USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1946 > Part 10
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(8) The organization in the Vocational School of Part-time Ap- prenticeship Classes in related subjects for veterans who are participants in the government trade training programs. These classes are held Saturday forenoons, and fifty-one veterans from this area are enrolled in classes for prospective carpenters and auto mechanics.
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(9) The improvement in the facilities for transporting pupils to and from school made possible by the end of the war and the purchase of new equipment by the Lovell Bus Lines.
(10) The adoption by the School Committee of a new preparational type teachers' salary schedule to become effective April 1, 1947, funds for which will be sought at the March Town Meeting. 1
(11) The initiation of a School Plant Survey to be made by Dr. William K. Wilson, Supervisor of Buildings and Plans in the New York State Department of Education, starting in Feb- ruary 1947, with the cost to be met with money voted by the Post War Planning Committee.
The last two of these forward steps are undoubtedly the most significant for the future progress of the Weymouth schools, and they should be discussed at greater length.
A NEW TEACHERS' SALARY SCHEDULE
A Salary Committee of the Weymouth Teachers' Association has been working since the spring of 1945 on a new salary schedule which would set the basis for salary payments and increments for the instruc- tional staff. The present schedule was adopted in 1928, and is a posi- tion-type schedule with a different maximum salary for elementary and secondary teachers. It also provides for a maximum salary for men teachers $500.00 above that paid to women teachers.
The Teachers' Salary Committee did a thorough job under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Francis Martin, spending long hours in research and consideration of the many problems involved. During the spring of 1946 they met twice with the School Committee in joint conferences in order to arrive at a mutually satisfactory plan. After the special Town Meeting in June had voted an increase of $200.00 in salaries at all levels, the Teachers' Association submitted their final drafts of the proposed schedule to the School Committee. Their plan proposed a single-salary schedule, with salaries to be paid on three levels, based solely on the amount of training or preparation of the individual teacher. The proposed schedule also eliminated the existing differential between the salaries of men and women teachers and the existing differential between the salaries of high and elementary school teachers.
The School Committee gave the new plan careful study, and at . their October meeting approved it with modifications, the most im- portant change being the retention of the differential for men teachers. The Committee preferred to leave this decision to the voters at the March Town Election, as required by a law passed at the last session of the Legislature.
Later in the fall agitation started in the Teachers' Association for a reconsideration of the schedule, aimed at increasing the salaries by $500.00 at all levels. The School Committee deferred final action on this request until their budget meeting on December 17, at which time they voted to up the salaries provided on the schedule $200.00 at all steps and levels. The decision to increase the salary schedule was made on the
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basis of the following factors and new developments: (1) a recent sur- vey which showed that the prevailing salary for beginning inexperienced teachers in the southeastern part of the state will range from $1,600.00 to $2,200.00 in September, 1947; (2) the widespread increase in maxi- mum salaries which has occurred recently all over New England; (3) the great shortage of teachers, making it imperative for Weymouth to have relatively high salaries to get fully qualified and highly competent teachers in competition with other communities; (4) the fact that the schedule as previously approved did not make any increase in the total salary of many of the men teachers.
The final proposed schedule in simplified form is as follows:
Four Year Five Year Preparational Level Preparational Level*
Six Year Preparational Level
Minimum Salary . for all teachers
$1,900.00
$2,100.00
$2,300.00
Maximum Salary for women in 12th year of teaching
3,000.00
3,200.00
3,400.00
Maximum Salary for men in 17th year of teaching
3,500.00
3,700.00
3,900.00
*Master's degree required.
SCHOOL PLANT SURVEY
The School Committee has been studying the future school build- ing requirements of the town for the past year or two. The 1945 Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools contained a brief analysis of the existing buildings and organization and suggestions for meeting some of the problems that will come before the town for decision in future years. A proposal for a school building survey came before the 1946 Town Meeting, but it failed to secure favorable action, due to some opposition and the neutral position taken by the School Committee.
The great increase in the birth rate* since 1939, plus a likely increase in the population due to the building of new homes, will pro- duce a shortage in elementary classrooms in some parts of the town within the next two or three years. The School Committee decided that the advice of an outstanding expert was essential to lay the framework for a planned building program. As a result of this decision, the School Committee recently secured the services of Dr. William K. Wilson, Supervisor of Buildings and Plans in the New York State Department of Education, to conduct such a survey of school building needs. The study of school plant needs will be made in co-operation with the Post War Planning Committee, and Dr. Wilson will be paid by funds allotted by that Committee.
Dr. Wilson is a nationally recognized authority in his field, and he has had a wide experience in survey work. He carried out a survey
*See table on page 111.
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of the school plant in Reading in 1944. He served as a consultant in a study of Quincy's school building problems last year, and at the present time he is working on a school building survey in New Haven, Con- necticut. Dr. Wilson will furnish us with a thorough appraisal of our present buildings, predictions as to future needs, and recommendations as to the types, sizes, and possible locations of new buildings that will be needed in the next decade or so.
CONCLUSION
I might note in closing a few other incidents of the past year. Miss Virginia Nye, a high school teacher, was one of one hundred and twenty-six chosen from all over the country as an exchange teacher to Great Britain. In return we have had the pleasure of welcoming and working with Miss Joan Hartley of Manchester, England, who is teaching a sixth grade in the Nevin School.
Mrs. McGrath, our elementary supervisor, gave a course in read- ing and language arts in Taunton under the auspices of the State University Extension service. We should be happy to share with others those methods and devices which we feel have brought our own reading and language programs to their present satisfactory level. We had the good fortune to participate in a new standardization program for the Metropolitan Achievement Tests, co-operating with Dr. William Kvaraceus of the School of Education, Boston University, who super- vised the work for the publishers.
We had the misfortune to lose the services of Mr. Daniel A. Johnson, Jr., Principal of the Edward B. Nevin School, who left to enter business. Mr. Johnson returned from the Navy a year ago, and he had again demonstrated his unusual talents as an administrator. We are sorry to have him leave the Weymouth schools. We have had the pleasure of welcoming back from the Armed Services the following capable teachers: Mr. Harry Arlanson, Director of Physical Education and Head Coach of Football, Mr. Paul C. Cleaves, Mr. Francis X. Kelly, Mr. Norman D. Loud, Mr. George H. Klay, Mr. William J. Doyle, and Mr. Edward F. Tracy. Miss Patricia A. Lyons and Miss Nellie G. Beaton are still on military leave of absence.
My first year and a half in Weymouth has been very pleasant and I hope to some extent worthwhile. For any progress that has been achieved in our schools, due credit should be given to the classroom teacher. Schools are operated to teach children, and that teaching is done by the teacher in the classroom and by no one else. To all the personnel of the Weymouth schools, and especially to my office staff, I wish to express appreciation for their wholehearted co-operation and helpfulness.
To the School Committee I extend my thanks for friendly counsel and advice, and for conscientious devotion to the all-important task of directing the affairs of a small segment of that great institution, the public schools of America.
Respectfully submitted, ELMER STEPHENS MAPES, Superintendent of Schools.
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COURSES OF STUDY
Report of FLORA HAVILAND MCGRATH Director of Courses of Study
The revision of the old and the building of the new courses of study seem to be a never ending process in this constantly changing world. Recently, a young scientist who was graduated from the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology directly into the Navy said, on his return to the Institute for further graduate work at the close of the War, "Much that I learned such a short time ago is now outmoded in the light of new developments and discoveries." Thus it is to a lesser degree with courses of study in the elementary schools where constant revision and adaptation seem always necessary.
Science Course
During and since the War, we have included in our science course of study in grades VII and VIII a brief course in pre-flight aeronautics adapted to the interests of the age and including some material on meteorology and other allied subjects. It has now become necessary to revise this course completely, and to organize a new and more adequate science course for grades I through VI. This study will necessitate the adoption of one of the newver science series. While the new course of study in part will be based on this science series, it will have as its aim the development of a way of thinking that will be conducive to a better understanding of the world about us.
Program of Tests and Measurements
In May 1946, the Weymouth Elementary School System was one of the few in Massachusetts to be invited to participate in the Metro- politan Standardization program. This program, in which 48 states and Alaska participated, is one of the most extensive standardization pro- grams ever undertaken.
Some of the results of these tests, which should be of interest to parents who have children in the Weymouth Elementary Schools, are as follows:
Grade 1
Word Recognition - 75% of pupils tested were one to five months in advance of the norms
Number (arithmetic) - Approximately 90% were from four to eight months in advance of the norms
Grade II
All subjects approximately 90% above the norms
Grade III
All subjects approximately 75% above the norms
Grades IV through VIII
In reading and language arts over 75% of the pupils were from six months to two years in advance of the norms.
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These tests, which furnished us with much excellent data, were sup- plied without cost to the School Department by the publishers.
In addition to this special program in May, the regular mental ability testing program was carried out in grades I, III, V, and VII.
Although this report does not permit a detailed exposition of the varied uses of these tests within the School Department in determining pupil weaknesses and potentialities, very specific and valuable uses are made of the testing program.
General Supervision
As there are eleven inexperienced teachers in addition to nine with only one year of experience, it is necessary to carry on a steady program of daily visitation in order that those methods which have been found to be successful in our system may be perpetuated, and those of the new which have value may be adopted.
In Conclusion
To the members of the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Elmer S. Mapes, the principals, and the teachers, I wish to express my appreciation for all helps and suggestions which have contributed to the improvement of the Weymouth Elementary Schools.
HIGH SCHOOL Report of MR. WALLACE L. WHITTLE, Principal
Perhaps the most striking development in the immediate postwar period is the number of veterans who have returned to high school to continue their education. We have had 45 boys returning to school this year. Many of these young men are repeating courses for refresher work to enable them to be prepared for college. Others are doing postgraduate work, taking courses prescribed by the various colleges to which they wish to go; while still others are starting as low as the sophomore year with the intention of earning a diploma. On the whole, these boys have entered with the idea that an education is worth while and necessary, and their attitude and work show the result of this thinking. I feel that their experience and willingness to sacrifice for further education must have a beneficial effect on the younger students. We are glad to have them with us and we try to arrange a program to suit the individual needs.
The Physical Education program for the boys has been greatly improved with the addition of another instructor. This enables us to carry on the regular gym classes as usual and also to do a great deal of corrective work with boys who are defective in one way or another. This corrective work is appreciated by the boys so much that our main difficulty is in keeping the classes small enough to allow proper super- vision.
With the feeling that we should accommodate as many girls as possible in the Home Economics field, we offered Foods and Clothing classes to the business freshmen for the first time this year. The courses were well received and have proved to be very popular. I am sure that
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an offering of these subjects to all freshman and sophomore girls would be particularly appreciated. However, unless new accommodations can be arranged, we are nearly at the end of any possible expansion in this direction.
Our Science Department is continuing to grow in enrollment; but here, as in the Home Economics laboratories, the space available is extremely limited. We definitely need at least twice as much area as we have now. I feel that it reflects much credit on the teachers to have done so well under the crowded conditions. For the sake of safety alone, our chemistry laboratory classes should be much smaller so that more careful supervision and individual attention could be given to the pupils.
The work of the Guidance Department has been extended to the seventh and eighth grades and I am sure that if the pupils and parents will co-operate, a great many of the present difficulties in high school elections will be eliminated.
In many states, a course in driver education is now required in high school. While we have been able to do some work along this line, it is probable that such instruction should be made available to all stu- dents. With the automobile death toll in the country at its present level, it would seem that, from a practical viewpoint, any course which we might offer would help to alleviate the situation. Whether or not we should give actual driving instruction is debatable, but in all probability we shall be expected to do this within a few years. If we should add this course, another part-time teacher would be needed.
The awards given in June are as follows :
Weymouth Teachers' Association-Mary Merten, Francis Newcomb, Allan Masison, Helen Keblis
Weymouth High School Alumni Association-Robert Karnan, David Stephenson
Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship-Lisbeth Koopman
Frederick W. Hilton Award-Barbara Loud
The Monday Club of Weymouth-Martha Nickerson, Nancy Page Sons of Italy and Daughters of Italy-Jeanne Perrow
The Weymouth Catholic Club-Helen Toomey
Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion-Elizabeth Paulson The Old Colony Club-Evelyn Newell
Weymouth High School Art Department Scholarship-Barbara Kilburn The Washington and Franklin Medal for Proficiency in American His- tory was given to David Stephenson.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award was made to Mary Merten.
The Meritorious Progress Award given by the Class of 1921 was made to Ralph Amabile.
The Weymouth Rotary Club Award was made to Ralph Amabile.
WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of the Director, MR. FRANCIS E. WHIPPLE
Now that the war has ceased the youth who have so greatly aided the cause of war production have been turned out of their jobs and new
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requirements for employment are being set up by industry. No longer is it possible for a boy 16 years old with strong arms to get and keep a well-paying job. He must now be at least 18 years old and a secondary school graduate. Veterans are back. They must be employed. War in- dustries vanish. Three-shift operation of large plants is no more. Com- petition for jobs is upon us and youth is turned away in favor of adults.
Where can these youth turn? Industry does not want them. No self-respecting youth wants to become a loafer; his one hope is to become a respected self-supporting member of society. Only the schools welcome him. And to the schools he is turning. The long-anticipated increase in secondary school enrollment has begun and crowded class- rooms will be the order of the day. For the Vocational School that day is here. Every available seat is filled. And the boys are staying in school.
Our enrollment is 41 more than last year, a 25% increase. We are taking care of these numbers but the strain hurts in some places. Our drawing room must be relocated in more suitable and larger quarters. Classes in academic subjects of 36, 37, and 38 are 50% too large for good instruction. Twenty-four boys is more nearly the right number. Next year we should have another qualified teacher for academic sub- jects as an addition to the faculty.
Last year's faculty study recommended a first year tryout course or a full four-year program instead of the present three-year program. Plans should be completed for carrying out one or the other of these programs next September. 'State approval will be required for either change.
Not to be forgotten is the still present need for a suitable educa- tional program for a body of students who do not profit from traditional academic subjects, nor do their aptitudes lie in the direction of becoming skilled mechanics. Yet society, in the form of compulsory school atten- dance laws and equally compulsory age and educational restrictions of employers, keeps these people in school. What to offer these people? Really this is the greatest challenge to education. And it is not to be solved by pushing them out of school or by more of the same educa- tional methods that have failed with them in the past.
The course in Carpentry was re-established this year. Charles P. Pieper, a man of wide experience in the building industry, plus military service in the Seabees, was appointed as instructor. There will be build- ing going on for many years to come and boys from this department should find good employment in this industry. To give real instruction it is necessary to have real jobs for the boys to work on. Up to now they have been working on maintenance jobs at the various schools, including a new exit for the Bicknell School sewing room, insulation for the garage roof, two new concrete steps at the Vocational School (later equipped with ornamental iron rails made by the Sheet Metal boys), a new fire wall in the stage attic of the High School, and many others.
This coming spring a blower house for the Cabinet shop is planned, but immediately after that the boys should get some actual experience in housebuilding. In the past real houses have been built by the boys. This could be done again. Financing would have to be arranged for or perhaps we could work with some one of the local contractors.
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During the year we were pleased to have our equipment modern- ized through the addition of a new automatic hollow chisel mortiser. Contracts for an automatic platen press and a replacement fan for the woodworking dust-collecting system were awarded. While delivery on these last two items is not yet complete, they are expected early next year.
The program should be continued the coming year by the purchase of the following items :
1. A paper cutter for the Print shop
2. Additions to the Ludlow equipment in the Print shop
3. A truck or beach wagon for the carpenters to transport boys and materials
4. A lockformer for the Sheet Metal shop
Every advantage has been taken of the offerings of the federal government through the various surplus property programs and many valuable items have been obtained in this way. While these programs are not expanding, we will continue to make requests for our needs from these agencies.
The failure of the Town to provide for additional facilities for the Automobile shop and for housing the Machine shop equipment we have on hand does not reduce the need. Body and fender work and spray painting are essential parts of the automobile trade. We must teach them. But to do that work in the garage without proper fireproof spray booths and ventilating facilities is extremely dangerous to the safety of pupils and building. The hazard should be removed at the earliest possible moment.
The public schools are charged with the responsibility of preparing youth to assume their place in the economic life of the community. This means all the youth - not just those with sufficient ties to get into some industrial apprentice program, good as those programs are. In order to meet the occupational needs of as many boys as possible, the great occu- pational areas should be represented in the vocational offering. Several are now represented, but there are important gaps, such as machine work, electrical work, and selling and distribution of goods.
We have on hand the greater part of the equipment needed for a Machine shop. A building should be provided to house it. Other fields should be included in plans for further expansion.
.The vocational schools of Massachusetts have been assigned the responsibility of providing related technical instruction for veterans who are being employed as apprentices in the skilled trades. Each vocational school has an area of the state to serve. Our area is from Weymouth south to Plymouth. In this area are upwards of 140 veterans registered as apprentices, the majority in four trades, auto mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work. One hundred fifty hours per year for the duration of the apprenticeship must be devoted to related instruc- tion. In November a Saturday morning course for carpenters was started with the support of the local carpenters' union and the local contractors' association. Twenty-five apprentices are enrolled in this course. In December the auto mechanics program began to meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with an enrollment of 26. There are
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19 nonresident carpenters and 14 nonresident auto mechanics. The income from tuition from these persons can be sufficient to completely offset the cost of operating the courses.
Over a year ago our placement service was given the job of setting up and approving in-service training programs for veterans. It has been a major assignment, yet a valuable service. More than 400 such in- service programs have been approved in the South Shore area. The work involved many hours of travel and conference and labor extending through every month of the year.
Our school was deeply grieved by the death of D. Everett Bryan, our instructor in auto mechanics. Mr. Bryan very capably filled this position for the past 16 years, being appointed in 1930. He was very well liked by both pupils and teachers and was always ready to help all who came to him. We shall miss him.
To fill this vacancy, Frederick H. Hoyle was appointed. Mr. Hoyle brings many years of experience in the automobile business including the operation of his own garage. He also has had considerable experience as an instructor of auto mechanics in the military service.
The total enrollment figures for the current school year (as of December 20) are given below :
I
II
III
GI
Totals
Reg. GI Reg. GI Reg. GI Spec. Reg.
GI Total
Auto Repair
41
O
16
3
I3
3
9 2
70 31
2
33
Carpentry
16
O
I3
I
3
O
O
32
I
33
Printing
5
O
4
1
4
I
1
I3
3
16
Sheet Metal
17
I
7
I
II
I
0
35
3
38
Totals
IOI
I
4.4
6
36
5
12
181
24
205
In order to show more clearly the interests and grade placement of the veterans who are seeking to learn the fundamentals of the skilled trades under the GI Bill of Rights, the enrollment tabulation has been separated into regular and veteran groups. It will be noted that 24 such veterans enrolled, the majority in automobile repair. These veterans form a very able and responsible group of men. Not only are they profit- ing greatly from their work, but their businesslike approach has a very helpful effect on the attitude of the younger boys.
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