USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1948 > Part 17
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Respectfully submitted, ELMER STEPHENS MAPES, Superintendent of Schools
COURSES OF STUDY Report of Flora Haviland McGrath Director of Courses of Study
Curriculum construction and supervision in the elementary schools include a perpetual search for those procedures which will contribute most to the pupil's present living as well as to his preparation for what lies ahead. It must include a testing program to discover strengths and weaknesses, a curriculum revision plan, as well as numerous other activi- ties which will contribute to the total planned program for the mental and social development of the pupils.
NEW CURRICULUM REVISIONS
English
A new Grade VII workbook in grammar has been completed and is now in use. This is to take the place of a textbook which has been in use for many years and is now out of date.
Science
The new science program is progressing extremely well. There is a marked increase in interest which has manifested itself in the numbers of pupils who are making collections of plant life, rocks, and other materials related to science activities.
205
LIBRARY COURSE FOR ELEMENTARY PUPILS
The library course for pupils of grade VII which was begun three years ago is being conducted by Mrs. Ruth Connors of the Tufts Library. Once a week, from October to February, the seventh grade pupils are transported to the Tufts Library where they receive special training in the use of the library facilities and appreciation of library services.
This cooperative attitude on the part of the librarians has the ap- preciation of the entire school department.
UNITS OF WORK DEVELOPED BY PUPILS
In organizing a unit of work which will stimulate pupils to original thinking and to constructive, independent action, much thoughtful initial planning is required by the teacher. While many excellent units have been conducted this year in the various schools, it is possible to mention only a few of them in this report.
UNIT ON TOLERANCE
Mr. Ray Parker, Chairman of the Boys' Work Committee which is a part of the Youth Service of Rotary International, launched a unit on Tolerance for 1948. Every eighth grade pupil participated in this unit which is carried out in connection with the essay contest conducted by the Weymouth Rotary Club each year.
(Unit as developed by Mrs. Alma Driscoll, Teacher of English, Bicknell School).
PREPARATION (Pupil Activities)
a. Letters sent to many agencies furnishing intercultural materials.
b. Newspaper and magazine articles relevant to the subject collected by pupils.
c. Painting and drawing pictures in art classes portraying pupils' original conceptions of right and wrong attitudes toward tolerance.
d. Making of posters in art classes.
e. Painting of a mural depicting the need for civil rights.
f. Making of individual notebooks.
g. Compiling of bibliographies.
PRESENTATION
a. All art work displayed throughout the building to increase under- standing of meaning of tolerance.
b. Play presented on tolerance to all eighth grade pupils by five members of class.
c. Original essays on tolerance written by all eighth grade pupils.
d. Judging of all essays by pupils and selection of three for entry in finals.
RESULTS
a. Practice in letter writing.
b. Systematic compilation of materials.
c. Increased power in discussion.
d. Increased interest in value of art classes as means of building understandings.
206
e. Practice in formulating opinions based on materials used.
f. Bicknell School included in those winning prizes for the third consecutive year.
(Note: All prizes have been won by the Hunt, Bicknell, and Junior Annex.)
UNIT ON ENGLISH
(This unit developed by Miss Marion R. Loud, teacher of English at the Edward B. Nevin School, is similar to other units used in art and English correlation in both the Hunt and Bicknell Schools.)
The following four American artists were chosen by Miss Loud's classes for study in English and art classes: Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, Grant Wood, Diego Rivera.
The pupils collected information and prints of the works of these artists which they used in the making of notebooks. The Boston Art Museum sent to the Nevin School copies of the most famous of the artists' paintings (approximately one hundred) for class examination. Com- positions were written on the life of the artist, many descriptive com- positions were written about the pictures, and prints of the pictures were purchased by the pupils.
In order to better appreciate the difficulty of getting interest in a paint- ing with many gradations of values, the pupils attempted to copy Rock- well Kent's "Winter." In doing this type of work, they gained respect for the artist and his work as well as a deepened appreciation of both.
The results of this unit indicated a very satisfactory growth both in English and art.
UNIT ON SCIENCE
A unit on energy, forces, and machines was conducted by the pupils of grade VIII of the Hunt School under the direction of Miss Anna E. Sullivan. During the organization of this unit, pupils made and demon- strated the use of the inclined plane, mining derrick, windlass, pulley, cogwheel, swivelling jib crane, and others. Graphs, pictures, drawing, collections, compositions, and notebooks were made and used by the pupils. One of the most satisfying outcomes of this unit was the cor- relation of the science work with art, English, and manual arts.
HISTORY UNIT ON UNITED NATIONS
In April, the eighth grade pupils of the Hunt School conducted an excellent unit on UNESCO under the direction of Mr. Ralph Stewart. The plan for better world understandings was outlined by the pupils. This unit, which was called Pattern for Peace, included talks, diagrams, and demonstrations of the League of Nations, World Court, San Fran- cisco Conference, Dunbarton Oaks, and UNESCO.
This unit, when later presented to the Parent-Teachers Association, was followed at that time by a question and answer period in which the parents and visitors asked the eighth-grade pupils many questions on the plans for peace. The pupils, through this unit, gained a noticeable mastering of understandings in this area.
207
TESTING PROGRAM FOR 1948
January to June
Test
Grade
Approximate number
Pintner-Cunningham
Mental Ability
I
550
Pintner-Durost
Mental Ability
III
380
English Test
Achievement
IV
380
Pintner-Durost
Mental Ability
V
380
Stanford Achievement Test
Achievement
VI
380
English Test
Achievement
VII
365
Arithmetic Test
Achievement
VII
365
English Test
Achievement
VIII
350
September to December
Pintner-Durost
Mental Ability
III
470
Terman-McNemar
Mental Ability
VIII
370
Durost-Center
Word Mastery
VIII
370
(two tests)
IN CONCLUSION
To the members of the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Elmer S. Mapes, the principals and teachers, I wish to express my continued appreciation for their unselfish contributions for the good of the Weymouth Elementary Schools.
HIGH SCHOOL Report of Wallace L. Whittle, Principal
A most outstanding improvement in our school in recent years was completed this past summer when the third floor was completely renovated to accommodate the science department. As I have noted in previous reports, expansion and modernization were essential to provide the neces- sary facilities for the teaching of present-day science. At the same time I should like to point out that this work was accomplished almost en- tirely by regular employees of the school system. The project is a sample of major cooperative effort; now we have an up-to-date department at minimum expense.
Our entire third floor is an excellent example of successful renova- tion of an old building. I sincerely hope that such modernization will continue each year so that some of our other departments can be made adequate to take care of the increasing number of pupils enrolled. Both Home Economics and Art have pressing needs at this time.
The library has been moved to the second floor, where it is more easily accessible to the student body.
The appointment of department heads will, I hope, allow us to in- crease the efficiency of our teaching and permit more supervision than we have been able to have in the past. It should also allow us to correlate and standardize the work within each department and to integrate the subject matter of the various courses so that a completely balanced pro- gram will result. One of the duties of this group will be to continue the work which was started last year with Dr. Billett of Boston University. This work will include a thorough study of the curriculum. Such a study does not necessarily mean that there will be any great changes, but changes or additions to the program will be made where it seems to be advisable.
208
Due to the change in emphasis on aviation, no course as such is now being offered, but Applied Physics, closely correlated with Physics and stressing the practical application to aeronautics, has been substituted. A course in Consumer Education has also been added this year. It should be emphasized that these courses do not add to the expense of operation, inasmuch as they are substitutes for other courses. The aim is to do more for the pupils who are not being trained specifically for a vocation or for college so that they can become useful, thoughtful citizens, well pre- pared to meet life after graduation:
The growth of the Vocational School has resulted in the loss of three of our larger rooms so that, with increasing enrollment, it is inevitable that conditions become more crowded. With the new high school rating system nearly ready to be put into effect by the State Department of Edu- cation, great care should be exercised so that the number of pupils per class and the pupil-teacher ratio do not become excessive. A continuance of large classes and a minimum of teachers can, and probably will, re- sult in the loss of high rating by the state.
Our extra curricular activities, consisting of the various club activities, such as the book club, camera club, etc., in addition to athletics and the musical organizations, have continued as usual. For the first time in several years, there is a pressing need for money to operate the athletic program. Last year all expenses were barely met, but as our income has dropped ap- proximately ten per cent, it would appear that all expenses cannot be met by the income of this year. The solution to this problem lies in cur- tailing our program or raising our admission prices to football games. The latter action would seem to be the proper step and it certainly would not be out of line, as prices during the current inflationary period have never been changed.
The awards given in June were as follows:
Weymouth Teachers' Association - Elizabeth Blackburn, Barbara Brooks, Betty Jacobson
Weymouth High School Alumni Association - Robert Lee, Lois Melville, Joseph Merten
Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship - Phyllis Densmore Frederick W. Hilton Award - Gerald Fitzgerald
The Monday Club of Weymouth - William Spencer
The Old Colony Club - Jerome Pickett
The Weymouth Catholic Club - Edward Jones Sons of Italy and Daughters of Italy - Dorothy Daniele
Daughters of Isabella - Joseph Merten
Kiwanis Club - Charleen Palmer, Richard Rosa
Pratt School P. T. A. - Susan Fitzgerald Charles Y. Berry Scholarship - Katherine Weeks
Weymouth Post No. 79, American Legion - Barbara Brooks
Weymouth High School Art Department Scholarship - Donald Tirrell The Teen-Age Canteen - Robert Lee, Rita O'Neil
The Meritorious Progress Award given by the Class of 1921 was made to Edward Alemian
The Washington and Franklin Medal for Proficiency in American History was given to Philip Burrage.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award was made to Marjorie Pearson
The Weymouth Rotary Club Award was made to Joseph Merten,
209
WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of Francis E. Whipple, Director
The carpentry department, under the direction of Mr. Charles P. Pieper and Mr. Fred P. Carlson, have completed the seven-room dwelling house for Mr. Wallace T. Driscoll which was started last year. The house is located at 542 Ralph Talbot Street in South Weymouth. This house is an excellent piece of work. The school has received many words of commendation from the people of Weymouth. Many of the local con- tractors and builders have been interested in the progress of the job. Their comments have been favorable. The State Department of Educa- tion in its annual approval report makes special note of the project.
The boys who have worked on this job have taken a great deal of pride in their work and deserve all the praise which has come their way. It has been an inspiration to see the great enthusiasm with which these boys have attacked this job. Even last winter, when snowstorm followed upon snowstorm, there were only four or five days when they were not on the job. Truly this house has been a fine experience for them.
With this house nearing completion in the fall, it was necessary to accept applications for further construction. The School Committee voted to approve the construction of a Cape Cod type of house on Federal Street for a veteran of World War II, Thomas A. Lyons, Jr. Work on this house started in October and has progressed rapidly. At the end of the year, the outside work is nearing completion. Weather conditions have been very favorable.
I believe that these projects should continue from year to year for the following reasons: (1) They help relieve the housing shortage. (2) They provide real, practical training under competent instructors for young men who will enter the carpentry trade. (3) They help provide a supply of young men who will come along to fill the places of older carpenters who will retire within the coming few years. In this connec- tion, a survey shows that almost half the carpenters in Weymouth are very close to retirement age.
Many factors retarded the work on the new carpentry shop during the spring. With the opening of school in the fall, work began with vigor and has been carried on expeditiously. It was not, however, completed during the calendar year. It will be necessary to carry over the unex- pended balance of the appropriation to 1949. Since this building is the first unit of a structure designed to house not only the carpentry class but also the various vehicles owned by the school department, provision should be made in the budget for carrying on the garage extension when the first part is completed.
During the year the budget provided several additions and replace- ments of our equipment The carpentry department has a new Chevrolet carryall to use in transporting pupils; the cabinet shop a new bandsaw to replace the old one; the sheet metal shop a lockformer to bring our shop up to modern shop standards; and the print shop has a new paper cutter and has extended its range of Ludlow matrices. For the coming year only two major items are scheduled. They are an additional linotype machine for the print shop and a generator test bench for the garage.
This year marks the end of our first year's experience in group gui- dance for all upper classes. I feel that these classes have helped many boys to make better adjustments to the environment in which they live from day to day. Too little help has been given boys in this important area by any agency. This type of discussion class is a first step in help- ing boys to understand themselves and their relations with other people.
210
The evening classes for apprentices in carpentry, auto repair and printing are continuing. Tuition for the veterans attending these classes is paid for under contract with the federal government. Income from this source offsets operating costs.
An evening trade extension class was organized in several branches of printing, including hand composition, presswork and linotype operation. Because we have only one linotype machine, we were able to take less than half of those applying. There is demand for adult evening courses in other trades, such as automobile repair and cabinetmaking. These courses might be considered for next year.
Early in May our annual open house attracted a great many visitors. Not only were the various departments open for inspection, but the house project was likewise open. Many townspeople and parents visited the house and the school building.
For the past three years, it has been our responsibility to approve and supervise training programs for veterans established in various shops, stores and factories on the South Shore. This work has been invaluable in broadening our contacts with employers and through it we have been able to assist many veterans in learning useful occupations. Because of a reduction in federal funds available for this work, and a decrease in the number of active training programs, this supervision is being centralized elsewhere. Our work was discontinued on December 31, 1948.
There have been two resignations from the faculty. Charles P. Pieper and Harold A. Rudolph, both carpentry shop teachers, resigned to go into private industry. Fred P. Carlson and Philip W. Henley were appointed in their places. David W. Annis was appointed to a new position as teacher of printing related subjects. All these men have filled their positions very satisfactorily. The teacher of printing related subjects was especially needed in order to complete the educational set-up of this department and to provide more time for placement work.
At some near future date, it will be necessary to appoint a trade- trained teacher of automobile related subjects so that the same type of organization used in other departments can be carried out.
I would like at this time to comment upon the splendid morale exist- ing throughout the faculty and student body. It has been a great satis- faction to work with a group so interested in contributing, each in his own way, to the success of the school.
The total enrollment figures for the current school year (as of Decem- ber 22) are given below:
I
II
III
G.I.
Reg.
G.I.
Reg.
G.I.
Reg.
G.I. Special Total
Auto Repair
28
1
21
3
17
4
7
81
Cabinetmaking
14
0
4
0
13
0
0
31
Carpentry
25
0
13
0
11
0
2
51
Printing
15
0
7
0
3
0
1
26
Sheet Metal
20
0
2
0
14
1
2
39
102
1
47
3
58
5
12
228
-
In the enrollment table, a separate classification shows the number of World War II veterans. Twenty-one men are enrolled. Those in the column headed "G.I. Special" are taking courses individually arranged for them, usually consisting of a large amount of shop work together with the related technical instruction.
211
To recognize veterans who have completed one of these special courses, a Trade Certificate was awarded in June to the following:
Charles F. Allegra Roger H. Ambach Thomas H. Andrews Grant Axford Walter P. Cormier
Joe C. Cunningham Pat O. Goin
Alexander A. MacDonald
Donald L. Sauer John E. Mello
George T. Snow
Of this year's entering class, 6 were admitted as special students with- out completing the eighth grade, 53 were graduated from the eighth, 20 were members of or had completed the ninth, 10 the tenth, and one the twelfth. Twelve were repeaters from last year.
Sixty-one non-residents have been admitted. This is 2 less than last year and 11 more than the previous year. These boys come from 21 towns on the South Shore. Income from tuition for the school year ending in June was $10,787.50. This amount, which is credited as income by the Town Treasurer, reduces the cost of vocational education in Weymouth by that amount.
Of the 42 boys graduated, 34 entered the trade for which they were trained; 2, the armed services; and 6, other fields.
I wish to extend to the Superintendent of Schools, to Mr. Parker, my assistant, to the members of the faculty and to the members of the main- tenance staff, my appreciation for the excellent support and cooperation given me during the past year.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
Resignations
Bicknell School
Dorothy M. Condrick Eileen M. Finnegan Marjorie Maynard Geraldine Muller I. Elena Caracciolo
James Humphrey School Hunt School
Junior Manual Arts High School
Marguerite D. Howsberger Cecilia A. McDonald Wallace T. Driscoll Helen W. Bartley
Gretta L. Dyas
Robert E. Mitchell
Vocational School
Taimi R. Salo Charles P. Pieper
Harold A. Rudolph
Domestic Arts Office of Superintendent of Schools
Dorothy I. Pope
Kathleen W. Weir
Leave of Absence High School
Ruth E. Mayo (exchange teacher to Great Britain) Francis X. Kelly
Retirement Hunt School
John M. Sullivan
212
Elections
Athens School
Bicknell School James Humphrey School Hunt School
Pratt School Shaw School Edward B. Nevin School
Junior Manual Arts High School
Vocational School
Office of Superintendent of Schools
Marie C. Corbo Jean T. Reidy Marilyn E. Santacroce Cadet teachers for four months Elected January 1, 1949
Mary A. Cronin Otis H. McCorkle
Marion B. Cooper (Mrs.)
E. Jeanne Moynihan
Margaret I. Green
Miriam A. Crowley
A. Elizabeth Van Dusen Anna H. Gloster
Nels H. Sandberg
Louise B. Masters (Mrs.)
. Richard L. Whitmore Claire M. Heaver, Assistant Secretary David W. Annis
Fred P. Carlson Philip W. Henley
Priscilla Dunn
Exchange Teacher from Great Britain
High School Leslie Donald Dicker
Return from Leave of Absence
High School
Dorothy Pearson (exchange teacher to Great Britain)
Transfers
Charles F. Aherne Eileen M. Finnegan Dorothy E. Gallant
Edward B. Nevin to Hunt Athens to Bicknell
Edward B. Nevin to Remedial Reading Instructor Junior Annex to High School
William T. Kearns
Joseph J. Lesenechal
Abigail Adams to James Humphrey
Margaret M. McCarthy
Shaw to Bicknell
James A. Nolan
James Humphrey to Junior Annex
Ralph B. Stewart
Hunt to Edward B. Nevin
Shaw to Hunt
John Adams to Hunt Edward B. Nevin to Abigail Adams
Substitutes - December 31, 1948
John Adams School
Athens School Bicknell School
James Humphrey School
Mae E. Sullivan (Mrs.) Louise K. Frederick (Mrs.) Eileen B. McCarthy (Mrs.) Alma R. Driscoll (Mrs.) Charlotte C. Lowe (Mrs.)
Helen K. Mullen (Mrs.) Eileen M. Duggan (Mrs.) Aileen M. Karacius (Mrs.) Geraldine M. Hoy (Mrs.) Hilda M. Bangs (Mrs.) Elena C. Antonetti (Mrs.)
Mary B. Muldoon (Mrs.)
213
Alice M. Toomey
Elizabeth P. True
Dorothy E. Wells
Jefferson School
Hunt School
Pratt School
Shaw School Pond School Junior Manual Arts
High School
Domestic Arts
Mary A. Nolan (Mrs.) Harriet S. Berry (Mrs.) Alice B. Wallace (Mrs.) Marie C. Kane (Mrs.) Adrienne M. Hill (Mrs.) Ruth J. Holbrook (Mrs.) Gladys F. Hobson (Mrs.) Barbara A. Nash (Mrs.) Alberta R. Kelly (Mrs.) Mildred C. Crawford (Mrs.)
Dorothy G. Driscoll (Mrs.) Lillian N. Leydon (Mrs.) Adelee A. McMillen (Mrs.)
INSTRUCTIONAL PERSONNEL
Elementary Teachers
123
High School Teachers
67
Supervisors and Special Teachers
14
School Nurses
3
Secretaries
3
Total
210
SCHOOL POPULATION
Enrollment as of close of school in June:
Year
High School
Elementary
Total
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
1945
1,404
3,207
4,611
1946
1,381
3,312
4,693
1947
1,502
3,273
4,775
1948
1,453
3,407
4,860
HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (as of October 1, 1948)
By Classes
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
145
226
371
Sophomores
141
160
301
Juniors
130
183
313
Seniors
130
159
289
Postgraduates &
Unclassified
9
2
11
Total
555
730
1,285
214
By Courses
Freshmen Sophomores Juniors
Seniors
P.G. & Uncl.
Total
College
139
105
125
130
11
510
Business
170
155
149
115
589
General
32
18
25
35
110
Agriculture
8
14
9
9
40
Home Economics
22
9
5
36
Total
371
301
313
289
11
1,285
Sources of Freshmen
School
Number
Bicknell
53
Hunt
75
Junior Annex
83
Pratt
23
Shaw
16
Edward B. Nevin
50
Pond
20
Other Schools
36
Repeaters
15
Total
371
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL ENROLLMENT (as of October 1, 1948) I III
II
G. I.
Reg,
G. I.
Reg. G. I.
Reg.
G. I. Special Total
Auto Repair
28
1
21
3
17
4
7
81
Cabinetmaking
14
0
4
0
13
0
0
31
Carpentry
25
0
18
0
11
0
2
51
Printing
15
0
7
0
3
0
1
26
Sheet Metal
20
0
2
0
14
1
2
39
102
1
47
3
58
5
12
228
ELEMENTARY ENROLLMENT October 1, 1948
School
VIII VII VI
V
IV
III
II
I
Sp. Total
Abigail & John Adams
31
37
38
44
44
69
263
Athens
30
76
30
56
35
59
286
Bicknell
75
90
52
40
63
68
72
109
569
James Humphrey
96
39
33
17
31
32
248
Jefferson
31
20
21
33
105
Junior Annex
101
101
Washington
26
23
34
33
34
45
195
Hunt
68
78
65
75
92
88
99
134
699
Pratt
30
26
26
35
30
41
39
53
280
Shaw
11
17
20
24
25
27
124
Edward B. Nevin
65
57
45
51
63
46
74
60
461
Pond
21
22
18
32
30
32
39
37
231
Junior Manual Arts
53
53
Total
360
369
343
419
431
469
513
658
53
3,615
-
-
-
215
RECORD OF BIRTHS IN WEYMOUTH BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR A NINE-YEAR PERIOD, WITH A COMPARISON OF ACTUAL FIRST GRADE ENROLLMENT IN 1945, 1946, 1947, AND 1948
Birth Years*
1939-1940 1940-1941 1941-1942 1942-1943 1943-1944 1944-1945 1945-1946 1946-1947 1947-1948 Sept. 1945 Sept. 1946 Sept. 1947 Sept. 1948 Sept. 1949 Sept. 1950 Sept. 1951 Sept. 1952 Sept. 1953
Entrance to School
Athens and Bicknell Districts
51
71
63 119
97
135
123
118
180
141
Actual 1st Grade Enrollment
119
135
168
Adams District
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