USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1938 > Part 9
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Second: The Junior High School should consist of three years in- stead of the present two, and the Senior High School of three years instead of the present four, in order to make the complete Junior High School system possible. This would involve the construction of a new building-preferably on a site re- moved from the present Central High School. This would better be a new High School-with accom- modations for 700 pupils. This would allow the present Central High School to be used for Junior High School purposes-with ac- commodations for about 1100 pu- pils. At present the High School building with additions accommo- dates 1400 pupils and is overcrowd- ed, rooms being used as classrooms which were never intended for that purpose.
There are other matters which are dependent somewhat on a long
range building program, viz: (a). the Vocational Guidance Program; (b) the Physical Education Pro- gram; (c) the Science Program.
The Junior High School system in its initiation planned to give each child some direct contact with actu- al handwork and to teach him to handle tools for his own miscellane- ous activities in later life. There was no intention of making boys mechanics or girls housewives. At the expense of cultural, fundament- al subjects the vocational guidance courses in High School and the pre- vocational guidance courses in the Junior High School are in the na- ture of opportunities in addition to the fundamental, traditional cour- ses to try out and to explore. Thus a girl can rotate in Junior High School in the various aspects of Domestic Science, e.g. cooking, sew- ing, and a boy in shop work, wood- working, electrical, general metal, and bookbinding, etc. Obviously no such program in complete form can be accomplished in Saugus with the- present physical equipment. We be- lieve that there would be place for a complete vocational school in con- nection with a new High School and that the present High School building could be adapted with changes and perhaps additions to some pre-vocational work.
The physical education problem is limited, not to say utterly handi- capped under the present set-up. There is need for a gymnasium. But this is not the primary need. The entire program is over-bal- anced in favor of the few, not for the many. We recommend the es- tablishment of a department known as the Department of Health and Physical Education, which would include not only the present set-up of school doctors and nurses (in- cluding a full-time nurse for the High and Junior High School), but also a complete physical program for girls (we commend the con- templated step to have a girls' Phy- sical Education Director), a more complete Physical Education De- partment for boys. Instruction in- Anatomy and Personal Hygiene, co- ordination between General Science and Health, co-ordination in teach-
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ing, with practice in the Cafeteria system, etc. But this matter is more fully treated elsewhere in this report. We mention it only to point out that the gymnasium is not the most immediate need.
The laboratories for science are at present inadequate, although everything has been done with the funds available to keep them up to date. The ultimate solution will come with the construction of labo- ratory classrooms in a new High School building. This is a problem largely for High School, but an ade- quate three-year Junior High School Program would include Gen- eral Science in the ninth and pos- sibly eighth grade. The present physics and chemistry laboratories would probably be adequate for such courses.
So much for the long range pro- gram dependent upon new building and equipment. There are specific recommendations which we suggest for the immediate future. These recommendations imply no criticism of the school authorities. In many cases steps have been taken al- ready.
The Junior High School System ideally planned a gradual transition from the Elementary grades to the High School by gradual progress from the uniform curriculum to the multiple curriculum. Thus the work of the seventh grade is uniform, the work of the eighth grade ad- mits of some elective subjects in the curriculum and the ninth grade permits even more choice, though always certain fundamental sub- jects are required. We recommend that some choice of subjects be al- lowed in Saugus in the eighth grade or last year of Junior High School, of such subjects as Foreign Lan- guage, Mechanical Drawing, Ele- mentary Commercial Subjects, Gen- eral Science, etc.
We heartily commend the efforts of the Principal and Sub-Master and others to foster work in Voca- tional Guidance by personal inter- views, consultations with parents, etc. We suggest this work be be- gun early in Junior High School with letters to parents explaining courses, and choices to be faced in
High School, and suggesting per- sonal interviews. We suggest as- semblies in which each department and each course is explained by its head and its teachers. We recom- mend more tests to determine ap- titude of pupils-not only Intelli- gence Quotient Tests-but tests to determine if possible the hand- minded pupils, such as the tests given in industry, e.g., at the West Lynn works of the General Elec- tric Co. In connection with this subject, we believe frequent Intelli- gence and Subject Achievement Tests be given and those with low ratings be given as much individu- al attention as possible. Every ef- fort should be made to correct those misplaced in the courses in High School. Home-room teachers in the Junior High School and even in the High School should be responsible as advisers and counsellors of their pupils. It is suggested that the home-room teacher in Senior High School be also the teacher of the first class period and use every available opportunity to make his or her home-room group a personal responsibility. We suggest that a. team of boys and a team of girls be appointed as soon as possible (full time or part-time) to assist the Principal and Sub-Master in Guidance Work. We suggest as- semblies by course groups,. i.e., Social Arts, College, Commercial, Scientific be held and opportunities provided to differentiate the courses and the groups. Efforts should be carried on, as they have been, have pupils continue their education by consultations and conferences be- tween teachers-principal and par- ents and the pupils themselves.
Courses should be constantly checked by plan books prepared and kept up to date, to provide for standardization and co-ordination of courses.
We recommend strongly the em- ployment of one or more additional clerks (in the High School office) to assist the teachers in keeping the records up to date, and to act as co-ordinators. We believe every as- sistance possible should be given to free teachers from clerical work, to free them for their active teaching
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and training. In this connection we believe that as soon as possible, principals in the elementary schools should be freed of teaching duties. Also, where the building program is carried forth-each elementary school of six grades or more should have a supervisor and the Junior High School should have a Princi- pal and office and staff separate from but subordinate to and in close collaboration with that of the High School.
It was one of the fundamental tenets of the Senior High School system that the curriculum should be enriched in the traditional courses; in other words, that it should be more, not less, cultural. Citizenship or social science, art, and music were requisites. It is our recommendation that the present work in music be extended to in- clude music appreciation and be required for at least one day a week. Choral singing in glee clubs and also in assemblies should be fostered. We also believe that the art work should be extended to in- clude art appreciation and required beginning in Junior High School. More than the present day a week should be available to the High School.
Citizenship instruction should go hand in hand with education. There should be further provisions in cit- izenship training than mere flag salutes and a course in Civics offers. We suggest the advisability of a part-time course in citizenship- complete study of this later in re- port-which could be combined with the History Course.
We also recommend strongly the use of supervised group study un- der the direction of the University Extension Division of the Massa- chusetts Department of Education. The courses offered cover a wide range of subjects including such cultural subjects as German and other languages, Mathematics. English History, Harmony, Sketch- ing and Painting, Poetry and Verse, and such practical vocational sub- jects as Home Decoration, Carpen- try, Heating and Lighting of Build- ings, Plumbing, Concrete and its uses, and Navigation. There are 258 courses offered, the cost per
course ranging from $3.00 to $5.00 (of eight assignments). A subject would be given at about $12.00 per pupil. The use of these courses will not only vary and enrich the curriculum, but it will offer oppor- tunities for the gifted student and for the student who is irregular and a problem, and it will also provide work for post-graduates.
In this connection we recommend that adult education opportunities be offered as soon as possible. Some of the present teachers are already trained in this work. The above supervised group studies could be used here very well.
The work of standardization of courses, especially in the Elemen- tary Grades has been well carried forward under the direction of the Superintendent. There should be a frequent check-up to all that the work of courses corresponds in the various departments and grades and in the other schools of the states.
We recommend the continuance of the project method of teaching already well done in some of the schools, notably the Ballard. We recommend that more outdoor work be permitted in the lower grades, that movable furniture be substi- tuted in the equipment of the first three grades, that the use of such advanced methods as field trips, visual education in the form of slides and moving pictures (in which field a start has been made) be continued and increased.
The matter of Libraries and the Public Schools we recommend to be considered by the School Committee and Board of Library Trustee jointly. We feel that the use of space in the school buildings in various parts of the Town, notably the Mansfield School, space which could be well used for school pur- poses in the present limited facili- ties, should be reconsidered and perhaps radically changed.
We commend the establishment of school libraries and recommend their furtherance. We recommend in Elementary Schools that they be placed in individual rooms and not in the corridors and that each teacher act as librarian.
We recommend that playground
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1938]
equipment and other recreational facilities be developed at each school except those which this Com- mittee feels should later be aban- doned. We recommend this and the recommendation in the previous paragraph to the help and interest of civic-minded men and women and to the Parent-Teachers Association.
Extra-curricula activities are as- · suming a place of increased value. We commend the establishment of the Girls' Club at the High School and recommend the parallel estab- lishment of a Boys' Club. We com- mend the use of extra-curricula ac- tivities as integral parts of the edu- cational program.
We believe that curriculum changes will be increasing frequent in the years immediately ahead. We recommend constant comparison with the developments in other cities and towns. We recommend frequent surveys by the State De- partment of Education for this and other matters.
Training for Citizenship
The Investigating Committee be- lieves the High School should con- duct a real course for the training of young people for their duties as citizens in our community.
The cost of local government, the quality of services it renders its in- habitants, and the physical develop- ment of the Town affects every resident. Ones' liberties and happi- ness are unnecessary limited when we have poor government. The amount of a person's annual in- come that must be deducted to fi- nance our local government is going to greatly increase unless we can train a more intelligent and interested citizenship.
We recommend that a thorough course in town government be pro- vided in the High School and every member of the Senior Class be re- quired to take the course.
In this course, there should be a detailed study of the functions of each department and the Town boards be invited to send represen- tatives to meet with the class to explain the purpose of their depart- ment and answer questions.
Also the Town Treasurer, Tax Collector, and Finance Committee
should be asked to aid in educating pupils in the matter of appropriat- ing, collecting, and expending of public money. The Planning Board should assist the pupils to under- stand about the use of land and the setting up of a program of im- provements necessary for a useful and economical development of the community.
The members of the class should act as representatives for the pre- cinct in which they live, required to make a study of the improvements needed in their district, taught to draw up articles, prepare a war- rant, and have experience in con- ducting a Town Meeting.
There are enough Town Meeting members and Town Officials con- nected with our school system to wisely prepare and properly super- vise such a course.
The Acts and the cost of govern- ment is so close to the lives of peo- ple today that unless we train our youth how to defend their civil rights and insist upon an efficient local government, we fail to achieve one of the most essential education- al objectives.
A democratic form of govern- ment as we know it in the New England Town Meeting is at an end if we do not train our young peo- · ple in the way to profitably carry it on and provide our people with qualified unselfish leaders.
It is our belief that there is not an official connected with our Town government who would not freely give of his time and talent and who would consider it an honor to take part in the operation of such a High School course in Citizenship.
We recommend that the curricu- lum of the future be not too rigid but set forward the ideals in Chap- ter 11, Section 30 of the Laws of the Commonwealth relating to edu- cation that "all instructors of youth shall exert their best endeavors to impress on the minds of children and youth committed to their care and instruction the principles of piety, and justice and a sacred re- gard for truth, love of their coun- try, humanity and universal be- nevolence, sobriety, industry and
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frugality, chastity, moderation and temperance, and those other virtues which are the ornament of human society and the basis upon which a republican constitution is found- ed."
Physical Education
The so-called physical education program, as now carried on, in our schools is expensive and ineffectu- al. Too much emphasis is placed on High School athletics and too little on the physical training of the pupils who most need attention.
We recommend that the School Committee request the State De- partment of Education to permit its Supervisor of Physical Educa- tion, or obtain the services of some other competent person, to make a survey of the physical work now being done in the Saugus schools and a new health program be de- veloped that will give major atten- tion to the less physical fit pupils.
It is our belief we have no one connected with our schools who has had sufficient professional training to qualify him to formulate and supervise such a program and the School Committee should employ one who has had at least four years preparation of that type of work and who has a degree of Bachelor of Physical Education, or its equivalent, to take charge of the school health program.
It is also our belief that the srevices of the School Physicians, School Nurse, Dentist, Manager of the Cafeteria, Physical Directors : and Coaches should be correlated so that those, together with the regu- lar teaching staff, could co-operate in the operation of a comprehensive health program that will have to do with the mental, emotional and social stability as well as the phy- sical fitness of the pupils.
The health program should in- - clude medical inspection of the pupils with a follow up of the de- - fects by the school nurse, the teach- ing of health habits by the regular teaching staff, the prescription of exercise and the supervision of play activities by the physical directors and the teaching of first aid by the members of the staff best qualified " to provide that instruction.
An effective health program must begin with the elementary grades if we are to have only physically fit boys and girls enter the High School where the more vigorous group games are played. And the program should give equal atten- tion to boys and girls.
For a better start of such a pro- gram in the Elementary grades we recommend that the fixed furniture in the rooms of the first and second grades be removed and replaced with movable furniture. This will permit the use of the floor for rhythmic games and folk dancing, a form of exercise particularly well adapted to young children.
In the High School, while inter- · scholastic games will continue, ef- forts should be largely directed to the increase of interclass and intra- mural sports in which all the pupils participate. So-called varsity games should be incidental to our program instead of the whole program as practically it is today.
Public Relationship
We strongly recommend the ne- cessity of more active organized participation and co-operation be- tween parent, teacher and the school system.
Parents should be informed through the medium of circulars of the courses available for study and their co-operation sought in the se- lection of studies most suited to the individual boy or girl.
The Focus (the official school paper) has an excellent opportun- ity to present the needs and prob- lems of our schools to the public and to inform parents of the aims and ideals of the schools, and through this means "The public may strive to bring about the high- er level of education to suit every individual and thereby help the boy or girl to find out what he is most suited for and give him the start in life which is his due." The result will be better citizenship and there- fore a better community. This paper also has the means to counteract unfair publicity from other sources and give to the cit- izens the true state of affairs.
Education depends on public sup-
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1938]
port, the amount of support de- pends on the degree to which the public understands and appreciates its educational institutions.
The realization of public respon- sibilities to provide suitable hous- ing, up to date equipment, suitable courses for all and efficient teach- ers. What the parents expect of the schools depends largely on the parents' contributions and interest towards the schools. Any influence which brings the home and the school into closer co-operation is to be commended. One of the most effective agencies for this purpose is the Parent-Teacher Associations. We urge every father and mother and any others interested to affili- ate with this organization.
We, therefore, recommend Par- ent-Teacher Associations be organ- ized in the Mansfield. Cliftondale and the Lynnhurst Schools.
Adult Education
This Committee commends the efforts of the school authorities in making a beginning in this import- ant field of education. We cannot over-emphasize the need of such action which has already been noted and encouraged by the Federal Government.
Citizens are becoming more in- terested in the social issues which effect their daily lives. These cit- izens can be brought into an educa- tional process, if our educational system is so organized as to per- mit them to go into school houses and other convenient meeting places and there, with the help of capable leaders, carry forward a free and many sided discussion of public af- fairs. The forum method, properly managed, is basically educational, and fundamentally democratic.
Our State Board of Education has the State University Extension courses designed if enough persons avail themselves of the opportunity to further their education in such subjects as Elementary subjects, English Composition, Literature, Short Story Writing, History, Eco- nomics and Foreign Languages. Also Business and Industrial Courses, such as Bookkeeping, Ac- ·counting, Engineering, Air-condi-
tioning, etc.
We strongly recommend the cit- izens of our Town to take advant- age of these opportunities.
In conclusion, we recommend a Committee be appointed every five years to investigate and report on the school system.
Respectfully submitted:
HAROLD T. HANDLEY HAROLD E. PARKER WILLIAM S. BRAID MARION E. DROWN HARRY W. MERRILL.
The Committee for Excavation asked for further time and for per- mission to wait until Article 53 was brought up. Voted 10.08 P. M.
The Committee on Digging Wells reported progress. 10.09 P. M.
A motion was made to adjourn at 10.45 P. M. to convene again on Monday evening, March 21, 1938, at 7.45 P. M.
Voted: That debate on any one subject by any person be limited to not more than five (5) minutes without consent of this . meeting. 10.12 P. M.
Article 43.
Voted to take up Article 43 out of order.
Article 43 is pending before the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 10.45 P. M.
A true copy. Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk.
March 7, 1938.
Mrs. Viola G. Wilson, Town Clerk,
Saugus, Mass.
Dear Mrs. Wilson:
I hereby resign as Town Ac- countant for the Town of Saugus, to take effect at the convenience of the Board of Selectmen, but not later than April 1, 1938.
Respectfully yours,
EDWARD GIBBS, JR. A true copy. 0
Attest: VIOLA G. WILSON, Town Clerk.
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ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 21, 1938
The meeting was called to order at 7.49 P. M. by the Moderator, Herbert P. Mason.
A count of the members was taken. 114 were found to be pres- ent.
The salute to the flag was given.
The reading of the records of the previous meeting was waived.
Article 43 is pending before the meeting.
1
Article 43. Voted: That the Town lay out and construct as a W. P. A. project a system of main drains and com- mon sewers for a part of its terri- tory; that the Town purchase or take any land, easements, or rights therein necessary for laying out and constructing the aforesaid sys- tem of main drains and common sewers, all as provided by Chapter 350 of the Acts of 1929 as amend- ed by Chapter 259 of the Acts of 1933; and that the sum of $141,000 be raised and appropriated to be spent by the Sewer Committee for the said purposes, of which sum $136,000 be raised by a bond issue, and the sum of $5,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated from the tax levy of the current year, also for the aforesaid purposes, provided that the Federal Works Progress Administration contrib- utes not less than $200,000.00.
Voted: That for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under Chapter 350 of the Acts of 1929 as amended by Chapter 259 of the Acts of 1933 for the construction of a system of main drains and common sewers for a part of the territory of the Town, for the purchase of or taking of any land, easements or rights therein necessary for laying out and constructing the aforesaid sys- tem of main drains and common sewers, the Town Treasurer is au- thorized to issue and sell from time to time, pursuant to the said act, bonds or notes of the Town to an amount not exceeding in the aggre- gate $136,000. Such bonds or notes
shall bear on their face the words "Saugus Sewerage Loan, Act of 1929" and shall be payable in an- nual installments over a period of 25 years from their respective dates.
Yeas 154. Nays 1. 9.03 P. M.
Art. 2.
Item 18. Voted: That the sum of $4,000 be and the same is here- by appropriated for the Engineer- ing Department. 9.11 P. M.
Voted: That the following sums be appropriated for the depart- ments named:
Item 2. Finance Committee, $428.00.
Item 3. Planning Board, $800.00.
Item 4. Selectmen's Department,. including $1,200 as salaries of the Board, $2500.00.
Item 5. Accountant's Depart- ment, $4000.00.
Item 6. Treasurer's Department, including $750.00 as salary of the Treasurer, $5500.00.
Item . 7. Tax Collector's Depart- ment, including $1,200.00 as salary of the Collector, $7600.00.
Item 8. Tax Title Expense, $2500.00.
Item 9. Assessors' Department, including $1600.00 as salaries of the Assessors, $9725.00.
Item 10. Registration of Town Notes, $75.00.
Item 11. Law Department, $1600.00.
Item 12. Town Clerk's Depart- ment, including $500.00 as salary of the Town Clerk, $972.00.
Item 13. Election and Registra- tion, $4900.00.
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