USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1930-1931 > Part 16
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Limited opportunities for individual help.
Based on comparative length of school hours the total loss of time for four years is 102 days or over half a school year.
Based on actual number of minutes lost from the classroom the freshmen lose 27% of their time or 50 days; each of the upper three classes 9.1% or a total of 17 days each. This gives a total of 101 days in the four years.
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No deduction has been made because of the lack of opportunities to give adequate individual help out of school hours. This is an exceedingly serious loss for many pupils.
During the first year the effect of loss of time was not as evident as it is this year. According to the teachers the junior class which has been on part time for two full years is markedly below its usual standard. While it is true that some pupils from some homes do not suffer very much, for the large majority the loss of time is serious. Neither the per cents of time lost nor the effects can be reasonably questioned by any one who knows school work.
SIZE OF CLASSES
The average class in a senior high school should be 25 pupils. In the high school there are 20 classes with from 34 to 41 pupils, some of these being in college pre- paratory subjects such as English and Review Mathe- matics. These large classes make impossible the indi- vidual attention necessary for first class college prepar- atory work. Limited facilities prevent further sub- division.
SUMMARY
Frank Morse, Supervisor of Secondary Education in Massachusetts, in reply to a question as to the effect of shorter hours for the high school writes as follows :--
"A good school will run on its momentum for a little while but I am quite sure from my experience and ob- servation that it is practically impossible to maintain for any length of time, the proper standard of work when the
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school has a session as short as is now being employed in Plymouth. The short session is especially serious for those pupils who most need help. It may also be said that the afternoon group probably suffers worse than the forenoon group because the afternoon, especially the late afternoon, is probably not so good a time for school work as the earlier hours of the day."
The school standards are necessarily lowered. It is es- pecially serious for the college preparatory pupils and for those needing special help. The conditions justify im- mediate action.
CONDITIONS AT THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
In order to provide sufficient classrooms for the Senior High School, the drawing classes were transferred to the room at the Lincoln Street School used for sewing classes. The sewing machines and tables were transferred to the Junior High School and put into one-half of a regular classroom. A few classes in academic work use the Do- mestic Science room. These combinations are undesir- able but necessary. Several classes are too large for the most efficient work. There is also the lack of an audi- torium, gymnasium, and an adequate lunch room which are so vital to a well rounded training. Further details are given elsewhere in the special report of Miss Kath- arine O'Brien, Principal of the Junior High School. No school can do its best work under such unfavorable con- ditions. The boys and girls are losing valuable training.
SUGGESTED USE FOR THE OLD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
Not including the chemistry laboratory on the third floor, there are twelve classrooms. The Individual School now located on South Street needs additional facilities to accommodate more of the over-age pupils recommended by the state psychiatrist for this type of instruction. This school would occupy three or four rooms on one side of the building. The present Lincoln Street School would need one room. Other pupils from this district now going to the Mt. Pleasant School and Cornish School should go here, together with pupils from outlying dis-
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tricts. From four to six classrooms could be used. This would reduce the large numbers now in the upper grades at the Mt. Pleasant School, and would close up three or four small schools where the number of pupils per teacher is small, making the costs of the school high. It would involve a reorganization of the elementary districts without additional cost to the town. Instead there would be a probable saving, due to a saving in janitor service, heating and an increase in the average number of pupils per teacher.
THE PROPOSED BUILDING PLAN
The plan approved by the committee in 1929 and rec- ommended again last year, is again presented to the citizens. The Special Committee appointed by the town in 1929 approved of the needs of the schools as follows:
"We also believe that if the town should start a new school house building program that we should include auditoriums, gymnasiums, cafeterias and other equip- ment the equal of any town of our size."
It disagreed with the School Committee in that it rec- ommended separate buildings, duplicating the auditor- ium, gymnasium, lunch rooms and special rooms. This duplication would have added materially to the original cost as well as maintenance and operation.
The School Committee are unanimous in recommend- ing again the combined building with the junior and sen- ior high school sections practically independent, as the most economical in building construction, maintenance and operation, as well as thoroughly sound from an ed- ucational point of view.
The following letter recently received from Mr. Frank Wright, Deputy Commissioner of Education, endorses this plan :
"I have examined very carefully, both in the reports and on the ground, the proposed plan of the school com- mittee to enlarge the secondary school facilities at Plym- outh by adding to the present junior high school neces- sary units to complete the requirements for that school and to build in connection therewith a classroom unit ad- equate to meet the needs of the senior high school. The
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plan of having both the junior and senior high schools attached to the common units such as the auditorium, gymnasium, cafeteria, and shops, appears to me to offer a very economical method of providing adequate facilities for both junior and senior high schools."
"The amount of land available by additional small land takings in connection with the present Junior High School site, and the nearness of the town playfield, would appear to me to provide adequate recreational facilities."
REVISED COST OF CONSTRUCTION
During the past year building costs have been reduced ten per cent or more. This means a saving of at least $35,000. There is no indication of further reduction. On the contrary costs in some lines are already increasing somewhat.
The revised figures are as follows:
A.
1. Construction of new Junior and Senior High School including heat- ing, ventilation, plumbing and elec- tric work in accordance with estim- ate of John W. Duff, Inc.,
$253,800.00
2. Remove furnaces in present Junior High School, enlarge boiler room, substitute steam heating including boiler power, build new outside coal pocket and make necessary con- struction changes in present Junior High School,
24,750.00
3. Outside grading and approaches (Estimate),
5,000.00
4. Architect,
17,013.00
4. Equipment,
30,730.00
6. Contingent Fund, 9,000.00
Total for new building equipped ready for use, $340,293.00
7. Run heating pipe in conduit to present High School building, 4,500.00
Total if item No. 7 is included, $344,793.00
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B. Increased Playground Facilities.
8. Pope property,
9. Frim property,
$7,500.00
1,200.00
C. Total cost for proposed additional facili- ties, Jan. 1, 1931, $353,493.00
D. Total cost as recommended Jan. 1930, 398,700.00
E. Difference, $45,207.00
FINANCING THE PLAN
The following figues show that the proposed building can be financed so as not to bring an excessive burden upon the average tax payer. During the present year a tax payer assessed for $5,000 would pay $3.80, next year $6, and the following years a decreasing amount.
1. Bond issue, $330,000.00
2. Borrowing capacity of town Jan. 1, 1931, 460,712.00
3. Borrowing capacity after bond issue, 130,712.00
4. Effect on tax rate 1931,
(1) Proposed cost of building, 340,293.00
(2) Bonds, 330,000.00
(3) From taxes, 10,293.00
(4) For land, 8,700.00
(5) Total cost this year,
18,993.00
(6) Increase in tax rate ($25,000,- 000 valuation), .76
5. Effect on tax rate 1932.
(1) Bonds-1/20 $330,000, 16,500.00
(2) Interest at 4%, 13,200.00
(3) Total cost, 29,700.00
(4) Increase in tax rate, 1.20
6. Effect on tax rate following years.
(1) Decrease in interest each year of $660 or about 21/2 cents decrease on tax rate.
REASONS FOR IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION
1. The costs of construction are probably at their low- est.
2. The bond market is more favorable than for years.
3. The building program would bring much employ-
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ment to both the skilled and unskilled workmen in town.
4. The conditions described at the high schools need immediate relief.
CHANGES IN TEACHING FORCE
At the Senior High School two new teachers were em- ployed, three at the Junior High and seven in the grades. Their places were taken by teachers of experience or by the inexperienced with unusually high normal school or college records especially fitting them for the type of work desired.
Two new principals for elementary grades were needed, one in the Cornish-Burton District, and one in the Mt. Pleasant District. The success of the modern school depends upon the right type of properly trained princi- pal. Miss Helen Riese was chosen for the Cornish School District, and Miss Signe Johnson for the Mt. Pleasant School. Miss Riese had been a very successful critic teacher at Willimantic Normal School for the past six years. She had taken special courses at Harvard and Columbia to fit herself for a position as supervising principal. For the past four years Miss Johnson had been a very successful principal of a small school in Brockton where she demonstrated her ability as an or- ganizer. She had taken special study at Hyannis in ad -. ministration and supervision.
CHANGE AT MANOMET
At Manomet two teachers have handled the six grades ever since the upper grades were brought into the Junior High School. This year there were nineteen pupils who entered the first grade, making a total of forty-one pupils in the first three grades. It would have been impossible for one teacher to handle this group sat- isfactorily. A vacant room on the second floor was equip- ped and an additional teacher took the second and third grades. Another year it may not be absolutely necessary to keep the third teacher, yet very much better results should be secured if each teacher is limited to two grades.
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CHANGE AT CEDARVILLE RECOMMENDED
For several years Cedarville pupils in grades seven and eight have gone to Sagamore Grammar School so that the Cedarville School has had six grades in it. No teach- er with six grades, containing twenty to thirty pupils, can keep her pupils up to the same standard that a well- graded school can. It is recommended that the fifth and sixth grade pupils be sent to Sagamore. The increased yearly cost would only be the cost of tuition, about $85 per pupil, as transportation facilities are already pres- ent. This arrangement would make it possible for the teacher to give fifty per cent more time to the other four grades and should enable her to maintain a higher stand- ard.
DR. SHAW'S ACHIEVEMENTS AS SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
After twenty-three years of service as school physi- cian, Dr. John Holbrook Shaw has felt it necessary to give his full time to his office work. His leaving was sincerely regretted not only locally by the teachers, school committee members and parents, but by the state de- partment. He has built up one of the finest school health departments in the state, which has served as an inspira- tion for many other towns. Fortunate, indeed, is the town which has such a conscientious school physician, whole-heartedly devoting his time to improving the wel- fare of the children. Through the hearty cooperation of the principals, teachers and physical supervisors, the results obtained have been unusually fine. The develop- ment of the health program briefly outlined below is the story of his achievements, assisted by Miss Susie Mac- donald, who has served very efficiently as the school nurse for the past sixteen years.
HISTORY OF HEALTH WORK IN PLYMOUTH
1907 School Physician appointed.
1908 Teeth defect notices first given.
1909
First "Request for Examination" slips used.
1910
Health Rules made for teachers to follow.
1913 Dental Clinic started in School Committee headquarters for Cornish and Burton Schools.
Cordage Company defrayed expenses of a nurse for Hedge,
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Spooner Street and Knapp Schools. Woman's Club defrayed expenses for other schools.
Organized Play established on playgrounds.
1914 School Committee voted to retain Miss Macdonald as School Nurse. Plymouth Cordage Company paid one third the salary.
1915 Dental Clinic for Knapp School established.
Playground apparatus given to Cornish School. Physical Record Cards placed in schools. First class in posture defects.
Regular scientific adjustment of school furniture, twice a year, established.
1916 School children with tubercular tendencies first taken to dispensary.
Dental examinations first given to pupils of Hedge, Mt. Pleasant and Cold Spring Schools.
Cloth window screens installed.
1918 Dental Nurse appointed.
Surgical service established for school children at the Jor- dan Hospital.
1919 Weighing Scales placed in Hedge School. Nutrition work with 13 children at the Hedge School.
1920 Daily Health Inspection in classrooms begun. Nutrition Classes in all schools.
1921 Hedge School Dental Clinic established.
Oral Hygiene begun. Modern Health Crusade introduced.
Closer correlation of health and physical education began.
1922 Monthly Conferences of School Physician with teachers in- troduced.
1923 Fresh Air School established.
1924 Tuberculosis Clinic first held.
First Health Crusade Accolade held.
1925 Outline for Teaching Hygiene in the primary grades pre- pared by Dr. Shaw and Miss Elizabeth H. Sampson.
1926 Motion picture projector owned by the School Department first used in schools for health work. Assistant to school nurse appointed.
Accurate measuring of lighting conditions, resulting in in- stallation of adequate electric lights in schools.
1927 The 100% Plan for Health Work first used. First Pre-school Examinations given.
1928 Program of Motion Pictures for health put on monthly at school centers. First test of hearing with audiometer.
1929 Fresh Air School discontinued due to decrease in numbers. Rest and Nutrition Class organized in the Cornish and Burton group.
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SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
Since June 1, 1930, Mr. Ralph F. Matinzi has been serv- ing as supervisor of attendance, and has given personal attention to each individual case needing investigation. Some cases of absence need the full force of the law in dealing with them. Many cases, however, need not force but a sympathetic understanding of the family conditions. There is a real opportunity for social service of a construc- tive nature, an interpretation of the value of the school to the parents, together with their responsibility for the child's education, and an explanation to the school of the home conditions under which frequently both parents and pupils are working. This position requires an officer of unusual tact and common sense, sympathetic and yet. firm when the occasion arises.
SCHOOL EXHIBITS
Last June the Hedge School held an exhibit of their year's work, a description of which is given in the report. of the principal, Miss Elizabeth H. Sampson. It showed an unusually fine correlation of several school subjects around the central theme of the Tercentenary. Visitors from out of town who saw it, gave it high praise. The Plymouth County Teachers' Association requested that it be exhibited at their annual convention in Whitman last. October. This was done.
At the county convention there was an exhibit of Jun- ior High School activities from many towns. The exhibit. from our Junior High School showed work in all phases. of English, Arithmetic, Social Studies, Drawing, Manual Arts and Domestic Science. It received very fine praise, too.
Both exhibits were unusually fine and showed that excellent results were being secured in our schools. The principals and teachers of both schools are to be com- mended for their untiring efforts not only in securing the results in the classroom but for the extra effort in ar- ranging the exhibits.
A public exhibit of activities from all the schools is planned for the near future, to be held in Memorial Hall.
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ADMISSION OF UNDER-AGE PUPILS
The general age for admission to the first grade is that the child shall have reached his sixth birthday before the January first following the September admission. For the past seven years children under this chronological age have been admitted providing they passed with a high enough score a psychological test given by a spec- ialist trained in this work. The score required to be at- tained was a mental age of five years and eight months. There are 207 pupils now in the first six grades who have entered by means of this test. The results in terms of marks have been summarized as shown in the accom- panying table.
DISTRIBUTION OF MARKS ACCORDING TO GRADES
Grade II Grade III Grade IV Grade V Grade VI
Grade I No. %
No. %
No. %
No. %
No. %
No. % Total
Repeaters
21 10.5
6 4.3
1
1.
. .
ยท
1 6.7 29
C
41 20.5
32 23.
23 24.2
20 33.3
12 37.5
2 12.5
130
B
74 37.2
65 46.4
45 47.3
20 33.3
10 31.3
43.2
221
A
63 31.7
37 26.4
26 27.4
20 33.3
10 31.3
6 37.5
161
Total
199
140
95
60
32
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Eliminating the 29 repeaters, the 178 pupils received 130 C's, 221 B's and 161 A's in the first six grades, or approximately 75% receive an A or B. It is evident, therefore, that with exception of the repeaters, these under-age pupils actually do better work than the aver- age older child.
What are the chief objections to admitting these un- der-age children? They center around the physical im- maturity of many children, which produces a desire to play and a lack of sustained attention. By what means can these pupils be eliminated? Of 51 pupils under 5 years and 4 months chronologically only 9 were repeat- ers, or 18% ; of 79 pupils between 5 years 4 months and 5 years seven months, 15 were repeaters, or 19%. Thus on the basis of chronological age the younger child is as apt to do good work as the older one. Distributed ac- cording to mental age, 89 pupils had a mental age from 5 years 8 months to 5 years 11 months. Of these 21 were repeaters or 24%. Of the 29 repeaters 21, or 72% are in this group.
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It would seem advisable, therefore, to raise the re- quirements of entrance to a higher mental age. A fur- ther check should be made after children have been in school two months, and those eliminated who are physi- cally immature. Had these pupils a previous kinder- garten training to bring about the school adjustments necessary to doing school work, undoubtedly there would have been still fewer failures.
PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENT
At the Hedge School a hard surface was put on a por- tion of the playground. This consisted of about two inches of 11/4" crushed stone and one inch of 1/4" stone rolled to about 21/2". On the top was sprayed Tarvia K. P., about one-half gallon to a square yard. The top was covered with sawdust and rolled. The surface is strong enough to sustain the heavy coal trucks. The top is somewhat softer than either the usual asphalt or the cement and makes a splendid playing surface. The gen- eral surface will be improved by another application of Tarvia and sawdust.
Similar surfaces should be built upon the playgrounds of the other schools as soon as possible. They are of value not only when the grounds are very wet, but also when they are so very dry that clouds of dust blow about.
GRADUATION EXERCISES
The graduation exercises of the Junior High School and of the Senior High School in June were unusually interesting and educational. During the year the state was celebrating its Tercentenary. Both schools made a special study not only of the history of Massachusetts but also of other points of special historic significance. These were reflected in the pageants presented.
The exercises of the Senior High School took the form of a musical program depicting the development of music from early colonial days down to the present time. It was called "An Historical Festival of American Music" and consisted of nine episodes. Episode I portrayed the "Birth of Music" and was presented by the "Spirits of Nature" and the "Indian Braves." The second episode
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consisted of a tableau, "The Pilgrims Going to Church," accompanied by appropriate hymns sung by a hidden chorus. The third episode represented a "Singing School of the 18th Century," while the fourth typified the more popular type of music as sung by the patrons of "The Green Dragon Inn." The "First Chamber Music Society" was charmingly re-enacted in episode four, followed by "The Negro Spirituals," showing the contributions to American music made by the Negro race. Naturally, the music of the Civil War period came next. In episode eight, the work of some of our own American masters was revealed both by a girls' chorus and by an orchestra. The final episode was a song by the entire senior class, representing a present day choral society.
The Junior High School presented a dramatization of a series of outstanding historic episodes of the nation's growth, from the east to west, inclusive. Most of the work was originated, coached and staged by the teachers since there was a dearth of printed material for dram- atization. The episodes were: (1) The Original Inhabi- tants, an Indian scene, (2) The Signing of the May- flower Compact, (3) Later Colonial Days, (4) Spirit of '76, tableau, (5) The Oregon Trail, (6) A Plantation Scene, (7) The March of Industry and (8) Procession of Nations.
The scenes depicted were excellent. The music accom- panying them was well rendered. All the teachers who helped to make these exercises so worthwhile are heart- ily commended for their splendid work.
SUMMER SCHOOL
The summer school was open for six weeks under the direction of Mrs. Miriam A. Raymond, assisted by two other teachers. There were 101 pupils enrolled as fol- lows : 9 in grade seven, 27 in grade six, 19 in grade five, 27 in grade four, and 19 in grade three. The object of the school is to correct by individual instruction the de- ficiences in arithmetic and reading. A large per cent of these pupils are thus enabled to save repeating a grade.
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ANALYSIS OF SOME COSTS
The school budget for the past four years has been as follows :
Budget Recommended
Budget Granted
Actual
Expenses
1927
$250,950.00
$250,950.00
$248,910.85
1928
249,000.00
249,000.00
247,429.71
1929
252,000.00
248,000.00
246,718.17
1930
254,000.00
250,000.00
249,806.62
It is not practical to figure a budget of the above size without allowing some for emergencies. In order to meet the cuts made in the budget two types of reduction were made, the one in the maintenance of grounds and build- ings, the other in supplies.
In 1929 an apparent but not a real saving in supplies was made. Instead of buying for a full school year, many supplies were bought for the fall term only. This meant in January more were needed than usual and made the 1930 cost high.
In the past year less coal was bought. Instead of fill- ing the bins in November and December the purchasing was necessarily put over to January first, thus making this next year's purchases larger. There was a decrease of about 75 tons of coal on hand on January 1, 1931.
Exhausting the amount either of supplies or coal is not a wise policy for general practice.
1. Transportation Cost.
Transportation routes vary as well as the costs. Since 1927 this item has increased from $15,990.47 to $18,080, or approximately $2000, due largely to extra trips caused by the two sessions at the high school. The costs have been kept as low as possible through competitive bidding.
The following show the present routes and costs:
The Plymouth and Brockton receives $25 a day for bringing the pupils in to the Junior High School and the morning session of the Senior High School, from Mano- met and Russell Mills; and the elementary pupils from Chiltonville and Russell Mills to the Mt. Pleasant School. The company receives one dollar a day additional for an extra man to supervise the younger children on the latter
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trip. The company also transports the Junior High School pupils at ten cents per day per pupil.
For $8 a day Manomet receives the following service. An auto brings the pupils from Ellisville and Ship Pond to meet the morning high school bus at Manomet, and the children from Warren Avenue, together with the children in grades one and two from Beaver Dam Road to the Manomet School. A small bus brings the elementary pupils from Ship Pond and Raymond's Corner to the Manomet School and the pupils from this vicinity and Manomet to the afternoon session at the high school.
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