USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1937-1939 > Part 31
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The shades on all south windows of the older sec- tion of the High School building had to be replaced, and heavy black shades-to aid in the showing of films and stereopticon slides-were placed in the laboratory and in the windows at the rear of the auditorium.
The routine work on the tennis courts and other portions of the Community Center grounds was carried on during the year. The metal fence surrounding the courts has begun to rust badly and needs to be refinished. A beginning has already been made on this work and it should be completed in 1939.
The rooms in the central part of the High School building, as well as the walls and ceiling of the auditor- ium should be repainted in the near future. The interior walls and ceilings of the Jenkins School also need re- finishing. The exterior of the Household Arts building should soon be painted.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT-TEN YEAR PERIOD OCTOBER 1
Elementary Junior High Senior High Total Grades Grades Grades IX-XII VII-VIII I-VI
1929
369
88
135
592
1930
398
77
144
619
1931
421
73
162
656
1932
436
107
165
708
1933
443
131
173
747
1934
440
141
192
773
1935
400
135
206
741
1936
412
134
222
768
1937
388
134
224
746
1938
409
123
234
766
Our enrollment on October 1. 1938 was 766, twenty more than on the same date of 1937. While there was a decrease of eleven pupils in Grades VII and VIII, there was an increase of twenty-one in the elementarv grades and of ten in the Senior High School. When the new High School building was first occupied in 1930. the combined Junior-Senior enrollment was 221. Last Octo- ber this had increased to 357. Because of the need of enlarging the quarters of the Commercial Department, it was necessary-at the beginning of the last school year-to sacrifice one of our regular classrooms. To secure another room for recitation purposes, the music room at considerable inconvenience to that department was made into a regular class and recitation room. At the present time we have but five general-purpose class- rooms available for the pupils of the Senior High School. One of the smaller of these rooms could profitably be used for other purposes. When federal funds are again
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
available-thus reducing the cost to the town substan- tially-it would seem proper to consider building an addition to the east wing of the High School. Prelimin- ary plans for this addition have been drawn up and are available for consideration at any time.
SCHOOL FINANCES
The school budget for the year 1938 amounted to $88,650. The Dog Fund-amounting to $974.04-was given to the use of the schools by the vote of the Annual Town Meeting of 1938. In addition Federal Funds, as an aid to our Household Arts classes, were made available for school expenditures to the amount of $250.91. The total receipts for the School Department were therefore $89,874.95, and the expenditures were $89,778.03. If to this we add the amount which was spent on the Com- munity Center grounds-$1,475.75- the total amount expended under the direction of the School Department in 1938 was $91,253.78.
Below is a table of comparative school expenditures for the period of the last five years, and a table of School Department credits that are available for general town use but not for school purposes.
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SCHOOL EXPENDITURES FOR FIVE YEAR PERIOD
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
General Expenses
School Committee
$197.13
$234.25
$218.50
$198.30
$220.40
Superintendent, salary & expenses
2,492.35
2,616.70
2,562.06
2,560.13
2,592.60
Clerk and Attendance Officer
436.00
400.00
434.00
437.75
438.00
Other Expenses of Administration
86.13
57.60
60.42
30.02
30.03
Expenses of Instruction
Supervisors and Teachers
41,437.75
42,880.25
45,972.00
48,163.25
51,162.42
Textbooks and Scholars' Supplies
3,497.23
3,959.28
4,146.94
4,747.78
4,362.70
Plant Operation and Maintenance
4,823.00
5,275.00
5,519.50
5,426.00
5,484.00
Fuel
2,638.50
2,260.38
2,510.49
2,305.05
2,678.57
5,848.72
3,602.15
3,613.71
5,676.84
4,923.48
Upkeep of Buildings and Grounds Miscellaneous
1,739.54
1,652.57
1,467.05
1,576.09
1,646.92
Auxiliary Agencies
Library
429.42
327.03
144.74
488.87
330.27
Health
452.41
563.33
479.44
496.84
479.00
Transportation
11,851.50
11,612.54
12,094.40
12,272.05
12,523.58
Miscellaneous
739.35
791.91
1,176.45
1,235.07
1,169.82
Outlay
New Equipment
857.60
923.27
960.52
345.14
971.00
Total
$77,526.63
$77,147.26
$81,360.22
$85,959.18
$89,012.79
Special Items
Insurance*
$81.91
$1,789.23
Tuition, Vocational and Other
513.61
636.89
956.69
937.17
765.24
Community Center Grounds
1,599.70
1,191.49
1,289.31
1,277.06
1,475.75
Total
$79,721.85
$80,764.87
$83,606.22
$88,173.41
$91,253.78
*Since 1935 the insurance of all Town property has been placed in the hands of the Selectmen.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
Janitors
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT CREDITS (Not available for use of School Department)
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
From State Funds:
On Employment of Teachers
$5,582.00
$5,633.66
$5,683.66
$5,818.94
$6,257.23
Maintenance of Household Arts
Classes
933.40
854.49
1,016.55
1,087.29
1,152.01
Trade School Tuition
453.02
17.50
142.19
149.62
96.44
Tuition of State Wards
355.98
288.61
332.67
503.54
554.84
From City of Boston-Tuition
393.75
392.00
570.27
577.18
653.43
Money Collected by Department
291.75
236.25
167.16
151.61
160.24
Total
$8,009.90
$7,422.51
$7,912.50
$8,288.18
$8,874.19
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
It will be noted from the above that in the period of the last five years, school expenditures have increased over $10,000, with little change in total enrollment. It will be further noted that this increase is almost entirely under the heading of Expenses of Instruction, which is made up largely of teachers' salaries. A part of the total increase from 1934-1938 inclusive resulted from the restoration of salaries which were reduced ten per cent at the beginning of 1933. Another large item in the in- crease is the employment of two additional teachers in the High School, due to the rapid pupil growth in Grades IX-XII. The decrease in the elementary and junior high enrollment has not been sufficiently large to dispense with the services of any teachers in those grades. A third reason for the increased expenditures is the establish- ment last year of the Special Class which was required by law, and which resulted in the employment of an addit- ional teacher.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
Every year one or more Scituate pupils have been enrolled in the vocational schools at Boston or Quincy. A state-aided vocational school is also located at Wey- mouth. Many times it has been difficult, because the schools were filled to capacity, for pupils from outside towns to be accepted as students in particular courses. Because of the expense of equipping and maintaining vo- cational schools, even the larger towns cannot be expec- ted to incorporate them as a part of their own school systems. Much interest is prevalent at the present time in the value-to many of our young people-of vocational training, and this interest throughout this section of Ply- mouth County has stimulated action which is likely to result in the near future in the establishment of a voca- tional school at Plymouth to serve the needs of all near-
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
by towns. The cost of tuition is paid by the town in which the pupil resides, but reimbursement of one-half the amount paid is made by the State. A bill now before the State Legislature, if passed, would make it permissive for towns to pay transportation costs to vocational schools.
At the beginning of this report I made mention of the retirement from school duties of two of our teachers. Both had given to the Scituate schools long terms of faithful service. Miss Knox resigned to be married and will continue to reside in Scituate. Miss Bradford retired from public school teaching because she had reached the age of retirement, and she will continue to live in her Scituate home. We miss them in our school life, but we know they are engaged in worth-while activities, and we wish them all happiness.
Your attention is called to the various individual re- ports that form a part of the School Report. The usual statistical tables and the Financial Statement for the year 1938 are included.
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD C. WINGATE, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Harold C. Wingate
Superintendent of Schools
Scituate, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I submit herewith my fourth annual report as prin- cipal of the Scituate High School.
A shortage of rooms in our building continues to handicap our school program to a considerable extent.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
Several classes are larger than best educational practices would approve but a breaking up of these groups is im- possible, due to insufficient room space. The fact that nineteen pupils from out-of-town schools were enrolled in the school this September is indicative of the trend in population growth in Scituate.
The class formed one year ago in the senior high grades to improve reading ability, proved to be so help- ful that two groups were formed in these grades this fall. A seventh grade group and an eighth grade group have also been started and the results are already notice- able. These practical remedial measures are aiding pupils of bad reading habits and those retarded because of physical weaknesses.
Our records show that eleven members of the gradu- ating class of 1938 are in institutions of collegiate grade. Two of these pupils won scholarships in the schools they are attending, winning the awards in competition with graduates of other high schools and preparatory schools of New England. At the present time, we have graduates in the following colleges: Bates, Boston University, Bow- doin, Duke, Georgia Tech, Massachusetts State, Massa- chusetts School of Art, Northeastern, Rhode Island State, Smith, Tufts, and University of Wisconsin. All of these students entered College directly from Scituate High School.
Each pupil in the seventh and eighth grades is being given two periods of art work each week this year instead of the one period that former schedules provided. This means more time for handwork which is so much needed by pupils of that age group, and it is hoped that it will act as a stimulus for larger groups to elect art in the higher grades.
Our Household Arts Department is honored this
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
year, having been chosen by the Massachusetts Depart- ment of Education as one of four one-teacher vocational departments in this state where student teachers from the Framingham Teachers College will be placed for ob- serving and practice teaching. Previously each girl spent eight weeks in a city school; now she will spend six weeks in the city, and two weeks in a smaller school. This will give her the opportunity to see how each functions.
Through the cooperation of local business offices, ten seniors in our commercial course were given two weeks' practical experience in May. The employers were requested to give the school constructive criticism which has been helpful to the commercial department. The project was so successful that we hope it may become a regular part of the business training.
Every year increases the demands upon the school for special observances and for the support of many objects not directly connected with the school system. The school is asked in increasing degree to foster essay contests and other competitions. These requests come from individuals and organizations whose aims we res- pect and with whose efforts we are in sympathy, but adequately to satisfy all the demands means that again and again the routine of the school must be interrupted and time taken from regular work.
Our teams in competitive sports have conducted themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and have had very successful seasons. The undefeated football team was given a banquet, the seniors given sweaters and other members of the squad given gold footballs, by a group of interested citizens of our town. Their enthusiasm and generosity are deeply appreciated.
During the year the school has received three books from the Scituate Parent Teacher Association as prizes
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
in the public speaking competition, two silver medals from the Scituate Post, No. 144, The American Legion, as prizes in the essay contest sponsored by that organ- ization for Armistice Day, and continued to receive the Atlantic Monthly from Miss Emma Wood. We appreciate these gifts.
In conclusion, I am happy to express my gratitude for the splendid cooperation from all connected with the schools with whom I come in contact.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK A. CALKIN, Principal.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE-AN AID IN DEVELOPING FRIENDLY FOREIGN RELATIONS
Esther M. Harrington Teacher of Languages, High School
In times like these when one views the strained rela- tions existing among European and Asiatic peoples, a person who is interested in education is deeply concerned about what the school can do to develop a friendly and tolerant attitude among nations.
One of the main objectives of secondary education is to prepare boys and girls for worthy citizenship in the world in which they live. The foreign language teacher feels that her subject has some influence in accomplish- ing this aim.
Language is directly connected with life. It is the tool a student uses to get the meaning of what he is read- ing. Reading, in turn, presents an intimate picture of the people whose language he is studying and of the country in which they live. The student reads about what other people are doing, how they do it and why. For a time, at
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
least, he leaves his own world and becomes a part of theirs. He realizes that they are human beings like him- self and he develops an appreciative understanding of their actions, their life and their culture.
The literature of a country is an excellent indication of its temperament. A person, therefore, who has had some opportunity, no matter how slight, to read some of another nation's literature in the original language is more likely to be intelligently interested in those people and their problems, than if he had not had the same op- portunity. He is more likely to understand how to think through a problem connected with them than to make a judgment based on prejudice.
It cannot, of course, be expected that a student who has had only two, or perhaps three years' study of a for- eign language is thoroughly prepared to understand that nation's social, economic or political policies, but it cer- tainly is reasonable to expect that he will gain an interest in his foreign neighbors that can mature into a feeling of friendship and good will. Even after a short study a stu- dent can have the readiness to learn more about people of whom he already knows something. He has an emo- tional reaction toward them that he did not have before. He must understand a people before he can have a kindly feeling toward them or attempt to get along with them.
Today more than ever the radio and rapid means of travel make nearly all parts of the globe accessible to man. We feel that other nations actually are our neigli- bors. It is not at all unlikely that some of our students will have the opportunity to use their reading and oral knowledge of modern foreign language. If so, its practi- cal value is apparent. If not, they can feel that they have at least some appreciative understanding of their foreign neighbors.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
CRAFTS Dorothy E. MacFarlane Instructor in Home Economics
During the past two years we have added various crafts to the Household Arts curriculum. We felt that these would not only provide the girls with a worthy use of leisure time, but might lead to interesting as well as profitable hobbies.
One of the oldest of crafts is weaving. The joy of producing lovely fabrics is enough to make one feel that her time has been well spent. This fall, the school depart- ment purchased a table loom on which the girls are now weaving bureau scarves for the bedroom in the House- hold Arts department. Each girl has had the opportunity to learn to do all the steps in setting up the loom, and in weaving.
The girls make a study of china and pottery in con- nection with the "House Planning" course. After a dis- cussion of the various types and makes each girl has the opportunity to design and mold a piece of pottery, giving her the fundamental steps in constructing hand built ware.
There has been an increasing popularity of handiwork of all kinds, and undoubtedly the one most frequently done in the home is embroidery. Instead of the time hon- ored stitches, such as outlining, chain, and lazy-daisy stitch, we have been doing some far more fascinating and beautiful work such as the Italian lace stitch, Rus- sian weaving, English shadow, Assissi, star and zipper stitches. The girls have developed these stitches on place mats and napkins, luncheon sets, and towels.
A great deal of pleasure can be derived from these crafts as they all involve the use and application of beau- tiful colors and materials.
21
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
PRACTICAL ARTS Nels H. Sandberg
Instructor in Practical Arts
The opportunity Practical Arts work affords in pre- paring boys for living in this age of machinery cannot be over emphasized. The work offered in the course enables the boy to make an exploratory test of his abilities and aptitudes. It gives him an understanding of the part the worker in industry plays in the betterment of society. In the eighth grade it serves as a tryout, in order that a proper choice may be made in the secondary school pro- gram. The course leads to the development of hobbies to occupy advantageously leisure time.
In the eighth grades the work consists of small pro- jects in which the aim is to develop elementary skills in the use of the more common tools, in modifying and handling material and in the understanding of the more common construction problems. In these grades the large number of boys enrolled and necessarily limited time available makes it advisable to have the classes work as a group on the same type of activity. In this way the greatest progress for the class as a whole, can be made.
In the upper grades, the work is more advanced. The classes are smaller. There is more time allotted to these grades. Here the individual project plan is employed. Each boy works on a different project, something he, himself, has expressed a desire to make. Good construc- tion and design are stressed. In most cases, designs hand- ed down to us by the 18th century craftsman are used as standards. The aim is to develop an appreciation of good workmanship, good design, and pride in ability to do useful things.
The department is called on at times to construct some school project. This might be a bulletin board for
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
the library, a cabinet for the Household Arts Depart- ment, tables for the typewriting room, scenery for class plays or goal posts for the athletic field. These are classed as general shop problems. Work of this sort instills an attitude of readiness to assist others and join in group undertakings.
There has been a steadily growing interest in the Practical Arts course in the school during the past four years. The number registering for the course has tripled. It is hoped the results attained will justify the continued interest.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
REPORT FROM HATHERLY SCHOOL George W. Burrill Principal
1
At the beginning of the present year in September, the enrollment at Hatherly School showed an increase over that of last year due to a large entering class, forty- four being registered in that grade.
School opened with two new members welcomed to our group of teachers, Miss Thelma Annis in the fifth grade taking the place of Miss Crocker who was assigned to the second grade to fill the vacancy caused by the resig- nation of Miss Helen Knox. Miss Carol Vollmer was ap- pointed as an assistant in the first grade. Miss Knox was a member of the Hatherly teaching staff for twelve years. She was always deeply interested in her work, loyal to her superiors and helpful to her co-workers. Her per- sonal interest in the welfare of each of her pupils was recognized by all. Our best wishes go with her, and we are glad that she will continue to reside in Scituate.
We are endeavoring to improve the standard of reading in our school. Through the cooperation again of our local library we have been able to place many new desirable books on our tables available to the pupils for home reading. During National Book Week which was observed the week of November 13th, the different classes held a "Book Parade" in which individual child- ren or groups of children, dressed in costume to repre- sent characters in worthwhile books, went from room to room. This activity created an added interest in reading which has been shown by a greater demand for books.
The improvement in the toilet facilities of the boys' basement is one of note and is most sincerely apprecia-
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
ted. The time saved and the added convenience to those using the basement cannot be over estimated.
As in previous years we are enrolled in the Junior Red Cross one hundred per cent. Again we have given a sum of money to be used in providing milk for needy children. The gift of money from the North Scituate Wel- fare League to be used for this same purpose is grate- fully acknowledged.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
REPORT FROM JENKINS SCHOOL LeRoy E. Fuller Principal
Children ordinarily like to attend school and like the companionship of the other pupils. Is it not true that they await with impatience the day they can start to school? It has been a long time from June to September and they are eager to see their school friends and teach- ers. They enter school full of enthusiasm. If they lose this feeling for the school are they alone to blame? May not the school itself be somewhat at fault? The school must be made interesting and vital, and the pupils must be made to like their school and to realize what it has to give to them. This is what we aim to do in our school.
Our enrollment remains about the same as last year. Although several new families are represented, others have moved away. Attendance is good, the school main- taining an average of 92%. There are but few cases of tardiness and seldom is there a case of truancy. Those cases of prolonged absence are due to sickness or other legitimate reasons.
From our small school fund we have contributed some free milk, purchased books for the classroom lib- raries, subscribed to two monthly school magazines, and contributed to the Red Cross. Each room is enrolled in the Junior Red Cross and one class has made and dis- tributed several scrapbooks to children in hospitals.
Again we shall carry on the reading of books on the State Reading List. This list contains books that have been read by children for many years as well as many of the more recent books. By so doing we hope to create in the children a desire to read the many well-written and well-illustrated books that are being published for child- ren.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
The late Miss E. Gertrude Gardner, for many years a teacher in the schools of Scituate, loved little children and that same spirit of love and affection toward her was always evident in her classroom. Mrs. Amy Dalby has presented a bronze plaque to Jenkins School in memory of her sister. This plaque is to be placed in the lower cor- ridor near the entrance to the room she occupied for so many years.
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ANNUAL REPORT, TOWN OF SCITUATE, 1938
REPORT OF THE ART SUPERVISOR
Mr. Harold C. Wingate, Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
In submitting a report of the Art Department this year, it might be well to discuss the change in the allot- ment of the Supervisor's time.
A few years ago, outside the two full days at Sen- ior High School, only eleven teaching periods a week covered the work from Grade One through Grade Eight, plus eleven supervised lessons taught by the grade teach- ers.
Now, in addition to the fourteen periods per week taught in Senior High, seventeen teaching periods per week are necessary plus twenty-one supervised lessons taught by grade teachers.
Since the inauguration of the Junior High School, because of lack of teacher time, it has been possible to give only one lesson a week to the seventh and eighth grades. This admittedly was unfair to the classes and not according to state requirements.
The matter was taken up with the Massachusetts School of Art authorities and upon their advice the re- quired two lessons per week was assigned to the Junior High School.
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