USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1944 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17
The complete aeroplane given to the School Department by the federal government in October, 1943, continues to hold the interest of our pupils taking aviation courses as well as to provide live instructional material. It is interesting to note that some of our former pupils with enviable records in the air forces of the United States go to the aero- nautics room, climb into the cockpit, and feel the controls of the old training plane.
Recommendations - The Committee to Study the Needs of Vocational Edu- cation, which has not functioned for the past two years because of the emergency conditions, should be continued. There may be much for them to do during the year.
The housing needs of the department should be continued as a "must" for study. The congestion at the John Adams School could be considered in conjunction with a long-term plan for the entire East Weymouth area. The advantages and disadvantages of continuing in use small buildings which provide nothing more than classroom space should also be con- sidered in relation to long-term planning. The probable High School needs should be considered with the space requirements to be determined by the committee studying vocational educational needs.
Conclusion - I am deeply grateful to you, the members of the School Com- mittee for your excellent cooperation and valuable assistance. I. am ap- preciative of the untiring efforts of the entire department personnel and the support of all others in such progress as the schools may have made.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles R. Thibadeau, Supt. of Schools
COURSES OF STUDY Report of Flora Haviland McGrath Director of Courses of Study
At the close of this school year, it is possible to note a positive and satisfying growth in the building of one of the most effective and complete cumulative pupil data records ever achieved in our school history. I consider this one of the most hopeful developments in the field of better pupil understanding. This has been arrived at in part through the various testing programs carried on in the past few years. Group testing now being used to determine mental ability and general academic achieve- ment serves as an excellent, though not always infallible, guide in under- standing both the difficulties and the potentialities of pupils. This pro- cedure is not to be accepted as the only criterion, however, but as some- thing which is supplemental to teacher judgment and other criteria.
GROUP TESTING
Grades I, III, and V, and all new pupils are given mental ability tests in order to assist in determining the extent of the child's mental capacity. It is always the aim of the school to help the child to achieve up to the limits of his capacity. In some cases, however, it is not always possible
150
because of obstacles peculiar to the individual. These tests are proving invaluable in determining the individual child's potentialities as compared with his group. They are by no means all-conclusive, but they are distinct- ly helpful.
ACHIEVEMENT TESTING
Tests in general achievement in fundamentals-reading, vocabulary, language usage, arithmetic reasoning, arithmetic computation, and spelling have been given in grades V, VII, VIII, and wherever there was no achievement record on new pupils.
A few observations on some of these testing results are given herewith:
1. In the language usage test in grade VIII, 80 per cent of the classes tested had class medians above the test norms.
2. In arithmetic reasoning in grade VIII, 70 per cent of the classes had medians at or above test norms.
3. In language usage in grade V, no class had a median below the fifth grade level.
4. In arithmetic computation twelve out of thirteen classes had medians consistent with the grade.
The results in each subject tested were compared with other schools within the system as well as with the standard norms.' Wherever any notable discrepancy existed between the local and standard norms, a study was made to determine reasons for differences in order that necessary re- medial measures might be taken.
GENERAL SUPERVISION
Constant stimulation in some areas is required to guide teaching into the more dynamic activity program and away from the traditional patterns of teaching often adhered to through inertia. Wherever well- planned activity programs have been carried out, there have been better understandings and more lasting outcomes. A few of the most outstand- ing programs are briefly noted here with the hope that greater effort in this direction may become a practice.
Pre-flight Aeronautics
In this elementary course arranged on a junior high school level, an excellent unit on meteorology was carried out. Cloud formations, temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, and winds were studied, and weather charts, meteorology notebooks, collections of pictures, individual observations and reports made as part of the unit. English, art, geography, and arithmetic were correlated in the various phases of this unit.
English
Two unusual units were noted in English, one correlating with art appreciation and the other with literature. The units were carried on over a period of six or eight weeks with assuredly more satisfactory results than would have been achieved through the traditional pattern.
COURSES OF STUDY
Our courses of study are always more or less fluent and thus in a process of revision and growth. While some revisions have been made in the existing courses, no new ones have been added.
IN CONCLUSION
To the teachers and principals, to the members of the school com- mittee, and to Mr. Thibadeau, Superintendent of Schools, I wish to express my continued appreciation for all their efforts in those directions which make for constant improvement in our school system.
151
HIGH SCHOOL Report of Mr. Wallace L. Whittle, Principal
Continuing with our 'practice of the last three years, we are constantly striving to offer to the students material which is chosen to meet their various requirements, and at the same time be of value to the war effort. A change of emphasis in the different fields of study gives practical knowledge and training for use both in the armed forces and on the home front. The various branches of the government are constantly urging more and more pre-induction training for the boys who are going into the service. We are trying to comply with all such requests by offering such courses as we have the facilities to teach.
There were enough boys in the senior college course who wished to study aeronautics to allow us to schedule a more highly technical course than the one which we offer to the general and business groups. This ad- dition to the program is an example of the manner in which we attempt to meet pre-induction needs.
Courses have been arranged so that it is now possible for all seniors who become eighteen years of age before the end of the school year to complete the required work before leaving, and thus be eligible for a diploma. It is our hope that all boys will take advantage of this oppor- tunity. However, if this is not done, there are numerous opportunities for boys to complete courses while in military service and earn credit toward their diplomas. It is now possible for all senior pupils who left high school to enter the armed forces to earn up to one year's credit outside of school. Many boys are working on such a program now.
The State Department of Education is working out a program to award a certificate equivalent to a high school diploma to any qualified young people who are not eligible for high school diplomas under existing regulations.
We intend to offer a pre-induction course in automobile mechanics to senior boys in the spring. This course was given last year for the purpose of giving some mechanical training to the boys before entering the armed forces.
We have given for the second year an orientation course to all fresh- men. This course will probably become a permanent part of our curriculum as it seems to have shown its usefulness. We shall give a course in driver education to as many as we can accommodate, and we hope to be able to repeat the army orientation course for all senior and seventeen-year-old boys.
The students have published a news letter, "Weymouth Highlights," which is made available to be sent to any boy or girl in the service of our country. Several issues have been extremely well received and enjoyed by our former students with the requests that the news letter be continued. One issue has already been published this year and others will follow. We feel that this is a definite contribution to the morale of our boys.
I should like to call the attention of all parents to the fact that the election of subjects to be studied by the pupils is of utmost importance. Although the situation has been somewhat improved, there are still far too many pupils entering high school with not enough thought given to the chosen course of study. It is not practical to make changes in the program after the year has started. Such changes are almost always detri- mental to the student and can be avoided by careful selection of subjects at the proper time. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a wise and careful choice at the start of the pupil's high school career. We are happy at all times to explain the various courses or to be of help in any way. We welcome conferences with parents in order to save as many pupils as we can from an improper course of study. Our Guidance Department has done excellent work in this field and its services are available at all
152
1
times to high school and grammar school pupils and their parents.
Our war stamp sale has continued as in the past, the total sales for 1944 being $17,452.95.
The Junior Red Cross and the Art Department have done a tremen- dous amount of work for the boys in the service, and they have also made many useful articles for the returned veterans at the Cushing General Hospital in Framingham and the Lovell Hospital, Fort Devens, in Ayer, Massachusetts.
The awards given in June are as follows:
Weymouth. Teachers' Association-Marie Haviland, Audrey Horsch, Ruth Lovell, Doris O'Neill
Weymouth High School Alumni Association-Ruth Burgess, Mary Pottle, Taylor Steeves
Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship-Anita Clark
Federick W. Hilton Award-Harold Leach
The Monday Club of Weymouth-Ruth Johnson, Jean Reidy Sons of Italy and Daughters of Italy-Robert Huntoon
The Weymouth Catholic Club-Thomas Pickett
Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion-Taylor Steeves The Washington and Franklin Medal for proficiency in American History was given to Taylor Steeves.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award was made to Jacqueline Blunt.
WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of the Director, Mr. Francis E. Whipple
This year a change has been made in the drawing program and & teacher employed for the purpose of teaching this subject in the Auto- mobile and Cabinetmaking departments. This change does away with the necessity of arranging the program to fit with the high school program and should result in a better daily schedule. The classroom equipment for drawing was installed in the only available room in the vocational building. Next year a more suitable room for the purpose should be provided.
A waiting list in Automobile Repair was maintained for all boys applying after the close of school in June. Twenty-eight boys were on this list. Some were absorbed in the first four months of the current year, but many others became discouraged and elected other courses. In Sheet Metal work, the enrollment has been at capacity, but no waiting list has been set up. In Cabinetmaking and Printing, there is still & smaller than normal enrollment. These courses offer many fine post-war employment possibilities and should attract more boys.
A faculty committee is working on the problem of curriculum adjust- ment in the light of current and probable future needs. Some of the matters before the committee are:
1. Length of school day. Before the war the trend in industry was toward a shorter work day, and since one of the original reasons for a seven-hour day in vocational schools was to approximate industry's working hours, from this point alone a change could be justified. There are many other equally cogent reasons which seem to make it desirable.
2. The grade level of the specific vocational offering. Should vocation- al training for specific occupations be postponed to a later time in a boy's school career; for example, to grade 10 or 11, since the employable age after the war is certain to be eighteen or more?
3. What should be offered in Weymouth in the way of vocational- technical education on the level of grades 13 and 14, for the train- ing of persons who may become technicians, supervisors and foreman in industry ?
153
4. Since it has been apparent. for many years that children electing vocational courses have not been fully informed about the aims of the courses open to them, the abilities required of a skilled craftsman, nor properly advised about trades in which they might be successful, the matter of vocational information, aptitude testing and other similar services which might be given to children prior to their making binding decisions on a trade which may be followed for a lifetime, is being studied.
5. Can boys be assisted further in making their choice by setting up a vocational exploratory general shop program to enable them' to come in contact with some of the shop activities in the different trades?
6. What other trades might be offered in Weymouth with benefit . to its youth ?
7. What about special programs for adults and out-of-school youth just getting started in industry?
The total enrollment figures for the school period from September 9 to December 22 are given below:
I
II
III
Total
Auto Repair
35
22
7
64
Cabinetmaking
12
10
5
27
Printing
7
4
2
13
Sheet Metal
29
16
18
63
83
52
32
167
Last year there were 91 freshmen, 46 sophomores, and 28 seniors. Of this year's freshmen 4 were admitted as special students without com- pleting the eighth grade, 43 had completed the eighth grade, 22 were members of or had completed the ninth, 6 the tenth, 1 the eleventh, and 7 were repeaters from last year. There were 30 non-residents enrolled, two more than last year.
For the first time in six years, not all graduates entered the trade for which they were trained. Of the 26 graduated, 20 entered the trades, 3 the armed services, 3 other employments.
I wish to extend to the Superintendent of Schools, to my assistant, to the teaching staff and to the members of the maintenance staff, my thanks for the excellent support and cooperation they have given me during the year.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
Resignations
High School
Athens School
Bicknell School
Hunt School
Edward B. Nevin School
Pond School
Paul H. Bates Marie E. Conroy Charlotte M. Clark Louise A. Kalaghan Edith M. Mulligan Elizabeth C. Rogers Rita M. Kearns Meredith G. Bragg Lucille D. Trenear Josephine M. Lindsay
Leave of Absence (for one year) High School
Inez E. Hoag
Leave of Absence for Military Service High School
Norman D. Loud
154
IN MEMORIAM Anna A. MacDavitt School Nurse Service
1922-1944
Elections
Supervisor of Music Athens School Bicknell School
Hunt School
Pratt School
Edward B. Nevin School Vocational School To fill a military vacancy
Russell H. Jack Elaine T. Clapp Dorothy M. Condrick Concetta G. Passero Mary T. Coneys C. Ruth Santry Doris F. Wild Edith E. Rowell Howard H. Hawley*
Reinstatements
*Thomas L. Stetson Shaw School Principal from Military Service *Robert E. Mitchell High School from Military Service *Assignments to take effect as of Jan. 2, 1945
Transfers
I. Elena Caracciolo
Beatrice Escott
Marie K. Ghiorse
Rita M. Jones
Alice B. Keohan
Marion R. Loud
Helen E. O'Halloran
Barbara H. Pray
E. Louise Rubolino Mary F. Toomey Jean A. Tompkins
James Humphrey to Hunt High to Domestic Arts Supervisor Hunt to Junior Annex Junior Annex to High James Humphrey to Athens Pratt to Shaw, Acting Principal Washington to Bicknell Bicknell to High Bicknell to Edward B. Nevin Shaw, Acting Principal, to High Pratt to Bicknell
Substitutes
Mrs. Elizabeth Ahern Assistant Domestic Arts Supervisor (part-time) Mrs. Rita D. Winship
Mrs. Charlotte M. Oppler
Mrs. Marion L. Ray
Mrs. Meredith B. Raymond
Mr. Albert Reinherz
Assistant Physical Education High School High School High School High School
Mrs. Eileen B. McCarthy
Mrs. Louise K. Frederick
Mrs. Charlotte C. Lowe Mrs. Alma R. Driscoll
Abigail Adams School Athens School Athens School Bicknell School
Mrs. Marjorie C. Jackson
Bicknell School
Miss Mary H. Sheehan
Bicknell School
Mrs. Aileen M. Karacius
Mrs. Mary A. Nolan Mrs. Catherine Q. Goodwin
Mrs. Ruth T. Sheahan
Mrs. Dorothea A. Cronin Mrs. Delia E. Will
Mrs. Phyllis P. Thompson
Mrs. Alice B. Wallace
Mrs. Ann O. Palmer
Bicknell School Jefferson School Washington School Hunt School Hunt School Shaw School Shaw School Edward B. Nevin School Edward B. Nevin School
155
Mrs. Myrtle E. Turner Mrs. Alberta R. Kelly Mrs. Hazel E. Johnson
Edward B. Nevin School Pond School Pond School
INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL
Elementary
112
High School
65
Supervisors
14
Total
191
WAR SAVINGS PROGRAM
Total purchases $97,917.57
SCHOOL POPULATION
Enrollment as of close of school in June:
Year
High School
Elementary
Total
1935
1,401
3,419
4,820
1936
1,397
3,353
4,750
1937
1,533
3,300
4,833
1938
1,576
3,235
4,811
1939
1,621
3,252
4,873
1940
1,715
3,214
4,929
1941
1,691
3,266
4,957
1942
1,609
3,237
4,846
1943
1,510
3,216
4,726
1944
1,364
3,182
4,546
Enrollment as of close of school on December 22, 1944:
1,421
3,334
4,755
HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (as of October 1, 1944)
By Classes
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
252
207
459
Sophomores
214
188
402
Juniors
113
150
263
Seniors
118
151
269
Postgraduates
1
1
697
697
1394
By Courses
Freshmen Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
P.G. Total
College
176
126
106
90
1
499
Business
158
175
119
110
562
General
22
25
32
34
113
Agriculture
12
15
6
3
-
36
Home Economics
15
9
-
24
Vocational
76
52
32
160
459
402
263
269
1
1394
.
156
Sources of Freshmen
Bicknell
83
Hunt
68
Junior Annex
97
Pratt
39
Shaw
16
Edward B. Nevin
36
Pond
21
Other Schools
49
Repeaters
50
459
157
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE (as of October 1, 1944)
AGES
5
6
7
8
9 10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 and over Total
Grade I
B
100
134
13
3
250
G
75
123
7
205
Grade II
B
65
96
24
8
193
GY
89
84
16
5
194
Grade III
B
54
86
42
11
3
196
G
61
100
12
3
2
178
Grade IV
B
45
93
26
13
1
178
G
74
90
28
5
197
Grade V
B
50
103
26
8
1
188
74
98
15
6
193
Grade VI
B
46
86
36
13
7
1
189
G
46
89
14
7
156
Grade VII
B
47
111
33
17
5
1
73
83
22
5
2
186
Grade VIII
B
53
72
22
12
2
161
G
85
94
13
5
197
4
4
8
5
8
11
3
1
46
G
1
2
2
7
3
1
16
Grade IX
B
250
G
9
59
101
30
8
207
Grade X
B
54
107
43 24
11
188
Grade XI
B
1
1
36
59
13
2
1
113
G
1
2
56
72
17
1
1
150
Grade XII
B
2
51
61
4
118
G
1
56
81
12
1
151
Postgraduates
.. B
G
1
1
Total
175
411
315
348
378
367
369
413
389
390
413
337
198
19
2
1 -
4525
Boys
100
199
163
158
197
190
183
214
199
211
220
177
88
6
1
-
2306
Girls
75 212
152
190
181
177
186
199
190
179
193
160
110
13
2
-
2219
.
Special
B
71
99
54
20
6
7
211
G
55
98
.
,
2
213
G
G
158
SCHOOL CENSUS (as of October 1, 1944)
1
5-6 years
7-13 years
14-16 years
Total
BOYS
Ward I
140
475
118
733
Ward II
68
341
112
521
Ward III
56
244
66
366
Ward IV
79
228
69
376
Ward V
74
233
73
380
Total
417
1521
438
2376
GIRLS
Ward I
128
452
134
714
Ward II
72
327
106
505
Ward III
59
226
66
351
Ward IV
52
217
59
328
Ward V
86
247
41
374
Total
397
1469
406
2272
GRAND TOTAL
814
2990
844
4648
DISTRIBUTION OF ABOVE MINORS
Public Schools
558
2639
781
3978
Private Schools
60
341
51
452
Not enrolled in any school
196
10
6
212
At work
-
6
6
Total
814
2990
844
4648
EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES
Total number of minors between the ages of 14 and 16 certified during 1944 for:
Boys
Girls
Total
Full-time employment
13
3
16
Part-time employment
99
42
141
Total
112
45
157
EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATES
Total number of minors between the ages of 16 and 21 certified for employment during 1944:
Boys
Girls
Total
578
528
1,106
REPORT OF DENTAL CLINIC (Paid for by Board of Health) Mary A. Uracius, Dental Hygienist
Total number of pupils examined
2,266
Total number of pupils needing dental treatment
1,086
Total number of patients
537
Total number of permanent fillings
623
Total number of deciduous fillings
116
Total number of permanent extractions
66
Total number of deciduous extractions
168
Total number of prophylaxis treatments
152
159
COST OF EDUCATION (per pupil in average membership)
WEYMOUTH
STATE
1938
$ 88.45
1938
$100.41
1939
86.44
1939
102.07
1940
87.37
1940
103.85
1941
88.06
1941
107.08
1942
91.97
1942
112.48
1943
104.26
1943
120.22
1944
116.94
1944
129.63
PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION FOR 1944 EXPENDITURES*
Item
Amount Percentage*
Administration
$ 14,461.62
2.4
Teachers' Salaries
377,043.35
64.3
Textbooks and Supplies
15,592.72
2.7
Transportation
18,600.00
3.2
Janitors
41,439.60
7.1
Fuel
13,292.58
2.3
Light, Power, Water
6,546.72
1.1
Maintenance
43,125.99
7.4
Other Expense
1,911.29
3
Day Household Arts
5,384.10
9
Day Industrial
47,807.51
8.2
Americanization
25.80)
Support of Truants
115.71)
Tuition
466.58)
Traveling Expense
138.18)
1
Total Expenditures
1
$ 585,951.75
100
Total Instructional Salaries
$419,775.47
71.7
Total Noninstructional Salaries
70,848.82
12.1
Total Department Salaries
$ 490,624.29
83.8
* figured to the nearest tenth of one per cent.
FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR VOCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Smith-Hughes Fund:
Day Household Arts
$ 489.80
Day Industrial
1,432.36
$1,922.16
CREDITS
The sums listed below are due the Town and are not credited to the School Department appropriation. Therefore, for the purpose of de- termining net cost of schools to the Town, the total of items listed below should be deducted from the total expenditures.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES-1944
$585,951.75
Credits
State Reimbursement :
Teachers' Salaries
$ 32,908.78
Day Industrial*
20,555.53
Day Household Arts*
3,216.81
Americanization*
35.40
Tuition paid to other localities
92.02
$56,808.54
*one-half cost of instruction
160
.
Tuition :
Day Industrial
4,400.48
State Wards
2,045.37
Boston city wards
104.49
High School
48.36
High School (agricultural)
238.32
Elementary
40.05
6,877.07
Miscellaneous Cash Receipts:
Day Industrial School sales:
Auto Repairs
$161.99
Cabinetmaking
108.68
Printing
269.27
Sheet Metal
464.70
Supplies
152.77
1,157.41
Fines; sale of supplies, stamps, old books,
old equipment, etc .; telephones
780.10 1,937.51
TOTAL CREDITS-1944
65,623.12
TOTAL NET COST TO TOWN 1
$520,328.63
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S REPORT OF ATHLETICS ACCOUNTS Financial Statement-September 1, 1944
OPERATING ACCOUNT
Cash on hand, September 1, 1943
Receipts :
Admissions
Football
$8,745.43
Basketball
549.94
Wrestling
65.00
Track & Cross Country
82.00
$9,442.37
Miscellaneous
Athletic Association Tickets
662.70
Lost Equipment
8.00
670.70
10,113.07
$10,258.85
Expenditures :
Expenses
Football
4,289.10
Basketball
611.39
Basketball-Vocational School
27.30
Baseball
349.41
Wrestling
113.67
Track & Cross Country
347.42
$5,738.29
Miscellaneous
Theft Insurance, (office safe)
17.49
Taxes-A. A. Tickets
60.30
Postage & Telephone (Athletics)
1.48
Printing (posters, paper, etc.)
82.88
Miscellaneous Cleaning
16.18
Miscellaneous Equipment
98.38
Weymouth Hospital Plan
150.00
Legion Field Expense
440.15
866.86
6,605.15
$ 3,653.70
$ 145.78
161
Transfer to Reserve Fund
3,000.00
Balance on hand, September 1, 1944 RESERVE FUND Cash on hand, September 1, 1943 Transfer to Reserve Fund
$ 653.70
$ 5,100.00
3,000.00
$ 8,100.00
Interest Account
414.07
Balance on hand, September 1, 1944
$ 8,514.07
WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA Financial Statement for School Year 1943-1944
RESERVE ACCOUNT
Cash on hand, October 1, 1943
$ 3,796.21
Receipts :
Cafeteria Operating Account
$2,300.00
*Manual Arts
120.68
*Sewing
49.60
*Junior Manual Arts
426.17
*Miscellaneous
246.00
3,142.45
$ 6,938.66
Expenditures :
Cafeteria-Insurance
102.78
Miscellaneous
1.70
104.48
*Manual Arts
176.44
*Sewing
93.35
*Junior Manual Arts
475.72
Miscellaneous:
High School Instrumental Music
500.00
*Miscellaneous
226.00
726.00
1,575.99
Cash on hand, October 1, 1944
$ 5,362.67
* These are cash-for-cash transactions.
The money either has been
or will be returned to this account.
East Weymouth, Mass. December 11, 1944
This is to certify that we have examined the books, accounts, and vouchers of the Weymouth High School Cafeteria and Miscellaneous Fund, and find same to be correct as of October 1, 1944. (limited to the Reserve Account)
C. N. Curtis William F. Shields
OPERATING ACCOUNT
Cash on hand, September 1, 1943 Sales
$34,955.59
Reimbursement from the Food Distribution Administration (School Lunch Program)
8,750.72
Credit for returned goods
39.75
43,746.06
$43,858.93
$ 112.87
162
Gross Expenditures: Paid by check : Service
$7,407.32
Income tax withholding deductions
647.55
8,054.87
Supplies
26,476.59
Equipment, repairs, replacement, etc.
964.50
Replacing flooring
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.