USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1950 > Part 17
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4. Appointment of audio-visual aids co-ordinator for each building (most urgently needed in the high school)
5. Provide for completion in 1950-1951 of adequate central filmstrip library
6. Development of long-range plan for the ultimate ownership of complete basic film library
7. Development of long-range plan for basic filmstrip library in in- dividual schools
8. Development of long-range plan for completely equipping each elementary school building to meet all audio-visual aids needs
9. Appointment of professional secretarial service (possibly shared with another division) to release time from a great deal of extremely important but relatively unskilled work
"Immediate application of all recommendations is neither expected nor advised. However, the efficient operation of a complete, successful audio-visual aids program in a system of the size and structure of the Weymouth Public Schools should make the eventual application of all items imperative."
6. Remedial Reading
"This consolidation of the reports of Miss Dorothy E. Gallant and Miss Anne F. Connell, remedial reading and helping teachers, briefly pre- sents their program and plans for the school year of September, 1949 through June, 1950, and refers specifically to their work in the Washington, James Humphrey, Adams, and Bicknell Schools.
"Although the primary plan for remedial reading instruction was to take care of those pupils who in spite of adequate learning capacity have not been able to master the techniques of reading, the work now includes the slow-learner who has not been able to maintain the pace of most of his class.
"These classes have become a necessity because of the inability of the regular classroom teacher with large or overcrowded classes to give to the slow-learner that individual attention so necessary to his progress. With the helping teacher, he is able to progress to a higher level and soon loses his discouragement, self-consciousness, or any withdrawal tendency in- creased through continuous failure in his regular class.
"The pattern for all groups is somewhat similar. Early in the school year, the pupils in need of attention are given the Durrell Sullivan Reading Capacity and Achievement Tests. Those whose reading ability scores one
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year or more below their reading capacity, and those who score one year or more below their grade level are the first to be considered. After. the pupils have been placed in the group working at their level, they are given instruction in word recognition, word analysis, word meaning, and phrase reading which precede their oral and silent reading lessons. Following this they are checked on comprehension and meaning in a variety of ways so that all exercises which will help these children to locate information. complete statements, evaluate ideas, or foresee outcomes are included. As the group progresses, the program becomes richer. In addition to this work those needing help in arithmetic or other subjects are given atten- tion in order that the slow-learner may be helped in whatever is his area of deficiency.
"All schools with a large enrollment should have a helping teacher in order to assist these children who have had discouraging difficulties to gain a feeling of self-confidence and security which can only come through the realization of progress."
7. Manual Arts
"During the school year 1949-1950, 400 boys in grades 7 and 8 received instruction in Manual Arts. Of these, two 7th and one 8th grades were taught by Mr. Nels Sandberg, who achieved excellent results. In keeping with our policy of offering new items each year, the following projects were featured: pump-lamp, book-shelf, corner-shelf and jewel box.
"Starting in February, a short course in electricity was given. The work consisted of bell-wiring projects involving various circuits, types of joints and splices, soldering, wiring diagrams, etc. Results of this work were pleasingly apparent when boys ran temporary wiring for the Manual Arts exhibits. They displayed the necessary know-how without aid from other sources.
"The Manual Arts program is being carried on under the utmost dif- ficulties, owing to the large number of classes and also the unprecedented growth of the town. While the school year was in progress, 45 new boys were enrolled, the equivalent of three more classes. It was possible to carry on the work only because of the extremely high caliber of the boys in these grades. Exhibitions of the work in sewing and manual arts were held at the Bicknell and Hunt Schools and were eminently successful in presenting this phase of school work to the public. .
"Throughout the State, industrial arts extends upward into the secondary schools. Such a high degree of craftsmanship is attained at the high school level that it transcends into the realm of art. When we drop this work at the end of grade 8, there is no further opportunity for " the average pupil in our schools to acquire further manual skills. .
8. Sewing
"During the school year, 153 girls were taught the principles of sewing in grade 7.
"The requirements for the year included:
1. The teaching of the basic stitches
2. The essential facts concerning materials and proper equipment
3. The use of the sewing machine
"The two required projects were the making of a cotton apron and a cotton skirt. The second project afforded the opportunity for the repeti- tion of the principles learned in the making of the apron. These projects
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were accomplished by all the girls except those in the Hunt School, where. due to fewer periods of work, fewer sewing machines, and large classes, it was impossible in all cases to complete the assigned work. However, in both the Pond and the Nevin Schools the work accomplished was outstand- ing in its quality. Not only were the basic requirements met, but all but one girl in these two schools made blouses, an eighth grade project.
"The interest and enthusiasm which the 154 eighth grade girls have shown has been gratifying. The basic projects which have been completed are cotton blouses and skirts of either cotton, rayon, or woolen materials. After these two projects were finished, the girls were allowed to make clothes of their own choosing. This included cotton skirts, play clothes, dresses, and jumpers.
"In order to acquaint the parents with the work accomplished, the pupils with the cooperation of their teachers presented style shows at the Nevin, Bicknell, and Hunt Schools.
"If more machines could be made available, and if the heavy teaching program could be lessened by fewer pupils in each class, another year would find a greater improvement in the amount and quality of work accomplished.
9. Handwriting
"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); 17.5% received a grade of 'B' (Good); and 62.8% were graded less than 'B'. In the tests administered in May, 1950 to grades 1-7, 81.8% of the pupils received a grade of 'A' (Excellent) ; 9.6% were graded 'B' (Good) ; and 8.5% scored less than 'B'. Handwriting Certificates were awarded to 86.3% of seventh grade pupils.
"During the last school year, approximately 32,500 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 certifi- cates for pupils who qualified, seals, etc."
10. Clubs and Gardens
"The work has moved smoothly in spite of a large registration, and a dry summer which discouraged many adults. Younger workers had the advantage of smaller plots to care for; also, they were taught to get the town water used into the ground instead of spreading it over the surface. By this they saved expense and waste. In many instances the knowledge gained was passed on to others.
"The work, as done in Weymouth, does not attempt to teach scientific agriculture. Classroom lessons are based on seasonal activities and stress fundamental principles which are of general application - value of a garden to the individual and to the home, study of soil conditions, loca- tion and size of the garden, choice of seeds, tests of soil and awareness of weather conditions, planning of each plot, planting, thinning, and transplanting, and care and use of the crop, - all simple things within the understanding and skill of the pupil. We look not so much for an accumulation of memorized facts as for a habit of trying, observing and thinking which may continue through home and school life and on into
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adult activities. This course ties the school up with the home and with the individual outlook in general .
"At the Weymouth Fair there is, by request, no separate children's department. Entries are made in the 'open adult class.' Records show that the children took more than their share of the awards; and at Hor- ticultural Hall in Boston, in a state-wide competition, that condition re- peated itself. The 'State Award' for outstanding work came to Weymouth. While winning prizes is not the goal sought, children learn to recognize quality. While not all the two hundred and forty enrolled exhibited, two hundred were recognized at the final checkup in October as up to the standard set for 4-H members by the State and National Department of Agriculture. .
11. Home Instruction for Physically Handicapped Children
"There have been twenty pupils in this class from September, 1949 to June, 1950. The polio epidemic of last summer put six in this class. Of these, four had returned to school by Christmas. The remaining two were more seriously affected, and remained in the class until June. Both are making very good recoveries and have braces for their legs, and will be able to return to school in September. There were four rheumatic fever patients. These also are expected to be able to return in the fall. Three children had kidney trouble, and of those two have returned to school. One child afflicted with asthma was too ill to continue his lessons. Seven children were in the class for the full year. Seven returned to school. Of the eleven children now in the class, probably only three will be enrolled next year .... It has been difficult to maintain a regularly scheduled pro- gram for the year as the polio children had to have hospital and clinic appointments, and several of the others also had changeable hospital dates.
"One of the pupils of long standing had a heart operation in February. This will enable him to attend regular school for the first time in his life. He will be given a trial promotion to the eighth grade as he is seventeen years of age. A good part of the time, seven pupils had to be taken for only one day. That meant that the time given to each was approximately forty-five minutes.
"There are several things that could be used to advantage in teaching these children: a portable phonograph with some records for a toy or- chestra, a Viewmaster with about thirty slides, a simple chemistry set to be used for seventh and eighth grade science, and a set of oil paints.
"The children have worked faithfully and well through the year, and made very satisfactory progress. At Christmas time they made various gifts for handwork, and several of the older children have made small oil paintings. The parents have cooperated in every way, and appreciate the advantage of home instruction for their afflicted children."
12. Health
"This has been an unusually busy year for the school health service department. Several things have contributed to this. The new audiometer which enables the nurses to accurately test the hearing acuity of the children has, in itself, been quite time consuming. We have felt very pleased to use time for this purpose. Many remediable defects were dis- covered and corrected because of this type of test. Children with in- fected tonsils have had them removed because it was discovered that their hearing was impaired because of this defect. Reports of previously un- known defective hearing have explained many poor marks to both parents and teachers. The large number of new students has been another reason
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for increased work in the health area since many children have come from cities and towns where not as much emphasis has been placed on health as in Weymouth.
"Desks with adjustable tops, special pencils and books with large print which were borrowed from the Division of the Blind are used by some children whose vision is seriously impaired. A speech therapist from the State clinic examined a group of children with speech defects and advised their parents about correcting this defect. This was accomplished through the efforts of Mrs. Rita E. Ryan. Arrangements were made for one child whose hearing is seriously defective to take lip reading in Quincy, and another child with seriously impaired vision is in a Quincy sight-saving class. Sight Saving Classes and Lip Reading Classes more easily available to Weymouth school children loom as another problem. The number of children needing this help increases each year. The large number of chil- dren with dental defects still is a major problem in spite of the excellent cooperation given and work done by the dental clinic .
"Visible index health record cards and files would greatly facilitate recording. Markers for these cards would make it possible to keep much better health records for the students. Space for health services and storage space for supplies are very limited in many of the schools; and last but far from least is the need of more formal health education in grades one through twelve. It seems to be the general consensus that few schools in Massachusetts meet this problem satisfactorily. 'Health Promotion Through Health Education' is the popular slogan."
13. Agriculture
"The opening of school in September, 1949 showed a total enrollment of 46 students divided according to classes as follows:
Seniors
10
Sophomores
11
Juniors
13
Freshmen
12
"The 46 students may be geographically divided as follows:
North Weymouth
12
Rockland
2
South Weymouth
12
Scituate
2
East Weymouth
8
Abington
1
Weymouth
2
Cohasset
1
Quincy
3
Hanson
1
Braintree
2
"The following table will show the amount of labor and the value re- ceived for work done for the past six years:
Value Received
School Year
Boys Reporting
Hours of Labor Total
Average Per Boy
Total
Average Per Boy
Value per Hour
1944-45
33
36,988
1,120
$15,752.16
$477.33
42c
1945-46
34
36,155
1,063
15,214.42
447.48
42c
1946-47
37
38,802
1,048
17,654.19
477.28
45c
1947-48
38
43,514
1,145
19,359.52
509.46
44c
1948-49
39
46,949
1.204
22.063.61
565.73
47c
1949-50
38*
43,159
1,135
20,783.28
546.92
48c
"The 38 boys mentioned above (*) worked on seven farms or agricul- tural enterprises in Weymouth, eight in Vermont (Fairfax, Essex Junction, Bristol, Poultney, Pittsford, Brandon, Weybridge, Shoreham), two in Walpole, New Hampshire, one in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, one in Mystic,
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Connecticut, one in Cattaraugus, New York, two in Walpole at our main school, three in Hingham, three in Abington, two in Hanover, two in Marshfield, one in Arlington, Avon, Bridgewater, Oxford, Harvard, and Greenbush - representing 14 dairy farms, 5 general farms, 4 poultry farms, 4 greenhouse establishments, 4 landscape services, 2 nurseries, 1 dairy and general farm, 1 dairy goat farm, 1 poultry dressing plant, 1 poultry and dairy farm, and 1 state forestry nursery."
14. Driver Education
"With more time allowed for instruction, the Driver Education Program has developed considerably this year. More students than ever before have been able to participate in both the classroom and the driver training work.
"An abbreviated breakdown of the activity of the program follows:
1. Miles of behind-the-wheel instruction - 1,500
2. Pupils enrolled in driver education classes : High School 121
Vocational School 61
3. Pupils certified for driver training and/or licenses:
High School 97
Vocational School 31
4. Licenses issued at school:
High School 58
Vocational School 26
5. Breakdown of instructional time:
a. Mr. Swan - 11 periods per week (average of 2 periods after school per week in addition)
b. Mr. Mahn - 4 periods per week
c. Mr. Cleaves - 3 periods per week
"Those who are connected closely with driving safety feel very strongly that pre-driver education and organized behind-the-wheel instruction have an extremely important place in the high school curriculum .
15. High School Library
"The location of the library on the second floor has proved most suc- cessful. The natural light and fluorescent lights are excellent and the linoleum floor completes the improvements.
"During Book Week in November, 1949 an Open House was held in the Library with each club and activity represented by an exhibition. A tea table was decorated by Miss Silvester and her Art classes and refreshments were prepared and served by Miss Benson and her Foods classes.
"The French and Spanish Clubs held a joint meeting in the Library. A lecture and colored slides on Mexico were shown. The pictures were beautiful but difficult to see because of so much light. Dark curtains are necessary and it is hoped that they will be available for next year.
"A museum case was made by the Cabinetmaking department under the direction of Mr. William Dwyer. Exhibits of science were displayed before the Science Fair. Some of these exhibits were water walls from the earliest days to the present, sundials, effects of weather on the same location, a model of a water purification system. The Library was open
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during the Science Fair and many parents saw for the first time our well- equipped Library. Mr. Paul Cleaves has arranged a program with the Children's Museum so that an exhibit will remain in the Library museum case for two weeks and then be replaced by another. A few of these ex- hibits are: Modern Fabrics, China, Egypt, Early America, Fire, Heat, Light, Communication, Geology of the Boston Basin.
"Freshmen in the High and Vocational Schools had three classes in the use of the Library.
"Circulation statistics are:
September 1949 to April 1950 8,815
September 1948 to April 1949 8,209
This is a gain of 606 so far in 1950.
"The total number of books in the Library is 4,937. Last year, 133 books were added .
16. Evening Schools
"The usual interest in these classes was evidenced by the large num- ber of registrants. Total registration amounted to 425.
"The largest registration centered in the Clothing classes, where there were 109 registrants. Of this number, 47 were accommodated during the year. Another class heavily oversubscribed was the Tray Painting class. Of those registered, 37 were admitted for instruction during the year.
"Blueprint Reading, Bookkeeping, and Accounting are subjects which merit some consideration in planning future courses for the program. There has been a limited number of requests for these subjects in the past.
"Another class which seems to arouse the interest of the people in other schools is Art Metal (copper) work. At Brookline and at exhibitions there is great interest shown in this type of work.
"Provisions should be made for the purchase of two cutting machines to be used in the Rug Hooking classes. These are needed if the classes are continued."
The 1949 school report departed from the traditional type and through the medium of pictures, gave an overall view of a present-day school sys- tem at work. It is hoped that in two or three years, this type of report may again be presented to the citizens of the community. The report for 1950 coming at the mid-century point some five years after the end of World War II, and with a new war threatening on the horizon, offers an appro- priate opportunity to review and survey the additions and improvements to our schools in the postwar period.
REVIEW AND SUMMARY OF NEW OR IMPROVED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
1. An expanded guidance program in the high school with a director in charge, with one full-time assistant, and a part-time counselor; the extension of this service to all seventh and eighth grade pupils
2. An audio-visual aids program with a part-time supervisor in charge, servicing all schools from a central visual aids workshop in the high school
3. An expanded physical education program headed by a full-time director, with a supervisor for the elementary grades 1-6, two ad-
214
ditional instructors in the high school, and a unique body building or corrective program for high school boys that has won national recognition
4. A remedial reading program in the elementary grades with a full- time instructor located in each of the three largest elementary schools
5. A system of library instruction for all seventh and eighth grade pupils in cooperation with the public library.
6. A driver education program in the high school with classroom in- struction supplemented by "behind the wheel" instruction in a dual- control car
7. A carpentry course added to the Vocational School offerings with two instructors and a construction record since its inception in 1946 as follows: four houses built with a fifth to be started in the spring of 1951, a shop building for the carpentry classes, and a storage garage for maintenance trucks and equipment
8. An evening school program with courses offered in shorthand, type- writing, office machines, clothing, foods, woodworking, rug hooking, tray painting, and fabric painting
9. An additional elementary school nurse and an improved health pro- gram
10. The appointment of a new central office assistant in the position of Director of Construction, Maintenance, and Vocational Education
11. The adoption of a preparation-type single salary schedule for the instructional staff
12. A school building survey and long range plan of school plant develop- ment
REVIEW AND SUMMARY OF MAJOR PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS
High School Renovation and Modernization Program:
1. Third floor of original building with all science laboratories and class- rooms grouped together
2. Library re-located on second floor in center of high school plant
3. Foods laboratory
4. All first-floor rooms in original building, including guidance room opposite high school office, large study hall, and Junior Manual Arts classrooms
5. Fluorescent lighting in all specialized rooms, viz., typewriting, office machines, agriculture, mechanical drawing, art, library, science, and Junior Manual Arts
6. Interior painting in 85 per cent of the rooms
7. Brick settings and battery walls of boilers completely rebuilt with new fire brick
8. New transformer vault
Elementary School Improvements:
1. Athens School: new heating plant, new floors in corridors, stairhalls, and 2 classrooms
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2. Abigail Adams School: new asphalt tile floors in all of original building
3. Washington School: new stairs at either end of building enclosed in stair wells replacing hazardous old stairs in center of building, new floors in 6 classrooms
4. Old Pratt School: new floors in corridors, stairhalls and 2 classrooms
5. Nevin School gymnasium wing: exterior walls above bleacher pro- jections relaid with hard brick, parapet walls lowered and covered with copper
6. Legion Field: enlarged stand with locker rooms and public toilets underneath
7. Smoke doors installed in hallways at Bicknell, Athens, Humphrey, Hunt, Pratt, and Nevin Schools to conform to state safety regulations
8. A painting program in all schools carried on by a crew of three painters
9. A program of fluorescent light installations with classrooms most in need of improved lighting first on schedule: installations in 1950 - Bicknell School 3 classrooms, Adams School 2 classrooms, Jefferson School 5 classrooms, Hunt School 3 classrooms, Shaw School 5 class- rooms; planned for 1951 - Adams School 4 classrooms, Athens School 4 classrooms, Bicknell School 2 classrooms, Hunt School 8 classrooms, Pratt School 2 classrooms
10. 60 per cent of classroom shades replaced; dark shades for visual aids installed in a few rooms in all buildings and additional rooms planned in 1951
11. Hard surfacing for playgrounds, parking areas, and driveways at the High, Adams, Hunt, and Pratt Schools
12. New fencing installed at Libby Field, Adams, Humphrey, Center, Shaw, and Nevin Schools
13. All schools now provided with oil burners or stokers
14. New trucks and power lawn mowers purchased to improve efficiency of maintenance crew
REVIEW AND SUMMARY OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM
During the year 1947, Dr. William K. Wilson, of the New York State Department of Education, conducted a school building survey and outlined a long-range plan of school plant development for Weymouth which was printed in 1948 and submitted to town meeting members and citizens in general. It was a very comprehensive and farseeing report. brief analysis of the predictions and recommendations of the Wilson report is given below:
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