USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1937-1939 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
In addition to this there are substantial amounts of money that are paid or credited to the town for which the schools are responsible, but which cannot legally be added to the school budget. The largest single item
14
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
is a credit from the state based upon the number of teachers employed, and varying according to their training and experience. Other items include reim- bursement by the state for one-half the cost of our Household Arts courses, and one-half of the money paid for trade school tuition. Money is also received by the Town Treasurer for the tuition of state and city wards that are enrolled in our schools. Other miscel- laneous receipts include money received from Manual Training students for the cost of the stock used in in- dividual projects, and money collected for the rent of the Auditorium.
During the year 1937 these credits have been as fol- lows:
From the State of Massachusetts
On Teachers' Salaries
$5,818.94
Household Arts Reimbursement
1,087.29
Trade School Tuition Reimbursement 149.62
Tuition of State Wards
503.54
From the City of Boston
Tuition of City Wards
577.18
Collected by School Department
151.61
Total
$8,288.18
Your attention is called to the various individual reports that form a part of the School Report. The usual statistical tables and the Financial Statement for the year 1937 are included.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. WINGATE, Superintendent of Schools.
15
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Harold C. Wingate, Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith my third annual report as prin- cipal of the Scituate High School.
As this report is being written, our high school has an enrollment of 361, 227 of which are in the senior high school and 134 in the 7th and 8th grades. The number of pupil stations filled is very close to maximum each period of the day. The laboratory is being used regularly for recitations in the sciences and one Eng- lish class meets daily in the Cafeteria.
Crowded conditions during the cafeteria periods have been alleviated by dividing the school into three sections rather than two. This change is a big improve- ment and gives every pupil ample room at the tables or arm chairs.
Our weekly assemblies continue to lend a pleasant change from classroom and laboratory studies. In the past year these programs have included the Boston University Male Quartet, an instrumental group from the New England Conservatory of Music, a sound film on "Snow Trains of 1936," Mr. John E. Hines in the comedy, "If I Were King," a talk on Bird Life by Mr.
16
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
L. R. Talbot of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, a talk by Mr. Ralph B. Ford on "Indian Relics," an ex- change assembly with students from the Marshfield High School, a talk on the "Life of Horace Mann" by the Rev. Robert Withington, an illustrated talk by Col. C. Wellington Furlong, Memorial Day Address by Mr. Ernest Drake, Miss Dorothy George on "Art," Mr. Charles C. Gorst in "Bird Songs," pictures of the British Coronation, a Horace Mann play by pupils of the 7th and 8th grades, a Liquid Air Demonstration given by Mr. Elliot James, special day student-participating programs and educational and travel films. These as- semblies are aimed to give entertaining instruction over a broad field. The cost is borne entirely by the "assem- bly fund," raised principally from proceeds of the Tri- Town One-Act Play Competition.
One of the most important trends in secondary school education today is the correlation of subjects of the curriculum. It is often true that a pupil fails to apply to one subject what he has learned in another. For example, a piece of written work in science or the social studies might be excellent as far as subject matter is concerned but very poor in spelling, punctuation or grammatical construction. Teachers from the English department are now correcting papers from other classes and giving the pupil a mark in English in addi- tion to the mark received by the pupil in the other subject.
As a result of the recent discovery that the scholastic difficulties of many pupils are traceable to deficiencies in reading, and that many reading deficiencies can be corrected, a class in remedial reading has been estab- lished. Last June the Shank Tests of Reading Ability were given, and this year we are trying to help as many
17
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
retarded readers as the schedule will allow. After an attempt to discover whether the reading disability is caused by weak eyesight, inefficient eye movements, lip reading, limited vocabulary, or lack of concentra- tion, corrective exercises of various types are used. Timed reading, which necessitates concentration, is fol- lowed by questions and exercises involving reading for main points, reading for detail, vocabulary building, and other reading skills.
Already some of the pupils in this class have shown noticeable improvement in their work in the regular English classes. The repetition of another form of the Shank Test at the end of the half year will further re- veal the results of this remedial work.
We continue to send a goodly number to higher in- stitutions of learning. Members of the 1937 Class are attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bowdoin College, Northeastern University, Massachu- setts State College and Boston University. Others are taking courses in business and other special schools.
Nearly one hundred new volumes were added to our school library during the year. These books, selected from a list submitted by all teachers, were chosen by a committee appointed by the school board. They have greatly aided our efforts to supplement our classroom texts and broaden the reading of the pupils.
The school extends its thanks to Mrs. M. Elizabeth Turner for her gift of nine volumes to the school library, to Miss Emma Wood for her annual subscription to the Atlantic Monthly, and to the Scituate Parent Teacher Association for the gift of two chairs and the books used for prizes in the public speaking competition.
18
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
In closing, I wish to call to your attention the splendid cooperation and fine spirit of all the teachers, during the year, and to thank you and the School Committee for your helpful support.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK A. CALKIN, Principal.
19
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
STENOGRAPHY A
RUTH E. HAWKES
Teacher of Commercial Subjects, High School
In the first-year class in Stenography, Gregg Short- hand is taught by the Functional Method. This method was developed by Louis A. Leslie under the direct per- sonal supervision of John Robert Gregg, author of Gregg Shorthand, and was announced in "The Business Education World" for March, 1935. In 1936, textbooks were prepared for the teaching of shorthand by this method, and, in September, these textbooks were pur- chased for use in our high school.
The Functional Method is based on the belief that the student should not be required to write any short- hand outline until he is thoroughly prepared to write outlines correctly. For this reason, the reading ap- proach is used. The pupil reads for the first 24 assign- ments when he begins to write from the correct short- hand outlines in the book. New-matter dictation is not introduced until after 70 assignments have been completed. All dictation up to this point has been given with the student's book open in front of him, and he is urged to refer to the text rather than to write an incorrect outline.
In teaching shorthand by the Functional Method, no rules are taught for it is believed that rules are a hin- drance rather than a help in writing fast shorthand. The small child learns to speak correct English before he knows about grammatical construction. In the same
20
1
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
way, a person may write shorthand correctly but be unable to tell why he writes an outline a certain way. If rules are taught at all, it is after the attainment of the skill.
Tests are given only for grading purposes. They are usually short five-minute transcription tests and are unannounced. Each lesson is a test in itself for all the principles that have been pesented are used in each assignment. For this same reason, no formal reviews are given.
In the back of the text, the student has a type key to all shorthand reading matter. This enables a greater amount of work to be covered and eliminates the in- correct guessing of outlines. The student is urged to use this key until assignment 60 when he is able to read without the aid of a key.
The classroom period is taken up by presentation at the blackboard of review words and new words repre- senting a new principle, reading from the homework assignment, taking dictation from practiced material, and, after 70 assignments, dictation of new-matter ma- terial. The word list is placed on the board by the teacher and the words read in concert by the class and by the individual students. In this way, the brief forms are taught before they are assigned for home practice.
The second-semester work consists of reading short- hand and taking dictation from practiced material and from new-matter dictation. The blackboard drill on a word list is still continued with each assignment giving a constant review of all principles. The amount of new-matter dictation is gradually increased as the year progresses so that the students should be able to take dictation between 60 and 80 words a minute at the end of the year.
21
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
NEWER TRENDS IN GEOGRAPHY
DOROTHY L. MAXIM
Teacher of Geography - Grades VII and VIII
There is probably no subject in the elementary cur- riculum in which greater changes have taken place than in the study of geography. One hundred years ago it was defined as a "study of the earth." Pupils were required to "bound" countries, point out mean- ingless places and to memorize many useless facts. Today our definition is stated as "a study of the earth in relation to man and life." We are more interested in developing attitudes-respect for other nations, sym- pathy with other peoples and understanding of their modes of living, all of which tend to help strengthen and promote world friendship.
To help bring about some of these desired attitudes, we have joined the World Friendship League and a number of our members are now carrying on corre- spondence with their new "pen-pals" across the sea. To date we have received letters from Denmark, Ire- land, Japan, Canada, Germany, Italy and Korea. We have been particularly interested in their accounts of their school life. Small gifts have been exchanged.
With the present unrest around the world, we are keeping in touch through newspaper clippings, radio reports and our weekly bulletins issued by the National Geographic Society.
22
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
In the seventh grade we take our study of world geography as an imaginary trip. Each child keeps a diary of his travels. Steamship companies offer us ex- cellent opportunities for obtaining pictures and book- lets. We prepare for these journeys as realistically as possible by securing imaginary tickets, passports and visas. Each pupil decides for himself the purpose of his trip-whether he is travelling as a news reporter, collector, photographer, etc. and makes these observa- tions in his diary. Routes of travel must be decided in advance by a careful study of our maps. Places of in- terest are noted and details studied from our reference books. In connection with this we have begun a mu- seum and many fine articles have been loaned to us by parents.
In the eighth grade we again study geography around the world but go more into detail. Each pupil keeps a notebook of outlines, maps and charts covering this material. As a supplement to our textbooks, travel magazines and books furnish us with true, interesting information. We are particularly interested in this grade to determine how geographical factors influence the life, homes and customs of people around the world. In the unit dealing with homes we sketch or construct actual models of these together with colorful posters showing the costumes of these folk.
We also make a detailed study of products such as cotton, rubber and silk. Posters are made showing all the steps in the production of the article from its nat- ural to manufactured state. These are then explained carefully to the class by the maker of the poster. This offers an excellent opportunity to correlate geography with such subjects as English and Drawing.
23
.-
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
Following the study of the Netherlands we wrote a play depicting life in Holland. Various members con- structed paper houses, dikes and gardens whereby we laid out a sand table village. Dog carts and windmills were carved from soap. One pupil taught several others a Dutch dance. Another group learned a song in the language of Holland. We hope soon to produce the results of this study as an assembly program.
24
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THE SCITUATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
RUTH A. WHIDDEN
Supervisor
The amount of time devoted by the Supervisor to this program in the Grade Schools is 20 minutes per class each week. Junior High School has one 40 minute period each week, while Senior High School has two 40 minute periods, plus extra curricular activities which last from one to one and one-half hours in the after- noon, depending entirely upon the sport that is in sea- son.
Our program in the first three grades is largely play : song, games, rhythms, dances. We march, skip, play with balls, turn somersaults, and so lay a foundation for our mental and physical background. Our aim is a sound mind and a healthy body-the best possible start for these boys and girls.
The games taught to these groups have an educa- tional value that no one can appreciate who has not observed their effects. They awaken a sense percep- tion, a mental response, and physical coordination, as well as produce a social development. In getting the educational value out of them it is important that the playing quality be stressed. The aim is not perfection but enjoyment in participation and interest.
The pupils of grades IV-VI in the elementary schools have arrived at an age where they are interested in
25
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
groups playing as a team-developing a knowledge of how to play with their team-mates to the best advan- tage, and at the same time to improve their own abil- ities. Ability testing is used as a most helpful way of laying a foundation for the games that will come later on-such as tossing rings leads to Tenikoit, catching and pitching balls leads to many types of ball games. Skills in these abilities are often perfected at an early age.
A more serious phase of this part of the program comes in our exercises which are used as corrective measures, to aid in acquiring proper standing, walking and sitting positions. The constant reminding of the child's posture falls mostly upon the grade teacher. Many of these corrective measures are put in the form of play, since play is natural to the young and as with other abilities can and should be cultivated.
Junior High School finds us at rather a difficult age to carry on all games for which skills have been devel- oped. So in many cases we let them drop for the pres- ent. It is found better to leave out such team games as Basket Ball and Field Hockey as games and to con- tinue to use only the skills found in the sport. Stunts are very popular with this group. All the games and abilities of elementary school are reviewed; Folk Dances, Tap, Apparatus, Exercises and Correctures add to our program with increased difficulty. Strenuous games of competition are not played.
As the student enters the Senior High School she has a fairly good conception of coordination of the physical and mental status. Ability to coordinate both mind and muscle in an alert manner comes as we go further along in our Swedish Gymnastics.
26
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
Senior High School classes are not divided as in Grade School. Almost every class here includes Seniors, Jun- iors, Sophomores and Freshmen. This division, altho slow at the starting of a year when Freshmen are mixed in with the upper classmen, is helpful as the year goes on in that it stimulates the interest of those of lesser ability. The development of our coordinations and abilities from the first to the fourth year of high school is extremely elastic, and includes many and various forms of Apparatus, Gymnastics, Folk and Tap Danc- ing, Marching Tactics, Stunts, Games and Sports.
The High Lights in the Sports Program starts with Field Hockey, and although we do sponsor a first and second Varsity Squad playing in outside competition, .we also include every girl in the course of the season in the playing of interclass games. This sport keeps our classes out of doors as late as the middle of Novem- ber. It takes eleven girls to make a single team of hockey, so a large number of players participate.
Our next sport season brings us indoors for Basket Ball. Here again we sponsor interclass competition in a Round Robin of games. These games are planned and assisted by members of the Varsity Squad-who play in from six to eight outside games during a season.
Spring finds us outside again with Tennis as our leading sport. Beginners are working on strokes and form, while more advanced players are given an oppor- tunity to put their Tennis knowledge into intermural play. From this a Tennis team is picked to play sur- rounding school teams; generally six matches are played during the season.
Badminton is played by a few of the better players -expense of equipment in this sport rather restricts
27
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
its use to a smaller group. Girls Base Ball is used in intermural play-with about two Varsity games in a season. Track is taught-but a small amount of time is given to this, as the group interested is generally rather small.
Our chief aim, in this department, is healthier boys and girls in the community as the result of a well rounded Physical Education Program.
28
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
REPORT FROM THE HATHERLY SCHOOL
GEORGE W. BURRILL
Principal
Enrollment in September showed a slight decrease in the number of pupils in attendance in our school. Owing to an epidemic of chicken pox during the fall term, our per cent of attendance has fallen below that of other years.
We are still endeavoring to improve the proficiency of the pupils in reading. Careful and thorough drills in the use of phonetics are given as an aid in the mas- tery of new words in sight reading. Through the co- operation of the local library, books have been placed in the three upper grades. Under the guidance of the teachers, the children are allowed to select books for home reading. We believe this eventually will develop a greater love of reading and aid in the selection of worthwhile books.
More careful attention is being given to playground supervision. During the supervised periods of play, games, which have been taught previously by the phy- sical director, are played. These games tend to bring about a better physical growth and to develop a keener coordination of mind and body. Pupils are taught to realize the value of team, rather than individual work in competitive games between selected groups.
It was with sincere regret that we recently learned that Miss Lucy A. Lockhart was to leave our school,
29
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
having accepted a position in the Centre School at Hingham. Since September, 1931, Miss Lockhart has served as teacher of the First Grade in Hatherly School. Ever loyal to her superiors, cooperative with her fellow workers, devoted to her pupils, she worked with un- tiring effort for the welfare and advancement of those in her care. Teachers and pupils alike miss her sym- pathetic interest and kindly personality. Our best wishes go with her.
This year, as previously, we are enrolled one hundred per cent in the Junior Red Cross. A sum of money has been given to be used in the purchasing of milk for needy children in our school.
During the year the several holidays have been ob- served with programs arranged in the different rooms. Special attention was given to Horace Mann Centennial Week. At this time a portrait of Horace Mann, pur- chased by the school, was hung in the lower corridor.
30
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
REPORT FROM JENKINS SCHOOL
LEROY E. FULLER Principal
Jenkins School opened in September with a decrease in enrollment. This decrease in school population in the elementary grades is quite general throughout the country. However, since September enough children have been transferred from other cities and towns to make our enrollment at the present time about the same as last year.
For several years the school has been a member of the Junior Red Cross. Two years ago we sent a scrap- book containing pictures and stories depicting the in- dustries and historical points of interest in Scituate, to Junior Red Cross Headquarters, with the request that it be sent to some Junior organization in a foreign country. To our delight we received a similar book from Kristdala, Sweden, in acknowledgment of the one we had sent the previous year. This awakened in the pupils a desire to learn more about the Swedish people, their homes and their customs.
This year pupils made Christmas scrapbooks which were sent to the Children's Hospital and greeting cal- endars to others. When children make scrapbooks, contribute food and clothing or money, they uncon- sciously form the habit of thinking of those children less fortunate than themselves.
Again the pupils of grade six are reading books for the State Reading Certificate. Through the cooperation
31
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
of the Librarian of the Allen Memorial Library we have a large number of library books on our school shelves. The State Reading List now includes many of the newer Junior Literary Guild books. This, I think, indicates that good books for children are still being written.
Every educational conference and publication and every Massachusetts school system has stressed through- out the year the one hundredth anniversary of the estab- lishing of the State Board of Education in Massachu- setts with Horace Mann as its secretary. Although we were not able to give an elaborate program, we did make a study of Mann's life, discuss many of his valu- able sayings and in the art classes correlated the work by drawing sketches of his birthplace.
32
,
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the Scituate School Committee:
The School Physician respectfully submits the fol- lowing as his report for the year of 1937.
Examination has been made of all pupils, and re- ports sent to the parents of those found to be defective.
The pre-school clinic, tonsil, and dental clinics, have proven to be of great benefit; there have been many who availed themselves of this service, and the result has been a general improvement in the health and ap- pearance of the pupils.
There has been no serious epidemic of any dangerous malady, but chicken-pox and mumps have been quite prevalent in all schools.
The buildings have been inspected at various times, and it is a pleasure to report them as clean and in good sanitary condition. I might repeat that the heat, light and ventilation are well controlled.
A recapitulation of the pupils examined, and tabula- tion of diseases and defects will be found in the School Nurse's Report.
The School Physician begs the cooperation of parents and teachers in looking after the health habits and cleanliness of the pupils, for in such ways are acquired
33
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
the qualifications that result in self-respect, and good citizenship.
The teachers have been requested to call the School Physician in all cases of sudden illness or accident, and it has been my privilege to respond to all calls for my services.
Thanking all those with whom my duties have brought me in contact, I ask for your future cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
T. B. ALEXANDER, M.D., School Physician.
34
ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1937
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Harold C. Wingate, Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
My tenth annual report of work accomplished as part- time school nurse is as follows:
Number of school visits (including those made with school physician for examination), class and in- dividual inspections, first aid treatments, dental and other clinics 179
Number of home visits for school children 176
Number of children taken home ill 21
Number of children examined by school physician 487 Number of children found to have nose and throat defects 104
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.