USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1928-1929 > Part 32
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As long as there are enough pupils who need those experiences to form a class, that subject is no longer a frill to that class.
For a group of boys who are slow in complicated prob- lems in arithmetic or in grammatical analysis, to make first class tables or colonial mirrors is not a frill. To understand the home and its varied problems, to know how to budget household accounts, to learn how to make one's own dresses, certainly should not be considered frills in any home. The home is not equipped to teach and many a mother is not trained in the fundamentals of home making. These so-called frills are thrills to the pupil and to the teacher.
The job of the school is to turn out successes, not fail- ures. Whatever the subject that turns out successes can- not justly be called a frill or fad. That subject or phase of a subject which furnishes experiences which do not meet later life situations, is the frill.
The Individual School.
The Individual School has grown in importance as the work has been better adapted to the pupils' needs. For the fifteen years since its beginning it has been directed by Mrs. Mary L. Jackson, whose interest in her pupils and work has been unusually fine.
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No school is so little understood by parents and citi- zens as this school. Many pupils are naturally slow in their mental reactions. In regular grade work they are seriously handicapped and become very discouraged be- cause the others go ahead so much more rapidly. In this school the pupils take up regular school subjects much more slowly, competing with pupils of their own ability. Each pupil proceeds according to his own rate and not according to any standards of regular grades. Methods may vary with every pupil according to his ability and temperament. His work has to be varied, as his interest in one subject is not of long duration.
As Mrs. Jackson states: "We cannot increase the sub- normal child's intelligence, but we can foster his self- respect and strengthen desirable traits by allowing him to achieve success every day, by doing things according to his ability."
"The goal of the Individual School is self-controlled, self-supporting citizenship. To obtain this objective, we have co-ordinated the academic and industrial work with health, social adjustment, thrift, ability to get and sta- bility to hold a job; also, the ability to use leisure time wisely."
Reading is primarily to get the thought from the written page. Proper articulation and pronunciation are also essential. Both oral and written language are taught to help the child correct careless habits of speech and of writing. Spelling is not slighted. Arithmetic is limited to simple processes in addition, subtraction, multiplica- tion and division, the use of money in buying and selling and problems dealing with costs as they pertain to ordi- nary life. Penmanship is of a high standard. Music and drawing are under the direction of the regular grade supervisors. Many pupils show excellent taste in paint- ing and design. Health and physical education have a very important place. "Encouraged by the considerate and helpful advice of the school physician, nurses and
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dentists, we stress mental, physical and oral hygiene, paying particular attention to condition of skin, nails, hair and mouth, health habits, proper diet, sleep, pos- ture, rest and clothing."
"Handwork is extremely important in the special class. The amount of time given to this work cannot be estimated in fractional terms but must occupy that part of the curriculum necessary for the development of each child. The girls are taught the elementals of housekeep- ing, cooking, sewing, laundering, cleaning, sweeping and dusting, knitting, crocheting, weaving, cutting and sew- ing."
"The other forms of handwork taught are reed and raffia work, bead work, paper flowers, chair caning, painting door stops, renovating old furniture, rug mak- ing and wood-working."
ANNUAL REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Wayne M. Shipman, Principal of the Senior High School reports as follows :
Although it is manifestly difficult to measure the ac- complishments of a school year by tangible standards, nevertheless there is a certain sense of achievement which can be recognized either by its presence or absence. It is my firm conviction that the Plymouth High School has continued to progress in the year just closed. In this re- spect it has done nothing extraordinary or unusual but has endeavored to perform its tasks better and meet its obligations more fully than a year ago. Every teacher is now experienced. High standards of teaching have been maintained and methods improved. The scholastic at- tainment of the pupils has been good. As a result of last year's experience, the ninth grade pupils have been hand- led with better understanding and with better results. Our enrollment has increased from 467 to 519. There are 23 teachers, 20 of whom are devoting all the time to the High School.
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An unusually large percent. of members of the grad- uating class have continued with their education This class enrolled 83 pupils-37 boys and 46 girls. Those who continued in scholastic work are distributed as fol- lows :
1 Tufts
2 Miss Wheelock's School
3 Northeastern
1 Bentley School of Ac- counting
1 Williams
4 Normal School
1 Gordon College of Theo- logy
3 Chandler Secretarial School
1 Boston School of Physi- cal Education
1 Lasell Seminary
1 Boston College
1 Bay Path Institute
2 Exeter Academy
1 Worcester Academy
1 Burdett Business College
1 Mass. Institute of Tech- nology
There are three curricula offered in the Senior High School :
The Preparatory curriculum prepares for admission to any college or scientific school, or normal school, either by examination, or by certification. This curriculum pre- pares for advanced study leading to a professional ca- reer, that is, for the study of law, medicine, engineering, dentistry, or scientific business administration. It is also the foundation of a liberal and cultural education.
The Commercial Curriculum prepares a pupil to enter the business field directly or, if subjects are chosen prop- erly, to enter advanced schools of business. The best of the business colleges are now requiring that candidates for admission shall be graduates of a high school. This curriculum combines cultural and special subjects and gives a pupil a good foundation for further development according to his opportunities and ambitions.
The General Curriculum is designed for the pupil who is still undecided as to how best to plan his school work. It contains fewer prescribed subjects and more electives. By proper selection of courses, however, one may pre-
Plymouth Twenty-two
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pare for normal school or even for those colleges whose entrance requirements are more liberal than those of the traditional type. As its name implies, it gives one a gen- eral education which can be made very useful as a foun- dation for something higher and better.
The conditions under which we are carrying on are very little different from those of last year, and which were described in my report at that time. The three up- per classes use the building practically to the limit. By utilizing rooms unsuited to the particular purpose at hand, and by having oversized classes, we have been able to manage tolerably well. What the situation will be next year, with every prospect of a still larger enrollment, can only be conjectured at this time. The objections to the afternoon session are just as valid as they were a year ago. Furthermore, experience indicates that our present situation throughout the entire school is unsatisfactory from almost every angle. The High School will never function as it should until adequate facilities are provided and a well-rounded, carefully planned educational pro- gram developed.
Our greatest problem at present is to adapt both the subject matter and the teaching to the over-age pupil who learns slowly. In this regard, we have made some prog- ress, but lack of opportunity to provide for the non- academic type of work, which should be combined with text book work, very much limits our advance.
A new course in Business Organization, touching on many phases of business, has replaced two half courses, Salesmanship and Advertising, formerly given in the Junior year. Agriculture II has been dropped, not be- cause the boys are not interested, but because the teacher has no time available for a regular class period. A plan of project work by individuals under the teacher's super- vision has replaced the regular course.
I feel that we need a two-year course in general or practical mathematics for pupils who desire neither alge-
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bra, geometry, nor business mathematics. I believe there is need for non-mathematical advanced general science courses. I am not sure that it would not be wise to make ninth grade Civics and General Science into half courses. This would either reduce the number of classes in these subjects or reduce the size of the classes with consequent relief for the teachers of these subjects in either eventu- ality.
We no longer give marks in conduct. In the first place, it is almost impossible to give more than approx- imate grade in manner, cooperation, reliability and the like. We found by experience that the process of ràting boys and girls in these qualities was altogether too sub- jective to warrant its retention. Secondly, we took the stand that, like ourselves, boys and girls were considered good citizens of their community until they demonstrate the contrary to be true. So far there is not observable the least sign of a "letting-down" in their conduct. On the other hand, we continue to stress moral and emotional virtues as desirable and advocate and encourage their cultivation.
Our athletic teams have been successful, especially the football team which has been undefeated for two seasons. The presentation of "The Mikado" last April was unusual in its excellence. The school orchestra has filled several engagements for local organizations and has received much favorable comment for its good work. Four school socials were held at Memorial Hall during the year. School assemblies have been held more frequently. The "Pilgrim," our school magazine, was awarded first prize in a contest with about twenty competing schools in this section of Massachusetts. All these extra-curricular ac- tivities are exceedingly valuable in bringing out talent, developing the creative spirit, and in unifying the school in common interests and objectives.
No doubt I have omitted many things which could well be included in an exhaustive report. I trust, however, I
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have given you some idea of the way and manner in which the High School is being conducted. We never consider our task finished and are constantly striving to make a good school better.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
For the past twenty-two years the Health Department has been directed by Dr. J. Holbrook Shaw, whose devo- tion to the work has meant much sacrifice of his person- al interests. The excellence of this department has been highly commended by the state authorities. That the teaching of cleanliness is especially effective is noted by many visitors to our systems. The report which follows shows the splendid work being done to help the under- nourished child to become strong and to encourage every pupil to strive for a high degree of physical efficiency.
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE
We recognized that School Medical Service to be ef- fective must not be a thing apart but vitally connected with all health activities and especially with health teach- ing and health training. The school physician is in close touch with the nurse, the dental hygienist, the director of physical education, the principals and teachers and last but not least with the children themselves.
Not long ago a normal school teacher stated in a public address that there was no achievement test for health education. There is such a test and the result is to be found in the condition of the children exposed to it. If our program is complete and effective we shall find and correct the physical defects of our children and if our health training and health education is successful our children will show the result in terms of health.
It is with this in mind that we offer yearly to those children who are free from physical defects, practice the health habits which they have been taught and whose
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accomplishment in their school work is satisfactory a bronze medal bearing the legend "Health and Hygiene 100%." The children who receive these awards repre- sent the flower of our achievement in health education. That they do not represent all that has been accomplished is recognized by the award of separate "tags" for correct posture, satisfactory weight and a satisfactory condition of the teeth.
In June 1927 the first bronze medals were awarded, 145 of them. In June 1928 we distributed 292 and this year 310. The Cornish-Burton group of children had the greatest number of awards for the size of the group. Twenty-six percent, or over one-quarter of this large group of children were found to be "100% in Health and Hygiene."
The total number of weight "tags" distributed last June were 1734, posture "tags" 1231 and teeth "tags" 607.
STATISTICAL REPORT OF INSPECTIONS,
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS NOTICES, ETC. Number of inspections 1,109
Number of examinations 2,527
Number of notices of diseases and defects sent to parents 1,154
Number of pupils referred to nurse 64
Number of permits signed by school physician .
987
Number of permits signed by other physicians . . Number of pupils excluded 87
324
Number of examinations for industry 69
Defects found :
Eyes 7
Ears
1
Teeth
41
Posture
16
Nutrition
2
Number not recommended 1 Number recommended for temporary certificate .. 1
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THE SCHOOL NURSE
The nurse through her practical knowledge obtained from doing as well as from books brings health educa- tion and medical service together to the great advantage of both, for the nurse is also a teacher. From time to time various phases of health education such as proper hours of sleep, cleanliness, etc. are taken up with the teachers, and a vigorous campaign for improvement is put on by the nurse using school room talks, posters and other devices to bring results.
The nurse also assists by organizing contests for the best work in some form of health device such as health books or health calendars, the award being made in June. Last June some of the finest health projects made by the pupils during the year were exhibited in the assembly room at the Cornish school for ten days.
About seven hundred children were enrolled in the Health Crusade this year. Five hundred and ninety-five pins were awarded to pupils who performed fifty-four or more of the health chores each week for the term of twelve weeks.
One hundred and sixty-five of these pins were "Knight Banneret Constants" and were given to pupils who had completed the health chores for the fourth year.
Four sixth grades and two fourth grades were 100% and received certificates from the National Tuberculosis Association.
STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Number of pupils inspected in school 5,492
Number of pupils inspected at home 123
Number of pupils treated in school 905
Number of schools visited 588 Number of homes visited 474
Contagious diseases found in schools 83
(Ringworm) 5 (Impetigo) 60
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(Scabies) 12
(Chicken-pox) 4
(Whooping-cough) 2
Contagious diseases found in homes
30
(Chicken-pox) 11
(Scarlet-fever) 11
(Tuberculosis)
1
(Whooping-cough) 7
Number of pupils excluded 160
Number of pupils taken to hospital and clinics . . 15
Number of pupils operated for tonsils and adenoids 50
Number of pupils referred to physicians 42
Number of pupils weighed and measured 6,727
UNDERNOURISHED GROUPS
The nurse continues her effective work with groups of children at the various school centers who are ten percent or more underweight. These children are weighed and measured monthly and their health habits checked. The improvement which they show is gratifying and in many cases striking.
The problem of malnutrition is always more pressing at the Junior High school than among the children of the lower grades. Of the undernourished class of 49 children at this school organized in October and under observation for eight weeks before the Christmas recess one lost weight after grip and two neither gained or lost, the other 46 gained from one-half pound to seven and one-half pounds, the average for the whole group being over three pounds. The expected gain of children of this age would be on pound and three-quarters in the same length of time.
NUTRITION
Believing that the weighing and measuring of school children provides an incentive which induces them to obey the rules of health which are being taught them in the school and also an incentive to the correction of de- fects which hinder or prevent gains in weight the nurse
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weighs and measures the children twice a year in the spring and fall and in December before the Christmas recess they are weighed but not measured.
This may make the showing of percentage for Decem- ber slightly better than if they were measured as well as weighed but the error cannot be great as so little time has lapsed since the fall weighing and measuring.
The figures given in the following table show the per- centages of children in the various schools who are ten percent below the average weight of children of their age and height.
Spring
Fall
Dec.
Mt. Pleasant,
3%
8%
3%
Knapp,
9%
11%
4 %
Hedge,
6%
9%
4%
Cornish and Burton,
8%
10%
4%
Nine 1 and 2 room schools,
7.2%
7.3%
5.1%
Average,
6.64%
9%
4%
The Russell Mills school has had no underweights for two consecutive years and Cliff Street and Lincoln Street showed no underweights at the December check.
The general average of 4% at the December check com- pares favorably with the December check of last year which was 7.2%.
The Junior High School showing is better than last year when there were 19%, ten percent below the average for their age and height at the spring weighing, and 14% in December. We were able to get no December check this year but the spring and fall weighings showed respective- ly only 10% and 11% of underweights.
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FRESH-AIR-SCHOOL
The Fresh-Air-School was discontinued with the month of June because among other things the increasingly ef- fective health program being carried out in the schools was making it harder each year to obtain a sufficient number of recruits to keep the membership up to where the cost per pupil could be justified.
The following table shows the individual progress of the seven members of the school from September 1928 to June 1929.
Name
Age
Remarks
M. B.
7
Exp. Gain 36 oz.
Act. Gain 100 oz.
Percent 277
No record after April 1st.
F. V.
10
76 oz.
56 OZ.
73
Nasal obstruction 10% be- low Av. Wt. for age and height.
A. W.
8
57 oz.
72 oz.
126
Never underweight. Ad- mitted for nervousness. Improved.
M. G.
11
76 oz.
32 oz.
42 7% below the Av. Wt. to attend Summer Camp.
L. B.
7
57 oz.
108 oz.
189 Gained 11/4 in. in height.
A. R.
10
76 oz.
64 oz.
84 10% below Av. Wt. but not undernourished.
E. H.
11
76 oz.
88 OZ.
115
Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Now in normal zone.
All the children in the school received teeth tags having had all necessary work done at the Dental Clinic. One pupil received the 100% medal. With one exception all were promoted to their respective grades.
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REST AND NUTRITION CLASS
The Rest and Nutrition Class organized in the Cornish- Burton group in September 1928 has supplemented the Fresh-Air-School and now supersedes it. It has the great advantage of allowing the pupils to continue their work in their own school rooms with their usual school com- panions and teacher.
The following computation of gains from October to June shows the relation of the actual gain to the expected gain of each child expressed in percentages with remarks on each case. The percentages of gains range from 76 to 352. All but three of the seventeen members of the class made better than their expected gain.
1
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GAINS IN REST AND NUTRITION CLASS OCTOBER TO JUNE 1928-9
Name
Age
Exp. Gain
Act. Gain
Percent
Remarks
E. B.
13
102 oz.
272 oz.
266
Now in normal zone.
Was 10% below average weight in Sept. Now in normal zone.
Was 10% below average weight in Sept. Now in normal zone.
Poor posture. Nail biter. Still 10% below Average Weight.
V. B.
9
68 oz.
128 oz.
188
M. L.
12
102 oz.
88 oz.
86
Has carious teeth and en- larged tonsils.
R. K.
10
68 oz.
156 oz.
229
Had tonsils and adenoids removed. Still has carious teeth.
G. C.
8
68 oz.
84 oz.
123
T. P.
10
68 oz.
158 oz.
L. P.
11
102 oz.
188 oz.
184 Gained 21/2 inches in height. Poor posture.
K. L.
11
102 oz.
96 oz.
94
Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Now 7%, Nervous- ness improved.
M. B.
11
102 oz.
200 oz.
196
J. G.
11
102 oz.
144 oz.
141
Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Poor posture.
G. R.
14
68 oz.
240 oz.
352
E. W.
11
102 oz.
168 oz.
164
Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Now in normal zone.
E. K.
13
102 oz.
208 OZ.
203
Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Now in normal zone.
B. H.
7
51 oz.
76 oz.
Was 10% below average weight in Sept.
L. S.
8
51 oz.
135 oz.
264
M. K.
12
102 oz.
128 oz.
125
M. M.
9
68 oz.
52 oz.
76
Was 10% below average weight in Sept. Now in normal zone.
Has carious teeth and en- larged tonsils. Over 10% below Av. Wt.
158 Has carious teeth and en- larged tonsils.
Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Gained 234 in. in height.
Over 15% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Gained 2 in. in height.
149 Was 10% below Av. Wt. in Sept. Has carious teeth.
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On Monday, September ninth, a new class was started with seven pupils, all former members of the class. By the following Monday the nurse had weighed and meas- ured all pupils in the group and those who were under- weight or otherwise delicate were referred to the school physician who selected from them those who, in his judg- ment, would benefit by joining the class, certain indi- viduals being held back until defects could be remedied and they should be "free to gain."
The following table shows the progress of the indi- viduals in the class from September to December 1929. All but two of the pupils made better than their expected gain, the percentages running from 40 to 571.
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GAINS IN REST AND NUTRITION CLASS SEPT. TO DEC. 1929
Name
Age
Exp. Gain
Act. Gain
Percent
Remarks
Entered class Oct. 21. Ca- rious teeth 4. Undernour- ished 10%.
Entered Sept. 9. Carious teeth 7. Undernourished 15%. Slight lateral cur- vature of spine. Nutrition improved. Has had work done at Dental Clinic.
Entered Sept. 9. Ner- vousness. Not undernour- ished. Nervousness im- proved.
Entered Sept. 11. Has asthmatic attacks. Has enlarged tonsils and ade- noids. Nutrition improved.
E. B.
9
22 oz.
52 oz.
236
W. G.
10
22 oz.
44 oz.
200
F. M.
9
10 oz.
4 oz.
40
Entered Nov. 8. Under- nourished 10%.
M. M.
10
35 oz.
56 oz.
160
J. S.
10
31 oz.
36 oz.
116
R. P.
10
14 oz.
80 oz.
571
R. D.
11
45 oz.
96 oz.
213
Entered Sept. 10. Under- nourished 10%. One cari- ous tooth. Nutrition now satisfactory. Teeth put in condition at Dental Clinic.
E. J. ,
11
26 oz.
48 oz.
184
7
11 oz.
32 oz.
290
L. B.
M. B.
9
22 oz.
48 oz.
218
W. I.
7
22 oz.
96 oz.
436
Entered Sept. 9. Nervous- ness. Undernourished 10%. Improved.
Entered Sept. 9. Under- nourished 15%. Slight lat- eral curvature of spine. Nutrition improved. Has had work done at Dental Clinic.
Entered Sept. 10. Under- nourished 15%. Poor pos- ture. Carious teeth.
Entered Oct. 27. T. and A. operation in Sept. Now over av. wt. for ht.
Entered Sept. 11. Defective teeth, poor posture, under- nourished 15%. Posture now improved, nutrition satisfactory. Teeth put in condition at Dental Clinic.
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D. K.
10
29 oz.
80 oz.
276
A. R.
11
27 oz.
32 oz.
118
E. S.
9
31 oz.
64 oz.
206
H. S.
11
43 oz.
88 oz.
205
A. Z.
11
20 oz.
64 oz.
320
G. B.
11
14 oz.
32 oz.
260
R. H.
11
18 oz.
32 oz.
177
1
D. P.
11
27 oz.
16 oz.
59
Entered Sept. 27 with cari- outh teeth. Undernour- ished 10%. Nutrition now satisfactory.
Entered Sept. 12. Under- nourished 15%. Nutrition improved.
Entered Sept. 10. Under- nourished 10%. Carious teeth. Nutrition now sat- isfactory.
Entered Sept. 10. Under- nourished 10%. Carious teeth. Nutrition now sat- isfactory.
Entered Sept. 10. Under- nourished 10%. Carious teeth. Nutrition now sat- isfactory. Has had seven teeth extracted at Dental Clinic.
Entered Sept. 12. Under- nourished 10%. Cardiac. Nutrition improved.
Entered Sept. 27. Under- nourished 10%. Carious teeth. Nutrition improved. Entered Oct. 4. Under- nourished 15%. Carious teeth.
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THE SCARLET FEVER EPIDEMIC
During the year 1928 occasional cases of scarlet fever were reported by the Board of Health, the total being forty-one cases. In January 1929 there were six and in February fourteen.
Suddenly in March the incidence of the disease rose sharply. On March seventh and eighth thirteen cases were reported and on the ninth thirty-six which was the peak. On March eleventh there were twenty-three cases reported, ten on the twelfth, seven on the thirteenth, none on the fourteenth and four on the eighteenth, three on the twenty-second and one each on the twenty-third and twenty-seventh.
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