USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1940 > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
Naturalization is the act of adopting a foreigner and clothing him with the privileges of a native citizen. Adop-
-34-
tion is the formal act of taking a stranger and treating him as one's own. The naturalization process contem- plates the taking of a former stranger into our national family, treating him as our own, and giving him the rights of a native citizen. Having thus been placed upon the plane of a citizen by birth he should be recognized and treated as such. When these new members acquire the privileges of citizenship, they must assume and must be prepared to assume the duties and obligations as well. They must be citizens in fact as well as in name.
The personnel of the teaching staff in adult classes is very important. The teachers must possess enthusiasm, personality, belief in their work, be thoroughly interested, well trained, and in sympathy with the problems of their groups. We are most fortunate in having such a group of teachers and their careful enthusiastic work is met with a hearty response from the men and women in our classes.
United States citizenship ought not to be conferred lightly. It is a high privilege and is looked upon as a most precious attainment by the foreign born. It should not be granted upon a doubtful showing but, where the applicant is worthy no unnecesary obstacles in attaining a laudable desire for citizenship should be placed in his path.
Summer School
For six weeks instruction was given to approximately 100 pupils who were deficient in arithmetic, language, reading and spelling in grades four to eight inclusive. The restoration of this school has been a very valuable asset in helping to overcome the individual difficulties of pupils in these grades.
-35-
REPORT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Medora V. Eastwood, M.D. - Frank J. Abate, Jr., M.D.
School Physicians Hilda Swett, R.N., School Nurse
The health program from our standpoint should embrace three phases: health service, physical education and health education. Keeping this in mind I think you will agree that our health program has in the past been lacking in some parts of at least one of these phases and coordination of all three has been definitely neglected.
(1) Teaching of health by the school physicians.
It is planned to give talks not only to the teachers but directly to the students from time to time. The success of these in regard to the students will depend upon their being short, forceful and to the point. Then, there are posters which are colorful and very appropriate. We hope to have a health poster in each room, especially in the Junior-Senior High School, as well as in the cafeteria there. These are to be changed at intervals in order to be more effective. We are also planning to show health films if suitable ones are available.
(2) Contacts with parents by the school physicians.
There is a possibility of having health classes make exhibits concerning health to be on display in some prom- inent place, especially in the Junior-Senior High School. In relation to the contacts with the parents, Miss Hilda Swett, the school nurse, plans to bring pupils to see the physicians at the various schools and a conference can be held between parent, doctor, teacher and pupil.
(3) Emphasis on health in the Junior and Senior High Schools.
In relation to further work in the Junior and Senior High Schools, this matter was brought to our attention very forcibly in looking over the health cards. Many of the students who had good nutrition and posture in the elementary grades, have had poor posture and many have been underweight or extremely overweight since admis- sion to the Junior High School.
-36-
(4) Correlation of poor students and the possibility of poor health.
It is our opinion that many of the students who are below standard in studies may be below standard in health. Therefore, we are attempting to have a list of these below standard students sent to us in order to check up with the health card. A new card system is being used whereby the school physicians may keep account from day to day of the number of students examined and work done, so that it is not necessary to depend upon the school nurse to furnish the information when needed for reports.
There have been more cases of scarlet fever than usual this fall. We had Dr. Stevens, the District Health Officer, in consultation, and he believes as we do, that scarlet fever cases occurring in Plymouth are not milk borne but are probably due to carriers, the carriers being children with enlarged and diseased tonsils. His suggestion is that we make every effort to have the tonsils removed of those children who show such a condition.
Statistics for 1940
Number of inspections . 702
Number of examinations 1662
Number of notices sent to parents 210
Number of pupils admitted by school physicians 338
Number of pupils admitted by other physicians 155
Number of pupils referred to physicians 77
Number of pupils referred to school nurse 159
Number of pupils excluded by school physicians 75
Number of pupils excluded by school nurse 146
Number of pupils inspected in schools 833
Number of pupils inspected in homes
145
Number of home visits 309
Number of school visits 312
Number of pupils treated in schools 304
Number weighed and measured 5651
Number operated for tonsils and adenoids 6
Number taken to hospital and clinics out of town 84
Number of contagious diseases found in schools 54
Number of contagious diseases found in homes 19
-37-
REPORT OF ORAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT AND DENTAL CLINIC
Jane B. Bradford, Dental Hygienist
The dental program has two major objectives: educa- tion and clinical service. We feel that the two are closely related.
Educational Program
An important phase of our educational program is the examination by the dentists at the beginning of school in the fall. This year for the first time, all children were examined from the first grade through the Senior High School and the parents were notified of the results. This examination is two-fold as it points out to both the child and the parent the number of decayed teeth, either tem- porary or permanent, and is an incentive to have these defects corrected. We feel, however, that from this check-up many children get to a dentist that ordinarily might not.
Pre-school examinations are held in conjunction with the medical ones near the end of the school year. At this time the dentist can explain to the parent the value of saving the baby teeth, the effect they have on the per- manent ones, and urging him to have defects corrected.
Education is the best means for establishing a pre- ventive dental program. Children brought up with a desire to have a clean, healthy mouth will find a way to do this. Therefore, the dental hygienist aims to give instruction in the classroom to instill in the child that desire. The teacher also, because of her influence with the pupils has a great opportunity to encourage the follow-up of this work, which may be brought about by various activities. This year included:
-38-
1. Posters.
In one of the schools this was a project and some were displayed in the dental clinic, the Community Nurse's Office and a few were on exhibit at the Massachusetts Dental Convention.
2. Jig-Saw Puzzles.
The Individual School made six-year molar puzzles. They were afterwards used for classroom work by the second and third grades.
3. Models of Six-Year Molars were made by second grade pupils.
4. Booklets.
Booklets were compiled by pupils from the fourth through the sixth grades. They were based on the dental hygiene work of the school year and proved very inter- esting with attractive illustrations.
On April 10 the Old Colony Superintendents' Associa- tion held a conference at the Senior High School. A lecture on the dental program in our schools was given by the dental hygienist and many of our exhibits were on display.
Clinical Service
We regret that we are unable to do the actual repair work for only a small number of children. Clinic cases are selected chiefly from the children in the first and second grades, whose parents are financially unable to send them to a family dentist. It is at this age that most of the sixth year molars (permanent teeth) can be saved. However, 227 of these teeth were filled this year, while the dentists found it necessary to extract but 3. In addition to the above, dental work was done for several children going to health camp in the summer and also for pupils at the Individual School. Emergencies are taken care of by the school dentists in their private offices. Through the follow-up work many children are cared for who might otherwise be neglected.
-39-
Statistics for 1940
Number of examinations in the fall (grades 1-9) 1684
Number of pupils O. K. at examination 307
Number of pupils O. K. before examination, having certificates from family dentist 31
Number of pupils having dental treatment at time of examination 21
Number of pre-school examinations 86
Number of oral hygiene talks in schools 342
Number of examinations in High School 501
Number of these pupils O. K. at examination
86
Number of these pupils O. K. before examinations . . 7 Number of pupils having a dental prophylaxis (clean- ing of teeth) 909
Permanent teeth filled (six-year molars)
227
Permanent teeth extracted 3
Temporary teeth extracted (baby teeth)
118
Treatments (including Trench Mouth) 58
Number of pupils having some work done 12
Number of completed cases 88
Money received for dental prophylaxis $80.20
Money received for sale of tooth brushes 34.65
Money received for filling and extractions 19.60
Total amount of money received at the clinic $134.45
School Dentists: Dr. E. Harold Donovan
Dr. William O. Dyer
-40-
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Ralph F. Matinzi, Supervisor
Absentees Sickness Truancy Others Total
Elementary Grades 8
4
2 14
Senior High School 5
2
5
3 15
Junior High School 16 26
16
20
78
Employment certificates investigated
2
Investigated for Superintendent's Office 34
Children found on streets and taken to school
5
143 cases were investigated involving 141 visits to homes and 132 to schools.
EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS
1939
1940
Certificates to minors 14 to 16 years
19
30
Certificates to minors 16 to 21 years
227
229
There were 21 minors between 14 and 16 years of age who within the calendar year 1940, were employed while schools were in session.
SCHOOL CENSUS 1940
Males Females Total
Persons 5 to 7 years
157
156
313
Persons 7 to
16 years
874
825
1699
Total
1,031
981
2,012
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT - DECEMBER 1940
School
Elementary Grades
Junior High
Senior High
Ungr.
1 2 -
3
4
5
6
7 8 |
9
10
11
12
P. G.
Total
High
-
-
-
199
182
147
14
542
Junior High
183
175
218
576
Hedge
38
29
34
29
25
31
38
27
34
29
27
32
373
Cornish
22
12
43
34
42
38
44
37
272
Burton
37 41
27
32
137
Mount Pleasant
39
29
36
31
38
28
201
Cold Spring
20
7
16
12
55
Oak Street
21
13
34
Manomet
15
15
11
10
13
11
75
South Street (ungraded)
33
* 33
Total
33
235
170
209
170
190
173
183
175
218
199
182
147
14
2298
-41-
-42-
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES 1940 - 1941
Anson B. Handy, Supt.
Ruth F. Trask, Clerk
High School
Edgar J. Mongan
Iris E. Albertini
Charles I. Bagnall
Viola M. Boucher
Carlo T. Guidoboni
Jeannette C. Jacques Helen C. Johnson
John W. Packard Arthur G. Pyle
Junior High School
Deane E. Eldridge
Amy L. Hammond
Helen M. Johnson Alice Lema
* Alba Martinelli Bertha E. McNaught Hector E. Patenaude
Carleton F. Rose Julia A. Salmon *Lemira C. Smith Marjorie D. Viets Catherine D. Welsh *Jean O. Whiting
Hedge School
Leella F. Leonard
Maude H. Lermond
Kathryn H. McCarthy
Evelyn L. Peck
Barbara R. Perrier
Elizabeth H. Quartz Susan M. Quinn Mary A. Ryan Eleanor E. Schreiber
Cornish and Burton Schools
Helen M. Riese
Helen F. Holmes
Dorothy A. Judkins 1
Kathryn R. Simmons
Eleanor L. Testoni
Ruth H. Tolman
Cold Spring School
Mabel F. Douglas
Mora E. Norton
Oak Street School
Mount Pleasant School
Helen S. Manchester Dolores Guidoboni *Dorice A. Knowles
Bertha M. Mitchell Esther M. Ward
M. Louise Peterson Maxine Swett
Amy M. Rafter
Miriam A. Raymond Mario J. Romano
Richard Smiley
Margie E. Wilber
Mary M. Dolan Grace Blackmer M. Agnes Burke *Louis L. Cappannari Esther M. Chandler Ellen M. Downey Barbara E. Dunham
William I. Whitney Margaret L. Christie Florence B. Corey
Mary E. Deans Edith C. M. Johnson
Clementine L. Ortolani Louise E. Tosi
Helen F. Perrier Gertrude W. Zahn * Alice H. Cole
Flora A. Keene
Charlotte E. Lovering
Lydia E. Judd
Elizabeth C. Kelly Katherine J. Lang
Nellie R. Locklin
Dorris Moore
Marjorie J. Cassidy
Office
-43-
Manomet School Estella Butland Mabel R. Woodward
Elouise E. Ellis
Individual School
*Loring R. C. Mugford
Carolyn L. Avanzini
Special Teachers
Hazel Bates Margaret E. Brown
Beatrice E. Garvin Beatrice A. Hunt
* John Pacheco *John H. Walker
Health Department
Frank J. Abate, M.D. Hilda Swett Medora V. Eastwood, M.D. Jane B. Bradford Clerks
Hazel E. Bruce
Barbara M. Matthews
Mary C. Curtin
State-Aided Vocational Education
Katharine L. Alden
Supervisor of School Buildings Thomas A. Bodell
Janitors
David Briggs Leo Callahan
Peter A. Dries
Wilson Farnell James Martin Arthur Poirier
Sebastian Riedel Fred J. Smith Charles Temple
*New Teachers Employed in 1940.
-44-
INDEX TO TOWN REPORT
Part I
Annual Town Meeting, Mar. 23, 1940 6
Appropriations on Warrant, (March 22, 1941)
110
Assessors, Board of 100
Births 72
Buildings, Inspector of
121
Cemetery Commissioners 118
Deaths
79
Engineer, Town
127
Fire Commissioner
115
Fisheries, Inland
124
Forest Warden 125
Forest, Town Committee 126
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth
124
Harbor Master
123
Health, Board of
111
Jurors, List of
133
Library
108
Marriages
58
Officers, Town, 1940
3
Old Age Assistance
106
Park Commissioners
109
Planning Board
128
Police Department
99
Public Welfare
103
Registrars of Voters
129
Report of Advisory and Finance Committee
26
Retirement, Board of
130
Sealer
122
Selectmen, Board of
51
Streets and Sewers, Superintendent of 54
Tree Warden 126
Water Commissioners
87
Water Superintendent
95
-45-
Part II INDEX TO ACCOUNTANT'S REPORT
Schedule A (Cash Receipts and Payments)
5
Schedule B (Appropriations, W. P. A. Projects)
32
Schedule C (Comparison, Assessors' and Actual Receipts 76
Schedule D (Revenue Account)
79
Schedule E (Unexpended Balances)
80
Schedule F (Balance Sheet)
82
Schedule G and H (Bonded Indebtedness)
86-87
Schedule I (Trust Funds)
88
Schedule J (Calculation of Credit)
109
Part III INDEX TO SCHOOL REPORT
Attendance, Supervisor of
40
Budget, 1941
6
Calendar
3
Census
40
Committee
3
Elementary Schools, Principals' Report
22
Employees
42
Enrollment
41
Financial
4
Hygiene and Dental Clinic
37
Individual School
24
Junior High School, Principal's Report
20
Physician's and Nurse's Report
35
School Committee Report
8
Senior High School, Principal's Report
16
Special Departments
26
Superintendent's Report
10
Vocational, State Aided
7
H. R.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.