USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1930 > Part 21
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James Humphrey School: Hunt School:
Pratt School:
243
Shaw School:
New bubblers in sink Grounds regraded
Playground resurfaced Exterior painted
In a building of this size a certain amount of painting must be done each year in. order that the burden may not be too heavy in any single year.
Fire wells (for safety of children) and new entrances in old building. New lunch room
SCHOOL CENSUS
(as of October 1, 1930)
5 to 7 years
7 to 14 years
14 to 16 years
Total
BOYS
Ward I
77
368
93
538
Ward II
87
420
137
644
Ward III
63
254
60
377
Ward IV
51
194
66
311
Ward V
41
231
47
319
Total
319
1467
403
2189
GIRLS
Ward I
105
339
94
538
Ward II
96
448
146
690
Ward III
75
251
59
385
Ward IV
44
242
62
348
Ward V
58
194
45
297
Total
378
1474
406
2258
GRAND TOTAL 697
2941
809
4447
DISTRIBUTION OF ABOVE MINORS
Public day school
453
2663
772
3888
Private schools
57
269
25
351
Not enrolled in any school
187
6
3
196
Working
0
0
8
8
County and State schools
0
3
1
4
697
2941
809
4447
Edward B. Nevin School:
Pond School: High School:
244
Attention is directed to a new law which went into effect August 25, 1930, providing for an additional census of crippled children and for home instruction.
General Laws-Chapter 71-Section 46 A, as amended by Acts of 1930, Chapter 368.
"The school committee of every town shall annually ascer- tain, under regulations prescribed by the department and the commissioner of public welfare, the number of children of school age and resident therein who are crippled. In any town where, at the beginning of any school year, there are five or more children so crippled as to make attendance at school not feasible, and who are not otherwise provided for, the school committee shall, and in any town where there are less than five may, employ a teacher or teachers on full or part time, who shall, with the approval in each case of the department and said commissioner, offer in- struction to said children in their homes or at such places and under such conditions as the committee may arrange."
According to this act the committee will be obliged to hire a teacher for the individual instruction of such pupils immediately. Nine children between the ages of seven and sixteen were not enrolled in any school on October 1st. One of this number has since died. Three were under the doctor's care and three were receiving private instruction.
ATTENDANCE
(For school year ended June 19, 1930)
HIGHEST BUILDING
Per cent.
Jefferson
97.03
HIGHEST ROOMS
Edward B. Nevin
Grade VIII
98.41
Jefferson
Grade IV
98.26
James Humphrey
Grade III
97.75
James Humphrey
Grade VI
97.71
Junior Annex
Grade VIII
97.45
Jefferson
Grade III
97.44
Junior Annex
Grade VII
97.44
Jefferson
Grade II
97.09
Hunt
Grade VIII
97.07
James Humphrey
Grade V
97.05
James Humphrey
Grade VI
97.00
The attendance has shown a most gratifying improvement dur- ing the past school year. In addition to the good records above noted, seventeen rooms in town averaged in excess of 96% and nine- teen rooms in excess of 95%, showing a record of better than 95% for practically one-half of the elementary school rooms in town. Much credit is due to the spirit of co-operation existing in this matter of attendance between the parents, pupils, teachers and principals.
245
EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES
The figures given below under the grouping of minors should be considered in light of the fact that they cover the number of different pupils employed in town throughout the year. The number employed at any one time is much less than the total number for the year.
Weymouth Minors between the ages of 14 and 16:
Total number in Town. October 1 809
Total number employed in Town 21
Total Number employed elsewhere 7
Outside Minors between ages of 14 and 16: Total Number employed in Town 1
On December 31, the actual number of minors employed in town was fourteen. Two others living in this town were employed else- where, making a total employed of sixteen Weymouth minors be- tween the ages of fourteen and sixteen.
WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL (Report of F. W. Hilton, Principal)
In submitting my annual report, I wish again to emphasize the needs of greater care on the part of students and parents in choos- ing a course suitable for the child. I believe that the teacher who has last been in contact with the child is most capable of giving good advice in the matter of the choice of a suitable course in the high school. We find our largest number of failures occur in the earlier part of the freshman year. This may be owing in part to the newness of surroundings and the fact that the child comes into contact with a large number of different teachers, and probably re- ceives less individual consideration. We often-times find that pupils who have small scholastic ability and poor application choose col- lege preparatory work which demands a fair foundation and strict application to business. Having chosen such a course, the student must pursue the subjects a reasonable length of time before the new teachers are capable of judging his ability; and thus he finds it too late to go into other classes and catch up without losing a year's schooling. About the best thing for us to do in such cases is to reduce the number of subjects and allow the students to continue these throughout the freshman year.
We are at present using twenty-nine home rooms, besides are sufficient to meet the needs and demands of the various enter- ing students.
Our enrollment, which in 1920 amounted to less than 400, has steadily increased until during the present year we have enrolled a total of 1030. While the people of the town express considerable surprise at our growth, I find that it is a general truth throughout the United States that the high school population has increased on an average of 14 times as fast as the population of the towns.
We are at present using twenty-nine home rooms, besides the special rooms for science, physical education, sewing, cooking, drawing, office practice, and typewriting. The seating capacity of
246
our home rooms is 1099. With a new freshman class numbering be- tween 300 and 400, and with a graduating class of about 150, it is quite evident that it will be difficult for us to carry on with the same home room seating capacity.
In addition to the senior high school, our building is accomo- dating 217 junior high students and 30 students in the opportunity classes. Two rooms are now used for the opportunity group, and eleven for the junior high group. These, with the addition of 115 trade students, make a grand total of 1392. This should give the average citizen an idea that the building is being used to its full capacity.
The classification of students in the senior high school is as follows :-
By Courses:
Freshmen Sophomores Juniors Seniors Post Grad Total
Classical
105
68
54
40
267
Technical
44
26
21
16
1
108
Business
180
171
90
70
2
513
General
17
24
8
12
61
Agricultural
7
7
8
3
25
Practical Arts
24
12
13
7
56
By Sex:
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
166
211
377
Sophomores
126
182
308
Juniors
79
115
194
Seniors
43
105
148
Post Graduates
1
2
3
Sources of Students in Freshman Class:
Total
Athens
34
Bicknell
37
Junior Annex
112
Hunt
51
Nevin
47
Pratt
20
Shaw
9
Other Schools
39
Repeaters
28
The regular routine of the school has gone on with very little friction, and the attitude of the students and the teachers through- out the year has been most satisfactory. We were very sorry to lose John Griffin, who has been one of our most helpful teachers for several years past, but wish him all success in his larger field of endeavor in the Boston Schools. Miss Mayer has returned after a year of teaching in France, and Miss Canning has been granted a year's absence for similiar work. Many of the teachers have taken professional improvement courses, and all have shown a pro- gressive spirit. We have every reason to feel that they are a credit to their profession.
247
We have with us as usual the ever present difficulty of rous- ing the poorer students to maintain a reasonable standard of effi- ciency, and find that many cases of failure might be corrected by regularity of attendance, and regularity of home study. These two important factors must be dealt with largely through the aid of parents, and I am sure that any effort in cooperation will be appreciated. With four and sometimes five periods out of a poss- ible six occupied by recitations, any parent has a right to assume that a child should be doing a reasonable amount of home study, and unless this is done regularly, a student should expect to fail.
The addition of an athletic director for the town is a step in the right direction in stimulating interest in sports, and I believe that in a few years the results will be very much worth while. Each freshman class is given a thorough physical examination in order to determine their fitness for gymnasium work and athletic sports in general. Large numbers are participating in inter-class sports, and we feel that the physical well-being of the students is well car- ed for. We have recently secured the services of a school nurse, who is looking after individual cases both in school and in the home. I would suggest that some arrangement should be made whereby a doctor would be present at all football games, in order to give first aid in case of accident. While these innovations may at first appear expensive, we feel sure that the health and physical well-being of the student is fully as important as a well-trained mind.
In addition to the usual choral work, much improvement is being made by individual attention, in musical instruments by Mr. Calderwood, and in vocal training by Mr. Munroe. This is bound to make itself felt by marked improvement in our band, orchestra, and choruses.
I wish to give special mention to our school paper, which is supervised by Mr. Brown, and printed by our school press. It has already twice received a meritorious award from the judging board of school papers in this district.
Our library is supplying a long felt need, and at present num- bers approximately 2000 volumes. We are taking twenty-five maga- zines, two daily newspapers, and one weekly. We have increased our facilities by adding 426 new books since January 1, 1930. I believe the state requirements suggest that we need approximately 4000 volumes in a school of this size, and we hope in time to attain this objective. Special effort is made to teach entering classes how to use the library, time being devoted to classroom work in this subject by the librarian. While we appreciate the value of reading, we hope parents will not allow students to use too much time in reading fiction. Emphasis on this kind of reading is apt to increase the need for excitement, and destroy the taste for more serious work in subjects which lack this factor.
It is the duty of the school and the teaching staff to do all in its power to aid students in their effort to obtain an education, and I trust that both students and parents will be free to make known any difficulties which may arise. I am sure that only through co-operation shall we get the best results.
248
The following awards were given for excellence in scholarship: Monday Club Alice Emilia Olson Weymouth Teacher's Association
Dorothy Louise Bryer Mary DiLorenzo Ruth Bella Reed
Weymouth High School Alumni Association
Ruth Bella Reed
Weymouth Catholic Club
Mary DiLorenzo
Medal for Meritorious Progress (Gift of Class of 1921)
John Russell Tower
Washington and Franklin Medal Mary DiLorenzo
(For excellence in American History)
In closing, allow me to thank you and your committee for your helpful attitude and loyal support.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of Francis E. Whipple, Jr., Director
Under present-day conditions, employers are becoming more and more unwilling to train young workers to enter their shops, and logically turn to that agency which is charged with the duty of preparing boys and girls for life- the public school They are demanding that the school prepare those students who are not interested in a college course definitely for some useful occu- pation. This is the purpose of the Weymouth Vocational School. Here we take boys who are mechanically inclined and who have decided that they will follow a skilled trade for their live- lihood and equip them, under expert supervision, with sufficient real, practical training to enable them to enter their trade with the standing of advanced apprentices.
Employers realize the value of this training in their work and their approval of the work of the school is shown by the way graduates are absorbed. This year, admittedly a poor one for em- ployment conditions, more than 80% of the graduates entered the trade for which they were trained. In the Automobile and Shoemak- ing courses all the boys entered these trades.
SOURCES OF STUDENTS
It has always been known that pupils enter the Vocational school from several different grades in school, but just what that range was has not been so well known. From the records it appears that only 69% enter from the eighth grade. The balance of 31% is made up of those who have attended high school for one, two or three years, divided as follows: freshman class, 23%; sophomore class, 6%; and the junior class, 2%.
Of course, the reasons behind the change of course are often obscure. Perhaps the one most often expressed is that the boy's
249
first choice was made without giving sufficient consideration to all sides of the matter. It is surprising to see how many children are influenced in choice of course by the fact that some friend is going to take the same one.
Another reason may be that at fourteen the boy is not in a position to say definitely what vocation he will follow and so choose a course of general application. In a year or two plans crystallize and his application for trade work follows. The answer to this condition may be the so-called 6-3-3 plan with the students admitted after completing the ninth grade.
With some students achievement is the determining factor. Everyone likes to be successful in what he does and if he falls below the standard, he will turn to something else with more prom- ise for him. On the reason behind it all depends his success in trade. work. If the right mental equipment is not present his failure will be just as complete. If he is simply uninterested, then his awaken- ing may be astonishing in its completeness.
TOTAL ENROLLMENT 1930-1931
Department
I
II
III
Total
Automobile Repair
21
8
11
40
Carpentry
8
9
11
28
Printing
9
3
8
20
Shoemaking
7
11
9
27
Total
45
31
39
115
The enrollment for the present school year stands at approxi- mately the same figure as last year as far as the total is concerned, but there seems to be a continued trend toward Automobile Re- pair in the elections of the freshman class. Twenty-one boys were admitted to this course. If all who applied were admitted there would be thirty-five in the freshman class. Seven of the difference were placed on the waiting list, four took other trade courses and four took high school courses. The reason for . this trend may be that automobiles are in universal use and hence the large number of garages and service stations which offer ready opportunity for employment. The lower maximum wage scale in this trade does not seem to have much retarding effect on the . boy's choice of course however. In all trades taught here there is ample, if not readily apparent, opportunity for employment for the young man who shows intelligence and initiative and at high- er ultimate wage scales.
DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
In the Carpentry department there has been some out-door construction done together with a wide range of very good cabi- net work. This included completion of a new toilet at the Voca- tional School; complete rebuilding and refurnishing the chem- ical and physical laboratories at the High School, with new lockers tables and cabinets; wardrobe lockers for the old part of the High School with sliding doors; building and installing all of the scen- ery used in plays and operetta conducted by the High School.
250
In the Automobile department some of the difficulties created by the large numbers applying for admission have been solved by the addition of a new instructor, but working space is still a very pressing problem. In the shop there is room for only seven cars during working time and with the present enrollment it is neces- sary to have twenty boys in the shop at one time, putting three boys on a car. It is obvious that cramping the class in this way not only prevents teachers and students from doing their best work but also increases the danger of accidents to boys. The only solution is a larger and better designed shop for this group.
The Printing department continues to function in a commenda- ble fashion and the enrollment remains at about the same figure as last year. The work done by the boys in the shop is always of a high quality and reflects a good deal of credit on the whole school.
The Shoemaking School, has, of course, suffered to some extent from the present employment situation and we have not tried to operate at maximum capacity. While the students have not been working on full time, yet there has been a satisfactory amount for them, and even now the boys are working more and more days at the factory. Undoubtedly this experiment in trade training is proving to be a success and will remain a permanent part of the Weymouth School System.
NEW FEATURES
Two new features which tend to keep the school before the public and to arouse enthusiasm among the students were intro- duced this year.
The first was an exhibition held in March. The program began in the hall with musical selections by the entire school and a short talk by an authority on vocational education. Following these exer- cises the shops and classrooms were open for inspection. It is es- timated that more than 300 people attended during the evening. Everyone seemed to be impressed with the excellence of the work being done in all the shops and the very fine spirit shown by the students. A new catalog of information concerning the school was distributed and gave a great many people a tangible memento of the occasion. This exhibition was such a success that it is planned to make it an annual event.
The second feature was special athletics for vocational school students. A league was formed among similiar schools in Eastern Massachusetts including Quincy, Everett, Somerville, Haverhill and Lowell. During January and February basketball games were played with each of these schools with a trophy offered for the team winning the most games. Weymouth, although never having had regularly organized sports, played some very fast and excit- ing games, and won third place, headed only by Haverhill and Lowell. Baseball was played in the late spring with teams from the league but without league sponsorship. The vocational school had a very strong team and won all but two of the games played.
In the fall a regular football team was not attempted because of the expense involved. but many of the boys were members of the
251
high school football team and assisted materially in the season's success. Arrangements were made so that they might be excused from class for practice.
A large part of the success of our. athletics was due to members of the faculty who, often at great inconvenience to themselves, donated their time and automobiles to transport the teams to and from the various games.
IMPROVEMENT IN COURSES OF STUDY
During the past year much attention has been paid to im- proving the content of the courses in related and academic sub- jects. A new series of textbooks for first year classes in English has been introduced and the whole course in English has been thorough- ly gone over and revised to meet the needs of the students. Science particularly in the Senior year, has become specialized and is dis- tinctly related to the boy's trade. The different courses in Mathema- tics are being continually checked for better subject matter and ways of handling so that it will become a useful tool to the student. The objective in mind is to make all the courses of practical use in the boy's trade and to have them in a form that 'he will be able to use.
The past year has been a very pleasant one with a very help- ful attitude displayed by all who have been connected with the school and its work.
AGRICULTURE
(Report of Hilmer S. Nelson, Agricultural Instructor in charge of the Weymouth Branch of the Norfolk County Agricultural School)
As the year of 1930 comes to a close we find that several interesting and instructive steps 'have been taken to broaden and strengthen the foundation of the teachings of vocational Agri- culture. Vocationally we learn "to do by doing". The reports of the students in their home project work, which closed October 15, 1930, verifies this statement because from a total of twenty-four students enrolled, twenty-two have successfully carried out thirty- nine projects, twenty-two of which were poultry and the balance of seventeen in gardens. From the varied practises received in these projects, a vast amount of valuable experience must have been secured. Although the actual receipts received from these projects were not large, they represented good, hard, honest work on the part of the student. Backing the student we find the parent who has always been very willing to assist in the support of the home project, which necessarily involved financial support.
The following home project figures may be of interest; the twenty-two poultry projects contained a total of 628 adult birds and 1207 chicks while the garden projects, which might be classed as a "secondary" project, contained a little over two acres. A fair profit was received from each poultry project but in our gardens, a loss was evident in nearly every case. This loss can probably be accounted for in the very long and dry growing season and most unfavorable weather conditions, plus a not too good market. Even under these adverse conditions the poultry and garden projects re- turned to the student in products sold $6158.48.
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Beside their home project work, twenty-three of the students did a great deal of what we call "Other Supervised Agricultural Work", which refers to work accomplished outside of school time not including the home project. The time spent on this work amounted to 12,799 hours with a fair value of $3100. This was an in- crease of about 4,000 hours over last year. This supervised agri- cultural and farm work is very valuable because it aids greatly in securing experience in good as well as poor practises.
School closed June 19, 1930 with twenty-three students enroll- ed with the loss of one student during the school year on account of moving out of town. Out of this number, five were graduated with four presently engaged in some form of agricultural work (two attending the two-year course at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture of the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Amherst, one working at an up-to-date poultry farm, and the other managing his own home poultry project). The opening of school on September 3, 1930 showed an enrollment of twenty-five students; since that time, one has left on account of moving out of town and two new students have been admitted, which are presently divided as fol- lows: seniors-three, juniors __ eight, sophomores-six, freshmen. eight, and one special part time student. The total enrollments since 1925 have been as follows; 1925-17; 1926-18; 1927_20; 1928- 19; 1929-25; and 1930-26. Applications for admittance to the fresh- man class this last fall numbered fourteen but on account of unsat- isfactory qualifications, only seven were accepted; this, at least, shows a healthy condition.
Items of Interest:
1. The outstanding addition to our course this year. is the in- clusion to some real practical work on a practical, business-like dairy farm owned by Mr. Albert Kress of Hingham. Since the start of school, the Senior-Junior group has enjoyed one whole morning each week in the actual performance of the many rou- tine jobs on such a farm. This work included the cutting of en- silage corn and putting it in the silo by machine, the plowing of corn stubble land and seeding same down to winter rye, the plow- ing of green-sod land, the spreading of manure with spreader on an alfalfa field, the detailed work in the dairy-barn and milk house, the working of plans for a new bull house ,and many other valuable jobs. The various jobs are followed up in the class-room with theory and discussion, which tends to round out the whole scheme of vocational agriculture very nicely.
2. The formation of a Weymouth Chapter of the Massachu- setts Young Farmers' Association, which is a branch of the nat- ional organization, Future Farmers of America.
3. Our adherence to and close cooperation with the 4-H club work of the County and State.
4. The continuance of our Forestry Project work in con- junction with land owned by the Town of Weymouth.
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