USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1939 > Part 15
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6. That in order to gain power to make right decisions. one must be given many opportunities to make decisions.
Those knowledges, attitudes and habits of work which are necessary to the development of art ability are con- tained in this program which includes: (1) making of original designs, (2) drawing of the human figure, flowers, birds and animals, (3) drawing of interior and exterior scenery, (4) painting with water colors and poster paints, (5) stenciling, (6) clay modeling, (7); poster design, (8) lettering, (9) study of costume and furniture of different countries, (10) laws of color har- mony, unity and rhythm.
The value of puppet performances is being recognized by more and more educators and social workers. Dr. Gren-
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fell in Labrador, the state of Mississippi, Seattle, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Newark, the school systems of Newton and Haverhill are examples. The re- sultant attitude of zest in solving problems with the knowledge thus gained will prove the value of this pro- gram.
Physical Education
A. Junior-Senior High School Boys
The aims of the physical education department are as follows: to promote and improve health, to teach better physical coordination, to teach sportsmanship and cooper- ation and to make for better citizens through an apprecia- tion of a sound mind in a sound body. Our work is divided into three parts, as follows :
1. Classwork
The classwork for the boys includes individual and group activities. At the beginning of each year every boy takes the Physical Fitness Index test. This test is given to show what the individual needs most in the line of ac- tivity. If the boy has a lower score than the average for his age and weight he is given special attention until he is able to build up his physical fitness to the average score for his particular classification. This work is done in special groups. Included in the regular classwork are marching, calesthenics, tumbling, some apparatus work, games instruction, games participation, posture work, first aid and life saving instruction, pyramid building and stunts.
Posture work must of necessity be handled individually. This is done and corrective work is also done in the same manner. By working with the pupil and also with the parents, much good is accomplished.
The school physician checks on the health of all boys before the opening of the sport season in which they par- ticipate.
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2. Intra-mural Sports
Because of the limited space the intra-mural sports dur- ing the fall term are limited to touch football leagues for the grades in the Junior High School.
During the winter term basketball, volley-ball, and ice hockey leagues are run. This present winter finds twenty- seven teams in three intra-mural basketball leagues. Each team has at least seven men on it. There are five ice hockey teams operating in a league. The hockey teams play on the various ponds and bogs around town and when it is available, they are given permission to use the Paty Rink. The Paty Rink was constructed by the Ocean Spray Hockey Team and they have been more than kind to allow us to use it.
There are four teams in the volley-ball league. These games are played at the school gymnasium.
The spring sports for the intra-mural leaguers are tennis, golf, horseshoes and baseball. The Plymouth Country Club allows the boys the use of the Bay Nine at certain times and we run our matches there. The other sports are run on the town courts at Stephens Field and South Street.
3. Varsity Sports
The varsity sports are football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball during the spring. During the past fall we had about sixty boys competing in football. The squads in basketball and basebal number about twenty-five.
This year for the first time Athletic Insurance was avail- able in Massachusetts. This insurance is handled by the New England Headmasters' Association and is a non-profit organization. The cost of the insurance is one dollar per year. Most of our football squad members took advantage of this insurance.
B. Junior-Senior High School Girls
Nearly every normal young person is interested to some extent in some form of physical recreatinon or play. Phys-
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ical education in the schools has the responsibility of pro- viding opportunities for girls to spend part of their lei- sure time in physical recreations and also of helping each girl to develop skills in recreational activities that can be carried over and used during leisure time in adult life. The program is largely natural in type, with play which involves natural bodily movements and the big muscles; a large variety of activities with each type of activity mak- ing a general and specific contribution to the girl. Em- phasis is placed on the instructional, intra-mural and play day programs rather than interschool contests. Records of P. F. I., skill tests, participation in class work and showers, achievements in various phases of the program are kept that the program may be adapted to the needs, capacities and interests of each girl.
The Junior High School program provides for the par- ticipation in a wide variety of activities, a period for the exploration and trying out of interests in physical educa- tion. The program includes group games, team games, the skills of team games, self-testing activities, stunts and contests, dancing and individual sports. In the Senior' High emphasis is placed on the stimulation of interest and development of skills in highly organized team games : hockey, basketball, soft ball. Instruction in the fine points of strategy and skill in games are emphasized, and good sportsmanship stressed. Interest in individual sports is maintained through the badminton, shuffleboard, tennis and bowling tournaments and in the Red Cross swim- ming classes during the summer months.
Americanization
It is the earnest belief of those who have a most inti- mate knowledge of the aliens in our land that it is the hope and wish of the vast majority of them to fit themselves to become worthy citizens of our democracy. This cannot be done suddenly, for of course, before they can be made to understand anything of our laws and customs by which our country is governed they must understand and learn
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the language of the country. They must understand that a duty they owe to themselves is to learn English.
Many have lived here for years, handicapped by inabil- ity to speak English, yet have been useful and industrious members of our communities. These are now more than ever qualifying and becoming naturalized citizens. This' means great effort on their part and usually at the end of a hard day's work.
"American citizenship is a glorious privilege. Some have it by right of birth ; others have it by right of adop- tion; but whether by birth or adoption it means the same to all-freedom of action under law and equality of op- portunity."
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REPORT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT
L. B. Hayden, M. D., School Physician Hilda R. Swett, R. N., School Nurse
All work of the medical department is based on the fol- lowing fundamental aims : to provide a healthful environ- ment as far as is possible in the school and at home, to promote an interest in healthful living not for the sake of health alone, but because of what health will make pos- sible in the lives of the children, to give each child a fair chance to attain maximum health through the detection and removal or through the prevention of physical handi- caps and diseases, to encourage the formation of proper health habits and to assist the parents in securing medical treatment. Some of these aims are realized through the annual physical examination which is given to each child. Others are realized by visits to the homes which results in better understanding and cooperation between the home and the school. Others are attained by the regular health work carried on by the classroom teacher.
The school has a natural interest in the correction of defects which interfere with the normal school progress of the child. We have found it necessary in many cases to provide transportation to various out of town hospitals and clinics for children requiring medical attention. This procedure is carried out only at the request of their family physician. In this way fifty-two children have received medical attention this year. Defects that received atten- tion were poor vision, impaired hearing, enlarged tonsils and adenoids, curvature of the spine and other bone condi- tions.
The toxoid treatment for the prevention of diphtheria was given to all first grade children whose parents gave their consent. Parents realize the value of this treatment which has now been carried on in the Plymouth schools
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for twelve years and are having it done earlier by their family doctor.
The tuberculin testing for the detection of early tuber- culosis was carried on in the Senior High School. By this procedure early cases of tuberculosis are not only discov- ered but in many cases by means of careful supervision sanitorium treatment may be avoided. Therefore, every student is urged to take the test.
Fifteen children were sent to the Bailey Health Camp at South Hanson last summer. All of these children were positive reactors to the tuberculin test, a number of them coming from homes in which some member of the family had had tuberculosis.
We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to all those citizens and organizations who have helped us to carry on our work.
Statistics for 1939
Number of inspections 1027
Number of examinations 2273
Number of notices sent to parents 212
Number of pupils admitted by school physician 720
Number of pupils admitted by other physicians 291
Number of pupils referred to physicians 114
Number of pupils referred to school nurse 213
Number of pupils excluded by school physician 104
Number of pupils excluded by school nurse. 197
Number of pupils inspected in schools 901
Number of pupils inspected in homes 285
Number of pupils treated in school
327
Number of home visits 392
Number of school visits 496
Number operated for tonsils and adenoids 5
Number weighed and measured 6720
Number taken to hospital and clinics out of town 52
Number of contagious diseases found in school 140
Number of contagious diseases found in homes 23
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REPORT OF ORAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT AND DENTAL CLINIC
Jane B. Bradford, Dental Hygienist
The program of the Plymouth School Dental Clinic is based on years of practical experience. It is recognized throughout the state and is considered outstanding. Due to this fact, every year we have visitors from other towns and cities that are interested in starting programs in their communities, and wish to gain from our experiences.
The aim of our dental health program in the public school system is preventive and corrective. The instruc- tion given in the school by the dental hygienist is directed towards the prevention of mouth disease, and the work done in the clinic by the school dentists is the corrective part of the program. As a result we try to have the great- est possible number of children with healthy mouths, with no dental defects, or diseased gums. To obtain this we build dental health on three desirable objectives:
1. A balanced diet and good wholesome foods are of great importance in their relation to building strong teeth and healthy gums.
2. Value of regular visits to the family dentist. These should be made at least twice a year. Small cavities can be filled before they become painful. Thus tooth- aches can be avoided. This is an economic saving.
3. Daily brushing for cleanliness and appearance. Teeth should be brushed properly after meals and at bedtime.
It is the policy of our clinic to do corrective work for the first and second grade children, the parents of whom cannot afford to send them to a dentist. This naturally leaves many others that are financially unable to have proper dental care. Thus, it is necessary for the school dentists to give a great deal of free service to the children
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in their own offices as emergency cases are frequently arising and cannot be cared for at the clinic. This service is very valuable as it is impossible for a child to do satis- factory work in school unless he has good health. Each year in examining, the dentists find that there are fewer children with large cavities. This is an indication that they are becoming more "tooth conscious."
We are very fortunate in having the cooperation of the schools, the homes and the dentists in our community. Without this we would be unable to obtain such good re- sults for our statistical report which follows.
Number of examinations in the fall (grades 1-9) .. 1695
Number of 100% mouths at time of examination by school dentists 224
Number of pupils with dental certificates from family dentist befort examination - 100% mouths 38
Number of pupils having dental work done by family dentist at time of examination
13
Nnumber of oral hygiene talks in schools 375
Number of home visits
1
Number of pre-school examinations
9
Number of pupils having a dental prophylaxis (cleaning of teeth)
885
Permanent teeth filled (six-year molars)
214
Permanent teeth extracted
5
Temporary teeth extracted (baby teeth) 206
Treatments (including 8 Trench Mouth) 37
Number of pupils having some work done 30
Number of completed cases 90
Money received for dental prophylaxis $82.20
Money received for sale of tooth brushes $30.55
Money received for filling and extractions $28.80
Total amount of money received at the clinic $141.55
School Dentists: Dr. E. Harold Donovan
Dr. William O. Dyer
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Ralph F. Matinzi, Supervisor
Absentees Sickness Truancy Others Total
Elementary Grades 12
3
10
7 32
Junior High School
30
12
14
18 74
Senior High School
5
5
9
6 25
Employment certificates investigated 7
Investigated for Superintendent's Office
11
Children found on streets and taken to school 13
149 cases were investigated involving 123 visits to homes and 119 to schools.
Employment of Minors
1938 1939
Certificates to minors 14 to 16 years
30
19
Certificates to minors 16 to 21 years
191
227
There were 25 minors between 14 and 16 years of age who, within the calendar year 1939, were employed while schools were in session.
School Census 1939
Males
Females
Total
Persons 5 to 7 years
196
161
357
Persons 7 to 16 years
900
845
1743
Total
1096
1004
2100
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT-DECEMBER 1939
School
Elementary Grades
Junior High
- Senior High
1
| Ungr.
1
2
3
4
5 |6 |7
8
9
10
11
12 |P. G. Total
High
218
163
132
10
523
Junior High
175
211
207
593
Hedge
32
37
28
27
30
33
35
35
26
24
29
34
370
Cornish
37
42
40
31
44
41
38
273
Burton
42
44
44
23
17
170
Mount Pleasant
35
36
31
40
37
33
212
Cold Spring
6
13
13
17
49
Manomet
18
8
9 |
12
8 |
9
64
South Street (ungraded)
32
32
Total
32
194
215
174
181
187
187
175
211
207
218
163
132
10
2286
-
-
-
-
--
-
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES 1939-1940
Office
Anson B. Handy, Supt.
Ruth F. Trask, Clerk
High School
Edgar J. Mongan
Helen C. Johnson
Charles I. Bagnall
Lydia E. Judd
Viola M. Boucher
Elizabeth C. Kelly
Mario J. Romano
Richard Smiley
Margie E. Wilber
Junior High School
Mary M. Dolan
Iris E. Albertini
Elizabeth R. Barlow
Deane E. Eldridge
Amy L. Hammond
Helen M. Johnson
Alice Lema Bertha E. McNaught
Anna M. Monagle Hector E. Patenaude Arthur G. Pyle
*Carleton F. Rose Julia A. Salmon Catharine D. Welsh
Hedge School
William I. Whitney
Leella F. Leonard
Elizabeth H. Quartz Susan M. Quinn
Florence B. Corey
Kathryn H. McCarthy
Mary A. Ryan
Mary E. Deans
Evelyn L. Peck
Eleanor E. Schreiber
Cornish and Burton Schools
Helen M. Riese Clementine L. Ortolani Louise E. Tosi
Helen F. Holmes
Helen F. Perrier Gertrude W. Zahn
Dorothy A. Judkins
Kathryn R. Simmons
Marjorie J. Cassidy
Flora A. Keene
Eleanor L. Testoni
Flora C. Stevens
Charlotte E. Lovering
Ruth H. Tolman
Cold Spring School Mora E. Norton
Mt. Pleasant School
Bertha M. Mitchell M. Louise Peterson
Maxine Swett Esther M. Ward
Elouise E. Ellis
Estella Butland Mabel R. Woodward
Individual School
J. Leo Ash
Hazel Bates *Margaret E. Brown
Carolyn L. Avanzini Special Teachers Beatrice E. Garvin Beatrice A. Hunt
Amy M. Rafter Miriam A. Raymond
E. Doris Carey Gilbert C. Garland
Katherine J. Lang
Nellie R. Locklin
*Carlo T. Guidoboni Jeannette C. Jacques
*Dorris Moore John W. Packard
Barbara E. Dunham Shirley M. Dutton
Grace Blackmer M. Agnes Burke
Esther M. Chandler Ellen M. Downey
Edith C. M. Johnson
Barbara R. Perrier
Mabel F. Douglas
Helen S. Manchester Dolores Guidoboni Helen G. McCarthy
Manomet School
Henry T. Knowlton
Margaret L. Christie
Maude H. Lermond
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Health Department Louis B. Hayden, M.D. Jane B. Bradford
Hazel E. Bruce Hilda R. Swett
Clerks
Barbara M. Matthews Marion F. Bennett
State-Aided Vocational Education Katharine L. Alden
Supervisor of School Buildings Thomas A. Bodell
Janitors
David Briggs Wilson Farnell Sebastian Riedel
Leo Callahan James Martin Fred J. Smith
Peter A. Dries Arthur Poirier Charles Temple
*New Teachers Employed in 1939.
Note: 1. Knapp School closed in June 1939. Teachers transferred to Hedge School. 2. Oak Street School closed in June 1939.
3. Wellingsley School closed in June 1939.
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INDEX TO TOWN REPORT
Officers, Town, 1939 3
Accountant 153
Schedule A (Cash Receipts and Payments) 155
Schedule B (Appropriations, W. P. A. Projects) 182
Schedule C (Comparison, Assessors' and Actual Receipts 229
Schedule D (Revenue Account) 231
Schedule E (Unexpended Balances) 232
Schedule F (Balance Sheet) 234
Schedule G and H (Bonded Indebtedness) 239
Schedule I (Trust Funds) 240
Schedule J (Calculation of Credit) 259
Adjourned Town Meeting, April 13, 1939
21
Adjourned Special Town Meeting, Dec. 14, 1939
66
Annual Town Meeting, Mar. 25, 1939 6
Appropriations on Warrant, (March 23, 1940) 260
Assessors, Board of 112
Births 84
Buildings, Inspector of
131
Cemetery Commissioners 128
Deaths 90
Engineer, Town
138
Fire Commissioner
126
Fisheries, Inland
133
Forest Warden
135
Forest, Town Committee
137
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth
134
Harbor Master 133
Health, Board of 122
Jurors, List of 145
Library 119
Marriages 72
Old Age Assistance 117
Park Commissioners 121
Police Department 111
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Planning Board 140
Public Welfare 115
Registrars of Voters 144
Report of Advisory and Finance Committee, March 25 36
Report of Advisory and Finance Committee,
October 10 61
Report of Advisory and Finance Committee, December 12
64
Retirement, Board of
142
Sealer
132
Selectmen, Board of
68
Special Town Meeting, Oct. 10, 1939
58
Streets and Sewers, Superintendent of 69
Tree Warden 136
Water Commissioners 100
Water Superintendent
105
INDEX TO SCHOOL REPORT
Attendance, Supervisor of
47
Budget, 1940
5
Calendar
3
Committee
3
Employees
49
Enrollment
48
Extracts from Other Reports
32
Financial
4
Hygiene and Dental Clinic
45
Junior High School, Principal's Report
30
Physician's and Nurse's Report
43
School Committee Report
8
Senior High School, Principal's Report
25
Superintendent's Report
10
Vocational, State Aided 7
NON-CIRCUL TING
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