USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1948 > Part 15
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Boys' athletics in the elementary schools continues to have its place in our program. Tag football was added as a sport to give an all-year- round program of athletics which now includes tag football, basketball, baseball and track. The Basketball Jamboree held at the conclusion of the season proved to be highly successful and was witnessed by a capacity crowd at the High School gymnasium. It is planned to make this an an- nual affair.
The Pond School auditorium is in the process of being equipped with basketball set-ups and protective screening similar to that which was installed in the Pratt School auditorium. This addition will help materially to improve the type of program that can be carried on in this school.
Physical examinations for high school boys and girls were completed within two weeks after the opening of school in September. This arrange- ment proved very efficient by saving many of the usual interruptions re- sulting from delayed physical examinations. During the physical ex- aminations, Mr. Hayes, under guidance of the physician present, carefully examines all boys to determine those in need of remedial work. Boys with postural defects, overweight boys, and boys whose muscular strength is below that necessary to perform the routine physical education skills are grouped in special classes and corrective exercises prescribed. Records are kept and periodic examinations made to determine the progress of
these individuals. The results obtained have been excellent. In con- junction with the above, a body building course is being conducted to give boys of average physique an opportunity to develop greater physical strength.
Mrs. Lillian Leydon, a graduate of Boston University, and an in- structor at Rhode Island State College for the past four years, replaced Miss Taimi Salo in September as instructor for girls' physical education in the High School.
The use of visual aids in the form of sound motion pictures for in- structional purposes has been increased. We believe that their proper use helps to provide improved uniform instruction, and creates greater pupil interest in the various sports and activities.
It is recommended that an additional woman instructor be placed in the High School, whose duties would be: (1) to assist with the present problem of girls' locker room supervision; (2) to set up a corrective pro- gram of physical education; and (3) to give specialized instruction to seventh and eighth grade girls.
It is recommended that a winter recreation program for boys of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade levels be organized to meet on Saturday morn- ings. This program would be restricted to boys not now participating in any of the groups using the school buildings on week day evenings and Sunday afternoons."
Health
"Each year this department feels that there is a definite improvement in the general health of the school children of Weymouth. More and more the school nurses act as the liaison between the school and the home. This is as it should be. They are able to interpret the school to the home and the home to the teachers. It is also necessary for the parents and the nurses to work together in a genuine partnership for the health and welfare of the child. With this in mind, 418 home visits have been made. The purpose of most of these visits is to talk over the prob- lem of having physical defects corrected when the parents feel that they are financially unable to have this done.
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The generally poor condition of the children's teeth is of great con- cern to this department. The school dental clinic gives valuable help but the great number of students needing this care continues to make this a problem.
In September, the school physicians arranged their busy schedules so they might complete the physical examinations early in the school year. The entire health personnel cooperated and over 900 high school students were given physical examinations before the second week of school This greatly facilitated notices of physical defects being sent early in the school year. Six hundred notices of defects were sent to parents of high school students alone. It should be noted here that most of the defects noted were pronated arches. It is possible that the popular loafer type shoe is responsible for this condition. This condition was also very notice- able among the children in the elementary grades.
The Norfolk County Hospital conducted an x-ray clinic in September. The entire cafeteria staff, the boys on the football team, forty of the school personnel, and all senior students who were present at the time were x-rayed. One case showed evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. The early discovery of this condition undoubtedly will result in a complete recovery. In March anyone over fifteen years of age may have the opportunity to have a chest x-ray taken. The Mobile Unit of the State Department of Public Health will come to all parts of Weymouth. At this time the school personnel all over the town will have the privilege which, heretofore, has conveniently been offered to the high school.
The annual diphtheria clinic, sponsored by the Board of Health and conducted by the School Health Department, has been completed. An at- tempt was made to give reinforcing doses of toxoid to all children up to twelve years of age who had not received this treatment for the past three years. Six hundred and forty-two parents requested this and one hundred and eighty-one parents requested the complete treatment for children who had never been immunized. This figure includes children from six months of age who were invited to come to the clinic. It has previously been the consensus of authorities that older children had more immunity but this has been disproved and recently one case of diphtheria has occurred among the high school students and steps are being taken to have re- inforcing doses given to all high school students whose parents request it.
Several children in the elementary schools have poor vision which cannot be corrected by glasses. Desk tops which are adjustable have been made in the Vocational School to aid the children in maintaining good posture while reading and writing. Also, special books with large print have been borrowed from the Division of the Blind for these children.
The Weymouth Lions' Club continues to help children who need glasses and whose families are unable to obtain them.
Hearing tests have been given to the children in the fifth, seventh and ninth grades. This testing has been very unsatisfactory due to the poor condition of the audiometer which was borrowed from the State Department of Public Health; and the need for haste in giving the test due to the limited time the equipment was loaned to this department. The School Department should own an audiometer. This at present is a major unmet need. A small group of high school students who are hard of hearing meet weekly for lip-reading lessons which were advised by an otologist.
The school health department endeavors to work in close cooperation with the guidance department and the attendance officer. We appreciate the willing cooperation of the school principals and classroom teachers
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when classes and programs have had to be interrupted for clinics, tests and physical examinations."
5. Guidance
"The plan of guidance in Weymouth is based upon the results of per- sonnel work experienced over a period of years in American education and is the one followed by established guidance departments of many school systems. It is based on six fundamental functions: (1) the col- lection of educational and vocational information, (2) tests and the col- lection of personal data concerning each student, (3) counseling, (4) educa- tional and vocational planning, (5) job placement, and (6) the follow-up of graduates.
While the basic plan remains the same each year, changing con- ditions require that the amount of time and work given to each function be increased or decreased to meet the needs at hand. Thus, during the year, it has been possible to do more extensive work in testing and in the follow-up of graduates, while, at the same time, carrying on the usual work in connection with the counseling of students and the collection of educational and vocational information so necessary in carrying on gui- dance work.
In particular, the following items deserve mention in the review of the work of the past year:
There was a decrease in the number of subject changes and par- ticularly in the number of freshmen changing courses at the beginning of the school year in September. Much credit for this result should go to the teachers who carry on the work of educational and vocational guidance in the eighth grade, and who help the pupils to select courses of study in the high and vocational schools.
Turning from junior high to colleges and other schools beyond high school, the year was notable for the number of visits paid to the high school and the guidance department by representatives of these schools of higher education. Now that the veteran enrollment is decreasing, the colleges and universities are developing better relationships with the high schools and the members of these institutions of higher education are extremely desirous of obtaining good students. In fact, the competition for top-ranking high school students is quite noticeable at the present time. In this connection, the Beaver Country Day School initiated a pre- college conference for girls, giving high school girls the opportunity to meet and talk with admissions officers of a large number of colleges and universities. A number of Weymouth High girls availed themselves of this opportunity. A similar conference is to be held in the coming year.
Attempts were made in previous years to conduct a follow-up of gradu- ates, but because of the number of veterans needing attention, not much could be done. However, this year a plan of follow-up was organized and carried through so that contact was made with the classes having gradu- ated one, three, five, and ten years ago. Members of these classes were asked to submit information concerning such topics as the subjects in high school most valuable to them; facts about college education; employment, and changes in employment since graduation from high school; and the location of their place of work. Results were tabulated by classes and then summarized in one report. In passing, it might be of interest to note that the two subjects upon which graduates placed most emphasis were English and mathematics.
It was possible also this year to extend the testing program in the high school so that by the time of graduation the present sophomore and
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freshmen classes will have had a number of aptitude tests including both mechanical and clerical along with tests on reading comprehension and mental ability.
Before concluding, two other items should be mentioned. Last May, the Weymouth Guidance Department was one of four in the state selected to take part in the National Evaluation Program. The purpose of this program is to develop a measure of the efficiency of guidance work in school systems and the results of this nationwide survey are soon to be published.
Last November a Career Day similar to the one of last year was held. This event was sponsored by the Weymouth Rotary Club. Sixty-nine people outside of the school system visited the high school. They took part in the vocational conferences in connection with this program.
The following is a summary of all voluntary conferences which took place during the year in the guidance office:
Educational and Vocational Problems
1150
Job Placement
38
Personal Problems
32
Conferences with Parents
107
Conferences with Teachers
73
Conferences with Veterans
57
Conferences with Graduates
22
Total Voluntary Interviews
1479
The number of scheduled conferences was 493, making a complete total for all voluntary and scheduled conferences of 1972."
6. Audio-Visual Aids
"The scope of the audio-visual aids program has been expanded this year to include the use of some aids in all schools. In addition to in- creased usage of educational films, filmstrips, and voice recordings in the high school, a program of educational films for each grade in every school building was inaugurated in September, 1948. Despite the many difficulties encountered, the program meets a long-felt need even in its present limited form.
The major specific activities of the audio-visual aids program follow:
1. Training of a high school projection club. This club has increased in membership to 43 boys and girls. Two senior managers handle all scheduling details and projection assignments for two projectors and other audio-visual aids equipment. With the acquisition of a separate office located in the high school building, projectionists also inspect, repair, and rewind films, and service and maintain equip- ment.
2. Training of two senior secretaries who have requested, catalogued, followed up, booked, and recorded more than 250 films, filmstrips, and miscellaneous materials. These girls also maintain a complete ยท alphabetical filing system. It would not be possible to conduct the elementary school program efficiently if it were not for the help of the secretaries and the projection club.
3. Training in and demonstration of equipment and the classroom use of audio-visual aids have been undertaken in each elementary school
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building at every level, in addition to the high school, as a part of in-service training.
4. Film previews have been arranged for both elementary school and high school teachers.
5. Use of voice recordings and English and foreign language recordings has trebled in the high school, while considerable interest has been shown by elementary school teachers.
Approximately 172 films were studied in the high school with a total attendance of 10,915 students in 1948. The estimated cost ($325.00) rep- resents a per pupil expenditure of three cents. Fewer free films were used in favor of rented films produced specifically to meet the objectives of the subject. In the elementary schools, September through November, 24 films were studied with a total attendance of 10,800 pupils with an estimated per pupil expenditure of one cent. All films were scheduled for a specific grade level and subject content, and no free films were used.
The audio-visual aids program this year is not wholly adequate to meet the needs of all schools. However, a start in the right direction has been made. It is hoped that a more complete coverage may be possible next year."
7. Manual Arts
"The Manual Arts program was carried on in grades 7 and 8 during the past year with 400 boys participating. Two classes were taught by Mr. Sandberg and twenty-four by Mr. Haviland. This is probably the largest pupil enrollment taught by any shop teacher in the state. The effectiveness of this type of teaching is proportional to the degree of in- dividual instruction given. At least one more full time teacher is needed.
The total in shop time for each seventh grade pupil was 25 hours for the year, with the exception of grade 7 at the Pratt school, where each boy had a double work period. This necessitated three progress levels in- stead of two. All grade 7 boys were instructed in the care and use of tools and performed the following work: made a writing pen, door-stop, pro- peller, pencil-stand, and two working drawings. These projects were selected in order to provide maximum learning with minimum materials, as storage space for larger objects is lacking.
The in-shop time for grade 8 boys averaged 37 hours for the year. In this time, each boy made two working drawings, a lamp in which he wired an electric circuit, and a colonial wall shelf or other project of his own choosing. These projects were selected for the purpose of providing life- time skills, instead of a purely classroom situation that could not be duplicated elsewhere.
As previously stated, two teachers are needed, but other factors must also be considered. Some allowance should be made for the preparation and delivery of materials adequate to supply 400 boys. It is not possible to do this during after-school time as facilities are not then available, and also because this time is needed to care for shop equipment. The item that stands out most strongly as a deterrent to efficient operation and good teaching is the condition of the physical plant. As an illustration, con- sider the following:
The Junior Annex shop is a room, approximately 30 ft. x 30 ft. with a 7 ft. 6 in. ceiling. It has no windows and contains all main steamlines for the High School and Town Office Buildings. These pipes give off enough radiation to heat a large residence. Twenty high-powered lamps
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supply illumination, and more heat. In addition to heat, cooking aromas are wafted in from the adjacent cafeteria. This has taken a heavy toll in upset juvenile stomachs for a period of nearly eleven years. At present the room also functions as a storage space for an evening handicraft class, many of whom are making large objects, such as cedar chests, bookcases, and tables. It is fair to assume that these negative factors can never pro- duce a good learning situation."
8. Domestic Arts
"The following is a report on the sewing classes of the seventh and eighth grades, from September 8, 1948 to December 20, 1948.
The seventh grade girls were introduced to sewing by outlining to them a short history of sewing and listing for them the many advan- tages a girl has when she learns the art of sewing. Throughout the entire semester, one of the objectives has been to create a genuine interest for sewing in the minds of the girls. Next, the elementary procedures of sew- ing were interwoven into the lessons prepared for the girls. Some of these things were: the basting stitches, elementary seams, and elemen- tary hemming stitches.
The beginning of October found the seventh grade students studying and learning the operation of the sewing machine. They were given a short history of the machine, and the difference between the electric and treadle machines. It is necessary for each girl to know the parts and operation of those parts before she can operate the machine. Since the middle of October, the girls have been working on their first project, the apron. From this project the students are introduced to a simple pattern, which has been cut from newspaper. They have learned to prepare material for cutting a garment, and have learned to put to use basting, hemming, color combinations, and assembling a simple garment after be- ing cut out. This project is almost completed and they will soon be ready to start on their second project.
At the beginning of the year, the eighth grade girls reviewed work which they had previously learned. They were also introduced to the following new projects: the flat felted seam, the welted seam, the French seam, the worked buttonhole, the bound buttonhole, and how to read the markings and lay on a commercial pattern. The second week in October, the girls started to work on a major project, the tailored blouse. They have been working on such constructions as adjusting a pattern to fit body measurements, cutting out a garment, making the shoulder gathers, sewing together the front and back of the blouse, applying the tailored collar, sewing in darts, finishing sleeves, making buttonholes, and hem- ming. In most schools this project will be completed in about three periods.
Not all girls of the eighth grade are working on the same thing. It has been my objective to keep the schools working on the same lessons at the same time. However, this seems to be impossible because of various reasons: for example, the Nevin School students are behind in their work since Columbus Day and Thanksgiving Day each came on Thursday; the classes at the Junior Annex and at the Bicknell School are too large for individual instruction."
9. Penmanship
"In the initial tests in handwriting administered in September 1942 to Grades 1 - 3, 19.7% of the pupils received a grade of "A" (Excellent) ;
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17.5% received a grade of "B" (Good); and 62.8% were graded less than "B." In the tests administered in June 1948 to Grades 1 - 7, 93.9% of the pupils received a grade of "A" (Excellent) ; 3.5% were graded "B" (Good) ; and 2.5% scored less than "B". Handwriting Certificates were awarded to 81% of the seventh grade pupils.
During the last school year, approximately 26,000 formal samples of handwriting were graded. A formal. test was administered monthly and a report was sent to each teacher giving a careful diagnosis of the hand- writing of each pupil in her room.
The following instructional materials were furnished: monthly teachers' outlines, pupil folder outlines, room motivation certificates, term and monthly envelopes, handedness tests, individual handwriting certificates for pupils who qualified, seals, etc."
10. Clubs and Gardens
"The work involves four related but quite distinct forms of activity: the classroom lessons, the organization and guidance of garden clubs, summer home visits, and the organization of several 4-H clubs other than garden groups.
Classroom lessons in the seventh and eighth grades begin with the opening of the spring term. They are based on seasonal activities and are planned to parallel what is being done at the time by home owners and good amateur gardeners. There is no attempt to teach scientific agriculture. We do not use or depend on a textbook. We try to use observation and thought, not information and memory .. The lessons are based on and tend to develop the pupil's experience with growing things - in March and April, signs of advancing spring; in April and early May, soils, garden planning, seeds and seedlings; in May, indoor planting, and transplanting; in June, outdoor activities; and thus through the fall and early winter months. We use and lean on other studies - geography and history, language, spelling and writing, correlating the gardening with these. All pupils in the grades share in these lessons.
During January and February, the clubs are organized and guided in their work. There is a group in each classroom. They meet during the noon period or after school, usually once in two weeks. They take in the pupils who are interested in practicing what they are learning. This year's registration was 260. Of these, 240 were reported in the early fall for awards given by the county and state officials. The clubs, through their organization, learn something of group work, sharing each other's interests and encouraging each other in effort. They grow either vegetables or flowers or both. They are expected to keep records of their work and may work on the family garden under guidance of senior members. This phase of the work is encouraged. During the summer months, the gardens are visited and the owners receive individual attention. In this, the interest and cooperation of the parents are invaluable. Home interests, home needs, soil, available space, time and strength have to be con- sidered. We try to keep the interest local and centered in the home. At no time do we try to be spectacular.
Pupils from the lower grades are helped if a request comes from the home. This often happens if a parent or an older brother or sister has been a club member. Pupils going from the eighth grade to the Agri- cultural Department are cared for there. Other high school pupils who keep up their interests are helped individually. There are many such. Some are developing a special interest, as growing glads, roses, or one vegetable for merchandising, or landscaping and home improvement. Dur-
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ing 1948, our club members took part in exhibits at Weymouth Fair, Horticultural Hall, at local Granges and in Brockton. They were among the prize winners in every instance. From Weymouth, three boys and two girls were chosen to represent Norfolk County at the state meeting at Amherst. Other clubs include: Food, two groups; Community Service, one group; Clothing, one group; Canning, members in various parts of the town working as individuals; Dairy, one member; Poultry, two mem- bers. All of these groups took part in local exhibits and were among the prize winners."
11. Remedial Reading
Weymouth has had a remedial reading program for three years. Be- cause only one instructor has been available, it has been necessary to restrict the work to one section of the town each year. This year, the instructor, a new one, was assigned to the Nevin School in South Wey- mouth.
"Many children have difficulty in learning to read even though they pos- sess average or above-average intelligence. There is a wide range of pupil ability in a class that has had the same amount and the same type of instruction. The differences in development are due to variations in in- telligences, in physical conditions, in home backgrounds, and in confusions and faulty habits that have been developed in the learning process.
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