USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1959 > Part 10
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Restaurant Inspection Program
Nearly four hundred individual swab tests were taken of glasses, cups, dishes, etc. at our eating and drinking establishments. The bacterial count was low in most instances and continuing improvement in gen- eral cleanliness was noted. Higher bacterial counts showed up in several of the swab tests. The owner or manager of the establishment concerned was contacted and remedial action was taken.
An inspection was made of the various School Cafeterias operated under the supervision of the School Department. In every instance, the kitchens and dining areas were clean, well-kept, and orderly. Our School Lunch Program is seldom equalled in the surrounding towns of our County.
Dental Clinic
Eight hundred thirty-two children were examined by George P. Cannucci, DMD, School Dentist assisted by Mrs. Mary Edgerly, Public School Nurse and Mrs. Marguerite Mclaughlin, Public Health Nurse. Notices were sent home to the parents of five hundred sixty children suggesting that corrective action be taken. Some dental work was done by Dr. Cannucci as his time permitted. Additional dental care is planned for the new year using new equipment purchased with town appropriated funds granted during 1959.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Tuberculosis Control
Two hundred persons were X-rayed at St. Luke's Hospital and at the Plymouth County Hospital in Hanson, Massachusetts for traces of tuberculosis. This program is run in conjunction with Town and County Funds subsidized by State funds.
Follow-up examinations were given on one hundred six persons. Only two active cases were found this year. Another one of man's enemies seems to be coming under our control.
Polio Control
Plans were made and publicized for a series of Polio Clinics to be held under the supervision of the Board of Health. Due to an epidemic of polio in the Mid-West all available vaccine earmarked for this program was re-assigned by Federal authorities.
Through the cooperation of the Medical Doctors in the Town, in- dividuals were able to receive polio shots at a reduced rate at their own family doctor's office. A large number of townspeople took advantage of this opportunity.
Diphtheria, Small Pox, and Tetanus Control
We continued the immunization clinics for control of diphtheria, small pox, and tetanus. The now famous "three in one" shot was given to six hundred sixty-five children of various ages. The Medical Doctors of our Town donated their services for this series of clinics. The doctors were assisted by the Public Health Nurse and the Public School Nurse, with a group of interested ladies doing some of the record-keeping and supervising of the children.
A new "four-in-one" shot is now available with diphtheria, small pox, tetanus, and polio immunizing qualities. These new shots are being used to inoculate new-born children and others who have never been inoculated for the prevention of diphtheria, small pox, and tetanus.
Other Communicable Diseases
Many other communicable diseases have been reported to this office during the year. A partial breakdown follows:
Chicken Pox
78
Venereal Disease 2
Mumps
21
Salmonella
1
Scarlet Fever
2
Dog Bite 47
German Measles
6
Measles 52
Whooping Cough
1
Meningitis 1
.
There were no reported cases of Diphtheria, Small-Pox, Influenza, Tularemia, or Equine Encephalitis.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Many of the communicable diseases have now been relegated to a "little upset" status or considered a "Childhood Disease". However, the incidence of Venereal Disease throughout the country is appalling. In a recent study conducted by a former President of the American Medical Association, it was learned that one teenager a minute becomes infected with one of the venereal diseases. It is important to repeat here that cases of venereal disease which are discovered by Medical Doctors are reported by number of cases only, never by name.
Sewerage, Cesspools, Sewerage Problems
Permits to build cesspools and to install septic tanks have been issued by this office with the cooperation and assistance of our Plumbing Inspector, Mr. Harry Rowe. The active part played by our Zoning Law helps to keep the Plumbing Code of the Town properly followed. In- dividual inspections have been made of the work done before final ap- proval is given. Several of the troublesome complaints about over- flowing cesspools have been eliminated by the extension of the sewer trunk lines on several streets. The Sewage Treatment Plant is working close to capacity and future plans for trunk line extensions will necessitate a study of the sewerage treatment facilities.
Premature Birth Assistance
During 1959, twenty-nine children were born prematurely. The Town, through the Health Department, assists the families of premature- ly born children with financial aid when necessary. The Public Health Nurse visits the homes of these children and gives the parents reassur- ing advice and friendly counsel.
Public Health and Public School Nurses
The Middleboro District Nursing Association cooperates with the Town in its Health Program by providing transportation and a portion of the Public Health Nurse's salary. This organization deserves our hearty thanks and our financial support.
Mrs. Marguerite McLaughlin has fulfilled her professional code of ethics with excellence, not only during working hours, but on weekends, noon-hours, and other free time.
The Public School Nurse, Mrs. Mary Edgerly, working through the School Department, has cooperated with this office through the year and has assisted at various clinics and meetings, volunteering for work before she has been asked.
In Closing
The Town of Middleborough lost a great doctor, a great humani- tarian, and a friend with the passing of Sterling A. McLean, M.D. His work and cooperative spirit in this office's program will be deeply missed.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Mr. John Rebell, Inspector of Milk, Slaughter Houses, and Animals, has worked in close cooperation with the Health Office during the year. He has submitted a report on his activities to you.
Mr. Harry Rowe, our Plumbing Inspector, works in association with the Health Officer on sewage disposal problems and their solutions. He has cooperated with this Office and has given many practical suggestions for our combined success.
A word of thanks to you, the Board of Health, our Town Manager, Edwin O. Wilson, and to all of my associates in the Town employ. I appreciate the cooperation, help, and friendship of all those with whom I have been privileged to work.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT CARTMELL, R. S., Health Officer
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE of
MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASS.
LEE
TH
PLYMOU
COUNTY PASS.A
OUGH
*
INCORPORATED
For the Year Ending December 31
1959
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ANNUAL REPORT
At the Meeting of the School Committee held on January 21, 1960, it was voted:
"To accept the report of the Superintendent of Schools and to present it to the Town as the report of the School Committee."
JOSEPH C. KUNCES, Secretary to the Committee.
School Committee Membership 1959
Term Expires
C. Trafton Mendall, Chairman, 18 Forest Street 1961
James M. Bonnar, Jr., Vice-Chairman, 33 Pearl Street 1960
Richard B. Wilmot, Plymouth Street 1962
Eugene H. Savard, Everett Street
1962
Walter J. D. McNeil, Mitchell Street 1960
Richard A. Fickert, Plymouth Street 1961
Regular Meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, at 7:30 P.M.
Superintendent of Schools Joseph C. Kunces, A.B., M.A. The Superintendent of Schools also serves as Secretary to the School Committee
School Physician
Stuart A. Silliker, M.D., 29 Oak Street
School Nurse Mary H. Edgerly, R.N., North Street
Supervisor of Attendance John Rebell, Everett Street
Census Enumerators M. H. S. Class of 1960
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ANNUAL REPORT
School Calendar 1960
First Term-January 4-February 19 Second Term-February 29-April 14 Third Term-April 20-June 22 (All Schools) Fourth Term-September 7-December 23
No-School Days
Good Friday, Memorial Day, Teachers' Convention, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day and day following.
No-School Signals
In the event that there will be no school in all schools all day, the "no-school" signal, (Fire Alarm 2-1-2) will be sounded at 7:15 A.M. only. If there is to be no school in all schools other than the Memorial High School and the Middleborough Junior High School, the signal will be sounded at 8:15 A.M. only.
If school is to be called off for the afternoon session only, in all schools other than the Memorial High School and the Middleborough Junior High School, the signal will be sounded at 12:15 P.M.
If the "no-school" signal is sounded on days when there are Eve- ning School Classes, these classes will also be cancelled.
Announcements for "no-school" will be broadcasted over radio stations WEEI, WBZ, WBET and WPLM and over TV Channel 4.
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ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Committee:
The miracle of America has resulted from a number of factors. Perhaps the most important are: (1) abundant natural resources, (2) a political and economic atmosphere conducive to taking the risks in- volved in innovations, and (3) a system of universal education which supplies the fundamental knowledge so necessary for a highly technical economy. The moral and physical strength of our country has deep roots in our schools.
It is my contention as your Superintendent of Schools to do every- thing humanly possible to foster a strong America via the educational medium, particularly as it applies to that segment of the total popula- tion which is represented here in the Town of Middleborough. My an- nual stewardship of the public educational system is therefore funda- mental. It is with sincere pleasure that I submit this annual report which depicts those changes, innovations and strengthening measures to insure even a better education for our youth.
Essential as brick and mortar are to education, the role of the teachers must never be minimized. In the year 1959, five most valuable persons completed their administrative and teaching careers with us. Each of these persons made for a better educational system and their influence will be felt for some time. In my portion of the annual report I would like to pay public tribute to former Principal Samuel Deich of the Memorial High School, to the now retired Supervisor of Instrumental and Vocal Music Luther Churchill, as well as Mrs. Elinore S. Stewart who taught at the Pratt Free School. As regards the other two persons who have contributed a part of themselves to the betterment of Middle- boro, I refer you to the reports of Principal Henry B. Burkland of the Middleborough Junior High School who honors Miss Martinia K. Dona- hue and to the report of Principal Alice R. Begley of the Union Street School who extends posthumous tribute to Miss Mildred K. Bowman.
Sound leadership at the secondary level of education is perhaps more important today than ever before. Such leadership demands a complete knowledge of current trends and practices in education, as well as a thorough foundation in guiding teachers and students to per- form to their fullest capabilities. Mr. Samuel Deich possessed these qualities. His desire to resign as Principal of the Memorial High School so as to enter a new profession was truly a great loss for the Middle- borough Public Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The selection of a replacement for Mr. Deich, in my opinion, was the most important function performed by the Middleboro School Com- mittee this year. In our search, the School Committee and I were de- sirous of selecting a person who was well informed in secondary school practices and administrative procedures; one who understood the field of guidance and collegiate admission requirements; and one who is aware of the vocational needs of high school students. One can readily observe that these qualifications are most demanding and possessed by only a few educators.
No task is impossible and the final selection of Mr. Stanley Kruszyna as Principal of the Memorial High School in August is a prime example. As Superintendent of Schools I screened and interviewed twenty-three candidates and presented my final choices, which consisted of five, to the School Committee for a final decision. In the choice of Mr. Kruszyna, the School Committee has presented to the Town and its educational system an educator with 33 years of public school experience in which the last eleven years have been devoted exclusively to the direction of guidance and counselling in the Medford (Mass.) Public Schools. In addition to Mr. Kruszyna's student guidance experience, this person has been a vocational and academic teacher as well as a United States Con- sultant in Guidance with duty in Brazil. Mr. Kruszyna is a graduate of Fitchburg State Teachers' College, Boston University, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
There is no question, in my opinion, that personnel, be it teaching or otherwise, make a school system. These past 21 years we in Middle- borough have been particularly fortunate to have had the professional service of Mr. Luther Churchill. In Mr. Churchill we have had a person who possessed a most proficient training in both major areas of music, vocal and instrumental. To replace Mr. Churchill, then, became a major undertaking, particularly as the appreciation for fine music and excellent instruction had been established and expected by the citizens of this community. This challenge was met with a major reorganization of the division of music education. Commencing this past September, Mr. Richard E. Nelson was transferred from an assistant to the supervisor of music to the position of instructor of instrumental music exclusively, with assignments to direct all of the bands: the Memorial High School Band, the Middleborough Junior High School Band and the Elementary Schools Band. In addition to the directorship of these units, Mr. Nelson also instructs the Memorial High School Orchestra and all of the in- strumental classes in grades four, five and six and two newly created units, the Symphonic and Modern Dance Bands at the high school level.
In the field of vocal music, Mrs. Eunice M. Sherman was appointed. Mrs. Sherman, in the reorganization plan, teaches the a Cappella Choir at the Memorial High School and for the first time in our history meets
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ANNUAL REPORT
each class and grade throughout the system once each week, as well as directing the West Side School Choir and the Middleborough Junior High School Orchestra.
In the reorganization of the music education division these out- comes have been realized:
(1) The Memorial High School orchestra has been given equal school time for instruction with that of the Memorial High School Band. The time selected for this instruction falls on the last period of the day so that pupils may continue to practice, if they so desire, after school.
(2) A Memorial High School Symphonic Band has been organized to provide opportunity for those pupils who possess outstand- ing ability in instrumental music.
(3) A revolving program of instruction in instrumental music has been instituted in the elementary grades so as not to interfere with the basic program of academic instruction.
During this phase of my report I would be remiss if I did not pay public tribute to the Trustees under the Will of Thomas S. Peirce for their gift of new black and orange band uniforms for the Memorial High School. This replacement of uniforms has not been made in eighteen years. It is also interesting to note that the coats from the old uniforms have been converted for use by the Middleborough Junior High School Band and that the new uniforms for the Memorial High School conform to the school's official colors.
Recently, much has been written about the inclusion into the cur- riculum of conversational French in the elementary schools of this country. At the same time, there are equally as many reports of a similar nature pertaining to teaching conversational French via the television medium. It is my contention that conversational French can be taught at this level, but that again the role of the teacher is most important. I can see no advantage in teaching conversational French if the following year it must be terminated. At the same time, I can see that very little constructive teaching can be done if immediately following television instruction questions cannot be answered. The teaching of such instruction is dependent upon the teacher-a teacher with a working knowledge of the subject.
Our program of conversational French instruction, on the other hand, commences in Grade 7. This instruction is limited to students who possess a B average or better and who are willing to remain after school for such study. At the grade levels of seven, then eight and coupled with four years of high school, it would be possible for our students to study French for six years.
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ANNUAL REPORT
This year there are two such classes composed of approximately 20 students each, who are studying conversational French at the Middle- borough Junior High School.
Last year in my annual report I mentioned the importance of careful selectivity of teaching personnel and the end result of such action at the Memorial High School. This year I would like to relate that similar improvement is to be found at the Middleborough Junior High School. For the first time in the history of the Middleborough Junior High School we have more men than women teachers, and their preparation has been more thorough and exact.
In order to safeguard and promote high professional standards of teacher preparation to which the children and youth of this Town are entitled, the School Committee voted that effective September 1, 1959 and as a condition of eligibility for appointment, a teacher with no previous teaching experience shall have graduated from an institution or college which has been duly accredited by the National Council of Teacher Education or one of the six recognized accrediting agencies or both, and that acceptable college credits and degrees submitted by Middleborough Public School teachers to satisfy the requirements for advancement on the salary schedule be earned at institutions accredited by said agencies. The adoption of this policy is self-explanatory and yet it represents the type of thinking that has been displayed by a group of men who are desirous of providing the citizens of this community with quality teaching.
Each year I have attempted to depict graphically the reasons for the turnover of our teachers. This practice is worthy of continuation because the proper evaluation of these reasons can avert drastic faculty changes. With a minimum of such changes real educational progress is made throughout the year, and it is, therefore, a decided advantage to compile and to use these results. Upon close examination of the data, one can also observe that four of the resignations submitted have been requested by the School Committee upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools. Such action, if administered judiciously, and continuously, can and does have beneficial results in the improvement of the various school faculties.
Number of Teacher Resignations
Reason for Teacher Resignations
3
Retirement
1
Death
4
2
Resignation requested by the School Committee Other Employment
2
Personal
2
Pregnancy
2
Other Teaching Position
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ANNUAL REPORT
Instituted for the first time last year are two other most important educational improvements. At the Memorial High School, the school daily class schedule has been advanced by one period which now gives us a seven-period day. This realignment of class time makes possible a greater selection of subject matter over that which is required. It also presents us with a greater opportunity to homogeneously group our students as well as to offer them the advantages of such instruction as developmental reading which has been included into the curriculum for the first time.
At the Middleborough Junior High School our other change is noted in that we have increased the number of periods of science instruction from two to three in grade seven and from three to four in grade eight.
Recent federal legislation, entitled Public Law 85-864, which is aimed at strengthening instruction in science, mathematics, modern foreign language and guidance counselling at the secondary level, proposes some criteria which are most acceptable standards. In our situation, particularly as it applies to counselling, we are meeting these standards at the Memorial High School, but need to make some adjust- ments at the Middleborough Junior High School. As regards the other areas of guidance our program is one of testing and is directly under the control of the Administrative Council which is composed of the Superintendent of Schools and the various building principals.
My report thus far has concerned itself with teaching personnel and educational practices. However, the duties of the Superintendent of Schools extend beyond these limits and must concern itself with the physical plants as well.
As of this date, I am pleased to report that this past year many physical improvements and additions were made to our schools. I com- mend the School Committee for their dogged determination in carrying through with the renovation program as originally conceived. It is gratifying to state that all of our buildings, inside and outside, have been painted within the past six years. There is only one exception to this general rule and that is the girls' gymnasium at the Memorial High School. Plans are presently being considered for a revision to this facility. In addition, to the painting program, I am also pleased to re- port that all classrooms within the system have been relighted with modern fixtures. Prior to this modernization program some of our class- rooms possessed sub-standard illumination.
This past year the 21-year-old roof at the Union Street School was replaced with a new tar and gravel application, the West Side School (original building) was completely shingled, and all buildings in need of trim paint received such protection. At the West Side School and the Flora M. Clark School, the yards were topped with penetrating oil and seal coats of asphalt and beautified as regards lawns and shrubs.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The School Committee has devoted two sessions each year to the examination and inspection of our school plants. As a result of these periodic inspections, such devices as fire detectors have been recom- mended for installation at the West Side School and the attic of the Memorial High School. Under the careful scrutiny of this same Com- mittee, the boiler and furnace at the School Street School were enclosed and made to comply with the standards of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety and Building Inspection.
The same careful consideration of building needs has been reflected in the thinking of this Committee as applies to the extension of student services. This past year, with profits realized from the Memorial High School and Middleborough Junior High School cafeterias the Com- mittee extended the cafeteria program into the Union Street School. Approximately $8000.00 was expended to install new stainless steel kitchen and serving equipment, and dining room bench-tables. The Union Street School cafeteria also services the pupils from the School Street School.
Minor repairs are constantly being made to all of our buildings. Along with the minor repairs program new innovations of a safety nature are also included. Crash-bars to all exit doors for easy and safe withdrawals from buildings as well as hand rails have been installed at the West Side School and School Street School.
Each classroom has been thoroughly cleaned during the summer months; floors have been sealed or waxed; the heating units have been adjusted and cleaned; furniture has been repaired, replaced or refinished; and, of course, all broken glass has been replaced.
Many educational accomplishments, as well as physical plant im- provements, have taken place in the Middleborough Public Schools in the year 1959. These accomplishments are a tribute to the six men of the Middleborough School Committee who devote many hours of their time to the betterment of local education. Actually, the satisfaction received from a job well done is their only reward. It is to these men and my fellow colleagues that I express my sincerest appreciation for the educational success of the year 1959.
JOSEPH C. KUNCES, A.B., M.A. Superintendent of Schools
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ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CHANGES 1959
Teacher Transfers:
Virginia C. Smith
William H. Tufts
Transferred from Grade 3, Pratt Free School to Grade 4, School Street School Transferred from the Memorial High School to the Middleborough Junior High School
Other Personnel Transfers:
Helen C. Caswell
Transferred from the Cafeteria staff (part- time) at the Union Street School to Assist- ant Clerk, Middleborough Junior High School
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