USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1950 > Part 16
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Children entering for the first time will be admitted only during the first two weeks of school.
Vaccination
No child shall be allowed to enter the first grade without a certificate of successful vaccination.
Employment Certificates
Employment certificates, educational certificates, and newsboys' badges are issued at the office of the Superintendent of Schools in the High School Building from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every weekday, except Saturday.
All persons must make personal application and present a birth cer- tificate.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
The School Committee is pleased to submit its report for 1950. You will find comprehensive information in the reports of the Superintendent and of the Department Heads which are a part of this general report.
The ever-increasing number of children in our Public Schools is one of our biggest problems. We have discussed our general school building program with you before and it is progressing in a satisfactory manner. Weymouth has been one of the fastest growing communities in the State of Massachusetts. This growth plus the rising birth rate has already resulted in an increase of about 30% in our school population. In 1943 there were about 4,450 pupils in our schools and at the present time there are over 5,800. This increase has been handled by filling every possible space in our old school buildings and by the construction of additions to the Adams and Pratt Schools.
There are three school building committees operating in Weymouth. These groups came into being by Town Meeting votes and the members
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were appointed by the Town Moderator. One Committee has been charged with the responsibility of completing the additions to the Adams and Pratt Schools and the Junior High School in South Weymouth. The two additions are finished and the Junior High School should be ready for 600 pupils this coming September. The function of another committee is to see a twelve-room elementary building on Pearl Street in North Wey- mouth to a successful conclusion. We shall need this school in September of 1951 but it is probable that it will not be ready until several months after that date. For a short time, we may be forced to have double ses- sions in a few grades in North Weymouth.
The third committee has just been appointed and held its first meeting on January 5, 1951. It is responsible for an elementary school in the Homestead section of Weymouth Landing, additions to the Humphrey School in East Weymouth, to the Nevin School in South Weymouth, and to the Bicknell School in North Weymouth. The latter will be converted into a Junior High School for the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades of that section.
The School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools are mem- bers of the first Building Committee; and the Chairman of the School Committee and the Superintendent of Schools are also on the other two Committees. It is our intention to build good modern school buildings which will require a minimum of maintenance and which can be used to provide the best education for our children. In building good schools. we are sincerely endeavoring to avoid extravagant frills and to provide only those facilities necessary for an up-to-date program of education.
As a result of our increased enrollment, we constantly need additional teachers. In September 1950, we opened thirteen new rooms and will continue to grow at about this rate for several years. There is not a suf- ficient number of qualified teachers to fill these elementary school vacan- cies, and it is necessary to have a good comparative salary schedule to be able to compete in this market. Our salary schedule for teachers has been far from the highest, and in order to keep within a reasonable dis- tance of our neighboring communities in this respect, the Committee has recommended an increase of from $200.00 to $300.00 for each teacher. This will result in a basic salary schedule for teachers providing $2,400.00 for a first-year teacher and increasing to $3,900.00 in fifteen years. We must have good teachers for our children and we believe it would be impossible to get them or to keep the ones we now have with a salary schedule lower than the one just voted effective as of January 1, 1951.
We believe that Weymouth has a good school system and it is our intention to not only keep it on its present high level, but to improve it if possible.
The budget for 1951 is submitted herewith together with the amounts spent in 1950:
Account Classification
Expenditures 1950
Estimates 1951
ADMINISTRATION
Salaries
$21,989.96
$25,280.00
Other General Expense
3,766.57
1,990.00
Total
$25,756.53
$27,270.00
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INSTRUCTION
Salaries of Principals, Supervisors, and Teachers
$673,130.76
$811,028.00
Expenses of Principals and Supervisors
6,807.31
7,017.00
Textbooks Supplies Other Expenses of Instruction
19,435.73
20,350.00
21,809.26
29,150.00
304.79
350.00
Total
$721,487.85
$867,895.00
OPERATION OF SCHOOL PLANT
Janitors' Salaries
$63,719.70
$61,490.00
Fuel
18,375.78
25,985.00
Light and Power
6,684.52
7,800.00
Water
2,891.97
3,100.00
Telephones
1,792.81
1,800.00
Janitors' Supplies
4,409.95
5,000.00
Total
$97,874.73
$105,175.00
MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOL PLANT
Salaries
$28,451.89
$36,015.00
Repairs, Outlay, and Equipment
62,181.05
68,787.00
Total
$90,632.94
$104,802.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Library Books and Supplies
$545.54
$2,750.00
Graduation Expense
549.72
750.00
Promotion of Health
9,324.23
10,275.00
Transportation of Pupils
30,695.00
33,840.00
Tuition
1,916.10
2,420.00
Support of Truants
260.00
208.00
Insurance
1,154.47
400.00
Other Expense
2.50
50.00
Total
$44,447.56
$50,693.00
DAY HOUSEHOLD ARTS
Salaries
$4,923.50
$5,193.00
Textbooks and Supplies
1,039.56
1,200.00
Replacement of Equipment
641.77
200.00
Outlay and Equipment
12,204.01
100.00
Total
$18,808.84
$6,693.00
DAY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Salaries
$58,504.93
$66,078.00
Textbooks and Supplies
9,491.34
11,200.00
Operating Expenses
7,038.20
9,883.00
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Outlay and Equipment Transportation of Pupils
7,671.77
2,050.00 375.00
Total
$83,076.24
$89,586.00
EVENING SCHOOLS
Commercial
$624.17
$625.00
Practical Arts
2,008.87
2,100.00
Industrial Arts
810.67
570.00
Trade Extension
387.50
500.00
Adult Civic Education
6.00
0
Part-time Apprenticeship
1,294.35
1,850.00
Total
$5,131.56
$5,645.00
WAR VETERANS' PENSIONS
$2,700.00 To be included in a Town Pen- sion Account
TRAVELING EXPENSE
Out of State
$241.56
$350.00
In State
171.51
200.00
Total
$413.07
$550.00
1950 Expenditures
$1,090,329.32
1951 Estimates
$1,258,309.00
CREDITS
The sums listed 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 amounts listed below should be deducted from the total expenditures.
TOTAL EPENDITURES, 1950
$1,090,329.32
CREDITS:
State Reimbursement:
Equalization Aid
$121,589.00
Transportation
3,600.00
Day Household Arts*
3,886.06
Day Vocational*
27,475.94
Evening Practical Arts*
1,538.74
Evening Apprenticeship & Trade Extension*
448.62
Tuition paid to out-of-town Trade Schools
618.62
$159,156.98
*for 1/2 cost of instruction
Tuition :
Day Vocational
$14,993.42
Apprenticeship & Trade Extension Classes
2,507.00
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370.00
State Wards
1,339.00
City Wards
683.66
High School
348.98
Agricultural Dept., High School
586.05
Elementary Grades
243.50
Home Instruction, physically handicapped
156.00
20,857.61
Miscellaneous Cash Receipts:
Day Vocational School Sales:
Auto Repairs
$237.89
Cabinetmaking
773.13
Carpentry
158.87
Printing
604.49
Sheet Metal
1,113.64
Supplies, etc.
96.83
2,984.85
Manual Arts Sales
133.68
Junior Manual Arts Sales
120.45
Evening Industrial Arts Sales
127.09
Fines, damages, refunds; sale of
supplies, old books; misc.
412.47
Insurance-Carpentry Shop Fire
34.80
3,813.34
TOTAL CREDITS $183,827.93
TOTAL NET COST TO TOWN
.
$906,501.39
FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR VOCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Smith-Hughes Fund:
Day Household Arts
$226.81
Day Vocational School
1,239.27
Evening Practical Arts
31.75
1,497.83
George-Barden Fund:
Day Household Arts
60.00
Day Vocational School
2,922.88
Evening Apprenticeship
500.00
3,482.88
$4,980.71
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH W. MAHONEY, Chairman ETHEL G. TAYLOR, Secretary (Mrs. Arthur R.) ' WALLACE H. DRAKE, M.D.
CLAYTON W. NASH
WILLIAM F. SHIELDS HAROLD A. SPALDING, M.D.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Committee:
I respectfully submit my sixth report as Superintendent of Schools, the sixty-fifth report in such a series.
Excerpts from the reports of directors, supervisors, and special teachers follow:
1. Art
"The art guides for the teachers of grades 4-6 have been completed and are now in use. This finishes the revision of all the art guides for all grades at this time and it is hoped that they are basically sound and will need only minor revision from time to time in the near future. They are based on the following plan or table of contents:
1. A statement of what we believe art education to be, with ways in which we believe it can be achieved
2. As the success of an art program depends upon the classroom teacher and her approach and understanding of the work, the following essentials are important: motivation, expression, evaluation.
3. General information
4. Art activities with full descriptions about each area: picture making, design, color, lettering, construction or 3-dimensional design, ap- preciation, drawing, painting, other art materials and techniques
"These guides are not lesson plans, but are descriptive of methods of approach, ways of developing interest and skills for a well-rounded edu- cation . .
"At the Bicknell, Hunt, and Nevin Schools, assemblies were called for very interesting design and painting demonstrations by a young Mexi- can artist, Clemente Diaz. His work was so fascinating and demonstrated so completely all the principles of fine design that the children who saw him paint realized how important these art rules really are and ever since have been trying to use them well. This artist came to Weymouth through an acquaintance made by Miss Marion Ray during her stay in the Inter- national School of Art in the summer of 1948 in Guatemala.
"Several collections of children's work have been sent to various places to be included in exhibitions of different kinds. One was sent to Fisk University where art work from all over the United States was shown as part of an intergroup good will program. Selections from this exhibition. which was held in Nashville, Tennessee, went on tour to Japan. The con- tact that brought this invitation was made at the Eastern Arts Convention in 1949 in Boston. Work was sent to Scholastic Awards Exhibition in Pittsburg this year where Janet Hoering of the Hunt School eighth grade received an Honorable Mention in General Design and an award of $10.00.
"The Weymouth Garden Club sponsored a program of 'Outdoor Good Manners' in which grades four through eight participated by making suitable posters. It was really a civic integration combining an art project of beautifying our town and the Club's campaign for making Weymouth pick up and spruce up. The Garden Club gave the pupils making the best posters at each grade level awards of art materials to stimulate more art work.
"During the month of May the Fogg Library exhibited in their Art Corner, at their request, a series of graded art work from the Nevin, Pond,
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Pratt, and Shaw Schools and from South Weymouth students in the High School. This exhibit was necessarily small, but it showed the steady progress of the growing child in his power to express the things that in- terest him.
2. Music
"The high school orchestra is showing improvement and it is getting the balance that is needed. This group performs at only two concerts, but in the future there should be a greater demand for assemblies and, if possible, an opportunity to play at clubs, P.T.A. meetings, etc. The main drawback to any program not a part of the regular school schedule is the transportation to and from the place of performance.
"The 'A' choir, which numbered ninety members this year, received an excellent rating at the State Festival. They sang at the two concerts and assemblies. The time of rehearsals, after school, is a definite draw- back for a great many students and makes for poor attendance; hence a continual change in members. The 'B' choir, which started with eighty- nine members, carried along until the Senior Play rehearsals began and then through lack of rehearsal space, and continual changes, dropped off to a membership of about twenty. The choir program has many in- terruptions, but, due to our present physical set-up of rooms and hall, very little can be done to remedy this situation. . . .
"The band played throughout the football season with drilling, rallies, and assemblies as usual. They gave two concerts and participated in the State Festival, at which they received a 'Superior' rating. They also played four outdoor concerts in the spring in addition to the regular pro- gram, and also at the high school graduation. The band needs 6 basses, 2 oboes, 2 alto clarinets, 2 bass clarinets, 2 contra bass clarinets, 2 bari- tones, 2 French horns, 1 bass trombone, 2 bass saxaphones, and a set of chimes. The Parents' Group has donated $1,000.00 to begin this program and it is expected that this amount will be duplicated next year. All these instruments mentioned will have to be school property, as the cost is prohibitive for the pupil.
"All these high school groups need more rehearsal time than is now provided. In both the band and orchestra, sectional rehearsals are neces- sary, but with only one supervisor this is impossible. There are not ade- quate rooms for such a program or for ensemble groups, practice, etc. The storage facilities are becoming exhausted. There is need of filing cabinets for music and records, cumulative records, etc. There is a definite need for an assistant to help in both the elementary schools and high school in the instrumental program.
"The elementary school program has shown a decided increase. The instrumental groups have assisted in assembly programs in the schools and in some cases have given concerts or helped with other groups in their programs. Elementary bands and orchestras have only one rehearsal a week, which is not ample. As in all other subjects, one class a week is practically worthless. .
3. Physical Education
"In attempting to meet the aims and objectives that have been set up for our Physical Education Program, we are continually searching for new and improved methods, approaches, and procedures that will help us to provide a program capable of enriching the life of every boy and girl in our schools. .
"Considerable progress has been made in the High School Girls' Pro- gram due to the addition of another teacher, and the efficiency of the
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present instructors. The increased number of participants and high in- terest in the after-school program are natural results from this improve- ment .
"The corrective program, taking care of the individual needs of ap- proximately 70 atypical boys, has been conducted with measurable success during the past year. An indication of this success is in the overweight class in which one boy lost thirty-five pounds and several lost as much as twenty pounds. Weak musculature cases and those requiring work on postural defects were treated with good results. The corrective group also included several polio cases and birth injuries
"During the past year in the elementary schools, we have put added emphasis on stunts and self-testing activities. This type of activity gives the youngster a means of both comparing himself objectively with others and of measuring his own progress. More could be accomplished along this line if tumbling mats were available.
"Miss Peterson, in writing her Master's thesis, did considerable re- search in methods and materials in physical education for the elementary grades. The result is a new course of study that should be of considerable assistance to the classroom teacher in carrying out a well organized and worthwhile program.
4. Guidance
"The Guidance Department in Weymouth, as in most school systems, is organized to carry out six basic functions; namely, the collection of educational and vocational information, tests and the collection of per- sonal data concerning each student, counseling, educational and vocational planning, job placement, and the follow-up of graduates.
"The work of the Guidance Department under each of these func- tions has been explained in detail in previous reports. These activities are being carried on this year much the same as in past years, and need not be mentioned again at this time. However, in the interests of greater efficiency and the demands of an increasing school population, I should like to make certain recommendations in connection with the functions of testing and the collection of personal data, and counseling.
Collection of Personal Data-Tests
"The schedule of tests adopted for the high school last year was con- tinued this year and we administered Mental Maturity Tests, Mechanical and Clerical Aptitude Tests, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Tests to all freshmen and sophomores. Standard subject tests in the High School are administered by the several academic departments, although ordered and filed in the guidance office.
"The amount of work involved in collecting, organizing, and keeping personal data and test data is extensive. At present the Director, Assistant Director, and the part-time counselor spend over half their time on this work. As a result they have little time for counseling and working with individuals or groups, the most important part of guidance and the work for which they are employed by the School Department. Therefore, it is recommended that a full-time clerk-secretary be added to the guidance staff in order to perform the clerical work, filing, typing, and recording necessary in connection with the keeping of personal records and testing and all of the other various activities of the guidance office.
Counseling
"It has been possible to schedule interviews with each pupil in the freshman, senior, and junior classes. Unfortunately there has not been
205
sufficient time to schedule interviews with pupils of the sophomore class, although some members of this class have visited the guidance office voluntarily.
"As in past years, we have continued group work-or group guidance - in the eighth grade and in the first term of grade nine. In addition, we have been conducting group work this year in some grade seven classes.
"For the first time this year, we have arranged occupational assem- blies and conferences in the high school for juniors and seniors. These assemblies are held once and sometimes twice each month. They are voluntary and only those pupils are present who wish to attend. Each assembly deals with a different occupation or family of occupations. At present, it would seem that these assemblies are more valuable than a 'Career Day' because the study of occupations is before the pupils throughout the year. 'Career Day' on the other hand lasts but one day, a grand performance which may be quickly forgotten.
"The amount of work involved in carrying on the counseling function in the high school has become so extensive that it cannot be handled in an efficient and adequate manner by the guidance personnel. Many inter- views are hurried and perfunctory. In fact, pressure is so great at times that as many as six, eight, or ten interviews are held in one period. In such a situation, conferences such as these may become almost valueless.
"Also in connection with counseling, we need to keep a more careful check upon student choices of subjects, particularly as the new program ยท of studies allows for wider selections and brings with it a greater oppor- tunity for making bad as well as good decisions.
"To carry on the counseling work at the high school, there is a gui- dance staff of only three people, consisting of one full-time director whose time, in part, must include planning for the department and a certain amount of work in the six schools having seventh and eighth grade classes, one full-time assistant director and one part-time counselor who has four English classes in addition to guidance duties. This does not compare favorably with other towns and cities of equivalent population having, in general, at least two part-time counselors per high school grade. There- fore, it is recommended that two part-time counselors be added to the high school guidance staff.
"The counseling statistics for the school year 1949-1950 are as follows:
Educational and Vocational Problems 1,050
Job Placement 84
Personal Problems 7
Conferences with Parents 92
Conferences with Teachers 63
Total Voluntary Conferences 1,296
The number of scheduled conferences was 1,159, making a complete total of conferences of 2,455.
"Before concluding, I should like to mention the new program of studies booklet. It is larger than previous issues, contains more detailed direc- tions, and includes descriptions of high school and vocational school work. Both parents and students have made favorable remarks about this book- let, and it has proved valuable in guidance work."
5. Audio-Visual Instruction
"The Division of Audio-Visual Instruction has completed a year which featured the increased use of audio and visual aids at every grade level.
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The number and varied nature of the requests received from both prin- cipals and teachers indicate an increasing awareness of the value and need for audio-visual aids.
"The major activities and accomplishments of the Division of Audio- Visual Instruction follow:
1. All aids used in the High School, Junior Annex, and Junior Manual Arts Class are operated by a high school projection club of 49 boys and girls. This year, two junior managers very effectively handled all scheduling details and operating assignments for the equipment used. Other 'specialist' inspected, repaired, and maintained all films and regularly cleaned, serviced, and maintained the equip- ment.
2. The services of two senior secretaries were utilized for requesting, cataloguing, follow-up, booking, recording, reporting, listing, etc. more than 500 films, filmstrips, and miscellaneous materials. In January, two junior secretaries were added to aid in filing and to train for the coming year. The elementary school phase of the program could not function effectively without the aid of these secretaries and projection club managers and members. Each year they must accept an increasing amount of responsibility.
3. In-service training of teachers has been conducted at all levels whenever the need has been indicated or requested. In addition, a State Department of Education extension course in the use of audio-visual aids was completed for Weymouth teachers on a credit basis.
4. Approximately 324 films were shown 1,630 times in the High School and Vocational School. Each film was selected by a department head and was scheduled for the date requested. The films were studied by 44,339 pupils at a total rental cost of $380.45. Of these, 150 were sponsored (free) films. Transportation costs on all films amounted to $107.70.
5. At the elementary and junior high levels, committees representing each grade level and/or subject selected 180 films. Of these, only 106 could be booked for the dates requested, because of financial and other limitations. They were studied by 47,700 pupils at a total rental cost of $688.17. No sponsored (free) films were used. Some 'spot' bookings were made for both elementary and high school use.
6. Filmstrips, lantern slides, tape and disc recordings, records, etc. were more frequently and more effectively utilized than ever before in the High School and Vocational School. Lack of equipment for the use of the elementary schools has seriously handicapped the effective use of these aids at that level except in a few isolated cases.
7. A second grade field trip to Kramer's Dairy Farm was effectively carried out.
8. Elementary school exhibits from the Children's Museum were supplied for special units, while high school exhibits were supplied from the Museum of Fine Arts.
9. Television sets were procured and installed for a three-month period, on a loan basis, in the Adams, Athens, Bicknell, Hunt, Nevin, and Pond Schools as a part of an experiment to determine the value of televising educational films during and after school hours.
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10. A seven-inch television set and an eleven-tube long and short wave table model radio were accepted as donations to the Division for experimental use in the high school.
"Major recommendations, in brief, for the school year 1950-1951 are as follows :
1. Inside and outside telephone located in the audio-visual aids office
2. Additional sets of darkening shades for the high school and elemen- tary schools
3. Darkening shades and wall screens installed in all rooms of new construction
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