USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1948 > Part 17
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REPORT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
In 1947 the Massachusetts Department of Education published a Curriculum Guide for the primary grades, the purpose of which was to make available to the teach- ers of those grades some of the more valuable methods and techniques in present use. The Plymouth School Department sponsored a University Extension Course, "The Child and His Curriculum," the aim of which was to help in the interpretation and application of the Cur- riculum Guide. Many of the elementary teachers from Plymouth and the surrounding towns availed themselves of the opportunity of taking this course.
The motion picture program has been expanded to include the showing of pictures at the Oak Street, Cold Spring, and Mt. Pleasant Schools. The Mt. Pleasant projector was purchased with money earned by the pupils over a period of years. The film program has been built around the health, safety, and social studies areas of instruction.
The report card to parents is still in the process of development, the aim being to determine through experi- mentation the type of report card which will best set forth the progress pupils are making in social and physical development as well as in intellectual growth.
Parent-Teacher Associations were formed at the Mt. Pleasant and Cornish-Burton Schools. The establishment of these groups should foster closer relationships between the home and school. Efforts have been made to arrange for more individual conferences between the parents and teachers after school hours.
Service activities in which the elementary pupils par- ticipated during the past were as follows:
1. Save the Children Federation - Bags of clothing
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were collected for needy children in all parts of the world.
2. Sale of Christmas Seals for the benefit of the Tuber- culosis drive.
3. Donation to the Bailey Health Camp.
4. Donation to the "Jimmy Fund," for the Cancer Drive.
5. Christmas boxes distributed to needy families in Plymouth.
6. Contribution to Junior Red Cross.
To enable the elementary schools to be more effective in their service to the pupils, the following recommenda- tions are made.
1. A new building or buildings to replace the obsolete and inadequate Cornish-Bur- ton and Cold Spring Schools.
2. Assembly halls for the Mt. Pleasant and Manomet Schools.
3. Further grading and surfacing of play areas at the Hedge School.
4. Simple equipment and materials to make the teaching of elementary science more effective.
5. Sound motion picture projector for the Manomet School and filmstrip machines for each of the schools.
6. A portable dental chair for use at the Mano- met, Mt. Pleasant, Cold Spring, and Oak Street Schools.
Respectfully submitted,
ELOUISE E. CASHIN HELEN S. MANCHESTER DONALD T. WELCH RICHARD F. SMITH
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REPORTS OF SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS
Vocal Music-Elizabeth F. Crook, Teacher
"More Music in Education - More Education through Music for our children, our teachers, our schools, our nation," a creed recently adopted by the music educators of America, might well be imprinted on our minds and in our plans as we direct the day by day developmental process in music learning.
Music in our elementary schools includes five different areas of experience: singing, rhythmic activities, listen- ing, playing, and creating. In this way we are able to reach every child, regardless of talent; we can give com- plete experiences in music; we can get the child ready to read music first, and then we can expect him to read music with more ease because he will understand the techniques and skills that make up the process.
The Junior High general music classes, under the able direction of William Tedeschi, are fulfilling the major purpose of music at this age, namely, to continue the educational and cultural musical experiences begun pre- viously. Special voices from Grades 8 and 9 have been chosen for the Glee Club. This group contributed Christ- mas carols in a very impressive assembly program in December and are planning another musical program for the spring.
An essential course in Music has been initiated into the Senior High School Curriculum. The course, entitled Music Literature, is proving very successful in its three- fold purpose: (1) as a college preparatory or vocational survey of music in general; (2) as a medium of knowledge that will enable a student to appreciate music, however and whenever he hears it during his lifetime; (3) and as a background that will help the student best participate in choral or instrumental groups.
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The Senior High Girls' Glee Club has spoken for itself throughout the country. I am indebted to many people for bringing to the girls through the pre-Thanksgiving trip to New York a unique experience in radio and tele- vision - an experience that they will consider priceless in later years.
I hope in the near future to be able to schedule some time in which to begin a Boys' Glee Club. Boys interested in music should not be deprived of this form of music enjoyment and training.
I would like to thank all the teachers, especially those in the elementary grades, for their co-operation and remind them that it is their untiring efforts that make for a progressive music program in the Town of Plym- outh.
My only recommendation is the purchase of more recent books in grades one through six, which may be ordered gradually and which will make it easier for teachers to direct the musical growth of the child through the areas of Singing, Rhythmic Activities, Listening, Playing, and Creating.
Instrumental Music-John Pacheco, Teacher
The beginnings of instrumental work in the grades are most important to the success of our entire program. This year the Junior High School realized twenty-five new instrumentalists.
The Junior High School has both a band and orchestra. The band had forty-seven members and rehearsed three times a week - two rehearsals during school and one after school. The band took part in the Eastern Massa- chusetts Music Festival in Brockton and was awarded the rating of "superior." The band participated in several public occasions including: Thanksgiving Day exercises,
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Boy Scout Rally, Girl Scout Rally, Flag-raising for Olym- pic Baseball Team, dedication of plaque in honor of the two Plymouth boys who gave of their lives during a forest fire, the Firemen's Memorial services, and Memorial Day parade.
The Junior High orchestra consisted of twenty-two members and rehearsed twice a week after school - one rehearsal being with the Senior group. The orchestra performed at all of the social functions of the school as well as at the I Am An American Day exercises and the annual School Music Night programs. It also played for the following local groups: St. Mary's Catholic Guild, St. Peter's Church, and the Woman's Club.
The Drum Major Corps has thirty-six members and rehearses once a week after school. The group accom- panies the band on parade and is as great an attraction as the band, judging from the acclaim for the fine exhi- bition of drilling during the annual concert in May.
We are beginning to profit in the Senior High Band from the greater numbers now enrolled in the Junior High Band. This year the Senior Band consisted of twenty-five members and rehearsed once a week during school. The band played at all the football games- thanks to the Boosters' Club for transportation-at patri- otic assemblies, a South Shore Boy Scout get-together in November, the Thanksgiving Day exercises, and the Music Night program. It is our hope in the very near future to put on a concert program with the Senior Band.
The Senior Orchestra consisted of fifteen members and combined with the Junior Orchestra to make a fine musi- cal group. The orchestra rehearsed one day weekly after school and was kept busy playing for numerous school and civic programs.
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ART
A. Junior and Senior High-Mrs. Margaret E. Brown, Teacher
A rather new approach to design in the art, classes this year was the use of original, modern, abstract designs developed into all-over patterns with unity, rhythm, balance, and color as steps in the development of the finished design.
This problem was demonstrated at a Junior High School assembly by a group of girls in one of the Junior High art classes showing each step in the process of development and then giving illustrations of how these designs are used in everyday life, such as kerchiefs for the girls, neckties for the boys, and draperies and furni- ture coverings for the home.
This same problem was carried out in High School in a much more advanced way allowing a very free use of color. Some fine designs were produced as a result and were entered in the annual contest sponsored by the Arts and Crafts Committee of the Plymouth Woman's Club. Sketches in pencil and water color of outdoor Plymouth and drawings from life of High School students posing as models were included in this contest. The whole exhi- bition was shown later at the Plymouth Public Library.
Graduation decorations climaxed the year's work as the High School Art Classes play a very important part in illustrating the chosen graduation theme. Portraits of six famous Americans, President Woodrow Wilson, Dr. Walter Reed, Dr. George Washington Carver, Capt. Billy Mitchell of the U. S. Army Air Corps, Chief Justice John Marshall, and the great baseball player, Walter Johnson, gave a wide variety of subjects. Colorful, symbolic back- grounds and gold torches as the class symbol completed the whole decorative scheme. Much time, hard work, and thought went into this project. Students and teachers felt a real satisfaction in the completed work.
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The work during the first term of 1949 in High School consisted of outdoor sketching and painting. An exhibi- tion was held in the High School Library. Each pupil designed and block-printed his own Christmas card and a beginning was made on posters and scenery for the forthcoming operetta, which will have colorful Mexican and Spanish costumes depicted on the posters and stage settings of the same style.
Junior High pupils have studied different forms of lettering, designing with a compass in color, Christmas cards, and life drawings. Their special project was re- storing the altar and triptych with Madonna and angels for the Christmas assembly.
B. Elementary-Elizabeth Egan, Teacher
The foundation of art in the elementary school is based on creativeness, which includes thinking and feeling as well as doing. Although few children will become pro- fessional artists, every child is given the opportunity to express himself and enjoy his work. Children in the lower grades are fearless in expressing themselves in line, form, and color; and they are not at all embarrassed if there is lack of proportion or reality in their creations. It is our responsibility then to be the guide and inspire them to continue their creativeness with added knowl- edge and skill.
The core curriculum for the State is used as a basis in planning units of work for each grade. Art is correlated with social studies and music. It is also concerned with current interests and observations. They are given the occasion to express themselves with crayons, water colors, tempera paints, construction paper, clay, plasticine, pa- pier-mache, soap print reproduction and other media ac- cording to the grade. These activities in turn offer de- velopment in thinking clearly, carrying a thought to fulfillment, and learning to become part of a social group.
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It would be of great assistance in the art work if there could be a room in each major school building devoted exclusively to art education. The desks in the classrooms are too small to offer much working space. Large desks and shelves in a special room where each class could meet, would enable children to do much craft and sculp- ture work along with paintings of a larger size.
Physical Education
A. Junior-Senior High School Boys-John H. Walker, Teacher
CLASS ACTIVITIES
The school physician examines the boys at the opening of the school year to determine who should be excused from participation and to discover any defects that can be wholly or partially remedied.
The activities engaged in are: calisthenics, sport fun- damentals, apparatus work, tumbling, and class games. The "West Point" tests of strength and skills are con- tinued.
Plymouth High School was awarded First Prize for the second consecutive year at the annual Physical Edu- cation Demonstration sponsored by the Brockton Y.M.C.A. The award was made on classroom program content and procedure. Competing towns included: Abington, Scitu- ate, North Easton, Hanover, and Rockland.
INTRAMURAL ACTIVITIES
This phase of our physical education program gives the boys who are not outstanding athletes a chance to partici- pate in organized sports activities. Homeroom leagues are operated in Junior High in tag football, basketball, softball, and baseball. Intramurals in the High School consist of similar leagues in volleyball, basketball, and softball. Instruction and competition in badminton is provided.
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INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS
Varsity competition on the inter-school level is being carried on in football, basketball, baseball, cross-country, track, and tennis. The athletic teams have enjoyed a good measure of success with other schools. It is even more gratifying to know that the boys representing us in inter-school competition have been complimented on the manner in which they conduct themselves on the playing fields.
All boys must have consent of parents and be members of the New England Headmasters' Athletics Benefit Fund before participation in athletics.
B. Junior-Senior High School Girls-Ardys Farnsworth, Teacher
CLASS ACTIVITIES
At the first of the school year all the girls are given physical examinations by the school physician to deter- mine whether or not they should be allowed to participate in the regular class routine. The seventh grade and senior high girls have one class per week while the eighth and ninth grades have two training periods per week. During this short time allotted, it is my purpose to improve body mechanics, poise and grace of movement, to develop an appreciation of rhythm, posture, and control of body movements as well as organic vitality, muscular strength, and endurance. The general program includes: march- ing and posture exercises, calisthenics, apparatus and tumbling, dancing, individual skills, and group activities including games and sports.
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
The ninth grade has interclass competition in field hockey, basketball, and softball. Each homeroom makes up one team and competes against all other teams in the ninth grade. The winning room plays against the high school teams at the end of the season. The high school
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classes choose teams, elect captains, and have the same types of play-off as the ninth grade. The winning team plays the faculty at the end of the tournament.
C. Elementary Program-Carolyn Parren, Teacher
School doctors, nurses, teachers, and myself have been concerned with the posture of many children this year. I am convinced that my program must emphasize even more than before the importance of good posture to the good health and satisfaction of every child. The children very much need help and encouragement at home in this matter. The posture improvement program requires out- of-school help as well as in-school help if it is to succeed. We need a comprehensive program with both parents and teachers as guides, and if possible, a program of such a nature that the children will willingly strive to help themselves and be proud of results.
During the past year I have increased the postural activities in class and decreased the amount of time given to rhythmic activities and games. The latter, nevertheless, are activities that should have an important place in the physical education program.
Though my present program calls for assisting the high school girls' athletic teams on two afternoons a week, I am confident that my full time could well be devoted to the elementary school pupils.
I agree fully with a well-known writer in the world of physical education, W. K. Streit, who expresses his thought as follows: "From the standpoint of growth and development and the need for physical activities, the elementary school years are more important than any others in the life of the individual. It is the elementary school years which count most in laying the foundations for sound bodies."
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Adult Civic Education-Mrs. Helen P. Muthig, Director
Classes were held on Tuesday and Thursday at 2:45 p.m. in Harris Hall, Plymouth Cordage Company, and at 7:15 p.m. at the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, Town Square. Those who were unable to attend these classes took advantage of the Home Study Course. The members of the advanced class of students who enjoy the privilege of American Citizenship were interested in discussion groups looking toward better economics and political understandings. We now have 33 in all groups.
A major effort is made to lead all members of these groups to the conception that citizenship does not consist merely in raising the right hand and swearing to defend the Constitution but rather in a worthy participation in the affairs of the town, state, nation, and indeed of a world that is searching for peace.
Pottery Vocational School-Katharine Alden, Instructor
The Plymouth Pottery School, now in its thirteenth year, has maintained three capacity classes with a total of forty pupils who attend for one full day or one or two evenings each week. During the summer we combined the evening groups and tried an afternoon session de- signed for the younger people. We found there were too many other competing activities and the plan is not likely to be continued.
We had an active display at the Eastern States Fair in conjunction with the Massachusetts Association of Handcraft Groups at Storrowtown, a local display during Art Week, and Plymouth Pottery was shown at Worces- ter in the Contemporary Craft display in the Museum. We contributed also to the Art Alliance Show in Phila- delphia.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
A school health program is essentially a preventive program and not clinical medicine. Its primary function is education rather than the practice of medicine. Parents should find ways and means of correcting physical defects in children found by the family physician or in the annual school physical examinations. If this is not done the health program may have little value for such pupils.
In looking over the health records during the past year, we found a group of pupils who have had definite heart murmurs for several years. It was decided that these children should, if possible, have a complete evaluation of the heart condition in order to determine just how much physical activity they should be allowed to partici- pate in. With the permission of the family physician and parents, these children are being taken to the heart clinic at the Massachusetts General Hospital for this complete evaluation. When reports come to us, a record is placed on the school health card and a copy sent to the family physician for his record. By this plan, we are protecting the health of these children against future disability from over-exertion during the growing years in school.
Everything we do in school health work should teach health knowledge and health habits. With this in view, we have attempted to discuss with the pupils themselves the reasons for health examinations and have tried to point out certain defects that we found. This was done at first with the junior and senior high school pupils. In the future, we shall do more of this teaching, increasing the time for examination and requesting the parents' presence.
Environmental factors in the health program are very important not only as a protection to children but also as an important teaching factor. Ventilation, heating,
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lighting, plumbing, desk arrangement, and hand-washing facilities are a few such factors. At various times during the past year, inspections of these factors have been made. From the sanitary standpoint, the toilet facilities in some of our schools are, without question, below a normal standard. The plumbing in the Burton School has long been outmoded and unsanitary. Passageway to the toilets in the Cornish School is through the ends of the lunch- room. These conditions should be given serious con- sideration.
In the opinion of the health staff more attention should be given to posture. We need more education about posture and more scientific studies on the matter of seats and of desks.
Other matters that should receive careful consideration are:
(1) The need for the latest equipment for detecting hearing defects. The audiometer which has been in use for a number of years is fast being supplanted with more scientific instruments. (2) The need for a health council composed of representatives of the schools, medical pro- fession, parent-teacher association, and other organiza- tions interested in improving health conditions. (3) A child guidance clinic located in Plymouth as a center for this general area. (4) A co-ordinator of the health pro- gram to give unity to the efforts of physical education teachers, school physicians, and nurses, as well as those of pupils and parents.
These, in brief, are some of the accomplishments and some hopes for the future in our school health work. Only through complete understanding on the part of the towns- people as to the importance and meaning of health and conditions essential to good health can we hope to keep our work at the high standard we have attained at the present time.
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STATISTICS - 1948
Physical examinations 1,714
Inspections by school physicians 309
Pupils excluded by school physicians 39
Pupils readmitted by school physicians 285
Pupils readmitted by family physicians 249
Pupils readmitted after having a contagious disease 385
Inspections by school nurse in school 624
Home visits by nurse 113
Pupils excluded by nurse 189
Pupils taken to hospitals and clinics out-of-town 65
Pupils weighed and measured 1,411
Pupils given first-aid treatment in schools 208
FRANK J. ABATE, JR., M.D., MEDORA V. EASTWOOD, M.D., School Physicians
HILDA SWETT,
School Nurse
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REPORT OF ORAL HYGIENE DEPARTMENT AND DENTAL CLINIC
One of the chief objectives of our school dental program is the correction of defects. Examinations are of little value unless there is a planned follow-up program.
STATISTICAL REPORT OF SCHOOL YEAR-
1. Annual Examinations
Pupils examined in Elementary Schools and Junior High, September 1948 1,733
Pupils found to have all needed corrections made 558
Pupils found to have certificate from family dentist 90
Pupils examined in Senior High School
439
Pupils found to have all needed corrections made 224
(An outstanding fact this year is the very evident co-operation of Senior High pu- pils as 51% had dental defects corrected.)
2. Pre-school Examinations, May
Number of inspections 121
Children found free from defects 54
Children having attention of family dentist 59
3. Classroom Instruction and Follow-Up Oral hygiene lessons given to pupils 347
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PER CENT OF DENTAL CORRECTIONS MADE Results, June 1948
HONOR CLASSES
(Having 50% or more of corrections made) Mount
Pleasant School
Hedge School
Cornish School
*Grade 1 100%
Grade 1
51%
Grade 1
78%
Grade 2 76% Grade 2 68%
Grade 1
58%
Grade 3 57%
Grade 3 88% Grade 2 60%
Grade 4 63%
Grade 3
85% Grade 2 & 3
64%
Grade 5
75%
Grade 4
88%
Grade 3
62%
Grade 6
72%
Grade 4
60%
Grade 4
53%
Grade 5
68%
Grade 4 & 5 71%
Grade 5
61%
Grade 5
66%
Grade 6
80%
Grade 6 65%
Grade 6
70%
Grade 6
50%
Practical Arts 72%
Oak Street School
Cold Spring School
Manomet
School
*Grade 3 & 4 100% Grade 1 & 2 85%
Grade 1 & 2 71% Grade 2 & 3 79% Grade 1 & 2 61%
*Correction of all defects is an outstanding result. This has been accomplished in Grade 1 at Mt. Pleasant School for two consecutive years.
DENTAL WORK AT CLINICS
An experimental study was started last year to help control decay in children's teeth through the applications of sodium fluoride (2%) to the teeth four times a year. Information regarding its results will be given later.
Clinic sessions 60
Children completed (all corrections made) 80
Extractions of permanent teeth (six-year molars) in grades 1 - 5 17
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Extractions of deciduous teeth (baby teeth) 119
Fillings (six-year molars) 234
Treatments (including X-ray)
131
Pupils having sodium fluoride
12
Pupils having teeth cleaned
1,005
Amounts received for clinical services rendered were as follows:
For cleaning of teeth
$94.00
For filling and extractions
24.00
For toothbrushes sold
59.69
Total
$178.69
Respectfully submitted,
JANE B. BRADFORD, Dental Hygienist DR. W. O. DYER, DR. JAMES McDADE, School Dentists
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
Absences Referred to Supervisor
Sickness Truancy Others
Total
Elementary Schools 6
24
10
40
Junior High School 16
31
25
72
Senior High School
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