USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1928-1929 > Part 14
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Although the making of a good poster takes consid- erable time it gives the pupils valuable training in color, composition, drawing and careful use of materials.
In the elementary grades we are trying to develop illustrative drawing with sense of perspective. Our new outline places more emphasis on color.
The drawing in the Junior High School is handicapped by insufficient time, the difficulties arising from lack of
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one class-room where the teacher can meet her classes, and no proper space for storage of drawing supplies.
The work in the Senior High School is largely individ- ual and cannot be easily illustrated. The cover design of this report is, however, one showing originality.
8. Practical Arts in the Junior High School.
Manual Arts. (See picture page 35.)
The set-model method of teaching manual arts is no longer used. A most interesting group of projects has been carefully planned and each pupil is allowed to choose the project from this group which has the strongest ap- peal to him. The most popular projects thus far are Colonial pedestal tables, Empire foot stools, table lamps, Chippendale mirrors, split-column mirrors, and banjo clocks. In the seventh grade, however, group work is proving the better method. Much time is needed for in- structing the boys in the use and care of tools, the materials used, and in the general care of the shop, so that this class is held to one project in which there is a variety of experiences.
Some classes are given more time in the shop than oth- ers. For this group a variety of experiences is planned, hoping that through them the pupil will find the work by which he will later earn his living. It is for this group that the course in electricity, sheet metal, woodfin- ishing, and home repairs, is given. The wiring of door bells and lighting fixtures, the refinishing of furniture, soldering kitchen utensils, repairing a broken window, patching an inner tube, lacing a belt, and tightening a window shade are but a few of the fifty jobs in which ' these boys are given first-hand experience. This work is known as the General Shop plan as it puts each boy through a large number of try-out experiences in a short time. This gives him an insight into many trades instead of holding him to one in which he may or may not be adapted.
Continued on page 41
Hanterchefs
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Creative Activities in Primary Grades
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A Violin Class Out of School Hours-Mt. Pleasant School
DEAD
BOOKS ARE FRIENDS
Posters- Tea Tiles - Original Designs - Grade 6
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Practical Arts at the Junior High School
We need a wide variety of educational systems in order that all avenues of potential ability may be kept open. President Angell of Yale.
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1
Making Successes Instead of Murning Out Failures at the Individual School
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Teaching the American Language and Ideals
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Knapp School Library Club
Hand Training in Grade 6
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Indoor Physical Activities at the Hedge School
EXIT
Organized Games at Recess at the Cornish School
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Physical Activities at the Junior High School
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Drafting as a part of the department was first tried out this year. The first year draftsman is not taught so much the art and technique of drafting as he is to think accurately and clearly, to read working drawings, and to understand the language of the building trades.
The woodworking classes are called upon to make many projects for use in the schools. Such school pro- jects as classroom tables, cabinets, doll houses, bulletin boards, and costumers are made by the pupils whenever such work does not interfere with the class instruction. In this way a pupil is taught the lesson of service to others. The installation of a band saw and circular saw helps to carry through jobs of greater size, and teaches the boys to meet the conditions which they will meet in the outside mechanical world. The pupils above the seventh grade are taught to operate these machines with the permission and supervision of the instructor.
Shop talks, lectures and demonstrations, which often give rise to discussions of real worth, supplement the handwork of the pupils. The course of study covers as much as the average boy can be expected to get and re- tain in the short time that he is in the shop.
This course is made as interesting as possible through the selection of worthwhile projects. However, the com- pleted project is not the measure of the boy's ability and success in the shop. His ability to work shoulder to shoulder with his boy companions, to do his share of the cleaning up, and to control himself when his excitement is keen, are all factors which made for good sportsman- ship and good citizenship, and are never overlooked in the shop training.
Household Arts. (See picture page 35)
1. The programs of two groups of girls in the seventh and eighth grades allow additional time for Home Eco- nomics course, which aim to familiarize them with home- making problems of today. Their work in sewing has been carried on from the standpoint of economy and at-
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tractiveness. The family meal has been the basis of the work in Foods. This includes the planning, preparation, and serving of well-balanced breakfasts and luncheons. All the eighth grade girls have planned, prepared, and served a luncheon, and the seventh grade girls, a break- fast.
2. After several lessons in learning how to run and care for a sewing machine, the seventh grade girls made gymnasium bloomers, for use during the physical train- ing period. As a Christmas project, various embroidery stitches were taught and applied in the making of indi- vidual Christmas presents.
3. The eighth grade girls began the year by making their graduation outfits, starting with the slip, followed by a simple white dress. They also had several lessons before Christmas in learning various embroidery stitches. This work was followed by a short unit on planning a simple clothing budget.
9. The Individual School. (See picture page 36.)
The Individual School has just completed its fourteenth year in Plymouth.
The fact that 90% of the pupils who have availed themselves of the opportunities offered in this school have been able to take their proper places in the com- munity at large, would seem to confirm the worth of this educational experiment on the part of the school department.
Educators, who have made a specialty of special class work, are agreed that the training of these children pre- sents a problem that cannot be worked out in the regu- lar class room.
Exceptional children must be drilled each day on :-
1. A long array of facts that regular grade children generally acquire for themselves.
2. Definite emphasis must be placed on items of gen- eral information.
3. Skills must be outlined in detail.
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4. There must be constant drill and dramatization to bring about desirable habit formation.
5. Attitudes for satisfactory living conditions must be instilled since it is known that to a considerable degree, success in life is as much dependent upon proper attitudes and habits as it is on intelligence and intellectual ability.
During the past school year, the customary policy of presenting every lesson on the level of the understand- ing of the child, has been followed.
Children have been returned to the regular grades when their school progress has warranted it. Unfortun- ately some of these children, upon being transferred to the regular and larger class, have been unable to keep up to the standard required. Therefore, it would seem that some intermediate class grouping should be organized to care for those children who are slower of comprehension in some studies but who present no general retardation.
One hour each week, the boys have been, instructed in woodworking. This has been done under the direction of a regular teacher of manual training. At this same period, the girls have been taught dressmaking. As in the past, handicraft has been a part of the daily program.
When the school opened in September 1928, a one ses- sion plan was adopted, thus eliminating the need of a teacher during the lunch period. The school day begins at 8.45 a. m. and closes at 1.45 p. m. This new schedule makes it possible to give individual tutoring after school hours, to children in need of it.
At lunch, the children are assigned to places at tables and are encouraged to eat proper food. Instruction is given in table manners, and mastication of food, is in- sisted upon. Close supervision attends the preparation and serving of lunch. The clearing of tables, dish wash- ing, sweeping rooms and a general cleaning up after lunch form an elementary lesson in housekeeping.
Attention to health problems has reduced the number
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of our underweights to a minimum. Defects in posture have been corrected as much as possible. Oral hygiene and daily toothbrush drill have resulted in a diminishing of carious teeth and in better mouth conditions in gen- eral. During Education Week an evening session was held at the school. A program given by the classes dem- onstrated the capability of the children. Vocal and in- strumental music, recitations and dramatization made up the program for the evening. Much favorable comment was received from the parents and other visitors. Their courtesy and encouragement were appreciated.
10. Americanization and Evening School Classes. (See picture page 37.)
The Americanization and Evening School Classes are in session for a period of twenty weeks on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Classes this year meet in Harris Hall at the Plymouth Cordage Company's plant at five o'clock, at the Knapp and Cornish School Build- ings at seven fifteen.
The Americanization Classes are composed of adults, who wish to learn the English language or to study in order that they may fit themselves better to become citizens of this country. The state reimburses the town one half of all money paid in salaries and supplies used by men and women of these classes.
The classes grade as follows :
Beginners
Here the Gouin Theme and Direct Method are used. The aim is to get the pupil to talk in simple English about every-day experiences and practical subjects.
Intermediate
These continue work of the Beginners but with wider range of subject matter. More reading and writing are used, short letters are written and something of our history and government are taught.
Citizenship
The Citizenship Classes follow the course outlined by
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the State Department. They are taught much of the history and civics of our country. How our democracy works out its problems and serves its people; its social, political, and industrial problems.
Advanced
The Advanced Class is composed of those who, though able to read, write, and have good understanding of Eng- lish, wish to carry on their study farther.
Another type of class is the illiterate minor. They are required to attend regular evening classes similar to those of the day sessions until they have completed work of the sixth grade. At that time they are excused from further attendance if they so desire.
The work of the various classes is excellent. Those who attend are appreciative of the opportunities provid- ed for them and the fact that they will come to classes three evenings a week, after a day's work, shows that they believe they are getting something worth while.
Plymouth is fortunate in having a splendid corps of teachers for all these classes. Nearly all have state cer- tificates representing special preparation and training along this line. They are deeply interested and appre- ciative of the difficulties of a foreign speaking people.
KNAPP SCHOOL LIBRARY CLUB (See picture, page 38)
To promote the reading of good books our sixth grades formed a Library Club. A meeting was held, officers elected, and librarians chosen. The members pay dues and this money is used for the purchase of new books.
The club now owns one hundred seventy-five books, a desk, and several sections of bookcases which they have purchased with money raised by themselves.
A complete card record is kept for each book and pupil. When purchasing new books the pupils corres- pond with different book stores and order the same. This correlates with the language work, giving practical use for the business letters.
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How well this work promotes reading is shown by the fact that all but five pupils in the two sixth grades at the present time have the State Honor Certificate. This means that twenty books have been read from the list furnished by the state, five of which are non-fiction.
HAND TRAINING (See picture, page 38)
The aims of the hand training work in the sixth grade are as follows:
1. To give skill in handling materials
2. To train in accuracy and neatness
3. To train in business methods and thrift
It is brought into close relationship with other school subjects. The pupils write letters ordering materials and, after working out the cost make payment for the projects made. This trains in business methods and also makes them very careful regarding waste.
Emphasis is laid upon increasing accuracy, care of materials, proper technique of simple working drawings, neatness, good construction, and accuracy of measure- ment.
It is planned to have every project take some useful form which the pupil really desires to complete to the best of his ability.
The following are among the things made: Calendar pads, loose leaf note books in different sizes, desk blotter holders, sewed note books, clipping files of different sizes, folios, writing cases, and bound pamphlets. All of these require much planning, careful workmanship, and train not only the hands but the thinking power of the pupils as well.
11. Physical Activities in the Grades. (See picture page 39.)
The elementary physical education activities are car- ried on regularly indoors and out, providing the right kind of exercise through play interest.
One of the greatest assets to the work is the organized
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recess period, which results in every child having proper space and opportunities for exercise under pupil leader- ship. Recess must mean :
a. Thorough relaxation
b. Wholesome play
c. Recreation of the nervous reservoir
d. Throwing off waste products of sedentary work
e. Fresh air
The present recess period accomplishes this in the most satisfactory manner. The children select their game, organize their group, and carry through their play with little adult interference. This will develop their abil- ity to supervise their own play activities away from the school yard, and to recognize leadership in home and neighborhood groups.
The formal work, necessary for every child because of long sitting positions, is given in general stretching exer- cises. The fundamental standing position is emphasized, fostering an habitual good poise among the average chil- dren.
Other indoor activities are utilized in the playrooms, which all schools have, excepting a few of the smaller buildings. The rhythm, beauty, and joyful feeling in every child is cultivated through folk dances. Although, perhaps, more adapted to the girls, there is an excellent opportunity for training in courtesy toward the other sex in group dances such as the "Virginia Reel". The most popular type of game in the grades is the relay race; and rightly so, since it gives countless opportunities for the teaching of fundamental skills. During the fall months all varieties of kicking games are used, in the winter a combination of throws and passes suggestive of basketball, and in the spring skills which will train the future baseball player.
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12. Physical Activities in Junior and Senior High Schools. (See picture page 40.)
Whenever the weather is suitable, setting-up drills take place outdoors. The picture on opposite page shows the kind of drills that the boys and girls take every day from 9.45 to 10 o'clock. The pupils enjoy these outdoor drills which give them a chance to relax. Far different is it on stormy days, or days too cold for exercising in the open, when the drills must take place indoors in corri- dors. The air here soon becomes vitiated as over two hundred boys and the same number of girls, are crowded in these narrow spaces. There is no other place in the school, however, in which these can be taken.
Other indoor activities for the Junior High School girls have been carried on in the upper hall. Newspapers have been spread on the floor and corrective postural exercises have been taught in the prone position. Sus- pension bars for further work on physical defects will be installed at convenient places in the halls. Folk danc- ing with victrola accompaniment has been very suc- cessful.
Much emphasis has been given to organized games so that a large number of pupils receive the benefits of the game. In the Fall in soccer, an eight team league was formed in the seventh grade and a six team league in the eighth, involving about 140 boys. Fourteen basket- ball teams, enrolling 75 boys, were organized and played at Memorial Hall. In the spring baseball and track have many participants.
The freshmen have had squads in football and basket- ball. Regular weekly games have kept the interest of the boys and developed their skill and improved their physical condition.
In the Senior High School, the football team had a season without defeats. The basketball, the tennis and the track team maintained an excellent standard, win- ning their respective championships. Baseball has also been maintained on a sound basis.
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Through the leadership of the Brockton Y. M. C. A. indoor track and swimming has been added this winter to the list of activities, and additional boys have been able to take part.
The girls have had field hockey and basketball teams, which have been of a high standard.
All the teams have an excellent reputation for clean playing and good sportmanship. This is far more essen- tial than winning of games. This spirit is due to the splendid attitude of those in charge of the various sports.
Regular physical examinations for the boys and girls have been conducted. Proper follow up work in the form of corrective work has had to be neglected because of the congested schedule and lack of facilities.
HEALTH EDUCATION
No school system is complete without a well organized and effective health program closely correlated with that of physical education. The instruction in organized play, in correct posture, and in remedying physical defects, together with that in the care of teeth, in proper food and sleep, and in other health habits is very essential, if each child is to have a strong healthy body. The fol- lowing report of Dr. J. H. Shaw, the school physician, shows that splendid results are accomplished by his de- partment. The state has heartily endorsed the whole health program.
1. Correction of Physical Defects. (See picture page 57.)
The figures show that 2,233 physical examinations have been made by the school physician and as these are the foundation of all health work in the schools every effort is made to interest the children and their teachers in them.
The 100% plan for Health and Hygiene begun last year continues to be the most successful method of arousing interest and securing the correction of defects.
It has been found worth while after examining the pupils in each room to have a personal interview with
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the teacher reporting to her and announcing to the pupils the number of children in the room found to be 100% in Health and Hygiene. Also the names of those who are 100% with the exception of defective teeth, the most common defect, are read.
The teachers employ many original methods for stimu- lating interest in the plan.
In June 1927 bronze medals bearing the legend "Health and Hygiene 100%" were awarded to all children who met certain physical requirements and whose school work was satisfactory. There were one hundred and forty- five of the medals awarded at that time. In June 1928 two hundred and ninety-two children received the award or more than twice as many.
2. Nutrition
The figures indicating the percentage of pupils ten per cent or more underweight in the grade schools as obtained by the school nurse are as follows :
PERCENTAGE OF GRADE PUPILS TEN PER CENT OR MORE UNDERWEIGHT
Spring
Fall
Dec.
Mt. Pleasant,
10%
14%
9%
Knapp,
5%
10%
6%
Hedge,
4%
4%
4%
Cornish and Burton,
11%
14%
8%
Nine 1 and 2 room schools,
9%
12%
9%
Average,
7.8%
10.8%
7.2%
The figures show a marked increase in the percentage of underweight in the fall over the spring weighing but in the final check up in December there is a marked im- provement. On the whole the percentage of underweight pupils has been higher this year than last, due probably to the epidemic of measles which began early in the year and reached its peak in the week of March twenty- fifth when eighty-two new cases were reported, offset to a considerable extent the attempts of the nurse and
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teachers to overcome malnutrition in the schools.
We know that many children lost weight as a result of an attack of measles. We could have shown a much lower figure than 7.2% in the December check-up had it not been for the epidemic.
This also undoubtedly affected the results obtained at the State Re-examination Clinic held April 9th, when of the eighteen children re-examined twelve were reported as improved and six as unimproved.
The record of the Hedge school which has maintained a uniformly low average of underweight of four per cent throughout the year is sufficiently striking under the conditions to which attention has been called to merit special comment. Mention should also be made of the Russell Mills school which has an enrollment of twenty pupils and has had no underweight pupils since the spring weighing.
The underweight problem at the Junior High school is more serious than elsewhere as is always the case. There were nineteen per cent of the school ten per cent or more underweight at the spring weighing and fourteen per cent in December. A solution of the problem here would be an adequate rest room.
At the National Health Day exercises "Tags" for satis- factory weight, posture and teeth were supplied by the State Department of Health; 1753 children received weight tags.
3. Fresh-Air School
In June, five of the twelve pupils in this school were recommended for transfer as follows :
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FRESH - AIR SCHOOL-(Continued)
Age
Grade
Gain Height
Expected Gain Weight
Actual Gain Weight
Gain Weight
Remarks
I. K.
13
VI
11/4 inches
108 oz.
9 34 lbs.
144%
Entered Sept. 30, 1927. Teeth put into satisfactory condition at Dental Clinic. Nervousness, for which she entered, practically gone.
C. R.
13
VI
314 inches
114 0%.
18 lbs.
252%
Entered Sept., 1927. Teeth put into satisfactory condition at Dental Clinic. Operated, 1923, for empyaem. At Plym- outh County Hospital several months in 1927. Now in excellent condition.
A. J.
11
III
11/2 inches
76 oz.
3 34 lbs.
126%
Entered Sept., 1927. All but one of her teeth put in satisfactory condi- tion at Dental Clinic. Nervous, home cooperation wanting. Transferred to Knapp school, Grade IV.
A. B.
8
JI
11% inches
62 oz.
4 34 lbs.
122%
Entered Nov. 4, 1927. Had ten dental cavities in September. All but two have been corrected at Dental Clinic.
T. B.
10
II
1 inch
54 oz.
41% lbs.
133%
Entered Dec. 4, 1927. Has had work done at Dental Clinic. Weight is now exactly right for his age and height. Transferred to Cornish school, Grade III.
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Of the seven pupils remaining in the school September, 1928, one, T. G., although he was very much underweight, was allowed to go to the Hedge School as he was very unhappy because there were no pupils of his age left in the school. Arrangements were made so that he could have a rest period lying down at the Hedge school and he has been doing very well.
I. M., age 12, grade V, left town.
Her record since September, 1927, was as follows : Gain in height 31/4 inches
Expected gain in weight 114 oz.
Actual gain in weight 9 lbs. = 144 oz. or 126℃
Teeth put in satisfactory condition at Dental Clinic Nervousness improved
One pupil, B. A., will be transferred to grade I at the Cornish school after the Christmas recess. He has gained six pounds or 96 oz. in weight since September 14th. His expected gain for that period would be about 24 oz. so that he has made an actual gain of 400% of his expected gain. His nervousness which was quite marked a year ago has improved. His teeth have been taken care of at the dental clinic and he is now 100% physically.
Two pupils who joined the school late in September have made the following gains :
E. H., age 10, grade IV.
Gain in height since entering about September 21st 1/2 inch Expected gain in weight 24 oz. Actual gain in weight 2 lbs. = 32 oz. or 133%
L. B., age 7, grade I.
Gain in height since entering about October 1st 1/2 inch
Expected gain in weight 18 oz. Actual gain in weight 5 lbs. = 80 oz. or 444%
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The Fresh-Air-School teacher, Miss Carpenter, now has a small group of children the oldest being thirteen years of age, so that she is able to get very satisfactory results from the teaching point of view.
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