USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1948 > Part 6
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It has been the desire of the committee to secure the best teachers possible to guide and teach our young members of the community. The past year, Miss Mary Morgan of Salem, Miss Marie Flathers of Lawrence and Mrs. Camille Lacey of Andover have become faculty members. They have all come to us excel- lently prepared and with fine credentials.
The present staff of teachers has willingly carried on the Physical Training program to the best of their ability since it was impossible to secure a Supervisor of Physical Education for such a limited period. We, as a committee, feel that resuming the manual training course that was discontinued when the classes moved to the new building, would be most beneficial to the boys of the upper classes. We hope some arrangements may be made to accomplish this project.
High School tuition has advanced from $152.30 to $172.18 per student. This increase of $19.88 per pupil with approximately one hundred twenty students attending Danvers High, adds a con- siderable amount to our present budget.
The policy has always been to have adequate supplies and books available to maintain the high standard of the school system. We delegate this task to Mr. Bean, who has always been prudent and economical in his purchases.
The students have derived many benefits from the Visual Edu- cation Program carried on in the school this year. Much of the equipment needed to carry on this program was financed through the efforts and generosity of the children and teachers.
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SCHOOL REPORT
We wish to thank Mr. Bean, our Superintendent; Miss Mann- ing, our Principal, and the teachers for their loyal cooperative spirit and extend to them our sincere appreciation.
To Mr. Clinch, may we also extend our sincere thanks for his devotion to his work and for the many tasks he has undertaken, to curtail expenses for the school.
Respectfully submitted, DR. RAYMOND W. SILVERNAIL, Chairman MRS. ROSAMOND BASTABLE ALICE K. CASS, Secretary
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SCHOOL REPORT
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Middleton, Mass.
February 15, 1949
To the Superintendent and Members of the School Committee
Mesdames and Gentlemen:
In compliance with your request, I submit a report for the year.
Attendance still seems to be a serious problem in our building. Continued irregular attendance can result in nothing else but lack of interest, low grades and failures. It is possible for a pupil to make up an absence of a week or two more easily than day by day absences, for, in the latter case, connection with daily class progress and discussion is lost. This is difficult to make up even if the child shows an inclination to give of his own time outside for that purpose.
Much retardation may be traced to poor attendance, whether caused by reasons excusable or not. Many absences could and should be avoided. Careful consideration of this and supervision in the home would help remedy this matter.
As grade distribution has changed this year it was found necessary to move Grade IV to the top floor for the first time since this building has been in use. A combination of Grades I and II was placed in that room under Miss Jean Shinnick, who wished a transfer from upper grade teaching. At present it ap- pears there will be a combination of grades in lower classes for some time.
Our school registration is continually changing and this pre- sents another serious problem. Pupils enter from other school systems whose courses of study vary and it is necessary new pupils be adjusted to ours. Our classes of late years and now are too large to allow much time for individual help in school, and as over two-thirds of our registration are transported, there is not much opportunity for outside assistance.
Achievement tests were given in the spring to the upper grades and teachers find them of much assistance in judging ability and accomplishment of pupils.
Reading Readiness Tests were given to all those who entered Grade I in September. Great variation in the results proved their worth in placing the children in suitable groups or divisions.
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SCHOOL REPORT
Visual Education has, as last year, been a definite aid. Our contract with the Visual Education, Inc., Boston, has ended, but we hope to be able to continue these classes through use of more free films and school financing.
Social Studies and Health have been the basis of our films. The latter subject is often camouflaged to secure interest and emphasis. We have been amazed at the information obtained and retained by the children, in lower grades especially, from science and industrial films.
The slides and film strips used in the new V.S.E. projector are valuable aids too, but we have not been able to use them in class rooms, as we planned, on account of lack of black or dark curtains. We hope to remedy this soon by earning some dark supplementary overdrapes adjustable to any room.
Science in general form has become a regular subject in the grades. Two years ago, two sets of books were purchased and placed in upper grades, each a grade ahead of the assigned level that they might serve more classes. Since then, those have been placed in proper grades and sets bought to fill out. Grade VIII has been supplied very recently as have several lower grades. The response of the pupils shows their value.
All teachers attended, in the fall, an afternoon Science meet- ing at Boston University School of Education, where the attendance from school systems all over Massachusetts testified to the interest in this subject as a part of our grade school curriculum. We found the extensive and instructive exhibit very interesting and worth- while, also.
Projects, whether simple or complicated, are always especially valuable in creating interest and pupil cooperation. Several, this year, have been noteworthy, although all did not arrive at full completion, such as the Grade II fire truck.
In my estimation, in a school community, its citizens must participate in as many phases of life there as possible, incidentally learning those lessons needed in citizenship in the larger and complex community life.
In conclusion, may I express most sincerely my appreciation of the assistance, cooperation and loyalty of the School Committee, our Superintendent, Mr. Bean, and the teachers and supervisors.
Respectfully submitted,
C. ALICE MANNING
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools and
Members of the School Committee:
The Nursing service during the year included the following services :
All the children are given a physical examination 'by Dr. Rogers. Notices were sent home to the parents describing defects needing correction and follow-up work done to try to make sure correction is obtained.
The students were weighed and measured semi-annually and notices sent home to parents. Massachusetts Vision Test kit was used in Grades 1, 4 and 8 and any other children were tested that were reported by the teachers. The parents were notified of any cases of defective vision.
We will use the Audiometer to test hearing as soon as the State releases the machine.
Patch testing for T.B. will begin in March. Any student with a positive reaction will be X-rayed.
We were fortunate to have Dr. Connolly of Danvers conduct our dental clinic again. All the children's teeth were examined and notices sent parents of condition of teeth. As many children as possible were treated. This included extractions and fillings.
With parental permission Dr. Rogers immunized many chil- dren against diphtheria.
We have had less trouble with Pidiculosis after constant exam- inations and exclusion of children in the beginning of the school year. Only by careful checking and supervision can we manage to keep the children free of this condition.
The Nurse appreciates the fine help and cooperation shown by Miss Manning and all the teachers.
Respectfully submitted, BERTHA E. LEAVITT,
School Nurse.
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF THE ART SUPERVISOR
This past year there has been more interest in Arts and Crafts throughout the United States than for some years. One reads of classes in oil and watercolor painting, tray painting, furniture refinishing and decorating and many other phases of painting, crafts and handwork. School Art programs are stimulated by this and there is an opportunity to make the work more varied.
Any form of handwork which is to be "good," must necessarily be built on a firm foundation knowledge of color, drawing and design.
The program in your Middleton schools is planned to supply that background.
During the first months of the school year, fundamentals of good drawing and design are taught and reviewed. As the year progresses we apply these fundamentals to seasonal projects. Christmas windows and decorations and simple cards and gifts are made.
Figure drawing and illustration are most important sections of our Art classes. From the smallest first grader to the most advanced eighth grade student, the children are taught to plan illustrations. Often, these illustrations are coordinated with other school subjects.
The entire Art program is planned for the average child in order that each child, whatever degree of talent he possesses, re- ceives the same measure of my attention.
As always, in closing my report, I wish to express my grati- tude to all of the teachers and to Mr. Bean for their unfailing cooperation and interest.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY J. FIELD, Art Supervisor.
February 20, 1949.
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools and Members of the School Committee:
My main objective in teaching public school music is to enrich the lives of the children with pleasant and happy musical experi- ences, both by increasing their repertory of songs, and by increas- ing their knowledge of the fundamentals of music. With this in mind, books were purchased for two grades, thereby giving com- plete uniformity to the system of music education in the class- room. From these, seasonal songs are taught containing musical problems relating to time, tone, and theory. These are presented at the rate of one a month with subsequent drill.
A chorus selected from the seventh and eighth grades pre- sented the Christmas entertainment for the Parent-Teachers' Asso- ciation and was well received. The seventh and eighth grades are now meeting regularly as a chorus and the work is progressing very well.
All musical instruments owned by the school are now in the hands of pupils interested in playing them and under the able and efficient teaching of Mr. Julius Woessner, all are pro- gressing toward the goal of participation in orchestra work. I sincerely hope that with parental cooperation we may see a bigger and better orchestra and eventually a school band.
I have enjoyed and appreciate the willing cooperation of the school principal, Miss Manning, and that of all the teachers with whom I am working.
May I take this opportunity to thank you, Mr. Bean, and all persons in any way connected with my work for the splendid cooperation which I have received.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. A. DONALD LACEY,
February 17, 1949.
Supervisor of Music.
FT
MIDDLETON
PUBLIG
LIBRARY
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