USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1943 > Part 12
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May I reiterate, however, that , all proposed changes in public school education should be care- fully scrutinized, appraised, and evaluated. Radical changes should not be accepted simply because some college professor seeks a little personal publicity. And the test should always be the basic educational soundness of the pro- posed changes.
It has long been an indoor sport of some industrial and political leaders in this country to point out the alleged shortcomings of public education in America. Could it be that such attacks upon education offer such leaders an opportunity to cover up their own shortcom- ings ?
We in education know that our school systems are not perfect. We also know that, more than any other single factor, education has been the agency by which this coun- try of ours has attained true great- ness.
General Eisenhower, General Marshall, General Arnold, Henry Keyser, Cordell Hull, and other Americans, whose names are im- mortal, were born with latent na- tive ability only. Their develop- ment and their present knowledge is directly and fundamentally the product of the American system of education. This fact is indisputable!
No School Sessions
The genuine headache of any Superintendent of Schools is the problem of when and when not to suspend school sessions because of the weather. Any Superintendent would willingly turn this phase of his position over to anyone who desires it.
The primary consideration should always be the health and safety of the school children. All other con-
siderations should be secondary. If a Superintendent errs it should always be on the side of liberality.
In making the decision many things must be considered. Gen- erally they are rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, temperature, visibility, depth of accumulated precipitation, condition of main highways and side streets, transportation, gen- eral health of school children at the moment, season of the year, and others. All are factors and all must be taken into consideration.
Now please remember that a Superintendent of Schools must make a decision at a certain time. He has a radio station to contact, police and fire departments to no- tify, a bus company to notify, and scores of telephone calls to answer. He is not a miracle man and he has no way of knowing what the weather will be four hours later. He has to make his decision at a specific time dead line and he only has one guess.
Those who criticize, and there are some, have two guesses but no responsibility for making the de- cision.
As far as I am concerned I shall always use my best judgment after viewing weather conditions as they are at the time that the decision has to be made. Weather bureau reports, many times wrong, are al- ways consulted before a decision is made.
But please remember that there may be a raging blizzard of snow at 6:30 A.M., when the decision has to be made. At 9 A.M., the sun may be shining and the wea- ther serene and calm. But the decision had to be made at 6:30 A.M .- not 9 A.M. This is still New England with true New Eng- land weather.
If anyone cares to see this phase of the work of a Superintendent of Schools he is welcome to come to 94 Chestnut Street about 5 A.M., on any stormy morning. If he re- mains until 8 A.M., he will learn enough so that he will never again have anything but sympathy for the man who pulls, or doesn't pull, the no-school signals.
15
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1943]
On High Standard
Scholastically our schools in Sau- gus remain on a high standard.
Saugus High School is rated a Class "A" High School by the State Department of Education.
We continue to enjoy the privi- lege of certifying graduates of Sau- gus High School to some fourteen leading colleges which are members of the New England College En- trance Certificate Board.
The best proof of the type of educational preparation given in our school system is found in the records of our high school grad- uates. Uniformly their records are above average. This is a source of satisfaction to our teachers and our school officials.
This year we have had several students in our High School who have moved outside of Saugus. They have chosen to remain in Saugus High School, however, rather than attend the high school in the city or town where they are now residing. For this privilege they are obliged to pay tuition. This they gladly do. There must be a reason.
A Challenge to Teachers
Today offers the greatest challenge ever presented the Amer- ican teacher.
War affects the thinking, the ac- tions, and the very lives of our boys and our girls. In youth today there is a restlessness, apparent to all who want to see. It is a natural reaction to a world of upheaval and chaos. Never before has youth so needed guidance, direction, and purposeful sympathy.
And so today the teacher has a duty which transcends the mere dispensing of academic knowledge. It must be she who teaches the simple imperishable values.
It must be she who holds to faith in God and the principles of true democracy. Character, tolerance, faith, and vision, must be important subject matter in today's curricu- lum. This is the challenge to the
American teacher! To steady youth, to guide youth, yes, to understand youth. To so do her duty that, after the carnage is over, the American boy and girl will be fun- damentally sound and capable of clear thinking. To so guide and direct that out of a world of twisted values will come a young America with a sense of proportion and bas- ic soundness.
This teachers is your challenge! If you meet it you are truly a teacher in the broadest sense. If you fail to meet it, you fall short of the highest ideals of your chosen profession.
It is not too exaggerated to say that the citizens of tomorrow wili reflect the teaching of today.
May you in the teaching pro- fession hold fast to its best and noblest tradition.
Conclusion
In conclusion I desire to express my thanks and appreciation to the members of the School Committee for their splendid cooperation dur- ing the year 1943.
I also desire to express my ap- preciation to all principals, teach- ers, and other employees of the School Department for their co- operation. Town officials and in- dividual citizens have often aided and assisted. For this I am indeed grateful.
Respectfully submitted,
VERNON W. EVANS, Superintendent of Schools
December 31, 1943
Mr. Vernon W. Evans Superintendent of Schools Saugus, Massachusetts
My dear Mr. Evans:
I herewith submit my ninth re- port as principal of the Saugus High School.
School opened on September 8, 1943, with the smallest enrollment
16
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
in the Senior High School during the past ten years. The falling off in the enrollment came in the jun- ior and senior years. Several boys in the senior class left to enter the service. Other boys and a good many girls left to go to work.
Faculty Changes
During the calendar year 1943 Mr. Stephen Lovett, acting head of the Guidance Department and Mr. Donald Hammond left to enter the service. Mr. Earl Chadsey, who became head of the Science Depart- ment after Mr. John Gifford left us in the summer of 1942, resigned to take a position with a firm doing war work. Miss Ruth Motherwell, one of our Social Studies teachers for a good many years, resigned. She felt it necessary to give up teaching to stay at home with her parents who are in poor health. Mr. Henry Toczylowski, football coach for two years, resigned to take a similar position in Beverly. Just recently Mr. Robert Andrews, teacher of physics and aeronautics, resigned to enter business. He will be leaving us February 1st. Miss Miriam Cameron, school secretary, left in March, 1943, to enter the Women's Army Corps. Miss Mar- jorie Johnson, music supervisor, re- signed in June to be married.
Mr. John Taylor of the Commer- cial Department was given the po- sition of acting head of the Guid- ance Department. Mrs. Victoria Foley, one of our former teachers, was elected to take over Mr. Tay- lor's classes. Mr. Gordon George, a teacher of several years' exper- ience, was elected as teacher of chemistry. The vacancy caused by Miss Motherwell's resignation was not filled. Her classes were given to Miss Solomita and her English classes divided among five of our other teachers. Mr. David Lucey was elected during the summer to be acting head football coach. Mr. Lucey graduated from Boston Col- lege in June, 1940. As in the case with Miss Solomita's classes we shall have to divide Mr. Andrews' classes among the other teachers in the Science Department. Mr. Wal- ter Germaine was elected to take Mr. Hammond's place. We con-
sider ourselves very fortunate in being able to have Mrs. Mary March return to her old position as secretary to the principal. Miss Elizabeth Franson, a graduate of Boston University, was elected to take Miss Johnson's place.
We have had several changes in the Central Junior High School, too, during the past year. Early in the year Miss M. Eckless Nay resigned to take a position in war work. Miss Nay had been a teacher in the Saugus Schools for a period of 20 years. Miss Ruth Conrad who came to us in the fall of 1942 left early in the year to take a position in her home town. Mr. Upham Mansur resigned his posi- tion in June to take a similar one in the Junior High School in Win- throp.
Mrs. Marjorie Walkey took over Miss Nay's classes until the close of school in June. Mrs. Ethel Dom- inie took over Miss Conrad's classes until the end of the school year. Miss Gladys Hyland was elected to teach literature in Grade 7. Miss Katherine O'Brien was elected to teach English in Grade 8. Miss Hyland and Miss O'Brien graduated from Salem Teachers College in June. Mrs. Mary Anderson, a teacher of three years' experience, was engaged to teach literature in Grade 8.
Changes in the Program of Studies
During the past year we have made several adjustments in the senior high school courses to meet war conditions. The English De- partment is stressing the follow- ing: vocabulary exercises (includ- ing the teaching of prefixes and suffixes, etc., and the uses of the dictionary), punctuation, spelling, pronunciation, exercises designed to promote clear thinking, gram- mar and correct usage, précis writ- ing (as an aid to promote accurate reading), paragraphing, oral and written expository composition, (giving directions and explanations and making reports), and composi- tion planned to stimulate a know- ledge of and interest in national and international affairs. On the other hand, the literature offering
17
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1943]
in some of the courses has been slightly curtailed.
In the Mathematics Department we have accelerated the fourth year courses due to war conditions. With graduation coming in May and with many boys leaving from January 1st on to enter service we have found it very necessary to do this. We are requiring all senior boys who are taking an advanced course in mathematics to take Basic Math- ematics. This furnishes an excel- lent review and refresher course in elementary mathematics so much needed for boys entering the ser- vice. It gives boys a good ground work in fundamental arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and trigonom- etry. We have also introduced a course in Practical Geometry. Many of the materials in this course are based on conditions as they are found in the working world. There are few formal demonstrations. We are also teaching Algebra and Geometry together in the second and third years. During the second year the pupils in Algebra will cover through quadratic equations and the following year will com- plete intermediate Algebra. In Geometry the pupils will cover the first two books of the traditional five books of Euclid, leaving the three shorter ones for the follow- ing year.
During a war emphasis should be placed on the value of the study of modern language. The language courses have not been curtailed to any extent. The only exception is in the case of boys in the Scientific course who have been required to take a course in Physical Fitness. They have had to omit French III. Spanish I and II have been restored to the Program of Studies. We placed Spanish again in the cur- riculum because in the continent to the south of us, great peace time possibilities are open to those who know both the Spanish and French languages. To understand a nation one must know its lan- guage, literature and institutions.
Our Science Department has been hard hit by war conditions. This has been true in the majority of high schools throughout the coun- try. At the present time we are
working on several changes that have been forced upon us by the loss of Mr. Andrews. During the past year we have introduced basic courses in machines and electricity. Boys who are not taking college physics and college chemistry are required to take Machines in their junior year and Electricity in their senior year. At the present time we do not have a department head.
We have made some changes in our Social Studies Department. Since September we have been of- fering two new courses. A course in World History may be elected now by pupils in the three upper classes. A course in Problems of Democracy, a very much worth while one particularly during these times, is open to election by mem- bers of the senior class. Many of the classes in this department are running much larger than they have during the past few years due to fewer teachers.
In the Commercial Department we have been trying to step up the efficiency so as to render the maximum service to war time needs. Three new subjects have been introduced for the benefit of the General Course. In the first place a course in General Business Practice designed to equip pupils with practical knowledge and skills needed in order to perform many of the daily clerical activities of the average office was organized this fall. In the second place a course in General Typewriting-a one year intensive subject intro- duced especially for senior boys who will be entering the service and for girls in the college course is proving worth while. In the third place a course in Salesman- ship - one taking up the funda- mental principles that govern all types of selling has been put on the elective list. It stresses the importance of developing the right sort of personal traits, it provides definite training in the various aspects of selling and also taking into account the point of view of the consumer of goods and ser- vices.
For the second year Guidance is on a full time basis in the Senior
18
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
High School. Freshmen and Se- niors are required to take one period of Guidance a week. With the aid of the Saugus Lions Club this department sponsored our third annual Vocations Institute the first of December. This was by far the best institute that we have held. The attendance ran over the 600 mark. During the summer this department was moved from the second to the first floor to a room situated across from the main office. A large bulletin board, shelves for books and magazines, and an up to date file for our permanent record cards have been added.
The first of February classes in Physical Fitness were started for boys in the three upper classes. Since we have no gymnasium the assembly hall has been used for these classes. Mr. Toczylowski and Mr. Bly took over this pro- gram. When Mr. Toczylowski left Mr. Lucey took over his classes. This program has been a great disappointment to us and will be discontinued at the end of January because of lack of proper facilities to meet the required standards. We realized from the first that we could not give the type of work that other schools are giving where they have a gymnasium. In this connection let me say that Saugus High School is the only school of its size in the state that does not have one.
A Problem that Needs Attention
We have had more failures dur- ing this past term than for a long time. These failures are due to
several reasons, the more impor- tant ones being: pupils in many cases working from four to eight hours in after school time; the attitude on the part of some boys "what's the use - we'll soon be drafted"; the general unrest among pupils as a whole; and pupils staying out of school with- out good reason. Parents certainly can help solve this problem.
Awards
At the graduation exercises in May the following scholarships and loans were awarded to seniors with high scholastic standing:
(1) The Riverside Club, $100 loan-Catherine DeFronzo.
(2) The Women's Civic League, $100 loan-Helen Hume.
(3) The Saugus Teachers' As- sociation, $100 scholarship-Cath- erine DeFronzo.
The Harvard Club of Lynn book award made annually to the most outstanding junior boy was pre- sented to Malcolm Ward.
The Washington and Franklin United States History Medal was presented to Natalie Warren.
The Renssalaer Medal for excel- lence in Science and Mathematics was presented to Malcolm Ward.
In conclusion I wish to thank you, Mr. Evans, and the members of the School Committee for your helpful advice and encouragement.
JOHN A. W. PEARCE, Principal
-
1943]
SAUGUS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Analysis of Cash Receipts and Expenditures January 1, 1943 - December 31, 1943
Cash Balance January 1, 1943 Receipts:
$ 2,681.68
Football:
Gate Receipts
$ 6,107.69
Guarantees :
Beverly
$ 544.29
Melrose
300.00
Swampscott
269.33
Woburn
None
$ 1,113.62
Total Receipts Football
$ 7,221.31
Basket Ball
271.30
Total Receipts
7,492.61
Total Receipts Including Balance January 1, 1943
$10,174.29
Expenditures:
Guarantees:
Chelsea
$ .336.08
Amesbury
100.00
Newburyport
184.56
Classical
470.40
Marblehead
321.40
Wakefield
255.32
Total. Guarantees
$ 1,667.76
Other Expenses :
Athletic Awards
$ 189.28
Basketball
152.70
Dues and Registration
29.00
Equipment
355.55
Federal Tax
643.59
Insurance and Bond
30.98
Medical
641.73
Miscellaneous Expense
107.03
Officials (
330.00
Police
312.00
Postage, Printing
107.85
Reconditioning and Laundry
677.97
Salary Expense
730.00
Stadium
423.45
Supplies
1,403.12
Telephone
88.51
Ticket Takers and Sellers
177.00
Transportation
255.81
$ 6,655.57
Total Expenditures
$ 8,323.33
$ 1,850.96
Cash Balance December 31, 1943
No unpaid bills December 31, 1943 Bills for Basket Ball and Sweaters awarded not received in 1943.
19
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
20
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
SAUGUS HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH Analysis of Cash Receipts, Income and Expenditures January 1, 1943 - December 31, 1943
Cash Balance January 1, 1943
$ 752.65
Receipts and Income:
$ 7,120.09
Cash Sales Discount on Purchases
34.32
Total for Year 1943
7,154.41
Total Including Balance January 1, 1943
$ 7,907.06 .
Expenditures :
Food
$ 3,648.27
Candy
236.32
Ice Cream
596.30
Tonic
667.21
Wages
1,173.40
Laundry
75.78
Supplies
84.59
Miscellaneous Expense Ice
21.40
Total Expenditures
$ 6,540.85
Balance for December 31, 1943
$ 1,366.21
Accounts Payable : $349.95
37.58
INDEX
Reports of Departments and Committees
Accountant's Report 60
Annual Town Meeting
17
Appointive Town Officers
10
Assessors
98
Audit of Accounts
55
Board of Fire Engineers
107
Board of Health
114
Board of Public Welfare
115
Cemetery Commissioners
105
Chief of Police
108
Collector
50
Contributory Retirement
95
Elective Town Officers
3
Examination of Accounts
of Contributory Retirement
System
91
Finance Committee Report
27
Forest Fire Warden
108
Jury List
14
Library Trustees
112
Planning Board
111
Public Works
102
School Report follows Page
117
Sealer of Weights and
Measures
101
Selectmen
106
Soldiers' Relief Department
...
110
Special Town Meeting
43
Superintendent of Buildings
110
Town Clerk
49
Town Engineer
104
Town Meeting Members
5
Town Election
21
W. P. A. Sponsor's Agent
112
Financial Departments
Receipts :
General Revenue:
Taxes
62
Cmmercial Revenue :
Agency and Trust
67
Charities and Soldiers'
Benefits
65
Enterprise and
Cemeteries
66
General Government
64
Health and Sanitation
65
Highway Department
65
Indebtedness
67
Interest
66
Protection of Persons
and Property
64
Refunds
67
Transfers
68
Recreation and Unclassi-
fied
66
Schools and Libraries
66
Disbursements :
Agency and Trust
84
Charities and Soldiers'
Benefits
77
Education and Libraries
79
Enterprise and Ceme-
teries
83
General Government
68
Health and Sanitation
74
Highways
76
Interest and Maturing
Debt
84
Protection of Persons
and Property
72
Recapitulation
86
Recreation and Unclassi-
fied
81
Refunds
85
Transfers
86
Outstanding Bonds
87
W. P. A. Expenditures
87
-
1
YARNUJ QUIBUA BUDUA
1 DORTO AM zuDUE
Vault
SAUGUS PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1729 00051 4999
SAUGUS PUBLIC LIBRARY 295 Central St. Saugus, MA 01906
For Reference
Not to be taken
from this library
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