USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1951 > Part 7
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Because of the early thought given to planning by Mrs. Cooper, our guidance work has gone into gear with very satisfactory smooth- ness. Of necessity the bulk of this work has been with High School pupils where the greatest need existed, but it is being spread into the Junior High School as rapidly as is consistent with efficiency.
In addition to the specific problems that have to be met in specific High School grade levels there is a mass of work that in- volved the High School population in general. Let me quote some items from our director's report for the first six weeks of operation :
1. Interviews, within the first two weeks of the year, with all Non-promotion pupils.
2. Interviews with the parents of such pupils. Discussed cases of failure. Tried in conference to plan a procedure which would result in more successful school adjustment.
3. Teacher-student conferences in regard to students making slow start in a given subject.
4. Furnished cumulative record background information to new members of the faculty.
5. Arranged conferences and testing at Child Guidance Clinic for several mal-adjusted students.
6. Arranged for Vocational Aptitude Testing for handicapped students at the Massachusetts Employment Service.
7. For Freshmen and Sophomores, planned weekly guidance class meetings to discuss: Making the most of High School;
76
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
How to study; Why study ?; Courtesy; Cooperation; etc.
8. Total conferences: with students, 137 - with parents, 27 - for intelligence and educational testing, 17 - job place- ments accomplished, 10.
Even at the elementary level considerable work has been done, for the records show tests and counseling in the cases of forty pupils below the junior high school grades.
In the spring we organized our first work in Automobile Driver Education in coordination with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. A dual control car has been furnished us for the token payment of one dollar through the courtesy of the Swampscott Standard Garage, and a course of instruction requiring approximately six weeks of classroom work and actual road experience for each pupil enrolled has been carried on by Mr. Eickelberger of our own teaching staff, certified as qualified by the state authorities. On the day the course opened Registrar King was present and addressed the student body on the subject. Our costs are at a minimum, involving only insurance, garaging and operating expense, plus the instructor's salary, which is little enough for the value received.
There are at least two matters that should be anticipated for the future. One is the possibility that a special class for retarded pupils may have to be established. For several years there has not been in our enrollment the number of pupils three years mentally retarded that makes such a class compulsory, nor is there at the present time. Nevertheless, I note that the number of names to be referred to the State examiners is increasing recently, which indi- cates a condition to be watched.
The other matter, which should, I think, be carried out in 1952, is an expansion of the Household Economics facilities at the High School. The demand for this type of instruction has increased to the point that, for effective work, at least one more kitchen unit is needed in the cooking room. This room was equipped at a minimum originally, and for some years served the purpose very well. Now that the ninth grade is in the building, however, equipment is insufficient, and I recommend that plans be made to meet the deficiency.
There are several matters of maintenance for which provision should be made during the coming year. Of these, perhaps the most essential is work upon the parapet at the Hadley elementary building, where there is evidence of water seepage from gradual erosion in artificial stone and brickwork joints. This may be a substantial project, since it is of a nature where all that is wrong may not appear on the surface. It may even require rebuilding of portions of the parapet.
Work of the same nature was necessary on the Junior High School during last summer, and still more remains to be done, par- ticularly in connection with the artificial stone belts and cornices. This material, probably because of age, is apparently extremely porous, very susceptible to water penetration, and consequently sub- ject to disintegration due to freezing and thawing. You will have observed several areas where there are fractures due to this process. Over a period of years some sections have been rebuilt and some patched, but patching proves to be but a temporary expedient that
77
SCHOOL REPORT
1951]
shortly is neither secure nor waterproof. My recommendation would be complete rebuilding of broken or questionable areas and the application of a high grade waterproofing over all areas.
I would further call to your attention the desirability of re- modelling the toilets at the Machon and Hadley Schools. After so many years of use there is difficulty in keeping these rooms and their antiquated facilities odorless in spite of constant care and attention. To do this remodeling work at both buildings in a way to meet modern sanitary requirements for school buildings looks like a project that will approach twenty-five thousand dollars in cost.
Because of the need for additional teachers beyond those for whom we had made allowance, our 1951 budget had to be revised and money within it reallocated. This resulted in the elimination of most of the redecorating of classrooms that would normally have been done. The slack in this program should be taken up this year by doing more than the normal yearly amount.
Major maintenance projects completed in 1951 include :
Redecorating Junior High School auditorium.
Painting exterior of Senior High School.
Rebuilding section of Junior High School parapet.
Rebuilding several window ledges and wall areas on southeast exposure of High School.
Rebuilding several ventilator hoods on High School roof.
Installation of oil burning equipment at Machon School.
Paving the surface of the parking area at the High School. These teachers left our employ during the year :
Miss Margaret Forbes, to be married.
Mrs. Alice Kiley, withdrew from teaching.
Mrs. Geraldine Eichenberger, withdrew from teaching.
Mr. Angelo Annacone, to accept another position.
Miss Katherine Carroll, leave of absence to study.
Miss Evelyn Lovejoy, leave of absence, illness.
Miss Eleanor Birch, leave of absence, foreign service.
Mrs. Ann Standley, withdrew from teaching.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hahn, to accept another position.
New appointments have been :
Miss Esther Heikel, principalship.
Miss Marjorie Martin, building assistant.
Miss Rosalie Muchnikoff, primary grades.
Miss Doreen Waters, kindergarten.
Miss Shirley Feingold, primary grades.
Miss Margaret Johnston, kindergarten.
Miss Elizabeth Mahoney, building assistant.
Mrs. Helen Nelson, elementary grades.
Mr. Leon Marden, High School mathematics.
Mr. Chester Robinson, High School speech.
Mrs. Gertrude Hammond, Jr., High School social studies. Miss Olive Geddis, Kindergarten. Mr. Richard Stevenson, High School social studies.
Miss Barbara Poole, primary grades.
Mr. Joseph Roy, High School science.
Mr. Harry Lehmann, Physical Education.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[ Dec. 31
As I have progressed through this report, the thought has been borne in upon me that it is the last I shall be called upon to write, since I propose to retire from school work on April 30, 1952. At that time I shall have completed exactly twenty-one years as superinten- dent of schools of Swampscott. May I say to you, and to the people of Swampscott through you, that I have never regretted my decision to come here. Swampscott has become my home. Its people have be- come my friends. I can think of no community where my relation- ships with the community-at-large, with the many school committee members under whom I have served, or with my co-workers, could have been more cordial. I can wish no greater happiness for my suc- cessor than that his experience shall be as mine has been.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK L. MANSUR, Superintendent of Schools. Dec. 31, 1951.
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott
Ladies and Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report. Attendance
The percentage of attendance for the school year 1950-51 was 93.06. For the preceding year it was 92.97.
There were 985 tardinesses, an increase of 190.
Enrollment
The present enrollment of the school is 466, distributed by classes and by curricula as follows :
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
71
60
131
Sophomores
61
59
120
Juniors
52
57
109
Seniors
40
65
105
Post Graduates
1
0
1
225
241
466
Class
Coll. Prep. Commercial Mech. Arts Dom. Arts
Total
Freshmen
85
28
18
0
131
Sophomores
74
21
23
2
120
Juniors
72
19
17
1
109
Seniors
70
30
3
2
105
Post Graduates
1
0
0
0
1
302
98
61
5
466
During the past school year, a busy one it seems to me for all concerned, some changes, including expansion of present activi- ties as well as additional services, are to be noted in our school.
We are pleased and fortunate to have Mrs. Mary Cooper as our
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SCHOOL REPORT
1951]
first Guidance Counsellor. She brings to this position, unusual com- petence and sympathetic understanding of young people.
I quote in part from a talk given recently by Mrs. Cooper to a high school Parent-Teachers' Meeting:
"The purpose of all guidance work is to help the child develop and accept an integrated and adequate picture of himself and his role in the world, of work."
Nearly half of her time is spent in work outside of the high school. I wish that we might have her on a full time basis in this school.
Last spring a program of Driver Education was introduced in the school. Seventeen seniors completed the class room and behind- the-wheel training. During the past fall the program has been handled by two instructors - Mr. Martin is the class room instructor, Mr. Eichelberger has charge of the driving instruction.
In addition to pupils now in training, there is a back log of thirty juniors and seniors who plan to take the course next spring. Sixty members of the present sophomore class plan to take the course next year. We were pleased to receive recently, a commendation from the Registry of Motor Vehicles on the success of this program.
Our instrumental music program has grown steadily and is a significant part of our curriculum. Mr. Hammond reports as follows:
"The popularity of instrumental music as presented in the Swampscott schools is indicated by the fact that more than 200 students from the fourth through the twelfth grades are playing instruments. The percentage of students taking part in this program is exceptionally high to the ex- tent that in this respect the Swampscott school system ranks among the leaders.
Each of the town's schools now has its own band with rehearsals conducted during school time.
The 70 members of the high school band play and march at the football games, present concerts and special programs, perform at school assemblies, take part in civic programs, occasionally combine with other schools for exchange assem- blies or combined concerts, and participate annually in the Massachusetts Music Educators Music Festival and the Bos- ton University high school day program. Frequently well known music educators and artists are engaged to take part in programs with the band.
The band training is intended to do more than provide an understanding of music. It is offered for the purpose of enriching the lives of our students through a cultural and aesthetic development, and for providing a more significant understanding of democratic principles and human re- lations."
Indicative of the growing scarcity of space is the fact that 65 band members rehearse in a room intended for 35. We could use this space as a class room for academic subjects. Our laboratories, domes- tic science rooms and cafeteria are now being used to alleviate crowded conditions.
The art program, too, has expanded. During the past five years we have increased from two to four days per week time spent in this important area. Under the able direction of Miss Chaisson, this
So
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
department has become increasingly interesting and popular. There is sufficient demand for a five day week in the art room.
There is need for further expansion in Industrial Arts. The shop now has two work areas - woodworking and electricity. The next logical one to add is an automotive section. There is much in- terest on the part of boys in practical and technical instruction in this field. The cost of enough equipment to provide for such a prac- tical course is not high. I feel that it would make for added motiva- tion in the Industrial Arts program.
The business department renders excellent service to the boys and girls in this school. Graduates of this curriculum have been un- usually successful in securing jobs.
Miss O'Leary, head of the department, reports as follows :
"A follow-up study is currently being made by teachers in the business department to determine what subjects busi- ness course graduates of the classes of 1948-51 feel should have been stressed more in their school training. This same procedure has been followed with success in the past; this current study should help in the revision of the curriculum which will be made early in 1952.
An electric typewriter is to be added to the equipment of the office machines room. This will provide valuable training for typists in senior classes; these students will be presently using electric typewriters in offices in Lynn, Salem, and Boston.
Much of the success of our offerings in the business ma- chines area has been due to the far-sighted view of our prin- cipal, superintendent, and school committee. They have at all times asked for and appreciated our requests, suggestions, and recommendations. Such cooperation is invaluable in working out our desiderata.
We have been favored with visits of business teachers from Somerville and Beverly High Schools who came to observe and study the working out of our curriculum with the view to adopting certain portions of it to fit their needs. We are complimented by their interest and we are also chal- lenged to continue to achieve the best results possible in our area.
For many years we have cooperated with Salem Teach- ers College and Boston University in serving as a training ground for business seniors who do practice teaching. We have at all times tried to cooperate with the institutions sending these young people to us. We have endeavored to in- culcate good educational practices by giving them good demonstration lessons, by aiding them in their approach to teaching and by supervising their work. We have kept in mind, too, that the interests and needs of our students are paramount and therefore must take precedence over all other matters.
The work of the placement bureau consists not only in registering and helping to place students in their initial office jobs but to follow through and to assist them when- ever possible on the job, or to transfer to another job. It may even consist in students coming back to the school and
81
SCHOOL REPORT
1951]
putting in an occasional free afternoon in improving skills on certain office machines."
College Preparatory Department :
The percentage of our students enrolled in the academic curriculum varies between 60-70 per cent of the student body. This course of study is pursued by some who do not go to junior or senior colleges, due in part to the fact that this program is a necessary, or desirable preparation for such vocations as: nursing, secretarial and other specialties.
It is gratifying to note that a considerable number of our stu- dents in recent years have found it possible to continue their train- ing on the collegiate level because of scholarship aid. In this con- nection, we are awaiting with interest, the publication of a study, soon to be published by the Columbia University Press for the Com- mission on Financing Higher Education. The book is the outcome of a study conducted under the auspices of the College Entrance Exami- nation Board - its title, "Who Should Go to College in America". It deals mainly with 3 questions :
How many go? How many should go? How is the cost to be financed?
We have endeavored to help our able and deserving students to seek and obtain scholarship aid. In order to keep society fluid, college education should be open to all who can profit from it. A silver spoon and successful ancestry are not, and should not be, determining criteria as to who should go on to higher education.
A breakdown of the membership of the Class of 1951, enrolled in the college course, shows the following: 60 were admitted to senior and junior colleges, including the following :
Tufts Harvard Dartmouth Colby Junior Massachusetts Institute of Technology Norwich Jackson Massachusetts School of Art
Cornell University of Massachusetts Yale Mary Brooks Junior College
Harcum Junior Boston University University of New Hampshire Salem Teachers College
Colby Vermont Junior College
Boston College
LaSalle Junior College
Brown University University of Vermont Northeastern
Rhode Island College of Design Bowdoin Mount Holyoke
University of Pennsylvania University of Maine
Emmanuel
Bates Skidmore
In addition to these, members of this class are attending the following schools:
Bentley School of Accounting Chandler Katherine Gibbs Burdett Fisher School Salem Hospital Nurses School General Motors School
Museum of Fine Arts Franklin Institute Bryant and Stratton Wentworth Institute New England Aircraft School Vesper George Pierce Secretarial
82
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
The high school faculty has been strengthened this year through the addition of some excellent teachers. They have quickly adjusted themselves to the school and have worked well with their colleagues and students.
May I express my appreciation of the privilege of working with such an able and understanding superintendent. We, his colleagues, and the community are richer because of our association with Mr. Mansur.
Sincerely yours, JAMES H. DUNN, Principal of High School. December, 1951.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Superintendent of Schools
Swampscott, Mass.
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit a report for the year ending December 31, 1951 :
School visits
820
Home visits
790
Children excluded
382
Referred to family physician
337
Notice to parents
602
Physical examinations
1288
Defects found
508
Irremedial defects
182
Clinic visits
176
Home adjustment
203
School adjustment
60
Truancy
Immunized to Diphtheria
175
Respectfully submitted,
MARY K. HAMMOND, R. N.,
School Nurse.
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE, OCTOBER 1, 1951
Boys
Age
Grade
4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Totals
109
1
16 69 4
89
2
17 67 8
1
93
3
17 58 7 2
84
4
37 50 7 1
95
5
23 47 10
2
82
6
1 34 40 10 2
87
7
1 23 34 8
4 2
72
8
24 33 15
2
74
9
25 33 10 2
70
10
15 21 18
7
1
62
11
2 22 19
7
2
1
53
12
14 15 10 2
41
P. G.
1
1
Total .. 32 92 87 88 103 82 91 74 70 68 69 57 53 29 13 3
1 1012
Kdg.
32 76 1
.
. · .
·
57
1951]
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE, OCTOBER 1, 1951 Girls Age
Grade 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Totals
110
1
10 80 3
93
2
18 52
70
3
23 57
80
4
36 36 5
77
5
1 28 45
2
1
77
6
6 34 28
4
72
7
30 22 2 1
55
8
31 46 2
2
81
9
...
...
...
....
.... ...
...
1 24 35 5
65
P. G.
..
....
..
....
Total 26 94 98 78 94 70 84 60 58 72 58 61 57 38 6
.. 954
SCHOOL CENSUS - OCTOBER 1, 1951
5 years or over and under 7
7 years or over and under 16
Total
Registration of Minors
Boys
205
856
1061
Girls
221
764
985
Total
426
1620
2046
Distribution of the above minors:
In public day school membership ..
370
1329
1699
In continuation school membership
In vocational school membership ..
1
1
In private school membership
54
283
337
In State or county institutions and special schools for defectives and delinquents
1
4
5
Not enrolled in any day school
1
3
4
Totals
426
1620
2046
PUPILS ENROLLED - NOVEMBER, 1951
Freshmen Sophomores
Juniors 109
Seniors 105
1 46€
Class I 128
Class II 155
283
Grades
Kind.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Hadley A.M. 61
37
33
38
71
73
70
383
Hadley P.M. 27
35
36
38
Machon A.M.
32
24
44
41
60
49
32
282
Machon P.M. 38
28
Stanley A.M. 33
28
53
49
39
39
57
298
Stanley P.M. 30
28
58
High School
466
Junior High
283
Elementary
1223
...
59
11
26 28 2
56
12
....
....
.... ....
....
22 32 4
1
59
10
2 23 28 4
1
1
....
1972
P.G.'s Total
High School .... 131
120
...
....
Kdg. 26 84
SCHOOL REPORT
83
Junior High School
136
66
84
TOWN DOCUMENTS
Dec. 31
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY High
Education
Year besan
Name
Degree
Training
in Swampscott
James H. Dunn
B.S.
Colby
1929
Principal
Ed.M.
Harvard
Brooks K. Blossom
A.B.
Chicago 1933
Head of Foreign Lang. Dept.
A.M.
Harvard
Arthur G. Cronk
Trade Experience 1930 Fitchburg Teach. Coll.
Walter G. Drogue
A.B.
Yale
1947
History and Visual Educ.
Ed.M.
Boston Univ.
Thomas J. Eickelberger
B.S.
Miami Univ. 1950
Manual Arts and Driver Educ.
A.B.
Colby
1947
English
A.B.
North Central
1947
Head of Science Dept.
Ed.M.
Harvard
Walter R. Henshaw
A.B.
Dartmouth
1930
Head of English Dept.
A.M.
Boston Univ.
Philip A. Jenkin
A.B.
Williams College
1950
English
A.M.
Harvard
Antoinette Lambert
Gorham
1931
Science and Social Studies
B.S.
Boston Univ.
Jeanne Lepine
A.B.
Univ. of Maine
1948
French and Spanish
B.A.
Univ. of New
Harold S. Martin
A.B.
Stetson
1935
Physical Education
A.B.
Univ. of Vermont 1949
John 1. Mclaughlin History
Ed. M.
Boston Univ.
Flora A. MeLearn
Physical Education
B.S.
Salem
1945
Edna 1. Morrison
B.S.
Salem
1935
Commercial
M.C.S.
Boston Univ.
Fitchburg 1931
Head of Comm. Dept.
B. B.A.
Boston Univ.
Charlotte Oliver Domestic Science
B.S.
Framingham
1940
Lena Patchett Mathematics
A.B.
Middlebury 1924
Chester T. Robinson
B.A.O.
Staley College
1951
Speech
M.A.O.
Bates
1951
La Joseph Roy Science
MI.A.
New York Univ.
A.B.
Bates
1941
Eileen Soper French
A.M1.
Columbia
Richard D. Stevenson
B.A.
Dartmouth
1951
Social Studies
M.E.
Boston Univ.
Katherine Trickey Librarian
B.A.
Univ. of Maine
1949
Emma S. White English
Ed.M.
Harvard
Marjorie White
A.B.
Bates
1927
Head of Math. Dept.
Ed.M.
Harvard
Leon Marden Mathematics
Hampshire
1951
1. Patricia McCormack English
A.B.
Holy Cross 1931
New Haven 1921
Jennie Mc Vey Commercial
Ed.M.
Boston Univ.
Mildred J. O'Leary
B.S.
M.A.
B.S.
Bridgewater
1936
Manual Arts
Averill Gellerson
Enos Held
1951]
SCHOOL REPORT
85
Junior High School
Education
Degree
Training
Year began in Swampscott
B.S.
Gorham
1946
Salem
1931
Marian P. Burlingame Latin and English
A.B.
Mt. Holyoke
1922
Beatrice L. Cook History
Salem
1918
Alice T. Durgin Mathematics
Salem
1916
Gertrude L. Hammond Social Studies
Salem
1951
Beatrice M. Hutchinson History
Salem
1924
George E. Hutchinson Manual Arts
Art
1924
Nance Marquette English
B.S.
Bridgewater
1944
Crandall P. Nodwell Mathematics
B.S.
Mass. School of
Art
1950
Priscilla Smith
B.S.
Boston Univ.
1950
Physical Education
A.B.
Boston Univ.
1947
Katherine Townsend Science
M.A.
Boston Univ.
Helen Warren
A.B.
Smith
1918
Domestic Science
B.S.
Simmons
Grace Young English
A.M.
Radcliffe
Hadley School
Education
Year began
Name
Degree
Training
in Swampscott
Esther K. Heikel
Hyannis
1951
Principal
B.S.
Salem
Emma Blossom
Bridgewater
1929
Grade 5
Castine
1932
Louise Cerica Grade 1
B.S.
Boston Univ.
Harriet Clarke Grade 1
Wheelock
1951
Joan Dimeno Kind.
B.S.
Lesley
1949
Marilyn Francis Grade 5
B.S.
Bridgewater
1943
Catherine Garrity Grade 4
B.S.
Boston Univ.
1947
Helen H. Hudson Kind.
Leslie
1928
Ruth James
Salem
1921
Grade 2
Katherine Kerans Grade 2
Salem
1921
Cecelia Loring Grade 3
Perry
1948
A.B.
Bates
1941
Maxine Boyd Grade 6
Salem
1936
Wilfrid C. Sheldon Art
Truro
1927
Mass. School of
Name Keith L. Jordan Principal Mary G. Boyce Mathematics
86
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Marjorie M. Martin Bldg. Asst.
B.A.
Univ. of Maine 1951
Rosalie Muchnikoff Grade 3
B.S.
Salem 1951
Salem 1910
Marion Newcomb Grade 4 Evilina Roney Grade 6
Salem
1931
Doreen Waters Kind.
B.S.
Castleton
Machon School
Education
Year began
Name
Degree
Training
in Swampscott
Madelaine M. Murphy Principal
B.S.
Fitchburg
1948
Ed.M.
Boston Univ.
Mary E. Bresnahan Grade 6
Salem
1951
Hazel D. Chase
B.S.
Salem
1926
Grade 5
Perry
1951
Mae M. Graham Grade 3
Lowell
1936
Clare Murray Grade 4
R. I. College of Educ.
1948
Ruth Nickerson Grade 3
B.A.
Wayne Univ.
1949
Elsie Oakes Grade 1
B.S.
Fitchburg
1923
Barbara Poole
B.S.
Gorham
Grade 1
Salem
1928
M. Elizabeth Wade Grade 2
B.S. and Ed.M.
Boston Univ.
Phyllis Young Kind.
Stanley School
Education
Year began
Name
Degree
Training
in Swampscott
Hilda J. Gifford Principal
B.S.
Boston Univ.
Charlotte Conners Grade 6
Salem
1929
Margaret E. Durgin Grade 3
Salem
1917
Salem
1920
Grace M. Farrell Grade 2
Gorham
1932
Phyllis G. Smith Grade 4
Salem
1914
Perry
1950
Olive M. Geddis Kind.
Perry
1951
1951]
SCHOOL REPORT
87
Shirley Feingold Grade 1
B.S.
Worcester Teachers Coll.
1951
Margaret P. Johnston Kind.
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