USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1938 > Part 17
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194.80
Academic Course
50.37
9,821.46
206
MISCELLANEOUS CASH RECEIPTS :-
Day Industrial School Sales:
Auto Repairs
$ 262.91
Cabinet-making
59.11
Printing
256.81
Sheet Metal
104.33
Supplies
22.93
$ 706.09
Sale of supplies, etc.
99.61
Fines, etc.
57.89
157.50
863.59
TOTAL
$ 53,369.25
11. Funds available for Vocational Departments:
GEORGE-DEEN FUND :-
Day Household Arts School
$ 409.03
Day Industrial School 1
7,083.39
$ 7,492.42
SMITH-HUGHES FUND :-
Day Household 'Arts School
439.33
Day Industrial School
1,038.97
1,478.30
TOTAL
$ 8,970.72
207
Graphic Record of School Population
(Fifteen Years)
All Schools
High School
5000
4000
3000
2000
Taiw Dec
1924 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 38
-2000
+1500
-1000
-500
0
1924 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 38
Elementary Schools
3500
+3000
+2500
2000
June Des,
1924 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 38
Vocational Schools
Agriculture
300
Auto Repair
Cabinetmaking
Printing
Sheet Metal
Girls' Practical Arts
200
-100
0
1924 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
June 10.
208
The enrollment figures in the graphic charts cover a fifteen-year period from 1924 through 1938. This period is chosen intentionally, as within that space of time occurs the introduction of all vocational education, with the exception of agriculture which was started in 1916. From 1924 to the present time carpentry, cabinetmaking, printing, shoemaking, automobile repair, and sheet metal work have been added to the regular courses in the High School. Carpentry and shoemaking have been discontinued, owing to lack of demand for this type of training. The shrinkage caused by these changes is shown in the graph.
The High School is showing a very rapid increase, with nearly three times as many pupils as there were fitfeen years ago. The modern set-up of society, with its elimination of youth from industry and business, has brought a heavy load upon the upper grades of our public school system. Only a few years ago boys and girls between the ages of fourteen and six- teen were employed extensively in the shoe industry. At one time the George E. Keith Company employed them to such an extent that there were practically half as many pupils in the eighth grade of the James Humphrey School as there were in the seventh, a large number of children over fourteen having left to work in the factory. At the present time there is a tendency to employ very few under the age of eighteen; and only a few between the ages of eighteen and twenty.
If society is so organized that it is becoming increasingly difficult for those between the ages of fourteen and twenty to get work, then the schools should be so organized as to make provision for the education of this older group for the positions which they must occupy when they leave school. With this in mind, the industrial work was undertaken and broadened until today there is a large and increasing group, as shown in the graph. That the work started nearly fifteen years ago was along the right line for the solution of the problem is evidenced by the fact that at the present time there is a growing movement throughout this and other counties of the state to start industrial schools, state and county supported, for the benefit of those who wish to prepare for practical lines of work.
The graph for the schools as a whole shows a tendency to flatten out, indicating that the peak of the enrollment is practically reached, unless the pupil load is increased by new building construction, of which there is considerable throughout the town.
The elementary grades show a marked reduction, with the highest point of enrollment occurring in 1933 and the lowest point, in 1938; but with a marked increase during the fall months, indicated in the last column. This decrease is in keeping with a like shrinkage in the number of elementary pupils all over the country. A recent survey showed a de- crease of nearly 8% for the country as a whole. Weymouth's is not quite so large as that. The state report for 1937-1938 records in the census of children from five to seven years a decrease of 18% in ten years; from seven to fourteen years, a decrease of 8%.
209
THIS chart shows the rank of Weymouth among the eighty-three Massachusetts towns having more than 5000 population in respect to tax rate, expenditures for schools, per pupil cost of education, valuation and size, for the school year ending June 30, 1938.
O
1+ 10
20
30
40
50
-60
-70
80
83
79th
76th
38th
5th
7th
in tax rate $25.50
in portion of local tax used or schools $7.86
in per pupil cost of education $88.45
in valuation $46.792,437
in population 20,882
210
In Memoriam
HELEN CURTIS BARNARD Teacher 1898-1938
KATHERINE C. FOGARTY Teacher 1905-1938
GRACE B. SIMMONS Principal 1919-1938
"Life's race well run, Life's work well done, Life's victory won, Now cometh rest."
211
CHANGES IN TEACHING FORCE
RESIGNATIONS High School
Abigail Adams School Athens School Bicknell School Sewing Supervisor
RETIRED High School James Humphrey School Hunt School
Manual Training Supervisor
LEAVE OF ABSENCE High School
APPOINTMENTS High School
Vocational School
Abigail Adams School Athens School James Humphrey School Jefferson School
Hunt School Center School Pratt School Shaw School
Edward B. Nevin School Manual Training Supervisor Sewing Supervisor
TRANSFERS Junior Annex to High School Junior Annex to High School Pond to Bicknell Center to James Humphrey Shaw to Hunt Nevin VIII, Assistant Principal to Nevin Principal Pratt to Edward B. Nevin Edward B. Nevin to Pond
Frieda M. Bryant Madeline L. Cote Evelyn Dover Miriam T. Hollis
Pauline Cassese Elizabeth A. Murphy Pauline Ahern
Fannie L. Williams
Anne F. Conroy Mary E. Crotty Clara E. McGreevy
Alice L. Tucker
Hazel M. Agnew
Evelyn Dover Beatrice Escott Eleanor R. Madigan
Harold E. Clarke Otto H. Mahn
James A. Booth, Jr. Katherine C. Gunville Barbara R. Cleaves Mary A. Connell Edith M. Mulligan Rita M. Murphy Mary . R. Donahoe Loretto M. Buchan Rita F. Donovan Kathryn J. Gaughen Josephine M. Lindsay Helena H. Loughan A. Edward Haviland Harriet S. Berry
Mary E. McMorrow Helena F. Reidy Genevieve A. Perkins Mary Reidy Margaret Q. Donahue
Daniel A. Johnson, Jr. Richard F. Zeoli Nellie G. Beaton
212
The total number of teachers prior to 1938 who have retired under the provisions of the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement Act is twelve. Of these three have passed away. The largest number listed previously in any single year is three. During 1938 five have retired.
Miss Crotty, Miss Conroy, and Miss Tucker have been co-workers during the entire period of my service in Weymouth, nearly thirty years. Their leaving is a keen personal loss, as their interest, co-operation, loyalty, and support have always been a source of the deepest satisfaction.
Miss Crotty began her teaching at the old Tufts School in 1887, first in Grade I, and from 1892 in Grade III. She was transferred to the New Hunt School in 1916 and taught a third grade until last June. Miss Crotty will be missed by the children, teachers, and parents of Weymouth Landing. She always maintained the same energy and enthusiasm with which she commenced her life work, and it has been said by many that her last year of teaching was one of her best.
Miss Conroy taught in East Weymouth from 1892 until last June. Many pupils will remember her for drill work and for her ability to leave a lasting impression of the knowledge which she wished to impart. The best wishes of pupils, associates, and the community follow Miss Conroy in her retirement.
Miss Tucker was appointed as Supervisor of Manual Training in 1913, having been employed during her first years by the women's clubs of the town. Her success in bringing out the best in a boy was unusual. She was affectionately known by the boys of the town as the "boss carpenter." Through manual training she has started many on the road to an in- teresting use of leisure in adult life, as well as instilled in their hearts the value of honesty, accuracy, co-operation, and other desirable qualities.
Miss McGreevy came to the Hunt School in 1916 from a teaching position in Whitman, and continued in that building until October. She has been a conscientious and successful teacher, and has the good will of all with whom she has come in contact during the period of her teaching.
Miss Williams was recommended by the State Department of Edu- cation for a clothing position in the Day Household Arts Department at the High School in 1924, at a time when the scope of this department was broadened. She has carried on her work systematically and well. Chil- dren under her charge have had excellent instruction in the valuable art of sewing.
Through allotments from federal money called the George-Deen Fund, it has been possible to add three teachers to the force at the Vocational School: one needed in the printing department, which has become so popular that there are now more than forty pupils enrolled; and two, for a new sheet metal department. Details will be found in the report of the Director of the Vocational School.
An extra commercial teacher was added to the High School faculty in September.
At the Jefferson School, it was necessary to double up in the first three grades to make room for a seventh grade to be transferred from the Junior Annex at the High School. An assistant has been placed in the first and second grade room to relieve the situation for the balance of the year. An assistant has been placed in the Shaw School, in which there is an overcrowded first and second grade.
CONTRIBUTORY RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION
Last year three janitors who were over seventy years of age retired under the provision of the Contributory Retirement Act. This year Fred
213
W. Stoddard, janitor at the Athens School, was retired for disability on June 1.
MAINTENANCE AND OUTLAY
Several items under the expenditures for maintenance were unexpected :at the time the appropriation was made.
1. Classroom at Jefferson School
The removal of the seventh grades from the High School made necessary the use of a part of the basement at the Jefferson School for a classroom. A large portion of the outside brick wall was removed and windows placed therein. A corridor connecting with the upstairs rooms and an exit were built. The entire floor had to be recovered, the walls and ceilings re-surfaced and heavy beams inserted in order to do away with the piers and give floor area free from obstructions. This room is heated, lighted and ven- tilated as well as any of the rooms in our modern buildings, and is very attractive in design. In order to provide for even heat throughout the building at all times, a stoker was placed in the boiler room. The total cost of the work, including the stoker, was $3,300.00.
2. Manual training room at High School
A new manual training room was constructed in the basement of the old building, utilizing the space formerly occupied by the boiler room, and accommodating about 20 pupils. Approximate cost, $700.00.
3. Hurricane damage
Hurricane damage, for which we asked and expected no assistance from the town, brought an additional expense of about $1,200.00.
Our newer buildings have now reached such an age that the mis- e cellaneous items of repair are growing steadily more numerous and more «costly. They have necessitated the employment of one man on full time during the entire year, together with additional labor. There is almost constant demand for work to be done on window cords, parting beads, shades, doors, locks, fastenings of all kinds, faucets, plumbing, steam fittings, . etc. The larger items of miscellaneous repairs included:
Athens School :- Washington School :-
Chimneys capped; brick work pointed Two sets cement steps; complete re- placement of window cords and parting beads
Cement steps repaired or replaced
Hunt School :- High, Nevin, Pond, Adams Schools :- General :-
Bicycle racks The usual scraping, varnishing, and repairing of desks
Under maintenance should be listed painting done under the Works Progress Administration. Mr. Charles H. Burkett, who has supervised the -work, reports the following projects at a cost of $2,740.37:
Painting
Inside and outside
Abigail Adams School Athens School Shaw School Vocational School and Garage
Outside Inside
Edward B. Nevin School High School, left wing
214
ATHLETICS
The annual banquet in honor of the football team was held in December under the auspices of the Athletic Council. Raymond Stein, the president of the association, officiated as toastmaster. The High School Cafeteria was well filled with enthusiastic fathers, mothers, and those interested in athletics. Ten sweaters were presented to letter men of the senior class, sweaters for the other sports having been presented to letter men. in June. The Oscar L. Horton trophy for excelling in sportsmanship, athletics, and school work was presented to Louis Lysakowski; and an. anonymous trophy for showing the most improvement during the football season, to Robert Crawford. At the close of the banquet John W. Thorp,. an enthusiastic supporter of football, showed motion pictures of the more: important of the season's games.
The record of games and contests for all sports is as follows:
January 1, 1938 to December 31, 1938
Won
Lost
Tied
Football
5
2
2
Baseball
6
4
0
Basketball
14
2
0
Track
3
7
0
Wrestling
9
2
0
.
The basketball team was invited to participate in the Massachusetts: Institute of Technology tournament.
The wrestling team came out second in the State Tournament, Class A; and first in the State Tournament, Class B.
HIGH SCHOOL (Report of Mr. Wallace L. Whittle, Principal)
In my report for 1937, some space was devoted to habits of study and. program selection. I feel that there is still much room for improvement in these fields. Because of this, I am again suggesting that the parents. constantly keep in closer touch with the pupils' work, so that any dif- ficulties may be straightened out before it is too late.
We are continually besieged by requests to change the programs of pupils after school has opened. Our feeling is that much more thought. should be given to the selection of courses at the proper time. A change of program during the year always is difficult for the student and many times is impossible for us to make once the program is under way. I. am, therefore, appealing again to the parents to consider very carefully the choice of program so that all concerned may benefit to the greatest. possible extent.
We have a course of study which is much broader than is found in. most schools, thus giving the pupil a wider range of subjects from which. to choose. In addition to the college preparatory courses, we offer business, general, practical arts, agricultural courses, and also various trades in our vocational school. This variety allows considerable flexibility, so that practically every pupil may select subjects to fit his needs. I should like. to have the parents feel free to consult the teachers or the office at any time in regard to the subject matter of the courses.
215
The distribution of pupils at the end of the first marking period is :as follows:
Enrollment
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
306
221
527.
Sophomores
237
210
447
Juniors
143
193
336
Seniors
128
146
274
Postgraduates
19
14
33
833
784
1617
Postgrad-
By Courses
Fresh- men
Sopho- mores
Juniors
Seniors
uates
Total
Classical
115
118
78
48
5
364
Technical
60
38
30
24
12
164
Business
210
191
176
143
9
729
General
17
18
33
26
4
98
Agricultural
14
14
10
4
0
42
Practical Arts
21
22
9
4
0
56
Vocational
90
46
0
25
3
164
527
447
336
274
33
1617
Sources of Freshmen
Abigail Adams
23
Bicknell
87
Junior Annex
89
Hunt
69
Pratt
29
Shaw
22
Edward B. Nevin
39
Pond
31
Other Schools
107
Repeaters
31
527
Due to an anticipated increase in enrollment, two more rooms were taken from the Junior Annex section of our building for the High School. While, because of several factors ,the increase has not been quite so large as expected, the extra space is needed and fully used. It might be in- teresting to note that there were seventeen seniors and twelve juniors who did not return as expected. Most of these gave as a reason that they had accepted outside positions. Whether or not this is any indication of future trends is, at the present time, problematical.
In spite of the fact that the number of pupils per teacher has gradually increased, thus lessening the individual attention to each pupil, reports from higher institutions of learning and business concerns show that our graduates are doing creditable work. In order to give our business students some idea of their work under actual working conditions, we send as many as possible for one or more weeks each spring to some local business concern. Here they do various types of work, including clerical and secretarial. We feel that this training is of great help to them, and we fully appreciate the co-operation given us by the local busi- ness men.
216
We are constantly trying to make the transition from grammar school to high school as easy as possible. In order to get a more definite check on further developments along this line, we are making a survey to de- termine the type of work done by the graduates of the various grammar schools. If discrepancies are found, they may be remedied through the co-operation of the high school and the Director of Courses of Study in the grades.
Our extracurricular activities continue as usual, with the several clubs meeting regularly. Our basketball team was outstanding in this section and played in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology champion- ship tournament. Although they did not win the tournament, they per- formed well, and we were proud of them. All sports are completely equipped at present, for the first time in the history of the school. Our band, which has added color to our football games, appeared at the Thanksgiving Day game in new uniforms which are greatly appreciated.
Two members of our faculty, Mr. John Ghiorse and Mr. Norman Loud, have written an alma mater song and a football song for Weymouth High School .. The music is exceptionally good and the words appropriate .. These men are to be complimented on their interest in the school and its morale, which is sure to be raised by their efforts.
We still receive aid from the Government for needy pupils. The amount obtained cannot exceed $6.00 per month, but this sum is very helpful.
This year for the first time the Alumni Association has presented a. new scholarship in honor of our former principal, Frederick W. Hilton. This award is the only one given in which the financial need of the re- cipient is not considered. The qualifications are character, personality, scholarship, and service rendered to the school. We are very glad to ac- cept this new award perpetuating the memory of Mr. Hilton.
As usual, we have received scholarships from various sources for our students, for which we are very thankful. We should like to thank the following donors and congratulate the recipients:
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Thomas Lockary
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Frank MacDougal
Carmella Fogarty
Weymouth Teachers' Association Weymouth High School Alumni Association Florence Condrick
Weymouth High School Alumni Association Weymouth High School Alumni Association Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship
James O'Neil Donald Montgomery
Martha Chipman
Mary Berry
Irene Meyer
Geraldine Colligan
In conclusion, the co-operation of the School Committee, the Superin -. tendent of Schools, and the faculty has helped to keep the standards of the school high, and I wish to express my appreciation to them for their. sincere efforts.
Frederick W. Hilton Scholarship
The Monday Club of Weymouth Maude A. Hunt Scholarship
Anthony Caccavale
217
AGRICULTURE
(Report of Mr. Hilmer S. Nelson, Agricultural Instructor in charge of the Weymouth Branch of the Norfollk County Agricultural School)
In the securing of new students, much preliminary work has to be done in the spring and summer before their entrance in the fall. In order to enlighten such applicants, a "prospectus" is distributed, so that the parent and the student may know more clearly the requirements of the department. A few sections taken from this "prospectus" may be of interest.
1. Applicants for Admission
The applicant must be at least 14 years of age, of good morals, a graduate of a grammar school, and have a primary interest in agriculture as a vocation. The summer season before entering in the fall must be devoted to some form of agriculture, the nature of which must be approved by the agricultural instructor.
2. Aim of Course
This course is designed primarily to give practical training for a career in one or more kinds of agricultural enterprises.
3. The Home Project
Practical work in agriculture is secured in part through the "home project." This may consist of raising poultry, developing a home garden or orchard, raising a dairy calf, etc., with accurate records and accounts of same.
4. Daily Work on the Project
During days when school is in session, boys in this course will do the work required by their projects and jobs outside of school hours.
5. Summer Supervised Work
If the home project is not of sufficient size to keep the boy profitably and economically occupied at least half a day, some "supervised farm work" must be found where the boy can secure practical work on some commercial agricultural enterprise, such as a dairy farm, poultry farm, market garden farm, nursery, greenhouse, etc. The instructors will co- operate with the parents and the boy in securing suitable work. This type of supervised training may be continued after school hours, on Saturdays and holidays, and during vacations when arrangements can be made satisfactorily with the employer. Each spring many agricultural jobs are brought to the attention of the department; boys are selected for these jobs according to merit, ability, and need.
School opened in September with a continuing agricultural teaching program in its 22nd year. The growth has been healthy, with the fol- lowing yearly total enrollment since 1925 as follows:
1938
42
1933
26
1928
23
1937
42
1932
21
1927
20
1936
38
1931
26
1926
20
1935
35
1930
27
1925
17
1934
29
1929
23
During the past ten years we find this yearly enrollment divided according to classes as follows:
1938
1937
1936
1935
1934
1933
1932
1931
1930
1929
Seniors
4
8
8
1
4
6
7
3
5
1
Juniors
10
10
9
8
3
5
6
8
3
8
Sophomores
14
9
9
12
9
6
5
7
11
4
Freshmen
14
15
12
14
13
9
3
8
8
9
Special
1
Total
42
42
38
35
29
26
21
26
27
23
218
The acquisition in 1934 of an additional instructor made it possible- to increase our enrollment, which resulted from natural expansion. Again. will be noted the smaller senior class resulting from a much larger fresh- man class. This is to be expected, as only those vitally interested in the- work are able to continue; many times financial conditions in the home- necessitate the boy's leaving school before his senior year.
Our 1938 graduating class of eight seniors were as follows:
Herbert L. Bauer Alfred Cavallo George C. Costello Alfred L. Hunt Lloyd W. Lovell (Hingham)
Kevin P. McGlynn Warren D. Metcalf Dwight E. Wardlaw
The home ownership projects from necessity have become fewer since" our last report. We can account for this reduction in numbers from the fact that the boys are coming from homes where the facilities to carry out satisfactory projects are very much limited by the lack of funds and land area. Their desire to have projects of their own is keen, but circumstances prevent further action. As a result, many must seek agricultural experience elsewhere. Even if small ownership projects could be conducted at home, they might not be of sufficient size and capacity to be economically profit- able; therefore, we do not encourage small home projects too strenuously, except possibly in the freshman group. Good practical experience on some well-conducted farm is much to be preferred to the experience gained from a small ownership project. Consequently, we strive each year to encourage the students to secure their required training under actual farm conditions. We desire to assist the boy and parent in securing a job, but feel it best for him to go out and get the job himself, thus gaining that. responsibility which is so necessary in a successful life.
Our annual project year closed on October 15, with 12 boys reporting 18 ownership projects, consisting of 14 poultry projects, 3 garden projects, and 1 dairy goat project. The poultry projects totalled 307 adult birds. and 547 chicks, with all but 22 of the adult birds of the Rhode Island Red breed. The actual receipts from these 18 projects were $2,407.18, with. actual expenses, excluding student labor, $1,296.43, leaving a balance profit of $1,110.75. We believe most sincerely in the home project method. of teaching, and trust that the future will provide greater opportunities. for those desiring this type of training.
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