USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1946 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1946 > Part 6
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Through the medium of the varied interest clubs, the school publica- tion "The Echo", the Junior Red Cross and 4H Club work, the school has done much toward the children's share in the war effort. Scrap and salvage drives and war stamp sales have received enthusiastic pupil participation and help.
Formal promotion exercises were for the first time eliminated and a simple program held for the Class of 1942 in the Walter Sampson Audi- torium. It is probable the same procedure will be followed in June of the coming year.
The High School
As would be expected, the greatest effect of the war on school enroll- ment and curriculum is felt in the upper grades of our school system. To best state these changes and problems involved I quote the following:
(From the report of the Principal of Memorial High School)
"The annual report for the Memorial High School for 1942 is a record, of the effect of the war upon the school. Schools everywhere have been asked to make definite contributions to the war effort and Middleboro is trying to do its part. War-time aims are different from those in peace time. Education that is of recognized value has had to be postponed for the duration to make way for pre-induction training for the boys who may soon be in the service of their country. Both teachers and pupils are rendering services outside of school which of necessity take time and energy from classroom activity, but the losses in scholastic achievement must be taken in waging successful total war.
"Some of the changes from peace-time aims to war-time aims are seen in school administration as in the organization of air-raid drills and the practice of the same. Also, the building has been equipped as an air-raid shelter and supplied with facilities for dim-out and for extinguishing bombs.
"The change has been felt in the curriculum with the addition of pre- flight training, increased facilities for physical education, and in new art courses. Emphasis on mathematics and science and changes in the content of some subjects such as English and social studies has taken place. Some classes must be dropped or reduced to fewer meetings per week for the duration.
The Victory Corps program for high-schools as outlined by the federal government is being followed as far as facilities available will permit.
"Difficult features of the reorganization of the school to meet war-time aims have been the need for haste and the fact that no educational leaders have been trained to direct such a program. Boys now in school must receive special training at once if the school is to make its maximum contribution. Teachers who have received no special training in pre-induction courses must give them and learn as they go. In this respect the problem is similar to that of other branches of war effort where much must be done by workers who have had no experience in war work.
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"Teachers are in demand to help to relieve labor shortages, working out of school hours. They have been active in learning to be air-raid wardens, motor corps members, airplane spotters, and first aid attendants. The registration of men for selective service and the rationing of sugar and oil have also taken teachers' time and energy. Still greater has been the problem of perfecting an organization with a constant change of personnel on the faculty.
"No less serious has been the pupil situation. Pupils as well as teachers are needed to relieve the shortage of labor. The school has one girl less than last year, but thirty-eight fewer boys in enrollment for the year. Since the opening of school, fifteen pupils have left school to work, twelve of whom were boys. More serious to the quality of instruction has been the irregularity in attendance caused by the demands upon the older pupils to help in the harvesting of crops, the making of war materials, and the replacing of other workers now in government forces. Early dismissal of pupils for work in the spring and late entrance in the fall has seriously hindered scholastic achievement, but has been unavoidable.
"It is difficult to make academic subject matter seem vital in times like these unless it is immediately connected with the war effort. Boys are unsettled in their minds with a future of service in armed forces so imminent. Girls with members of their immediate families in far corners of the globe do not find it easy to put school assignments first in their thoughts.
"These are but some of the problems that have faced the Memorial High School in 1942. Shortage of supplies has caused a change in methods. Customary school activities have been upset, as for instance the athletic program. The need for shop training has become even more pressing since training for mechanized warfare involves the mastering of mechanical skills.
"Some trends in high-school training are becoming apparent. There is a decided swing from cultural training to vocational training. A definite effort must be made after the war to retain our cultural heritage. More emphasis must be and is being put on learning to be competent citizens in a democracy. There is a speeding up of training to get as much training as possible in a short time. Outstanding students will be admitted to colleges in the middle of the senior year. More attention is being given to health service, health education, and physical activity.
"Much of what has been said here applies to upper-classmen more than to those in the two lower classes for whom first hand participation in war activity is, at present, quite remote. It is our purpose to preserve for them a school training as near normal as possible. Pupils apply themselves surprisingly .well and are making a conscientious effort to do the work expected of them. They participate seriously in air-raid drills and are generous of their time in helping with war activities. Teachers make no complaints when asked to help on war work and do not allow the hours spent outside of school in employment or in war work to interfere with their teaching. Memorial High School is carrying on."
The Agricultural Department
The second year of Vocational Agriculture at Memorial High School was marked by progress and growth. In the year 1942 the Agricultural Department was operated at full capacity. In two years the department has become the largest one-instructor unit in the State of Massachusetts equal- ing the recommended capacity for such departments as set up by the Federal and State Departments of Education.
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The year 1942 marked the graduation of four of the original six boys admitted as Juniors in September of 1940, when the department opened. These first graduates were immediately affected by the second World War. Ernest Charron of Lakeville became Memorial High School's first volunteer by enlisting in the United States Marines and is now in active service. Roger L. Quelle, a second graduate, enlisted almost immediately in the United States Navy. Arthur Standish, Jr. went into the front lines of food production for the summer and in September continued his education at Stockbridge School of Agriculture in Amherst. Earl Vigers, Jr. also went to farming and will probably continue until Uncle Sam is ready for his help elsewhere. The two who did not graduate are both shipyard workers and doing their bit in defense work.
In 1942 the department continued to serve the farm people of Middle- boro and surrounding communities. The young men enrolled contributed much to the primary War Effort, that of Food Production. Working on the farms of our community they helped replace some of the farm help taken by the draft law and the heavy shift of labor to industry.
The work of the boys of the department, coupled with that of 176 boys, girls, and teachers of Memorial High School, placed on part and full time agricultural jobs proved of great aid in alleviating the local labor problem in agricultural. The Memorial High School boys and girls received high praise from State Officials and State Agencies for being perhaps the out- standing school in the Commonwealth in aiding in the farm situation. The excellent spirit of cooperation and the willingness to work were refreshing signs from a young generation whose ambition and initiative has been sometimes questioned. The outstanding example being, the contributing of one days labor in agriculture by fifty members of the High School Football Squad and allowing all their pay to be used in the athletic treasury for increased expenses.
ยท Statistics of our first two years show very interesting increases and comparisons. The year 1941 the department boys worked 18,432 productive agricultural hours, in 1942, 29,337. In 1941 they earned $4,900.69 and in 1942, $9,817.72. Average earning per student increased from $355.76 to $464.70. These increases were partly due to increased rates but, primarily due to increased work hours per student and extra effort for increased production.
The program of instruction for the department was carried on as usual aided by improved equipment and facilities. The installation of a complete, yet neat and compact milk testing apparatus broadened the instructional program. The addition of new textbooks continued the building of an ex- cellent agricultural library. The installation of a fine asphalt rubber tile floor added to the attractive appearance of the room and eliminated the health problem caused by dampness. These and other improvements in the department's physical set-up are the direct result of the cooperation and foresight of the Pierce Trustees.
Travel being curtailed by the War Effort resulted in the cancellation of many educational trips and contests. However, a program of instruction was carried to completion supplemented by excellent educational speakers and movies. The work in auto mechanics, under the excellent tutelage of Mr. Harold E. Frizzell, again proved to be of value and gave every senior and junior boy a basic training in auto and farm mechanics.
The work of the Agricultural Department received full approval from the State Director of Vocational Education, Mr. Robert O. Small, with a special note of commendation.
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The Department's Advisory Board to whom the instructor can turn when in need of help or guidance, consists of the following members:
Frederick S. Weston - Plymouth Street, Middleboro.
G. Ward Stetson - Plympton Street, Middleboro.
Dwight Kinsman - Plymouth Street, Middleboro.
John McNeece - Summer Street, Middleboro.
H. Arthur Standish - Plymouth Street, Middleboro.
N. Merrill Sampson - Lakeville.
Ernest Shaw - South Carver.
The excellent cooperation and guidance received from the State and Federal Departments of Education and this Personnel; the Pierce Trustees, the Advisory Committee, the School Administrators, and the High School Faculty, is directly responsible for our continued success. Such cooperation will continue to result in growth and progress.
The aim of the Memorial High Agricultural Department for 1943 is: to aid the farmers of our community in their efforts toward increased pro- duction with the ultimate aim of the rapid and successful prosecution of the War.
Music in the Schools
Middleboro may justly continue to be proud of the music program in our schools and may rightly boast of the outstanding results obtained through the efficient supervision of Luther Churchill.
School Street and Bates School bands and orchestras meet in rehearsal only once each week and although allotted time is short and insufficient for perfection they are progressing sufficiently to warrant the continuation of this work.
The Memorial High School Band has reached a total membership of sixty-four and has developed into an organization comparable to many bands in the larger cities of New England. Two members of the High School Orchestra and one Band member were chosen to represent Middle- boro in the All New England School Festival Orchestra and Band Concert held in Keene, New Hampshire.
The Twirling Corps, under the direction of Miss Lillian Jones, Drum Major of the High School Band, has continued to grow in numbers and proficiency and has rightfully earned a permanent place in the school music program.
Classes in stringed instruments with Mrs. Marion Belmont as instructor have been augmented by the addition of Mr. Harvey Brigham of Reading, Massachusetts who has classes of saxophone and clarinet pupils two days each week at the high school. There has been a noticeable improvement in tone and facility of execution with advent of these classes.
Both instrumental and vocal music has been fitted into the SCHOOLS AT WAR program as outlined by the Music Educators National Conference.
The Bates School operetta "Old Ironsides" was creditably presented before the usual capacity audience. A considerable amount of credit should here be given Henry B. Burkland in the performance of these annual concerts.
The Glee Clubs at the High School meet each week, reach the largest number of pupils and continue to create the greatest amount of interest.
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It is hoped the pupils who have shown exceptional vocal ability may in the future be formed into an a capella choir where an opportunity would be provided to learn much music impossible in the larger groups.
The condition of the piano at Bates School is exceptionally bad and should be replaced by a new and smaller model.
Art in the Schools
"Not by its conquests does a nation live, but by its art."
The art program this past year has been planned in a series of units covering the elementary and secondary levels. Each unit was based upon a topic necessary to our understanding of contemporary wartime affairs. The art experiences have served to interpret, visualize and clarify the social, economic implications as well as the artistic values present.
The following examples indicate the ways in which art in the Memorial High School is functioning in the war effort.
Art for Civilian and Military Morale.
Competitions among students in making posters, maps, cartoons, etc. Leisure time activities.
Contemporary Design in the United States today.
Industrial Design: products from new and substitute materials.
This unit provided for practical experiences in many types of art and craft activities which make definite contributions to winning of the war. Limited training is being given in blue print reading and Mechanical Drawing because of lack of time and equip- ment. These two steps are indispensable in war production.
Documentary Art in the War.
Boys likely to enter the Military service and who have some in- terest and ability in art work have had courses enabling them to make the most of opportunities which they may meet. Basic skills in lettering, sketching, poster design, chart and map making are important assets in all branches of the service for documentary, observational and other purposes.
Camouflage in the War.
Some of the pupils that have been especially interested in camou- flage have been given informal talks on camouflage and realized the importance of the knowledge of form, color and design.
Posters in the War Effort.
Posters have been made on:
Conservation Morale Safety (in war time) War Funds Anti-Propaganda
A start has been made on a project which will continue through the winter and climax with a bazaar to be held in the spring, when the practical creations of all the pupils will be sold as a benefit for the Junior Red Cross. The materials being used in making the articles are that which is not needed in the war effort. They will be many natural materials used. The manufactured discarded articles, or portios not saleable, from which it is
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planned to make articles are linoleum, wax candles, clothing, wood, leaves, pine cones, wall paper samples, old stockings and many other materials.
Some of the items to be made include desk trays, desk sets, bookends, flower holders, ash trays, cushions, lamp shades, scrapbooks, beads, bracelets, book jackets, mats, rugs, wall plaques, wall panels, toys, puzzles, luncheon sets, pot holders, hat boxes, coin purses, pocketbooks, door stops, etc.
The knowledge which the classes will have gained about conservation will be made available to the community at the bazaar showing how dis- carded materials can be made into articles of beauty and usefulness.
Participation in the bazaar will enable each student to assume a share in the war effort. In many of the schools a collection has been taken to buy materials to finish the articles for the bazaar because of the fact the town does not supply materials to be sold.
Last spring 30 anti-propaganda posters made by the art class of the Memorial High School were on exhibition in the Public Library. The project was sponsored by the Women's Division of the Public Safety Com- mittee of Middleboro and prizes in defense stamps offered by the Lions and Kiwanis Clubs were awarded to the prize winners. These posters were later placed about the town to remind us of our duty during war time.
Last spring the eighth grade girls of Bates School painted the sand pails and shovels with letters C-D (Civilian Defense) to be used in every school in the town for use in case of an air raid.
There is something wholly satisfying in the work being done by many of the students in our schools in the war effort. It simply means that the teaching of art in our schools has developed a very practical and effective action in war service this past year.
Health in Our Schools
The general health of our children during the past year has been ex- cellent. All pupils have been examined by the school physician, assisted by the school nurse, and notices sent to the homes where physical defects were found. Parents should take serious notice of these warning slips for it becomes their responsibility to have the child further examined and the defect corrected for the future health of the child. Forty-six percent of the defects were corrected last year.
The School Dental Clinic corrected the tooth defects of one hundred fifteen children in over three hundred pupils treatments. Only the children of the first two grades are treated due to the lack of appropriation for more clinical time.
Our Lip Reading Class, financed by the Chandler Ford Fund, continues to definitely help the children with serious hearing defects and the members of this class continue to show marked school improvement. One child almost totally deaf was enabled, through attendance at this class, to com- plete the grades and two years of high school work.
The annual Tuberculosis, Retarded Class, Diphtheria Prevention, and Pre-School Clinics were held with good attendance. The purpose of the Pre-School Clinic held in May is that all children entering the first grade in the following September may be physically ready and not lose valuable school time. This free service to all parents should be more widely used or the child taken to your family physician for a check up at this time of year in anticipation of school attendance.
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Free milk has been served to the underweight and undernourished children during the winter months. A total of 11,703 bottles of free milk was distributed in 1942 in addition to 10,233 bottles sold, making a grand total of 21,936 bottles of milk served our school children. Extra milk has also been provided two suburban schools for hot lunches during recess periods.
The annual fall check in Hearing of the children in grades five and ten was made with the Audiometer. By this method of two grade testing each child receives a thorough and scientific test twice during his school career.
School Costs
The increased general cost of instruction and all materials of instruc- tion and maintenance, particularly fuel, together with a reduced enroll- ment, has raised our per pupil daily expense approximately three cents per pupil. The average daily cost, however, is still below fifty cents and also still among the lowest in the towns of Group II or towns having a population of over 5,000.
For comparative purposes, I am presenting a table showing an analysis of school costs for the years 1941 and 1942. For this analysis the school enrollments as of October 1 and the actual number of school days has been used.
Daily Cost Per Pupil
1941
1942
Supervision, General Control, and Health
2.3 cents
2.5 cents
Instruction
30.5
66
32.2
Janitor salaries
2.5
2.7
66
Textbooks and Supplies
1.7
66
2.1
66
Transportation
4.3
66
4.7
66
Fuel, Light, Water
1.9
2.1
Printing, Stationery, Postage
0.1
66
0.1
66
Telephone
0.1
0.1
66
Physical Education Equipment
0.2
66
0.1
Tuition
0.3
66
0.3
Miscellaneous Expenses
0.2
0.1
66
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
0.5
66
0.7
Repair of Buildings
1.3
1.2
66
Total
45.8 cents
48.9 cents
The Teaching Staff
The teaching situation is rapidly becoming a major problem. In the last month we have lost five members of our high school faculty to the armed forces or government occupation. We have been fortunate so far in being able to obtain excellent replacements but it becomes increasingly difficult with each vacancy as all towns and cities are experiencing the same situation.
It is absolutely necessary that, if we are to retain our own teachers, and meet the competition of other towns, we must maintain a salary schedule equivalent to that of those towns. We must expect and be ready to go out
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and offer more to secure the better teachers for our children. A general salary increase for the duration of the war to help meet the increased cost of living must be seriously considered at once.
During the year there have been the following changes in our teaching staff.
Withdrawals:
Joseph R. Hyman, High School
Roland C. MacGowan, High School
Esther L. Moore, High School
Alfred E. Farley, High School
Mary Ellen Keil, High School
Ruth E. Allbee, High School
Jean MacInnes Hunt, Bates School
Donald T. Welch, School Street School
Appointments :
Joseph Teeling, High School
Edward L. Spalding, High School
Madelyn Wilson, High School Margaret E. Dick, High School
Esther Elliott, Bates School
Benjamin D. Thomas, School Street School
Responsibility for a Better World
The strength of a nation is the combined strength of ALL its services. This includes its program of education. The immediate war contribution of a single pupil in school or an individual teacher in the classroom, may seem slight, but the combined effort of thirty-one million teachers, pupils, and students who constitute the schools of our country is a force of enormous power. The part that they can play in winning the war is now necessary and great. But the part that the schools can play in educating the coming generation is greater. This is the group of our total population that con- stitutes the hope of the America of tomorrow. Not only must they help win this war, but they must also undertake the enormous responsibility of building a new and better world out of the wreckage which we pass on to them.
Our responsibility is great, theirs is greater. It is our hope and prayer that we continue to maintain our local schools in such a way that these responsibilities may be fulfilled.
Respectfully submitted,
J. STEARNS CUSHING, Superintendent.
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STATISTICS AND INFORMATIONAL TABLES
SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Term, January 4-February 19
Second Term, March 1-April 16
Third Term, April 26-June 11 Elementary Schools June 18 High School
Fourth Term, September 8-December 22
No School Days
May 31
October 12
November 11
November 25-26
FINANCIAL REPORT - DECEMBER 31, 1942
Receipts
Tuition, State and City Wards
$1,132.17
Other Tuition
6,770.81
George-Deen Fund
3,425.00
General School Fund
12,390.00
$23,717.98
Disbursements
Salaries
Superintendent
$4,000.00
Teachers
97,292.09
Janitors
8,219.07
All Others
3,498.16
Textbooks and Supplies
6,453.05
Transportation
14,233.40
Fuel Light & Water
6,620.57
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
2,168.75
Other expenses
299.36
Telephone
415.06
Tuition
948.20
Printing, Stationery, Postage
324.88
Physical Education Equipment
500.00
George-Deen Fund
2,770.00
Repair of Buildings
3,793.76 $151,536.35
Net cost of schools (disbursements less receipts)
$127,818.37
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STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1941 - 1942
SCHOOL
Number of
Teachers
Number of Pupils
Non-Resident
Pupils
Enrolled
Average
Daily
Attendance
Average
Daily
Yearly
Percent of
Attendance
Memorial High
22
537
72
477.8
500.7
95.2
Grade XII
124
Grade XI
122
Grade X
114
Grade IX
162
Post Grad.
5
Bates
12
327
9
302.0
315.5
92.9
Grade VIII
121
Grade VII
159
Grade
VI
31
Opp. Class
16
School Street
8
322
3
285.9
301.6
94.8
Grade VI
35
Grade VI
34
Grade VI
34
Grade V
44
Grade V
39
Grade V
44
Grade IV
46
Grade IV
46
Union Street
10
291
3
247.2
267.5
92.4
Grade III
33
Grade III
31
Grade III
30
Grade II
34
Grade II
37
Grade II
37
Grade I
31
Grade 1
29
Grade 1
29
West Side
4
75
0
65.7
70.9
92.6
Grade IV
19
Grade III
20
Grade II
16
Grade I
20
Flora M. Clark
2
52
0
46.4
50.5
91.8
Grade II
22
Grade I
30
Pleasant Street
1
33
0
29.8
30.8
96.7
Plymouth Street
1
30
0
24.1
26.1
92.1
Pratt Free
1
13
0
11.8
12.3
95.6
Waterville
1
19
0
17.2
18
95.9
Rock
1
30
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