USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1917-1919 > Part 19
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Whatever of progress has been attained is due very largely to the cheerful good-will and co-operation of our teachers, the whole-hearted backing of the School Committee and the encouraging attitude of those citizens of Saugus that it has been my good fortunate to meet.
These evidences of good fellowship are appreciated.
Respectfully submitted. JESSE W. LAMBERT, Superintendent of Schools.
SAUGUS, January 15, 1918.
Report of Medical Inspectors
To the Superintendent of Schools :
My report as School Physician is not as complete as might be desirable, as I have not been able to give the schools the time that is necessary to make a careful and systematic examination of all the pupils in all the schools. I have seen most of the pupils either in school or at home and have been able to advise the parents and pupils of any remedial abnormal conditions. I have found eighteen cases of adenoids needing attention and twenty cases of diseased tonsils. There have been very few contagious cases in the schools this year.
I have seen two cases of impetigo contagiosa, two of scabies and only one case of pediculosis. A very marked improvement is noticeable in the care of the pupils' teeth. I have found at least fifty per cent less carivus teeth than last year and the teeth show more continuous care.
This very vital matter seems to be much better recognized than formerly. The sanitary conditions at the Roby School and
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the High School are very good but there is much to be desired at the North Saugus and Oaklandvale.
The usual careful examination of the pupils in the schools is is being done now and will be finished in about two weeks.
Very respectfully.
MYRON H. DAVIS.
To Mr. Jesse W. Lambert, Superintendent of Schools. Saugus, Mass. :
DEAR SIR,- I respectfully submit my Annual Report as School Physician for the year ending December 31, 1918. I have carefully examined all the pupils in the following schools. Emerson. Ballard. Mansfield and Lynnhurst. and report the following ailments.
Five cases adenoids. 6 cases cenical glands enlarged, 5 cases diphtheria. 4 cases eczema. 3 cases furuncle. i case hip disease, 7 cases impetigo contagiosa. 20 cases influenza, 3 cases nasal catarrh, 23 cases pediculosis, 27 cases teeth decayed, 12 cases tonsils enlarged. 2 cases ring worm. 4 cases whooping cough. and 6 cases wears glasses.
Very respectfully.
GEORGE W. GALE. M. D.
Report of Principal of High School
Superintendent Lambert :
In submitting to you my report as principal of the Saugus High School. I am conscious of two things : First, that it is an innovation in the local school history to have a woman princi- pal; second, the year is vet young, my term of service short and consequently my report should partake of the same nature.
Policy
Since a large per cent of our pupils leave school to take up active work, our policy is to educate-draw out-the boy and the girl, make them more efficient and skilled workmen, folk who shall appreciate good things -- such as music. art and liter- ature-in their leisure, and render not their "bit" but their "best" service to the town and state because of their High School training.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
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With this in mind, stress is put on the fundamentals in the intellectual, physical and moral being. With a fine equipment, and a strong and permanent corps of teachers, this is possible. Right here I desire to state the corps of teachers in the Saugus High School is as strong, if not stronger than is found in many larger schools, and to them I am personally indebted for their loyal support and co-operation. With the new science equip- ment, the present plant can now be favorably compared with other schools.
Accurate, thorough, honest work counts, no matter whether in teacher, pupil or workman, therefore, this year, emphasis is being placed on accuracy-not how much ground can be cov- ered in a certain subject, but how well the facts are fixed in the pupil's mind.
The aim is to stimulate activity. The prime factor to enter into the life of the High School pupil is to teach him to think; we hope to turn out boys and girls who can think for them- selves ; this will take time, of course ; some think more slowly than others ; some think through their fingers, but all can think, and if this is encouraged, originality of thought and purpose in life will be developed.
To bring about this ability to think, it is necessary that there be study of the subjects, not mere reading of words. There- fore, we have planned for two study periods each day in the home rooms for all pupils, from 8.15 to 9.00 and from 1.40 to 2.10. For the average pupil at least one hour's study at home is absolutely necessary for efficient High School work. The attitude of the pupils toward study has improved this year, but there are too many yet who fail to realize the importance of study in school and at home.
The enrollment of the High School is not as large as last year, since the high cost of living made it imperative for many of the pupils to enter into the industrial life, and the exigencies of the war forced many to take the place of the men called into service.
The leakage since the opening of this school year was inevit- able; the epidemic of influenza; many, as usual, were just waiting till they were sixteen; others were needed to help fill the family exchequer and so left to become wage earners ; while a large proportion moved from town because of the increased fare in trolley lines.
4 Boys and I girl died from influenza.
19 Boys and 14 girls went to work. Junior, 15. Senior, 18.
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1918]
18 Boys and 18 girls left town. Junior, 25. Senior, II.
Total, 41 boys and 33 girls.
To make the work of the Junior and Senior High School correlate, courses of study under the various departments have been arranged which shall emphasize the essentials and not overlap. Among other things, attention is directed to oral speech ; many of our boys and girls have done much writing but have not been taught to think clearly and logically and express themselves forcibly on their feet ; so, in the English department (which includes all the members) care is being exercised in oral work based on the pupils' general knowledge, supplemented by outside reading, especially iu the Literary Digest. By the way, it surely will add to the tone of the town, when over one hundred copies of this periodical are subscribed for by our boys and girls and find their way weekly into the homes of our town there to be read by the family. Our school library is small ; the use of it with the town library should supplement the text books.
Outside activities have appealed to the pupils; the purchase of War and Thrift Stamps; the enrollment of 108 pupils as members of the adult Red Cross and over 500 in the Junior Red Cross. Some of the girls are planning to sew one hour each week for this great organization; also, 104 copies of the Literary Digest taken each week in the Senior High School.
A Boys' Glee Club of 24 has been formed which meets for one-half hour each Tuesday, under the direction of Miss Carr. 170 of the Senior High School are in the High School Chorus.
For other departments see reports of Commercial, Domestic Science and Manual Arts.
All pupils take English. In the 7th grade, all have reading, spelling, penmanship, music, drawing and geography. The same studies with substitution of history for geography, prevail in the 8th grade.
There are 67 pupils taking Latin ; 2 German; 142 Science ; 289 French-118 in the Junior High and 171 in the Senior High ; 62 Algebra ; 75 Geometry ; 8 Mathmatics Review; 16 Business Arithmetic ; a total. of 161 in Mathmatics in the Senior High. 121 take Freehand or Mechanical Drawing in the Senior High.
The length of the school day is 5 hours, 25 minutes, with an added 35 minutes for lunch, only 40 minutes longer than the average school day in Massachusetts last year.
Youngest pupil in the Junior High, 10 years.
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Youngest pupil in the Senior High, 12 years, 9 months. Oldest pupil in the Junior High, 16 years, 5 months.
Oldest pupil in the Senior High, 18 years, 8 months.
The average age of pupils in the Junior High is 12 years, 7 months.
The average age of pupils in the Senior High is 15 years, 6 months.
The attitude of the pupils has been for the most part good- they are responsive to suggestions and amenable to discipline. They are learning to realize that in school as well as in military service and business, there must be mutual respect of the gov- erned and governor. Emphasis is placed on good conduct, for " conduct is three-fourths of life ;" " conduct points to destiny ;" therefore we believe the good pupil makes a good citizen.
A Few Problems
I. Regular visitation of a school physician and district nurse would do much to lessen physical weakness and put the school and town in the line of disease prevention.
2. A truant officer to give his whole time in looking after the tardy and absent pupils would diminish the number of truancy cases.
3. A playground with equipment and a competent director for the pupils at intermission is needed. Youth is youth and must be fed on the food on which youth thrives. All study and no play " makes Jack a dull boy."
4. Failure of parents to realize the importance of regular attendance and punctuality. It is due every boy and girl that he should be in school at the only period of his life when he has a chance. In school when school is in session; in work and play when not in school. A natural consequence of non- attendance in school of children until 18 years of age is poverty and non-employment later in life, and what is worse a discon- tented mind.
5. Correlation of outside activities with school, so that the pupils may desire to remain in school after they are 16, so we suggest a three-fold practical course-
Commercial General
Manual and Industrial Arts
with credit for apprentice work done out of school hours, in trades, printing, carpentering, agriculture, office work. In this
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connection, a trial of promotion by subjects may increase interest and application in the school work.
In school as in the world, pupils may be dealt with according to what they are and not what we think they ought to be-and the great art of life is to find out what they are and turn their natural talents into legitimate channels-this is the task of the true teacher, and it is this line of work which appeals to me personally, and my hope is that I may lead into courage, success, knowledge, skill and ideals the pupils entrusted to my care.
Before closing this report, I desire to express, through you, my appreciation of all those who have co-operated in the High School work; the janitors, the teachers, the parents and the school committee.
Thanking you heartily for your patience with a new Principal in addition to all your other tasks, I remain,
Respectfully submitted,
LUCIE M. NORRIS.
January, 1919.
Household Arts Report
JANUARY 10, 1919.
To Mrs. Norris, Principal of the Saugus High School:
The work of the Household Arts Department of the Saugus High School for the school year, 1918-1919, commenced Sep- tember 6, 1918. The enrollment at the present time is as fol- lows :
Elementary Sewing, Grades 7-8 I45
Dressmaking . · 17
Cooking - Grades, 9-10 · 92
The sewing in the seventh grade consists, first of learning the fundamental stitches which are then applied to a sewing bag. Next an article of underwear is made and finally a bungalow apron. Something of textiles is also learned as well as patching and darning. The work in this grade is done by hand. The classes meet for an hour and a half once a week. In the eighth grade the stitches are reviewed ; the girls are taught to use the machine. The garments made in this grade are a princess slip, a cooking cap and apron, a middy blouse or smock and if time allows, a dress.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
The dressmaking course was introduced this year and is offered to the Junior girls of the Senior High School. Red Cross work is being done by all of the classes and by groups working in the afternoon after school.
The classes in cooking prepare the dishes served at the lunch counter. The materials used are purchased with the receipts. About fifty lunches have been served since September 6, '18 and between one hundred and two hundred people served daily. An attempt is made to serve nourishing and wholesome food at a minimum price, e. g. :
Cocoa . · $ 04 Sandwiches . $ 4-5
Soup · · 04 Muffin and cakes . 02
Warm dish
05 Dessert . .
05
The total receipts from September 6, 1918 to Janu-
ary 1, 1919 .
$339 80
The total expeditures
321 00
Balance .
$18 40
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE M. PARTRIDGE.
Report of Head of Commercial Department
Mrs. Lucie M. Norris, Principal High School:
DEAR MRS. NORRIS,-As Head of the Commercial Depart- ment, it is with pleasure that I submit my first report to you.
There are at present 212 in the Senior High enrolled in the Commercial Department. According to subjects, the enroll- ment is :
Bookkeeping I73
Typewriting 54
Shorthand 51 Business Arithmetic 16 Commercial Law 7
All pupils in the Junior High are required to take Penman- ship, the present enrollment being 320.
Bookkeeping is offered the four years. It may be begun in either the Freshman or Sophomore year.
Much of the time of the first year classes is devoted to the basic principles of Arithmetic-striving for speed with accuracy. The
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1918]
study of the fundamentals of debt and credit, together with their application in enteries in the various books, (Journal, Cash Book, Sales Journal, Purchases Journal and Ledger) consumes the latter part of the year's work.
The second year classes are given a thorough review of the operations and practices of the books of original entry and the Ledger. Much time is allowed for the study of drafts, particu- lar emphasis being placed on the parties, the uses, and the entries. Statements, the classification of accounts, the closing of books, and the discounting of notes are taken up in detail.
In the third year classes, we go much deeper into the classi- fication of accounts and much time is spent on the preparation of Profit and Loss and Assets and Liability statements. Special column Journals and Cash Books are studied in this year; also the value, uses and advantages of Subsidiary Ledgers.
There is no fourth year class because of the very small num- ber electing the course.
The work in Bookkeeping is planned with a view to the needs of business, so that pupils going into offices from High School will be able to meet the requirements. The work could be made much more practical, however, if bookkeeping desks and business offices (wholesale and retail offices and a bank) were installed.
The whole of the first year might very profitably be spent on Penmanship and Rapid Calculation, leaving Bookkeeping to be started in the second year. I would recommend that this change be made another year.
Shorthand and Typewriting are offered the last two years. Typewriting may be elected without Shorthand.
The pupils of the advanced Shorthand and Typewriting classes have practical work to do, one person being assigned to the office for a period of two weeks. During our enforced vacation, several of the classes did typewriting for Mr. Lambert. One pupil, also, has done considerable work in the Auditor's office. For the Bookkeeping classes it is quite neces- sary that each pupil have a copy of the exercise, and since we are not using a text, there is much mimeograph work to be done which is assigned to members of the advanced shorthand class.
Both accuracy and speed tests are given in typewriting, impressing upon the pupils that there is no real speed without accuracy.
The aim in the beginning classes in Shorthand and Typewrit-
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ing is for accuracy, no typewriting paper being accepted which contains an error. Speed can be worked up only after accuracy has been acquired.
The Typewriting room is open from 8. 15 until 2.15, with the exception of one period, thus giving pupils an opportunity to practice during spare periods if they desire. The work in typewriting is entirely individual.
Business Arithmetic is offered to Juniors, and Commercial Law, to Seniors. Commercial Law continues for one-half the year, Business English being offered the latter half.
The loyal support that you have given me has been of great assistance, and I appreciate, too, the help of Mr. Lambert and of my co-workers.
Respectfully,
THENICE POWERS.
Report of Supervisor of Art
Mr. J. W. Lambert, Superintendent of Schools, Saugus, Mass. :
DEAR SIR,-Present day conditions demand a radical change in drawing courses throughout the country. There is a need for something more practical than the old fashioned conception of drawing-of making pretty pictures and ornaments to amuse the child and keep him busy. A small percentage of the aver- age school children have exceptional talent for actual drawing. Therefore, an effort is being made to reorganize drawing courses in general and give the child the correct start which will enable him to discriminate between the beautiful and the ugly in the industrial products of the day. Thus, later, he may be able to demand better goods from our shops and factories, or if espec- ially talented, to create them.
The art work for the grade school has been outlined, illustrated and explained to the teachers at meetings held after school hours, once in two months. Their work during the fall has been in the form of a Poster Contest to stimulate the interest in War Saving Stamps and Thrift Stamps as well as produce well designed and well executed Poster effects. This has been taught entirely by the teachers, as the Supervisor's entire work is occu- pied at the High School.
A day and a half is given to the nine Junior High classes and three and a half days to the ten Senior High classes which have been formed since the regular school program was arranged and
-
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1918]
running. Therefore, the members of these Senior High classes meet whenever there is a period free from other subjects, making it necessary to have several different groups working in the same room during a period. Art work is required in the Ninth year if there is a period free for it and elective in the upper classes.
Some changes, already suggested in the equipment of this department would make the work much easier for both student and instructor.
I thank all those who have helped me in getting my work successfully started this year.
Respectfully submitted,
ETHEL LOUISE RICHARDSON, Supervisor of Art.
Report of Supervisor of Music
10 Mr. J. W. Lambert, Superintendent of Schools :
The aim of music education in our public schools is to develop in the pupil an intelligent appreciation and enjoyment of good music, a musical and expressive voice, the ability to read music at sight, and the power of musical interpretation.
Why all this? Are these essentials in education? During the world conflict just ended, all non-essentials were set off for elimination. Was music eliminated? Of course it was not. Even in so great a time of need the United States government appropriated thousands upon thousands of dollars to provide music for its soldiers, simply because the morale of the troops could not be maintained without it. It is impossible to refrain at this point from quoting an excerpt from an address by Thomas A. Edison, whom we know as one of the greatest men of all ages, a man whose fame reaches around the world to all countries touched by civilization.
"You ask me if music is a human essential. To the Eskimo, or South Sea Islander, no. To the American, Frenchman, Englishman, Italian, yes. Mere existence demands nothing but food, drink, clothing and shelter. But when you attempt to raise existence to a higher plane, you have to nourish the brain as well as the body. I don't think there is any sane person who would say that books are unessential to the maintenance of our civilization in America. Yet, after its school days, probably less than one-fourth of our population reads with serious pur- pose. Music is more essential than literature, for the very
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simple reason that music is capable of releasing in practically every human mind enlightening and ennobling thoughts that literature evokes in only the most erudite minds.
Music, next to religion, is the mind's greatest solace, and also its greatest inspiration. The history of the world shows that lofty aspirations find vent in music, and that music, in turn, helps to inspire such aspirations in others. Military men agree that music is essential to soldiers both in camp and in action. The Marseillaise is worth a million men to France. Nor is music less essential to those the soldiers leave behind them. The man who disparages music as a luxury and non-essential is doing the nation an injury."
Henry Van Dyke says : " I am a strong believer in the value of music in education." The Greeks, a wise folk, made it one of the elements of their training and discipline. The four liberal arts which composed the quadrivium of Pythagoras were geom- etry, astromy, arithmetic and music. To this was added the trivium composed of grammar, logic and rhetoric. Plato said : " Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul, on which they mightly fasten, imparting grace and making the soul graceful of him who is rightly educated."
Surely a heavy responsibility devolves upon the shoulders of those to whom the accomplishment of so important a mission is entrusted. And right here I want to express my earnest and deep appreciation of the hearty and loyal co-operation I have been constantly receiving from all the teachers. The work in music in all the schools is being carried out faithfully and as well as the exigencies of the year allow. We are not trying to do any stunts but rather, solid, conscientious work. For there is no astonishing way of doing astonishing things. All astonish- ing things are done with ordinary materials. And genius is one- tenth inspiration and nine-tenths perspiration. By the way, I might say, that while I lay no claim to being a genius, the nine- tenths of perspiration is abundantly acquired, exclusive of the teaching, just in journeying over my regular weekly itinerary for all the schools of the town of Saugus.
But to come back to the way we are doing things. The sys- tem being taught is the essence of the aggregate of two splendid systems of public school music : the Cole system and the Bald- win system. But any system is valueless without hard work ; for there is no elevator running up the hill of success. And so
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1918]
we are striving to climb step by step, looking always for a firm foothold before taking the next step, so that we may not some day suddenly slip to the bottom and have to begin all over again. Especially in the grade schools where the technical part of musical training must be chiefly done, accuracy and the thorough understanding of ground covered, in short, the general good quality of the work is considered first ; and I am glad to say is not greatly impairing the amount of work covered, but will be seen to aid it more and more as time goes on.
Except in the High School chorus where a number of pupils in one class and limited time make it impossible, each child- and there are approximately twelve hundred of them whose classes I visit every week-each child receives some individual attention. No child is ever slighted. There is great opportu- nity for all pupils and still greater for all who try.
Respectfully submitted,
E. LUCILE CARR
Supervisor of Music.
January 20, 1919.
Report of Supervisior of Manual Training
To the Superintendent of Schools and members of the Board of Education :
I herewith have the honor of presenting you my report for the year just closed.
This department of our school opened in conjunction with the other schools, with an enrollment of 141 pupils in the Senior and 195 in the Junior High.
The pupils of the Junior High are divided into nine divisions, five in the seventh year, and four in the eighth, the seventh grade classes take up such models as the pencil sharpener, pencil holders, broom holder, spool holder and others as time permits.
Exercises involved in these models are the use of the knife, saw, plain, chisel and spoke shave.
The eight year classes take up a few models such as the tie rack, glove box, bread-board, magazine holder, plant stand, blotter pad, shelf, pencil tray and serving tray. The exercises are the repeated exercises of the Seventh, in addition to these are the, butt joints, half lap joint, tongue and groove and mibic joint. In this class applied design is taught.
This room is equipped with twenty sloyd benches, with tools
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