USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1941 > Part 15
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needful for their integration into wholesome lives.
The schoolroom of today should contain an atmosphere of happiness, co-operation among pupils, and between teacher and pupils. There should be a spirit of courtesy in all relationships. Eagerness and enthusiasm should be there, and an appreciation of tasks well done.
Education should be defended and improved. One of America's greatest glories is its free schools. Their pres- ervation and growth will continue to provide the pillars of democracy and the hope of the future. Conscious of the downfall of many democracies throughout the world, it becomes the duty of the teachers of America to highly resolve that this "government of the people, by the peo- ple, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Respectfully submitted,
ELOUISE E. ELLIS, HELEN S. MANCHESTER, FRANKLYN O. WHITE, WILLIAM I. WHITNEY,
Principals.
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REPORT OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL
During the past year this school has continued and intensified the program of the previous year. As the national situation has brought about an increase in em- ployment, the school has tried to prepare the pupils for such occupations as they may profitably enter upon on the completion of their work in school. This has been done by studying the various types of available employ- ment and by conferences with both parents and pupils.
A new social studies program has been introduced, and includes an interesting study of current events. The boys and girls have studied the history of the American Flag and flag etiquette, the history and geography of Ply- mouth, and the advantages of living under a democratic form of government.
Reading as usual has been emphasized. Several new reading tests have been employed which help the teach- ers classify the pupils and diagnose their difficulties.
The industrial and domestic arts program has been im- proved. The older boys now have the benefit of a two- period class in woodworking in the Junior High School. The girls are studing various forms of needle work and craft work. Among the various articles made in these classes and in the handicraft work are window shelves for plants, checker boards, fishing poles, necktie racks, waste baskets, door stops, book ends, tablecloths, and bird houses.
An Audubon Junior Club with its own elected officers has provided considerable interest in nature study. Bird charts and cards are studied and field trips are taken.
Physical education is considered an important part of the curriculum. The boys have the use of the High School gymnasium two periods a week. Health habits are de- veloped with special emphasis on cleanliness, neatness,
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and dental hygiene. The radio has provided the pupils with many worthwhile programs this year including events of world importance.
The school has joined in school banking plan and many boys and girls are saving toward the purchase of defense stamps and defense bonds.
In order to help in the work of civilian defense, first- aid boxes and cabinets are being made and rope work and first aid are being studied.
Respectfully submitted,
LORING R. C. MUGFORD,
Principal.
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REPORTS OF SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS
Music
This department has again tried to meet its two general aims: music development for the individual pupil, and cooperation with all groups desiring the services of any school musical group.
Both the Junior High School and Senior High School presented operettas with pronounced success. The Senior High Glee Clubs cooperated with the Student Activities Society to produce Von Flotow's "Martha" in February. The Junior High School presented a Christmas Cantata, "Childe Jesus" in December.
At Christmas time, carol broadcasting from Town Square and various assemblies were participated in by grade school groups as well as by Junior and Senior High Glee Clubs.
Instrumental groups under Mr. John Pacheco have used their talents many times for assemblies, parades, dedications, entertainments, and other such worthwhile enterprises. These young musicians are truly learning the meaning of cooperation and usefulness through the many practical opportunities they have had to make worthy use of their abilities.
Miss Susan Bowditch continues to teach most success- fully her piano class work in the grades. This culminates each year in a short recital by these pupils at the High School auditorium.
In May, Plymouth was host to the Massachusetts Music Festival Association's annual meeting for bands, orches- tra, and choral groups. Nearly six thousand boys and girls participated in this event, and thousands of visitors swelled the throng to give Plymouth one of the largest gatherings it has been her privilege to entertain for some years. The town may well be proud of the way in which
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so many of its townspeople gave unselfishly of their ser- vices to make the Music Festival the outstanding success that it was. All participating groups from Plymouth re- ceived fine ratings and were a distinct credit to them- selves.
In closing this year's report, the hope is expressed that some classes in general music may be made available to Senior High School Students.
Drawing
The really important achievement of the Senior High School art classes last spring was the designing and paint- ing of ten large murals for display in the Memorial Build- ing auditorium at the time of the graduation exercises in June. The subject of each mural was an event in the history of our country showing the building of democracy through "Faith and Fortitude," the motto of the Class of 1941.
The most successful project this fall was the Defense Poster Contest. This was conducted in response to the effort of the Plymouth Woman's Club which offered three prizes in Defense Stamps for the best posters. Each of the sixty-two art pupils expressed his own originality, artistic ability, and patriotic feeling in this way. Eight of these posters are now being exhibited in the State Woman's Club War Relief Window in the Little Building, Boston.
Aside from these special projects the classes have been conducted much as in former years. The amount of scenery, posters, lettering, and decorations for school pro- ductions has been especially large. During the course of a school year the art department fills many needs in its busy and interesting workshop.
The outstanding activity of the Junior High School this fall was the designing and making of the scenery for the Christmas cantata and play. This work included the altar for the cathedral scene and the stone walls and fireplace for the first scene. The beautiful rose window and two
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angel windows on either side of the altar were made under Miss Bates' direction. Pictures of cathedral win- dows and church architecture were observed and studied by the pupils and the west window of the Chartres Cath- edral was chosen as the model for the framework which was constructed by the woodworking department. The whole setting with beautiful lighting effects gave one the impression of looking into the chancel of a great cath- edral. The result was one of which all students and teach- ers who took part could be proud.
During National Art Week both divisions of art met as one and heard talks by Miss Bates. These talks were illustrated by maps, pictures and art objects, in order that the students might know better where to find art activi- ties of importance in the United States and something of contemporary artists of this country. The use of glass, sculpture, and architecture were particularly stressed.
The ninth grade vocational art classes have been work- ing out very practical problems in the decorating of their own rooms and homes.
A ninth grade drawing class of from ten to twelve girls meets on Thursdays. They have sketches from life using each other as models, have made posters for the cantata. and are designing patriotic emblems or illustrating war slogans.
The elementary art work has had as its objective the development of initiative and creativeness. The program of work for the year differed from former years in that each building was assigned certain hours bi-weekly when the supervisor would gladly assist any teacher who re- quested help at that time. This "call time" was planned to give help in correlated subjects or to drill special groups who were particularly weak in any given phase of art work. Only one building took advantage of this plan, therefore as a general plan it was abandoned in September, remaining in effect in the building where the results appear to justify its continuance. No more time
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was given to art there than in the other buildings, but art was taken at the time when help was needed and available. This elasticity of program is greatly to be de- sired. Professor H. I. Caswell says: "If we are correct in thinking that art is contributory to large areas of day- by-day living, then there must be many things happening in schools which should involve art. An art supervisor is concerned that art permeate all phases of the living of children rather than with the operation of a mechanical program."
The puppetry work for the year in some rooms showed marked advance in initiative and originality with the result that some of this work was displayed at the New England Puppetry Conference held in Boston. A group of students who had shown exeptional originality were honored by being requested to demonstrate the value of shadow puppets in the field of elementary education at this same conference.
For National Art Week beautiful articles from the various sections of the United States were kindly loaned the department by Buttner's and Burbank's stores for display purposes, and we wish to take this opportunity to express our thanks for this loan exhibit. In connection with this a regional map showing outstanding art activi- ties and achievements of some of the present day artists was shown. A short talk was given to the children that they might appreciate the extent and unity of art interests throughout our country.
The Christmas plans for 1941 were also different from recent years in that the main theme was Christmas dec- orations. Teachers and students were urged to be original and make use of materials commonly available to the children so that the lessons of the schoolroom might be useful in the home, church, and Sunday School.
Hughes Mearns has said: "Those of us who have watched young life grow from dependent insecurity to independent power through the opportunities for the cul-
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tivation of the spirit are assured that something ever so much more important than a beautiful product is the re- sult of the new freedom in education. Personality de- velops with the springing certainty of a dry seed dropped into moist earth. Character emerges."
Physical Education
A. Junior-Senior High School Boys.
Physical soundness is one basis of happiness. If a person wants to increase his intellectual capacities, he must ex- ercise his intellectual powers by study. His physical powers should likewise be exercised and developed as a means of increased enjoyment.
The great majority of educators also recognize the fact that physical and mental health go hand in hand: The physical education department is planning its program along those lines. A healthy mind in a healthy body is a fundamental aim.
Dr. Abate, school physician, examines every boy prior to his participating in the physical education program. This complete physical examination determines whether or not the boy will be allowed in the physical education activities and, if so, whether any restrictions must be placed upon him.
Each boy must then take a physical fitness index test. This consists of a battery of tests which show lung capa- city, arm, leg, back, and grip strength. These tests are not competitive tests. They show the amount of physical power the boy has and this is compared with a norm that shows the normal amount of physical power that a boy of the same age, weight, and height possesses. After com- paring the two we know whether or not the boy needs special attention in building up any deficiencies that might be retarding his physical growth. This is done by giving attention to postural faults and corrective proce- dures after consultation with parent and physician.
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Three main classifications of boys' physical education are: class work, intramural sports, and interscholastic sports.
The class activities are: calisthenics, marching, tumb- ling, apparatus gymnastics, games, and stunts. All these activities are designed to increase the boys' motor skill and their general well being.
There is an increasing amount of interest in intramural sports. These sports give all the boys, regardless of their ability or skill, an opportunity to take part in class games in touch football, volleyball, basketball, softball, tennis, and golf. The intramurals give more boys a chance to participate than do interscholastic sports.
The boys compete with other high schools in neighbor- ing communities in football, basketball, baseball, and track. This year it was compulsory for all boys in inter- scholastic competition to take the athletic insurance pro- vided through the New England Headmasters' Association with no profit.
Physical education not only develops the body but through competition on the gymnasium floor and the ath- letic field, the boys acquire the qualities of sportsmanship, physical coordination, and discipline, which give them a good background for growth in citizenship.
B. Junior-Senior High School Girls.
The Physical education program for girls is concerned with total-body activities. Through the vigorous activi- ties included there is sought such a development of or- ganic capacity as to bring about an increased resistance to disease and fatigue. Activities include a variety of experiences and coordinations found in stunts, games, rhythms, and athletics. Coordinations are habits and it is only by repeated performance over a long period of time that they are developed and a general control over the body is built up.
The response, interest, and cooperation of the senior high girls has increased each year since the physical ed-
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ucation program was introduced. Their constantly im- proving records in tests of skill, their interest in the present emphasis on individual physical fitness, their re- sponse to new dance types-all clearly indicate that objectives are being obtained. Although there has been a decrease in the number of girls engaging in the various sport squads in hockey, basketball, badminton, softball, this seems to be the result of a general increase in extra- curricular activities and in after-school employment. Among those who are active there has been a marked increase in leadership qualifications and in the desire to officiate and supervise intra-mural and inter-class groups.
The junior high program stresses activity and variety during the age span when as many types of big-muscle activities as possible are desirable.
There are two factors which do limit progress. The senior high girls would derive much greater benefits if there could be more than one period a week assigned to this work. Time would then be available for health edu- cation as well as physical education. The pupils entering the junior high show from their skill tests and their re- sponses to procedures that there is a need for physical education supervision in the elementary grades.
Pottery Vocational School
The Plymouth Pottery Vocational School has had an- other year of increased activity with more local people numbered among its registrants than in previous years. The total number for the year in all classes was approx- imately thirty with outsiders coming from Providence, Middleboro, East Sandwich, Falmouth, Scituate, and Dux- bury. There were three summer registrants representing the states of California, Kentucky, and New York.
As to activities of unusual interest we can count: a display at the Eastern States Exposition, National Art Week exhibits in Fall River and locally at Burbank's, American Art Week in the Electric Light Building, and a week at the Hotel Statler in Boston for the National Con- vention of Vocational Schools.
1
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We have been visited by approximately 2,000 tourists and groups from the Y.W.C.A., Boston, The Garden Club, Hingham, The Teachers Club, Whitman, and The National Parks Board.
The school has been invited to exhibit in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia.
Americanization Classes
Classes have been held the past year for a total of sixty sessions. These classes meet three times a week, Mon- days, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, as follows: Harris Hall, Plymouth Cordage Company, three groups at four forty-five o'clock in the afternoon, and two groups at seven fifteen in the evening.
Americanization classes are one definite answer to the fifth column workers, who find many of their converts among those who do not understand the aims and work- ings of our democracy. This fact has been emphasized by the United States Commissioner of Education, who has urged all to redouble their efforts. People must be made aware of the principles and advantages of a democracy. In this way many misunderstandings will disappear. Men and women in Americanization classes will be happier and more responsive to ideas which are new to them. Democracy taken for granted, democracy ill conceived, leads to its own undoing. The role of adult education is crucial in building an understanding of democratic ideals and their values.
Thus adult education, broadly conceived, holds one of the keys to the defense of a democratic culture. Adults must learn what democracy is and must learn the value of it, must learn to guard it, with arms if need be, and adults must learn to build our society anew when the dis- locations of a world at war are at an end.
One of the greatest difficulties which aliens here are confronted with is the lack of the English language. It is not an easy task for the alien, who may have had few
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educational advantages in his native land, to acquire the ability to speak, read, and write a new language, especi- ally when a great part of his time and effort must be ex- pended in seeking a living for himself and family. It is greatly to the credit of the foreign born that many of them eagerly fill the adult classes of the public schools.
Many definitions of the term "naturalization" have been formulated. A fairly descriptive one, which has the ap- proval of the Supreme Court of the United States is this: "Naturalization is the act of adopting a foreigner and clothing him with the privileges of a native citizen." These new members of the American family acquire the privileges of citizenship, they must be prepared to assume and must assume the duties and obligations of that status. They must be citizens in fact as well as in name.
Our classes in Plymouth, I believe, are meeting the needs of the adults attending them. When men and wom- en will gather for study after a day's work it is good evi- dence that they are conscious of the advantages being offered them in such classes.
The personnel of the teaching staff is very important. Successful teachers possess enthusiasm, wholesome per- sonality, excellent training, experience, and are in sym- pathy with the problems of their groups. We are fortu- nate in having such a teaching staff.
We must all help in developing among the American people that unity and mutual understanding which should grow out of a common citizenship and a common inheri- tance of democracy.
Summer School
For six weeks during the summer instruction was given to one hundred-sixteen pupils who were deficient in one or more of the following subjects: arithmetic, language, reading, and spelling in grades four to eight inclusive,
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REPORT OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Medora V. Eastwood, M. D. School Physicians Frank J. Abate, Jr., M. D.
Hilda Swett, R. N., School Nurse
As stated in previous reports a good health program should embrace three phases: health service, physical ed- ucation, health education. These general objectives we are continually keeping in mind. Full cooperation on the part of the home, the teacher, school nurse, and school physicians is of prime importance to the success of any health program. It has been a question as to the best means of bringing the home into this program to a greater degree than we have in the past. An influenza epidemic occurred in January 1941. From the tenth to the thir- teenth about 33% of the school population was absent, so that the schools were closed until January 20. Following this there was an epidemic of measles in Manomet School in which all children who had not had measles contracted the disease. Many of these cases were not reported to the Board of Health. It was decided if possible, to include all immunized school children in the diphtheria immun- ization. It was found that approximately 640 children had not been immunized and permission was sought from parents. Three hundred five, or less than one half, con- sented.
We have not been as successful as we should have been in minimizing contagion. Earnest effort is being made by the medical staff to combat such diseases, but we must have the cooperation of the parents in order to succeed in our efforts to have strong and healthy children.
A committee was appointed by the Board of Selectmen consisting of Miss Swett, School Nurse, Dr. Eastwood, School Physician, and Mrs. Godfrey, WPA Supervisor, to establish a procedure for admitting children to the
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WPA Nutrition Project. Children are now receiving the benefits of a hot noon meal at three centers, Cornish, Hedge, and Mount Pleasant schools.
In the spring the physical education teachers were asked to give posture exercises three to five minutes at the beginning of each physical education period in the Junior-Senior High School in order to make the pupils posture conscious. We did not expect to note any definite improvement in so short a period. However, at the an- nual physical examinations beginning in the fall it was found that the posture of many pupils had definitely im- proved. It is hoped that in the future we may be able to give more time to physical education. This, I feel, should be considered seriously in next year's program. Again I must repeat my earnest desire for as much co- operation as possible among teachers, family physicians, home, and the school nurse, doctors, and parents. Only in this way can we hope to achieve our ultimate goal of good health for every school child.
STATISTICS FOR 1941
Number of inspections 974
Number of examinations 2344
Number of pupils admitted by school physicians 494
Number of pupils admitted by other physicians 222
Number of pupils referred to physicians 112
Number of pupils refered to school nurse 115
Number of pupils excluded by school physicians 183
Number of pupils excluded by school nurse 218
Number of pupils inspected in schools
974
Number of pupils inspected in homes
250
Number of pupils given first-aid treatment in schools 268
Number of home visits by nurse
329
Number operated on for tonsils and adenoids
10
Number weighed and measured 5499
Number taken to hospitals and clinics out of town 105
Number of contagious diseases found in schools 91
Number of contagious diseases found in homes 70
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REPORT OF ORAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT AND DENTAL CLINIC Jane B. Bradford, Dental Hygienist
The aim of our dental program is to promote dental health among the school children.
In view of the fact that in the present selective draft dental disease is the largest single cause of physical re- jections, we in Plymouth should feel proud of the follow- ing information which our local Selective Service Board has so kindly issued. "One hundred twenty-seven regis- trants between the ages of 21 and 26 were examined in 1941 and only 5 or 3.9% were rejected on account of poor teeth. As education in dental health was established in 1919, the data above applies only to those who were able to take advantage of this program.
Educational Program
The monthly classroom visits are a most important phase of the dental hygiene work. Children acquire a new interest in clean, healthy mouths. The child must learn to eat the right foods, keep his mouth and teeth clean, and form the habit of making regular visits to the dentist at least twice a year. Activities are presented to the child so that he may learn by doing. Examples:
1. Puppets
Made by the Hedge School-developed along dental lines-showed a classroom scene-emphasized 100% teeth, good nutrition, and correct posture-exhibit on display later at Massachusetts Dental Convention.
2. Dentifrice
Salt, 1 part, and baking soda, 3 parts. Made by the first four grades in all schools. Samples were taken home.
3. Toothbrush Holders
Made with jig saw. Individual School made wall-holders for toothbrushes,
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4. Health Booklets
Seat work-emphasized good health habits. Cut-outs used in first two grades. Example: Child brushing his teeth.
Examinations
In the fall the dentists examined all children from grade one through Senior High School. It is of particular inter- est to note the results in the Senior High School as 1940 was the first year comparative examinations were made there. I submit the following figures:
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