USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1936 > Part 4
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Article 7. Recommend favorable action.
Article 7. Recommend favorable action.
Article 8. Recommend favorable action.
Article 9. Recommend favorable action.
Article 10. Recommend favorable action.
Article 11. Recommend favorable action.
Article 12. Not recommended.
Article 13. Recommend that it be left in hands of Highway commissioner.
Article 14. Recommend favorable action. Fence not to cost over $100.00.
Article 15. Recommend to be left in hands of Highway Sur- veyor and report back to Selectmen.
Article 16. Recommend favorable action.
Article 17. Recommend favorable action.
Respectfully submitted,
HAZEN M. RICHARDSON, Chairman. WILLIAM W. RICHARDSON, WILLIAM S. COLTON, FREDERICK E. BURNHAM, Clerk.
Finance Committee.
* a. Recommend $5500.00 of this appropriation be used for direct relief and $4500.00 be used for work relief under the supervision of the Selectmen.
* b. Recommend $600.00 of the appropriation be used for maintenance and $300.00 for digging graves.
Recommend that the Cemetery Commissioners be instructed not to receive less than $150.00 for endowing cemetery lots.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
School Committee
Superintendent of Schools AND
Yearly Statistics
OF THE
Grammar School
OF THE
Town of Middleton
FOR THE
Year Ending December 31, 1936
77
SCHOOL REPORT
SCHOOL REPORT
School Committee
ETHEL H. STEWART, Secretary
Term Expires 1938
CHARLES I. GOULD, JR.
Term Expires 1939
WAYNE GILES, Chairman
Term Expires 1937
STEPHEN G. BEAN, Superintendent of Schools DR. ANDREW NICHOLS, School Physician MRS. AGNES CARON, R. N., School Nurse GEORGE WEBBER, Attendance Officer
MISS C. ALICE MANNING, Principal
Grade 7 and 8
MISS MARGARET M. BERRY
Grade 6 and 7
MISS FANNIE C. HINKLEY
Grade 5
MISS ANNABELLE SYLVESTER, Town Hall,
Grade 4
MISS ELINOR LANE
Grade 3
MISS DOROTHEA COLBERT
Grade 1
MISS MADELYN LAWRENCE
Grade 2
MRS. GENIE F. KIMBALL, Music Supervisor MISS VITTORIA ROSATTO, Drawing Supervisor GEORGE WEBBER, Janitor
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SCHOOL REPORT
No School School Signal
Two Rounds on Fire Whistle at 7.45 o'clock A. M. Two Rounds on Whistle at the Blacking Company Factory at 7.45 o'clock A. M.
School Calendar for 1937
WINTER TERM
January 4 to February 26 Vacation One Week
WINTER-SPRING TERM
March 8 to April 30
Vacation One Week
SPRING TERM
May 10 to June 21 Summer Vacation
FALL TERM September 8 to December 23
HOLIDAYS February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, November 11 November 25
79
SCHOOL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of the Town of Middleton : Madam and Gentlemen:
The following is my thirteenth annual report as Superinten- dent of Schools for this town.
The greatest problem during the past fiscal year has been to find seating capacity in town for the increasing number of pupils. During the spring term of the school year, ending in June, we were working under difficulties because every room was filled to its capacity and some were housing more pupils than the planned seating capacity allowed. One class was so large that two teachers had to be employed to meet legal requirements. It was evident that the conditions would be worse in September. The committee therefore secured the use of the Town Hall and purchased furni- ture of a movable type so that the hall could be used as usual when school was not in session. To this improvised classroom the fourth grade children were assigned and Miss Annabelle Sylvester was hired by the committee to take charge of the class. This makeshift saved the situation temporarily but it was very evident that addi- tional school facilities were sorely needed. This need was presented to the citizens with the result that an appropriation was made which, with aid from the government, made it possible to erect an adequate building for housing the local school children.
A new building such as is planned will make possible a reor- ganization of the school system on a more efficient basis provided the structure be so planned that it will accommodate the classes or grades in accordance with their numerical size. It is an ideal to have classrooms accommodating not more than thirty-five pupils, but in towns like Middleton it is often impossible to organize a school efficiently in rooms of this capacity. It is well known that a class of forty-two in one grade is much less efficient than a class of thirty-five of one grade, but a class of forty-two in one grade is very much more desirable than a class of thirty-five in two or more grades. It is not always the number of pupils that retards the work so much as it is the number of periods or in- dividual classes which come each day. Two classes under one teacher almost doubles the number of periods in the school day and therefore allows but half as much time for each class. It is possible to teach much more to the majority of forty-two pupils in a thirty or forty minute period than to thirty-five or even thirty pupils in a fifteen to twenty minute period.
Present indications are that next September there will be nearly forty-five pupils in the first grade and forty-three to forty- five in the second. Promotions to the third grade will also make
80
SCHOOL REPORT
a class there of more than forty pupils. In the fourth and fifth grades the numbers will be smaller but the sixth grade will probably exceed forty in number.
If all of the large classes were in grades above the third or fourth it would be possible to create a very desirable helping or coaching class to be made up of pupils from these grades. Such a class could have its homeroom in the ninth classroom which is said to be planned. The larger classes however are in the first three grades, and while it is not impossible to create a special group from these grades, it is far less desirable. However the problem is worked out it is certain that for part of the school at least a much better opportunity will be offered. It does seem a pity not to be able to run a straight grade- to a- room school. Present indications are that all grades will be filled to overflowing within the next few years.
I am informed that there is no provision for a stage in the auditorium as planned. This also seems a pity in a town where there is no really satisfactory auditorium where plays and con- certs can be successfully staged with adequate seating capacity left for an audience. Such a place would be of great value to the town for uses other than by the school children. The modern view of a school plant is that it shall serve the whole community as much as possible, if not for direct educational purposes at least for social and community improvement.
THE TEACHING STAFF
The teachers employed remain the same as at the close of the last year. In general their grade assignments are the same. The use of the Town Hall has made it possible for Miss Lane to take the third grade as a unit and has permitted the unification of the fourth grades under Miss Sylvester.
The continuance of a staff of satisfactory teachers from year to year is an element of strength in any school system. With proper leadership and cooperation it makes for growth and strength. There is no lost motion such as often appears in the struggle of a new teacher to adjust to new conditions, especially when new teachers are usually inexperienced.
VISUAL EDUCATION
Scientific investigation has proven that there are many more than we supposed who learn from pictures and written or printed words, rather than, or better than by hearing the spoken word. The reason for this may be due to our increasing dependence on things pictured to get our ideas and ideals. Whether this tendency is desirable is debatable but it seems to be a fact. To meet this
81
SCHOOL REPORT
condition a very good projector has been purchased and used in the schoolrooms. With the very excellent screen purchased at the same time we have now a valuable adjunct to our teaching facili- ties. The value of this will be increasingly great as more films of educational value become available at reasonable rentals. There are many very fine programs available which have been prepared by various commercial firms for advertising purposes, and which are to be secured by paying cost of transportation only.
TRANSPORTATION
On the basis of lack of complaint the present transportation facilities are very satisfactory both as to equipment and time schedule. There has been a demand from the high school children of the section of the town towards Haswell Park for service to Danvers which will not necessitate walking to the Center to meet the bus. In consideration of the early hour at which they must leave their homes and the distance to be walked it would seem wise to give consideration to their case before the whole town meeting. An added expenditure is involved and the townspeople should settle what policy it will back financially. It should be remembered that this is not the only outlying section of the town.
ENROLLMENT
Tabulations showing enrollment on October 1, 1936, will be found following this report. These figures are deceptive because similar tabulations made a little later in the year showed a total enrollment of 272 pupils instead of the 263 shown in these tables. In addition to the local enrollment we had 63 pupils enrolled at Danvers High School. Thus the total number of pupils now at- tending school at the town's expense is 335. This is a record for the twelve and more years that I have been connected with the schools.
RESULTS
One method of judging the comparative efficiency of our schools is the standing of our own pupils when they go to a high school in another town. I am told that we have a good repre- sentation on the honor rolls. The reports from our last graduating class from the Center School for the first marking period showed a remarkably small number who had failed to pass in all subjects.
HEALTH ACTIVITIES
The high quality of work which we have been doing for several years toward the promotion of the health of the school children of Middleton has continued for the most of the year under the same
82
SCHOOL REPORT
leadership as usual. All of the important health clinics have been carried on with increasingly good cooperation from the homes. The dental clinic was carried on with its usual efficiency and effective- ness by Dr. McNally. It is a source of great regret that in the latter part of the year our most capable school nurse, Mrs. Roundy, was forced by pressure of other duties to relinquish her position in Middleton. Mrs. Roundy has worked faithfully and most effi- ciently for a number of years. The vacancy thus created is being filled temporarily by Mrs. Caron, of Salem.
CONCLUSION
I am very glad to be able to say that in spite of some adverse conditions the year has been successful. I have received excellent cooperation from all of the teachers for which I wish to express appreciation.
To the School Committee I also offer thanks for all of the aid that they, because of the short time I am employed in Middleton, have been obliged to render. Numerous administrative problems which required immediate solution or action have fallen to their lot.
Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN G. BEAN,
Superintendent of Schools.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT FOR 1936
The School Committee are submitting the following report for the past fiscal year. We are very grateful to the State Inspec- tor, Mr. McCann for allowing us to use the Town Hall for one of the grades. Miss Sylvester has the Fourth grade in the Hall and Miss Lane has the third grade at the school. Improvements are very noticeable in all lines of study where the classes are smaller.
The fourth grade are having the same program as the pupils in the school. Mrs. Kimball, Miss Rosatto and Mrs. Caron R. N., make their weekly visits to the hall and the program is working out very nicely.
Most important at this time, is the building of the new school. We are in hopes to have it completed in the early fall. There will be nine class rooms, exercise room, auditorium, nurse's room and executive offices.
The teaching staff remains the same, except for one new teacher. Mrs. Roundy, our nurse for sixteen years was obliged to resign, to give her entire time to the Essex Agricultural School. Mrs. Agnes Caron R. N., of Salem is the new school nurse.
Respectfully submitted,
ETHEL H. STEWART, Secretary.
ENROLLMENT STATISTICS Age and Grade Distribution-Registration October 1, 1936
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
T
I
12
21
6
1
1
41
II
12
22
6
4
44
III
10
15
5
1
31
IV
2
14
9
2
27
V
6
23
4
2
1
42
VI
4
15
6
4
3
1
33
VII
7
7
3
3
20
VIII
6
8
5
5
1
25
Total
12
33
38
24
30
37
28
21
16
11
6
1
263
Heavily leaded diagonals indicate age limits for the grades
SCHOOL REPORT
83
84
SCHOOL REPORT
Teacher Grade Distribution October 1, 1936
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VI
VIII
Tot.
C. A. Manning -
11
25
36
M. M. Berry -
33
9
42
F. C. Hinkley -
42
42
E. Lane
31
31
A. Sylvester
27
27
M. E. Lawrence -
44
44
D. A. Colbert . -
41
41
Total
41
44
31
27
42
33
20
25
263
85
SCHOOL REPORT
CENTER SCHOOL REPORT FOR 1936
January 25, 1937.
Dr. Nichols examined all the students for scabis.
January 9-Three children excluded.
January 13-Two children excluded.
January 21-None.
ESSEX COUNTY TUBERCULOSIS CLINIC WAS OFFERED TO THE 5-6-7-8 GRADES. COMPLETE REPORT.
February 3, 1936-
Number of notices sent to parents 82
Number of consent slips received from parents 74
February 14, 1936-
Number of children received the Von Pirquet test 72
Number of children absent for Von Pirquet test 2
Number of tests read negative 50
Number of tests read positive 22
March 2-
Number of children X-ray 20
Number of children absent for X-ray 2
Number of children positive for X-ray
8
Number of children negative for X-ray
12
March 5-
The following children who's X-ray read positive and diag- nosed child type of tuberculosis were examined by Dr. Houser. John McKinnon, mother present; Robert Burke, aunt present; Verne Hills, mother present; Gertrude Wade, mother present; Ardis Duclow, mother present; Alice Phaneuf, sister present; Lorette Woods, mother present; Charles Currier, no one present.
Number of children examined by Dr. Nichols, school physician 252
NUMBER OF NOTICES SENT TO PARENTS
Number ragged and diseased tonsils should be removed 9
Number wax in left ear, harden 1
Number wax in right ear, harden
1
Number of swollen glands 5
Number of systolic murmur at the apex of heart 2
86
SCHOOL REPORT
SCHICK TEST
Number of consent slips sent to parents 110
Number of consent slips received signed from parents 52
Number of students received schick test 52
Number of students negative reading 23
Number of students received toxin antitoxin
26
NUMBER OF CHILDREN EXCLUDED WITH SKIN INFECTIONS
Number of children excluded with skin infections, impetigo 14
Number of children excluded with scabis 11
Number of children excluded Trochoma (ring worm) 3
Number of children excluded, Ivy poison 9
Number of children excluded, dogwood poison
1
NUMBER OF CHILDREN ABSENT WITH CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
Number of children absent with chicken pox
44
Number of children absent with the mumps 36
Number of children absent with measles 29
Number of children absent with whooping cough
9
Number of children absent with scarlet fever
6
Number of children absent with dog bite wounds 4
Number of children excluded with sore throat 5
Number of children had their eyes tested 248
Number of notices sent to parents asking for further testing 5
Number of corrections made children receiving glasses 3
Number of examinations made on heads for peddiculosis 16
Each room checked up and children excluded 9
Dates of examinations January 6-8-13-15, February 5-10, March 11-18, April 16, May 11-25, June 10, September 9-11, Oc- tober 5-14-21, 1936.
Children weighed and measured January, June and October 1936. Weights and heights totaled for age. List sent to each teacher including normal weight and height with numbers of pounds under weight.
Dr. Archibald Essex County Health Agent visited our school twice.
Number of health conferences attended during the year 4
Number of surgical dressings applied 97
Number of home visits 153
Number of conferences with teachers in their home room 69
Number of conferences with other agents and family physicians 39
87
SCHOOL REPORT
DENTAL CLINIC REPORT
From May 18-22, 1936 Sept. 14-Oct. 6, 1936.
Number of children examined 252
Number of consent slips sent to parents 252
Number of consent slips received from parents, signed 118
Number of cleanings
112
Number of Amalgon fillings (silver)
218
Number of porcelain fillings (white enamel)
28
Number of cement fillings
5
Number of extractions (temporary teeth)
73
Number of extractions (permanent teeth) abscess
20
Total number of treatments
456
Total number of hours 10114 hours.
$303.50
Total cost of dental clinic
Dr. Nichols gave physical examinations to all teachers and nurse, including art and music supervisors.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY E. ROUNDY, R. N. AGNES CARON, R. N. School Nurses.
Mrs. Roundy was obliged to resign as school nurse in Mid- dleton November 1, 1936, and Mrs. Agnes Caron R. N. of Salem is the nurse chosen to fill the vacancy.
88
SCHOOL REPORT
DRAWING REPORT
To the Superintendent and School Board of Middleton:
The drawing covered in the grades although generally sup- posed to produce something attractive is nevertheless founded on definite principles that are just as necessary to the finished drawing as the A, B, C's are to words.
These principles involve the study of color, design, perspective, lettering, measuring and representation.
Each month lessons on new principles, called tool lessons, as well as review of others must be added to the attractive lessons to provide for the growth of the child.
The following are some of the things that guide the drawing of the year. September and October-study of color and Fall flowers. November-harvest scenes, fruits, vegetables and letter- ing. December-decorative Christmas work such as cards calen- dars, baskets, tree ornaments, place cards and transparencies. January-review of color, object drawing, measuring and figure drawing. February-design, and holiday efforts for Valentine's Day, Lincoln and Washington. March-figure drawing, free ex- pression and lettering. April-illustrations and poster work. May and June-Spring flowers, object drawing and color.
In 1936 the eighth grade put on a puppet play of Cinderella for graduation. The characters, scenes and costumes were executed by the pupils in Miss Manning's room including both 7th and 8th. Only eighth grade manipulated the puppets for the play.
Respectfully submitted,
VITTORIA ROSATTO,
Supervisor of Drawing.
MIDDLETON
PUBLIC
LIBRE
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