USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1960 > Part 7
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The committee was fortunate in being able to arrange for the gold leafing of the school name on the building. This work was done by M. H. Bresnahan & Sons of Peabody for the total sum of $150.00.
By the end of the first school year, it became obvious that there were many advantages to be derived from having a fence between the parking areas and the school playing fields. In July the committee voted to purchase a chain link fence which would "close off" the play- ing fields and tennis courts and prevent the possibility of any un- authorized person from getting into those areas with an automobile. The fence will also provide better control of admissions to the various school athletic functions which take place in that area.
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GRADUATION
The major event of this year's activities was the graduation exercise which took place on June 9, 1960. This occasion represented the real fruit of the efforts of the school committee, the administra- tion, the staff of the school, and the hardworking taxpayers of the Region. This first graduating class had a tough job and deserves a great deal of credit. These students came from different high schools and, knowing that they had only one year at Masconomet, they worked hard to make their class a unit. They showed good citizenship and put a lot of effort into making the school a real success. For some, this was the first time since kindergarten that they were with strange teachers and students. Others left high schools where they had been for three years and had to finish their high school subjects with new teachers, new teaching methods, and different standards. Taking all these factors into consideration, we think the seniors did a splendid job and deserve our congratulations.
GENERAL COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
The committee has tried to devote as much time as possible to educational activities. One meeting a month has been devoted primarily to learning about the functions of each department of the school. At a regular meeting on March 16, 1960 the entire committee was enter- tained at dinner by the Home Economics Department. A delicious meal was served to the group by the Home Economics Department under the supervision of Miss Mary Ellen Whearty, Chairman of that depart- ment. Following the dinner, the committeee was given a brief report on the accomplishments and goals of that department.
On November 2, 1960, at a regular meeting, Mr. William R. Stanton, Chairman of the Business Education Department and mem- bers of his staff presented a special Curriculum Report on Business Education to the full committee. This report gave the committee a good picture of the activities of that department and also pointed out that we had already achieved some measure of success as a good business education high school.
On December 7, 1960, at a regular meeting, Mr. Theodore Meinelt, Chairman of the Art Department, presented a special curriculum report at which time he discussed the philosophy and objectives of the art program at Masconomet Regional High School as well as the course of study offered.
LOOKING AHEAD
Since the Masconomet Regional District School Committee serves a dual role as building committee and school committee, it has a prime responsibility to study the needs of and provide the educational facilities for grades 7 through 12 students for the entire region. A
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special meeting of this committee was called on June 29, 1960 and all officials of the three member towns were invited to participate. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss future housing needs of the District.
Future Enrollments, Masconomet Region Grades 7-12
Year
7-8
9-12
7-12
1959*
334*
433*
767*
1960
389
474
863
1961
430
534
964
1962
430
627
1057
1963
495
724
1219
1964
639
773
1412
1965
752
875
1627
1966
775
1018
1793
1967
758
1190
1948
1968
782
1336
2118
1969
802
1416
2218
1970
842
1457
2299
* Data as of October 1, 1959
At this meeting a survey of enrollment trends (see chart) was presented which pointed out that rather than adding eight rooms to our existing building it might be more logical to build a junior high school at this time. It was shown that the addition to the present building would only take care of the space requirements for one year through 1962-1963 and then, at that time, we would have to build a junior high school. Also, the addition of eight rooms would place an unrealistic burden on the core facilities in view of the fact that they are serving both a junior and senior high school.
Therefore, a new school to house grades 7 and 8 initially would seem to be a logical solution. This new plant could be built to ac- commodate 500 pupils and should be easily expendable so that by 1965 it would care for the 752 junior high pupils expected in that year, and ultimately, a total of 12000 pupils in 1970 when the 9th grade would be included with grades 7 and 8. This would leave the present high school with an enrollment (grades 10, 11, and 12) of 1050 by 1970.
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At some point between the construction of a new facility and its ultimate completed additions, additional rooms should be added to the present high school building to increase its capacity to 1200 students.
In anticipation of the needs which have been discussed above, the school committee in its continuing study is investigating possible sites for an additional building. It has been found that the location of such facilities close to the present school would provide important advantages. Preliminary steps have been taken toward the procure- ment of a suitable site. Further action in this connection will be recom- mended at forthcoming town meetings.
AGREEMENT CHANGE
In view of the fact that the growth of the Masconomet Region is not in accordance with the percentages set up in the original agree- ment, the committee, at a special meeting on October 13, 1960, voted to propose the following amendment of the agreement establishing the district.
"The agreement for the establishment of the Masconomet Regional School District comprising the towns of Boxford, Middleton and Tops- field is hereby amended as follows:
By striking out subsection IV (D) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:
IV (D) Apportionment of Capital Costs
Capital costs incurred prior to October 1, 1960, shall be apportioned to the member towns as follows:
To Boxford 19.8%
To Middleton 39.8%
To Topsfield 40.4%
Capital costs incurred on or after October 1, 1960, shall be ap- portioned by computing the ratio which each member town's pupil enrollment in the regional district school bears to the total pupil enroll- ment from all the member towns in the regional district school. For this purpose pupil enrollment of a member town shall mean the num- ber of pupils from such town attending the regional school on October 1 next preceding the date on which the regional district school com- mittee votes to authorize the incurring of such capital costs. In the event that enrollment in the regional district school has not been accomplished on October 1 next preceding the date on which the regional district school committee votes to authorize the incurring
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
of such capital costs, capital cost shall be apportioned on the basis of enrollment in grades 7 through 12 of pupils residing in each member town and receiving education at such town's expense on the afore- said October 1. Debt service accruing at any time on account of capital costs incurred prior to October 1, 1960, shall be apportioned as capital costs incurred prior to October 1, 1960. Debt service on account of any capital cost incurred on or after October 1, 1960, shall be appor- tioned in accordance with the ratio applicable at the time of the vote to authorize the incurring of such capital cost."
This amendment was adopted by the Town of Boxford at a special town meeting held on October 26, 1960.
CONCLUSION
In closing, the Masconomet Regional District School Committee would like to express its recognition and appreciation for the excellent work done by our Superintendent-Principal, Mr. Julius H. Mueller, the administration and the teaching staff during the past year. We would also like to express our appreciation and thanks to all citizens and officials of the member towns who have been most generous and helpful to the committee in assisting it in carrying on its work.
J. Harrison Holman, Chairman Merton Barrows, Vice Chairman
M. Douglas Banus
Rosamond Bastable
Richard Cressey
LeRoy Curtis, Jr.
Arthur McCoubrey
Richard Quinn Charles Rich
Francis Perry, Treasurer
Martha Perry, Secretary
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT- PRINCIPAL
To the School Committee and the Citizens of the Masconomet Regional School District:
I am pleased to submit, herewith, my second annual report cover- ing the operation of your regional high school for the period ending December 31, 1960.
At the outset, it must be recorded that the year 1960 has been an interesting, challenging, and an unusually busy one for all who are associated with Masconomet Regional High School. This year saw the completion of the school's first full year of operation, and the start of a second one. Ours being a new school, there were, as one might expect, many problems of organization, administration, and operation which developed as the year advanced. Each of these re- quired the careful attention of all concerned - administration, staff, and in many instances of the student body itself -- in arriving at suitable solutions that would (in view of the precedent-setting import of several of them) be wholly in keeping with the ideals and purposes originally established for this school.
Thus many hours were devoted to the planning and developing of a number of activities and events which were to become Masco- nomet's "firsts". Among these were: a Book Fair, a Science Fair, an Honor Awards program, establishing an Honor Society, a Fashion Show together with exhibits in Art and Industrial Arts, a Physical Education demonstration, a Music Concert, a Junior Prom, a Gradu- ation Program with its attendant activities, and a Summer School, to mention a few.
Many of these events and accomplishments have been reported upon during the year and so will not be detailed in this report. Some, however, merit special mention and so have been included. It goes without saying that an annual report which included an amount of everything which happens in a school year would be neither desirable or practical. At best all that can be attempted in a report such as this is to select for emphasis those elements of the total operation which best serve to illustrate the major problems and accomplish- ments of the year under review.
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
ENROLLMENT
The enrollment, grades 7-12, on October 1 was 893 pupils, an increase of 125 (16%) over that of October 1, 1959. Included in this total were 8 post-graduates and two students receiving home instruc- tion. The enrollment by grade and town as of October 1 is shown in the following table:
Enrollment - October 1, 1960
Grade
Boxford
Middleton Topsfield
Total
7
52
71
84
207
8
48
58
75
181
9
39
57
64
160
10
31
42
51
124
11
22
26
57
105
12
34
39
33
106
P.G.'s
2
5
1
8
Home Instruction
0
0
2
2
Totals
228
298
367
893
The Regional School District like many suburban areas is experi- encing a sharp increase in population. As a matter of fact, it has had a 34% increase in the last 5 years. If this present rate of increase should continue constant over the next ten years (which is doubtful), then we can expect a minimum district population of 12,000 in 1965 and 16,000 in 1970.
The implication of this for the schools of the district, both elementary and secondary, is plainly apparent - namely, increased enrollments. On the basis of a detailed enrollment projection study completed in June and presented to the School Committee and repre- sentatives of official town boards of member towns on June 29, it appears that the Regional High School can expect an enrollment of 1,200 pupils in 1963, of 1,600 pupils in 1965, and approximately 2,300 pupils in 1970. Since the present building has classroom space for only 1,000 pupils, and the September 1961 enrollment (according to the same study) will be slightly in excess of 1,000 pupils, it is clear that immediate action is necessary if adequate school housing facilities are to be ready for September 1963.
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
Even with our present facilities, some improvisations will have to be resorted to next September because of the expected increase in enrollment. Those contemplated include partioning the cafeteria to provide one additional classroom, using the main cafeteria, the draft- ing room and the remedial reading room as homerooms and reducing the time allotment in Industrial Arts for 7th grade boys. During the 1960-61 school year the increased number of pupils in grades 7 and 8 forced a reduction in the time allotment in physical education from 3 to 2 periods a week for both boys and girls in these two grades. It also was necessary to reduce the time allotment in both Industrial Arts and Home Economics in these same two grades from 3 periods per week to 2. Regietfully, such makeshifts in housing as well as further curtailment of the present curriculum offering will have to continue to be made until new facilities are constructed.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENTS
A large portion of faculty effort during the past year has been directed toward the strengthening and refining of our basic program of studies. This has been accomplished in several ways, such as the development of more complete course outlines, construction of specific units of work, greater utilization of audio-visual aids, the assembling and cataloging of resource materials, and through the addition of new course offerings. Much of this kind of activity has gone on in departmental meetings; some has been carried on by individual teachers; and in several instances two or more departments have collaborated to bring about desired improvements. Limitations of space will permit enumerating here only a few of the more significant of these developments.
English
The major effort of the English Department has been directed toward raising student performance in written composition and read- ing comprehension in literature. This has taken the form of requiring one written assignment weekly from each student in grades 9-12 which is carefully read by the teacher, discussed with the writer, and rewritten by the student whenever this is felt to be necessary. Such thoughtful perusal and criticism of students' papers, requiring as it does from 15-30 hours a week of extra school time on the part of the teacher, makes it imperative that the maximum pupil load of English teachers not exceed 110 pupils. Though we will be faced with increased enrollment in the year ahead we hope to be able to maintain this desirable pupil-teacher ratio for our English teachers.
The department has also prepared extensive booklists for outside reading. Three such lists, one each for grades 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
11 and 12, have been distributed to students and copies placed in the libraries of the three member towns. Most students read ten such books each year as a part of their work in English.
Reading
A corrective reading program was started in the fall of 1960 and currently is directed at helping 64 students, grades 7-12, overcome specific weaknesses in this important skill which is preventing them from performing as well as their capacities warrant. Another 15 stu- dents are being helped in spelling only, while 20 of our seniors are taking developmental reading which is geared to help the college- bound. In this last group, speed, vocabulary acquisition, skimming, critical evaluation and study skills are stressed. Both the spelling and developmental groups are voluntary. Specialized reading materials along with a controlled reader and several rateometers (individual reading accelerators) have been purchased for the department's use. Such devices are modern, constructive teaching aids, and offer a new approach to the solution of individual reading problems. Our reading program is being handled by Mrs. Roy Hatt, formerly of Proctor Academy, Andover, New Hampshire and by Mr. Edwin Leach of the original Masconomet faculty. The latter took special course work at Boston University during the summer in preparation for this new assignment of teaching reading in grades 7 and 8.
Social Studies
An "Honors Seminar" for selected students in Grade 11 American History classes has been instituted this fall by the Social Studies Department on an experimental basis. Designed to meet the needs of some of our talented youth, the seminar group meets weekly during the last period and for an hour after school, and is concerned with a more complete discussion of constitional and intellectual history than is possible in the regular classes.
Another bit of experimentation by the department has been in the area of large group instruction. Much of the material in the social studies lends itself to this type of approach, such as lecture material, film presentations, outside speakers, etc., which can be presented to large groups without losing educational efficiency. Two classes in Senior Problems of Democracy numbering about 60 students have met together in the auditorium twice a week for instructional pur- poses. At other times the classes meet separately for smaller group work and discussion. The experiment has worked out well and student reaction has been most favorable. Such an approach, used judiciously, provides for better use of teacher time as well as more effective use of classroom space.
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
Mathematics
Major activity in this area of our curriculum centered around helping students elect courses in mathematics appropriate to their needs and abilities. With the help of the Guidance Department, a con- certed drive was launched to encourage capable students to elect more mathematics and to discourage slow learners from electing mathe- matics courses ill-suited to their needs. The result of this effort has been to secure a better grouping of all students at all grade levels in the several mathematics offerings, and thus provide more adequately for individual differences among students in this important skill subject.
Through such grouping the more advanced students can move ahead at a faster pace and ultimately as seniors will be able to handle much of the mathematics usually taught in the first year of college.
The department has acquired a very fine collection of models and other mathematics teaching aids through funds made available under the National Educational Defense Act. Used at all levels these devices help to illustrate the more difficult mathematical concepts and often dramatize principles by making them more realistic and understand- able.
Added incentive and motivation for some of our top students in Mathematics is provided by the opportunity to participate in two mathematics leagues to which the school belongs. It is pleasing to record here that in spite of the stiff competition that prevails Mas- conomet's team has been able to advance within striking distance of second place in the Eastern Massachusetts League, and is currently in fourth place in the Tri-State League.
A final activity of the mathematics department and one that is unique in a secondary school is the experiment involving about twenty students in grades 10, 11, and 12 who meet two periods a week to study Plane Geometry in French. Through this means the seniors participating have an opportunity to review their Plane Geometry as well as gain increased confidence in their ability to converse in French. The juniors and sophomores learn more mathematics as well as secure additional practice in listening to the foreign language being spoken.
Science
An important change in the science department has been the introduction this fall of the new course in Physics developed by the Physical Science Study Committee of the National Science Foundation under the chairmanship of Dr. Jerrold R. Zacharias of M.I.T. This completely new approach to the teaching of physics aims to present
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
the major developments as a logical and integrated whole. The concept of wave behavior is synthesized with the concept of particle mechanics. In the traditional physics course the subject of wave mechanics was omitted entirely. Although the students find the new physics difficult they enjoy the challenge and the novel, stimulating laboratory experi- ments.
Because this course is such a radical departure from the tradi- tional approach it requires special training on the part of the teacher in order to present it effectively. Under a grant from the National Science Foundation our physics teacher was able to secure this special training during the summer at the University of Connecticut.
Two new courses were developed for the slow learners in grades 7 and 8 who are in the Core program. Since these pupils work best individually, the work in science has been planned around project work that requires application or illustration of scientific principles. In this way, each has the opportunity to work at his own speed and to gain the satisfaction which comes from personal accomplishment.
Core Program
In an attempt to better meet the needs of the slow learner two core groups have been established in both grades 7 and 8. Approxi- mately 60 students are involved, 30 from each grade. Under the core plan, English and Social Studies are scheduled in a double period with both subjects taught by the same teacher. A similar arrangement exists with regard to Arithmetic and Science. The size of the core groups has been purposely kept small in order that more individual attention can be given by the teacher and thus enable each student to receive the kind and amount of instruction necessary to help him overcome his particular weaknesses in these subject areas, especially in Language Arts and Arithmetic.
The original groupings as worked out by Director of Guidance have for the most part proven very satisfactory. There are, however, several pupils so limited in ability that they are unable to cope with the work going on in these core sections and thus inpede the progress of their classmates. These pupils require a greater amount of indi- vidual attention by the teacher than it is possible to give them even under the core plan. Consequently, it is planned to set up a special class in September 1961 for these pupils, to be taught by a teacher specially trained to deal with this type of student.
Although it is much too soon to evaluate the effectiveness of the core plan in meeting the particular needs of the slow learner, it ap- pears to be meeting with some success. Comments of the students themselves and of their parents is that they like the arrangement and especially the added individual teacher attention this makes possible.
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
Business Education
The goals of this department which are aimed at providing for business education and training necessary for beginning positions, advancement within the position, and as a basis for further training, we feel, are being fully realized here at Masconomet. This is borne out by the several clear-cut examples of last year's seniors who were successful in securing responsible positions upon graduation, indicating that the preparation and training received in their single year with us had been of considerable help and benefit to them.
It would appear, therefore, that the present course offerings provide ample opportunity for students to receive training that can result in optimum business education at the secondary school level, within the limits, of course, of individual interests and aptitudes. This year Typewriting III is being taught in response to the request of a number of students desirous of having additional training in this skill beyond the normal two-year sequence.
One further development has been the inclusion of a course in Record Keeping in grade 10 to provide further business training for those students who may not have the requisite aptitude for training as typists, secretaries, or bookkeepers. A course in Secretarial Train- ing to be offered to seniors in 1961-62 who have completed satisfac- torily two years of Shorthand will help them to achieve further mastery of the secretarial skills.
The student receptionists program inaugurated last year has been improved upon and operates smoothly and effectively under the direc- tion of a student leader from the department. Practical training in secretarial skills is provided also for a number of the business educa- tion students who are assigned on a rotating basis to various members of the faculty.
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