USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1928 > Part 19
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 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Esther Visco B. U.
Current Literature
Special Teachers
Myra G. Keep
U. E.
Methods of Teaching Elem. Eng.
Anna A. MacDavitt
U. E. Child Psychology
Abbreviations
H.G.S. Harvard Graduate School
U. E. University Extension
B. U. Boston University B.A.M.S. Burroughs Adding Machine School L. I. Lowell Institute
1
205
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING FORCE
We have lost very few teachers during the year. Our chief prob- lem has been the securing of new ones for additional positions. Of the new appointees eight are college graduates, four graduates of three- year Normal School courses, and eight have two years of training. Ten have previous experience, ranging from four to thirteen years.
In the death of Miss Alice W. Dwyer the High School lost one of its strongest, as well as most beloved teachers. Conscientious in her work, sympathetic in her attitude toward the pupils, she had gained the respect and good will of all in the school. For many years, in addition to the regular work of her department, she had given of her time and strength to extra curricula activities. The plays at graduation were her particular field of endeavor, and received favorable comment from all who listened and appreciated their worth. Miss Dwyer's loss will be felt seriously, not only in the department over which she had charge, but also in those activities which mean so much to the life of a school.
206
TEXT BOOKS
The increased cost of supplies and text books, as recorded in the financial statement, was due partly to the opening of new rooms, and partly to a more liberal policy in the replacement of old or soiled books. When one considers that in the original equipment of a room from ten to twenty sets of readers are sometimes required, in addition to the sets of arithmetics, geographies, spellers, and so forth, the total cost is large.
We have introduced new music readers in the first eight grades, new spellers in the seventh and eighth grades, and new physiologies in the fourth to eighth grades, inclusive. There is always a demand for supplementary readers, and these have been supplied in practically all grades.
A beginning has been made of furnishing the High School Library with suitable reference books and magazines. Since this library will serve more than twelve hundred pupils of the Junior and Senior High Schools, its shelves should be well stocked with literature carefully selected and adapted to the needs of all pupils and every department. Nearly a century ago Horace Mann, the greatest American edu- cator, wrote :-
"How can this flood of pernicious reading be stayed? It must be done, if done at all, in the expressive language of Dr. Chalmers,-'by the expulsive power of a new affec- tion.' A purer current of thought at the fountain can alone wash the channels clean. For this purpose I know of no plan as yet conceived by philanthropy which promises to be so comprehensive and efficacious as the establishment of good libraries in all our school districts, open respectively to all the children in the State, and within half an hour's walk of any spot upon its surface."
PENMANSHIP
At the time the Palmer Method of Penmanship was introduced a supervisor was employed for a number of years to outline and direct the work. The results were excellent, but as soon as all the teachers had become familiar with the system, and in consideration of the fact that all the young teachers coming from the Normal Schools were being trained in that or the Doner System, supervision was dropped for the sake of economy.
Recently there has been a falling off in the quality of the writing. For the sake of stressing the subject, Miss Katherine C. Fogarty has been employed to give her entire time to supervision. Penmanship is an important subject. In fact, pupils are more apt to be judged by their ability to write easily and well than by any other subject in the curriculum. Miss Fogarty has been one of our most successful teachers in the grades and this promotion, while deserved by her, should be of great value to the children.
HIGH SCHOOL Report of Mr. F. W. Hilton, Principal.)
Our High School accommodations have been greatly improved by the recent addition. We have been allowed to occupy six new recitation rooms and also a very commodious gymnasium with lockers and showers for the use of the boys. This has been very much ap- preciated. The number of students in the High School proper has had
207
a normal increase in spite of the fact that our last graduation sent out more than the usual number.
The general statistics are as follows:
Sources of entering class :-
Schools
Boys
Girls
Total
Trade School
Grand Total
Athens
10
18
28
3
31
Bicknell
11
17
28
4
32
Humphrey
26
51
77
16
93
Hunt
23
24
47
9
56
Nevin
19
23
42
3
45
Pratt
9
7
16
4
20
Shaw
5
7
12
3
15
Other Schools
30
32
62
25
87
133
179
312
67
379
Classification of the Students according to Courses :-
Freshmen
Sophomores Juniors
Seniors
Total
Classical
84
55
34
33
206
Technical
37
22
26
19
104
Business
131
106
70
50
357
General
25
24
23
16
88
Agricultural
9
3
6
1
19
Practical Arts
26
16
14
8
64
312
226
173
127
838
Post Graduates
2
2
Automobile Repair
21
13
34
Carpentry
18
10
7
35
Printing
11
4
3
18
Shoemaking
17
10
27
67
37
10
114
Grand Total
379
263
183
129
954
Progress is only a measure of effort and the two are as closely allied in education as elsewhere through life. The attitude of the stu- dents and teachers toward maintaining high standards has been very satisfactory and reports from our graduates in higher institutions of learning have been gratifying. We believe that the Business and Practical Arts Courses have been considerably strengthened and are making very satisfactory progress. In the Trade School the Carpentry Department has completed another dwelling house and garage as its principal project for the year. The amount and quality of the work accomplished in all departments has been quite satisfactory. The entire shop work is productive rather than practice work, or as nearly so as we can make it in the different departments. Some idea of the extent to which this is true is shown in the following table:
208
Productive shop labor :-
Department
Year
Per cent. of shop time devoted to productivelabor
90. %
Automobile
1
93.6%
Carpentry
1
100. %
3
100. %
1
73.2%
2
95.1%
3
93.6%
Shoemaking
1
100. %
2
100. %
While our most important duty is to teach the fundamentals, giving a reasonable variety of subject matter and a good foundation on which to build, we recognize that it is also the duty of a school to direct the attention of its students toward worth while activities. We have done considerable along this line and feel that there is growing demand for these outside curricula activities.
In athletics we have developed the usual number of teams and have had large groups in the various sports. In addition to this we are doing considerable work in the gymnasium, both corrective and recrea- tional. The classes range from thirty to sixty pupils and occupy the full time of two instructors. For the past two years we have given a thorough physical examination to the incoming members of the fresh- man class, which should give a fair basis for determining the fitness of the various children for different athletic activities.
While the Director of Music will probably have a full report on this subject, I cannot refrain from expressing considerable satisfaction for the increased interest which is being developed toward band and orchestral music, both in the High School and in the lower grades. It gives a favorable outlook for future development in this line.
For some time past we have thought that the opportunity for developing a school library had been sadly neglected. The chief diffi- culty has been one of expense. This year, for the first time, a real start is being made which will give to our school this much needed fa- cility. We hope that all students will thoroughly familiarize them- selves with our library facilities for reference work so that they may be able to make use of public libraries wherever they may be. We know that such training will be of inestimable value to those going to higher institutions of learning and there are times when practically every person would find it beneficial. We wish to express our appreciation for the co-operation that has been so freely given by our Town Library.
Other activities that have special interest and deserve mention are: our school paper, public debating group, and literary clubs. Through the agency of these organizations many students are putting into prac- tical use the ideas and theories which they have received in class-room work, thus acquiring greater facility and greater confidence in their own powers.
Awards granted to the members of the Class of 1928 Catholic Club Scholarship,
Alma Roche
Monday Club Scholarship, Alumni Scholarships,
Valerie Hersey Ruth Henley Warren Fabyan Paula Kantala John Ghiorse
Teachers' Association Scholarships,
Medal for Meritorious Progress,
Gift of the Class of 1921 Marie Ghiorse
2
Printing
209
Washington and Franklin Medal for Excellence in American History John Ghiorse
In closing we wish to express our appreciation for the gift of three pictures, "Oath of Knighthood", "Lincoln Memorial", and "Original Colored Etching" by Chaban, voted by the Class of 1928 as a gradua- tion gift.
AGRICULTURE
(Report of Mr. Hilmer S. Nelson, Director of Norfolk County Agri- cultural School, Weymouth Branch.)
When we speak of the agriculture that is being taught in the Wey- mouth High School, we associate such teaching with vocational agri- culture where the student learns by doing. Upon signing the enrollment card the student, with the aid of his parents, binds himself to an agreement that he must carry during the four years a suitable home project or a supplement that is equivalent to a home project in the form of supervised agricultural work, either on his own farm or on an approved farm. All projects must be approved by the instructor in order that a satisfactory standard of work may be maintained. A proper correlation should exist between the study of the class room, the home, and the supervised farm project. We strive very earnestly to accomplish this because vocational agriculture emulates a working agriculture.
As the calendar year of 1928 comes to a close, we look back over the months and find a very interesting series of results. On June 21, 1928 four seniors were graduated. In the fall we find three of them entering the Massachusetts Agricultural College for four years study of advanced agriculture. The other senior (the first girl to complete the course) entered the Boston School of Practical Arts. We are glad to know that our graduates follow the vocation for which they have pre- pared. Of the eleven that have graduated since 1925, eight (or 73%) are furthering their efforts in agriculture.
The opening of school on September 4, 1928 showed an enrollment of eighteen students, divided as follows:
Seniors 1
Juniors
6
Sophomores 3
Freshmen 9
-
Total
19
There has been no loss of membership up to January 1, 1929. In comparing enrollments for the last four years we find little variation :
1925 17
1926
18
1927
20
1928 19
The project year, which extends from October 15, 1927 to October 15, 1928, has brought forth some interesting project accomplishments, as follows: 4 gardens, 4 combinations of garden and poultry, 1 combi- nation of a garden and popcorn, another of dairy and sweet corn, another of garden and flowers, and 2 poultry The eleven garden pro- jects totaled 234 acres with an average size of about 14 of an acre; six poultry projects of 158 birds had a flock average of about 26 birds.
From our School Register, beginning September 6, 1927 and end- ing June 21, 1929, we notice the following interesting statistics :-
210
Total Membership
Average Membership 19.48
Average Daily Attendance 18.39
Total Membership 198
Average Memberships 19.48
Per Cent. of Attendance
93.79
There have been included in our course of studies two very practi- cal and interesting subjects-floriculture and forestry. In floriculture, three of the four periods each week are spent in practical work at the greenhouse of Mr. M. P. Ford, of East Weymouth. The seniors and juniors have no set class assignments, but take up seasonal work like the practical florist. An abundance of experience has been acquired, and at this point I wish to thank Mr. Ford for his generous support of this entirely new project, which, I believe, is the only one that has been or is in practical use in the state. Our Forestry project is also practical and has been assigned to the sophomores and fresh- men. A six-acre forest, bordering on the shores of Weymouth Great Pond has been allotted to us by the Water Department of the Town of Weymouth. Every Tuesday morning three periods have been used to work on this project with the various phases of forestry management and reforestation. Many thanks are extended to Mr. Stevens and his Department for their splendid co-operation.
Items of Interest :-
1. The Weymouth Agricultural Club, a real functioning body of the Department, has been most energetic. Our adherence to and close co-operation with the county and state 4-H Club work has been most helpful.
2. Our weekly news items featured in the two Weymouth papers, have brought many favorable comments. Much credit must be given to the student editor, Arthur L. Garland, for his successful efforts. We extend our thanks to Mr. Prescott, of the Weymouth Gazette and Transcript, and to Mr. Mulready, of the Weymouth Item, for the generous allowance of space in their newspapers.
3. The students greatly appreciate the donation of $15.00, given to them by the Monday Club. As a result of this gift, an aquarium is already in use.
4. Nine fairs and shows were attended during the year, and the re- sults of judging and exhibiting were very good. Trips were made to Boston Poultry Show, Union Agricultural Meeting at Worcester, High School Day at Amherst, Norfolk County Fair at Weymouth, Eastern States Exposition at Springfield, Topsfield Fair, New England Fair at Worcester, Brockton Fair and the Norfolk County Poultry Show at Walpole.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR BOYS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL
Report of Oral A. Page, Instructor of Physical Education -
The boys' work in physical education this year has been wonder- fully stimulated by the addition of the new gymnasium and a complete set of apparatus, so that Weymouth now has one of the best equipped indoor plants of any school in the State. The gymna- sium has a spacious floor, high ceiling, and balcony seats on either side of the floor for spectators. The well lighted locker room con- tains five hundred box lockers to accommodate the gymnasium suits and sixty large lockers for the street clothes used alternately by each class.
-
211
The shower bath facilities consist of a line of gang showers op- erated by one control to the desired temperature and finishing with two cold showers. Each boy is required to take a shower bath at the end of each class and as he leaves the shower room he is handed a clean towel to dry himself in the drying room. He leaves this towel in a clothes hamper as he passes out to the dressing room. The towels are sent regularly to the laundry. This towel service is great- ly appreciated by the boys as well as their parents. It eliminates the customary disagreeable odor from the locker room as no soiled towels are stored there and the boys are required to keep their gym suits clean at all times.
The new apparatus added this year includes the following sus- pended apparatus :- climbing ropes, rope ladders, flying rings, and a wall swing-up horizontal ladder. These pieces offer opportunity for exercises from the hanging and climbing positions so valuable to strengthen the chest and straighten the spine and improve posture. Wands, mats, parallel and horizontal bars, a horse, a buck, and a volley ball outfit were also added, as well as balls and other play ma- terial for playing of mass games, so that variety can be given in the pro- gram and a boy can develop skill in apparatus work and tumbling.
The gymnasium work is preceded by a thorough physical exam- ination of the student to find out whether it is safe for him to take gym work and to discover any defects which may be remedied by cor- rective exercises. The pupils are weighed and measured regularly to check up on their rate of growth, general health, and nutrition. They are also checked for posture. These measurements are stimu- lating a keener interest in student health and show some improved posture. Parents could help out the posture drive a great deal by in- sisting on correct sitting, standing, and walking positions in the home.
The gymnasium work for the boys who are passed by the medical examination consists of setting-up exercises, marching tactics, appar- atus work, tumbling, group games, and mass athletics. The course plans to provide the boys with two periods a week of physical exer- cise; stimulate interest in good health and cleanliness ; promote disci- pline and execution of orders given : provide opportunity to develop skill in handling the body; appreciation for playing the game accord- ing to rules and abiding by decisions; and a keen interest in healthy living and true sportsmanship.
For those with remedial defects, corrective classes are organized in small groups. There is a special room for this work with apparatus to help nature in building a sounder body. Notices are sent to the parents of any defects which should be handled under their super- vision such as removal of diseased adenoids and tonsils; eye exam- ination for glasses; and visits to the dentist for necessary work on the teeth.
The work is required of all boys in the seventh and eighth grades and of all freshmen and sophomores in the High School. It is elec- tive for juniors and seniors. Nearly 90 % of the juniors elected gym- nasium and 25% of the seniors. The boys in the Trade School also take gymnasium at least one period per week wherever their program permits. For those whose program does not permit, a special class is run every Tuesday afternoon after school for all Trade School boys wishing to get the work ,
During the fall, cross country running was started for those boys
212
not playing football. Other after school activities include track in the spring, and class basketball during the winter for the mass of boys who do not get opportunity to play on the school teams. A grammar School league has also been organized. Each school in town may send a team to the High School gymnasium once each week during the winter.
The boys coming from the grammar schools are also given oppor- tunity to play mass games, engage in relay races, and do some appa- ratus work. The following schools have taken advantage of this op- portunity :- Hunt, Pratt, Shaw, Bicknell, and Athens.
Plans are already under way for a boys' demonstration for the parents, so that they may see what the school provides for this valu- able part of the children's education. The parents are cordially in- vited to this demonstration and to inspect the new gymnasium.
The boys out for the school athletic teams have a large dressing room by themselves. This is equipped with full length lockers, indi- vidual warm and cold showers, and a drying room. There is also a dressing room, similarly equipped, for the visiting teams.
To supplement the two periods of physical work each week there should be added one period for health training and instruction. The only way to reach the personal lives of all the people is through the training of the children in the public schools. The only successful way to obtain health is to earn it through healthy living. This in- struction program should have the following goals :
1. To establish health habits and standards.
2. To instill a practical knowledge relating to cleanliness and sanitation, food, fresh air, rest, exercise, games, sports, recreation, causes and control of disease.
3. To inspire them with the highest ideal of school and com- munity, and to impress upon their minds those things that make for health, beauty, self betterment, and proper use of leisure.
4. To develop the pupil's sense of responsibility for his own health, his family's health and his community's health.
Instruction should include body structure, its function and care; mental hygiene in relation to the nervous system; posture; nutrition; first-aid and home hygiene.
I also recommend the full time addition of a school nurse to be under the supervision of the school physician. The school now num- bers more than 1200 students and 60 instructors and employees. There should be a skilled person in attendance for first-aid emergencies, student sickness, suspected contagious diseases, supervision of rest rooms, and follow up health work in the student's home.
I further recommend the immediate development of the field op- posite the High School for a play area. This would provide oppor- tunity for outdoor gymnasium classes in the fall and spring, and provide space for mass athletics for the large number of students whose ability does not permit them to play on the school teams. Class leagues could be organized for outdoor sports and material could be developed for school teams. Tennis courts should be included and the field should be large enough to provide space for both boys and girls. The school needs now the same opportunity for outdoor recrea- tion and athletics which the two fine gymnasiums so well provide in- doors.
213
AUTO MECHANICS Report of Lewis H. Bacon, Jr., Instructor
The Auto-Mechanic Department maintains its interest. This is its second year. A large class of freshmen raised the number of stu- dents to thirty-two.
The actual repair work is carried on in a shop run as near to real working conditions as a school can be. The work is upon mach- ines brought in by students and citizens, and includes repair and breakdown as well as general maintenance type jobs. One of the jobs that appeal to the students is the maintenance of two dump trucks owned by the School Department and used for grading, carting ashes, etc.
It is of interest to note the increasing importance of the automo- bile and truck industry in the United States. In 1928. it is estimated that 4,640,000 cars and trucks were produced in this country, valued at wholesale at $3,045,000.000. Compare this to the 1927 output (whole- sale value) of $2,700,705,743. In Massachusetts 751,499 cars and trucks were registered in 1928. These figures plainly show the growth in the last two years.
Freshmen receive practical instruction in repairs, and as the classes advance, more technique and theory are introduced. 'T'he modern tendency toward flat-rates and machine work versus hand work is brought out in the course to make the school shop realistic and to prepare the student for the working conditions of real life. The features of tool-room, time cards, job sheets, and stock charges train the boys to think in the ways of the garage repairmen.
The mechanical equipment of the shop is modern and includes the latest type of devices used in high grade repair shops.
With a knowledge of the fundamentals and familiarity with the apparatus likely to be met in garages, the student is prepared to win his place when he is thrown upon his own responsibility. We do not mean to stop at this point, however. The aim of the Vocational School of Weymouth is to make better craftsmen, and the student goes out with a good foundation of academic subjects, emphasizing mathe- matics, English, science, and drawing.
It is interesting to know that the auto-repair class from the agri- cultural course has increased.
Trips to the industrial plants awaken the interest and broaden the knowledge of the students.
CARPENTRY
Report of King O. Windsor, Instructor in Carpentry
The object of the Carpentry Course as offered at this school is to give boys fourteen years of age and older a secondary, or high school education by means of offering instruction in Carpentry under actual trade conditions, and some of the general educational subjects taught in high schools.
About one-half of the boy's time cf a 35 hour week is spent under working conditions as actually found in the trade where he is requir- ed to learn and meet trade standards of work with respect to quality and quantity of output. This instruction is directed by skilled journ- eymen carpenters.
The course of instruction covers three years of which practically the whole of the first year is spent in the shop where the beginner is taught to acquire some skill in the use of hand tools and bench
214
work, later learning the operations and uses of various woodworking machines.
The second and third years are spent outside of the shop in the actual construction of garages, dwellings, concrete form work, remod- eling, etc., this work entailing the use of the steel square, blueprint reading, estimating, laying out and other related subjects in which instruction is given at the proper time.
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.