USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1940 > Part 16
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A result of recent legislation affecting wages and hours has been to raise the school age from the Massachusetts compulsory limit of sixteen to a practical limit of eighteen. No employer doing an inter- state business will hire boys under eighteen to work on machinery.
In this school with its minimum entering age of fourteen, and a three-year course, many boys are too young upon graduation to be employed. They must wait for a year at home, or must take some unskilled work and thus get out of practice in their trade.
To meet this new development, one of two things could be done. First, and perhaps the best way, would be to make our course four years in length. The second choice would be to require all children to complete the ninth grade in the regular school before taking up a trade course. In either case benefits would accrue to the students in several ways. First. they would be of an employable . age upon graduation. Secondly, they would have acquired a year more of maturity and judgment which would help them greatly in their school work and in their employment. Thirdly, their aims would be more settled, being more removed from childish years and
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$39,156.51
7,737.57
George-Deen Fund
1,119.56
more ready to accept adult viewpoints and adult responsibilities. Fourthly, more advanced courses could be taught, helping the boys further along the road to becoming skilled mechanics.
Our placement service has been very successful during the year. For the second time in succession every available graduate has been placed. The representatives made 737 personal calls, 171 telephone calls, and 18 mail or messenger contacts. From these calls 101 jobs were obtained directly by the school, 33 additional jobs were ob- tained by virtue of the boys' training in school, and 52 other jobs were reported. A number of students obtained part-time after school and Saturday work through the placement department. On September 1, Mr. Harry F. Duncan, who had been carrying on this work in addition to supervising the printing, was relieved of this responsibility and it was assigned to Mr. Otto H. Mahn. Mr. Duncan did a thorough piece of work during the year and six months that the placement was in his charge, but because the print- ing department required continuous undivided supervision, it was necessary to change the assignment.
Besides this work, the placement men participated in two meet- ings of the Vocational School Alumni Association and one public meeting. A talk was given by a representative of the Social Security Board to the seniors, and they secured their Social Security numbers a short time later. Bi-weekly job-talks were also given to the seniors.
The members of the Advisory Committees were called together for consultation at meetings in the school. These busy men devoted some time to this purpose. Their observations and suggestions have been very helpful in our work and many of them have been carried into effect. Other suggestions have been incorporated in our long- range program. The members present were:
AUTOMOBILE REPAIR
Mr. Joseph L. Jannell
Mr. Seward Taber Mr. Clarence E. Thomasey CABINETMAKING Mr. Anthony L. Cassesse
SHEET METAL Mr. Pearson F. Cazeault
Mr. Fred Schroth
Mr. William D. Aitken
Mr. Charles F. Crehan
Mr. Frank Loud, Jr.
Mr. John W. Knox
Mr. Edward I. Loud
Mr. Eric Fallgren
During the year I have had responsibility for a large share of the maintenance, construction, and repair of the different school properties in town. It requires a good deal of absence from the Vocational School to attend to these jobs and leaves the school without supervision. In a short time this may result in a falling off in the high standards we have tried to maintain. Some provision should be made to delegate some of this school supervision else- where, and to provide adequate assistance to handle the greatly increased clerical work in the office, caused by increased enrollment and the additional maintenance activity.
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Several improvements in the building were made during the year. A complete force ventilation system was installed in the lavatory by the sheet metal department, and the plumbing changed to conform to sanitary requirements. New window shades replaced the old tattered ones throughout the building. Adequate copper gutters were built and installed on the front of the building and along the easterly side. One of the jobs of which the sheet metal department may be proud is the metal work done in connection with the improvements in the home team locker room of the high school gym.
New equipment was provided in the form of an automobile tune-up stand, a fender air hammer, a fan for a paint room, a punch for the sheet metal shop, and a portable belt sander for the cabinet shop.
The automobile department is emphasizing fender repairing and spray painting, since most of the boys go into that work. Enough mechanical instruction is given, however, so that they may do either as their job requires. For several months it has been prac- tically impossible to find graduates from this department to fill jobs waiting for them. At the time this is written we have three jobs open, but no qualified boys free to fill them.
The cabinetmaking department shows a very encouraging in- crease in enrollment. This is a basic trade and deserves more interest than it receives. Members of the defense advisory committee feel that it would be wise to return to teaching carpentry, in view of the report that from 200 to 300 new houses have been built in Weymouth during 1940. The regular Cabinetmaking Advisory Committee was very definite about the need for certain items of equipment, notably a dowelling machine, a new mortise machine. and a caul box for heating lumber to be glued up.
The enrollment in printing was held down from that of last year, when the shop was badly overcrowded. The new fluorescent lighting has brought much help to the boys working on type in the composing room section. These units use less current that the pre- vious incandescent lamps and yield more than twice the light as measured by the light meter. Boys from this department who can work on modern equipment get jobs. This department has been in operation for fifteen years, and almost all the machinery was bought second-hand. There has been a revolution in the printing industry during this period which has placed great emphasis upon precision methods and equipment. We should modernize our equip- ment to keep up with the industry if we wish our graduates to continue to get printing jobs. With only one linotype machine in the shop, if the available time were divided equally among all the students, each one would have less than three weeks training during his entire three-year course. A second linotype machine, modern type cabinets, replacement type, and an automatic job press are some of the more important items needed.
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The time is here when the facilities of the school should be made available for the training of men in trades essential to national defense. The Federal government has appropriated a large amount of money to pay for courses operated outside of the regular school hours. These courses are designed for men out of employment, and men on the W.P.A. Federal money pays all direct costs of running the courses, including salaries, supplies, and operation of plant. The Weymouth Safety Council, Vocational Training Committee, has . considered the whole problem with the advice of representatives from labor and industry, and has recommended to the School Com- mittee that we render this service as far as we are able.
The courses most needed are machine work, welding, and sheet metal work. We are, of course, equipped only for sheet metal work. It may be possible to obtain welding equipment from Federal funds. If we could get welding equipment now for this purpose, it would be available after the present emergency for a regular course in that trade, and also could be used for maintenance in the school build- ings. For defense training purposes, the welding could be operated in the present garage. Machine shop equipment is expensive, but it should be included as part of the building program.
I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Superin- tendent of Schools, to all members of the teaching staff, and to the maintenance department for the excellent support and co-operation they have given me during the year.
AGRICULTURE
Report of MR. HILMER S. NELSON Agricultural Instructor in charge of the Weymouth Branch of the Norfolk County Agricultural School
During these crucial moments .in the history of our nation. the general trend in vocational education seems to be entering on a wave of popularity. Not only has industry penetrated the depths of vocational education for trained skilled help, but the call for individuals well versed in the many phases of agriculture has been rising. How often we have heard the statement that vocational training is the next best thing to a college education. Again, we hear that vocational schools and departments give the individual a chance to find out what he is fitted for. How true this is at the present time, when a man can use his hands as well as his head without a feeling of segregation.
In the past twenty years there has been an unprecedented progress in the development and training for farmers in our school systems. Massachusetts has felt these "growing pains" as well as the rest of the country. The National Defense program has stimulated this urge. Individual States have taken advantage of the opportunities offered by the funds of the Smith-Hughes Act to set up training programs to meet the needs of this expansion in
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vocational agricultural education. Not only has this growth reached the student of high school age, but also the adult farmer.
Several sections taken from the "Prospectus" prepared for those interested in knowing more about the department may be of interest. A copy of this prospectus will be gladly furnished.
Substitute Projects. Boys who have no facilities at home for ownership projects or partnership projects with members of their family may find elsewhere the jobs they need to fulfill their re- quirements for study and practical experience. For example, a boy who wishes to specialize in poultry, and who has no facilities for keeping poultry may locate a summer job, or substitute project. with some poultryman who will co-operate with the agricultural instructor in teaching good methods of poultry work. In like man- ner, boys may find jobs with dairymen, market gardeners, nursery- men, florists, estate managers, greenskeepers, etc. The instructor will co-operate with the parents and the boy in securing suitable work. The instructor will also assist the boy in making contacts with farmers who hire summer help. Interviews may be arranged and recommendations made. This service is extended to the alumni of this Agricultural Department. Extreme care is taken to protect boys from unfair labor and living conditions. This type of super- vised training may be continued after school hours, on Saturdays. on 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.
Supervision of Projects. Every pupil conducting a project. either at home or away from home, receives regular visits from his instructor according to his needs. Assistance and guidance are given in the development of home ownership projects. Conferences between instructor and employer increase the educational value of substitute projects. Records, "monthly summaries, observations. and account books are required of every pupil on his project. Thes.' data are inspected by the instructor. It is recommended that a boy conduct his project along the lines of the agricultural subject matter he has studied in the current year. For instance, freshmen special- izing in vegetable gardening should conduct home garden projects. It is also permissible and highly recommended that pupils plan and conduct long-term projects.
This report brings to a close the twenty-fourth year of con- tinuous vocational agricultural instruction in the Weymouth High School. We have profited by our experiences and gained by our mistakes. The student enrollment since 1925 has been as follows:
1925
17
1931
21
1936
38
1926
18
1932
26
1937
42
1927
20
1933
29
1938
42
1928
19
1934
35
1939
38
1929
24
1935
37
1940
38
1930
24
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The opening of school in September, 1940 showed a total enrollment of thirty-eight students, divided according to classes as follows:
Seniors 6 Sophomores 9
Juniors 10 Freshmen 13
These thirty-eight students may again be classified geograph- ically as follows:
South Weymouth 15 Rockland 2
East Weymouth 11 South Hanson 1 Weymouth 5 South Braintree 1
North Weymouth 2 Quincy 1
Our graduating class (June, 1940) of nine seniors were as follows:
Ralph W. Austin, South Weymouth
John B. Campbell, East Weymouth
Ernest M. Farren, East Weymouth Albert H. Gadd, South Hanson
William D. Hickey, East Weymouth
Charles E. Newcomb, East Weymouth
George W. Rugman, South Weymouth
Carl B. Voigt, Weymouth Elliott G. Yetman, South Weymouth
Home ownership projects have been fewer in number than in any previous year, but I feel that those five boys who did conduct home ownership projects in poultry did a fine job. No other types of ownership projects were kept. Summarizing the results of these poultry projects, we find some interesting figures and facts :
1. Total number of birds (average for year)
Adult layers 217
Baby chicks 775 Broilers 1,231
(Over 5,000 chicks were bought and sold as broilers during this period. )
2. One boy had layers and chicks. One boy had layers and broilers. Three boys had only layers.
3. Actual receipts : $3,983.98
4. Hours of labor on projects : 2,536
5. Earnings of boys, including their profit, own labor, in- ventory gain or loss, stock and supplies, interest on invest- ment, and rent of land, etc .: $1.958.52
6. The boy who conducted the broiler project made an actual profit of $831.84, including his own labor, and is still going strong.
7. Number of eggs produced: 40,029
8. Pounds of poultry meat and broilers sold: 13,747
9. Breeds represented: Rhode Island Reds. White Plymouth Rocks, White Wyandottes, Australops, and New Hamp- shires
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During this past project year, extending from October 15, 1939 to October 15, 1940, thirty-four boys on their supervised farm practice work reported 30,210 hours, with a value of $6,575 .- 31. Again we must stress the need of substitute projects to take the place of the home project, resulting from the lack of facilities and working capital within the family; another limiting factor is the need of land to properly conduct a real agricultural enterprise. When the boy cannot find his agricultural experience at home, he must seek elsewhere the job needed to fulfill his requirements for study and practical experience. Much of this practical experience was secured on poultry and turkey farms, dairy farms, general farms, greenhouses, florists, nurseries, small estates, etc. These experiences were gained in various parts of Weymouth, Braintree, Quincy, Whitman, South Hanson, Brockton, Wrentham, Wal- pole, Southboro, Sudbury, Rochester, and Guilford, N. H.
Again we wish to thank those who have given so generously of their time and experience in allowing our several groups to enjoy practical work and survey experience on their farms. This has been an invaluable part of our course of study. We particularly refer to the following :
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 Weymonth-Poultry Mr. William Monto, Norwell-Poultry
To Mr. Charles R. Thibadeau, Superintendent of Schools, and to Mr. Wallace L. Whittle, Principal of the High School, may we extend our thanks for their splendid co-operation and interest in our work.
To Mr. Francis E. Whipple, Director of the Vocational School, and his staff of instructors who have so generously assisted in our farm mechanics work, we wish to express our appreciation.
What is one man's loss is another's gain. The resignation of Mr. Jack Sturtevant in September, 1940, to accept a position as agricultural instructor in charge of a new department at the Memo- rial High School, Middleboro, brought to a happy ending a period of splendid co-operation and teamwork. May we wish him every success in his new work. His successor, Mr. Harold R. Nelson, brings to our department an individual well qualified for the job as instructor in horticulture and its allied subjects. Mr. Nelson was formerly assistant instructor in vegetable gardening at the Norfolk County Agricultural School, Walpole, previous to which he had had considerable practical experience, privately and com- mercially, in his chosen field. Mr. Nelson was a graduate of the Massachusetts State College in 1933 and the Framingham High School in 1929.
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To Mr. Charles W. Kemp, Director of the Norfolk County Agricultural School (of which this department is a branch) and to his Board of Trustees, may we extend our sincere thanks.
DRAWING Report of MISS EVELYN SILVESTER Supervisor of Drawing
The year of 1940 has been a particularly interesting and busy one in the Art Department of the Weymouth schools.
Starting in January, at the request of some of the grammar school teachers, three groups of meetings were held on art subjects. Four talks, followed by discussions, were on "Picture Apprecia- tion": four, on teaching aids in "Figure Drawing"; and four, on the subject of "Design." These meetings were conducted by the art personnel and were very well attended. It has been suggested that another series be given on other phases of art work at some later date. This will be done gladly if a sufficient number desire it.
American Art Week, sponsored by the American Artists' Professional League, was observed in our schools for the first time this year, from November 1st through the 7th. This "Week" has been of increasing interest in each of the eight years since it was started, but this year its scope spread to all kinds of organizations and to all parts of the country.
The interest and co-operation of the Superintendent, prin- cipals, and teachers have resulted in the spreading of a far better understanding of the effect of the cultural and the practical arts on our daily lives. All things that are suited to their purpose, sincere in their conception, and beautiful in their form of expression, whether it be a painting by a master or a beautifully polished, well proportioned, useful kitchen dish, each is an expression of art. "Art is the expression of Life"-William Morris.
During Art Week all possible phases of art that could be integrated with academic subjects were emphasized. These were so numerous that a complete list is out of the question, but a few of the outstanding ideas are included here:
Study of classroom pictures
Compositions, oral or written, about pictures and artists
Research on art subjects (All school and public libraries re- ported great activity in the arts.)
Visits after school to exhibits held throughout the Town of the work of local artists, as a part of the civic Art Week program, and reports of these exhibits in the classes
Talk in one school by a local artist on his experiences in fol- lowing painting as a hobby
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One school selected a new classroom picture.
Study of art treasures of the Old World and realization of what the tragedy of war does to the great creative expressions of humanity
Teaching that "order is the first law of beauty"; thus the importance of clean desks, rooms, school yards, streets, and homes, in order to live beautifully
Neat clothing, worn by people who stand and sit well, makes the world look better.
Treasures from foreign lands lent by children for exhibition in their schools
Exhibition, held in the corridors, library, and art room of the High School, of professional art work by former students -of the Weymouth High School
These and many other ideas developed a very successful week of art thought and activity. Many teachers have said since that they and their students enjoyed and found real stimulus from the teaching of their regular subjects from the art point of view. It is hoped that this "Week" may be observed next year and in the years to follow, with increasing interest and benefit. In this troubled world, some things of beauty and of the spirit are of vital importance.
Revisions of the courses of study are in progress as usual. In developing, correlating, and refining the art courses, it is necessary to keep them flexible as to detail, but stable as to standards. This means that individual problems are changed every few years to keep ideas up to date and to give teaching a zest, but the principles taught by the various problems remain the same.
Steady improvement has been evident quite generally in the skill and creative thinking of the students. They have the courage to try and ideas to express. These two things are of first impor- tance to successful creative art. As a specific example of this are the beautiful Christmas windows made in many of the schools. These are wholly the ideas and expressions of the children them- selves; they are executed in some cases with cut colored paper, and in other cases by painting each section for the window on a single piece of paper which is waxed to permit the passage of light.
Two scholarships were awarded this year to students enter- ing the Massachusetts School of Art: one of one hundred dollars to Nancy Fielding, and one of fifty dollars to Joseph Murphy. This money came from the puppet show fund, which has been raised by means of our own shows and those of professional com- panies. The money from this fund is used either for straight scholarships for art school tuition for deserving students or for special art programs or classes to benefit a larger number of our students.
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The sincere thanks of the art teachers to the teachers of the grades, the principals, and the Superintendent for their splendid co-operation are most gratefully given. We all look forward to the new year, of continued activity, with pleasure.
MANUAL TRAINING Report of MR. A. EDWARD HAVILAND Supervisor of Manual Training
During the past school year over 400 seventh and eighth grade boys have received instruction in manual training. The general pattern of this instruction has been, with some exceptions, the same as in previous years,-the variable factor being project" design and selectivity.
The subject matter presented consisted of plan drawing and reading, care and use of tools, problems in joinery, wood-finishing, electricity, and small items of maintenance. The latter work was touched upon this year for the first time and has proved quite successful. Repairs were made to broken assembly hall chairs, desks, loose door butts, and other such small work items not in- cluded in the regular school maintenance. This work in no way conflicted with the regular program, but was rather supplemen- tary to it.
Alterations to the Pratt School included renovation of the manual training room, thus providing a model shøp and one that will serve as a pattern for future improvements to other school shops.
The shop facilities at the Edward B. Nevin School are being severely taxed by the large number of boys using that building, and the factor of wear is such that repairs and improvements will be needed soon.
In the year 1934 five new classes were added to the regular manual training schedule. Prior to that time the manual training program carried a full quota of classes; thus, in order to make room for the new groups, the length of the work period was re- duced for all. As a result of this, little elasticity remains in the program. Should there be any further pupil increase, a continu- ation of the 1934 policy might result in a serious thinning out of the program.
Present-day trends have focussed the spotlight sharply upon education, particularly on the vocational phase, a field in which Weymouth schools have pioneered. Revision of the manual train- ing structure is recommended, therefore, to the end that it shall serve both the manual training and the pre-vocational function.
In closing this report it is pleasant to record that this depart- ment has received timely and effective co-operation from the entire school system.
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MUSIC Report of MR. VANCE W. MONROE Supervisor of Music
Vocal music in the grades has maintained its usual high stand- ard. The climax was the appearances of our combined glee clubs at the Mayflower School Festival held in Marshfield and the State Contest at Wellesley.
The instrumental music is still a problem. Radio has made people music critics rather than music lovers. It also has destroyed the average musician's chances of a vocation in music. With fre- quency-modulation here and television promised in the near future, people will become even more intrigued with the dial form of entertainment. These conditions make the average parent indif- ferent to the beginner's artistic endeavors. If instrumental music is to be a part of our community life, it must be developed by the schools.
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