USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1931-1933 > Part 13
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In teaching reading in a Beginners' class, we use the direct method, a great variety of objective material, and much drama- tization.
The first evening's lesson is the following theme.
I sit.
I stand.
I walk.
I walk to the door.
I open the door.
Sit is the first word to be developed. The teacher sits and says slowly and distinctly, "I sit." She points to herself as she says, "I" and says, "sit", as she sits. She does it several times. Then she writes, "I sit" on the blackboard. She has the students read and perform the action in turn and in concert.
In the same way the rest of the theme is developed. Then follows a word drill for recognition of the words used to develop the theme.
The Grade II or Intermediate students in general are-
1. Those students who speak a limited amount of English with frequent errors.
2. Those who read understandingly a simple text.
3. Those who can write independently such facts as those of identification.
In the Intermediate class much of the reading pertains to history and civics. We emphasize holidays as a means of teach- ing American ideals and principles. We select content that will provide development of a real understanding and appreciation of America.
The students of an Advanced class are those students who had experience in the Beginners' and Intermediate classes, and who are ambitious and willing to work hard.
The general aims of the work in the Advanced classes center around the improvement of the students' use of oral and written
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
English. They need help in reading intelligently simple texts in geography, civics, and history. They need help, too, in getting the thought from the printed page, in addition to the acquiring of information on local, state and national problems, so that they may participate in the life of the community.
At the present time there are twenty-eight students enrolled in the Americanization classes. I am very happy to say that twenty-three of this number are either citizens or applicants for first and second papers.
We feel that the desired goal of our achievement in the teaching of the adult alien is citizenship. First comes the teach- ing of English, and after the teaching of English, comes educa- tion in citizenship.
The desire for citizenship is slowly but steadily increasing. That is as it should be, for Americanization cannot be imposed from without. It can best be handled when the foreign born through their own efforts and lively desires seek American cit- izenship.
I feel that a sympathetic understanding on the part of all of us, of the foreign born in our community, and a realization of the difficult adjustment which they have to make, will help more than anything else to bring about a complete Americanization of the foreign born in Scituate.
The classes are open to all who wish to learn English and who desire citizenship.
The last few minutes of each evening are spent in singing patriotic songs followed by the salute to the flag. One of the students accompanies the singing with his violin which adds much to the enjoyment of the occasion.
Classes meet on Tuesday and Thursday of each week and visitors are cordially invited to come in and see us at work.
It is an inspiration to both teachers and students to know that the public is interested in this great work of Americaniz- ation.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNE L. CUNNEEN.
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
There has been an unusual amount of stability in the con- tinuity of service of teachers in the Scituate schools: This is particularly true in the Elementary grades. For the past five years the average yearly overturn of teachers in Grades I - VIII inclusive has been less than 10%.
During this same period there have been five full-time teachers-including those in the present Junior High School unit -added to the teaching staff of the elementary schools. This has been made necessary especially by the increase in the number of pupils enrolled. As of October 1, 1926, the elementary school enrollment was 390; on October 1, 1931 it was 494. Another reason for the increase in the number of teachers may be found in the size of four of the class-rooms at the Jenkins School. These rooms will accommodate but twenty-five pupils each; conse- quently two of the six grades must be divided. This year the grades so divided enrolled respectively forty-two and forty-eight pupils.
I feel particularly gratified with the high record of attend- ance in the Hatherly and Jenkins schools for the fall term of the present school year. Each room has had a chart showing the daily record of its own attendance and that of the other rooms in the building. The principals feel that this has contributed to reduce the number of unnecessary absences. The per cent of attendance at the Jenkins School was 96% and at the Hatherly nearly 98%.
Through the courtesy of the National Commission appointed to foster the observance of the bicentennial of the birth of Wash- ington, we received a number of excellent reproductions of the Gilbert Stuart painting of Washington. These prints have been framed and each school-room is being presented with one of the pictures.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
The work of the different departments in the High School for the past year is well covered in Mr. Cole's report which fol- lows :
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Harold C. Wingate,
Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
I submit herewith, my fifth annual report as principal of the Scituate High School. I think I may best be able to describe existing conditions and improvements made during the last school year by reporting the work accomplished in each of the various departments. The following table represents the student enroll- ment by classes of the pupils in the Scituate High School for the school year 1931 and 1932 :
Post Graduates Seniors Juniors Sophomores Freshmen Total
Boys
20
17
19
20
76
Girls
2
16
17
26
26
87
Total
2
36
34
45
46
163
The English department is somewhat handicapped this year by the fact that the classes are so large, ranging from thirty- four to forty-six pupils. In groups as large as these, I think, types of individual work are practically impossible.
As projects. of the English department, the " "Chimes", a combination year book and magazine, which provides an incen- tive for creative writing, has been published for several years; and accounts of school news are sent weekly to the local news- papers. Recently a request for a literary society came from some of the students, and plans for such an organization are under way.
It is not easy to measure the results of this department however. Those of our graduates who have gone to college have, in most cases, maintained creditable grades in English. Within a few years, two students in college have been excused from the regular Freshman English class, and have been transferred to an advanced class.
This department greatly appreciates the gifts of books and magazines which have been made by graduates and townspeople.
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
We shall find especially helpful "The Dictionary of Biography", a gift of the Scituate Woman's Club.
Perhaps the item most worthy of mention in the commercial department is that beginning in the fall we were able to go back on our regular five period a week schedule in typewriting for both the beginning and the senior classes. This was made pos- sible by the purchase of enough new typewriters so that each student has a machine. In itself it seems a small matter whether a student has four forty-minute periods a week or five, but it means that this year we are doing now what last year's students were doing in February.
We wish to express our appreciation to the school author- ities for the new duplicator machine which was purchased last spring, and also for the fine condition in which all of the equip- ment is kept. Our typewriters are replaced with new ones often enough so that we always have the benefits of the newest and most up-to-date improvements. Last year we earned $18.94 on our duplicator by doing work for different townspeople and or- ganizations. This made it possible to send our full quota of rep- resentatives to the state contest at no expense to the students. The balance of money was used for different kinds of tests, awards, and supplies.
In May we competed, as usual, in the state contest which was held in Boston and won second place in the advanced short- hand class. In June we gave a Prognostic Test of Secretarial and Stenographic Ability to those wishing to take the commercial course. Those students having unsatisfactory grades were ad- vised to pursue other studies, thus eliminating to a great extent a large per cent. of possible failures. We are planning to com- pete in the annual state contest in 1932.
During the time that the high school attendance has in- creased by thirty-five per cent, the enrollment in the Mathe- matics and Science departments has increased by seventy per cent. This increase has been due mainly to the Science classes, in three of which the total registration is about one hundred and twenty-five.
In Science and Chemistry, excellent equipment is provided
1
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
in the shape of convenient individual laboratory desks, and the installation of convenient outlets for electricity, gas, and water. The apparatus is also complete for each student and the supply of chemicals and special pieces of apparatus adequate.
The courses in General Science and Biology are mainly in the nature of informational, exploratory, and cultural courses, and fit that purpose admirably.' In Mathematics, as in Science, the courses have a two-fold purpose; to prepare those who so desire for future work in higher educational institutions, and to give to those who are not so directed an appreciation and a know- ledge of the fundamental processes in Mathematics and Science which will be of lasting value to them. Such a progress natur- ally forces concessions from both viewpoints.
Seventy-one per cent of the school is taking some language, which is an increase of seven per cent over last year. The major- ity of our high school graduates carry on their language study in college. Our Latin department is equipped with maps and books for research work and our French department has a Paris- ian magazine, books for outside reading, (which is required of all advanced students) and a bulletin board for French items of interest.
In the social science department which includes history and civics and Problems of American democracy, the methods employed are similar to those used last year. In United States history one day each week is devoted to current events, that is, history in the making. The "Literary Digest" is used for this work. This is called history club day and each pupil in the class in turn conducts the discussion on matters of nation and world interest. The other days of the school week are devoted to a study and discussion of important characters and events which have helped in modeling our nation. Approximately, on alternating Fridays, standard tests are given covering material already taken up, followed in the same period by work outlined in map book assignments. The map book lessoons are used in connection with all of the history courses.
The introduction this year of a course in problems of American democracy fulfills the recommendation of the State
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
Department of Education and offers an opportunity for pupils to gain a knowledge of American ideals, institutions, and customs as well as the problems with which our country has to deal and the methods employed to elevate American standards.
During the last two years the acquisition of two new lathes and a new sanding machine together with our planer and ma- chine saw made the scope of work designed unlimited in our Manual Training Department. With frequent additions to our list of tools and other materials and with the excellent wood- working shop and finishing room, this department can and does compare as regards projects and all other facilities with most of the other departments of this kind in the state.
Seventy-five students from the Junior and Senior High are enrolled in this course. This number gives evidence of the pop- ularity and interest in this work. We would welcome any who wish to visit this or any other department during the school hours and inspect the work being done.
Physical Education in some form has been a part of the school system for many years. In the early days it consisted chiefly of calisthenics, exercises occupying five or ten minutes a day, the old type of physical education being out of doors. Where the pupils went and what they did was frequently of little concern to the teacher. The modern method of physical education is controlled by the school with the aid and direction of a physical instructor.
We are fortunate in having a fine gymnasium with complete equipment and natural facilities. Due to this we are able to give full physical instruction.
Physical Education is being more closely related than ever to health work. An important phase of the work is the cor- rection of those physical defects which can be remedied. This requires the cooperation of the home and the school. A satis- factory curriculum now provides for at least two periods a week in the gymnasium for each pupil, the pupils playing the major sports, such a football, basketball, and baseball, being excused. The use of physical education classes is a great factor in develop- ing boys for future athletic teams, and for future life. With
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
the major sports and physical education classes every boy in school participates.
The objectives for both Junior and Senior High School pupils are as follows :
1. The development of bodily vigor.
2. The development of muscular skill.
3. The development of correct attitudes.
Activities : (1) Football, soccer, baseball, tennis, basketball, track, and field events. Development of skillful handling in all of those events. Development of good physical condition, team loyalty, self-confidence, cooperation, courage, give and take, ability to think under stress. (2) Daily calisthenics, a means of realization and change from confinement of the class room. improvement of the circulation and stimulation of the mind, (3) Instruction, proper care of the physical system, physical ex- amination, the use of games and athletic contests.
As a result of better working conditions in the school, there has come a deeper concern on the part of the pupils for their immediate and future welfare, and a greater appreciation and care for the school facilities afforded them. There has been a noticeable diminution in the administrative problems arising from imperfect conduct of pupils.
Two per cent of the student body are on the honor roll. This is equal to the norm for high school students. There are fewer cases of failure. I feel that it would be to the advantage of our school administration if instead of having a teacher from the regular departments serving as supervisors in our library studyroom, we have a full time teacher trained for that partic- ular type of work. This would leave teachers of regular sub- jects the full time for their particular work, and give the pupils the advantage of a trained librarian and supervisor during their work hours.
It has been necessary this year to assign to teachers classes of forty-five pupils and more in order to carry out our scheduled courses of study. We are able to do this only because we have an additional room of large seating capacity for use this year in
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
the Junior High School section of the building, and by placing movable chairs in the other rooms. This condition could be best remedied by engaging an additional teacher permitting the form- ation of divisions suitable in size to the accommodations of the school rooms and where a greater degree of individual instruction could be given by the teacher in charge.
In closing, I wish to express my appreciation for an in- creased degree of cooperation and loyalty on the part of both teachers and pupils, and also to express our gratitude to the School Committee and Superintendent for their counsel and di- rection in the administrative problems and needs during the past school year.
Respectfully submitted,
A. RUSSELL C. COLE.
Mr. Cole's request for another teacher in the High School meets with my approval. In fact, I believe that the only alter- native to adding a teacher to the High School staff next Septem- ber, would be the elimination of one of our established depart- ments such as Manual Training or Household Arts. In the past five years the enrollment of the High School has increased from 119 to 163. During this time the only addition to the teaching force has been a part-time instructor in physical education activ- ities for the girls, and this addition is only to the extent of ten periods a week.
SPECIAL SUBJECTS
(a) ART
In her report for 1931, Mrs. Ward discusses some of the general aims in Art teaching. She writes:
"Our aim is to help each child to some pictorial expression of ideas and to create an appreciation for Art.
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
"In public schools we are dealing with many, more untal- ented than talented. We are trying to make every child so happy in the drawing periods that he looks forward to them and thoroughly enjoys them and so becomes interested in anything that has to do with Drawing, Painting and Color.
"He has the fun of creation, the ability to make his own pictures, to express himself and his own ideas. He learns about color and bit by bit about design, rhythm and beauty.
"If drawing is not a natural gift, making it easy by symbol and easy step methods will keep the ordinary child happy in the power to do and his interest is retained. He goes to look at trees to see how they really look and his friendship for them begins. He looks at everything in a new way and his powed of observa- tion should develop.
"The ordinary child will never be an artist in that he will paint or draw, but he will, we hope, be an artist in that he will see and love the beauty of the out-of-doors, will be able to visualize it in the descriptive portions of good books, will sense it in a good piece of furniture and will find it in the design of a good building.
"Because pictures are fun to draw in school, he will be in- terested in all pictures and be eager to learn of the good ones. His interest must never lag, he is worth every effort in his behalf. He is the ordinary man of tomorrow, the purchaser, the home-maker, the town leader. Drawing is made easy and his interest in Art is formed. He will become familiar with beauty and his interest in it will make him discard the ugly.
"The talented child meanwhile will gain all this and go far beyond. His talent for drawing will keep him a step ahead of the others. He will put different things in his pictures, he will not be dependent on the teacher, and it is very much up to the supervisor and teacher to see that he is not dependent on them. Here lies a test in public school work. It needs a wise and care- ful teacher who will not hold back the talented child by the symbol and casy method tactics needed to keep the interest and happiness of the others.
"The talented child will recognize the beauty of compo-
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
sition and the rhythm of line and color in good pictures while the other child's interest is held by the story sense of the picture. But if drawing has been made easy for that other child he will, through his own efforts, however crude, feel a kinship for the artist who was able to paint such a picture. The talented child may be the one who will later create but the rest must have an appreciation for that creation."
Mrs. Ward writes in some detail, of a project for the benefit of the boys and girls of the High School, proposed and sponsored by the late Henry Turner Bailey.
"The art department wishes to record the great loss it re- cently felt in the passing of Dr. Henry Turner Bailey. His in- fluence had been felt in every art department all over the country and Scituate was especially fortunate in the keen interest which as a townsman he felt in our work. We are grateful for the memory of that interest and for the memory of his kindly crit- icisms and encouragement.
"Scituate is unusual in the number of her people who have entered the different fields of art work. Added to these are the number of artists who make Scituate their summer home. It has long been our wish to own for the High School a collection of originals by Scituate artists. Such a collection, because of the value of the paintings, seemed quite impossible until this fall, when, through the interest of Dr. Bailey and Mrs. James Hall of North Scituate, plans were made to make it all possible.
"Much material had been promised and it was planned that before Christmas the paintings which were to be the beginning in the series were to be formally presented by Dr. Bailey.
"Already on the walls of the art room, hang a series of frames designed to display small mounted sketches. The glassed frames are hinged permitting a changing of the material within the frame. The mounts containing the sketches are to be kept in a filing cabinet and displayed in the frames as the subject fits the lesson at hand. This presents to the students a wealth of material in all the mediums of art expression.
"The files of mounts together with a collection of framed subjects to be hung on the walls of the High School Library and
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
in the corridors were to be presented to the students of Scituate, to be kept in the High School building until such time as an Art Exhibition Building might by private or popular subscription be built, when the collection would be moved into such a building.
"The collection, which is to be approved by a board of judges, will represent work in all mediums by Scituate artists and art educators whose names are well known throughout the field and will also contain the work of a younger group who are just starting out on their career. It is a great gift to Scituate students and townspeople alike. The work which Dr. Bailey started will be carried on and it is hoped that before the close of the school year the whole valuable collection will be ready."
The committee to improve the appearance of the class-rooms which was recommended in last year's report has been appointed, and has already accomplished good results in such ways as re- hanging school-room pictures, placing proper subjects in each grade and discarding any unsuited for use.
(b) MUSIC
The progressive development of music from the first grade through the High School, is the subject of a part of Miss Brad- ford's report this year. She writes as follows:
"Although many phases of music are open to our students, it is our first aim to give every child the use of his singing voice, and pleasure in song as a means of expression.
"The pupils of the first grade average a reportory of eighty rote songs appropriate to their years, many of them with simple motions to induce a recognition of rhythm. In succeeding grades there is further development of song singing, and natural growth of tonal and rhythmic thinking from the printed page.
"The standard material with which each of our schools is fully equipped is singularly appropriate to the taste and expand- ing power of each successive grade, contributing in no small measure to the pleasure the children take in their music.
"Drill in sight reading and part singing is so consistently conducted in the elementary schools that by the time pupils reach
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
junior high school they are generally well prepared for progres- sive work and steady improvement in their musical experience. Here the technical and theoretical side do not require so much emphasis but interpretation of good song material and music appreciation are stressed.
"Through the purchase of a radio by our junior high stu- dents, it is our good fortune this year to enjoy the course in music appreciation by Dr. Walter Damrosch. I cannot overstate the value of the introduction of this course into our program.
"The glee clubs and special groups in the senior high school are indispensable agencies for the development to a point beyond that reached by general music. We have several types of such organizations, each striking a different range of musical expres- sion and interest ; girls' glee club, boys' glee club, mixed voice glee club and smaller groups of students vocally gifted and un- usually interested in singing."
In discussing her instrumental groups, Miss Bradford writes :
"Every child should have not only the opportunity to learn to sing good music with understanding and appreciation, but should also be able to satisfy his longing to play an instrument.
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