USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1962 > Part 19
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5. Student training was continued this year with the qualifying and licensing of nearly three hundred students to operate sound pro- jectors and other audio-visual tools during the year. In addition, the department has worked closely with the Tufts Library and other out- side agencies in a training and advisory capacity.
6. Educational television was continued for the fifth year in Grades 1 through 6 with an expanded program as follows: PHYSICAL SCIENCE, Grade 6; EXPLORING NATURE, Grade 5; PARLONS FRANCAIS, French for Grades 4, 5. and 6; LITERATURE, Grade 3; FOLK MUSIC AND DANCE, Grade 2; PRIMARY SCIENCE, Grades 1 and 2; INSIDE-OUTSIDE, Grade 1; PHONICS, Grade 1; SCIENCE- LAND and SEA, Grades 3 and 4; WONDER OF WORDS, Grades 3 and 4. At the junior high-senior high level the following programs are available for use: ACCENT ON MUSIC, SCIENCE SPECIALS, FOCUS (world affairs), THE HUMANITIES (English, Grade 11), FRENCH LANGUAGE FILMS, Grades 7-10, ACTION AT LAW, PRACTICAL POLITICS and AFTERNOON AT SYMPHONY (Bos- ton Symphony Orchestra).
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Effectiveness of these programs is maintained by regular sub- mission of teacher valuations and critical suggestions to the television studio. Improved quality of both the T-V lesson and the detailed lesson plans supplied each teacher have assured a bright future for this powerful educational medium. Parents are offered an oppor- tunity to observe, study, and work with their children in each tele- vised area since all programs thus far are "open"-channel and avail- able to all who may wish to use them.
The new high school has provided for the inclusion of 'closed"- circuit television in addition to the "open"-circuit television available at all other buildings. This will enable the new school to develop far more flexible and vital programs than could possibly be done under former conditions.
7. Weymouth High School's language laboratory has continued to function in the dual role of a most successful learning area and the focal point of many visitors from other school systems where lab- oratories were to be installed. After the third full year of operation, language teachers are most optimistic about student attitudes and achievement. Reports from students now enrolled in college rarely fail to specifically mention the valuable help of the language labora- tory in their language preparation. A new, improved language lab- oratory of thirty positions has been included in the new high school, thus giving Weymouth a total of sixty language laboratory units.
8. The instructional program is continuing the use of program- med learning (otherwise known as teaching machines or automated teaching) on an experimental basis in the fields of English (elemen- tary and junior high), arithmetic, algebra, plane geometry, solid geometry, trigonometry, music, basic science, and so forth. A pre- liminary evaluation indicates promise of most effective results in some of these areas. However, more study and experimentation is strongly urged before any major change to automated teaching is undertaken as the prime method of instruction.
9. During the year the Director participated in many state wide and regional conferences and served as chairman of two standing committees on standards and school building facilities which have been of particular significance to Weymouth and the total effective- ness of the audio-visual services offered.
8. HANDWRITING
There is still a need for rapid, legible handwriting in school work, business, and in social correspondence. Business machines are play- ing an increasingly important part in our society. Handwriting and machine writing complement each other and both are considered nec- essary and indispensable.
It is important to consider the place of handwriting in a school program along with all the other subjects currently taught in our schools. Handwriting, therefore. should not be over emphasized to the detriment of the time necessary to teach other subjects and by virtue of the same reasoning it should not be neglected.
It is not the function of the schools to make professional writers. This would require more time than is available for the teaching of
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this subject. The major objective in the teaching of handwriting is to secure an excellent handwriting product that can be written with ease and facility, with a minimum expenditure of time, effort, and materials. To achieve this end much time and effort has been spent in the constant study and revision of techniques that will enable a school system to operate a sound handwriting program that is con- sistent with modern educational theories and practices.
The handwriting program in our schools provides effective in- struction and motivational materials. Teachers are trained at regu- lar intervals in the use of these materials. The handwriting of the pupils is checked at regular intervals for neatness, letter formation, letter alignment, proportionate size, slant, spacing, finishing strokes, line quality and speed. A report is given to the teacher at the end of each grading period indicating the remedial work that is to be undertaken.
An appraisal of the effectiveness of the handwriting product in our schools can be obtained from a study of the following statistics.
At the close of the school year our records show that 90% of the pupils scored excellent, 4% scored good, 6% were fair and none were poor on the formal handwriting test. It was found in checking the informal handwriting that there had been excellent transfer in hand- writing quality to spelling, arithmetic, English composition, etc.
9. HEALTH
The following staff changes occurred during the year 1962. Miss Herberta Stockwell, R.N. retired as Supervisor of Nurses and High School nurse after 32 years of dedicated and effective service. She was succeeded by Mrs. Mary T. Hoyle, R.N., Mrs. Jean Baker, R.N. was appointed on a full-time basis and was placed in Mrs. Hoyle's former assignment at Central Junior High School and neighboring elementary schools. Mrs. Elsa Hamill, R.N. was appointed as a part- time school nurse, with her first assignment in the P.M. session at the high school.
The problem of working parents who cannot be reached and who have left no adult responsible for children who become ill or injured at school seems to have increased. Questionnaires were sent out this year to parents asking for names of two adults responsible for the child in case of emergency. It is often necessary to call parents at business if authorization to call the family physician is not available, and such a call is considered urgent.
In May, pre-school registration was held for children who were to enter Grade I in September. The school nurses interviewed parents regarding the health status of the child. Prysical and mental growth, development and nutrition are of value in helping the child secure the greatest possible advantage from his educational opportunity. Par- ents were urged to have complete physical and dental defects corrected before the child entered school.
Mantoux and Heaf tests for the discovery of tuberculosis were given to Grades I. VI, and XI by the Norfolk County Hospital assisted by school nurses.
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In May, Type I Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine was given in all schools. Type III was given in June. Nurses in elementary grades deserve recognition especially because they made great effort to reach every child, even making home visits to do so.
In October, clinics were held throughout the schools for preven- tion of diphtheria and tetanus to pupils of Grades I, VI, and X. This program is sponsored by the Board of Health and the school nurses.
The elementary school nurses were able to attend a mental health workshop at the Quincy Health Center.
10. HOME INSTRUCTION FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
Fifty-nine children were given home instruction this year, seven more than last year. Fifteen were in senior high school, fifteen in junior high school, twenty-seven in elementary schools, and two were ungraded.
Miss Dorothy Creed and Mrs. Loretto Tate were appointed home instructors to take the place of Mrs. Lenora Shortlidge who moved to South Carolina in June and Mrs. Grace Whittles who retired No- vember 30th.
The disabilities represented were: 8 fractures, 5 appendectomies, 3 mononucleosis, 2 cystic fibrosis, 2 poliomyelitis, 2 spinal fusions, 7 rheumatic fever, 3 asthmatic bronchitis, 3 knee operations, 2 nephritis, 2 rheumatoid arthritis, 1 each of the following: auto accident, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, hip dislocation, knee injury, meningitis, pneumonia, pyloric spasm, talipes, viral gastroenteritis, burns, chorea, hepatitis, hyperthyroid, Legg Perthes disease, muscle transplant, pyloric stonosis, septicemia, ulcer bleeding, viral infection.
Three pupils died during the year: Patricia Long who graduated from Weymouth High School in June, and Richard Mathewson and William Murphy, both of whom had cystic fibrosis.
It is very rewarding to help these children with their school work so that they may return to their classes and be promoted with their classmates.
11. DRIVER EDUCATION
Instruction in Driver Education returned to the high school cur- riculum after an absence of one year. Enrolment figures are double those of previous years.
The course is divided into two parts. The first, driver education, consists of 30 hours of classroom instruction. This includes a study of the rules and regulations as formulated by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, discussions as to the cause of various types of accidents, studies of various attitudes prevalent in automobile driving, car in- surance, car maintenance, etc. There is also available a large number of appropriate films and film strips.
The second part of the course is "on the road training" using three dual-control cars and three instructors. Each student must have
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six hours of practice driving and six hours of observation. The in- struction is given during study periods and this does not interfere with the regular schedule of classes. The in-school instruction is supple- mented by instruction in the afternoon after school, on Saturdays, and during vacation periods. It is hoped that the School Committee will continue with this phase of the work because the success of the program depends on the after-school driving periods.
Students enrolled in Driver Education during 1962-63:
Seniors
180
Juniors
340
Sophomores 56
Total
576
The cars are donated by the following automobile dealers: Thorp Motor Company-1963 Dodge sedan; Norfolk Motors-1963 Plymouth sedan; and Cutler Motor Company-1963 Volkswagen.
12. SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Noteworthy events of 1962 in the school libraries were the grow- ing circulation of books, the book fairs, the activities of library clubs, the start of co-operation with the public libraries and the move to and changes accompanying the opening of the new high school.
Mr. Charles W. Adams, who came to Weymouth in 1955, left to become State Supervisor of School Libraries. In his place at Weymouth High School is Mrs. Rita M. Diment, who has the half-time assistance of Miss Alice K. Fay. Mrs. Margaret M. Rains is in her second year as librarian at South Junior High, while Miss Mignon E. Pray con- tinues at. Bicknell Junior High and Mrs. Ruth M. Connors at Central Junior High.
The third annual Paperback Book Fair sponsored by the Student Council was held at the old high school library in late November. Sales amounted to 5,000 books and $1,600 with profits going to the council's scholarship fund. At South Junior High, the library spon- sored two Paperback Book Fairs.
Library clubs visited with clubs in schools in nearby communities, as well as having their own meetings. The junior high clubs attended the Children's Annual Book Fair in Boston, saw an exhibition of several thousand books and returned with a new respect for the work involved in writing a book after hearing from the authors present.
Instruction in the use of the library was given in all schools. Seventh grade classes received formal instruction and eighth graders a refresher lesson along with getting started on reading programs. Further instruction was given to high school classes. Librarians in- struct many individuals daily as the need arises.
In June there was a meeting of School librarians with Tufts Library and Fogg Library personnel to discuss common problems. It was agreed that better communication is needed between libraries and between teachers and libraries. This would ease such problems as the heavy demand for information for a class assignment given
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with no advance warning to libraries. It was pointed out that public libraries can spend only part of their funds for books for students.
At the high school, the entire book collection was evaluated. Books suitable for junior high use, and most reference books, were left be- hind in the old school. Many worn out books were discarded, as was much old material in the vertical file of pamphlets and clippings. Certain new policies were inaugurated to reduce clerical tasks and free librarians for work with students and teachers, such as ordering printed catalog cards when available instead of typing them, record- ing new acquisitions of books in the shelf list catalog only, and sim- plifying the recording and storing of periodicals.
The High School Building Committee provided the new library with a large number of books, mostly non-fiction, along with many reference books and eight sets of encyclopedias.
Statistics for 1962:
School
Number Of Books
Added 1962
Total Circulation
Weymouth High
5,094
464
6,042
Bicknell Junior
3,522
278
12,265
Central Junior
5,710
554
19.545
South Junior
5,484
461
16,692
13. EVENING SCHOOLS
Evening classes for adults continued in 1962 to interest and serve a very large number of people. More than 1,025 were assigned to classes which meet once a week for twenty weeks. Commercial classes are two hours in length, all others three hours. Because of the large registration-1,232 in all-waiting lists had to be established in Begin- ning Clothing, in Rug Braiding, in Upholstery and in Painting and Drawing.
The regular exhibitions of work done by these classes occurred at South Junior High School on March 26 and at Weymouth High School on April 3. The quality of the work seems to improve steadily year after year. This attracts to the exhibitions a constantly growing num- ber of men and women interested in viewing the rugs, upholstery, paint- ings, clothes, cakes, copper articles, and other items made or improved in evening classes.
In May, a series of five lessons designed to help teachers of home- making and crafts meet a state requirement for professional improve- ment took place at Central Junior High School, with the final meeting at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. This series was arranged by Miss Helen J. McClintock, State Supervisor of the Adult Homemaking Pro- gram, and attracted almost forty teachers from Weymouth and nearby towns.
The plan of having registration at both the High School and South Junior High School was very successful and will be continued. For next year we hope to add two new courses, possibly in Music Apprecia- tion and English Composition.
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Classes and instructors are as follows:
WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday courses
Enrollment Instructor
Cake Decorating-two half year classes 30
Miss Louise E. Watts
Beginning Clothing
26 Mrs. Alice M. Cullen
Rug Braiding
25 Mrs. Gertrude Donahue
Rug Braiding
34 Mrs. Anna M. Emond
Rug Hooking
16 Mrs. Leona M. Cook
Woodworking
29 Mr. Wallace T. Driscoll
Tuesday Courses
Beginning Typewriting
29
Mrs. Jane Gillis
Beginning Typewriting
28 Mr. William J. McCarthy
Beginning Shorthand
28 Mrs. Irene Jackmauh
Office Machines
20
Miss J. F. Chittenden
Thursday Courses
Cake Decorating-two-half year courses 29
Miss Louise E. Watts
Advanced Clothing
22 Mrs. Alice M. Cullen
Copper Tooling
25 Mrs. Eleanor M. Aikens
Decorative Art
20 Mrs. Mona Rowell
Furniture Refinishing
28 Mrs. Wallace T. Driscoll
Rug Braiding
35 Mrs. Anna M. Emond
Rug Hooking
15 Mrs. Leona M. Cook
Advanced Typewriting
30 Mrs. Jane Gillis
Advanced Shorthand
30 Mrs. Irene Jackmauh
Office Machines
20 Miss J. F. Chittenden
BICKNELL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday Courses
Beginning Clothing
18 Mrs. Marion R. Rideout
Copper Tooling
23 Mrs. Eleanor M. Aikens
Thursday Courses
Advanced Clothing
25 Mrs. Marion R. Rideout
CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday Courses
Beginning Clothing
26 Mrs. Anne Concannon
Painting and Drawing
23 Mr. Brian J. Doherty
Upholstery
19 Mr. Mario Comunale
Thursday Courses
Advanced Clothing
30 Mrs. Anne Concannon
Painting and Drawing
23 Mr. Brian J. Doherty
Upholstery
19 Mr. Mario Comunale
SOUTH JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday Courses
Cake Decorating-half year class
16 Mrs. Bessie Starkie
Beginning Clothing
30 Mrs. Christine M. Gardner
Decorative Art
15 Mrs. Alice B. Shields
Fabric Painting
17 Mrs. Doris Tobey
Rug Braiding
20 Mrs. Helen T. Jordan
Painting and Drawing
26 Mr. Philip S. Dolan
Woodworking
17 Mr. Albert B. Noyes
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Thursday Courses
Cake Decorating-half year class
14 Mrs. Bessie Starkie
Advanced Clothing
25 Mrs. Christine M. Gardner
Decorative Art
15 Mrs. Alice B. Shields
Furniture Refinishing
25 Mr. Albert B. Noyes
Rug Braiding
25 Mrs. Gertrude Donahue
Rug Hooking
26 Mrs. Frances L. Clifford
Painting and Drawing
17 Mr. Philip S. Dolan
Mr. Francis X. Kelley continues as Principal of the classes at the High, Bicknell Junior High and Central Junior High Schools, and Mr. Thomas E. Lambe as Principal of the classes at South Junior High School.
The Evening Vocational Program includes three Trade Extension courses, as follows: Architectural Drawing and Blueprint Reading, taught by William E. Sullivan, with 18 enrolled; and Graphic Arts, in- cluding both Letterpress, taught by John F. Collins, and Offset Printing, taught by Melvin C. Dunn, with 35 enrolled. These classes meet both Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mr. Ray G. Parker is the Director of these classes.
14. SUMMER SCHOOL
The Weymouth Summer School completed its fourth session on August 3, 1962 with an enrolment of 409 students. This is the largest enrolment that the Summer school has had since it began in 1959. This increase resulted from the admission for the first time of students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 of the elementary schools, and also from the increase in the number of junior high school students attending the Summer school.
The following figures provide a comparison of enrolment totals over the past four years:
1959
1960
1961
1962
Enrolment from elementary grades
84
Enrolment from junior high schools
86
140
151
209
Enrolment from senior high schools
194
154
134
116
Enrolment from colleges
5
1
Totals
285
295
285
409
Of a total enrolment of 409, five students were from non-resident families. This number included one student each from Abington. East Bridgewater, Marshfield, Newton, and Norwell. Non-resident students pay a registration fee of $30.00 per course and resident students pay a registration fee of $15.00 per course.
Three hundred thirty-six students each enrolled in one subject and 73 students each enrolled in two subjects. The subject enrolment was as follows:
Algebra (first year)
51 Language Arts (Grades 4-6)
19
Arithmetic
86 Latin I
8
Chemistry
13 Math, Gen'l. (Grades 8, 9)
9
Developmental Reading
28 Probability and Statistics 6
English (Grades 7-12)
94 Physical Science
9
French I
13 Remedial Reading 47
Geometry, Plane
8 Typewriting 91
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Two years ago, it was decided to place on a two-hour basis, all classes in those subjects offered in Grades 9 through 12 except type- writing. This plan was continued during the past Summer and it is expected that the plan will continue in future Summer schools. The longer class period has proved most advantageous since it increases the class time available during the six-week Summer session to a total of sixty hours per class.
The mathematics class in probability and statistics and the physi- cal science class were formed a year ago in order to provide enrichment work and work that could not normally be fitted into the regular aca- demic program of the school year. A sufficient number of students re- quested enrolment in these two courses. Therefore, they were con- tinued during the past year and it is planned to offer this enrichment work during the Summer of 1963.
There have been many requests to continue during the Summer the driver education and training program offered during the school year. This program was formerly offered in the Summer school but was dropped last year. Because of these requests for enrolment, it is recommended that driver education and training be added to the pro- gram of the 1963 Summer school.
THE SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM
The new High School was occupied by vocational pupils on Septem- ber 11th and by high school pupils on December 21st. The removal from the old building of all high school students, except 350 sopho- mores, will permit the altering and remodeling of the old plant during the Spring and Summer months in order that it may be ready for occu- pancy in September by some 600 sophomore students and 575 junior high students.
The old school will need to house approximately 1,200 students un- til such time as a second high school is built or an addition to the new high school erected. The decision between these two alternatives should depend on the prediction of future high school enrolment trends twenty or more years hence or well into the 1980's. And this decision can well be put off until late in the 1960's. The sophomore students who remain in the old building will not undergo any serious disadvantage, as they will attend school a full day and will have the same program and the same standard of instruction as pupils in the new school.
The reason for delaying this decision is to be as certain as possible of future high school enrolment estimates in order to avoid the pos- sibility of building an addition to the new school, which might seem adequate in size at the time, but which might later turn out to be too small. This necessity for caution is due to the fact that the site of the new school has room for only one addition to provide for approximately 500 to 600 studests. But if this added capacity proved too small for later enrolments, no further addition would be feasible, and the surplus students would not be sufficient in number to justify the construction of a separate new school.
It will be recalled that when the purchase of the Cowing property on Commercial Street was voted by Town Meeting for the new high school that a site for a second school was taken on Pleasant Street ad-
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jacent to the South Junior High School. Thus a second high school could be built on this site with the first unit for perhaps 800-900 pupils and this building could be planned for a future addition depending on the enrolment needs of say 1985.
Another reason for not solving the future high school enrolment needs by means of an addition to the new school is that an enrolment capacity of 2,500 pupils would make the mass facilities of the enlarged school such as gymnasia, the cafeteria and the auditorium inadequate and we would again suffer with some of the same space limitations that made the old school an inefficient operating unit.
An article in the warrant for the 1963 Annual Town Meeting re- quests funds for the renovation of the old high school and the construc- tion of a small addition to provide a band or music room adjacent to the auditorium stage with a girls' shower and locker room at the lower level adjacent to the girls' gymnasium. A few alterations are planned in order that the building can properly house a junior high school as well as the overflow high school pupils. A second clothing room and a second art room are needed. A relocated and large library is planned and the health suite will be located on the first floor in proximity to the principal's office for supervisory purposes, as a school nurse will not be assigned to the school on a full-time basis.
A large portion of the appropriation needed will be used to re- place or revamp the mechanical facilities, such as heating and ventilat- ing, plumbing, and electrical. This replacement work is necessary be- cause many of the facilities are worn out or completely antiquated by present building code requirements. The original building is now 65 years old and additions were built as follows: south wing 1923, voca- tional building 1926, north wing 1927 and cafeteria 1931. In most of these recommended mechanical changes the Building Committee, which was authorized by the Town Meeting to plan and carry out the renovat- ing work, had no choice as the State building inspector requires their replacement or a complete revamping job.
After preliminary estimates of the cost of the small addition, the alterations, and the replacement work had been received by the Build- ing Committee, they consulted with the Appropriations Committee and agreed that in order to keep the total cost at a minimum, very little work would be planned at this time for the wing needing it the least, viz., the newest or north wing built in 1927.
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