expansion in pupils, teachers, and need for classroom spaces. No national or local factors have appeared to reverse this trend.
34
ORGANIZATION
The Ipswich Schools are organized as follows:
The primary schools - grades 1, 2, 3
The intermediate school - grades 4, 5, 6 The junior high school - grades 7, 8
The senior high school 1 grades 9-12
Each school is administered by its own supervising principal. There are two Guidance Councillors, one for grades 9-12 and one for grades 1-8. Consul- tants provide direction and examples of good teaching practices in the special fields of Music, Art, and Reading.
Ipswich pupils are housed in four (1) school buildings accomodating the number of students listed below:
School
Age in Years
Rooms
Number of Students
Burley
Over 50
8
221
Shatswell
Over 34
9(2)
263( (3)
High
23
16
660
Winthrop
4
16
422
Footnote (1) A shop building in the rear of the high school houses the heating plant for the high school and provides space for In- dustrial Arts, Mechanical Drawing and Art Classes.
(2) The basement lunch room was converted into a classroom in the summer of 1959.
(3) The high school grades 9-12 and the junior high school grades 7-8 operate on two-session day.
CURRICULUM
In the annual report, the several school principals have listed the sub- jects which comprise the curriculum. Continuous study is necessary to keep the curriculum advancing with the times. Such a study recently suggested that the High School curriculum be modified to take advantage of the recommenda- tions of Dr. James Bryant Conant's report on the American High School.
TEACHERS
Each year several fine teachers retire and others marry or transfer for professional advancement. These losses, coupled with the need for additional teachers, create an administrative and supervisory problem in these days of chronic shortages of good teachers.
One of the approaches toward solving this problem has been the pre-school workshop for teachers held in the latter days of August. These professional meetings permit the more experienced teachers to share their knowledge with the newer ones. Perhaps the most important outcome is that everyone "gets off to a good start."
During the year, the State of Massachusetts raised the minimum salary for teachers up to $4000.00. This does not mean that experienced teachers can be hired at or near this figure. Nationally, the number of young people quali- fied and willing to teach is dangerously low. Research by the Rockefeller
35
and other Foundations indicate that this trend has not and may not change.New approaches to the problem of securing well-educated teachers will have to be found. Meanwhile, the supply and demand situation governs the recruitment and salaries of teachers.
HEALTH
With Dr. Wilder as co-ordinator, all the Ipswich dentists have cooperated to establish a free dental clinic for children in grades 1-6. Each child is examined and a report sent home to the parent should care be necessary. These examinations are carried out in the various schools' health room.
Fortunately, a speech therapy clinic has been established for this area sponsored by the Lions Club of Hamilton. Approximately eighteen Ipswich pupils suffering slight or more serious speech handicaps are receiving atten- tion.
All schools are now equipped with a health room for physical examinations and retirement for ill children. The school nurse visits each school every day on schedule and coordinates all health services.
SUMMARY
Please consider this consolidated report a brief outline only of the mani- fold activities of the Ipswich School System. Citizens are invited to confer with any teacher or administrator for a more penetrating discussion of organ- ization, curriculum, professional personnel, pupil problems, finance or school housing needs.
Respectfully' submitted,
Rodney R. Wood Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent, the Ipswich School Committee and the Citizens of Ipswich:
ORGANIZATION
Ipswich High School is a four year high school including grades nine through twelve. It is housed in the high school building and the shop building in the rear. The staff consists of the principal, nineteen teachers, a guid- ance director and a clerk. The custodial staff consists of two men and one matron. The cafeteria employs five full-time and two part-time employees.
The high school is in session from 7:45 a.m., until 12:55 p.m. Class per- iods are 54 minutes in length. Five periods are held each day. Each class meets four times during the week. Two lunch periods of 20 minutes each are provided in the daily schedule.
The student body on October 1, 1959 totaled 387 divided as follows: in grade 9, 122; grade 10, 95; grade 11, 102; grade 12, 67; and one post graduate student.
Fire exit drills are held once each month, and Civil Defense drill three times each year. The staff meets each Monday at 1:15 p.m. Five meetings of the combined junior and senior high school parent and teacher organization are held during the school year. A band parents organization actively sup-
36
ports the activities of the band.
Lack of classroom space and the short school day are the chief problems in the high school. Next September, in order to distribute class loads more equally and to give greater flexibility in scheduling, the number of periods will increase from five to six. This will necessitate a longer school day.
CURRICULUM
The formal curriculum consists of the college preparatory, business and general courses. Subjects offered in the high school are:
Language
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
English I
Algebra I
Gen. Science
Civics
English II
Algebra II
Gen. Biology
World History
English III
Plane Geometry
Adv. Biology
World Geography
English IV
Solid Geometry
Chemistry
U. S. History
French I
Trigonometry
Physics
Prob.of Democracy
French II
General Mathematics
Phys. Science
Economics
French III
Practical Math.
Latin I
Latin II
Spanish I
Business
Other
Business Math.
Industrial Arts
Gen. Business
Mechanical Drawing
Typing I
Graphic Arts
Typing II
Homemaking
Shorthand I
Art
Shorthand II
Driver Education
Transcription
Physical Education
Bookkeeping
Office Practice
A summer school for students in grades seven through twelve was held last summer . The subjects offered were Science, Typewriting, Art, and Band.
Teaching methods and materials used in instruction include textbooks, work books, audio-visual materials, field trips, lectures, panels, debates, and re- search. Daily homework assignments are required in all major subjects. A curriculum center containing samples of instructional materials is being or- ganized.
A school library has been made possible by funds provided by the Trustees of the Manning Fund.
A selected group of 9th grade students have been placed in an accelerated program which enables them to take certain subjects such as Algebra II, French I, and Biology. This acceleration may continue through grades ten, eleven, and twelve for the able student.
PUPIL PERSONNEL
Student organizations include the Student Council, French Club, Latin Club, Art Club, Girls' Chorus, Band, School Paper, and Yearbook. More than 40% of the sixty-three students who graduated in June of 1959 went on to some kind of further education.
About 35% of the present student body are enrolled in the college prepara-
37
tory course, 50% are taking the general course, and the remaining 15% are taking the business course. Four busses are used to transport high school students. About 50% of the students are eligible for transportation.
Two students of the class of 1959 received major scholarships, Howard Stone and Veronica Callahan. Janet Lublicover was the recipient of the first Dr. Robert M. O'Kane award for creative achievement.
TEACHER PERSONNEL
The number of teachers who teach in various fields is as follows: Lan- guage (including English) 5; Mathematics 212; Science 2; Social Studies 3; Business 2; Industrial Arts 1; Graphic Arts and Art 1; Homemaking 1; Physical Education 1/2.
The turnover of teaching personnel during the year was 15%. Miss
E. Margaret Allen, retired after 41 years of teaching, the last 39 of which were in the Ipswich School System.
Additional staff members are needed to provide for an increased number of students and advanced courses in Science, Mathematics and Language.
BUILDINGS, GROUNDS and EQUIPMENT
The Ipswich High School building was constructed in 1936. It contains eleven regular classrooms, 1 business room, 1 laboratory, 1 library, 2 home- making rooms, 1 gymnasium with separate locker rooms for boys and girls, a teacher workroom, a cafeteria, and storage areas. The top floor of the much older shop building contains the Graphic Arts, Mechanical Drawing, and Art areas while the Woodworking Shop is located on the first floor. The boiler room and the band room are located in the basement.
The older type of school furniture is gradually being replaced by newer furniture. The fire alarm system in the building has been modernized with additional stations placed in the ship building. The school fire alarm system has been connected directly to the local fire station.
The football field has been reseeded. It is expected that it will be ready for use in the fall of 1960.
The greatest need is additional classroom space to relieve the problem of double sessions and the crowded conditions in the high school.
Respectfully submitted,
Wilbur C. Connon, Principal Ipswich High School
REPORT OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools and the Citizens of Ipswich :
ORGANIZATION
The Junior High School is presently housed in the high school building and is composed of grades seven and eight, numbering 273 pupils, divided as follows :
Grade Seven
Grade Eight
Girls
Girls
68
Boys
140
Boys 133 133
38
These pupils are accomodated in ten regular classrooms, plus specialized rooms in music, home economics, graphic arts, woodworking and physical educa- tion. There are eleven teachers employed in the Junior High School program.
The regular school safety program includes fire and civilian defense drills.
CURRICULUM
Grade Seven
Periods Per Week
Language Arts
5
Arithmetic
5
Social Studies
5
Science
2
Reading
3
Physical Education
1
(12 year)
Music
1
Art
1
Study
2
Electives
Band ) meet before school
Glee Club )
Grade Eight
Language Arts
5
Arithmetic or Algebra
5
Social Studies
5
Science
5
Reading
2
Physical Education
1 (12 year)
Domestic Arts or Industrial Arts
2
(12 year)
Art
1
Music
1
Study
1
Electives
Band ) meets before school
Glee Club)
Classes are 45 minutes in length, major subjects meet at least five times a week. Some classes meet six times or more. The school day is five periods in length and classes are in session from 1:00 p.m., until 5:05 p.m.
Junior High School pupils attended a summer school program consisting of the following: Remedial Reading, Music, Typewriting, Art, Earth Science, and Arithmetic.
Plans for a more intensive program have been formulated. Indications are that a longer school day is necessary to implement this program.
In addition to the formal curriculum, dramatics, speech, band, chorus, and a series of varied assembly programs are offered.
The Student Council comprised or representatives from each homeroom pro- vides for democratic participation within a learning situation.
Additional services in the form of the newly opened Manning Memorial Li- brary provides our pupils with additional opportunities for research, reading, and library science.
39
Consultants in Art and Music meet regularly with staff members and the pupils. Formal testing, counselling and work organization services will strengthen the Guidance program.
TRANSPORTATION
Three busses transport approximately 143 pupils or slightly more than one-half of the student body who live more than one mile from school.
TEACHER PERSONNEL
This school year 50% of the teaching staff was new to the Junior High School. A beloved member of the school staff retired this past year after many devoted and fruitful years of teaching in the Ipswich schools. Miss Ethel Archer completed her teaching career as a seventh grade instructor.The entire school staff and many friends wish her well in her retirement.
PUPIL PERSONNEL
Many of the extra curricula activities normally found in a Junior High School have been curtailed, however, the pupils are maintaining a good aca- demic record.
Fatigue is one of the problems that late classes incur.
BUILDINGS, GROUNDS and MAINTENANCE
Preventive maintenance and more efficient methods and schedules are be- ing tried to approach the maintenance problem occasioned by two groups of pupils and the community using one building from early morning until the late evening.
PROBLEMS
Inadequate time, dual use of facilities, late afternoon classes, fatigue and maintenance are among the problems in 1959-1960.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph R. Rogers, Principal Junior High School
REPORT OF WINTHROP SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools and the Citizens of Ipswich:
In September, the 16-room Winthrop School housed five sections each of grades four, five, six and one Special Class. October 1 census figures show 141 pupils in grade 4; 139 in grade 5; 135 in grade 6 and 7 in the Special Class for a total enrolment of 422. Class sizes were held to approximately 28.
The Winthrop School has an active parent organization that meets five times a year.
The principal meets with his staff several times a month. Subjects under discussion center around the school program, safety, the curriculum, and pupil problems.
40
Consultants meet with staff members on a regularly scheduled basis at which time problems pertaining to Language Arts, Music and Art are discussed.
A highlight of the school year 1959 was the second Elementary Science
Fair. £ It was acclaimed successful in every way - number of participants, type of science projects, response from parents. CURRICULUM
The curriculum of the Winthrop School can best be described by the fol- lowing chart showing approximately the time allotted for a school week of 1,430 minutes.
Planned or
Activity
Suggested No.
Administrative
Subject
of Periods
Time
Time
Morning Exercises :
Opening Exercises
Health Inspection
5-10 min.
50 min.
Lunch Check
Language Arts
Penmanship
5-18 min.
Reading, Language
5-75 min.
Spelling
2-80 min.
445 min.
Arithmetic
5-46 min.
230 min.
Social Studies
4-55 min.
220 min.
Science
3-50 min.
150 min.
Music
2-30 min.
60 min.
Art
2-30 min.
60 min.
Health, Physical
Education, Safety,
Play, Activity
Physical Education
1-30 min.
Play
4-15 min.
Health & Safety
2-30 min. or 2-15 min.
Activity
1-30 min.
180 min.
Assembly or Study
Period
1-30 min.
30 min.
Pupil-teacher
Planning and
Evaluation
as possible
Lunch
225 min.
Closing School
20 min.
245 min.
1,430 min.
Grand Total
1,725 min.
Percent
80 %
Recent studies would seem to indicate that students in grades four, five and six could profit by a longer school day.
This past summer the Winthrop School housed the Elementary Summer School program for a second year - Remedial Reading for grades two through eight; Remedial Arithmetic for grades two through six; Music for enrichment for grades one through six; Field Trips for the Special Class. The program ran for five weeks with a total enrolment of 255, a staff of 8 teachers, 1 prin- cipal and 1 reading consultant.
PUPIL PERSONNEL
The Winthrop School has a safety patrol of 26 members comprised of the sixth grade boys and girls. The patrol covers posts around the Winthrop, the Burley and the Shatswell Schools and assignment to each school bus.
41
Under the direction of the music teachers, three activities of interest are Special Chorus, Junior Band, and Music Appreciation.
The first award of the Dr. Robert M. O'Kane medal for "outstanding cre- ative ability" was awarded to Miss Nancy Grose, grade six.
TEACHER PERSONNEL
Sixteen teachers, one principal, one secretary, two custodians and five cafeteria workers comprise the Winthrop School staff. There was a 25% turn- over in staff during the year.
Mrs. Lena Atherley, principal for 15 years and a member of the Ipswich staff since 1921 retired in February 1959. Former pupils and parents join with the staff to wish Mrs. Atherley continued years of enjoyment in retire- ment.
An innovation for the ten Special Class children this past summer was a series of Field Trips that were considered unique by the Special Class Divi- sion of the State Department of Education.
BUILDING, GROUNDS, EQUIPMENT
The Winthrop School is now in its fourth year of operation. Little has been necessary in the way of repairs. The problem of maintenance coupled with operating summer school presented a problem that has been basically overcome by the acquisition of additional service and equipment.
During the school year, a new tape recorder and a new record player were purchased as additional teaching equipment.
Our plans for the new school year call for a curriculum center to be es- tablished and supplied with textbooks, references, audio-visual material, maps and charts, and other teaching aids for use of the staff in planning their daily, weekly and long-range teaching plans.
Respectfully submitted,
Bertram H. Bennett, Principal Winthrop School
REPORT OF BURLEY-SHATSWELL SCHOOLS
PRINCIPAL
To the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools and the Citizens of Ipswich :
ORGANIZATION
The Burley and Shatswell Schools earlier housed grades one through four and later primary grades one through three during the school year 1958-1959. Enrolment increased from 459 to 484 pupils. Staff requirements rose from 16 teachers with a principal, two custodians and two cafeteria employees and a clerk, by two additional teachers.
The Burley School maintains a cafeteria adequate for the number housed, while all Shatswell School children share the High School Cafeteria facili- ties.
Combined enrolments at both schools show a total of 172 first graders,
42
176 second grade pupils and 137 third grade pupils. With expected enrolment of 169 first graders in the fall of 1960, two or more additional classrooms will be needed.
Fire drills are conducted each month. The Fire Chief has been invited to view every fire drill. He has suggested improvements and provided techni- cal assistance and made helpful suggestions.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.