USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1938 > Part 18
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During this past project year, in supervised farm practice work 42 stu- dents reported 34,794 hours, with a value of $6,880.86. This farm work is vital. to the success of many of the boys who must depend upon this type of practice for actual experience.
Much of the success of our field work depends upon those who have so generously given of their time in assisting the department in many ways. This practical "digging in the soil" has been of real value. To the- following we wish to extend our thanks and appreciation:
Mr. Albert H. Kress, Hingham Dairy
Mr. Paul E. Kress, Hingham
Market garden
Arnold Brothers, Braintree Market garden
Mr. William Ralph, South Weymouth
Greenhouse
Mr. E. A. Hirt, South Weymouth Poultry Mr. William Monto, Norwell Poultry Mr. Norman E. Belcher, East Weymouth Poultry
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Individuals and teams representing the department have been very successful in the various judging contests throughout the State. Two senior boys have done outstanding work in judging, and I wish to give them due credit. James E. McFarland, as a reward for his efforts in poultry judging during the past two years, won highest individual honors in the National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest recently held in New York City; James was also a member of the Massachusetts 4-H team which also won highest honors. John F. Herlihy, through his consistent work and study in vegetable judging, was awarded a trip to Detroit as a member of the vocational agricultural team representing Massachusetts at this national contest. James and John are to be congratulated.
What is one man's loss is another's gain. The resignation of Mr. John B. Farrar, our instructor in horticulture, brought to a close a period of splendid co-operation and constructive work; we wish him every success in his new work as instructor in charge of horticulture at the Bristol County Agricultural School at Segreganset, Massachusetts. The appoint- ment of Mr. Jack Sturtevant was apropos, and to him I owe many thanks for his kindly assistance, close co-operation, and constructive ability. Mr. Sturtevant is a 1936 graduate of the Massachusetts State College and of Essex County Agricultural School in 1932.
To Mr. Parker T. Pearson, Superintendent of Schools, and to the School Committee, to Mr. Wallace L. Whittle, Principal of the High School, and to Mr. Francis E. Whipple, Director of the Weymouth Voca- tional School, may we extend our thanks and appreciation for the splendid co-operation received. It is very aptly expressed in one of the recent bulletins issued by the State Department of Education, as follows: "Re- lationships could not have been happier than have been those between the agricultural instructors and the superintendent of schools and the high school principal at Weymouth."
To Mr. Charles W. Kemp, Director of the Norfolk County Agricultural School at Walpole (of which this department is a branch), may we extend our thanks for the timely assistance and co-operation that we have enjoyed.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
(Report of Mr. Francis E. Whipple, Director)
During the past year, several changes tending toward extension and improvement of the vocational program in Weymouth have been instituted. Through the allotment of money from the Federal George-Deen Fund, it has been possible to create an entirely new department in sheet metal work, to increase the instruction in printing by hiring a new teacher in that field, and to allow a member of the faculty to devote a part of his time directly to finding employment for graduates and former members of the school.
The operation of the George-Deen Fund is interesting. For two years, the whole salary of teachers appointed under its aid is paid from the al- lotment. Beginning with the third year, the grant is reduced by twenty-five per cent each year, until at the end of the fifth year the town is carrying the whole cost.
In April, when these funds first became available, ten boys from the High School and seven from the Vocational School were accepted for the new sheet metal department. These boys were taken only if their pre- vious records were satisfactory, and most of them were allowed to go on to the second year in September upon doing satisfactory work here. The enrollment in this course, which apparently will be very popular, is already high. Both teachers are men of considerable experience, and promise to be valuable additions to the staff.
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This fall a new Miehle Vertical automatic printing press was installed. This equipment goes far toward bringing the printing department up to present industrial standards. One boy who was graduated in 1936 found his progress in the industry impeded by his lack of experience on automatic equipment and has returned to school for supplementary instruction. He expects to have his earnings greatly increased when he is able to run this type of press.
Other new equipment includes completely outfitting the sheet metal shop for twenty boys, the usual replacement of tools in the automobile and cabinetmaking departments, and some type replacement in printing. The buildings have been painted inside and out by the Works Progress Administration. The exterior of the main building was painted for the first time since it was built, a tribute to the sanded finish used at that time and repeated now.
The first report of the placement work shows that 212 employer con- tacts were made, either by personal visit, mail, or telephone. Twenty-eight boys were placed in jobs by the school. Out of eighteen graduates last June, twelve entered the trade trained for, three are in postgraduate work here or elsewhere, two are in other trades, and one is unaccounted for. Jobs were found for eleven graduates of other years and for three non- graduates.
From these placement calls, several facts in relation to our training program appear. First, the demand for printers is good, and at times we have had more jobs than there were boys available to fill them. Wood- workers of all kinds are not particularly in demand, but our class in that line is small, and the better boys are gradually absorbed into the trade. Demand for automobile mechanics as such is slow at the present time, but the field is unlimited for body and fender repairmen, welders, and spray painters. Sheet metal men seem to be enthusiastic about taking graduates when they are available, but here we must beware of allowing this de- partment to become so big that there is an oversupply of boys for the available jobs.
A study of individual problem cases and failures shows a great need for thoughtful, intelligent advice on the part of teachers in the elemen- tary schools and for a real interest on the part of the parent in the course the boy elects when coming from the eighth grade. Very fre- quently the most substantial reason for choosing one of these courses is that the boy next door is doing it. Too often boys are pushed into this or other trade courses when they are not even mechanically inclined. Before allowing boys to elect these courses, tests should be given to de- termine the extent of their mechanical ability as a guide to their probable future success in a trade.
The annual exhibition and open house on May 6 was very well attended, with the buildings crowded with visitors from 7:30 to well after 9 o'clock. Earlier that evening, the first meeting of the Weymouth Vocational School Alumni Association was held in the girls' gymnasium, with a banquet and speakers. Mr. Charles R. Setterland '36 is president of this group. At the same time, the Norfolk County School Committeemen's Association met in the cafeteria and later visited the exhibition.
In April, at the request of the State Department of Education, the motion pictures of the school activities were shown in every town on Cape Cod, as part of a survey being made in Barnstable County to determine the need for a trade school in that territory.
At the opening of school in September, two classrooms previously used for other purposes were added to the home room list, and the seventh
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grade which used one of them was moved to another building. The manual training room in the basement was moved into the High School and that area opened up for an extension of the sheet metal shop.
At the moment it appears that, counting the seniors about to graduate and allowing some loss of membership during the balance of the year, there will be about fifty seats available for an entering class next year. This year the whole number of freshmen was 96, with a maximum figure at one time of 88. If the entering class next September should reach that figure, there would be a shortage of about 38 seats. When three rooms were added to the High School two years ago, it was thought that they might be made available to the Vocational School. The need for this may be no further away than next fall.
Another urgent need, as far as space is concerned, is for a suitable drawing room. At present the regular drawing room is used jointly by the Vocational School and the High School. Eight sheet metal drawing classes use pupils' desks in another classroom to support large drawing boards. This situation is not conclusive to good teaching nor to good drawing.
Plans should be made to replace the window shades throughout the building. Every one has been turned end for end to expose 'a fresh portion, but age and sun have done their damage, and new ones are the only solution. The lighting in the composing room section of the printing shop needs serious consideration. If windows were placed along the solid sec- tion of the wall, much eyestrain on the part of the pupils could be avoided. In line with a demand found to exist in the automobile industry, better and safer facilities should be provided for automobile spray painting, and more attention should be given to automobile body and fender work. In connection with this work and with sheet metal work, improved welding facilities are needed.
Another dangerous situation exists with respect to automobiles parked at the garage, because of the incinerator used for burning rubbish nearby. It is the source of many woods and grass fires, and might well be the cause of destroying an automobile.
The enrollment figures up to December 23 are shown in the following table:
I
II
III
P. G.
Total
Auto Repair
39
16
12
1
68
Cabinetmaking
11 .
4
5
2
22
Printing
19
15
8
0
42
Sheet Metal
27
14
1
0
42
96
49
26
3
174
These figures show an increase of 49 over the corresponding period of last year and an increase of 53 over the same period two years ago. Of the 96 freshmen, 8 were admitted on a special basis without having com- pleted the eighth grade, 5 were repeaters, and 40 had attended high school for varying periods from a few weeks up through graduation. Fifty-four came from towns outside of Weymouth, as follows:
Abington
2
Hull
4
Boston
1
Kingston
1
Braintree
19
Pembroke
1
Cohasset
2
Quincy
1
Duxbury
1
Rockland
10
Hanover
1
Whitman
2
Hingham
7
State Wards
2
I should like to express my appreciation of the confidence, co-operation, and support which have been given by all with whom I have come in contact during the year.
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COURSES OF STUDY
(Report of Flora Haviland McGrath, Director of Courses of Study)
A well-articulated educational program is designed to give the child that which he needs academically and as much as his mental capacity can absorb; in addition, the program must make provision for the develop- ment of those less tangible qualities which contribute to the making of the well-integrated personality,-good habits, right attitudes, and high ideals.
The new courses of study completed in 1936 and 1937 attempt to fulfill the requirements of a rich academic and ethical program. In keeping with progressive supervision, these courses will be revised and reorganized as soon as it has been determined what changes are necessary. Science
As this program is now only in its second year, no plans for revision are being made for 1939.
Character Education
This outline which was completed in 1937 is in the process of revision for the following reason:
During the past year, the office has received numerous requests from various educational institutions throughout the country for copies of the course. A few of these requests have already been filled, but because of the expense involved in donating these courses, this practice has been dis- continued. Therefore, it is planned to have the course printed and to charge sufficient to cover costs, as is the custom in other public school systems where there is a demand for their courses of study.
Arithmetic and English - Measure of Pupil Progress
A testing program has been carried on throughout the year 1938 in order to measure pupil progress in English and in arithmetic.
April and May 1938 - Medians Arithmetic - Grades II through VIII 100 classes tested (A, B, C groups in grades VII and VIII included)
68 classes - median 80 to 100 24 classes - median 70 to 80 8 classes - median below 70
English - Grades IV through VIII
(Tests included correct usage for grade IV, with the addition of punctuation and grammar for all other grades.)
65 classes tested 61 classes - median 70 to 100 4 classes - median below 70 (C division)
Testing was repeated in September and in December. The December testing included an experimental survey with 100 pupils in grade II.
Remedial Reading
Following considerable study in the field of remedial reading, the writer is convinced that, for the present at least, there is no need for serious alarm in the Weymouth public school system. Good teaching, in most
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cases, means good reading. However, where there is a marked reading disability, the case is given individual attention.
Boston University conducted a brief survey here during the early part of February 1938. The tachistoscope was used with approximately 100 children in grade II, and it was found, in the majority of cases, that the children had excellent word-mastery powers.
In December 1938, a survey was conducted by means of the Metropoli- tan Achievement Tests. The results showed the pupils to be approximately four months above the national reading norms.
Reading
In order to further increase reading efficiency in the lower grades, & study is now being made of basal reading materials.
General Supervision
Approximately 26 new teachers have been placed in the lower grades during the past two years. This calls for increased activity in general supervision in order to establish those methods which will produce that type of work in keeping with the present standards. Constant general supervision cannot be successfully combined with the planning and creating of new courses of study. Therefore, during the past year, no new courses have been completed.
Extracurricular
In addition to the above program, the usual coaching has been carried on. This year, three plays have been presented, requiring eighteen weeks of evening coaching: two plays for the Weymouth Teachers' Association, one in February and one in November; and one for the senior class of 1938. The funds obtained from the Teachers' plays are used for scholarships. One has already been given to the 1938 class, and the other will be used by the class of 1939. The total amount received from the Teachers' plays was $540.81.
In Conclusion
To Mr. Pearson, Superintendent of Schools, I wish to express my appreciation for his understanding and help, and to the principals and teachers, I extend my thanks and continued appreciation.
DRAWING
(Report of Miss Evelyn Silvester, Supervisor of Drawing)
The Art Department during 1938, as in each previous year, has been filled with enthusiasm and interest in its work. We are all sincerely in- terested in the deep and lasting pleasure and usefulness of this work for the child's sake: first, because to draw and make designs is one of the most instinctive expressions of a child's life, a universal language which needs no translator from child to child; second, because providing the time and place for drawing, with guidance, gives the child pride in good work and helps eliminate the careless and destructive marking of public and private property; and third, but no less important, it aims to teach good taste by instinct, and as the child grows in general knowledge, to provide reasons for the instinctive choices.
The subject of picture appreciation has been referred to from time to time in these reports, and its correlation with English and literature. The gradual expansion of this work, giving the child a knowledge and so a standard of fine painting of the ages, is of a very positive cultural value.
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One of the outstanding problems given in the intermediate grades has been the making of "murals;" that is, pictures on strips of paper from nine to fifteen feet in length. The subject matter is usually taken from some regular academic subject, like a story in literature; a commercial geography subject, such as lumbering in the United States, or shipping; or it may be of an historical nature. Whatever the teacher and children believe most interesting to them is used.
The first step after the subject is selected is for each child to draw his own story-telling picture as interestingly as possible, in small size. These papers are put up where all can see them, and the children select the best one, to be enlarged. In making the large one, every child has some part in the work. We have found that this makes a very powerful appeal to each child to do only his very best work, and the results have been most gratifying.
One of the finest murals came from the class of Miss Lambe at the James Humphrey School; it depicted a story of knighthood, and was most colorful and dramatic. Another fine one was of scenes in Holland which showed the life and customs of the Dutch people; this was made by the sixth grade at the Pratt School under Miss Upton. At the Hunt School, Miss Tracy's sixth grade made an interesting one of the French perfume industry. The above are only a few of a long list of excellent murals.
The High School puppet group last February gave a repeat performance of the last show that we staged, "A Night in Fairyland," by Virginia Howe. This was given by request of the Monday Club for their Children's Day program. It was the first time we had used an amplifying system in a pup- pet show, and it made the voice control very much easier. Mr. F. E. Whipple kindly worked out that part of the equipment for us and handled the con- trols. The puppetry work has been a feature wholly outside of regular work and has earned money to be used for art school scholarships for deserving students.
Every fall our drawing and design problems build up to Christmas time, which is always "applied design time." This year the things made are briefly as follows: freshmen, marble paper wastebaskets with applied colored paper designs; sophomores, thin metal plaques or trays, showing the decorative use of copper and brass foil; juniors and seniors, clay modeling and cast making, wood carving, batik hangings.
The Practical Arts freshmen and sophomores stenciled many useful articles, such as luncheon sets, holders, chair sets, runners, handkerchief monograms, and many other articles. All these things were made of used material or unbleached cotton.
These problems of applied design help the child to make a decorative as well as practical use of many odds and ends at very small cost and sometimes at no cost at all.
Art work should teach the students that they can have beauty in their lives by a little thought, effort, and skill, and at almost no cost.
Once again Miss Ray, Miss Freeman, and I wish to thank the School Committee, Superintendent, and teachers for their combined co-operation in making our work here in Weymouth a pleasure. We hope that that pleasure is shared by the children of the town. The evidences of happiness on the faces of the children when "drawing time" comes makes us believe it is so.
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MUSIC
(Report of Mr. Vance W. Monroe, Supervisor of Music)
Education exists solely for the sake of life. No knowledge is worth any- thing at all, merely for the sake of having it. A subject must live in the learner's life. To capture, express, and render the human values of music is an enterprise which should command the enthusiasm of every teacher. The consistent successes in open competition with the best in the State justify these convictions.
We point with real pride to last year's accomplishments. The National Educators' Conference presented our grade group with the award in "Class C," the first high school division. This could be done, however, only by the heartiest co-operation of the school committee, superintendent, teachers, and pupils.
Our work at the Mayflower Song Festival in Middleboro was highly praised by Prof. R. A. Cooke of Harvard University.
(Report of Mr. John M. Lyons, Assistant Supervisor of Music)
The music classes in the high and grade schools under my supervision have progressed satisfactorily during the past year. There has been a marked increase in music reading ability in the grade schools due to the individual work now required of each child in the course of study.
The annual Bicknell School operetta was presented on April 28 and 29 before capacity audiences. Mr. Leo Madden, Mr. Preston DePlacido, and the Misses Josephine Caruso and Elizabeth Murphy had important parts in the preparation of this operatta.
The High School glee club presented a revue and the one-act operetta "Trial by Jury" before large audiences on May 20 and 21. Miss Ernestine Canning, Miss Helen Lyons, Mr. Norman Loud, and Mr. James Calderwood assisted in coaching this production.
On the evening of June 16, the High School glee club attended a per- formance of the Boston "Pops" orchestra in Symphony Hall. They were thrilled at the performance and also at the appearance of "The Weymouth High School Glee Club" listed on the program as occupying a block of seats. The members enjoyed this experience so thoroughly that it is my intention to have them attend a "Pops" concert each year.
The senior class sang "Land of Hope and Glory" and "Roses of Picardy" at their graduation, accompanied by the High School Band; and gave a very creditable performance.
A concert by the High School glee Club was presented in October before a large audience of members of the Weymouth Monday Club in Clapp Memorial Hall, and was well received.
The operetta "Chimes of Normandy" is now in rehearsal by the High School glee club, to be presented in January, 1939. Another operetta is also planned for the Bicknell School, to be presented in March or April of 1939.
The violin classes, begun some years ago by Mr. Guido Antonelli, have shown their great value. Some of those children who started in the first class are now playing in the High School orchestra. Members of last year's class performed at the Memorial Day exercises at the Adams School.
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The value of such classes to build up the music units of the High School cannot be overemphasized. The class this year, although small, is making good progress under Mr. Antonelli's guidance, and it is hoped that these classes will be extended to other schools in the Town in the near future.
In closing, I wish to thank the Superintendent, principals, and teachers for their helpful co-operation.
MANUAL TRAINING
(Report of Mr. A. Edward Haviland, Supervisor of Manual Training)
Since September nearly 450 boys in seventh and eighth grades through- out the town have received instruction in manual training.
In the seventh grade the boys were instructed in the use of tools and simple working drawings. With this information, they proceeded to make articles of a simple nature so selected as to provide exercises in surface planing, edge planing, spokeshaving, block planing, and using the backsaw.
The eighth grade work embraced a wide variety of interesting projects, the most popular of which was a table lamp. In addition to the usual woodworking, this project involved work on small pipe and making electri- cal connections for socket and attachment plugs. This new field of interest added stimulus to the work.
Other articles made were book-trough end tables, occasional tables, magazine racks, modern bookends, boat models, footstools, and costumers.
In closing this report, it is pleasant to add that this department has received co-operation of the highest order from the entire school unit.
SEWING (Report of Miss Harriet S. Berry, Supervisor of Sewing)
The main purpose of this course is not to make dressmakers of the girls, but to teach them to be accurate, careful, and neat; and to give them the fundamental points in the care and use of materials, workmanship, and clothing.
As most of the seventh grade students are beginners in sewing, they first make a sewing bag, which calls into use all of the stitches necessary for plain sewing. These bags are made entirely by hand and decorated with cross-stitch monograms. The child is then taught the care and use of the machine. After she has mastered the machine, she may make either a slip or a pair of pajamas. The next step is to make a house coat or simple dress.
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