USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1960 > Part 13
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All buildings have been thoroughly checked and many minor re- pairs have been made. The policy of keeping these buildings in good repair should be continued in the future.
193
ANNUAL REPORT
ENROLLMENT SUMMARY - GRADES 1 - 6*
Grade
Number of Rooms Number of Pupils
1
9
245
2
9
220
3
7
224
4
8
235
5
6
199
6
4*
119*
Elementary Practical Arts
1
13
Total
44
1255
* Exclusive of three divisions of Grade Six presently housed at the Middleborough Junior High School.
Submitted by the Elementary School Principals of the Middleboro Public Schools,
Alice R. Begley
Raye F. Guidoboni
Robert W. Gross
Louis J. Rando
Edward W. Sawicki
DIVISION OF ART EDUCATION
Sylvia G. Matheson, Supervisor
In the elementary and secondary schools we have tried this past year to make the work in art a vital part in the life of the child, an enrichment to the school curriculum and to the community. It has been made a practical and pleasurable experience for every pupil. We have correlated other subjects and activities which helped offer the oppor- tunity for individual self-expression.
In the primary grades, the art program was five-fold:
1. To supply a wide variety of materials.
2. To provide time for the child to use materials and to ex- plore their possibilities.
3. To encourage the child to use his own experiences as a basis for individual expression.
4. To teach simple techniques in using tools and materials.
5. To ask questions and guide discussions so that children
5. To ask questions and guide discussions so that children have more ideas to express and gain more skill in express- ing them.
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ANNUAL REPORT
In the elementary grades, the art program was planned to help the pupil to:
1. Gain confidence in his ability to express original ideas through art.
2. Learn to use color proportion, line, form, and rhythm to produce the effect he wished.
3. Appreciate beauty in nature and man-made objects.
4. Plan carefully and evaluate what he has made in terms of his purposes.
In general, our art program was based on the following objectives:
1. To develop the power of discriminating observation.
2. To stimulate creative imagination.
3. To develop visual memory.
4. To train an appreciation of the beautiful.
5. To add to the child's vocabulary of art form.
6. To educate for leisure time enjoyment of the arts and crafts.
Art education has become increasingly important to the enrichment of the school curriculum. This was inevitable as we devoted more atten- tion to the needs and interests of the pupils. Art, today, is a creative experience. The child learns about the art with which he lives and also uses art to supplement other learnings in the curriculum.
Since September, 1960, besides teaching at the High School seven- teen periods per week, visits have been made regularly to all elementary and junior high schools. I have taught a lesson in each class on the days scheduled for visits and also left instructions for follow-up work with the teachers. All of the teachers exhibit the pupils' art work in their rooms in a most artistic manner. There always has been a chance for parents and friends to see the art work produced throughout the entire year.
As the pupil moves on into secondary education in the High School, he finds the opportunity for more specialized and technical instruction in art according to his individual interests, talents, and skills. In addi- tion to becoming an ever-increasing area in the curriculum for its selection as a major field of study, many students find the art program a most desirable and valuable field for the selection of an elective subject.
The courses offered in the art program at the High School are as follows: Freehand Drawing and Mechanical Drawing which meet two periods a week; two courses which meet every day for full credit - Industrial Design and a Potential Artists Group; and two new courses added to the program this year, Art Appreciation and Applied Design (Crafts). The Applied Design classes meet every day and carry a full credit. The Art Appreciation course meets two periods a week. We have at the present time an enrollment in all the art classes of nearly four hundred students.
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ANNUAL REPORT
After considering carefully what the Evaluation Committee recom- mended in their report to improve the Art Department I feel, as Art Supervisor, the three items listed below are the ones that should require immediate attention.
1. An art teacher should be added to the staff at the High School because of the increased pupil enrollment as stated above.
2. Additional space should be made available so that more suitable classroom facilities with proper space for storage and display may be provided. Also cabinets for storage of pupils' materials are needed.
3. More equipment is greatly needed to carry on the work of the Applied Design (Crafts) course.
Art education is important today because it must help the students to understand the best ideas and cultures of all societies. Art education is a much needed antidote for materialism, a reminder that man is a spirit. There can be no reasonable doubt concerning the necessity of our children learning much more than most of them now learn about natural science and about mathematics, and it is certainly necessary for them to learn foreign languages; but there is a real danger of the development of a lopsided educational system which could produce an unbalanced generation if present educational trends continue too long.
Therefore, teaching of the arts at every level is today probably more important than ever before as a means of balancing the curriculum and of helping the next generation to create a balanced society.
A wholly scientific world would be incredibly boring. Education which emphasizes only material things is basically training for robots.
The human spirit soars like a skylark out of sight of material things and art is a record of the wanderings of the spirit. Art gives meaning to life. The teaching of art is a means of preserving the continuity of man's intellectual and spiritual experience. Art enables the student to com- municate with both the past and present and helps him to understand the basic ideas which have motivated man and makes him what he is.
Art has taken on a very important role in the activities in the schools and the community this past year. In addition to the regular work that was carried on, listed below are some of the ways in which the Art Department has been of great service. Posters were made for all school and some community organizations, such as civic clubs, cam- paigns, dances, food sales, senior play, and student council. The decora- tions for all school parties as well as the senior banquet and reception, junior prom, assembly programs, senior play stage setting and lighting were accomplished by many of the art classes of the High School. A scale model (Industrial Development) was completed by the Industrial Design class of the High School for the Industrial Development Com- mittee of Middleboro. This excellent miniature construction was exhib- ited at the Brockton Fair and at a store in Middleboro last summer.
196
ANNUAL REPORT
Last spring, I gave three courses (30 hours) in art to fifteen teachers in Middleboro. In-service credit was given them. The courses were on Design, Puppetry, and Suggestions for the Selection and Evalu- ation of Art Experiences. These proved most helpful to the teachers in service.
It is with sincere gratefulness that I thank those who have so kindly cooperated with me in my earnest efforts to make art so progressive in the schools.
SYLVIA G. MATHESON
DIVISION OF MUSIC EDUCATION
Richard E. Nelson, Instrumental Eunice M. Sherman, Vocal
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EDUCATION
It is with a great deal of pleasure that I present my second annual report as teacher of instrumental music.
This year at the elementary level we are continuing with the policy of free class instruction for one year. In this way I am able to guide each student through conferences with teachers and principals. The student must maintain passing grades in his class work in order to participate in the program. This policy has proved valuable to the stu- dents and parents in that money has not been wasted on the purchase of instruments and private lessons. Records show that of eighty begin- ners who started in 1958, fifteen dropped out before the end of the first year and thus were able to return the instruments. Five have dropped out in the two years that have followed. In 1959 there were also eighty beginners. Ten discontinued their lessons in the first year and only two have dropped out since then. This is a very low percentage and is due to the guidance they receive in their first year of instrumental music. At the conclusion of the first year, all pupils study with private instruc- tors and are able to get more individual help. This year there are eighty beginners studying instrumental music in Grades Four, Five, and Six: School Street School, 30; Mayflower School, 30; West Side School, 20.
In May the music department presented a series of four Friday night concerts displaying the talents of all levels of music education in the Middleboro Public Schools. The first Friday evening included the High School Band and the Dance Band making its first appearance as a concert organization. The second Friday was the appearance of the elementary schools including the Beginners Orchestra, West Side School Choir, and the Elementary Band. The third Friday was Junior High School night including the Junior High School Orchestra, Seventh Grade Chorus, Eighth Grade Chorus, the Casseleers (a male vocal group), and
197
ANNUAL REPORT
the Band. The final Friday night concert displayed the superior talents of our High School Symphonic Band in its first local appearance and the High School Orchestra. Over one thousand parents and friends attended the four concerts.
This year the High School Concert Band and Symphonic Band participated in the audition festival in Brockton. The Concert Band received a "one" or superior rating in class "B" competition. The Sym- phonic Band received a "two" or excellent rating in class "A" competi- tion. Both bands were well received by the audiences and praised by the judges.
The public appearances for all the instrumental groups were as follows:
High School Band
15
High School Symphonic Band
3
High School Orchestra 3
High School Dance Band 3
Junior High Band 3
Junior High Orchestra
3
Elementary Band
3
West Side Orchestra
2
School Street School Orchestra
1
Mayflower School Orchestra
1
There have been a few additions and changes in schedules at the High School and the Junior High School. The general choruses at the High School have been changed from after school to the second period, each one meeting two days per week. At present there are fourteen periods of music offered during school time and two other periods after school for the dance band and theory class. At the Junior High School there is an activity period on Wednesdays. Students may choose band, seventh grade glee club, or eighth grade glee club along with other activities that are offered.
For many years the music department has been providing extra activities for outstanding musicians in our High School band, orchestra, and choir. They are given an opportunity to work with famous conduc- tors from high schools, colleges, radio, television, and the armed services. This year we had a large number participate:
SEMSBA
S. E. DISTRICT
ALL-STATE
Band 15
Band 5
Orchestra
1
Chorus 20
Orchestra
4
Chorus
4
Chorus 16
Throughout our musical program it is our philosophy to create an interest and knowledge of music through participation in music classes in the first eight grades and provide for those with special interest and talents through our voluntary musical organization at all levels. This year there were six in the graduating class who showed exceptional interest and talent and have chosen music as a career.
198
ANNUAL REPORT
Lowell Teachers College 2
Boston University 1
Eastman School of Music 1 Navy Band School 2
Two have been selected for accelerated study due to their back- ground in High School. All have reported that their background and guidance throughout their musical education in the Middleboro Public Schools including High School band, orchestra, choir, theory class, SEMSBA, District, and All-State, have been a valuable contribution to their success in higher education.
At this time I would like to thank the Peirce Estate Trustees for purchasing the additional new uniforms for the High School Band and the Junior Cabot Club for their gift of a small size bass drum for the Elementary Band. I would also like to thank all school personnel for their loyal help and cooperation throughout the past year.
Respectfully Submitted,
RICHARD E. NELSON
VOCAL MUSIC EDUCATION
How can music education develop skills for living and make our children better citizens for the future? During these times we are con- stantly reminded how much we need music as a stabilizer. The teachers and I have tried to convey this idea to the pupils. As Victor Herbert said, "We need music in joy, sorrow, disappointment, and in every walk of life." This can be explained to the children through folk songs com- posed at the time of historical struggles or work songs which are a type of folk song composed and sung by the people as they work at their jobs. The children often create their own "work songs."
"Togetherness" is sought in all walks of life but is most easily accomplished in music. In the lower grades it is keeping together in unison-at the same level or pitch. It is also accomplished through folk dancing or dramatizing stories such as "The Gingerbread Man" or "The Shoemaker and the Elves" that work in with other songs. Where rhythm band instruments are available, "togetherness" is once more applied. Choric reading is also helpful in this respect and is used to fit the situation. The fourth and fifth grades start with rounds or chords to build up the idea of two-part music, and at Christmas this year the fifth graders sang the familiar carols in two parts.
Different groups from the various schools have made public appear- ances at various times during the year. The a Cappella Choir performed at seven concerts in addition to the regular Town Hall Concert and their own school functions. Seventeen choir members took part in the South-
199
ANNUAL REPORT
eastern District Festival at Weymouth; from this group four were ac- cepted for All-State Chorus which is the climax of choral training. Twenty-two from the Choir sang at the SEMSBA Concert in March. The climax for the Music Department came on three successive Friday nights in May, when, with the exception of the a Cappella Choir, all musical groups performed.
There have been several new vocal groups formed this year. At the High School, in addition to the a Cappella Choir, we have two new gen- eral choruses, each meeting twice a week. The main purpose is the en- joyment of music. One group is an all-girl chorus which is being trained to sing in three and four parts. The other chorus is three-part, soprano, alto, bass-sometimes with the tenor added as the fourth part. Members of these choruses will feed into the choir. The choruses are elective; I have been very much pleased with their progress, starting with one or two parts and working up to four-part singing. In addition to meeting with the two choruses and the choir, I visit all classrooms at least every other week. There is a new eighth grade glee club meeting during Activi- ty Period each Wednesday. This consists of forty-five members who sing mainly for enjoyment and perform at the Junior High Night in May and graduation in June. The West Side Choir is in charge of Mrs. Hydorn. With a new fifth and sixth grade choir at the Mayflower School, we try to work these two choirs together so they may perform together at the May Elementary Concert in the Town Hall. It is at times like these that I am constantly reminded of how much the music program depends upon the cooperation of all. Perhaps one of the most important ways the Music Department helps our children prepare for the future is through participation of this kind. In music education it becomes "appreciation through active participation." Through techniques and other devices, we give the children the opportunity to participate. I wish to thank the school administration, principals, and pupils, who, each in his own special way, help to broaden the music program.
Respectfully submitted,
EUNICE M. SHERMAN
DIVISION OF HEALTH SERVICE
Stuart A. Silliker, M.D. Mary H. Edgerly, R.N.
The basic purpose of the school health program is to help provide the best possible health facilities for each pupil and to help prepare the citizens of the future to make self-directed decisions regarding their own health.
Since education consists essentially in preparing boys and girls for what they must be and for what they must do, it is clear that there can be no ideally perfect education which does not teach the child how he can maintain optimum health and protect himself from disease.
200
ANNUAL REPORT
The realization of the goal of optimum health for school children depends on the integration of family, community, and school resources to meet the needs of each pupil.
During the past year the following health activities were carried out by the school nurse.
Attendance at Meetings
2
Assistance at Clinics
5
Assistance at Health Examinations 120
(Grades 1, 3, 7, and 10.)
Talks or Classroom Visits
210
Teacher-Nurse Conferences
572
Pupil-Nurse Conferences
497
Parent-Nurse Conferences
273
Principal-Nurse Conferences
217
Superintendent-Nurse Conferences
25
Other Conferences - (including doctors, dentists, state consultants, nurses, social worker, etc.)
81
First Aid
679
Sick Children Attended
533
Sick Children Sent Home
224
Transportation of Sick Children
20
Massachusetts Vision Tests
2737
Retests
237
Failures
165
Hearing Tests
2624
Retests
124
Failures
63
Notices Sent Home
695
Heads Inspected
739
Visits to Doctor's or Dentist's Office
10
Home Visits
24
Individual Health Records
2500
Reports to State, Town and Superintendent
22
Emergency Cards
1390
First Grade Registration
200
Immunization Clinics :-
3-21-60 99 pupils
Dr. Starvish Town Hall
4-11-60 157 pupils
Dr. Bonnar
Town Hall
5-9-60 112 pupils
Dr. Silliker
Town Hall
5-23-60 85 pupils Dr. Silliker
Midd. Junior High
6-6-60 204 pupils
Dr. Beuthner
Memorial High
Handicapped Children
125
Include:
Attending Boston School for the Deaf
3
Attending Perkins School for the Blind
1
Attending Knowlton School Sight-Saving Class 1
Partially seeing children attending
Middleboro Public Schools regularly
6
ANNUAL REPORT 201
108
Other children included in this group are children with orthopedic handicaps, heart diseases, epilepsy, chronic diseases such as: - nephrosis, asthma, diabetes, hearing, and speech defects. Children unable to attend school who have home teachers. 6
MARY H. EDGERLY
School Nurse
DIVISION OF STUDENT ATHLETICS Henry E. Battis, Director of Athletics Organization Memorial High School
Joseph S. Antone, Jr., Assistant Coach of Baseball, Assistant Coach of Football and Assistant Coach of Basketball.
Robert G. Brown, Coach of Basketball, Coach of Baseball and Coach of Freshman Football.
Carolyn E. Gravelin, Coach of Girls' Field Hockey, Basketball and Soft- ball.
Franklin E. James, Coach of Track and Coach of Cross Country
Joseph A. Masi, Coach of Football
W. Robert Thomas, Coach of Freshman Basketball
Middleborough Junior High School
E. Fen Carpenter, Coach of Girls' Intramural Athletics
Edwin Denton, Coach of Boys' Intramural Athletics, Soccer and Basket- ball
This past year changes in the athletic program at the High School and Junior High School were at a minimum, and very few changes are anticipated in the near future. With few exceptions the program is meet- ing the needs of the majority and is very similar to that of most of the schools in this area.
The most noteworthy change took place this past fall - and was a very pleasant one. Perfect weather, plus a football team that won more than its share of games and was thrilling even in defeat, attracted a record attendance at the games. Last year's record beat all previous ones and 1960 almost doubled that.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Changes in personnel in the Athletic Department find Robert Tho- mas from the Junior High School, instead of Joseph Masi, coaching freshman basketball; Frank James taking the place of Joseph Antone in track; Joseph Antone replacing Henry Battis as junior varsity base- ball coach.
The tennis program for which we had high hopes failed to material- ize. The same problem that we find more and more prevalent year after year in all sports; namely, lack of interest, was the reason. Coach James and the few boys who were interested were very enthusiastic and repre- sented Middleboro creditably in five matches with other schools. With only a couple of these boys returning to school this year, along with the lack of interest, it was felt that the sport should be dropped until such interest becomes more evident.
There is a possibility that one of the reasons why more boys and girls are not playing tennis is due to the limited facilities. Last spring it was necessary to play our "home" matches with other schools on their courts, since we have only two courts. In the Physical Education pro- gram there is no question but that both our boys' and girls' tennis classes would be much more successful if we had another court or two. During a gym class it is not at all uncommon to see 25 or 30 students all playing on the two courts.
However, this problem is minor in nature, compared to the problem of locker room facilities for the girls in the High School and the pro- blem of a playing field at the Junior High School. Some progress has been made in both these areas during the past year, and it is hoped that a remedy for both can be accomplished in the near future.
HENRY E. BATTIS,
Director of Athletics
DIVISION OF SCHOOL CAFETERIAS Organization Barbara J. Vachon, Supervisor of Accounts Memorial High School
Mrs. Bertha I. Dunham, Head Cook Mrs. Estelle Wheeler, Assistant Cook Mrs. Edythe M. Dunlea, Assistant Cook Mrs. Rita Kettle, Part Time Assistant
Middleborough Junior High School
Mrs. Arlene P. Stevens, Head Cook Mrs. Ellen E. Shaw, Assistant Cook Mrs. Madeline Dill, Baker - Assistant Cook Mrs. Angelina Jardullo, Part Time Assistant
203
ANNUAL REPORT
Mayflower Consolidation
Mrs. Barbara Quindley, Head Cook, Mayflower Mrs. Jeanne E. Roberts, Assistant Cook Miss Joanne N. Cabral, Assistant Cook Mrs. Ethel M. Morrison, Part Time Assistant Mrs. Minnie V. Wills, Part Time Assistant, Union Street School Mrs. Elizabeth R. Kinsman, Part Time Assistant, Union Street School
The following is a summary of lunches served, as well as the morn- ing and noon milk program during 1960:
Summary of Lunches Served
No .of Pupil
Lunches
No. of Free Lunches
No. of Adult Lunches
Total
Memorial High School
63,036
2,513
1,473
328
67,350
Junior High School
66,560
2,089
1,372
208
70,229
Mayflower Consolidation
69,547
3,172
1,323
962
75,004
199,143
7,774
4,168
1,498*
212,583
Summary of Noon Milk Program
No.of No. of Free Pupil Milk & Cooking Adult Milk
No. of
Total
Memorial High School
10,843
532
434
11,809
Junior High School
19,429
1,350
642
21,421
Mayflower Consolidation
10,122
818
240
11,180
40,394
2,700
1,316
44,410
Summary of Elementary Milk
No. of Pupil Milk
No. of No. of Free Milk Adult Milk
Total
In-Town Schools
55,792
368
0
56,160
South Middleboro District
8,933
94
75
9,102
North Middleboro District
3,746
8
66
3,820
68,471
470
141
69,082
* Adult Lunch with Coffee or Tea
324,577 bottles of milk purchased during 1960 (1/2 pints).
The following is a report of the finances of the entire program for 1960:
Opening Cash Balance January 1, 1960
$8,038.54
Sales, January-December, 1960
58,391.02
U.S. Dept. Agriculture Claims Received 1960
21,526.30
$87,955.86
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ANNUAL REPORT
Expended for Food, January-December, 1960 48,738.22
Expended for Equipment, January-December, '60
1,939.87
Expended for Labor, January-December, 1960
22,133.81
Expended for Other Expenses of Operation, January-December, 1960 4,356.49
77,168.39
Closing Cash Balance, December 31, 1960
$10,787.47
Add: 1960 Claims Not Yet Received
4,848.74
$15,636.21
Less 1959 Claims Received in 1960
4,062.51
$11,573.70
In addition to the above financial breakdown, the Office of School Lunch Programs, acting as agent for the U.S. Department of Agricul- ture, supplied the Lunch and Milk Program with commodities, the wholesale value of which was $11,082.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Receipts
State Aid for Public Schools, G.L., Chap. 70
$95,611.84
State Reimbursement for Transportation, G.L.,
Chap. 71, S. 7A
38,601.65
Tuition and Transportation of State Wards
1,901.21
Tuition of Non-Resident Pupils
7,604.50
Vocational Tuition and Transportation Reimbursement
9,887.57
Adult Education Reimbursement
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