USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1934-1936 > Part 31
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B. Drawing
Miss Virginia Dowling, Supervisor for Junior and Senior High School, reports :
More than ever during the past few years, the neces- sity of putting leisure time to advantageous use, has been pointed out as being one of paramount importance in teaching today. Needless to say - the construction and creation of a thing of use and beauty is one outstanding way of developing leisure to advantage. It is with this end primarily in view that I have planned my work. Wherever possible, actual craft work, combining the ele- ments of both drawing and design have been given.
During the past winter, the course for Junior High School pupils has been completely revised. One new sub- ject introduced to this group was that of block printing. Some of the products of this course were used as cover
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designs in last year's School Reports. These pictures represented well known views of Plymouth.
Particular growth has occurred in our study of mari- onettes. The children in the Marionette Club are hard at work now preparing this winter's performance. Many of the children who are enthusiastic marionette workers at school, have broadened their interest by starting inde- pendent companies at home. Such an indication, I feel, proves the undoubted value of such a project.
The High School students, aside from regular work carried on in the classroom, have done considerable work in outdoor sketching. During Book Week samples of their sketches were places on exhibition at the Public Library.
A new course creating wide present interest is that of Jewelry Design. Students interested are reporting vol- untarily for instruction outside of regular school hours. As soon as we move into our new quarters I hope to do much more along this line.
I feel very strongly that the true value of Art work in the schools is by no means to be narrowed down to the training of the talented student. Our interests are as strongly centered in the vast majority who will never become "artists" in the highest sense of the world. Real appreciation and enjoyment of the subject will give to the average student a breadth of his entire outlook. It will turn wasteful hours into hours of creative energy. It is toward such a goal then, that the aim of this depart- ment is bent.
Miss Hazel Bates, Elementary Supervisor, reports :
A great educator has said, "The aim of education is to help the child do better that thing which he is going to do anyway." Believing this to be true, the department has endeavored to so teach art principles that the child may apply them in every line of work he undertakes. It has tried in instil in its students a desire to express
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themselves in an orderly manner, with unity and with beauty of form and color, for without self expression there can be no growth.
Tests have been given to determine what knowledges and skills had been acquired and what weaknesses ex- isted. Remedial measures followed the tests.
In the Fall term an interesting and instructive talk was given the teaching force by Miss Mildred Fischer, assistant to the well known Emmy Zweibruck of Vienna.
At Christmas time some form of craft was undertaken by all. The eagerness and enthusiasm with which this work was approached was indicative of the pleasure this type of work gives to children. Lack of time and ma- terials prevents more craft work being undertaken.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the good work being done by the teachers and for their kind cooperation.
C. Physical Education
Mr. Henry T. Knowlton, Supervisor for the Junior and Senior High Schools, reports as follows :
Junior High School
The regular classwork at the Junior High School in- cludes the following: instruction in calisthenics, games, posture, first aid, tumbling, and the fundamentals of the following sports: football, track, basketball, boxing, wrestling, baseball, tennis, and hockey.
There is a daily calisthenics period which is directed by students who compete for the privilege of leading their classmates.
Besides the regular class instruction in posture there is a daily check-up in each room. At the end of each week a posture banner is awarded to the best room.
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The after-school program during the fall term took the form of intramural leagues in "Touch" football; during the winter term intramural leagues in basketball.
Senior High School
During the fall term there were about eighty boys competing for the varsity and freshman football teams. Several informal games were played against pick-up teams from the student body of the High School who were not included in the football squad.
Besides the regular varsity and freshman basketball squads there are over one hundred and thirty boys com- peting in intramural basketball leagues.
Mrs. Beatrice Garvin, Supervisor for the Elementary Grades, and Senior High School Girls, reports as follows:
The foundation of success in teaching children is sym- pathetic understanding of childhood - teaching not Physical Education but children. Children are individu- als, growing in different ways, representing countless variations in capacities, temperaments and social inheri- tance. The word "go" expresses the elementary child's behavior and his interest. Directed play is the first re- quirement of children of the "game age." Play is not something less than work - it means a difference in mental attitude. No matter what combination of qual- ities nature has given to the child, if he has not the force, the physical means for making it avail, it will help him little. There is great value in the pleasureable emotional states which may be classified together as "joy." The condition of happiness, or "joy" is that in which develop- ment is unhindered and flourishing - in which the func- tions are proceeding harmoniously. Play is the ideal form of the exercise of the powers - the activity which the child's own nature suggests.
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The elementary program is to a large extent an out- door on". At the lower grade levels activity is indulged in for the sheer enjoyment of it rather than from any idea of acquiring skills in movement. The child delights in imaginative characters, loves to imitate animals, birds, the rain and the sun. Class activities are developed thru story plays, dramatic songs and running games. The children are taught to identify themselves with a squad leader and to develop skills and circle games in small groups. In upper grades there is eagerness to experi- ment, impulsiveness, wide-awake energy. Orders or di- rections must be specific. The child is anxious to acquire skills, competition is his life - he must know who runs the fastest, who throws the straightest ball, who is the best captain. The outlet for this is in a program of activ- ities leading toward all the major sports. Effort is made to teach pupils to do better the desirable things that they are most likely to do anyway. Rhythmic work is de- veloped thru dances, with emphasis upon spirit, content, simplicity of movement and not upon mere technical skill. The supervisor's lessons are demonstrations of activities given in the monthly outlines, taught with a view to their being carried on during other play periods and practiced that skill may be sufficient to make them acceptable in the play group. Rules of games are learned, steps of dances, development of good form in skills, with as much vigorous activity as possible for all children. There has been a fall meeting with the teachers to discuss class problems, a class in which the supervisor took the part of assistant rather than leader, and a class using the activity choices of the team groups. Assistance has been given with special June program dances and drills and an effort is continued to more closely align the activities with the whole school program. All individual problems that arise as to posture or physical handicaps are re- ferred to the Health department for interpretation, and all High School girls are examined before participating in sports. A follow-up posture conference with the
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teacher and her class has been given, records being kept in watching the child's progress from one year to the next.
A large percentage of time is now given to High School sports. Aside from outstanding inter-school records (valuable only as they indicate growth of skills, sports- manship, recognition of good points in other's play) there has been an increase in numbers at practice and in intra- mural competition. About seventy-five girls are reached thru hockey, basketball, baseball, track and tennis and the interest and opportunity of the individaul is set above the varsity schedule.
D. Summer School
Mrs. Miriam A. Raymond, Principal of the Summer School, reports :
During the summer of 1935, one hundred and thirty- one pupils were enrolled for group and individual instruc- tion in arithmetic, oral and silent reading, oral and writ- ten language, and spelling with the following distribu- tion :
Boys
Girls
Total
Grade IV
10
8
18
Grade V
11
11
22
Grade VI
4
12
16
Grade VII
39
14
53
Grade VIII
17
5
22
81
50
131
The teachers gave drill in fundamentals and as much attention as possible to individual weaknesses which, in some cases, had been reported by the regular teacher. The attendance, attitude, and accomplishment of the pu- pils were of a satisfactory order.
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E. Report of Americanization Classes
Mr. William I. Whitney, Director of Americanization, reports :
The Americanization Classes opened for a period of sixty sessions October 21, 1935. Ten classes are being conducted in Harris Hall at the Plymouth Cordage Com- pany's plant at four-forty o'clock on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, two classes for women at the Cordage Kindergarten Rooms during the evening of the same days and three evening classes at the Cornish School.
These classes are well attended, the men and women in them interested, and the teachers thoroughly interest- ed in the work. Classes are graded as beginners, inter- mediate, advanced and citizenship. Creditable work is being accomplished in all but it is most desirable to call attention here to the recent changes in the Citizenship class work.
For a number of years all Massachusetts teachers of Citizenship classes in Adult Alien Education have been using "Thirty Lessons in Naturalization and Citizenship" as an outline for teaching men and women who are pro- spective citizens. Due now to a closer adherence to the wording of the law regarding educational qualifications emphasized by the Immigration and Naturalization Serv- ice in Washington and their list of outstanding basic principles of the Constitution and Government a new course has been developed and recently gone into use in classes.
This course consists of a series of lesson plans, based on the principles of the government, and written by su- pervisors and teachers of Adult Alien Education. It has been done under the direction of the Massachusetts State Department of Education and a special committee com- posed of seven supervisors and one of the Federal Exam-
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iners for this district. Your Plymouth Supervisor is a member of this committee.
In this course it is hoped to bring before the applicants for naturalization-American ideals, aspirations, and privileges of good citizenship thereby enduing them with their duties, obtained through American citizenship.
The benefits of citizenship are great. So, likewise, are its responsibilities. It cannot be successfully imposed from without but should come from the immigrant's own effort, a lively desire; a goal to be prized and sought for.
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REPORT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT
At no time during the year have we been entirely free from scarlet fever. These cases have not been confined to any particular school. In April and May we had a large number absent with German Measles. Otherwise the general health of the pupils has been good. The opening; of school in September was delayed because of a case of anterior poliomyelitis. In October another case developed in the first grade at the Mount Pleasant School. Imme- diate precautions were taken to prevent its spreading and fortunately no other cases occurred.
One hundred and sixty-four children in the sub-pri- mary and first grade were given toxoid for the preven- tion of diphtheria. There were only a few parents who failed to give their consent for this treatment. Thirty- seven children had their tonsils and adenoids removed at the Jordan Hospital.
The State Department of Public Health which started a ten year program to discover children who showed evi- dence of tuberculosis decided to let each county carry on this work. In September the children in the sixth, ninth, and eleventh grades were examined by doctors sent from the Plymouth County Hospital. Ninety-six who were found to have a positive Von Pirquet test were x-rayed. Twenty-four of this number will be re-examined next year. Twenty-three pupils from other grades were taken to the Plymouth County Hospital for examination. One was admitted for treatment and is still a patient there.
In the summer vacation fourteen underweight children were sent to the Bailey Health Camp at South Hanson for eight weeks. They all showed improvement, one having gained seventeen pounds.
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At the beginning of the fall term the nutrition class at the Cornish School was discontinued because of the expense and the limited number who could be benefited by it. It was partially replaced by a W.P.A. project, which is providing a hot noon lunch for fifty pupils at the Cornish, Hedge and Mount Pleasant schools.
The regular rest classes at the Cornish, Hedge, Knapp and Manomet schools are being continued. We find that these rest periods are very beneficial to many of the un- derweight children who often are too active. We hope to be able to establish one at the Mount Pleasant School.
We wish to express our appreciation to the teachers and principals for their cooperation and also to the vari- ous organizations and citizens who contributed funds which enable us to carry on our health work.
Respectfully submitted,
HILDA SWETT, R. N. School Nurse.
L. B. HAYDEN, M. D., School Physician.
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STATISTICS
Number of inspections 1265
Number of examinations 2495
Number of pupils excluded 102 Notices sent to parents 460
Number of pupils admitted by school physician .. 441
Number of pupils admitted by other physicians ..
324
Number of home visits made
772
Number of schools visited 578
Number of pupils treated in school
435
Number of pupils inspected in school 1243
Number of pupils inspected in homes
414
Number of classrooms inspected
260
Number of contagious diseases found in school .. 85
Number of contagious diseases found in homes
. .
69
Number of pupils weighed and measured
5037
Number of pupils excluded 106
Number of pupils referred to school physician 130
Number of pupils taken to hospitals or clinics . 85
Number of pupils operated on for tonsils and ade- noids 37
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REPORT OF THE ORAL HYGIENE DEPART- MENT AND DENTAL CLINIC
I hereby submit my annual report of the dental work done in the Oral Hygiene Department and Dental Clinic for 1935.
For the past sixteen years the Plymouth Public Schools and Board of Health have carried on an outstand- ing program of dental education.
Due to this fact we were requested to present some of our dental instruction at the annual convention of the Mass. Dental Association. A puppet show developed along dental lines and prepared by the Cornish School pupils was reproduced. The Hedge School also sent an exhibit, and later gave a demonstration at the South Shore Health Workers Club. Both were greatly appreci- ated.
The program is divided into two parts, First - Edu- cational - In all of the educational work it is intended that three things be stressed: diet, early and regular dental care and cleanliness.
The classroom teacher plays an important part in the forming of health habits, as periods are given each week to the study of hygiene, thus the question of cleanliness is constantly before the pupils.
The second phase of the program is the School Clinic for corrective work. While all of the children from the Sub-Primary through the Junior High School are exam- ined and reports are sent to the parents, the corrective work is largely limited to the children in the first two grades.
--
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The pupils whose teeth are found to be 100% have their dentail cards marked O.K. Children that are hav- ing work done and those who have certificates from their own dentist are not examined. The family dentist's word is final.
The dentists find in examining that there is a noticable decrease of large cavities.
One of the greatest advantages to the child derived from the dental clinic is the filling of the six-year molars. These teeth come just in back of the baby teeth, one on each side in the upper and lower jaw. They decay easily and have often been extracted before parents realized that they were second or permanent teeth. Thir loss causes the rest of the permanent teeth to come in crooked, thus making it impossible for the child to chew his food properly.
In May the pre-school examinations are conducted for those who plan to enter school in September.
One of the most valuable lessons of this examination is that the mother is taught that it is as necessary to have the first set of teeth in as good condition as the second.
Two kinds of Teeth Tags were awarded the pupils before the close of school in June, white to those who had certificates from their family dentist, and blue to clinic patients signifying that all permanent teeth had been filled.
The dentists with their cheerful manner have become most friendly with the children, thus eliminating gradu- ally the fear that generally goes with the thought of receiving dental care.
Many dentists of the town including the school dentists gave their services to the 4-H Club members this year and much praise is due them.
I wish to thank all that have co-operated with me dur- ing the year.
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STATISTICAL REPORT OF THE DENTAL CLINIC AND ORAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT
Number of examinations 1786
Number of children having received dental cer- tificates from family dentist before examin- ations 50
Number of children having dental work done by family dentist at time of examination by school dentist 3
Number of children found to be O.K. at the time the school dentist makes his examination 305
Total number of 100% mouths in September .. 358
(This year upon examination we had a gain of 42 100% mouths over last year)
Number of pre-school examinations 54
Number of fillings in six-year molars 206
Number of temporary teeth (first teeth) ex- tracted 140
Number of permanent teeth (second teeth) ex- tracted .
14
(These permanent extractions were from chil- dren of badly neglected mouths)
Number of treatments 57
Number of completed cases at the clinic 100
Amount of money received for fillings and ex- tractions $20.00
Number of Oral Hygiene Talks in the schools .. 290
Number of children having a dental prophylaxis (cleaning of teeth) 804
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Amount of money received for dental prophy- laxis $77.50
Amount of money received for sale of tooth brushes $24 75
Total amount of money received at the dental clinic $122.25
School Dentists
Dr. E. H. Donovan Dr. W. O. Dyer
Respectfully submitted,
JANE B. BRADFORD,
Dental Hygienist.
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
Absentees Sickness Truancy Total
Cold Spring School
0
2
0
2
Cornish School
11
2
5
18
Hedge School
13
5
8
26
High School
7
7
4
18
Junior High School
30
30
15
75
Knapp School
3
0
3
6
Mt. Pleasant School
2
1
3
6
Oak Street School
3
0
0
3
South Street School
10
15
1
26
79
62
39
180
Investigated for Superintendent's Office
89
Employment certificates investigated
3
Children found on street and taken to school
22
Other investigations
53
Total number of investigations
347
Number of homes visited
356
Visits to schools
341
Total miles travelled on school cases for 1935
1,529
We have also helped as much as possible to better con- ditions in the homes. Through the cooperation of social agencies and the Kiddie's Christmas Party Fund, we have provided shoes and clothing for many of the needy pupils.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH F. MATINZI.
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EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS
-
1934
1935
Certificates to minors 14 to 16 years
28
13
Certificates to minors 16 to 21 years
167
139
There were 28 minors between 14 and 16 years of age who, within the calendar year 1935, were employed while schools were in session.
SCHOOL CENSUS 1935
Males
Females
Total
Persons 5 to 7 years
190
158
348
Persons 7 to 14 years
757
748
1,505
Persons 14 to 16 years
228
219
447
Total
1,175
1,125
2,300
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT - DECEMBER 1935
SCHOOL
GRADES
Ung. | Sub . Prim.
1
2
3 |4
-
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Total
High
219
174
155
167
715
Junior High
246
215
461
Hedge
34
12
18
39
31
36
33
39
28
24
7
23
324
Knapp
28
28
32
30
31
31
180
Cornish
41
37
35
34
18
16
29
245
35
Burton
43
39
35
19
22
158
Mt. Pleasant
40
33
28
31
41
45
218
Cold Spring
20
19
18
17
74
Oak Street
17
19
16
17
69
Manomet
10
7
10
10
7
16
60
Wellingsley
11
8
8
6
33
South Street (Ungraded)
30
-
30
Total
30
34
236
213
213
227
192
246
246
215
219
174
155
167
2567
-
-
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES - 1935-1936
(*) New Teachers Employed in 1935
Office
Anson B. Handy Ruth F. Thomas
Supt. of Schools Secretary
5 Bay View Avenue
13 Mayflower Street
High School
Wayne M. Shipman
*Julia M. Andrews
Charles I. Bagnall
History, Com. Law
Charlotte C. Brown
History
French
English
English
177 Sandwich Street
31/2 Mayflower Place
13 Whiting Street
Civics
115 Court Street 36 Mayflower Street
Stenog., Type.
Bkkpg., Type., Bus. Org.
11 Sever Street
11 Sever Street
Geog., Type., Sten. Off. Prac. 16 Leyden Street Mathematics
13 Whiting Street
7 Lincoln Street
195 Sandwich Street Summer Street 33 Warren Avenue 13 Whiting Street
52 Spooner Street Sandwich Road
34 Oak Street
13 Brookside Avenue
Junior High School
Mary M. Dolan
Elizabeth R. Barlow
M. Agnes Burke
Esther M. Chandler
Gladys L. Cobb Ellen M. Downey
Principal
English
English
Mathematics
English, Gen. Lang.
Social Studies
156a Sandwich Street
13 Whiting Street Chestnut Street
16 Leyden Street
E. Doris Carey Louise B. Humphrey
*A. Clark Ingraham Jeannette C. Jacques Helen C. Johnson Helen M. Johnson Lydia E. Judd
Elizabeth C. Kelly
Margaret A. Kenefick
Katherine J. Lang
Nellie R. Locklin
Kathleen F. McNerny
Edgar J. Mongan
Asst. Prin., Algebra
Physics, Chem., Science Science History
Am. Culture, Sci., Civics
English
Biology
Latin
11 Lothrop Street 31/2 Mayflower Place
11 Lothrop Street Kingston, Mass.
34 Court Street. 19 Oak Street
*John W. Packard Arthur G. Pyle Amy M. Rafter
*Mario J. Romano
Miriam A. Raymond Richard Smiley Margie E. Wilber
Principal
English
31/2 Mayflower Place 19 Franklin Street
English, French
Bookkpg., Type.
Jr. Bus. Train., Civics
Home Economics
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Barbara E. Dunham Deane E. Eldridge Amy L. Hammond Beatrice A. Hunt
*Bernice M. Landry Bertha E. McNaught Rita E. Oosterdiep Julia A. Salmon Kenneth L. Walton Catherine D. Welsh
Social Studies
Woodworking
Home Economics
English, Gen. Lang., Music
English, Science
Mathematics
Mathematics
Social Studies
Woodworking
Health, Phys. Training
22 Allerton Street 7 Lincoln Street 16 Allerton Street
6 Water St. Ext. 40 High Street 33 Russell Street
98 Allerton Street 312 Mayflower Place 13 Mt. Pleasant St. 21 Alden Street
Hedge School
*Coburn W. Tripp
Florence B. Corey
Edith C. M. Johnson
Leella F. Leonard
Kathryn H. McCarthy
Evelyn L, Peck Barbara R. Perrier Helen F. Perrier
Elizabeth H. Quartz
Susan M. Quinn
Grade VI
Sub-primary
Cadet Teacher
47 Union Street 133 Court Street
13 Whiting Street
49 Pleasant Street
10 Franklin Street
280 Court Street
Grade V
12 Washington Street
Grade IV
12 Washington Street Howland's Lane Kingston, Mass.
281 Sandwich Street 2 Willard Place
Knapp School
William I. Whitney Annie S. Burgess
Margaret L. Christie Lydia E. Holmes Maude H. Lermond Eleanor E. Schreiber Flora C. Stevens
Principal, Grade VI
70 Sandwich Street
Grade III
37 Union Street
Grade II
42 Allerton Street
Grade IV
261 Court Street
Grade V
49 Pleasant Street
Grade VI and Ass't.
115 Court Street
16 Leyden Street
Cornish School
Helen M. Riese
*Dora M. Anderson Helen F. Holmes Flora A. Keene
Charlotte E. Lovering
Grade VI
21 Vernon Street
Eleanor L. Testoni
Ruth H. Tolman
Gertrude W. Zahn
Principal
22 Allerton Street
Grade I
16 Allerton Street
Grade V
28 Chilton Street 4 Sever Street
Grade II
Grade VI
87 Samoset Street Rockland, Mass.
Grade VI
Grades I, II
320 Court Street
Prin. (also Mt. Pleasant)
Grade VI
Grade II
Grade III
Grade I
Grades IV, V
Grades, I, II
Louise E. Tosi *Esther M. Ward
Grade I
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Burton School
Dorothy A. Judkins
Clementine L. Ortolani
Ethel H. Phillips
Kathryn R. Simmons
*Joan Collingwood
Grade III
Grades III, IV
Grade IV
Grade V
Cadet Teacher
11 Sever Street 8 Cherry Street 236 Sandwich Street Rocky Point 12 Vernon Street
Cold Spring School
Grades III, IV Grades I, II
4 Nelson Street 210 Court Street
Oak Street School
Grades I, II
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