USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1922-1924 > Part 8
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1. He should know himself, his abilities, his failings, and his desires.
2. He should know a trade or profession that fits him, and how to keep on learning.
3. He should know the world he is to live in and the people he is to live among, and the great laws of life that govern both.
15
Report of High School
4. He should know how to use himself and his work to get from the world the things he most wants, and to give the service for which he is fitted in the place where it is most needed.
5. He should have a character founded on this knowl- edge, brave, honest, fair, neither impudent nor cringing, and with the instinct of unselfish service.
There are a great many more things that a grown boy or girl ought to have, of course, but these five are beyond question. Unless they have this much, they get no fair chance when they begin active life. Every child has a right to them. How many get them? Did you? Will your children?"
The emphasis is placed on the fifth statement. Such is the goal of true democracy and our schools are the training grounds of citizenship. But the practice of that citizenship necessarily must extend to life and environment outside the school room. Out of the twenty-four hours in each day, five are spent in the school session; ten hours should be used for the growing child to sleep. This leaves nine hours in the twenty-four when the child is not directly under the influence of the school. What is he doing in that nine hours? What are his surroundings? Is he putting into practice the principles which the school has tried to develop and nourish? Unless he has an environment in which these principles are naturally and spontaneously put into practice they cer- tainly will not thrive. In practical affairs we should immedi- ately conclude that it is utter folly to give the individual careful and thorough training in Horticulture and Flori- culture only to turn him loose to cultivate thistles, burdock, and other obnoxious weeds. These are some very pertinent questions for every intelligent adult to consider and answer. The problem of education, in its true sense, cannot be solved by the schools alone.
The attendance during the first sixteen weeks expressed in percentage as ninety-two per cent, seems a fairly high average. When considered as eight absent pupils out of each hundred daily, it leaves a less favorable impression.
16
Report of High School
The senior and junior girls deserve especial commendation for regular attendance. A list of pupils who have been neither absent nor tardy is given elsewhere in reports of statistics. The record of tardiness is really deplorable and admitted by practically every parent consulted to be quite unnecessary. Promptness is one of the great elements of success in business. Parents will do their children a real service to insist that they are prompt in arrival at school session.
As a group of teachers we are agreed that there is a much improved morale throughout the school in many respects. We sense a more spontaneous interest in the work at hand. This interest is still more or less sporadic. Occa- sionally one sees early arrivals, voluntarily searching the few reference books or preparing some work from regular texts. There are also various other evidences of a purpose to accomplish something worth while. Some of the students appear to grasp the fact that the acquiring of an education is an individual task and that each one must exercise his own brain, if he would accomplish this task.
We wish to express our appreciation of the cooperation of parents and school officials.
Respectfully submitted,
L. A. MARTIN, Principal.
17
Report of Supervisor of Drawing
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
MR. F. E. BRAGDON,
Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Mass.
Can there be any question of the place of Art Education in the Public Schools? How would we answer such a question?
There is no denying the great amount of power and pleasure derived from the study of Art. It comes to us in the schools, through representation, in Color and Design, Costume Design, Interior Decoration, Commercial Design, Constructive Design and Domestic Art.
Drawing in the schools, from Grade One through High School, is not, as some suppose, a playtime, a recreation from other studies, to be forgotten the next moment, but a serious time for the study of things which come into everyone's life as truly as do the rules of arithmetic and spelling.
This study gives power in its training of eye and hand, and pleasure in its teaching of observation and appreciation. To read a beautiful picture and to read nature is as great a source of knowledge and pleasure as the reading of the printed page. The language of pictures is a universal language, understood by the old and young, the rich and poor of every nation.
Picture making in School Drawing is not picture making as it belongs to the specialized profession of artists and illustrators, open to the few, but picture making as a means to the end - such representation as the average person needs in business and in the home, as awakens a close observation of everything in life that no beauty may escape. It gives a choice of houses to build or buy, of gardens,
18
Report of Supervisor of Drawing
furnishings, and clothing - a knowledge of the wisdom of advertising and how to arrange business ads. It develops a general appreciation of the most suitable, useful and beautiful. Last year we tried to make clear the close relationship of the Art Department to the Music Depart- ment and of both to the community life.
Few realize the correlative value of Drawing. It is true that we may read a thing, hear it talked about and yet fail sometimes to understand, much less remember. When we see it, hear it and then actually create it in picture form, however crude, it has left an understanding impression not to be forgotten. So we try to express in the Drawing lessons, the stories of History, Industry, Geography and the facts of every-day life. Drawing should create better penman- ship and neater work in every line.
In April, the Public School Association have set aside their meeting for my department. I hope then to give a graphic report of the work of last year as well as this.
I feel most fortunate in having such a good teaching force to work with, for without the grade teachers' support no work can succeed. It is good to see, as we carry the classes on to new work, that last year's training has not been for- gotten but is giving power to the advanced work. More attention must be given to measuring problems this year.
There is one step in the grades Scituate has not yet taken. The girls have their sewing, the boys should have their Manual Training.
During the sewing period the boys have worked out measuring problems. They have worked from the com- pleted paper model of barn and house to the flat pattern. Each boy has made his own pattern and then worked from that pattern and built in paper, the barn and house. The room teachers have ably carried on this work. Measure- ments have been made and floor plans of the schoolrooms drawn. This is all good and useful training but with even a small equipment better problems can be worked out. The impulse to construct is common in every child. We should take advantage of these natural tendencies and try to
19
Report of Supervisor of Drawing
develop them along useful lines. We are about to tackle the problem of constructing a modern bungalow-type house from large paste-board packing boxes. Such construction requires only a sharp knife and strong glue. The older boys will make the houses, the younger boys the garages and furniture. The interior decoration of these bungalows will be turned over to the Household Arts class at the High School.
Eventually of course, Scituate will have its regular Manual Training for the boys. Until then I wish they might have such equipment of one-quarter-inch whitewood, one- quarter to one-inch dowels, coping saws and knives, hammers and brads, as is necessary for the construction of wooden toys, sawed-out animal shapes painted with inexpensive water-color mixtures. Such work gives opportunity for ingenuity and invaluable training in hand-control, form color and even business training in the marketing of the toys at Christmas time. Successful lessons are carried on in schools with no further equipment than bench-blocks clamped to the regular desks by small iron clamps and the work is done without injury to the desks. At High School, a regular drawing-room with equipment would make the work easier and lead to better results. Time allotted to Free-Hand Drawing is necessarily short and with a large class. best results cannot be had.
There are two classes in Mechanical Drawing. This made it necessary to arrange a part-time schedule, one lesson every two weeks to each class. Outside work is assigned.
A small class in Commercial Lettering has full time this year and should turn out better work in Commercial Signs and Posters.
A Special class in Advanced Industrial Arts is working in the Dennison Hand Crafts of sealing wax and paper rope weaving. This group last year completed a course in Color and Decoration and as a final problem decorated the hall for the Senior reception. With the work in Color they studied Design as applied to the home and to dress.
20
Supervisor of Drawing
A beginners' group in Hand Work was started in the Freshman class but no period is available at present for this work.
The dining room worked out by the Advanced House- hold Arts class last year is completed except for the floor. There is no advanced Household Arts class this year and this delays the work on the floor. The dining room received the approval of the State Supervisors in Household Arts and the travelling exhibit of the work sent in to the Teachers' Convention at Boston last June received such favorable comment it was sent to the Hyannis Summer School. This speaks well for the progressive step taken in the founding of the Household Arts School last year.
The work already taken up by the Freshmen Household Arts group is as follows: color, design, methods in stenciling, dyeing and decorating, arrangement of cut-flowers, wrapping and addressing of parcel-post packages, decorating of articles for Christmas work. This will be followed by a review of color, dress, the house - inside and out, house furnishings, the garden, and civic beauty.
Progressive methods and hearty cooperation will bring out the truly educational value of Applied Arts in the Public Schools
Respectfully submitted,
DORIS D. WARD, Superintendent of Drawing
21
Report of Supervisor of Music
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To MR. F. E. BRAGDON, -
Superintendent of Schools.
The great problem which confronts the public school music teacher is that of reaching the home and community life through public school music.
It is our province to discover talent, to encourage music study and develop music as a cultural force, but even beyond these essentials we must so conduct our work that school music may not only closely correlate with other school subjects but also take its place as a practical, vitalizing and stimulating force in every phase of human life and activity.
Modern music pedagogy eliminates the non-essentials - places the mechanics of music in their proper place as the machinery with which music is made, and requires that first of all, children must be taught to love to sing, to desire to hear good music and to express their feelings freely through music.
Every effort is being made to attain this ideal in the schools of Scituate.
Each year secures better sight reading, better tone quality, better enunication, better interpretation through increasing appreciation of good music.
These results are due in large measure to the music books with which every school under my supervision is now equipped; a series, compulsory in many states, that not only presents every problem involved in the theory of music in a logical and definite way but through its wealth of song material holds and compels interest during the necessary mastery of the rudiments.
But the purpose of the Music Department is not to
22
Report of Supervisor of Music
educate children in singing alone; but to give them a greater appreciation of music through any available media.
This leads us to another phase of musical activity now under development.
Free instrumental classes were organized in our grammar schools last March. All pupils from fifth grade on became eligible to take lessons, and instructions were sent home to parents or guardians to be signed.
An unexpectedly large number registered, and through the courtesy of the Baptist Church the violin and cornet classes of Hatherly were held in the small vestry once a week during noon intermission. At Jenkins, the assembly hall was available for the purpose.
The aim of the classes was not to accomplish the work of a private teacher, but to teach the elementary steps of the instrument so as to give the pupil the proper foundation for future study, to teach appreciation of the instrument, to provide enjoyment for the home, and finally to furnish material for school orchestras of the future.
Only a few of the instruments were owned by the pupils at that time, some were purchased with funds solicited by your supervisor, and many were loaned by friends, who did not need to be convinced of the value of the movement.
One of our interested townsmen loaned us two violins, a cornet and cello; another, two violins, many others one violin or cornet, a clarinet and alto, etc.
The Village Brotherhood bought for us three cornets and two violins; a trombone and cornet came from a distant part of the state with the gift of an instruction book for every cornet pupil.
The violin instruction books and later the orchestral books were supplied by the School Department.
And so with this splendid help for which I am most grateful, the start was made. The grand result is that we now have at Hatherly an orchestra that would do credit to any grammar school, with a place in the schedule and a room fòi rehearsal.
Many of the pupils of last year's grammar school classes
23
Report of Supervisor of Music
now form the nucleus of the first high school orchestra, students who would probably never have become interested were it not for that opportunity.
These, together with other players who had had the advantage of individual instruction and longer experience, compose an orchestra of which any supervisor might be proud, taking into consideration the short time the players have practised together.
Every member of the high school orchestra must furnish his or her own instrument and is advised by the Music Department to seek the services of some private teacher if not already placed. (Later, this will be an entrance require- ment.)
The violin section is splendidly provided for in that respect and it is expected that as fast as conditions warrant it expert teachers on the other instruments will be available.
Surely no further argument is needed as to the desira- bility of school orchestras when we have here such a demon- stration of their value. But the movement does not stop at the schools.
All over the town little home orchestras are being formed - we advise children of the same family to choose different instruments to that end.
Fathers and mothers, older brothers and sisters are bringing out their long-forgotten instruments to practice with the children.
Neighboring children are getting together after school hours at my house or their own homes to play not only orchestral music, but also hymns, folk songs, patriotic songs, familiar old songs.
All this will go far toward widening the approach to the community life for which we of the schools are giving our best to fit them.
A comparatively new feature of music study in high schools which I believe should have our careful consideration is class-form voice culture.
The work is carried on under the plan now being gen
24
Report of Supervisor of Music
erally adopted, assured training of the speaking voice as well as the development of the singing voice - and because in our country there is very great need of better voices and better speech a course in class-form vocal instruction should be included in the curriculum of every high school.
Absence of beautiful singing is the most wide-spread fault in public school music today although as some one has said, "the human voice is still the finest and most useful instrument ever invented, and everybody owns one."
The making of beautiful vocal music is the strongest motive that can be placed before the pupils to get them to work hard at their music.
One of the sincerest joys in the world is the joy of accomplishment. It is from this that true joy in music study springs.
When the music period is regarded as a recreatory period whether at school, at home or in community activi- ties, then we shall know the real meaning of music education - the placing of a deep love of the great art in the hearts of our people.
Respectfully submitted,
JEANNE BRADFORD, Supervisor of Music.
25
Report of School Physician
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the Scituate School Committee:
A physical examination has been made of every pupil in the Jenkins and Hatherly Schools and physical observa- tion at the High School.
Nearly one third of those recommended for correction have been attended to. This is a very high average and is in a large measure due to the follow-up work of the School Nurse.
I have responded to several emergency calls.
Number of pupils examined . 346
Number of defectives . 64
Number of corrections 19
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Measles . . 30
Scarlet Fever . 3
Impetigo . 2
A few cases of pediculus capitis.
Respectfully submitted,
T. B. ALEXANDER, M.D. School Physician
26
Report of School Nurse
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
SCHOOL WORK DONE BY NURSE January 1, 1922 to December 31, 1922
MR. F. E. BRAGDON,
Superintendent of Schools.
Number of visits to schools . 140
Number of inspections (teeth, hair, skin, etc.) 84
Number of inspections (sanitary) 18
Number of visits made with School Physician 24
Number of children examined . 346
Number of visits to dental clinic. 64
Number of visits to homes of school children
Number of children with physical defects . 96
63
Number of children having defects corrected .
19
Number of children having dental work done at clinic 266
Number of children having dental work completed . .. 222 Number of children excluded during year . 40
(Excluded on account of measles, scarlet fever, pediculus, and impetigo.)
Assisted School Physician and School Dentist in exami- nations.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE M. GAFFNEY, R.N.
27
Report of School Dentist
REPORT OF SCHOOL DENTIST
Board of Education, Town of Scituate, Mass.
Mr. Bragdon, Superintendent of Schools:
It gives me pleasure to submit to you the following as summary of the work completed by me from January 1 to December 31, 1922:
Silver fillings .
673
Root canal fillings
7
Treatments .
60
Cleansings .
171
Cement fillings .
18
Porcelain crown
1
Enamel fillings
104
Extractions . 366
The above figures were taken from cards which are on file at the clinic, which show the amount and the nature of the work done for each individual pupil.
The percentage of children in the Jenkins School who have all dental work done at the clinic is 76.3%.
The percentage of children in the Hatherly School who have all dental work done at the clinic is 82%.
JENKINS SCHOOL
Grade
Number of Pupils in Grade
Pupils to have work done by school dentist
Pupils to have work done by family dentist
Number Completed by me
Incomplete
1
21
21
0
21
0
2
27
23
4
23
0
3
21
16
5
15
1
4
20
11
9
11
0
5
17
10
7
10
0
6
18
14
4
13
1
7
18
13
5
12
1
8
27
21
6
20
1
Totals
169
129
40
125
4
The percentage of children in the Jenkins School who have all dental work done at the clinic is 76.3%.
28
Report of School Dentist
HATHERLY SCHOOL
Grade
Number of pupils in Grade
Pupils to have work done by school dentist
Pupils to have work done by family dentist
Number Completed by me
Incomplete
1
26
24
2
14
10
2
10
9
1
9
0
3
32
29
3
23
6
4
29
23
6
22
1
5-6
30
21
9
16
5
7
22
18
4
9
9
8
18
13
5
4
9
Totals
167
137
30
97
40
The percentage of children in the Hatherly School who have all dental work done at the clinic is 82%.
Number of High School pupils worked for
21
Number completed . 15
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK A. DERBY, D.M.D.
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
To the School Committee of Scituate:
I have attended to all absences that have been called to my attention. Six truancies and thirty cases of poor attendance have been attended to. One case was taken to Hingham Court.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNIE M. LITCHFIELD, Attendance Officer.
29
Appendix - Financial Statement
APPENDIX
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
RECEIPTS
Town appropriation $39,650 00
For transportation 11,000 00
Dog tax. 391 80
Balance from last year
2,000 00
For salary of School Committee 300 00
Miscellaneous refunds
678 20
Total receipts .
$54,020 00
EXPENDITURES
School Committee:
Salaries .
$300 00
Expenses .
27 58
$327 58
Superintendent:
Salary . $1,000 08
Expense . . 135 73
Attendance Officer
100 00
1,235 81
Supervisors
1,220 00
High School:
Principal
$2,340 00
Teachers . 8,880 00
11,220 00
Elementary teachers.
12,924 00
30
Appendix - Financial Statement
Textbooks:
High .
$310 83
Elementary
483 21
$794 04
Supplies :
High .
$341 78
Elementary
756 05
Janitors:
High .
$1,531 25
Elementary
2,000 00
Fuel:
High .
$641 48
Elementary
717 35
Miscellaneous:
High .
$226 14
Elementary
431 84
Repairs:
High .
$276 98
Elementary
754 36
1,031 34
Health .
1,250 55
Vocational
724 73
Transportation
10,016 50
New equipment and grounds
3,537 10
Sundries .
1,244 85
Total expenditures
52,172 39
$1,847 61
Expended (charged to 1921) December 31, 1921 963 53
Unexpended balance . $884 08
1,097 83
3,531 25
1,358 83
658 02
31
Appendix - Financial Statement
ITEMIZED STATEMENT OF EXPENDITURES
1921 BILLS PAID IN JANUARY, 1922
Seaverns Pharmacy $1 60
Carter, Rice & Co. 3 40
Surgeons' and Physicians' Supply Co.
33 75
Electric Light and Power Co ..
2 40
New England Telephone and Tele- graph Co .. 10 21
J. L. Hammett Co.
47 29
C. M. Wagner .
3 96
H. A. Wales Co ..
5 00
Whitcomb & Barrows .
3 82
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins
28 47
F. E. Bragdon .
18 87
G. F. Welch Co.
65 08
D. C. Heath & Co ..
3 14
Whitney Fire Appliance Co
158 00
Oliver Ditson Co.
17 77
D. H. Knowlton Co.
14 82
Jordan Marsh Co.
1 75
Masury Young Co ..
36 00
Yawman Erbe Company
1 00
Jones MacDuffey & Stratton
20 77
City of Boston
9 40
John C. Winston Co
110 47
William J. Roberts .
200 74
American Book Co.
1 50
William Leavens & Co.
89 34
F. T. Bailey
37 50
Singer Sewing Machine Co
37 44
Total
$963 53
SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY
F. E. Bragdon $1,000 08
32
Appendix - Financial Statement
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S SALARIES
Philip S. Bailey $100 00
W. Cleveland Cogswell 100 00
Marion C. Alexander
100 00
Total $300 00
SUPERINTENDENT'S EXPENSE
F. E. Bragdon . $135 73
Mrs. Waldo Litchfield . 100 00
235 73
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S EXPENSE
Boundbrook Press .. $26 40
Marion C. Alexander 1 18
27 58.
TEACHERS' SALARIES, HIGH SCHOOL
L. A. Martin . $2,340 00
William Ware Locke
900 00
E. R. Murray . 480 00 1
M. E. Hastings.
1,540 00
N. E. Elliott .
1,640 00
B. M. Dudley 1,440 00
G. H. Callanan . 1,240 00
Olive Barrows. 1,640 00
11,220 00
TEACHERS' SALARIES, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Nathaniel Phillips. $1,400 00
A. L. Hughes .
1,194 60
A. E. Murphy
660 00
F. L. Patten . 480 00
Lucy Whittier 332 00
E. Gertrude Gardner 1,200 00
33
Appendix - Financial Statement
Lillian M. Weeden
$1,200 00
Harold F. Barrows.
720 00
Carlton A. Burney
520 00
Carlton A. Burney (Fickett Agency)
65 00
Anne L. Cunneen
1,200 00
Eunice M. Cole.
1,070 70
Sara M. Kane.
1,200 00
Doris A. Tobey
480 00
Mildred H. Newman
350 00
Rosamond F. Benson
633 60
Mrs. George Dwyer
14 40
Mrs. R. L. Mitchell
164 70
Town of Marshfield
39 00
$12,924 00
SUPERVISORS' SALARIES
Jeanne E. Bradford
$540 00
Mrs. Doris A. Ward 680 00
1,220 00
JANITORS, HIGH SCHOOL
Charles G. Everett. $1,531 25 1,531 25
JANITORS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Walter T. Newcomb $1,000 00
Frank L. Young 1,000 00
2,000 00
TEXTBOOKS, HIGH SCHOOL
Oliver Ditson & Co.
$7 60
D. C. Heath & Co. 62 11
E. E. Babb & Co. 6 81
Macmillan Co ..
3 55
Charles Scribners Sons 1 75
Allyn & Bacon . 4 19
34
Appendix - Financial Statement
Ginn & Co .. $92 74
Benjamin H. Sanborn & Co. 44 71
The Gregg Publishing Co.
48 61
Silver Burdett & Co.
4 52
Charles E. Merrill Co .
34 24
$310 83
TEXTBOOKS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
American Book Co.
$103 19
Richard G. Badger
3 57.
D. H. Knowlton Co.
9 26
Owen Publishing Co.
38 45
Houghton Mifflin & Co
32 72
F. T. Bailey & Co.
25
D. C. Heath & Co.
120 75
Oliver Ditson Co.
26 88
The A. N. Palmer Co
6 02
C. E. Hill
2 50
Carl Fischer
5 51
John C. Winston Co
75 80
Ginn & Co ..
13 26
E. E. Babb & Co.
45 05
483 21
SUPPLIES
F. E. Bradgon .
$5 05
Jordan Marsh Co.
5 75
F. S. Webster Co.
8 25
Ginn & Co.
12 16
Office Appliance Co.
22 35
Dowling Supply Co.
45 41
Harris & Gilpatric.
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