USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1962 > Part 8
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Changes in Department Chairmanships
Mr. Teunis P. Paarlberg of Wheaton, Illinois was elected to the chairmanship of the mathematics department, replacing Mr. Lionel J. Poulin who resigned at the end of the school year to return to private school teaching. Mr. Paarlberg is a graduate of Iowa State Univer- sity and received his master's degree from Northern Illinois Univer- sity. He has done further graduate study at both the University of Illinois and at the University of New Hampshire taking courses in the new mathematics program. Mr. Paarlberg's previous teaching experience included five years at the high school in Elmhurst-Villa Park, Illinois, and one year at the high school in Wheaton, Illinois.
Mrs. Dorothy H. Blanchard, a member of the homemaking de- partment was promoted to the chairmanship of the department, re- placing Miss Mary Ellen Whearty who resigned at the close of the school year to enter the field of hospital dietetics. Mrs. Blanchard is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and the Merrill-Palmer School, Detroit, Michigan, and has taken several graduate courses in her field. Her previous experience as home economist for the Western Massachusetts Electric Company, Pittsfield, and as a teacher of homemaking in the high schools of Georgetown and Topsfield, and since 1959 at Masconomet, make her well-qualified to assume this important new leadership role.
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Mr. Edward C. Bryant of Winthrop, Massachusetts and a holder of three degrees from Boston University was elected to the Director of Guidance position which had been vacant for the past year. He received his B.S. degree in 1950, his master's degree in 1951, and the Certificate of Advanced Graduate Specialization in the fields of guidance and administration in 1953. Mr. Bryant came to us from Boston University where he had served for the past nine years as Assistant Dean of Men. In this capacity he gained much valuable experience through his work of guiding and counseling undergradu- ates, as well as forming a wide acquaintenceship with college place- ment officers throughout the country which has already proven beneficial to our students including several of our former graduates. Previous to joining the staff at Boston University, Mr. Bryant taught mathematics in the public schools of Weston and Melrose, Massachu- setts.
Mrs. Charlotte S. Cory of Dryden, N.Y. was appointed Librarian thus filling the vacancy that had existed since the death of Mascono- met's first librarian Mrs. Alice B. Howard on December 1, 1961. Mrs. Cory is a graduate of Wellesley College and received her master's degree from Cornell University. She has done graduate work at the Courtland, N.Y. College of Education and Syracuse University. Mrs. Cory has had considerable experience in library work having served on the staffs of the following libraries: Wellesley College, the National Industrial Conference Board, the Courtland College of Education, and the Free Public Library of Courtland. Mrs. Cory came to us from the Virgil and Truxton Central Schools in Courtland, N.Y. where she had been employed for the past two years as both elemen- tary and secondary school librarian.
It is fitting at this time to express our sincere thanks to Mrs. Clayton F. Rock and Mrs. Richard Y. Ingraham, both of Topsfield for their gracious help in maintaining the basic library services dur- ing this interim period.
The names of new faculty members along with those teachers who resigned during the past year are shown in the section on personnel at the end of this report.
Two members of the staff, Mr. Roger W. Barry and Mr. David M. Dole, were granted leaves of absence for the 1962-63 school year to continue graduate study under special scholarship grants which they had been accepted for. Mr. Barry, a teacher in the English de- partment, is attending Northwestern University studying in the humanities under the John Hay Fellows Program. Mr. Dole, a teacher in the Social Science Department, is at Arizona State University
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where he is enrolled in an N.D.E.A. Academic Year Institute in Guidance.
During the summer Mr. Julius H. Mueller our Superintendent was given an extended vacation leave so that he could accept an invitation that had been offered him to participate in a four weeks Summer Institute in the Humanities under the John Hay Fellows Program at the University of Oregon. Principal Corridon F. Trask, Jr. was appointed acting superintendent during Mr. Mueller's absence and at the regular meeting of August 13, 1962 the committee passed a special resolution commending him for the fine manner in which he had discharged these additional responsibilities.
One of the most significant factors in the excellence of our instructional program continues to be the unique and combined talent of our department chairmen. These individuals demonstrate outstanding qualities of leadership deserving the highest commenda- tion. Their interest in and enthusiasm for Masconomet as well as the subject matter of their respective departments is a key factor not only in helping new teachers to adjust quickly, but in fostering a fine "esprit de corps" among the entire staff.
Special Curriculum Reports
Three of the departments presented special curriculum reports this fall continuing a practice inaugurated two years ago by our superintendent so that the committee might become better informed about the functions and progress of each department.
On October 8, 1962 Mr. Herschel Benson, chairman of the Physical Education department and his staff described the program and activities carried on in physical education at each grade level. The committee found their comments on the variety of physical educa- tion activities that could be carried on in a field house as compared to the limited number which can be carried on in the conventional wood floor gymnasium most interesting and helpful.
On November 7, 1962 the committee heard a very interesting and instructive report on the Industrial Arts program from Mr. Richard Pavesi, chairman of the Industrial Arts department and the members of his staff. This was followed by a tour of the shops and the mechanical drawing laboratory to view some of the many fine pro- jects which had been and were being made by the students.
On December 5, 1962 Miss Louise O. C. Swenson, chairman of the Science department and her staff presented a special curriculum report on science. Each of the science laboratories was visited and in
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addition to watching some very unusual demonstrations by the teachers using recently acquired equipment members of the committee had the opportunity to use and experiment with some of the apparatus themselves.
Teacher Salaries
Masconomet Regional High School has excellent teachers. We believe citizens of the district want us to continue to employ the best teachers available. In order to attract and keep teachers of high quality, we must pay good salaries.
In this period of inflationary trends and the general upgrading of teachers' salaries throughout the country and particularly in view of the action by the 1962 Legislature in raising the state minimum salary for teachers to $4500 effective January 1, 1963, it has been necessary to revise the District's Salary Schedule.
On October 22, 1962 after a thorough study and discussion of the salary requests presented by the Masconomet Teachers' Associa- tion and in accordance with an understanding reached with the Pro- fessional Improvement Committee acting for the teacher group, the committee voted to raise the minimum salary from $4500 to $4700 as of September 1963, with the further provision that one-half of this increase would take effect as of January 1, 1963.
At the same time the Normal Maximum for the Master's degree level was increased by one step ($200) and that for the M+30 degree level by two steps ($400) with these new maximums to go into effect in September 1963, except that for the M+30 degree level only one- half of this increase is to apply in 1963; the other half is to apply in September 1964. This change in normal maximum involves seven members of the present teaching staff.
The salary schedule as revised by the above action of the com- mittee will be as follows:
Class I Bachelor's Degree
Class II Master's Degree
Class III Master's Degree plus 30 approved semester hours $5400
Minimum
$4700
$5000
12
13
14
Normal
steps
steps
steps
Maximum
$7200
$7700
$8300
Attainable
Maximnum (on Merit)
$8700
$9200
$9800
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
In April 1962 at the time teacher reappointments were considered it was voted to adjust upwards by 5% the ratios which are used to determine the maximum stipends to be paid members of the staff who have special duties and responsibilities of an administrative or supervisory nature. One-half of this increase became effective September 1, 1962. The other half will go into effect beginning September 1, 1964.
The following tabulation shows the new ratios and the stipend range from minimum to maximum for each of the various positions which come under this administrative-supervisory category :
Percent of Minimum Salary of Teacher with Bachelor's
Salary Range
Position
Degree*
Minimum
Maximum
Assistant Principal
30%
$353
$1410
Department Chairmen
25%
$295
$1175
Directors, Guidance Music, Phys. Educ.
25%
$295
$1175
Counselors, Librarian
15%
$175
$ 705
*Based on Minimum Salary of $4700
The revisions to the salary schedule as herein reported, together with the regular normal increments voted in 1962 for the 1962-63 school year represents an increase of 8.2% in the annual expenditure rate for salaries for the present 71-member professional staff (in- cluding the cafeteria manager whose salary is paid from the operat- ing budget) and for the 1963 budget year amounts to a 3.8% increase.
SATISFACTIONS
When we reflect upon the accomplishments at Masconomet during the past year, it becomes difficult to select from amongst the many examples of quality achievement those most illustrative of the activities that swell our feeling of satisfaction with the educational progress resulting from the talents and efforts of staff, students and interested citizens. A significant part of operating our school is the regular reporting of activities and events through newspapers and other news media. This report will not attempt to include many important activities already reported through previous releases.
Through Student Achievements and Activities
Our chief concern in education is the student and the degree of success we have in helping him find and develop his talents and to apply these talents in such a way that both he and his society can
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benefit. It is natural that we look for the achievements of our stu- dents in appraising the year just completed. Some of the signs of success in our efforts to foster academic, physical, artistic, musical, mechanical, and personal-social skills are herein listed.
The general scholastic achievement of our 1962 graduating class is pleasing. As the report of the class indicates a large number of them qualified and entered post secondary schools.
Many complimentary reports are returning to us in regards to the excellent skills demonstrated by our Business Education majors.
Several of our 1962 graduates sucessfully passed advanced place- ment examinations upon admission to college thus allowing them to skip some freshman college courses. Biology, English and German are fields in which advance standing has been achieved.
Of special significance as an indicator of academic achievement is the success of our students in the National Merit Scholarship Examinations. Two members of the Class of 1963 (one of whom is now studying abroad) qualified as semi-finalists while eight other members of the class received letters of commendation. Thus, ten students accomplished on this national examination what no previous students at Masconomet have been able to accomplish.
Our Math Teams continued to demonstrate excellence in their interscholastic meets. Both individual and team honors were won at the close of the season in June 1962.
The large numbers participating in our various music programs and the quality of their performances is a continuing source of compliments from citizens and fellow students. Vocal and instrumen- tal groups engaged in several excellent programs such as the Band- O-Rama, the operetta "The Gondoliers", and the Christmas Concert. We were particularly proud to send our orchestra group to Saugus early this fall to demonstrate what a high school can do by way of providing an Orchestra, and instrumental group which many schools have been unable or unwilling to undertake.
We may be a little less amazed but none the less delighted with the continuous display of artwork that prevails at Masconomet. Not only are the artistic talents of many students developed to a high degree, but the attitudes and appreciations of both students and public are greatly enhanced by the creative and imaginative work of both art teacher and students. Another Masconomet first was the special Christmas Display made available to all students and general
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public in a combined project of Art, Home Economics, and Industrial Arts.
Praise and pride for the superb performance by the school drama group, under the direction of Mrs. Jeannette Scholer, has not yet sub- sided. "The Miracle Worker", a story of the struggle of Helen Keller, was the second difficult three-act play chosen in as many years. The quality performance of the cast combined with the work and coopera- tion of supporting faculty and student committees behind the scenes furnished excellent entertainment with a stirring human message.
The Alice B. Howard Memorial Conference for Young Writers was inaugurated with a seminar for juniors and seniors interested in writing. The first seminar, held in the spring of 1962 found approxi- mately 25 students discussing poetry and literature from the writer's point of view with guest author May Sarton. Miss Sarton is author of The Small Room and Faithfull Are the Wounds. She also writes articles and poems for The New Yorker. Such seminars will become an annual occurence at Masconomet.
In June we said goodbye to our first foreign exchange student, Dietland Fobbe of Hanover, Germany. She left with mixed emotions, but thankful to all for the many experiences provided to her. As she was preparing to leave, our Student Exchange Board was already selecting their second candidate, Luis Machorro from Mexico City. We are convinced that this program adds much to our understanding of the customs of other countries and it likewise gives us the oppor- tunity of showing others how we live and what we believe in.
Masconomet continued to enjoy the reputation of fielding talented and sportsminded athletes. This fall our boys captured the league title in Cross Country and tied for first place in the Cape Ann Foot- ball League. Our first evening rally sponsored by the Student Council was a big success. This rally was held on the night before our final football game with Pentucket.
The annual Science Fair at Masconomet included over 100 pro- jects from all science fields studied and our students continued to win recognition in both the North Shore Regional Science Fair and the State Science Fair at M.I.T. It is significant that we now have 90% of our student population enrolled in science courses.
Our Industrial Arts students entered 24 projects in the New England Industrial Arts Fair and 14 won either first prizes or honorable mention in their class or category.
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The contributions of many students in several service groups provide valuable service to the life of the school, but such experiences also provide the individuals with chances to develop leadership skills and other social skills. Our Student Council, Student Monitors, Student Exchange Board, Library Aides, Student Receptionists, Stu- dent Announcers, Audivisual Club, Photography Club, National Honor Society are all examples of groups that provide significant service to our smoothly functioning school.
Through Activities and Services of the Staff
Our school is run for the sake of the students, but the teaching staff is the key factor in successes and failures of our educational program. The general enthusiasm for learning generated by the teaching staff at Masconomet is readily felt by anyone coming into contact with the school when it is in operation. Hard to define but profoundly important is the total personality or general pulse of a school. This composite of all the individual personalities varies from year to year. It is this healthy personality or vigorous pulse that maintains and even increases our reputation as an outstanding secondary school.
With the election of a new Director of Guidance and the schedul- ing of more time for counseling we are experiencing an increase in the attention given to individual problems of our youth. Increased work with the North Shore Child Guidance Center, stepped up emphasis on early educational and occupational planning, sessions with teachers of students with special problems, and general increase in attention to individual needs by both counselors and teachers are noticeable benefits from the increased guidance staff.
It is planned to augment our guidance program by the employ- ment of a trained school adjustment counselor, thus extending this specialized service that was started this past year in the elementary schools of the member towns. This specialist will devote full time to counseling with those 7th and 8th grade students who have serious personal, social and emotional problems of adjustment.
During the past year a Civil Defense Committee (Mr. William Stanton, Chairman, Mr. Rodney Dresser and Mr. John Sangermano) studied the problems related to evacuation of our students in case of emergency. Their thorough and competent work resulted in the structuring of definite procedure useful to the school and in addition two evacuation drills were planned and conducted, first aid training for staff members was completed, staff members were trained to act as emergency bus drivers, and general instructions were given to the student body and faculty.
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The 1962 Summer School continued to provide both enrichment and remedial courses for students in the region and general area. The introduction this summer of a sliding scale of tuition fees for those taking multiple courses proved to be a worthwhile change. We also had adults enrolling for the first time in some courses. Mr. William Stanton, director of the program, continued to provide superior leadership.
A tribute to our school program and our staff is the increasing number of requests by individuals and colleges in the vicinity for practice teaching in our system. It is not only complimentary to our school, but it likewise provides us with opportunities to evaluate potential candidates for teaching positions in our ever expanding system.
Several of our faculty members have earned personal recognition in the profession which also strengthens our school's reputation. It has been a year of national recognition for Masconomet through the active role of Miss Louise Swenson, Science Department Chair- man, as a member of a committee engaged in planning and conducting the 1963 Annual Convention of the National Science Teachers Association.
Mr. Richard Zollo, Chairman of the English Department has been selected to conduct a literary tour of the British Isles and Paris during the summer under the sponsorship of the National Council of Teachers of English. Mr. Richard Merrill, our Language Department Chairman, has recently returned from a year's leave of absence which he spent in study at the French Institute held at Emory University under a NEDA Grant. He also was chosen to teach Linguistics at a NEDA Summer Institute to 30 teachers of French and 30 teachers of Spanish at Women's College of Georgia. Upon returning to Masco- nomet, Mr. Merrill immediately took up his responsibilities as Presi- dent of the Massachusetts Group of New England Modern Language Association. Mr. Roger Barry earned the privilege of participating in a John Hay Fellows Institute in Humanities for a year, and Mr. David Dole, Social Studies teacher, was awarded a year's scholarship for advanced study in the field of Guidance. Mrs. Beatrice Couhig has been active nationally through her service as Secretary of the Camping & Outdoor committee of the American Association For Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Miss Marjory Locke, our Lunch Program Director, has gained national recognition through her membership and work with the Massachusetts School Food Service Association.
The Masconomet Regional School facilities have been used widely as a conference location for professional meetings and much time has
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
been given by local administrators and staff members to make these conferences successful. Masconomet was chosen as one of two schools in the state to sponsor a Science Congress last June. The State De- partment of Education untilized our facilities for a series of Foreign Language Inservice Workshops for North Shore language teachers. A Seminar in International Affairs for students in the North Shore community was held in April in cooperation with the World Affairs Council of Boston. In October, the Essex County Foreign Language Teachers held their annual convention at Masconomet and in December over 450 members of the New England Modern Language Association gathered here for a full day conference.
Through Program Improvements
There is a general willingness on the part of the staff to study curriculum issues and to gear Masconomet's program to modern con- tent and teaching methods. In a time when increased knowledge of the learning process and technical innovations are pressuring teachers to examine thoroughly their objectives and techniques, it is gratify- ing to know that time and energy is being directed toward the intro- duction of the more promising of these new ideas at Masconomet.
The P.S.S.C. physics program is now a fully functioning one with efforts being made to adapt the principles of this approach to our Junior High School science program.
The preliminary introduction of parts of the new biology content and methods of instruction provided through the American Institute of Biological Sciences, Biological Sciences Study will develop into a full time use of this modern approach as soon as materials are re- fined and made available for regular use. In January 1959, the AIBS established the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study as one of its major educational activities. We are fortunate to have two members of our staff qualified to utilize the recommended procedures and materials. Both have taken courses recently to learn to teach by the new approach.
The modern mathematics program is now in full swing in grades seven and eight with the S.M.S.G. (Yale Study) being the primary resource and the Illinois Plan being incorporated on a less extensive basis. A very successful seminar was held in November to explain this program to parents and help them to understand the changes taking place.
A complete and very comprehensive study and probable curricu- lum revision has been initiated in our Social Science Department. Although this very difficult study and revision is only in its infancy,
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MASCONOMET REGIONAL SCHOOL REPORT
excellent groundwork has been done by involving the Massachusetts Department of Education, Tufts University, Northeastern University and the National Council of Social Studies. Application has been made to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare for a grant of $15,000 to finance a summer workshop for curriculum revision on a county basis.
Although we have not reached the desired goal of reducing the student load for English teachers to 100 or below we have reduced the total load substantially and have placed considerable more emphasis upon quality and quantity in composition work. Of particular significance is the program being developed in grades nine and ten for the slow learning students. Teachers are teaming up for this work and much of the planning involves working with guidance personnel and using occupational information. English on a national basis has not come under as vigorous revision as many other fields, but there are definite signs that significant work will be undertaken soon.
Our language program has from the opening of Masconomet benefited greatly from the modern language laboratory, but it has only been recently that significant adaptations have been made in our curriculum to include the recently developed Audio-Lingual Materials in grades seven and eight. These materials revolutionized the approach to language teaching, if the teachers are trained pro- perly to use them. We are fortunate in having staff members who through recent summer school or institute courses are thoroughly trained to use these modern approaches.
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