USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1947 > Part 16
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During the November enrollment drive $155.61 was collected in the schools bringing the total amount of cash on hand to $592.75. These worthy activities were under the direction of Janet Broadbent of the Cornish School staff.
Save The Children Federation
In October "Bundle Day" was held in the Plymouth schools for the purpose of making the annual collection
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of used clothing for the benefit of needy children in European countries. The sponsoring organization is Save the Children Federation with headquarters at 1 Madison Avenue, New York. The collection in the Plym- outh schools was the fifth annual collection that has been made and yielded 2,260 pounds of clothing. The Hedge School assembled the largest amount with Mount Pleasant taking second place. The total amount of cloth- ing collected during the last five years in this way has reached 9,779 pounds or nearly 9 tons.
It is believed that such efforts will not only help to meet the needs of distressed children but will serve to strengthen the attitude of good will among our own pupils.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
The elementary school lunch program is now serving about 300 pupils in three different schools, Cornish-Bur- ton, Hedge, and Manomet. The Cornish lunch was opened in the spring of 1943, the Hedge in the fall of 1946, and the Manomet in the fall of 1947. The subsidy from the Federal Department of Agriculture together with sur- plus commodities received from the same source enable us to furnish the children with a complete nutritious meal at a very nominal price. The original price of the meal was 15c. Owing to the rapidly increasing cost of food it has been necessary to increase this price first to 20c and more recently to 23c. All food is prepared at the Cornish and transported in vacuum containers to the Hedge and Manomet Schools.
The Town appropriates the funds needed to provide lunches for the fiscal year. Receipts from the sale of lunches and reimbursements from the Federal Depart- ment of Agriculture are turned over to the Town Treas- urer. The elementary school lunch is maintained on a self-supporting basis over a period of years-except in the matter of equipment which the town provides. In the four years, 1943 to 1946, balances exceeded deficits by $249.96. During 1947 food costs continued to rise and the
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Federal assistance decreased so that expenditures ex- ceeded receipts by $553.63. There was an inventory value of approximately $150 at the end of th year. The higher price of meals will enable us by the close of this school year to balance the books for the five-year period.
These lunches serve not only transported pupils but but those whose parents are working and cannot be at home during the noon period. Such lunches are also available to some children who live such distances from school that it is difficult to walk both ways during the noon period. The meals served to the pupils in our el- ementary school lunches are required to meet certain standards of nutritional value and balance prescribed by the State Office of the Community School Lunch organ- ization. Our lunch accounts are audited by the same of- fice as well as by the Federal Department of Agriculture.
ACHIEVEMENT IN THREE R'S
During the elementary period of the child's school life, the schools endeavor to help him develop those attitudes, habits, and ideals that make for good citizenship. Teach- ers observe that some pupils make faster progress than others toward this goal. The rate of progress in these aspects of growth however is not susceptible to math- ematical measurement.
During this same elementary school period, teachers have the much more definite task of helping pupils ac- quire the elementary tools of learning familiarly called the three R's. The child's progress in this direction can be measured with some degree of accuracy by the use of the standardized tests. Such tests are given in the schools of Plymouth each May and enable teachers to determine the achievements of each child in each tool subject in terms of grade standards. In May of 1947 the Metropoli- tan Achievement Test, Form C was given in Plymouth grades one and two, and the revised Stanford Achieve- ment Test, Form E was given in grades three, four, five, and six. The results shown in the table below reveal that the average achievement of Plymouth pupils was
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above standard in all the tool subjects in all grades ex- cept in second-grade number work which was at the exact standard of the test.
ACHIEVEMENT TESTS, MAY 1947
Grade I
Grade II Grade III 3.9
Test Standard for Grade ... 1.9*
2.9
Plymouth Averages :-
Reading
2.2 **
3.4
4.1
Numbers
2.5
2.9
4.3
Spelling
(None)
3.0
4.0
Grade IV
Grade V 5.9
Grade VI 6.9
Test Standard for Grade ... 4.9
Plymouth Averages :---
Reading
5.3
6.3
7.2
Language
5.9
6.6
7.5
Arithmetic
...
5.0
6.1
7.5
Spelling
5.7
6.3
7.3
Should be read-"Grade one, ninth month".
Should be read-"Grade two, second month".
COMPARATIVE DATA ON SCHOOL EXPENDITURES - PLYMOUTH AND 24 MASS. TOWNS (12 Next Largest and 12 Next Smallest Having Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools)
1945 Pop.
1947 Valuation Per Capita
1946 (Fiscal Year) School Tax
1946 (Fiscal Year) % School Tax of Total Tax
1946-47 (School Year) Expenditure Per Pupil
Belmont
28866
Wellesley
$2739
Northbridge
$20.80
Northbridge
58%
Norwood
$225
Framingham
25502
Winchester
2331
Athol
20.67
Athol
54
Belmont
199
Milton
21718
Needham
2157
Bridgewater
19.18
Shrewsbury
51
Wellesley
199
w. Springfield
19453
Swampscott
2040
Adams
17.92
Bridgewater
5.
Swampscott
188
Winthrop
18696
Belmont
1877
Shrewsbury
17.67
Needham
48
Webster
184
Wellesley
17581
Marblehead
1852
Webster
15.52
W. Springfield
45
Andover
184
Greenfield
17020
Norwood
1817
Winthrop
15.21
Adams
45
Winchester
182
Norwood
16508
Milton
1810
Natick
15.05
Belmont
43
Needham
182
Natick
15789
Lexington
1788
Reading
15.03
Winthrop
43
Milton
173
Winchester
15300
Reading
1633
Rockland
14.91
Winchester
41
W. Springfield
171
Needham
14507
Plymouth
1616
Norwood
14.04
Greenfield
40
Reading
166
Lexington
14452
Andover
1569
Stoneham
13.33
Lexington
40
Greenfield
158
Plymouth
$13536
W. Springfield
1510
Lexington
13.29
Milton
40
Shrewsbury
157
Webster
13534
Greenfield
1469
Needham
13.27
Reading
40
Lexington
153
Adams
12724
Framingham
1436
Framingham
13.01
Webster
39
Marblehead
152
Marblehead
12524
Stoneham
1311
W. Springfield
12.71
Norwood
37 Stoneham
152
Reading
12327
Winthrop
1291
Andover
12.5?
Plymouth
35
Winthrop
150
Stoneham
12032,
Natick
1291
Plymouth
12.46
Andover
34
Plymouth
146
Andover
11920
Shrewsbury
1109
Winchester
12.39
Rockland
33
Framingham
145
Swampscott
11835
Rockland
990
Greenfield
12.01
Framingham
33
Natick
144
Athol
11804
Athol
905
Belmont
11.98
Wellesley
33
Rockland
14!
Northbridge
10212
Adams
833
Milton
11.13
Natick
33
Athol
139
Shrewsbury
9296
Webster
755
Marblehead
10.68
Swampscott
32
Northbridge
132
Bridgewater
8641 Bridgewater
754 Swampscott
10.01
Marblehead
31
Bridgewater
129
Rockland
8603 Northbridge
698 Wellesley
8.83
Stoneham
31
Adams
128
*Median
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PLYMOUTH SCHOOL COSTS
Though the state makes certain minimum require- ments upon the towns and cities as to school privileges that shall be made available to all children, neither the state nor any higher authority indicates how much a community should tax itself to provide these opportun- ities or how much should be spent for each pupil per year for school purposes. Our standards for comparing school costs therefore must be found in the practice of Massachusetts communities that have a similar type of school system to ours, namely, elementary, junior, and senior high schools and communities nearest the size of Plymouth. In the table above such a comparison is given. The towns in this group are the twelve next larger than Plymouth and the twelve next smaller that have ele- mentary, junior, and senior high schools.
It is clear from this table that our valuation per capita of $1616 is above that of the median town in this respect, West Springfield, which is $1510. This indicates that Plymouth is in a relatively favorable position in the amount of its taxable property to support its school pro- gram as compared with that of towns taken for compar- ison. There are ten towns that have more taxable prop- erty per capita but there are fourteen that have less. The table shows where Plymouth stood on three different indices of schools costs. First, how did our school tax rate for 1946 compare with that of the other communi- ties? In seventeen towns the school tax was higher and in seven lower. Second, how did the proportion that the Plymouth school tax bears to the total town tax compare, with that of the other twenty-four towns? In sixteen towns the schools received a large share of the tax dol- lar than in Plymouth and eight a smaller share. Third how did Plymouth's cost per pupil in 1946-47 compare with that of the other twenty-four towns? Seventeen towns expended more per pupil than Plymouth and seven less. On all three indices of school costs Plymouth is found in the lower third of the group. This is due in
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large part to the fact that we do not have as many teach- ers for our pupil population as does the average town in the group. As indicated earlier in this report we are at present in need of more classrooms and more teachers in order to eliminate or reduce the number of our over- sized classes. That this need will steadily increase begin- ning as soon as September 1949 is clearly indicated in Tables I to III preceding.
In closing this brief report may I say that I find much personal satisfaction in cooperating with the mem- bers of the School Committee and of the Department staff, both in pursuing our immediate purposes of pro- viding worthy educational opportunities for the boys and girls now in our schools and in the necessary advance planning for the larger numbers anticipated in future years.
Respectfully submitted,
BURR F. JONES
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REPORT OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
On January 1, 1947, the enrollment in the high school was 439. On January 1, 1948, the enrollment is 459. This increase was absorbed in the present school organiza- tion without adding to the faculty because distribution of pupil choices of subjects permitted increase in the size of class divisions, and, since many more pupils than formerly are now carrying five rather than four sub- jects, increase in the number of class divisions was offset to some extent by decrease in the number of study-halls. This made it possible to reassign teachers released from study-hall responsibilities to class rooms. This has not been effected without some minor hardship such as over- sized class divisions and teaching schedules of five rather than four periods but the inequities have been kept at a minimum.
However, with a graduating class of 124 and a probable entering class of 175 the increase in next year's school will almost certainly call for an additional staff member and classroom. At present, with 171/2 rooms at our dis- posal for six periods a day, only one room, one period a day, is not assigned.
At the beginning of the second semester in February of last year Mr. Packard returned from service in the Navy and resumed his duties as head of the Science Depart- ment. Mr. Young, who had been teaching those classes, (thereupon moved into the Biology position to which he had been elected when Mr. Kingman's illness made it impossible from him to continue, and Mr. Smiley as- sumed the duties entailed by the establishing of a course in Pre-Driven Training at the direction of the School Committee.
During the spring semester Mr. Smiley worked with Mr. Fanning of the Motor Vehicles Division of the De- partment of Public Safety to re-organize this course, with the result that on the opening of school this past September we were able to announce a course in Driver
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Training with behind-the-wheel instruction. The dual- control training car is provided by the Pontiac Division of General Motors.
This year, as last, admission to the colleges have about six times as many applications as they have vacancies. Because of this pressure most of the colleges have changed their admission procedures and for the most part are now requiring examinations-either scholastic aptitudes, or achievement tests in three major fields, or both-to help them in processing this tremendous num- ber of applicants. This school, to help its students who hope to go to college, has set up a schedule of special classes meeting after school hours each day in the week. A different subject is scheduled for each day.
During the past school year the following items of equipment were purchased out of funds raised by the student body through plays, club, etc .:- (1) From the War Assets Administration a radio transmitter and re- ceiver, value $1000, by the Science Club for only $15; (2) A wire recorder purchased by the English Depart- ment for use in "Correct Speech," $170; (3) A radio tuner to make possible the reception of outside programs, such as Columbia's School of the Air, for use in class rooms, $35.
EDGAR J. MONGAN,
Principal
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REPORTS OF SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS
Vocal Music-Mrs. Frances H. Picard, Teacher
Music is a powerful influence in enriching the lives of children. In our school system we endeavor to teach the girls and boys how to appreciate and gain satisfaction from competent achievement.
Throughout the schools music is taught according to a carefully graded course of study. Considering the fact that the time allotment is limited, the results are grat- ifying.
The culmination of elementary school music manifests itself in the musical groups of the Junior High School and Senior High School. Each group contributes to the musical activities of school as well as to the various civic groups throughout the town. Each appearance has proved their ability and has been a source of satisfaction to all concerned.
The music supervisor's time is scheduled as follows: Junior High School, fifty per cent; Elementary Schools, fifty per cent. There is no time during the school day allotted to Senior High School. The Girls' Glee Club and Octette are entirely extra-curricular activities. It is clear that further opportunities in music should be open to those senior high pupils whose musical abilities and appreciations would guarantee a personal interest in further courses. I therefore strongly recommend that q departmental teacher of music be provided for Junior High School thereby allowing the supervisor additional time for elementary schools and Senior High School. There is abundant musical talent in our schools. To de- velop it to a higher degree, this recommendation is made for the consideration of the school authorities.
Instrumental Music-John Pacheco, Teacher
The past year has seen the instrumental program make real progress, especially so in the elementary grades, where the groundwork is laid for a successful program.
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Hedge School, having an auditorium, has the correct setup. There a good instrumental group was formed. This group later appeared in the St. Mary's Youth Show and in the Kiwanis music night entertainment as well as in numerous programs that the school presented. The Hedge School group was the nucleus of the elementary orchestra that performed for the all-school Music Night in June. In the orchestra were representatives from the four elementary schools. This year the instrumental music program in Junior High School has received twen- ty new members from the elementary schools.
In Junior High School, the band had forty-five mem- bers and rehearsed three times a week, two rehearsals during school time and one after school. The band par- ticipated in the Memorial Day exercises and the Fire- men's Memorial program. At the latten exercises we were the only musical organization participating. The band also played at many school programs and gave its annual May concert in Memorial Hall. For the first time since the war, the band went to he Eastern Massachu- setts State Musical Festival, held in Medford, where playing a competitive piece of music before a judge it received the rating of "excellent". It is hoped that our Junior High Band will maintain this high rating.
The Junior High orchestra was organized with a total of twenty-five members, rehearsing once a week after school. They also rehearse once a week with the Senior group. The orchestra performed at all social functions of the school, and combined with the senior group, at the Woman's Club program, the St. Mary's Catholic Guild, and the Barachias program, and at the all school Music Night in June.
Also under instrumental music in Junior High comes our select group, the Drum Major Corps. The competi- tion for membership is very keen and scholastic standing has to be high. This group rehearses once a week after school, and has thirty-six members. The group accom- panies the band when on parade and has become as much of an attraction as the band. The corps paraded
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REPORT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
One of the accomplishments of the elementary school staff during the past year has been to formulate a new card for reporting pupil progress to parents. This card has been in use, in tentative form, since the beginning of the fall term. It is an improvement over the former card in that it gives a more inclusive evaluation of pupil traits and characteristics as well as of the pupil's progress in developing essential knowledge and skills. It is hoped that this report card will not only rate the child but will also help in guiding him.
The social studies curriculum continues to be in the process of development. The strengthening of the ge- ography program in grade six has been made possible by the addition of new texts in the subject.
The school lunch project has been growing steadily for the past four years. The average number of children for whom hot lunch is provided each day is now 320. This figure is more than double the number that were served when the present program started in 1943. This growth is the result of opening a lunch room at the Hedge School in September 1946, and at the Manomet School in Sep- tember 1947.
Service activities engaged in by the elementary school pupils during the past year are as follows:
1. Contribution of $81.06 to Junior Red Cross.
2. Eighty-eight bags, or 1,760 pounds, of clothing col- lected for needy children in other parts of the world.
3. Collection of $64.06 from the sale of Christmas Seals.
4. Donation of $25 to the Bailey Health Camp.
For the elementary schools to function with a maxi- mum of service to the pupils, several major needs require attention in the near future. These needs are as follows:
1. A new building or buildings to replace the obsolete and inadequate Cornish-Burton, and Cold Spring Schools.
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2. Additions to other buildings to allow for less crowd- ed classrooms, and thus increase teacher efficiency.
3. Assembly halls for the Mt. Pleasant and Manomet Schools.
4. Further grading of play areas at the Hedge School.
5. Sound motion picture projectors for the Mt. Pleas- ant and Manomet Schools and a strip-film projector for use in all the schools.
6. A portable dental chair for use at the Manomet, Mt. Pleasant, Cold Spring, and Oak Street Schools.
7. Scientific equipment and materials to make the teaching of science more effective.
Respectfully submitted,
ELOUISE E. CASHIN HELEN S. MANCHESTER FRANKLYN O. WHITE
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REPORT OF THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Since the opening of the present school year Sept. 3, 1947, 605 students have been enrolled, the largest number at any one time being 598. Of these 21 are from Carver and 21 from Plympton.
There are five seventh-grade divisions averaging 38 pupils. The seating capacity and varying sizes of avail- able classrooms will require the division of the present seventh grade into six eight-grade classes next year, if the pupils of this grade are to be served satisfactorily.
A minimum amount of music work is carried on in the Junior High School because of the limited number of periods in the school day. All music classes are assigned to the supervisor of music, who is forced to cancel them when special duties arise demanding her presence else- where. Thus, fully one-third of the work was omitted during the fall term. If the high standards of group music established in the past are to be maintained, it would seem advisable to assign this work to a teacher of music to serve under the direction of the music super- visor.
Work in the shops is expanding. The report of the Manual Arts Department sets forth this situation as follows:
"With materials now available, more attention is being given to metal work. Projects in wood, wood and met- al, or all metal tend to add interest as well as to broad- en the scope of our work. Both wrought iron and the thinner sheet metals are being used.
"Work in plastics is being developed as an activity to follow metal work, since it involves a knowledge and use of woodwork and metal tools and processes.
"Through the purchase from school-earned funds of a strip-film machine and a complete set of films on wood- work, mechanical drawing, and first aid, we are able to present our subject more efficiently than through the lecture and demonstration method."
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An opaque projector, obtained from War Surplus sup- plies has been added to the visual education equipment.
Last year the allowance for text books, which have advanced in price, was cut to such an extent that much of our order was cancelled. The library order was en- tirely eliminated, but books have been obtained from school earnings and as a gift from the 1947 graduating class.
Children with problems, those who need more ade- quate home supervision, and those who need special help are continuously being brought to our attention. The work of the school nurse, the juvenile probation officer, and the social service worker is of inestimable value. A child guidance clinic in Plymouth would serve chil- dren of this town and district to advantage.
In closing this report, the following recommendations are made:
1. The appointment of an additional teacher for 1948-1949 because of the necessity of adding an- other seventh-grade division.
2. The appointment of a teacher for the class work in music in 1948-1949.
3. An adequate appropriation for text books.
MARY M. DOLAN
Principal
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C. Elementary Program-Carolyn Parren, Teacher
The elementary physical education program for 1947 has found the pupils of the first six grades participating wholeheartedly in indoor and outdoor activities.
During the winter months classes are held indoors for the most part. Activities are prepared for the classroom, playroom, and recess periods which can be used by the classroom teachers whenever pupils need a change of pace or a greater variety.
Square dancing, ballroom dancing, grand marching, postural and formal gymnastics, as well as organized games were on the schedule for the four upper grades.
Newcomb, volleyball, softball, and Emperor ball gave a chance for class competition in the fifth and sixth grades during the spring and fall months.
The first and second graders had activities in the class- room, playroom, and on the playground. The willingness of these younger pupils made it easy to introduce circle games, stunts, singing games, ball games, relay races, and posture activities in the form of story plays and imitative exercises.
In April thirty-two children of the Hedge School were guests of the Plymouth Civic Association Auxilary. The pupils demonstrated American square dances, Swedish and Danish folk dances, a ballroom routine, and an in- door game.
It is recommended that larger play areas at the Hedge School be graded and surfaced. This playground is now a crowded area and the pupils are unable to enjoy ball games during recess periods. Areas devoted to ball games of any sort should be developed on those parts of the playground removed from the lake.
Adult Civic Education-Mrs. Helen P. Muthig, Director
The Adult Civic Education Classes were held for forty sessions during 1946-47. The classes met twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday as follows: Harris Hall, Plym- outh Cordage at 3:45 p.m., Cornish School 7:15 p.m.
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A Home Study course was used for those unable to at- tend class. English and citizenship were offered. Mem- bers were helped to overcome difficulties in language, social customs, and in clarifying problems in Immigra- tion and Naturalization.
Through a better understanding and appreciation of our common citizenship and of our common inheritance of democracy among those enrolled in our classes throughout the country there should develop a greater unity and stronger feeling of mutual goodwill among the peoples of the United States.
Pottery Vocational School-Katherine Alden, Instructor
The Plymouth Pottery classes at the old Sparrow House have maintained the usual total of forty enroll- ments in the three groups, attendance in the evening groups being a little more constant than in the daytime class.
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