USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1937 > Part 12
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HIGH SCHOOL (Report of Mr. Wallace L. Whittle, Principal)
In submitting my report for 1937, I should like to call attention to the fact that our classes are still large. In many cases there are thirty-five pupils per teacher. This number can be accommodated as far as rooms are concerned, but the individual attention received by each pupil must necessarily be limited. While this condition exists, the school needs the utmost co-operation from the parents in regard to the amount of studying done by the pupils in the preparation of their work. Lack of study often leads to an indifferent attitude toward all school work and eventual failure. I would suggest that each parent ob- tain from the pupil a weekly program of his subjects. From this pro- gram the amount of outside work to be done per day may easily be estimated and checked.
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Along this same line, the results of a recent survey are interesting. It was found that to be an honor student almost perfect attendance was necessary, and that a pupil being absent more than ten times usually obtained marks that were below average. From these results it would seem that the value obtained from school work depended largely upon the attendance.
It also seems that a great many failures are due to the fact that many pupils are taking the wrong courses. It appears to be the ten- dency to elect any course which at the moment offers the line of least resistance. After the program for the year is made at the high school, it is often impossible to make further changes. For this reason, I would recommend that the parents of incoming freshmen study care- fully the courses offered, and if confronted by any question or doubt, consult with the grammar school principals or the high school office as to the best method of procedure for the subjects elected. For pupils already in high school, the office is willing at all times to assist in any way for the best interest of the student.
The following tables will show the distribution of our pupils by courses and classes at the end of the first marking period.
ENROLLMENT
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
286
231
517
Sophomores
209
207
416
Juniors
124
176
300
Seniors
I47
170
317
Postgraduates
IO
I2
22
776
796
1572
BY COURSES
Freshmen Sophomores Juniors
Seniors
Postgrad.
Total
Classical
I35
105
56
61
9
366
Technical
50
23
25
30
4
I32
Business
214
195
179
I45
7
740
General
9
23
26
44
2
104
Agricultural
16
12
6
8
42
Practical Arts
31
17
8
9
65
Vocational
62
41
20
123
517
416
300
317
22
1572
SOURCES OF FRESHMEN
Abigail Adams
28
Bicknell
90
Hunt
72
Junior Annex
77
Pratt
41
Shaw
IO
Edward B. Nevin
33
Pond
31
Other schools
96
Repeaters
39
517
135
The transition period, due to change in administration, has been covered, I believe, without noticeable readjustment. It seems to me that this in itself is a wonderful tribute to my predecessor, Mr. Hilton. The organization and morale of the teachers and pupils under his guidance were of such high order that the school carried on under its own momentum. We all feel that we have lost a real friend, a true pubic servant, a teacher who at all times worked for the best interests of his pupils, even to the subservience of self. Mr. Hilton's loss is keenly felt and will continue to be felt by all who were privileged to know him.
The three new rooms added last summer were a welcome and neces- sary addition. Even with them, our building is practically filled to its capacity. These rooms are particularly sunny and well lighted, and were erected at a minimum of cost.
Also during the summer, our stair wells in the old original building were refinished and shut off from the rest of the building by fireproof doors and walls. This action has eliminated a possible fire hazard and also gives an improved appearance.
While the population of other schools has tended to decline for the last two or three years, our high school has steadily increased. This year our enrollment has reached what should be the peak for the next few years. The grammar schools have been levelling off for the past two years, and in the normal course of events the high school should follow.
Our cafeteria has again been honored as the one in this part of the State to be selected as a model for delegates to visit. We have had visitors this year from many cities in all parts of the country, including New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and Seattle.
As usual, we have carried on our extra curricular activities, includ- ing the various clubs, to which we have added a library club and a science club. Our athletic teams have done well and are at present equipped better than at any other time in the school's history.
I should like to call attention to the part played by our band at the football games. The members have always giyen an excellent per- formance, and are the recipients of many favorable comments from not only our townspeople but surrounding towns as well.
Continuing the practice started last year, the Government allows a few needy pupils to earn up to $6.00 per month at the school. The pupils have taken full advantage of this, and the sum of money, while not large, has been greatly appreciated.
We have been able to give several scholarships and should like at this time to give credit to both the donors and recipients of the follow- ing awards.
136
The Monday Club of Weymouth Weymouth Teachers' Association Weymouth Teachers' Association Weymouth Teachers' Association Weymouth High School Alumni Association Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship Maude A. Hun Scholarship Washington and Franklin Medal Class of 1921 Medal for Meritorious Progress Daughters of the American Revolution Medal
Lewis Loring Arthur Seller Stanley Marple Miriam Nash Winifred Clare James Baird Arthur Seller Irene Thorp Theodore McKenna Florence Hawes
In closing, I should like to thank the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, the High School faculty, and the students for their splendid co-operation in what might have been a very difficult period.
AGRICULTURE
(Report of Mr. Hilmer S. Nelson, Agricultural Instructor .in charge of the Weymouth Branch of the Norfolk County Agricultural School)
This report brings the twenty-first year of continuous agricultural instruction to a successful close. We have profited by our ex- periences and gained by our mistakes. The total enrollment for the past school year (1936-1937) was forty-two. Since 1925 this figure has been as follows:
1937
42
1932
21
1927
20
1936
38
1931
26
1926
20
1935
35
1930
27
1925
I7
1934
29
1929
23
1933
26
1928
23
This yearly total enrollment may be divided into classes, showing a rather interesting division of students for the past ten years.
1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928
Seniors
8
8
I
4
6
7
3
5
4
Juniors
IO
9
8
3
5
6
8
3
8
I
Sophomores
9
9
12
9
6
5
7
II
4
II
Freshmen
15
I2
14
I3
9
3
8
8
6
Special
I
Total
42
38
35
29
26
21
26
27
9 I 23 I
23
Taking any one senior class and following it back to its freshman year, one will note that it takes a great deal of purpose and constancy to continue from year to year. It will also be noted that there seems to be a gradual withdrawal from the first year to the fourth, or last year. For example, the class of 1937 started as a freshman group with 13 students, dropped to 12 in the sophomore year, then to 9 in the junior year, and finally to 8 in the senior year. This is not an unhealthy situ- ation. As we only eliminate those applicants who have no earnest de- sire to follow agriculture vocationally, we strive to give all new students
137
every possible opportunity to make good, for they know that certain departmental requirements must be fulfilled each year in order to progress satisfactorily.
Our graduating class of eight seniors were as follows:
Charles M. Diersch Kenneth C. Gardner R. Woodrow Hersey (Hingham) David Inglis Paul S. Lehtola Leo F. Mckinnon John E. Reidy, Jr. Russell H. Wood (Braintree)
Of this group, six have continued in agricultural enterprises, as follows : one is a student at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at Amherst; two are working for greenhouse concerns; two are working on poultry farms (one as a foreman) ; and one is on his own farm. This is a rather pleasing follow-up of their training.
As the home ownership projects have grown smaller, there has been a tendency for the student to secure his agricultural practice work on practical farming enterprises. This can be accounted for, I believe, by the fact that the family income has of necessity become smaller, and the boy, in order to fulfill his requirements, finds it necessary to seek work elsewhere than at home. This period of work usually occurs during his summer vacation, or earlier if necessary. Practice work on well conducted farms is much to be preferred to experience that might be secured on a home ownership project of no real economic value ex- cept for the few products it might furnish to the home. With this in mind, each year we strive to guide the students to secure their experi- ence under actual farming situations. We feel that it is best for the student to go out and get the job himself, of course lending advice and assistance when and where expedient, thus giving him a responsibility which is one of the tools to success.
There were twenty-three home ownership projects owned by eighteen students, divided as follows: nineteen poultry projects, with a total of 578 adult birds and 111 chicks; three garden projects, with a total area of some 17,000 square feet; and one dairy project, consist- ing of four pure bred Guernsey animals. The actual receipts from these twenty-three projects were $2,073.46; the actual expenses, ex- cluding the students' own labor, were $1,069.48, leaving a balance profit of $1,003.98. The home ownership project, if economically large enough, is one of the best mediums by which the student can secure the greatest amount of actual and profitable experience. I hope the future may produce more projects of this type.
In the field of farm supervised work, we find a situation that meets the needs which the student cannot find at home, a place where he can gain real farm experiences. This past year has been most profitable not only in the number of hours the students have worked, but also in the type and kind of work they have enjoyed. Many of the employers
138
have been well satisfied and have asked that the boys return next year. Thirty-eight students reported 38,635 hours, with a value of $7,510.74. This type of work included jobs in greenhouses and nurseries, poultry farms, market gardens, dairy farms, general farms, landscaping, care of small estates, shade tree care and forestry, and many other minor situations.
Our teaching of vocational agriculture has been improved during the past year by the addition of two motion picture projectors, one silent and one sound. Together with our stereoptican lantern and strip film projector, we are able to meet most of the situations in visual edu- cation, as co-operative contact has been made with the Massachusetts State College, the United States Department of Agriculture, and vari- ous commercial concerns for the free use of films.
Two students have done exceptionally fine work during the past school year. First, Paul S. Lehtola of South Weymouth, a senior, won the National 4-H Demonstration Contest at the National Dairy Show in Columbus, Ohio, in competition with thirty-eight other State teams, thereby entitling him to a $400.00 scholarship; his assistant was Philip Bamberg of the Norfolk County Agricultural School at Walpole. Second, Donald E. Yourell of East Weymouth, a junior, represented the State in a National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest in New York City. Both of these boys are to be congratulated.
Again we wish to thank those people who have given so generously of their time and experience in assisting the work of this department. Particularly do we want to thank the following, who have made it possible for our several groups to enjoy practical experience on their successful farming enterprises :
Mr. Albert H. Kress, Hingham Mr. Paul E. Kress, Hingham
Arnold Brothers, Braintree Mr. Lester L. Lovell, Hingham Mr. William Ralph, South Weymouth
Mr. E. A. Hirt, South Weymouth Mr. Norman E. Belcher, East Weymouth
Dairy Market garden Market garden Greenhouse Greenhouse Poultry Poultry
To Mr. John B. Farrar, my assistant, I owe a great deal; his co- operation and assistance at all times have been most welcome and help- ful. To Mr. Parker T. Pearson, Superintendent of Schools, and to Mr. Wallace L. Whittle, Principal of the High School, may I extend my appreciation for their friendly co-operation in supporting the activ- ities of this department.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
(Report of Mr. Francis E. Whipple, Jr., Director)
Last year my report stressed the need in this community for the extension of vocational opportunities for our youth. I suggested that so many people were seeking employment in so-called white collar jobs
139
that they were competing among themselves for work, with the inevit- able result that salaries would be forced down to a hopelessly low point. This tendency results in a shortage of men trained for a trade and leaves the avenue wide open for ambitious young men to enter an occupation where there will be a demand for skilled workmen and where wages will not be lowered by an excess of available help.
I suggested that we could best extend our courses in three definite directions. Briefly, these recommendations were :
1. Inaugurate an entirely new trade course. Perhaps the best such course would be in sheet metal. A wide field is opening up in this industry, with the greater application' of sheet metal work in industry and through the introduction of air conditioning.
2. Bring the related instruction in printing up to a higher stand- ard by appointing another teacher to devote his time to the matter. At present, the related work is divided among four teachers who are individually doing a commendable job, but are not trade trained. A printer would have a better background of experience and could cor- relate the instruction to the better advantage of the boys.
3. Establish a General Vocational Department. Such a depart- ment would offer a short course, not over a year in length, and would be planned especially for those who are not able to carry the full vo- cational program. It would provide an environment of industry with- out many of the technical phases handled in the regular courses, and would provide a place for those who must be admitted from the seventh and eighth grades without regular promotion. A wide range of shop subjects would be handled, including repairing of home electrical ap- pliances, simple wiring, sheet metal work, iron work, woodworking, in- cluding furniture repairing and odd jobbing, automobile service station and filling station work, such as polishing, cleaning upholstery, checking tires, batteries, radiators, greasing, changing oil, etc.
A large unexpected increase in the high school population made room for these proposed extensions unavailable this year. Since these new courses would go a long way toward meeting community needs and aid materially in improving the quality of our instruction, I believe they should be put into effect without delay.
In April we joined with the Agricultural and Household Arts Departments in a public exhibition and open house. The program opened in the auditorium with a beautiful style show of gowns and dresses made by the girls, followed by a motion picture showing Weymouth girls and boys at work in classroom and shop. After the exercises, the guests visited the various classes and inspected the work. In spite of very rainy weather that evening, it is estimated that more than 1,200 people were in attendance.
The motion picture shown at the exhibition has since been given many times at churches, Rotary Clubs, and schools. It was shown by
140
invitation at the summer conference of vocational teachers and directors at Fitchburg and received very favorable comment. It has proved a valuable agent in bringing information about the school to the atten- tion of the general public.
An invitation was extended to the school through the State De- partment of Education to exhibit our products at the Brockton Fair in September. Although the fair came during the week immediately following the opening of school, the faculty and students assembled a large display of finished products. Many pieces of woodworking, speci- mens of printing, and blueprints from the drafting room were dis- played around the booth, with the center part given over to a display of automobile tools and equipment and benches for demonstrations by students. These demonstrations were carried on every day and eve- ning, and showed different phases of our instruction. The motion pic- ture was run at frequent intervals and attracted large crowds of spec- tators. Mr. John R. Hall, of South Weymouth, very generously gave his time to supervise the exhibit during the daytime while school was in session. The teachers took turns in attending the display every evening.
The Automobile Repair Department continues to attract the larg- est number of boys, but because of the smaller size of the senior class, it has a smaller total enrollment than last year. Progress has been made in teaching automobile fender work and spray painting; but before we can undertake this work seriously, provision must be made for a spray painting enclosure conforming with the rules of the State Department. The installing of a lift to facilitate the work and to mdoernize our equipment is recommended.
The Cabinetmaking Department is manufacturing for the high school two hundred and ten lift-lid pupils' desks to replace obsolete and unsatisfactory open-front desks in five of the rooms. A complete set of double desks of special design is being made for the agricultural class- 100m. These desks have positions for two students, with separate banks of drawers for books and reference materials. This fall, a carpenter has been employed, whose duty it is to take care of repairs and general maintenance at the high school and other school buildings. This has Leen a great help in conducting cabinetmaking classes on a systematic basis, and makes it unnecessary for the instructor to leave his shop to take care of minor repairs at some distant point.
In a national contest among students of printing sponsored by a prominent ink manufacturer, one of our students, William MacIntire, was successful in winning first honorable mention. The first prize was a scholarship at Carnegie Institute of Technology, and the second prize was a free trip to New York City. William, who came third, was the only winner of any kind in New England. He received a valuable set of books on color and a fine portfolio of modern French color printing.
Very little modernization was undertaken in the print shop this year ; hence, next year it may be imperative to replace a good deal of
141
cur older and very much worn type faces with new. Lighting, especial- ly in the composing room, is still a problem, and an opportunity may be found this year to install several new windows in the blank section of wall along one side. The Advisory Committee strongly recommends the installation of an automatic press, such as a Miehle Vertical or a Kelly. Automatic presses have been almost a necessity in the printing industry for the past twenty years, and hand feeding is practically obso- lete. If we expect to continue to place our boys in this trade, we must try to keep up with standard industrial practices.
The enrollment figures up to December 23 are shown in the fol- lowing table :
I
II
III
P. G.
Total
Auto Repair
33
20
9
I
63
Cabinetmaking
6
7
5
-
18
Printing
25
14
5
44
Total
64
41
19
I
125
These figures show an increase of four over the corresponding period last year, and an increase of eleven over the same period two years ago. Five freshmen came from grammar school without regular promotions, while twenty-six attended high school for various periods from a few weeks up through graduation. Such a wide spread of previ- ous educational attainments in the same group makes it especially difficult to secure uniform results, and usually results in failure for many who otherwise might keep up with the work, and dissatisfaction for those better prepared. Forty-three come from towns outside of Weymouth, including Abington, Boston, Braintree, Brockton, Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanson, Hingham, Mansfield, Pembroke, Rockland, and Whitman.
I should like at this time to express my sincere appreciation for the confidence and support which have been so freely given the past year by all with whom I have been in contact.
COURSES OF STUDY
(Report of Flora Haviland McGrath, Director of Courses of Study)
Following the precedent of the past four years, - to revise a course of study or edit a new one each year, - it gives me a modicum of satisfaction to announce the completion of the "Outline for General Science for Grades VII and VIII."
SCIENCE
This outline is the present answer to a growing demand for gen- eral science in those grades where an awakening interest in natural phenomena and a desire for information about scientific facts begin to foment.
The program, which consists of one formal science lesson a week, two class experiments a month, the requirement of a few simple home experiments, and a science club, is organized with the intention of
142
achieving a high correlation with other subjects in the curriculum. In connection with this outline, the club activity especially, which corre- lates with the club work as suggested in the character education out- line, I consider to be one of the most valuable contributions which the school can make to the social and individual development of the child. It calls for co-operation, teamwork, individual initiative, and a re- sponsive and healthful attitude toward scientific achievement. Already clubs have been organized for the study of geology, bird lore, and astronomy. Although only the most elementary phases of these subjects are studied, the awakened interest manifested by the pupils indicates a step in the right direction.
Parents may be interested in an explanation of the aims of one of these clubs; e. g., the Star Club or Astronomy Club. In this club, the purpose is to awaken a lively interest in the universe, to be able to recognize six or eight of the most commonly known constellations, to be able to understand a little about the planets and their relation to the sun and to our own planet, and to add enrichment to vocabulary by becoming more familiar with related words and expressions.
As a by-product of this club activity, certain personality and char- acter development is hoped for. Leadership and initiative are stimu- lated by changing officers and committees every two months, so that by the end of the year every child in the class will have had an oppor- tunity to hold an office or participate actively as a committee member, - the office varying with the child's capabilities and degree of mental maturity.
The most gratifying evidence is that there has already been a definite indication on the part of the pupils of an eager interest in the absorbing facts of general science as set forth in this elementary course.
Each school has been equipped with apparatus and materials neces- sary to carry out simple experiments. "Useful Science" by Weed and Wexford, adopted as the text, is supplemented by a number of inter- csting science books.
A science meeting was held in the high school laboratory in Decem- ber. Mr. Norman Loud of the science department gave demonstra- tions in the technique of handling scientific apparatus and in the pre- sentation of experiments.
It is felt that this is one more progressive step augmenting our already efficient educational system.
CHARACTER EDUCATION
A bulletin "Emphasizing Character in the Elementary School" has just been issued by the State Department of Education. A careful perusal of the material contained in this bulletin crystallizes confidence in our course "A Plan for the Development of Desirable Attitudes and Right Habits" which has now been in use for over a year. This course is the organized contributions of the Weymouth elementary teachers.
143
The purpose of this course is to develop leadership, to discover and guide genius, to assist the diffident in personality adjustment, and to impregnate the pupil with social consciousness so that his response as an individual or as a member of a group will be commendable. We hope to develop that type of stamina that meets failure without sinking and success without losing emotional balance; to train these boys and girls into citizens whose contributions to the future adult society will be valuable, - whose ideals will be lofty, - who will not make money their god nor ego their kingdom.
The use of this program in the schools is one of the most encourag- ing in the entire curriculum, but whatever success it may have is entirely the result of the splendid work of the classroom teachers and the gen- crous co-operation of the principals.
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