USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1961 > Part 17
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All our plans for the school year 1962-63 are based on the assump- tion that the new high school and vocational school will be ready for
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occupancy in September. If because of further delays in construction this is not possible, all sorts of complications will result: (1) it will be necessary to program and schedule high school classes for double ses- sions in the old building and then a few weeks later prepare a new schedule for resumption of a single session in the new building (2) it will not be possible to inaugurate the three new shop programs in the vocational school (3) it will not be possible to start the remodeling work in the old high school building during the summer vacation (4) and the most serious disruption of all, some 2,000 high school students will have to undergo all the disadvantages of the double session plan for the fourth school year.
A study has been made of the relationship of man hours of labor to each $1,000 of a school building contract. Applying these standards to the dollar amount of the high school contract still unpaid, indicates that it is entirely feasible to complete the building for student occu- pancy by September 1st. It is hoped that the High School Building Committee will do everything possible to impress upon the architect and the general contractor the imperative need for speeding up con- struction work and avoiding unnecessary delays.
It will be necessary for the newly appointed Building Committee, which is now planning the remodeling of the old high school as a junior high school, to decide in April whether or not to secure bids this spring for work to start after the close of school in June. If it appears that the new school will not be ready, then this remodeling work will of necessity have to be postponed.
When the new high school opens, approximately 380 sophomore students will remain in the old building. The architects advised the Building Committee that it will not be possble to complete the high school renovation work during the summer months. As a consequence, the reorganization of the Town into four junior high school districts and the assignment of pupils in grades 7-9 to the old high school build- ing will be delayed until September 1963. Eighteen 7th grade classes will again be assigned to six elementary school buildings for the school year 1962-1963. It will be possible, however, to proceed with construc- tion work by assigning the 380 sophomore students to one wing of the building for a period of time while work progresses in other parts of the building and then to move them to a wing in which work has been completed.
THE 1962 SCHOOL BUDGET
The estimates for the school budget will be found following the report of the School Committee. On a comparable basis, viz., including NDEA appropriations in both years, the 1962 budget is $315,969 higher than ir 1961. This is a 7.8 per cent increase. The greater part of the increase, $276,527 or 87.5 per cent, is in salaries. Salaries for school personnel of all types made up 83.6% of the total expenditures in 1961 for support of schools; in 1954 salaries were 79.8% of all expenditures.
The federal funds under public law 874, available to reduce school appropriation, total $178,189. This amount is $39,567.75 higher than last year which means that the needed town appropriation is $276.402 higher than in 1961.
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On December 19th the School Committee adopted a revised teacher salary schedule increasing minimum salaries $100.00 and maximum salaries $200.00 at all three levels of the schedule. The maximum will be attained in twelve annual increments of $200.00 each (now ten incre- ments of $200.00 and two of $150,000).
In 1951 the Weymouth schedule had fifteen increments of $100.00 each; in 1952 the number of increments was reduced to twelve, six at $100.00 and six at $150.00. By September 1956, all twelve increments had become $150.00. In 1957 two of the increments were made $200.00, and now five years later all increments have finally been fixed at $200.00. As a result, in this eleven-year period maximum salaries have been increased $900.00 more than minimum salaries (15 X $100.00= $1500.00; 12 X $200.00=$2400.00; $2400-$1500.00=$900.00).
The $200.00 increment has now become the common practice in the State with nearly all school systems on this basis and with many school systems with some or all increments higher than $200.00. For example, Quincy last year adopted a schedule with three increments at $250.00 and six at $300.00, Everett has all $300.00 increments, Holbrook has five, and Hull three $300.00 increments. The City of Springfield has just adopted a new schedule with seven $350.00 increments and one $300.00 increment.
In the next revision of the Weymouth schedule, serious considera- tion should be given to increasing the size of increments in order to make our salaries competitive in the middle range of the schedule. This objec- tive, of course, can be achieved in one of two ways, or a combination of the two: (1) by reducing the number of steps or (2) by increasing the maximum salary. Our maximum salaries are still below many com- parable school systems.
The new schedule should be adequate to recruit capable beginning teachers selected from the top graduates of the various colleges prepar- ing teachers in the Boston area. The new schedule will be less adequate in securing experienced teachers for the high school. There is still a short supply of capable, fully qualified and experienced secondary school teachers of the calibre needed to maintain a high quality of instruction.
This actuality of the law of supply and demand, together with the School Committees reluctance to continually vote uniform salary in- creases each year to teachers of varying degrees of ability and compe- tence, led them to add a new feature to our salary plan. They voted to adopt a program of flexible salary adjustments for teachers deemed worthy of additional increases. This same flexibility can be used in setting the salaries of experienced teachers new to the system and it should be of great help in securing teachers in fields of scarce supply, such as physics and chemistry.
The School Committee voted to withhold salary increments in cer- tain cases if the Superintendent of Schools so recommended. They also voted to increase the pay of day to day substitutes from $14.00 to $16.00 with an increased compensation to $22.00 per day after twenty consecu- tive teaching days in the same classroom.
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Comparison of Instructional Salary Budgets
1961 Budget
1962 Budget
Plus
Minus
October payroll previous year
$2,635.910
$2.862,660
$226,750
Sick Leave allowance
30,400
39,042
8,642
Special items
29,187
35,729
6,542
Additional teachers
7,000
16,300
9,300
Step-up, master's degree, etc. increments
17.158
19.509
2,351
General increase, September
58,767
25,037*
$33,730
$2,778,422
$2,998,277
$253,585
$33,730
2,778,422
33,730
..
Increase .1962 Budget over 1961 Budget
$ 219,855
$219,855
*Includes increases in differentials for principals, directors and super- visors.
The 1962 budget provides for nine additional teaching positions for grades 10-12 including a new position of instructor in public speaking and an additional teaching position to provide for the restoration of in- struction in driver education. The vocational school budget also pro- vides for four new teaching positions-three shop teachers to begin the program in the three new trades to be added with the opening of the new school and one academic teacher. The operation account also provides for the expense of operating the new high school for four months, viz., for custodians, heating, lighting, telephone service, sup- plies, etc. The provisions in all classifications of the 1962 budget for the opening of the new school total approximately $50,000.
Conclusion
The Weymouth schools" have completed another year of service to the youth of the community. We hope that some progress and im- provement has been made in these services. To the teaching and super- visory staff who are responsible for the everyday work in the classroom goes my appreciation for the hard work and conscientious devotion to., duty, without which progress in our schools would not be possible.
To the School Committee go my thanks for friendly support and counsel in the solution of the many problems which face all school sys- tems today, and finally, to my office staff I express my deepest appre- ciation for their faithful and efficient service.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER STEPHENS MAPES Superintendent of Schools
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SUPERVISION AND CURRICULUM CONSTRUCTION Report of Flora H. McGrath Director of Instruction
In this, my thirty-first and last annual report in my thirty-fifth year with the Weymouth School Department, I wish to state that any- thing of value which may have been accomplished may be attributed, for the greater part, to the unlimited cooperation and the services of superior teachers and assistants, to the caliber of those who have served as members of the school committee, and to the earnest devotion of the three superintendents with whom I have had the privilege of work- ing during these years.
TESTING PROGRAM
(A complete resume of the administration and results of standard- ized achievement and mental ability tests appears in the report of Miss Gallant, school psychologist.)
One of the most effective means of supervising the work of class- room teachers is through the use of general teacher-made subject mat- ter tests based on the courses of study and texts in use. Wherever the results of these tests indicate that help may be needed in a specific area, this help is given.
Date of Testing
Grade
Pupils Tested
Subject
April
V
875
English
April
VI
935
English
October
VII
925
English
November
VIII
934
English
November
VII
929
Arithmetic
December
VIII
919
Arithmetic
December
IX
920
English
All of the above tests have been corrected, results graphed, re- corded and used for diagnostic purposes.
CURRICULUM
ENGLISH
The completion in May of the course of study in English for grade IX culminates the study and organization of English materials for the three junior high school grades.
FRENCH
The French program, Parlons Francais TV, which was originally begun in grade IV, has now been introduced in grade VI. A French pro- gram on an elective basis for grade VII is now being planned for 1962.
SCIENCE
While the science program by television has been considered suc- cessful in some areas, it is obvious in its present stage of development that it is only a limited substitute for the classroom teacher. In addition
to this program, a complete science plan is carried on from grades I through XII. However, because of the continuous changes and develop- ments in science teaching, there is need at this time for a complete re- vision of the science program.
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READING
Because of the attention that is being focused on reading and be- cause of the many exaggerated reports and half-truths published in the daily papers, a brief report on the teaching of reading in Weymouth may not be remiss.
During the last school year, 3,736 children in grades III, IV, V, and VI of the Weymouth Public Schools were given standardized reading tests. A few facts on these results may be of interest.
1. In grade III, 874 pupils were given reading tests. Of this group, 41% were reading one or more years above their grade level, and 726 pupils or 83% were reading at or above their grade level.
2. In grade IV only 3% were reading a grade or more below their level. Of the 935 pupils tested in this grade, 240 or 25% were reading from 1 to 5 years above their grade level which places a number of these pupils on a grade IX level. Of the total group tested on this level, 694 or 74% were reading at or above grade level.
3. In grade VI, 546 or 59% were reading at or above grade level. Note: The absence of comments on the grade V results is because of fact that the graphs have not yet been completed.
REMEDIAL READING
All slow learners who have difficulty in achieving their grade level in reading and all of those who have specific reading problems because of lack of visual or auditory acuity or for other reasons are placed with remedial reading teachers for help in overcoming their deficiencies.
During the school year 488 pupils (318 boys and 170 girls) re- ceived assistance in reading.
The following have been given as the most frequent causes of reading disability found in the present group:
1. Mental immaturity in grade I 112
(The majority of these were boys.)
2. Excessive absence in grade I 76
3. Transferred from other towns and cities 44
4. Repetition of grade 158
5. Physical factors 22
6. Home conditions not conducive to learning 41
Many of these pupils will improve enough to be discharged from classes. Others will enter grade VII still with a reading disability for which little provision is made in the junior high school. A teacher for these pupils who will have serious difficulty in the junior high school would constitute a much needed addition to the teaching staff.
SPEECH CORRECTION
From January 1961 to January 1962, 166 pupils received help from the speech therapist. Of this group, 52 were dismissed.
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The classification of speech disorders found in this group is as fol- lows:
Articulation disorders 111 Stuttering 26
Cleft-palate Speech 2 Delayed Speech 21
Hypo-nasality
Hearing loss
2 24
The speech program consists mainly of speech re-education and ear- training. The pupils, whose ages range from six to fifteen years, are taken individually or in small groups.
STUDENT-TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
Again this year, the teachers of Weymouth assisted in the training of 24 prospective teachers. This training and help is given to college students without reward or remuneration of any kind except for the pride which the experienced teacher takes in seeing the young trainee grow in teaching skill. In addition to these trainees, a number of former teachers wishing to return to the profession were given the oppor- tunity to visit a classroom for observation and refresher teaching.
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COOPERATIVE COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Parent-teacher and other Association Meetings
Again this year as has been the custom in the past, all requests to speak at open meetings or to conduct panels for the purpose of explain- ing the school program and general curriculum were granted. Rotary Club
The subject chosen this year for the annual essay contest spon- sored by the Rotary Club for the students of grade VIII was entitled "Integrity in a Democracy". More than 960 pupils wrote essays. on this timely topic which covered honesty among politicians, honesty in one's schoolwork, and the carry-over of this honesty into adult life.
The following winners were chosen: First place-David Lyland, South Jr. High. Second place-Philip Van Keuren, South Jr. High. Third place-Karen Whittaker, South Jr. High.
Daughters of the American Revolution
Pupils from grades VII and VIII participated again this year in the notebook and essay contest sponsored by the D. A. R. The following students, one of whom won the Massachusetts award, received special recognition for outstanding work in some phase of American history:
Grade VII Notebooks and Essays
Marilyn McFawn, Central Junior High, "The Thirteen Original Colonies".
Catherine Healy, Pond VII, "The American Revolution" Douglas Tilden, Jefferson VII, "Weymouth. Fore River" Grade VIII Essays based on "Our Historic Waterways"
*Janice Illingworth, South Junior High, "The Water Way of Free- dom"
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Nancy Wilson, South Junior High, "The Building of the Erie Canal"
*State award winner
Kiwanis Club
Student Government Day is an annual event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club for all students of grade VI. Following the study of a pamphlet on Town Government, each student selects one of a number of suggested activities planned to increase the pupil's understanding of town government. These activities include compositions, booklets, charts, maps, and graphs. The winners, one chosen from each sixth grade, are taken to the Town Hall or to other Administration buildings where they are named acting officials for one day. They are later invited to a Ki- wanis Club dinner where each is the recipient of a prize.
Lions Club
Each year the children of Weymouth conduct a Tag Day in order to further and support the Lions Club program in sight-conservation for those children in Weymouth who are in need of glasses, overhead readers for polio victims, Braille watches or other necessary aids.
Weymouth Fire Department
The Junior Fire Marshall Fire Prevention Program which develops awareness of the danger of fire hazards was again sponsored by the Weymouth Fire Department. All pupils in grade VI participated in this program.
Weymouth Police Department
1
Again this year, Safety Officer Riley made several visits to the schools for the purpose of giving instructions, showing pictures and slides on safety, and helping in other ways to impress upon the chil- dren the need for observing all safety rules.
Social Service and Red Cross
The Weymouth School children co-operated in a commendable manner with the above named organizations by meeting all requests made for clothing collections and for the making of favors for Veterans' Hospitals.
When children are made aware of the needs of the handicapped, the sick, and the needy, they are experiencing one more phase in the edu- cational process.
GENERAL SUPERVISION
Every effort has been made during the past year to make the cur- riculum more dynamic, the teaching more effective, and the total pupil learning more adequate. As the unusual and excellent methods used by superior teachers should be shared with others if possible, the work of the Supervisor includes the dissemination of these excellent methods. The entire approach of this type of work should be positive and strictly for the purpose of suggesting a change in method or new approach wherever such would be an improvement.
This work has been greatly enhanced by the efficient work of Miss Helen McGovern and Miss Dorothy Gallant.
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WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Report of Wallace L. Whittle, Principal
Although our enrolment continues to increase, the high school classes are still operating well even though on double sessions. We have been very fortunate in the caliber of young teachers added to take care of this increased enrolment. They have combined with those teachers, older in point of service, to form an outstanding faculty; which has done exceedingly well under trying conditions.
In order to give an idea of the present size of the high school, it might be well to show for the six largest departments, the number of classes needed for the present enrolment of 1872 pupils. These are listed as follows:
Department
No. of Classes
English
71
Social Studies
65
Business
82
Language
43
Mathematics
36
Science
31
It should be obvious from the above numbers that it is necessary to have accurate information from the students in regard to their elec- tion of courses in order to make an efficient flexible program. It should also be indicative of the fact that these elections should be final and not subject to change. The administration, teachers, and office staff spend four or five months on the detailed work involved in making such a program and last minute changes cannot be scheduled.
Last year a report was given on the activities of the Social Studies Department. This year I am including a short resume of work done in the Business Department.
The aim of the Business Department is to train the students to be qualified to accept an office position directly upon graduation. In addi- tion to being trained in the basic skills such as bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting, and the use of modern office machines, the students are instructed in proper office etiquette, good grooming for school, good grooming for the office, preparation for and conduct during an inter- view, and how to keep a job and win a promotion.
During the year several personnel managers come to Weymouth to talk to our senior business students and describe the various types of positions offered by their firms and the opportunities for advance- ment. Their visits have been extremely helpful and appreciated. This year we have been fortunate to have representatives from the following companies:
John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company National Shawmut Bank
State Street Bank and Trust Company New England Telephone and Telegraph Company New England Merchant's National Bank Employers Group of Insurance Companies
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We have been making a concerted effort to improve the appear- ance of the students in both dress and hair style. It is extremely diffi-' cult to impress upon them that extreme styles in either dress or hair work to their detriment. As mentioned above, personnel officers come to the school frequently and see the pupils in class. College admission officers also visit the school regularly. Both of these groups have, at times, automatically eliminated some of our applicants because they are not interested in extremists. We sincerely hope that the students and their parents will see that students are dressed appropriately at all times because of its importance to them.
The Student Council held its second annual Book Fair during the week of November 27th. The results were gratifying and the profit from the sale of 4,700 paper back books was added to their scholarship fund.
The extra-curricular activities have been curtailed as before, due to the double sessions, and all parties concerned are looking forward to the possibility of normal conditions for their operation next year.
The awards in June were as follows:
Monday Club of Weymouth-Walter Hill
P.M. Club, Evening Division of the Monday Club-Jean Ryder Old Colony Club of South Weymouth-Marcia Dodge
Old Colony P.M. Club-Marsha Reed
Women's Catholic Club of Weymouth, Annie G. Scollard Scholarship-Ellen Delahunt
Sons and Daughters of Italy Loggia G. Verdi No. 278-Joanne Colarusso
Nevin School Parent-Teachers' Association
L. May Chessman Scholarship-Mary Sweeney Grace B. Simmons Scholarship-George Hurst
Pratt School Parent-Teachers' Association, In memory of Ma- bel E. Roode-Carole Robinson
Fourth Annual Parker T. Pearson Scholarship presented by the North Weymouth Parent-Teachers' Association-Ann Williams Hunt School, C. Y. Berry Scholarship-John Young, Jr.
Central Junior High School Pupils' and Teachers' Scholarships -Jane Belcher and Jean Swanson
South Junior High School Pupils' and Teachers' Scholarships- Beverly Allen and Carolyn Tulip
Weymouth High School Student Council Scholarship-Alex- ander Cryan
Weymouth High School Future Nurses' Club-Constance How- lett - Weymouth High School Key Club Scholarship-Ronald Crocker Weymouth High School Alumni Association Scholarships- Marilyn Bennett, Diane Cook, Flora Dinucci, Jacqueline Hap- pel, Richard Hetherington, Roberta Little, Eileen Smith, Char- lotte Topliffe, Claire Walker
Alice W. Dwyer Scholarship-Joyce Chilingarian Frederick W. Hilton Award-Flora Dinucci
Weymouth Teachers' Association Scholarships-Blanid Cullen and Janet Ryder
Parker T. Pearson Memorial Scholarship-Sandra Teed
Weymouth High School Teachers' Scholarship, in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Rogers-Jean Kevitt
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Weymouth Public School Custodian And Maintenance Men's Association Scholarship-Joyce Chilingarian
Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No. 2899 Scholarship-Ken- neth Knowles
Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary No. 2899 Scholarship- Jule Sullivan
Weymouth Fire Department under the auspices of the Wey- mouth Permanent Firemen's Association, Timothy G. McCar- thy Scholarship-Sybil Joly
Weymouth Rotary Club Scholarship-John Jacobson
Kiwanis Club of Weymouth Scholarships-Jean Cormack and Cynthia Dibble
Home and Community Service Committee of Weymouth Grange No. 387 Scholarship-John Dailey
General Supervisors of Public Education in Massachusetts Scholarship in honor of Mrs. Flora H. McGrath-Frances Cic- chese
The Women's Auxiliary of the Norfolk-South District Medical Society Scholarship-Edna Nelson
South Shore Master Builders' Association, Inc. Scholarship- Earl Damon
Weymouth Farm League Baseball Association Scholarship Awards-John Jacobson and John Nolan
Weymouth High School Music Parents' Association Scholar- ships-Ronald Jack and Janet Ryder
Sears Roebuck Foundation Award-Joan Stack
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Order of the Sons of Italy in American Scholarship-Frances Cicchese and Flora Dinucci
American Legion Post No. 79 Oratorical Contest-Jane Belcher George R. Bean Post 401, American Legion Oratorical Con- test-Jean Swanson
The Weymouth Rotary Club Award-Ronald Crocker
The Meritorious Progress Award given by the Class of 1921- Linda Hodgens
The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award-Patricia Fontaine
WEYMOUTH VOCATIONAL SCHOOL Report of Ray G. Parker, Director
The enrolment of our school on September 22, 1961 was 262, an increase of ten over 1960. Due to the heavy enrolment of Weymouth pupils, there were no sophomore nonresidents admitted in September. There are fourteen nonresidents who were enrolled in 1959 and 1960. Our enrolment is greater than it should be for the training area avail- able. However, as we plan to move into the new school in September 1962, it seemed advisable to admit as many as possible requesting this type of training.
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