USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1951 > Part 17
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"This year, the work of the Industrial Arts group was aided by the acquisition of a metal cabinet for storage of paints and inflammable ma- terials. Furthermore, the use of dead space in the tunnel and the addition of a lumber rack in the tunnel aided this department immeasurably."
REPORTING TO THE PEOPLE:
It is generally acknowledged that more effective ways of informing parents and citizens in general about the doings of the schools is essential to a better understanding of the aims and purposes of public education and of the program of the schools in our rapidly changing world. Tradi- tional reports such as this, which are required by state law, furnish one medium of telling the people about the activities and needs of the schools, but one wonders what percentage of the people take the time and effort to read them. A much more effective medium is the pictorial report similar to the Weymouth report of 1949, which we hope to repeat in a year or two. Another method is the short newsletter type of reporting now used by a number of schools in the Metropolitan area.
We plan to start a newsletter this spring and to issue it perhaps three times a year hereafter. The editorial board will be headed by F. Randall Powers as editor, assisted by Walter C. Gutterson, Jeannette F. Hawes, Joseph E. Killory, Flora H. McGrath, Rita M. Murphy, and Francis E. Whipple.
INCREASE IN ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY STAFF:
As pointed out in the 1950 Annual Report, the inevitable increase in the number of administrative and supervisory positions, together with a larger secretarial force made necessary by the rapid growth of our school enrolment, will soon result in an acute shortage of office space. The im-
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mediate problem described in last year's report was solved by partitioning off one end of the large Agricultural classroom across the corridor from the Superintendent's Office to make an office for the Director of Instruction and the Assistant Director, a new position to be added to the staff in September. This change made room for desk space in the central office for the Director of Construction, Maintenance, and Vocational Education, and an additional Assistant Secretary was crowded into the outer office.
The new separate office has added sufficient space for a short period. but as our enrolment continues to increase, it will be essential to add fur- ther staff personnel and more secretarial help. In fact, during rush periods this fall, another secretary was needed to reduce the long hours of over- time put in by the present force. Additional administrative, supervisory, and clerical help will be needed in future years to properly staff a fast- growing school system, and the ultimate solution, as pointed out last year, appears to be the erection of a separate administrative building on the high school campus.
The organization chart on the opposite page shows in graphic form the administrative and supervisory set-up for the current school year.
1952 BUDGET:
The estimates for the 1952 School Budget will be found on pages 166 and 167, following the report of the School Committee. The increase in the budget over expenditures in 1951 is 20%, due to the causes listed below:
1. Increases in the accounts for salaries due to the following factors:
a. Financing the revised salary schedule and other increases January 1, 1952
$ 89,088.00
b. Providing funds for additional em- ployees; viz., 25 teachers added in September, 1951, 2 secretaries and 7 janitors added during 1951, and 22 new instructional positions needed in September, 1952, a half-time school nurse, and a second school carpenter
c. The normal operation of the salary schedule; viz., annual step-up in- creases, master's degrees, etc.
75,238.00
20,583.00
$184,909.00
2. New services or programs: employment of a building consultant, stringed in- strument program, purchase of athletic equipment for South Junior High, and opening of new evening school program in South Junior High School
3. Reduction of distance from 2 miles to 11/2 miles, school to home, beyond which pupils have free transportation, plus in- crease in number of pupils transported due to growth in enrolments
$ 6,327.00
13,965.00
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ORGANIZATION CHART, WEYMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Weymouth, Massachusetts
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
SUPERVISOR of Audio- Visual Aids
Head
Head
DIRECTOR of Physical Education
HEALTH School Physicians Head Nurse
of Art
of Music
DIRECTOR of Instruction: Elementary Junior High for Curriculum Supervision Testing
of
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT & Secretary to Superintendent
of
Attendance
Secretarial Staff
PRINCIPAL of Adams School
PRINCIPAL of Bicknell School
PRINCIPAL of Hunt School
PRINCIPAL of Junior High School
PRINCIPAL of ¡High School
PRINCIPAL of Nevin School
TEACHING PRINCIPALS Nine Elementary Schools
PRINCIPAL of Evening Schools
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL & PRINCIPAL of Junior Annex
PRINCIPAL of Vocational School
FACULTY MANAGER of Athletics
Seven HEADS of DEPARTMENTS
MANAGER of Cafeteria
September 1951
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DIRECTOR of Construction Maintenance & Vocational Education L PRINCIPAL of Vocational School & Supervisor of Maintenance & Janitors
DIRECTOR
SUPERVISOR
SUPERVISOR
SUPERVISOR
Guidance
4. Additional allowances for nearly all commodities used by the schools, such as textbooks, classroom supplies, janitors' supplies, fuel, light, water, etc., for two reasons :
a. Increased enrolments and the open- ing of two new school buildings
b. Increased prices, except for light and water
20,898.00
5. Increase in maintenance and capital outlay allowance (excluding salaries) to keep buildings in good repair and to continue modernization program, such as installation of fluorescent lights in poorly lighted classrooms 28,790.00
6. Increased allowance for tuition: day vo- cational schools, sight-saving classes, and vocational courses for adults 1,680.00
71,660.00
$256,569.00
TEACHERS' SALARY SCHEDULE:
The new teachers' salary schedule, which became effective on April 1, 1947, marked a decided step forward for the Weymouth schools. The pre- vious schedule, which was adopted in 1928, was of the position type, with a different maximum salary for elementary and secondary teachers and with a maximum salary for men $500.00 above that paid women teachers. The present schedule is a so called "preparation" type (the approval of the Equal Pay law by the voters in March, 1947, also made it a so-called "single" salary schedule), with the same salaries paid elementary and secondary teachers based on three levels of preparation; viz., 4 years of preparation, 5 years or master's degree, and 6 years or 30 hours beyond the master's degree.
This schedule has now been revised four times: on April 1, 1949, April 1, 1950, January 1, 1951, and January 1, 1952. Each revision raised minimum and maximum salaries and adjusted or changed the regulations by which it is administered. Previous revisions had continued the annual $100.00 increments dating back to the first World War. The new revision incor- porated for the first time six $150.00 increments and shortens the period of time needed to reach the maximum from 15 years to 12 years. The new basic salary schedule, omitting the eighteen regulations pertaining to it, will be found on page 201.
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. A brief analysis of the predictions and recommendations of the Wilson report is given below:
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1. Dr. Wilson recommended the adoption of the 6-3-3 form of organ- ization; viz., elementary schools housing grades 1-6, junior high schools for grades 7-9, and a senior high school for grades 10-12.
2. He predicted an increase in enrolment by 1960 nearly doubling the number enrolled in 1947, as follows: grades 1-6 from a 1947 enrolment of 2,576 to a peak of 4,975 in 1957; grades 7-9 from 1,155 in 1947 to 2,700 in 1961; grades 10-12 from 1,036 pupils in 1947 to a top enrolment of 2,300 in 1964.
3. The report recommended the following building program:
a. Elementary Schools - new additions: Adams School 6 rooms, Humphrey School 4 rooms, Nevin School 4 rooms, Pond School 4 rooms, and Pratt School 8 rooms; two new schools-an 18-room building about halfway between the Hunt and Nevin Schools, and a 15-room building located as needed, or the equivalent space in two small neighborhood schools, or the equivalent space in additions to existing buildings in the areas of greatest growth.
b. Junior High Schools -three new schools, with the following capacities and in the following order: a South, 600 pupils; a North, 600 pupils; a Central, 800 pupils.
c. Senior High School - retention of the present high school plant, modernized, especially for specialized rooms and the vocational facilities -Dr. Wilson pointed out that the high school enrol- ment would exceed the capacity of the buildings for a number of years, resulting in double sessions.
At the Annual Town Meeting in March of 1949, the School Committee recommended a building program through 1953 based on the Wilson Report, but with some modifications designed to reduce its extent and cost. The principal changes were: (1) to base the program on an average size ele- mentary class of about 31 rather than 27; (2) to utilize from 12 to 15 sub-standard classrooms each year, such as those in basements, the old John Adams School, the Center School, the divided assembly hall at the Athens School, and the Bicknell auditorium; and (3) to convert the Bick- nell School to a North Junior High School and to build a new 12-room elementary school in North Weymouth rather than a new Junior High School.
The construction to date under this program has been as follows: (1) a 6-room addition to the Abigail Adams School and a 4-room addition to the Pratt School, which were completed and occupied in February, 1950; (2) the South Junior High School, with a capacity of slightly more than 600 pupils, was occupied on September 7, 1951, although considerable work remained unfinished at that time in the auditorium-gymnasium wing; (3) the new Elden H. Johnson School on Pearl Street in North Weymouth, a 12-room elementary building, was occupied on November 29, 1951.
The third or "General" Building Committee, which was authorized at a Special Town Meeting in November, 1950, to plan and build a new school in the Homestead section, and additions to the Humphrey, Nevin, and Bicknell Schools, organized on January 5, 1951. Architects were selected and plans and specifications were prepared for a 9-room Homestead school and a 6-room addition to the Humphrey School. A Special Town Meeting held on October 1, 1951, voted funds for the erection of the Homestead School, construction of which was begun on October 22, 1951. The same meeting deferred action on the Humphrey School addition, and referred it back to the Building Committee for further study. New bids will be secured in February and an appropriation requested at the Annual Town Meeting in March.
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The Building Committee has employed architects for the Nevin and Bicknell additions, and they have submitted preliminary sketches for the Committee's consideration.
In the meantime, the School Committee decided to re-employ Dr. Wil- liam K. Wilson to review and revise his 1947 survey because of the large number of new houses built in Weymouth during 1950 and 1951. Statistics gathered for Dr. Wilson's new study show that permits were issued for 2,175 dwelling units from October, 1947, through November, 1951; 858 of these permits were issued in 1950. The 1947 study tabulated 1,410 permits in the ten-year period from January, 1938, through September, 1947. On January 1, 1938, there were 6,446 homes assessed in Weymouth; the increase of 3,585 dwelling units in the last fourteen years is a percentage increase of 55.
Dr. Wilson, in his new study, will revise his predictions of future enrol- ments and recommend to the School Committee the additional construc- tion which he finds necessary. Although the addition to the Nevin School will be needed in September, 1952, and the addition to the Bicknell School in September, 1953, the Building Committee, with the School Committee concurring, have delayed final decisions on the size, location, and nature of these additions until Dr. Wilson has had time to review the plans.
The building program to date has not kept pace with the growth in enrolment. Last fall it was necessary to have double sessions at the Bick- nell School for three months until the Elden H. Johnson School was opened. This fall we will be forced to have double sessions at the Hunt School until the new Homestead School is completed, and at the Nevin School until the addition to this building is erected. Double sessions in East Weymouth can probably be avoided by transporting two classes to the Athens School in North Weymouth.
With the work of the Building Committee which planned and super- vised the erection of the Adams and Pratt additions and the South Junior High School, and the Committee responsible for the Elden H. Johnson School on Pearl Street, nearing completion, this seems an appropriate time to commend the work of those men and the one woman who have devoted so much time and effort to the successful prosecution of these major con- struction jobs. They have worked hard and diligently, attendance at meetings has been good, and on the whole meetings have been conducted in a harmonious and co-operative spirit. In such an atmosphere, sound decisions are made and public confidence is maintained in the good judg- ment and integrity of the citizens responsible for carrying out the extensive school building program which faces the Town. As Superintendent of Schools, I wish to express my thanks for the public spirit and devotion to duty which have characterized their work. And I should like to add the observation that one of the advantages of the Town form of government is the fact that civic-minded taxpayers are willing to serve on such com- mittees without pay and that this widespread participation of able men and women in public affairs gives the Town the benefit of their varied experience at no cost.
CONCLUSION :
The rapidly expanding school enrolment, with all the problems of new construction and the necessary adjustments of personnel and program to new conditions, has resulted in many problems. The full co-operation of all teachers and staff members has made the planning and carrying out of the adjustments proceed with smoothness and dispatch, and at this time I should like to express my appreciation and thanks for this co-oper- ative spirit. The morale of teachers and other employees appears to be
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at a high level, and I strongly recommend that every effort be made in future years to maintain good working conditions and adequate salaries in order that the fine spirit and the willingness of teachers to do more than the letter of the law required may be continued.
To the office staff should go extra commendation and praise for an excellent job done and for long hours of overtime work. To the School Committee for its friendly counsel and support and for its conscientious devotion to its civic responsibilities, I extend my full appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, ELMER STEPHENS MAPES,
Superintendent of Schools.
SUPERVISION AND CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION Report of Flora Haviland McGrath Director of Instruction
Because education will always reflect the social and economic changes taking place about us, there will always be the necessity for making cur- riculum revisions and modifying classroom procedures to meet challenging changes.
TESTING PROGRAM
This year, three types of tests were given - mental ability, standardized achievement, and composite teacher-made tests based on our current curriculum.
Mental Ability Tests
Pintner-Cunningham (Primary)
Grade I 708 tests
Pintner-Durost (Elementary)
Grade III 712 tests
Pintner-Durost (Intermediate)
Grade V 715 tests
In addition to the above, all pupils transferred from other towns and cities were given tests. Those pupils who indicated serious retardation, or whose grade placement was doubtful, were given the Stanford-Binet test individually.
Achievement Tests
Stanford Achievement-Partial Battery Grade VI 465 tests
Stanford Achievement-Advanced Battery Grade VII 440 tests
READING SURVEY
During March and April, a reading survey was conducted in grades I and II in which approximately 1,400 pupils participated. A record was made of the number of pupils in each reading division, the number of errors made, the number of books read, their general ability in attacking new words, and their comprehension of the material used. The results of this survey were highly satisfactory. There were many classes where superior work was being done, but one in particular might be mentioned - a class of 43 grade II pupils, where all read with unusual accuracy and excellent comprehension, with only two errors made during the entire test.
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In November, 1951, a reading survey with the Stanford Achievement test was conducted in grade VI so that when these pupils enter the junior high school level they may be classified according to reading ability if this plan, now being considered, is followed next year.
ARITHMETIC TESTING
In January and again in February, a composite teacher-made test was given in grade V and all results recorded. The results of the January testing indicated a need for a change of method and emphasis in some areas. The results of the late February testing following these changes indicated a pronounced rise in median scores over the January testing.
ENGLISH TESTING
English tests were given to all pupils in grades VI and VII during the month of January, 1951 (approximately 900 tests). In grade VI, of 15 classes tested, 10 classes had a median score above 80, which was higher than anticipated on this level with a test which included recognition of parts of speech, correction of common errors, punctuation, and the writing of short compositions.
UNITS OF WORK AND RELATED PUPIL ACTIVITIES
Accepting as a challenge the statement made by one of America's outstanding educators: "The free nations are losing the peace primarily because of strategic weaknesses in the area of education and community life where we are failing to teach the meaning of democracy," the Abigail Adams, Hunt, and Bicknell Schools in particular worked out in their classes completely integrated units planned to give to pupils a deeper appreciation of the American way of life locally and nationally.
The plan began in the Adams School with pupils interviewing town officials, studying Weymouth history, local government, and presenting at the culmination of this study a program called "Roots of Democracy." This was followed by a unit on the Constitution at the Hunt School, which was worked out in the English, art, and history classes, culminating in the presentation for the Hunt School P. T. A. of the results of this study in which 80 pupils of grade VII participated. Carrying out this plan for Education Week in November, the Bicknell School developed an extensive unit on the history of education in Weymouth. In this unit, in which 114 pupils of grade VIII gathered all available information on schools in Wey- mouth from the ruling of the General Court of Massachusetts relative to public schools in 1847 to the occupancy of the new South Junior High School, the public witnessed the results of an integrated English, art, and history program. "The Weymouth Story," a pageant presented by pupils of grades VII, VIII, and IX of the South Junior High School, was another highlight in ways of presenting for the pupils and the general public concepts in the way of democracy.
This year, the topic "Good Sportsmanship" was chosen for the essay contest for grade VIII pupils, conducted as part of the Youth Service of Rotary International. The winners of the contest received substantial awards from the Weymouth Rotary Club.
REVISION OF COURSES OF STUDY
All English courses of study from grades IV through VIII have been revised and re-written according to the teacher committee suggestions. The completion of this work has been made possible through the assistance of the new part-time secretary.
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GENERAL SUPERVISION
The usual program of general classroom observation has been con- ducted for the purpose of distributing throughout the system those methods and ways which seem of value in promoting good work among pupils, as well as for the purpose of giving assistance to new teachers.
IN CONCLUSION
To be an active participant with teachers in attempting to plan the type of program which will make the greatest contribution to the intel- lectual and spiritual growth of the child and to watch the achievement of this growth through planned activities are rewarding experiences for all of us who work with children. For this privilege I am again thankful and appreciative.
To Mr. Mapes, Superintendent of Schools, to the principals, to the teachers, and to the members of the School Committee, I wish to extend my continued thanks for their co-operation.
1
HIGH SCHOOL
Report of Wallace L. Whittle, Principal
During the present year, there has been a change in the plan of organization of the ninth grade in the Weymouth schools; hence, it is found necessary to revise that program of studies to some degree. This grade is now being taught in different buildings; viz., the Weymouth High, and the South Junior High, instead of being centered in one building as previously. In September, 1952, there will be but one program for this grade, with electives. The course of study for the other three years will remain approximately the same. Effort is being made to insure consistency of preparation for all students.
To meet the national emergency, teachers of physical education have carried on classes in Red Cross First Aid for all pupils from September to December in place of the regular program.
Each year modernization of the high school continues, particularly in improved lighting of rooms, installing of necessary panel switches, and the replacing of worn equipment. Both the Art and Music Departments are in need of better accommodations.
The program of studies, instead of becoming more flexible as has been the aim, is becoming increasingly inflexible because of larger classes. The pupil-teacher load is heavy; the number of rooms available for high school use is constantly decreasing. Every room in the building is utilized during most periods of the week, thereby making additional classes or variation of programs impossible.
Then, there is the problem of transportation. Now there are 914 stu- dents receiving free transportation on thirteen buses which make twenty- two trips each morning and twenty-seven trips each afternoon. Many have to come on the so-called "early" bus that arrives at the high school before 8:00 a.m., while some have to wait twenty or thirty minutes for transportation at the close of school. The result is that there are approxi- mately 350 pupils around the building at times without the proper super-
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vision. We have tried many ways to handle the situation. The teachers have co-operated, but it is impossible to attend to more than one duty at a time.
Although conditions are becoming more and more difficult, the teaching staff and pupils have been most co-operative, and our efficiency, which is high, has suffered little. I wish to thank both groups for their help and co-operation. It has been sincerely appreciated.
The awards given in June were as follows:
Weymouth Teachers' Association - Norman Fulton.
Parker T. Pearson Memorial Scholarship - Norma Trufant.
Weymouth High School Alumni Association - Bruce Burgess, Donald Perkins, Etta Peterson.
Alice W. Dwyer - Barbara Fanning.
Frederick W. Hilton Award - Karl Anderson.
Monday Club of Weymouth - Sally Ann Parker.
Annie I. Scollard Scholarship (Women's Catholic Club of Wey- mouth)- Katherine Whittle.
Daughters of Isabella - Sheila Hagerty. Sons and Daughters of Italy - James Cook.
Kiwanis Club - Norma Trufant, Frederick J. Spencer.
Pratt School P.T.A .- Beverly Doble.
Charles Y. Berry Scholarship - Robert Savola.
Weymouth Post, No. 79, American Legion - Faye Pappageorge.
Brainwey Players - Robert McGrath.
The Meritorious Progress Award given by the Class of 1921 was made to Marilynn McCarthy.
The Washington and Franklin Medal for Proficiency in American History was given to Norman Fulton.
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award was made to Dorothy Ash.
The Weymouth Rotary Club Good Citizenship Award was made to James Kane, Jr.
WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of Ray G. Parker, Principal
The total enrolment of this school on December 1, 1951, was 240. This is the largest number of pupils that we have ever had. The addition of a new instructor in the Auto Repair Department to teach the Related Work has made it necessary to have an additional room in the high school, making a total of four. The new room also provides additional homeroom space to care for the greater number of pupils. The increase over last year is about 11 per cent, and we are filled to capacity.
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