USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1953 > Part 24
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1963
498,192.
136,300.
361,892.
*The costs from 1955 on are based on a number of estimates, viz .: (1) a bond issue of approximately $500,000.00 each for the Academy Avenue School, the Ralph Talbot School, the Washington School replacement, the Shaw School replacement, and the Vocational School addition; (2) an interest rate of two per cent (the interest rate on the Central Junior High and Johnson addition bonds is two per cent); (3) a State reimbursement rate of 30 per cent. The extent that construction costs, interest rates or reimbursement rates vary from these assumptions will determine the accu- racy of these estimates.
The cost of financing the program would decrease each year after 1963, the net cost dropping below $300,000.00 in 1968, below $200,000.00 in 1972, with the final payment occurring in 1976.
The maximum impact on the tax rate of financing the $450,000.00 payments on the bonds in 1957 would be $4.50 if the assessed valuation of the Town reaches $100,000,000.00 by that year. If the assessed valuation is somewhat lower, the effect on the tax rate would be slightly more than $4.50.
If we could write "Finis" to the school building problem at this point, everyone would breathe a sigh of relief. But unfortunately, as pointed out in the brochure submitted to the Town Meeting in November, the story will not end in 1957.
Dr. Wilson in his original report estimated that a peak school enrol- ment of 9,000 pupils would be reached in 1960. The enrolment in September 1955 will be nearly 9,000. With the current primary grade enrolments of 1,000 or more pupils per grade, it is now obvious that the ultimate fore- seeable total enrolment will be over 11,000 pupils and it may well approach 12,000 pupils.
A first and tentative attempt has been made to estimate the amount and type of facilities that will be needed in 1957 and later years to ac-
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commodate this tremendous growth in school enrolments. Briefly, the need appears to be as follows: (1) Elementary, grades 1-6; the replacement of the Center portable school with a small neighborhood school; additions to then existing buildings to provide fifteen or more classrooms, probably six or more rooms in East Weymouth (two of which would permit the closing of the hundred-year-old John Adams building), three rooms at the Homestead School, and six rooms in South Weymouth; (2) Junior High, grades 7-9; a 200-plus pupil addition to the South Junior High and either a large addition to the Central Junior High or the erection of a fourth Junior High School in East Weymouth; (3) High School, grades 10-12; a sizable addition to the present building to provide additional academic and specialized classrooms and larger gymnasium facilities (or perhaps a separate gymnasium building).
Naturally, the ultimate decision as to future secondary school facilities will require long and careful consideration before any decisions are reached.
A report submitted to the Appropriation Committee estimates the probable cost of this second phase of our school building problem. It will probably necessitate the further expenditure of from $3,000,000. to $3,500,000. An estimate based on a cost of $3,200,000. would mean that the peak annual payments on the bonds and interest of the complete program from 1949 through 1962 would come in 1962 with a net annual cost to the Town of about $560,000.00
This full and complete picture is being outlined at this time because it is felt that everyone concerned in any way with the final decisions as to what should or should not be done is entitled to a preview of the im- mensity of the need that will continue to confront the Town until all our school children are properly housed in adequate school buildings.
Building Committees
In carrying out this building program, the School Committee in con- sultation with the Building Committees and the Appropriation Committee has been the overall planning group. But the actual construction of the buildings and additions has been under the direct supervision and man- agement of Building Committees appointed by the Moderator on author- ization of the Town Meeting. The Building Committee selects the archi- tect, plans the building, awards contracts, employs a Resident Engineer or Clerk of the Works, and has complete control of the construction work. At the request of the various Building Committees, Mr. Francis E. Whipple, the Director of Construction and Maintenance, employed by the School Committee, has worked with and assisted the several Committees.
To date there have been four Building Committees, with the fifth charged with the responsibility of the Ralph Talbot Street School about to be organized. The first Committee, which consisted of the six members of the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools, and four other members, built the Adams and Pratt additions and the South Junior High School. The Johnson School Committee and the so-called "General" Committee which built the Homestead School and four additions, had the Chairman of the School Committee as the one School Committee repre- sentative. Three members of the School Committee are on the eleven- member Committee for the construction of the Central Junior High School and the Academy Avenue School. Mr. Benjamin M. Cowan and the Super- intendent of Schools, and for a portion of the time Dr. Wallace H. Drake and Mr. William F. Shields, have been members of all four Committees.
The following is a roster of the civic-minded citizens who have served on these Committees since 1948: Benjamin M. Cowan, Dr. Wallace H.
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Drake, George E. Lane, Joseph W. Mahoney, Clayton W. Nash, Harold B. Nash, J. Edwin Peterson, Benjamin Santacroce, Dr. Haorld A. Spalding, William F. Shields, Mrs. Arthur R. Taylor, George H. Thompson, Albert Vinal, Jr., Dr. Clifford F. Danforth, John F. Boyle, Laughton B. Dasha, Charles C. Hearn, Gerald B. Procter, Graydon L. Abbott, Louis A. Dillon, Walter A. Feeley, Frederick J. O'Neal, Fred Valicenti, H. Glenn Allen, Sumner E. Britton, Frank M. Bryant, John Cipullo, Dr. Edward J. Howley, George R. McDonald, and C. Howard Odell.
These twenty-nine men and one woman have given unstintingly of their time and varied business experiences in serving the best interests of their Town. It is true that some have given much more time and effort than others, but attendance at meetings has been good and on the whole meetings have been conducted in a harmonious and co-operative spirit. As a result, sound decisions have been made and public confidence main- tained in the good judgment and integrity of the Committees charged with the responsibility of spending millions of dollars of public money. As Superintendent of Schools, I wish to express my appreciation for the public spirit and devotion to duty which have characterized their work.
1954 Budget
The estimates for the 1954 School Budget will be found on pages 276 and 277, following the report of the School Committee.
The increase in the budget over expenditures in 1953 amounts to $180,690.00, or 10 per cent. The increase in enrolment for 1954 will be approximately 8.5 per cent. Therefore, over $150,000.00 of the increase is necessitated and explained by the larger pupil enrolment housed in a greater number of school buildings. Of the balance, $26,233.00 is needed to pay increased salaries authorized by last year's salary schedule increase, effective September 1st and, therefore, paid in only four months of 1953. The difference of less than $4,000.00 represents additional or expanded services.
In analyzing the budget increase, it was found that $148,174.00 or 82 per cent of the increase is for instructional items in the regular day schools, the Vocational School and the evening schools, and that $32,516.00 or 18 per cent was for all non-instructional items such as administration, jani- tors' salaries, light and power, and the transportation of pupils.
A further analysis showed that $152,051.00 or 84 per cent of the increase was for salaries and that $28,639.00 or 16 per cent of the increase was for all other expense items.
The expenditures in 1953 for maintenance, including replacement of equipment, and for outlay, including new equipment, was 8.9 per cent of total expenditures. The provision for maintenance and capital outlay in the 1954 budget amounts to 7.9 per cent of the total budget. The School Committee is firmly convinced that a reasonable amcunt spent to keep buildings and equipment in good repair is economy in the long run. Like- wise, if the instructional program is to function properly, it is necessary that a certain amount of equipment be purchased each year.
Percentage increases in budgets in recent years have been as follows: 1954, 10 per cent; 1953, 17.8 per cent; 1952, 20 per cent; 1951, 15.4 per cent, 1950, 8.2 per cent.
The following statement was made in the Superintendent's report for 1947: "It should be emphasized that not only will the great growth in enrolments in the next ten or twelve years require added classrooms, but that it will also necessitate the staffing of each new classroom with a
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teacher. Each pupil added to the rolls will require more books and sup- plies. New buildings and additions will up the cost for principals, super- visors, janitor service, fuel, light and repairs. The sum total will mean bigger and bigger school budgets."
The inflation of prices for all commodities purchased by the schools and the increase in salaries for all school personnel, coupled with the great growth in enrolments as noted above, have borne out this prediction far beyond anyone's conception six years ago.
Conclusion
This has been a busy year, as everyone connected with the Weymouth schools knows only too well. We hope progress has been made in the improvement of the program of our schools with the willing help of teach- ers, principals, supervisors, and directors. Our schools are staffed by capable, conscientious teachers who deserve all the credit due them in their all-important job of molding the minds and characters of the citizens of tomorrow.
Our guiding philosophy in the adoption of policy and in the making of decisions in regard to the many problems pressing for solution has always been: "To conserve the best that the past has contributed and to adopt and put into practice the best in new ideas and methods."
To the office staff, I wish to express my thanks for their hard work and whole-hearted cooperation throughout the year. To the School Committee I extend appreciation for friendly counsel and support and full recognition for the countless hours they selflessly give to the many problems con- fronting our schools in this critical period.
Respectfully submitted, ELMER STEPHENS MAPES Superintendent of Schools
SUPERVISION AND CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION REPORT OF FLORA H. MCGRATH Director of Instruction
Although the public schools have many facets all contributing directly or indirectly to the growth and development of children, that area which takes precedence over all is the teaching-learning situation, which is directly concerned with the mental, physical, spiritual, and social growth of the child. We have travelled a long way from that totally traditional school in which only academic achievement was the criterion. We recog- nize more than ever that every teacher must be cognizant of the mental and emotional differences which will ultimately be the principal determin- ing factors in the life pattern of the individual.
TESTING PROGRAM
A testing program is one means of gaining a better understanding of children, of evaluating teaching, and of stimulating and measuring growth, but it is by no means to be accepted or considered as the alpha and omega of classroom procedure .. There are many important intangibles which cannot be measured. A testing program does, however, hold an important place in the study and teaching of children.
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ARITHMETIC
At the meetings which follow all general survey testing in any subject, the results are studied and suggestions made for change or improvement where necessary. Comparisons of test results in the past are made with those of the present in order to determine the general trend of instruction.
Between January 1953 and January 1954, approximately 6,000 pupils were tested in arithmetic and all results tabulated and studied.
In Grades VII and VIII, all pupils were tested twice during September and October, with the result that the teachers had an excellent estimate of the approximate level of their classes as compared with those pupils throughout the town.
ENGLISH
This year, because of the greatly increased school population, it was not possible to carry on the regular English survey except in Grades VII and VIII. With the continued increase in the number of classes, it may become necessary to alternate arithmetic and English testing annually.
During February and March 1953, approximately 1,000 pupils in Grades VII and VIII were given English tests. The results of these tests were highly satisfactory.
SPELLING
Spelling tests are conducted throughout the Town in all grades from I through VIII approximately twice a year.
READING
In April, the Stanford Reading Achievement Test was used in Grade III to enable the teacher and supervisor to evaluate teaching procedures, help to locate reading difficulties, and provide remedial teaching wherever necessary.
In May, the Metropolitan Reading Achievement Tests were used with more than 550 sixth grade pupils. As a result of this testing, a study is being made of the feasibility of classifying pupils in Grade VII according to their reading ability as indicated in their sixth grade test.
The reading survey begun in December in Grade II with the Metro- politan Reading Achievement Test will not be completed until January 1954.
The statistical compilation of the results of the reading surveys in Grades III and VI indicate that over 48 per cent of the pupils in Grade III are reading on fourth, fifth, and sixth grade levels. The sixth grade survey found 69 per cent of the pupils in one class of 39 reading above a seventh grade level. The uncompleted Grade II survey indicates that more than 90 per cent of the pupils tested are reading above their expected level.
REMEDIAL READING
In Grades I through VI, there are at present 4,779 pupils. Of this number, about 250 pupils find it extremely difficult to learn to read. When classes are large, it is almost impossible for a teacher to give to the slow learner the time that he should have without neglecting those who must learn at a more accelerated pace. Therefore, five remedial teachers work- ing in seven schools are helping these pupils who have reading difficulties and might otherwise be retarded.
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The work of these helping teachers who are able to take children individually or in small groups is invaluable.
MENTAL ABILITY TESTS
In Grades I, III, and V, and to all new pupils, mental ability group tests have been administered and I. Q.'s recorded on permanent data cards.
INDIVIDUAL BINET TESTS
All pupils in the Junior Manual Arts classes, and all children in the regular grades who have great difficulty in meeting the requirements of their age level, are given a Binet Intelligence Test.
These tests are now given by Miss Gallant, Assistant Director of Instruction.
HOME VISITS
Wherever unusual problems related to learning ability arise, if the parents request, I make a special home visit or personal contact with the parents in order to discuss the problem.
UNITS OF WORK AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
As a result of the social studies curriculum program carried on during the period between October 1952 and May 1953, 27 completed units are now either being used by the teachers or are in the process of being compiled and edited. Several of the junior high school English teachers are corre- lating social studies and English, thus broadening and deepening the pupil's understanding of the story of America.
EDUCATION WEEK ACTIVITIES
The culminations of outstanding units of work were presented to parents and friends during November, when hundreds visited the schools in ob- servance of Education Week.
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Material is being collected for the building of a course of study in arithmetic. Although a small brochure containing minimum and maxi- mum essentials has been in use for some time, there is now a request from the teachers to have our own course of study in arithmetic. It is planned to hold the first meeting on this purpose in January 1954.
GENERAL SUPERVISION
To supervise and evaluate instruction with new and inexperienced teachers means to give every possible assistance in classroom procedure. Throughout the Town, the excellent appearance of the classrooms, the attention to necessary visual aids which are always helpful in the learning situation, the development of instructive units, and the attention to detail have much to do with successful teaching. These requirements do not "just happen," but are the result of careful planning on the part of teachers and supervisors.
This year, Miss Dorothy Gallant, Assistant Director of Instruction, who is at present working in the first three grades, has made a great contri-
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bution to the work of supervision. Previously, it has not been possible to give to the new teachers the service which they are now receiving because time would not permit. Now, Miss Gallant is able to provide a wide variety of materials for the new teachers and, through her observations of master teachers throughout the system, has been able to disseminate many of their excellent ideas and procedures. These are the services which make for efficiency and adherence to high standards.
IN CONCLUSION
To Mr. Mapes, Superintendent of Schools, to the principals, to the members of the School Committee, and especially to the teachers, I wish to express my continued appreciation for the assistance which has been given me.
HIGH SCHOOL
Report of Wallace L. Whittle, Principal
Last year, this report mentioned the excellent relationships between our pupils and both business and colleges. As further evidence of this, it might be enlightening to know also the aid received by our graduates in the form of scholarships. Last year's graduates received $2,750.00 from local organizations. This amount of money is extremely generous, and indicative of the attitude of the residents of Weymouth toward the edu- cation of their children. In addition to these awards, seniors received from other sources $5,430.00 for the year 1953-1954. This amount, if merited, will be continued each year for four years, so that the actual scholarships, other than local, amount to $21,720.00. This figure is not unusual, and seems to indicate the high regard in which our graduates are held.
The total number of pupils utilizing the high school plant, including the vocational school, was 1,812 on October 1, 1953. Of this group, 1,674 were housed in the main high school building. This figure is broken down as follows:
High School pupils 1,207
Vocational School pupils
84
Seventh Grade 153
Eighth Grade 181
(93 in a.m. session; 88 in p.m. session)
Junior Manual Arts 49
Total number of pupils at one time 1,586
As the building is rated as a 1,600-pupil building, it is easily seen that we are operating at near capacity.
In the elementary schools, where pupils are assigned to the same room and teacher for the day, each seat in the school may be assigned without causing any particular hardship. However, in the high school, where the pupils have a wide choice of subjects from which to make a selection, one hundred per cent utilization of capacity becomes nearly impossible. Pupils must move from room to room and classes must necessarily be of varying sizes, so that all seats in all rooms cannot be used efficiently. This means that while there may be extra seats in some classes, a similar number of classes must necessarily be large.
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For the above reasons, the flexibility of our program has been greatly reduced, and we have been unable to give many pupils the complete pro- gram which they desired. In many cases, classrooms have been filled to capacity, so that both new and regular students have found it necessary to select other subjects than those in which they were primarily interested. Also, the large classes in many cases prevent the teachers from giving to the pupils the individual attention so important to learning.
Because the Junior Annex uses the auditorium one day a week for music and two groups of ninth grade pupils are sent to the Bicknell School for shop work, any variation in our program becomes impossible without disrupting the programs of both these schools and the music supervisor. This situation, of course, further reduces the flexibility of the program at the high school, and cannot be remedied until all classes are confined to one building.
I wish to thank both pupils and teachers for their understanding and cooperation during this difficult period of readjustment.
With the completion of the Central Junior High School and the accom- panying elimination of the ninth grade from the high school, it is hoped that a good deal of time and thought will be used to correlate and inte- grate all work so that all pupils coming into the tenth grade of the high school may start on an equal basis. Such correlation will be more import- ant than ever when the high school will have only three instead of four years in which to complete the secondary education of its pupils.
The awards given in June were as follows:
Weymouth Teachers' Association-Jane Forbush, Julia Forcier, Janice Whitehouse.
Parker T. Pearson Memorial Scholarship-Beatrice Noyes.
Weymouth High School Alumni Association-James Atwood, Marcia Davidson, Sheila O'Connell, Meredith Wardwell.
Alice W. Dwyer-Janice Mclaughlin.
Frederick W. Hilton Award-Anna Comeau.
Monday Club of Weymouth-Janet Bergfors.
Old Colony Club-Marcia Hannafin.
Catholic Club-Marjorie Crimmins.
Sons and Daughters of Italy-Barbara Durkee.
Kiwanis Club-Doris Wirtz, William Pepe.
Pratt School-E. Stewart Ferguson.
Charles Y. Berry Memorial-Priscilla Hollander.
Police Association-Robert Fulton.
Fraternal Order of Eagles, No. 2899-Audrey Thayer.
Brainwey Players-Janice Whitehouse.
The Daughters of American Revolution Good Citizenship Award was made to Janet Coveney.
Past Commanders' Memorial, American Legion-Janice Whitehouse. Rotary Club-H. Glenn Allen, Jr.
Meritorious Progress Award-Frances Grasso.
Weymouth Grange No. 387-David Leitch.
Art Scholarship-Rose Marie Nicholson.
Briarwood Community Association-Mildred Matson.
Weymouth High School Music Parent Group-Russell Jack, Jr., Edwin Thayer.
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WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of Ray G. Parker, Director
The enrolment of our school on September 9, 1953, was 209. The num- ber had increased by October 1 to 222. This was 27 pupils less than at the same time last year. This results from the change in our program after the adoption of the 6-3-3 system.
The maximum capacity of the Vocational School with the present facili- ties is 260. There are 90 ninth grade boys who are planning to enter the Vocational School in September, 1954. This will undoubtedly mean that we will have little or no room for non-resident applicants.
The student body has shown a decided improvement this year. This is probably true because our school now consists of the upper three years of high school rather than the lower three years, and are therefore more mature.
There were 39 new sophomores and 2 new juniors admitted to take the place of those who did not return in September. There were 9 admitted to carpentry, 12 to auto repair, 5 to sheet metal, and 13 to printing.
The increase in the total enrolment of the town indicates that there will be approximately 400 pupils who will want trade training by 1957. As this is an increase of 54 per cent more than the present pupil capacity, it will be necessary to provide more shop and classroom space. At the present time, the enrolment figures indicate, even with a normal drop-out, that we will be unable to take care of all applications for admission.
The State Department of Education has suggested that courses in Electricity and Plumbing would be desirable to balance our course offering.
The training in the five departments has been very satisfactory during the past year, and we have been proud of the work done by the boys under competent instructors.
The carpentry department, under the supervision of Mr. Henley and Mr. Carlson, has completed some very worthwhile projects. Mr. Henley has charge of the sophomores in the shop where the fundamentals of the trade are taught. This group has nearly completed the board track at Libby Field, which consists of the oval and straight-away. This project is well done and is a credit to the school. There have been many small projects completed in the shop.
There have been seven houses built since 1947, and the eighth is under construction. In June 1953, the boys, under the supervision of Mr. Carlson, completed a house for Fulvio Pellegrini of. Idlewell. This house has four rooms and bath on the first floor and two unfinished rooms on the second. In September 1953, a new house was started for Thomas Lynch on Fallgren Lane, and will be completed in June, 1954. This house has four rooms and bath on the first floor and two rooms and bath on the second, plus a breezeway and a garage.
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