USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1963 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
I should like at this point to comment that all of these four people have taken over their new duties with enthusiasm and a strong sense of commitment and are making contributions that are in every way gratifying. We could not, I
believe, have made better choices for these positions.
Several changes occurred also within the ranks of our non-teaching staff. Mrs. Hilda O. Boston retired last spring as head of the High School cafeteria, a : position in which she had won the re- spect and affection of students and faculty for more than a decade. Mr. Norman R. Branden, though serving only since 1961, found it necessary to retire from the High School custodial staff.
Named to succeed Mrs. Boston in the High School cafeteria was Mrs. Sarah C. Corcoran, who had been a staff member there since Dec. 1, 1950. Newly ap- pointed as custodians were Richard F. Coletti, now serving at the High School, and Willard S. Barnes, who is currently dividing his time between the High School and Machon, expansion of these two buildings having made necessary, at a very minimum, the employment of one more man than we had before. In the High School office, Mrs. Betty Rollins became part-time clerk and Mrs. Grace Pope full-time junior clerk typist. Once again, we have been very fortunate in the people we have recruited; I have every confidence that these positions are competently filled.
Professional Advancement Plan in Second Year
Now at a very critical stage is the Swampscott Professional Advancement Plan, instituted in the fall of 1962.
Sixteen faculty members have quali- fied under this voluntary program as Career Teachers. These are now receiving salary increments $200 to $400 above the salary schedule and in return are carrying extra duties designed for the improvement of our program. Several are developing courses of study in foreign language, industrial arts, social studies, and English. Some are working closely with student teachers in a more detailed practice teaching program than we have had before. Not a few are undertaking
122
graduate work at colleges and universi- ties upon which they will draw directly for methods and materials in their own teaching. Four other teachers are now undergoing their first year of evaluation as candidates for Career Teacher respon- sibilities next year.
As I indicated in my report of last year, the plan is not without its prob- lems. Created, as it had to be, in the abstract, it naturally encounters difficul- ties in practical application. Already some changes have been made. The School Committee last year, adopting recom- mendations of the Review Council, with- drew department heads and guidance counselors from the original provisions of the plan and approved individualized requirements for those two groups.
Other changes may have to be con- sidered. Chief among the trouble spots are the varying sizes of increments and the nature and extent of special assign- ments. Three groups-the Review Coun- cil, the Career Teacher Councils them- selves, and a special committee formed from the Swampscott Teachers' Associa- tion - are now studying the plan with an eye to these as well as related prob- lems and will shortly bring in recommen- dations. If the plan is to have whole- hearted teacher support, which is neces- sary to it, I believe the School Commit- tee should study very judiciously these forthcoming proposals.
Though by no means uncritical of the plan, teachers have in the main reacted to it temperately and intelligently. Those who have elected not to join have done so, for the most part, with a "wait-and- see" attitude. A few say they have stayed out for reasons of conscience. Many who did not participate, or who at one stage or another withdrew, are sincere and thoughtful in making constructive recommendations for the plan's improve- ment. Generally, consensus is that, with people of good will and good sense work- ing together, the Professional Advance- ment Plan can be made to succeed and
to do so in the best interests of the Swampscott schools.
For my own part, I should like to repeat the point I made in my report of a year ago, when I stressed that the suc- cess of this venture will in large part depend "upon the financial soundness, in comparison with schedules in com- munities similar to Swampscott, of our basic salary schedule." Then, as you will recall, I added, "Depressed salary sched- ules have wrecked many otherwise well- conceived plans of the so-called merit type." I would re-emphasize the point at this time.
Key Programs Continue
The past school year would accurately be described as a time less of innovation than of crystallizing earlier gains and of plotting the course directly ahead. The 1962 annual report characterized our thinking and progress in modern mathe- matics, junior high conversational French, testing, elementary libraries, so- cial studies, and in-service programs for teachers. Changes have occurred and are still occurring in these fields; others are imminent.
(1) Mathematics
Modern mathematics has progressed steadily since the 1961-62 workshop pioneered for our high and junior high teachers by Professor Franklin Fitzgerald of Boston University. The year 1962-63 saw the program offered at the secondary level. This past year it was introduced to grades four, five, and six. We shall offer it in the fall to the primary grades, up through the third. Mr. Hooper last year continued the workshop begun by Professor Fitzgerald for secondary teachers and organized others for teach- ers of grades four, five, and six.
Mr. Andersen, succeeding Mr. Hooper as department head, has continued to work with all teachers of mathematics from the fourth grade up through the twelfth and has enlisted Miss Mary E.
123
White, of the High School faculty, to our thinking about the self-contained offer workshops for teachers of the primary grades. It is gratifying this year to see how teachers have grown in their confidence and interest in this new and challenging program of study.
(2) Reading
Two of our reading teachers, Miss Nance Marquette of the Shaw Junior High and Mrs. Marjorie R. Berg of the High School, are mainly responsible for a reading workshop planned for high and junior high teachers. The project won the support of the School Com- mittee, which made a supporting appro- priation in its 1963 budget.
Taught by Dr. Mabel S. Noall, Boston University associate professor, the course when announced last fall drew such a heavy registration both of our secondary and of our elementary teachers that it was not possible to admit teachers who applied from outside the system. It now seems more than obvious that we should offer a similar course next fall, designed for teachers of the first six grades.
(3) Library
The library program for the elemen- tary grades that began in 1962 continues its growth. Now a pivotal point in the life of the Hadley School, where the library is housed, the program has made its influence felt at the other schools. Mrs. Priscilla Moulton, elementary libra- rian, has worked with teachers and with parents in obtaining and organizing book selections suitable for children from kin- dergarten through grade six. Machon will shortly have its collections housed in the old kindergarten room, which the new wing has left available for use as a library. Clarke and Stanley, through the initiative of faculty and parents, are using existing space as best they can.
(4) New Ventures in Scheduling
The departmentalized program at Stanley School continues to challenge
classroom. Commenting on the program at Stanley, which gives upper intermedi- ate grade pupils specialized teachers ir different subjects, Mrs. Jane T. Rogers principal, reports:
This organization of grades five ana six has taken on an air of permanency at Stanley School. Each year the exaci arrangements of classes is modified to. meet the needs of the particular pu- pils involved; otherwise much of the earlier thinking and planning is "hold- ing up" under current evaluation.
A number of professional writings have recently encouraged this form of elementary organization in grades four. five, and six. For example the most re- cent James B. Conant report, on The Education of American Teachers, finds such organization for the later elemen- tary grades desirable and predicts dur- ing the next ten years, "there will be an increasing tendency to use special- ists in grades four through six."
Though less extensively than at Stan- ley, other elementary schools in Swamp- scott have also broken the lock step of the self-contained classroom. More and more, principals and teachers in recent years have tried out to varying degrees, the notion of letting one teacher. where sufficiently expert and interested. take successive classes in the same subject or subjects. Machon this year has extended the approach to an ungraded reading program, each child in the first three grades being taught at his own level re- gardless of his class or age. Though we lack objective appraisals of any of these ventures to date, prevailing impressions are, virtually without exception, favor- able.
A departure of a different nature on the elementary level finds two teachers combining as a team to work with a first grade of thirty-six pupils at the Clarke School. To take care of a greater than desired enrollment at this level, and to utilize the large kindergarten room avail-
124
able at Clarke for the first grade, Mrs. Meredith Eickelberger and Mrs. Barbara Brinkley were asked by the administra- tion to coordinate a two-teacher program for the one class. The pupil-teacher ratio is thus greatly to the advantage of the pupils and reports thus far have been excellent.
At the Shaw Junior High we have been trying to break through the "block" type of scheduling to achieve a flexibility that will permit programs "tailored" as closely as possible to fit each pupil's needs and abilities. The schedules of some pupils have already been re- worked this year to let them enter classes on different ability levels in different sub- jects. A committee of teachers is now studying the feasibility of extending this same procedure throughout the entire school.
One of the most challenging problems confronting our system arises from the pressure to increase the course offerings to students. This results in the trend to five rather than four majors and in- creased enrichment activity both within and outside the daily schedule for stu- dents, and increased planning time and teaching loads for the staff. Principals, department heads, guidance staff and the superintendent have been meeting regu- larly since October in search of satisfy- ing solutions, and will continue regular meetings in the future.
It becomes evident, however, that more courses mean more time. If we are to offer them, we must open up new oppor- tunities for pupils to work under the direct supervision of teachers. This solu- tion could, of course, mean a longer day, a longer year, or other schemes not yet apparent, such as perhaps extending our existing program to include summer school and continuing education. Cer- tainly, there is no simple and immediate answer.
(5) Other Programs
Other significant developments in the system include the beginning of the first
stringed instrument program in two decades; the up dating of equipment in the business department at the High School, following a survey by that de- partment of machines now in use in businesses employing our graduates; and the growth of our language program, with conversational French now extend- ing from grade four through grade eight and with the resurgence, after a lapse of several years, of classes in French IV at the High School.
The language department is also rightly proud of the records of two of last year's seniors. Harriet Simons achieved the highest mark possible on her College Board Latin, the so-called perfect score of 800. William Sjogren was given advanced credit at Dartmouth because of his work in Latin at Swamp- scott High.
(6) Guidance
Growth continues significantly also in our guidance program. Swampscott is now one of thirty-five communities in Massachusetts providing services to stu- dents at all grade levels. Intensive plan- ning for college admissions now begins in the junior year, with group meetings held for students and their parents to discuss the changing and demanding col- lege admissions picture.
An analysis prepared by Mrs. John R. Cooper, director of guidance, reports that 77% of the Class of 1963 are at various schools and colleges. There were 217 ac- credited schools that offered acceptances to members of this class. Mrs. Cooper's reports present us with these figures for last June's graduates :
45% are attending four-year degree- granting institutions
18% are attending two-year colleges or schools
5% are attending two-year business schools
3% are enrolled in schools of nursing
6% are attending preparatory schools, including post graduate course
16% are employed
7% entered the armed forces.
125
Supplementary Programs Prove Their Worth
Summer School, which began modestly in 1960 with a total registration of 130 in eight courses, after its second year under the direction of Mr. J. Richard Bath reports 208 enrollments in 12 courses. All but twelve of the boys and girls who participated last summer were Swampscott residents. The program in 1963 included typewriting, study skills, conversational French, remedial reading, developmental reading, mathematics, sci- ence, and art.
Continuing Education has advanced from a registration of 241 in ten courses in the fall of 1957 to a present 390 in 17 courses that require 21 separate classes in all. Now in its third year with Mr. Harold I. Power as director, the program offers a curriculum of French, a Great Books discussion group, shorthand, office machines, drawing and painting, furni- ture refinishing, physical fitness for women, investments, clothing, rug hook- ing and rug braiding, knitting and cro- cheting.
We are pleased and honored to have with us, in the third year of the Ameri- can Field Service program, two students from countries abroad: Carlos E. Cere- cedo of Argentina and Claire F. Nord- mann of Switzerland. The contributions these students make to the day-to-day life at Swampscott High School are im- portant; horizons would be much nar- rower without them. It is also a privi- lege for us to share in a project that fosters, as this one does, the ideal of world citizenship and understanding.
Teams Wins Fresh Laurels
It is hardly necessary to mention here that this past year has been outstandingly successful for Swampscott's athletic and
physical education program. We are all proudly aware that ice hockey, baseball, field hockey, track, cross country, and football teams completed brilliant sea- sons, the latter with its undefeated record and capture of both Northeast Confer- ence and Class B titles. Director Stan Bondelevitch, and his coaches and in- structors, deserve credit not only for their string of victories but also for the basic program of physical education in. which over the years these victories have had their roots.
Our local pride was touched, too, when on November 17th the Swampscott band and drill team stole the show at Fenway Park, nationally televised in their per- formance at the Boston Patriot's football game. Comments from the Patriots' management and from the Boston press were flattering. In the opinion of one writer, "The best team on the field was the Swampscott drill team." Both Mr. Hammond and Mrs. McLearn have every right to feel gratified at the recognition that has come to Swampscott through their talented and tireless work.
Enrollments Level Off
School enrollments, after the upsurge of past years, begin now to show a slackening trend, with an increase of thirty pupils at the High School in con- trast to seventy-nine a year ago. Else- where in the system there are in fact fewer pupils in 1963 than there were in 1962, with the exception of an increase of four at Hadley. Throughout the sys- tem there is a drop of twenty-two from last year.
Although we have no room to spare, and lack of space restricts our present program in some areas, it does look as though with our building program com- plete we can now house adequately the number of pupils we may expect to have.
126
PUPILS ENROLLED - OCTOBER 1, 1963
Grade 10 Grade 11
Grade 12 203
Sp. 14
1
698
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9 240
Shaw Jr. High
211
219
670
Grades
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sp.
Clarke
45
62
48
44
51
49
61
360
Hadley
52
46
48
54
54
66
52
372
Machon
38
31
29
34
30
34
29
225
Stanley
52
48
64
64
66
64
72
12
442
187
187
189
196
201
213
214
12
1399
High
698
Jr. High
670
Elem.
1399
2767
Full School Committee Schedule
The general public is not always fully aware of the many hours that go into the School Committee's work. Often un- realized is the acccumulation of fre- quent calls, both in person and by phone, that members make and that are made to them and the on-the-spot inspection visits, especially in construction periods, to school buildings. Most demanding, of course, are the meetings, regular and special. There were more than thirty of these in 1963, counting school commit- tee and building committee meetings to- gether. A far cry from the required minimum of ten! For Mr. Chadwell, who served also on the Machon Building Committee, the demand on his time made by the schools was even greater.
Decisions and considerations in 1963 ranged the gamut from Bible readings and conservation, through maintenance and personnel, to budgets and curricu- lum. In addition, the Committee made a substantial start on a new compilation of written policies to guide the over-all administration of our schools. A year to two-year project, this ultimately will bring together within the pages of one manual a complete enunciation of poli- cies, practices, and procedures. The new
venture will fill a long-felt need.
In Conclusion
If the Swampscott schools are to reach the level of excellence we all wish for, an increased public concern and interest in the schools is desirable - a concern and interest which reaches beyond the PTAs, the Council for Public Schools, the Boosters' Club, the Band Parents Or- ganization, and building committees to the general citzenry itself. I am confi- dent the understanding would increase the pride of the public schools, increase the public confidence in our young peo- ple and focus public attention on the problems ahead.
This second annual report would be deficient indeed if it did not include an appreciation for the many persons who have shared the responsibility and the rewards of serving Swampscott in the field of public education during the past year. It is my hope that the year ahead will provide a record of continued friendship, cooperation, and accomplish- ment, and that Swampscott will have benefited because we have served another year.
Very respectfully yours,
Charles L. Whitcomb, Superintendent of Schools
127
P.G.
Total
High School
244
236
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation Refund
$1,425,066.00 5.00
Total
$1,425,071.00
Expenditures:
Salaries
$1,209,158.55
Office Expense
15,538.86
Travel Expense
2,334.26
Building Expense
77,423.02
Insurance
2,350.00
Miscellaneous
105,787.64
Out-of-State Travel
2,495.64
Federal-aided Projects
5,503.30
Warrants Payable
4,412.36
1,425,003.63
Balance at Close of Year
$ 67.37
Receipts Deposited with Town Treasurer
State Aid, General School Fund
76,192.71
State Aid, Special Services
11,500.00
State Aid, Vocational Schools
2,309.80
Summer School Fees
4,232.00
Adult Education Fees
2,582.23
Other Receipts
611.45
97,428.19
Net Cost to Town
$1,327,508.07
128
PUBLIC LIBRARY TRUSTEES
GEORGE W. HOWE, Chairman
RUTH M. BARRY, Secretary
ANDREW R. LINSCOTT
EDITH N. SNOW, Librarian
An opportunity to compare the Library with others of similar population was provided by the Massachusetts Public Library Association which, in 1963, tabulated national standards to apply to this state. In a population of 10,000 to 15,000:
Standard recommended:
Book stock: 35,000 to 43,500 volumes Titles added per year: 1900 to 2700 Periodical subscriptions: 75 to 100 Recordings owned: 200 to 500 Personnel: 6 to 10 full-time Average circulation for Massachusetts 6.7 volumes per capita
This is only quantitative comparison; by constant checking of national lists we feel confident that the qualitative would correlate. All this is not cause for com- placency, but it is creditable, and tends to indicate that with continued financial support, gradual gains may be made.
Most significant was the discussion meeting of the Assistant Superintendent, Senior and Junior High School Princi- pals, heads of three departments of in- struction, the School Library Supervisor, and the Librarian of the Public Library. Through the School Library Supervisor a code for use of libraries was placed in the hands of all teachers as a guide to making assignments which would take advantage of our growing areas of spe- cialization, and therefore would be more satisfactory to students. In operation only since September, this shows promise which will increase as teachers form the habit of cooperating with libraries.
Within the Library these items of progress are on record: a complete inven- tory of the Children's collection for the first time in seven years; the merging of the Young people's collection of recrea- tional reading with the main collection, as tastes have matured so noticeably; short story anthology collection created
Swampscott:
42,000 (Dec. 31, 1963) added 2607 volumes (1963)
92
479 (plus a few on order) 6
7.4 volumes per capita
with satisfaction to both students and adult readers; subscription to the com- plete Moody's services, including Stock and Bond surveys; a leaflet about oppor- tunities offered at the Library, with a special "Information for Students" and a third one explaining how to find criti- cism of an author or a work, useful to high school, college, or adult education students. Continuing work: Modern- izing headings and references in the card catalog; organizing indexes and supple- mentary materials for reference service to adults and students; reading lists com- piled and distributed; reading club for children during the summer vacation; regular story hours year round, by a most faithful volunteer, Mrs. Frederick Gardner.
One increasing channel of communica- tion is the list of books added each month, to which has been added a sheet of news about exhibits, gifts and other comments. The Lynn Item has printed this list in full which has been gratify- ing. That it is read is proved by the telephone calls from people who ask for certain books because "it was in the paper". This list is also distributed with- in the building, and by the Librarian of the elementary schools to the teachers who have expressed an interest.
129
Reference work becomes constantly more demanding, but is difficult to measure or explain in brief. Several in- quiries by mail have been answered from our local history files. Several times out- of-town committees have come to inspect the building so satisfactorily enlarged seven years ago.
Many gifts of books and some periodi- cals have been received with appreciation. An unusual gift, to be featured in 1964,
was a slide projector with film strip at- tachment, from Mrs. Ralph S. Damon in memory of her brother, Arnold S. Potter.
The 225 slide views of Swampscott in an earlier day have been redone in 35mm size which means there will be some to lend to interested groups, as well as a set for use within the building. 100 8"x10" prints were made from Ellis negatives, which are also valuable history of the town.
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
RICHARD CHAMBERS, Chairman
PAUL C. CURTIS
NORBERT A. ULMAN
WALTER L. RANGER, Director
During the year 1963 our total case load remained at approximately the same level as in 1962, Old Age Assistance showing a decline and Medical Assistance for the Aged a sharp increase, a trend we expect will continue. Our total expenditures for Assistance totaled $199,640.03 and reimbursements of $166,498.97 were re- ceived, leaving a net cost to the Town for Assistance of $33,141.06. Our expendi- tures for Administration totaled $32,350.28 and reimbursements of $29,150.01 were received, leaving a net cost for Administration of $3200.27.
Medical expenses have been increasing steadily for the past several years and further increases are expected in 1964 for hospitalization and nursing home care. These increases are shown by our medical expense of five years ago amounting to 16% of our total expenditures for Assistance while in 1963 our medical expenses were approximately 50% of our total Assistance payments.
On September 1, 1963 all budgets were increased by 5.1% to cover the in- creased cost of living since the last adjustment in July 1960. Our basic budgets were established in 1947 and from time to time they have been increased due to cost of living adjustments in accordance with Chapter 118A, Section 1. This latest increase brings the total cost of living adjustments to 36%.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.