USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1958 > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
Conclusion
The Weymouth Schools have completed another year of service to the youth of the community. We hope that some progress and improve- ment have been made in these services. To the teaching and supervisory staff who are responsible for the everyday work in the classroom goes my appreciation for the hard work and conscientious devotion to duty, with- cut which progress in our schools would be impossible.
To the School Committee go my thanks for friendly support and coun- sel in the solution of the many problems which face all school systems to- day. And finally, to my office staff I express my deepest appreciation for long hours of faithful and efficient service.
Respectfully submitted, ELMER STEPHENS MAPES Superintendent of Schools
370
SUPERVISION TESTING AND CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION REPORT OF FLORA H. MCGRATH Director of Instruction
Coordinating the curriculum for many schools in order to achieve maximum results requires a constant interchange of ideas and methods. This exchange of ideas and pooling of experiences then require a screen- ing so that those considered most effective may be used. In the light of growth and change, the evaluation of these ideas and methods and the consideration of them as part of the curriculum program constitute a con- tinuous process.
TESTING PROGRAM
For the third time in a number of years, Weymouth Public School pupils have had the opportunity of participating in the standardization of national norms for achievement in subject matter. Although we shall not be able to report until 1959 the results of our recent participation in the standardization of the new Metropolitan Achievement Tests, we await the results with anticipation.
Mental Ability Tests
As a vital part of our understanding of the needs of pupils, a cumu- lative record is kept of the mental ability and achievement of each pupil. This year, all pupils in grades I, IV, V, and VI were given mental ability tests and all results recorded. The extra mental ability testing this year was made necessary because of our participation on the standardization of the new Metropolitan Achievement Test. Next year, therefore, it will not be necessary to give the mental ability tests in grade VI.
When there is an indication that the results of the group mental ability testing may be questionable or in unusual cases, the Stanford- Binet or a form of the Wechsler-Bellevue test is given by the Adjustment Counselor.
Achievement Testing
Primary Grades
Test
Grade
No. pupils tested 899
March
Arithmetic
II
May
Spelling
I, II, III
2,759
October
Primary Battery K
III
967
Stanford Achievement
Elementary Grades
March
English composition
V
903
spelling, grammar
May
English composition
VI
904
October
Metropolitan Achievement
IV, V, VI
3,000
Junior High School
May
English
VII
677
September
Spelling
VII
928
spelling, grammar
Complete battery
All results of the above tests were analyzed, graphed, and recorded. Wherever an area of weakness appeared, steps were taken to help or cor-
371
rect the situation. In general these achievement tests indicated that ef- fective learning situations are being provided for these children in each classroom. While the work of analyzing and graphing these tests is time- consuming, it is felt that the results are invaluable in indicating achieve- ment trends.
COURSES OF STUDY
January completed revision and editing of Phonics Grades I through VI June completed revision and editing of Grade III Manual
July Science Units publication completed, Grade III (Teacher Com- mittee)
August Character Education Unit publication, Grade III (Teacher Committee)
The work of eight remedial reading teachers now being conducted in twelve schools is of invaluable help to those pupils who would otherwise have to repeat one or more grades.
An analysis of some of the causes of reading failures indicates that the highest number of failures are among boys whose lack of mental ma- turity in grade I proved a serious handicap. Among the causes of failure in the group now being taught are:
Mental immaturity in Grade I 125
Excessive absence in grade I
63
Transferred from other towns
48
Physical 48
(visual, auditory, and poor health) Many school changes 16
(one pupil had been in 13 schools in 5 years)
Questionable home conditions 49
Miscellaneous reasons, such as emotional
disturbance, discouragement because of repetition of grades, and extremely slow learning rate 115
Total as of December 10, 1958 464
Of the total number, 134 of these pupils have found it neces- sary to repeat one or more grades.
Several of the teachers were able to discharge about 30 per cent of the pupils in June because of improvement which brought pupils up to their grade level. Some of these pupils had been in the class for several years as the records indicate that the range of retardation in reading in these groups is from seven months to four years.
SPEECH CORRECTION
It is a pleasure to be able to report this year on the services of a speech therapist. One of the areas which causes personality maladjustment and in some cases academic retardation is the speech handicap. During Sep- tember the new speech therapist, Mrs. Barbara L. Carmel, gave speech screening tests to 203 children in all the Weymouth elementary schools. These children were referred to the therapist by the principals and teach- ers of the schools.
In selecting the pupils for speech work the type and severity of the speech problem and how it affected the whole child were taken into con- sideration. The problems encountered were as follows:
372
Sound Substitution 20 Trainable Classes 15 Lateral Lisp 13
Stuttering 21 Cleft Palate
Delayed Speech 3
Lingual Lisp 27
1
At the present time the therapist is seeing 100 children for two half- hour periods each week. Individual and group therapy methods are em- ployed in these classes. In this way the child receives help on his own particular problem and also benefits from group activity.
In general, the therapy method used with all the speech problems except stuttering consists of ear training, vowel and consonant practice, words, phrases, sentences, poems, stories, and finally, general conversation which is evidence of the carry-over of good speech habits into everyday life. Children who stutter are shown a relaxed atmosphere in which to speak. From then on, breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, and a book called Know Yourself is used to help the child understand and learn to control his speech.
At the end of the school year those children who show adequate im- provement will be discharged; however, in many cases it will take hours of cooperation on the part of the parents, teachers, and children before improper speech habits can be corrected or improved.
CLASSES FOR ACCELERATED PUPILS
Consideration is being given to determine the best procedure for teach- ing the more able pupils in the elementary grades. Experimental plans are being carried out in two schools. However, no definite decision will be made on classes for accelerated pupils until further study indicates the best procedure for our particular community. In the meantime, we shall continue to do all that is possible to enrich the program for all pupils.
CO-OPERATIVE COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Parent-Teacher Association Council
During the year, the pupils and teachers of the Weymouth public schools participate in many community sponsored activities. Among the valuable projects this year was the Elementary Science Fair conducted in response to the Parent-Teacher Council suggestion. All elementary school children contributed in some way to the town-wide exhibition centered for convenience at the three junior high schools. With approximately 3,000 parents and children in attendance, it appeared to be an excellent means of motivating greater interest in science among both pupils and teachers as well as a way of fostering healthy community interest. It is hoped that it may be motivation for stimulating further interest in holding similar exhibitions of instructional material on a town-wide basis.
Rotary Club
Again the members of the Weymouth Rotary Club sponsored their annual essay contest which emphasizes the development of desirable atti- tudes necessary for worthy citizenship. This year, the winners of the essay contest entitled "My Responsibilities as a Citizen" were Eileen Sullo of the Bicknell Junior High, Leslie Dalton of the South Junior High, and Margaret Lynch of the Central Junior High School. The participants numbered approximately 750.
373
Fire Department
Contests and instructions on fire protection and discovering home fire hazards were conducted in Grade VI in co-operation with the Weymouth Fire Department. The pupils are encouraged to inspect their own homes for existing fire hazards and to recommend their correction. This is ex- cellent in developing greater awareness of the need for caution in fire prevention.
Police Department
The Safety Instruction Program conducted by the members of the Weymouth Police Department throughout all schools is invaluable in im- pressing pupils with the constant need for traffic safety at all times. The pupils seem to be greatly impressed with this program because of the manner in which it is presented.
Junior Chamber of Commerce
For a number of years, the Junior Chamber of Commerce has taken as one of its school interests the distribution of free materials on safety to all children in Grade I. These materials are appreciated and used.
Daughters of American Revolution
American History notebook and essay contests are sponsored in Grades VII and VIII by the Susannah Tufts Chapter of the D. A. R. Those who received special recognition this year for their history notebooks and essays are as follows:
Robert Connolly
Grade VII Central Junior High
Linda Bailey
Grade VIII Central Junior High
Ellen Meloy
Grade VII Bicknell Junior High
Bernadette Kearney
Grade VIII Bicknell Junior High
Kenneth Ohlson
Grade VII South Junior High
Michael O'Donoghue
Grade VIII South Junior High
In addition to these instructional community sponsored activities, pupils participate in helpful social service programs sponsored by the Red Cross, Morgan Memorial, and others which help to make children aware of the needs of the society in which they live.
In-Service Meetings
The short series of in-service teachers' meetings, the third of which has already been held, will continue into 1959. The first was a demon- stration of the unitary method of teaching English in the junior high school presented by Mrs. Alma Driscoll, the second was a group discussion on plans and procedures for classes for accelerated pupils. The third meeting to be held in 1958 is an arithmetic panel for all junior high school teachers.
Again this year, we have tried to fill all requests for speaking or con- ducting panel programs on subjects of particular interest to our local P. T. A. associations.
HIGH SCHOOL
Report of Wallace L. Whittle, Principal
Classes at the high school have continued much as usual except for the problems caused by the ever-increasing enrollment and size of classes. At the present time, in our six large departments, we have 58 English
374
classes, 38 Foreign Language classes, 30 Science classes, 28 Mathematics classes, 50 Social Study classes, and 53 Business classes. Of these 257 classes, 132 have an enrollment of more than 30, 52 more than 35, and 16 have over 40 pupils per class.
These figures do not seem too important until it is realized exactly how they affect the education of our children. Since each teacher, on the average, has five classes, he will have from 150 to 200 pupils each day. It is obvious that there is little time for individual attention - in fact, lack of time even to correct the great number of papers involved.
I should like to call attention to the fact that our teachers feel a defi- nite lack of supervision in all of its various forms, and have asked for the situation to be remedied as soon as possible. I think it is an excellent sign of the teachers' attitude toward their work. In effect, each one is asking for means to improve what he is doing in his particular field, rather than to continue without help even though it might be much easier to do the latter.
The Mathematics Department is continuing its program of giving advanced work to those qualified. This year there are 14 students studying analytical geometry and calculus at the college level and a group of 24 sophomores being given plane and solid geometry in one year. This latter course is being started at the sophomore level, so that the student will have covered the usual high school mathematics at the end of the eleventh year and thus have time available during his senior year to study college mathematics. Students in this course must request it and be recommended by the junior high school personnel. We hope to extend advanced work to other departments as the opportunities arise.
Our extra-curricular activities, including athletics, have continued as usual. The members of the Student Council deserve special credit for their efforts in raising money for a substantial scholarship for one of our graduates. The Junior Morals Committee has spent a great deal of time on a school code for pupils and are nearly ready to present it to the student body. Our assembly program has been badly disrupted, due to the fact that it has been impossible to keep an assembly period in the program and also that three periods are now needed to accommodate all students. With the school on two sessions next year, it is apparent that many ac- tivities will be curtailed as the school will be in operation from 7:50 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The awards given in June were as follows:
Monday Club of Weymouth, Jennie B. Worster Scholarship - Ray Granai
P. M. Club, Evening Division of the Monday Club - James Browr
Old Colony Club of South Weymouth - Lois Leavitt
Women's Catholic Club of Weymouth, Annie G. Scollard Scholarship - Mary O'Connell
Sons of Italy Scholarship - Patricia Leone
Hunt School, C. Y. Berry Memorial Scholarship - Katherine Batch- elder
Nevin School Parent-Teachers' Association:
L. Mae Chessman Scholarship - Diane Pannier
Grace B. Simmons Scholarship - Jane Hanabury
First Annual Parker T. Pearson Scholarship Presented by the North Weymouth Parent-Teachers' Association - Sheila Woodworth
375
South Junior High School Pupils' and Teachers' Scholarships - Ann Doucette, Susan Elms
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 2899 Scholarship - Jane Barranco Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary No. 2899 Scholarship - James Brown
Weymouth Fire Department under the auspices of the Weymouth Permanent Firemen's Association, Timothy G. McCarthy Scholar- ship - William Salisbury
Anonymous Scholarship - Peter Luoma
Weymouth Rotary Club Scholarships - George Christensen, Marilyn Fulton, George Suokko, Thomas Winkler
Kiwanis Club of Weymouth Scholarships - Kenneth Hawes, Doris Hollis
Weymouth High School Alumni Association Scholarships - Joan Car- roll, John Hollander, Patricia Jack, Cynthia Johnston, Dianne Mackinnon, Pamela Pray, Kaye Saraceno
Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship -Paula Feeney
Frederick W. Hilton Award - Jane Hanabury
Weymouth Teachers' Association Scholarships - Janice Ingham, Nancy Lee, Cynthia Payne, Carol Tonsing
Parker T. Pearson Memorial Scholarship - Nancy Elliott
American Legion Post No. 79 Oratorical Contest - Francis Anglin
George E. Bean Post No. 401, American Legion Oratorical Contest - Patricia Jack
South Shore Master Builders' Association, Inc., Scholarship - David Barry
The Weymouth Rotary Club Award - James Brown
The Meritorious Progress Award given by the Class of 1921 - Dennis Lynch
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award - Paula Feeney
WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of Ray G. Parker, Director
The enrollment of our school on September 3, 1958, was 242, and in- creased to 254 by September 11. This was an increase of 32 boys over the same period in 1957. There were 354 boys in the tenth grade and 89 or 25.1% of these enrolled in the Vocational School.
The school has been very crowded this year. We had to give up one of our classrooms in the high school to help in providing space for high school students and this resulted in the related classes of the Auto Repair Department moving from room to room where there was space for them. By State standards, the shops are only large enough to accommodate 197 boys, and an enrollment of 254 has made it difficult for both teachers and pupils. As the high school will be on double sessions in September, 1959, we will again be able to have the classroom in the high school for the use of the Auto Repair Related Class.
The estimated senior high enrollment for September, 1959, is as fol- lows: high school, 1,830, and vocational, 280. The present Vocational School facilities do not have the capacity for this large enrollment; therefore,
376
the entering tenth grade will have to be limited in size. This will mean that no non-residents will be admitted to the sophomore classes and that in some departments the selection will be made by use of mechanical aptitude tests.
The school has had a very good year from the standpoint of instruc- tion, which is due entirely to a strong faculty and a good group of boys. Each year we have a finer group of boys to work with. The boys are proud of their school and the place they hold in secondary education.
A great many people visit the school at the Open House and see some of the projects which the boys work on. However, the real proof of any school is what happens each school day, and it is the earnest desire of all of us to have more people visit the school during the regular school hours.
The placement has been excellent and we are receiving calls nearly every day for boys to enter various industries. We have been able in some cases to place sophomores and juniors in part-time jobs, which help their trade experience as well as give them some spending money.
Vocational education is terminal in nature and many boys go directly into the trade. However, if a boy wishes to go into a trade as an appren- tice, the Department of Apprenticeship allows any vocational school grad- uate 2,000 hours credit or complete credit for his shop experience. If a boy wishes to go on to college, he may do so by taking a postgraduate course in the high school, where he will take more advanced mathematics and science.
The Student Government Committee, under the leadership of the Chairman, Robert Cameron, has a strong influence upon the morale of the school. The Merit Award System which rewards the best boy in each department for attitude, achievement, and good citizenship is continuing to have a fine influence on the student body.
In the Auto Repair Department there were 429 jobs completed with a market value of $13,063.91. The boys in this department receive training in all areas of the trade; however, there is a need for specialized training in Auto Body Repair, and it is planned for this to be taught in a separate department in the new school. On January 2, 1958, Phillip J. Messina was appointed to assist Frank Meda as a shop instructor and Henry Marsh- man was transferred to teach Auto Repair related classes in place of George Najarian, who resigned to take a position in the Boston schools.
The Cabinetmaking Department, under the direction of William Dwyer, has had a very successful year. There have been many fine pieces of fur- niture completed, also several kitchen units which were of professional quality. These were complete units assembled in the shop and then trans- ported to the job. The school received recognition for the fourth consecu- tive year for a project entered in the Ford Motor Company Industrial Arts Award Contest. The project was a tooled-leather top, Lyre-type coffee table of solid mahogany built by Joseph Brigham, a senior. There were 184 jobs completed with a market value of $9,694.78.
In the Carpentry Department, there were 292 jobs completed with a market value of $24,833.45. The instructor in the shop is Philip Henley, and the work there covers many projects of carpentry plus a good variety of small units which would be built by carpenters in a shop or on the job. The instructor in charge of outside building projects is Fred Carlson and the boys under his supervision have completed a Cape Cod style house for Paul Garrity at 282 Middle Street. This house has six rooms, a breezeway,
377
and a one-car garage. This work was completed for occupancy in June. A one-car garage and breezeway was completed for Mrs. Katherine Howley at 109 Evans Street. A new house was started in September for Charles Taber of 15 High School Terrace. This house will have six rooms, screened porch, playroom in the basement, and a two-car garage. This home will be completed in June, 1959.
The Sheet Metal Department completed 295 jobs with a market value of $9,573.94. These projects include every phase of sheet metal work, in- cluding fabricating and installing the duct work in all homes built by the boys in the Carpentry Department. A new Heli-Arc Welder was added to the department this year which will allow more complete instruction in welding as the thinner gauge metals may be welded with the equipment. The placement of boys from this department is always high, due to the excellent instruction of Harold Clarke, the instructor. This shop is much too small for the number of boys and the type of work which is necessary to provide adequate training.
The Printing Department has completed 293 jobs, with a market value of $24,333.23. This Department, under the supervision of John Collins and Herman Perry, has been busy as all the printing in the School De- partment has been done there. The work covers every area in printing except training in the offset printing process. The boys from this depart- ment are in demand because of the excellent training which they receive.
There were 95 enrolled in the driver-education classes and 60 received their licenses. Otto Mahn is the instructor in charge of this work and in addition he has placement, guidance, and teaches classes in civics, science, and problems of democracy.
The related work is taught by the following: Auto Repair, Henry Marshman; Cabinetmaking, and Carpentry, Jalmar Nelson; Printing, George Nott; Sheet Metal, James Boland. The related drawing classes in Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, and Auto Repair are taught by George Klay. The academic work is taught by Joseph Whittemore and Eric Roy.
Of this year's sophomores, 103 had completed the ninth grade, 5 were members of or completed the tenth grade, and 2 were repeaters from last year. There were 45 non-residents admitted. This is one less than last year. Income from tuition for the school year ending in June, 1958, was $14,375.80. This money came from 14 towns around the South Shore.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
Resignations: High School
Mary L. Gloster Eleanor C. Larson (Mrs.) Ralph J. Lordi Jane P. Lyons (Mrs.)
John R. Mulkern Eleanor M. Olson (Mrs.)
Central Junior High School
Edith E. Tardiff (Mrs.) Joan A. Williams
South Junior High School
Margaret M. McCarthy Henrietta A. Wheeler (Mrs.)
Athens School
Patricia A. Colman Katherine W. Watts
378
Elden H. Johnson School
Adams School
Academy Avenue School
James Humphrey School Lawrence W. Pingree School Washington School
Hunt School
Ralph Talbot School
Edward B. Nevin School
Pond School Educable Class
Margaret A. Burroughs Lynne M. Hamilton (Mrs.) Barbara J. Hodges (Mrs.)
Nancy M. Chapman Mary J. Miller Mary J. Walsh Anne M. Campbell (Mrs.)
Rosemary A. Kieran Patricia C. Morin (Mrs.)
Barbara D. Dawson (Mrs.) Luisa L. Linteris David A. Sill
Ralph A. Hermann Ruth Kravitsky Mary J. McCarthy
M. Elaine Flaherty (Mrs.) Kathleen M. Wingsted (Mrs.)
Judith H. Peel (Mrs.)
Ruth T. Robinson (Mrs.)
Margaret T. O'Connor
Henry T. Sabin
Arthur T. Valicenti, Jr.
Alicia E. Coletti (Mrs.)
Leave of Absence
Military Leave of Absence: John D. Lapean James A. Nolan Richard E. Skinner
U.S.A. 1957 U.S.A.F. 1951 U.S.A. 1958
Return from Military Leave of Absence:
John P. Hackett Walter E. Murphy
U.S.A. U.S.A.
Leave of Absence:
Pollyanna Andem
Marion E. Ray
Alvah Raymond
Marilyn J. Tierney (Mrs.)
Marie L. Leone (Mrs.)
Helen Varnum
Diane C. Waitz (Mrs.)
High School Art Supervisor
High School
Adams School
Adams School
Educable Class
Edward B. Nevin School
Return from Leave of Absence:
Vera B. Freeman Anita L. Pileggi (Mrs.) Marie L. Leone (Mrs.)
Retirement:
Florence Frost
Art Supervisor High School Adams School
Principal, Thomas V. Nash, Jr., School
379
Doris S. Pierce (Mrs.)
Elections: High School
Vocational School Bicknell Junior High School
Central Junior High School
South Junior High School Special Class (Educable) Athens School
Elden H. Johnson School
Adams School
Academy Avenue School
Jefferson School
James Humphrey School
Washington School
Hunt School
Homestead School Thomas V. Nash, Jr. School
Edward B. Nevin School
Music, Central Junior High School
Richard J. Burgess George F. Carpenter, Jr. Mildred S. Gilmore
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.