USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1943-1945 > Part 21
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It is with regret that we heard of the passing of Mrs. William H. Chaffin, who was a member of the School Committee for many years.
The Committee wishes at this time to thank the citizens of the Town for their most generous support of the schools. We trust that you will continue to give us your support and co-operation in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS W. MACY, Chairman, FRED T. WATERMAN, Secretary, MRS. EMMA L. DAMON, School Committee.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Scituate :
I take pleasure in submitting my nineteenth annual report for your consideration.
The school year opened for the fall term of 1944 on September 6. The October 1 census showed a total enrollment of 849 in the three schools compared with 828 in 1943. The Hatherly School numbered 232; the Jenkins School, 260; and the High School, 357. This represented a total increase of 21, four in the elementary and seventeen in the high school grades.
TEACHING STAFF CHANGES
During the year 1944, seven teacher resignations and one request for a leave of absence were received. Five of these were from the High School staff, two from the Hatherly and one from the Jenkins.
Mr. Edward L. Stewart, a teacher-coach at the High School since 1933, received a lieutenant's commission in the United States Navy in February and so was granted a leave of absence from his school duties. To this vacancy, Mr. Felix J. Dixon of Stoughton, Mass., a graduate of Boston University with four years' teaching experience at the Lyman School, was appointed.
At the end of the school year Mr. Robert L. Douglas, for two years teacher of mathematics at the High School, resigned to take a similar position at Bristol, Conn. Miss Ella L. Vinal, who had been teaching a special class in pre-flight aeronautics at the High School, was appointed to fill this vacancy. Miss Vinal is a graduate of Colby College with a Master's degree from Clark University.
Also at the end of the school year Mr. Nels H. Sandberg, teacher of industrial arts at the High School since 1934, resigned to take a similar position at Hingham. Mr. Philip M. Dodge of Melrose, Mass., was appointed to fill this vacancy. Mr. Dodge is a graduate of Keene Teachers' College with a B.S. degree in industrial arts from Fitchburg Teachers' College and has had ten years' experience, the last two being at Beverly and Melrose, Mass.
In the latter part of August Mr. Wallace A. Parkhurst resigned his position as acting-principal of the Scituate High School to accept a position as head of the department of mathematics in the Danbury,
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Connecticut, High School. This change was to be made as soon as a new acting-principal could be found. By the time of the opening of school in September we had been able to secure the services of Mr. Westly J. Nelson of Littleton, N. H., for this position. Mr. Nelson is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Master of Education degree from Harvard University. He has been a high school principal for over twenty-five years, the last six being at Little- ton, N. H.
At the end of October Mr. William Riley Smith, teacher of music at the High School for over one year, left to accept a position in a private school at Washington, D. C., which seemed to offer exceptional opportunities for his professional advancement. The choral work at the High School has been taken over by Miss Gertrude Reynolds, who has been music supervisor for the past few years in the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools. The instrumental music classes are being taught by Mr. Donald F. Leach of Whitman, Mass. Mr. Leach has been an instructor of school bands at Whitman, Abington, Hingham, and Marshfield for many years.
At the Jenkins School, Mrs. Marion P. Murphy of Scituate was appointed as teacher of Grade V. Mrs. Murphy is a graduate of Boston Teachers' College and for ten years was a teacher in the schools of the city of Boston. Mrs. Rose M. Trefrey, who substi- tuted in Grade V during the latter part of the school year, is this year teaching the special class.
At the Hatherly School-at the end of the early winter term- Miss Ruth E. Neville was transferred from Grade II to Grade VI, and Miss Jeanne H. Lockhart of Milton, Mass., a former Scituate teacher, was appointed to the Grade II position.
Early in October Miss Ruthe I. Hughes, for two years teacher of Grade III at the Hatherly School, accepted a similar position at Winchester. To fill this vacancy Mrs. Doris L. Reddy of Scituate was engaged as a long-term substitute. Mrs. Reddy is a graduate of the Perry Kindergarten Normal School and had seven years' ex- perience in primary school teaching in the schools of Bridgewater and Attleboro, Mass.
At the end of the fall term of the present school year Miss Ruth E. Neville, a teacher at the Hatherly School since 1942, left to take a sixth grade position in the schools of Melrose. Until a permanent teacher can be secured for this position Mrs. Vera L. Mitchell is serving as substitute teacher.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
UPKEEP OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
Repairs and replacements in the elementary schools were almost entirely of a routine nature this year. The painting of the outside of the Jenkins School, a badly needed improvement, was again de- layed as it was impossible to secure the services of a sufficient number of local painters to do the work.
During the summer there were somewhat extensive repairs made on the high school roof. Bare spots were regravelled and a consid- erable amount of copper flashing was renailed and repaired. Some of the capstones were reset and all were water-proofed. The entire wooden trim of the outside of the building, including the cupola was painted. Three class-rooms, the principal's office and several smaller rooms were painted.
Sixteen typewriters in the commercial department were thor- oughly overhauled. The jig-saw in the practical arts department was replaced. The supply of dishes and equipment in the cafeteria was increased. A speed-gun for cleaning out drains was purchased for the use of the janitors.
Sixteen new table desks and chairs were added to the equipment of the upper grades of the Jenkins School. A new phonograph for the music department was purchased for use in the elementary build- ings.
NEED FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
In my last year's report I referred to the large increase in the enrollment of the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools during the last few years, the lack of many up-to-date facilities, and the consequent diffi- culty in carrying on a modern educational program.
In response to an invitation from the School Committee and Superintendent, Miss Alice B. Beal, Supervisor of Elementary Edu- cation of the Massachusetts Department of Education, came to Scit- uate on November 9 and visited our elementary schools in order to make a study of the local school needs with special reference to the desirability of providing better housing conditions.
Miss Beal made her report to the School Committee in December. She stated that while she was favorably impressed with certain phases of the school program, such as. "the careful selection of teachers, the excellent pupil-teacher relationships, the professional attitude of su- perintendent, principal and teachers, and the care and orderliness of the buildings," that the school personnel was prevented from develop- ing a school program in keeping with the best modern educational practices by inadequate and outmoded buildings.
She points out five ways in which the buildings are inadequate.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
1. There are not enough classrooms to provide for the proper grouping of children. The classes are in general too large and some of the rooms are over-crowded. In several cases this makes the use of assistant teachers necessary.
From the standpoint of the first grade, she writes as follows :
"Children enter the first grade in Scituate with a chronological age of 5 years, 4 months. They vary greatly in native ability, in environmental backgrounds, and in kinds of experiences. Some come to school ready to learn to read ; many of this age come not ready to learn to read; and some are immature and have difficulty in making the necessary adjustments.
"This means that there should be a school program varied enough to meet the needs and abilities of these children. It means that those who are ready to read should have a reading program; that some should have a program to get them ready to learn to read; that some should have a pre-primary program; that the physically immature should have an opportunity for rest periods and that the socially im- mature should have ample time to make adjustments. It means that the 89 first graders in the two schools should be in three groups in separate classrooms carrying on the kinds of programs that are suited to the. needs of the various groups."
2. The present facilities prevent the development of the curri- culum according to accepted educational procedures. The best ele- mentary school program is concerned with all types of child develop- ment : physical, intellectual, social and emotional. To work out such a program there is need of special rooms, such as work-room, library, auditorium and playroom. The elementary school buildings do not have any such rooms.
3. Proper facilities for carrying on the health program are not provided. There should be better facilities for the nurse and the dental clinic, and provisions for a complete school lunch program.
4. Proper administrative offices are not provided. The prin- cipal's office should include a reception room, an office for private con- ferences with parents, and space for clerical work.
5. There is no space for kindergarten. The people of Scituate recognize the value of these classes because many of them send their children to private kindergartens. Miss Beal states: "The kinder- garten provides the desirable environment for young children ; it fur- nishes valuable group experience ; it supplies health supervision ; it develops a readiness for regular school work."
Miss Beal summarizes her conclusions as follows :
"A new central elementary school building for the Kindergarten and Grades 1-6 is desirable.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
"A central building would: (1) provide better grouping of chil- dren, (2) provide broader contacts for the children by bringing them together from all parts of the town, (3) provide opportunities to carry on a curriculum adequate to meet the needs, interests, and abilities of the children, (4) provide accessory rooms such as the library, audi- torium, cafeteria, play room, (5) provide rooms for the principal, nurse, dentist and teachers, (6) allow for more efficient supervision."
MILKWEED FLOSS COLLECTION
During late September and October the pupils of Grades V and VI in the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools, and the pupils of Grades VII and VIII in the High School, took part in the drive for the col- lection of milkweed floss in which thousands of the school children of America participated.
For many years the United States has used kapok, a silky, seed- pod fiber for filler in life jackets. Although the tree which produces kapok grows in many places in the tropics, only in Java were there any plantations where large quantities could be obtained. When Japan captured the East Indies, our supply was suddenly cut off, and we have been using up what kapok we had in the United States and what was in ships on the way.
Other things will do in some articles for which kapok was for- merly used, but milkweed floss is the best material sufficiently water- proof and buoyant to use in life vests.
The floss in two bags of milkweed pods fills a life jacket. One hundred twenty-four bags of the pods were collected by Scituate pupils, and sent by freight to the Milkweed Floss Division of the War Hemp Industries at Petoskey, Michigan. It is likely that another drive for the collection of pods will be necessary next fall.
Our school service flag now contains 337 stars and to the six gold stars listed one year ago four others have been added. Lionel Osborne Bush was graduated with the Class of 1920, Thomas Gerald Harrigan with the Class of 1935, Elwin Alroy Lane with the Class of 1941, and Edward Russell Hooper was a member of the Class of 1943. Our sympathy is extended to the families of these former members of our school.
Your attention is called to the following reports of the school principals, the school physician and the school nurse; also to the various statistical tables and to the financial reports.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. WINGATE, Superintendent of Schools.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Harold C. Wingate, Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
It is with genuine pleasure that I present to you this, my first report as Acting-Principal of Scituate High School. This duty be- comes even more pleasant when the report can be prefaced by a state- ment that the work of the school is proceeding in an orderly and efficient manner, a condition largely made possible through the whole- some influence passed on from preceding years, and by the faithful co-operation of parents, pupils and school officials in the current year.
Total war has placed upon the schools of America responsibilities which are overwhelming in size and vital in importance, for to our schools belongs the trust of preserving our American culture and of protecting the principles of democracy upon which our American way of life is founded. To them likewise belongs the sacred duty of pre- paring youth for its important place in a world at war. These make up the yardstick by which schools of today must be measured, and it is chiefly by these standards that I trust you may appraise the progress of Scituate High School as outlined here. Personally, as I have observed the daily activities in our school, I am convinced that achievement in this field is real, and that later, when these values can be measured in terms of the success and well-being of our graduates, the record of Scituate High School will not be found wanting.
The preceding paragraph directed attention to the general and long range obligations of American schools in time of war. Supple- menting these, and of immediate and practical value, are additional obligations vital to the immediate war effort: for at these times when the energy and skill of every individual are being recruited, schools must turn out youth who are not only healthy in mind and body, but who possess the physical strength, the endurance, and the technical skills that will shorten the post-school period of training in the armed services, in the defense industry, in agriculture and in other allied war activities.
Under the date of October 18, 1944, Major-General Sherman Miles, Commanding General of the First Service Command, addressed an open letter to school administrators in which he wrote :
"Boys aged sixteen and seventeen years should be advised that they face induction after attainment of age eighteen. The
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bulk of future inductees will be drawn from the ranks of the eighteen year olds until total victory has been won. Any de- mobilization plans following the defeat of Germany will not inter- rupt the induction of eighteen year old youth. Therefore, pre- induction training is more vital now than ever before" ... and ... "It is the earnest hope that the boys concerned will be made aware of their future severe responsibilities in military service and take full advantage of the complete educational opportunities offered in the schools."
The courses of study of Scituate High School are organized to meet just such a challenge and emergency. A comprehensive physical education program, in which nearly the entire student body partici- pates, is ably directed by our two physical education supervisors, Miss Vines and Mr. Dixon. The subject content of the shop course has been expanded to include work in plastics, ceramics and tin craft. Military surveying, which was in the curriculum last year, is not re- peated in the current year, but pre-flight aeronautics, another pre- induction course, is given for the second successive year. A Red Cross unit in home nursing given by Miss O'Donnell, school nurse, will be part of the freshman course in Household Arts. In addition to the above each teacher in his or her daily classes has redirected the instruction wherever possible so that it will have a direct significance to the war effort.
In extra-curricular and similar activities our school contributes generously to the home front. The weekly sale of war bonds and stamps, the collection of waste paper, participation in the Junior Red Cross program, and contributions to the war chest fund, and the tuber- culosis drive-all receive vigorous support.
A brief survey of the out of school war activities of our teachers shows a similar unselfish devotion of time, money, and energy. Six are volunteer workers in the Red Cross, one is an educational aide or "gray lady" in a hospital, one is a nurse's aide in a hospital, seven are blood donors, sixteen are regular purchasers of war stamps and bonds, and all are contributors to the Community War Fund.
The enrollment of the school on October first was 357, distributed as follows :
7th Grade 73 8th Grade 64
Freshmen 64 Sophomores 61
Juniors 52 Seniors 43
This is an increase of 17 pupils over that of the corresponding date last year, and speaks well for the holding power of our school in this period of increasing employment demands with attractive wages.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Our school continues to maintain a "Class A" rating with State Department of Secondary Education. It likewise enjoys the certifi- cate privilege of the New England College Admissions Board. A war atmosphere of change and uncertainty has not made the attain- ment of good scholarship any easier. Yet, probably at these times more than in the normal peace times, this fundamental objective is in- creasingly important.' I believe that it is impossible to over-emphasize the value of that type of scholarship that consistently rates near to the individual pupils' ability. Examples of keen disappointment and real sorrow are still numerous among those who realize too late that their plans and ambitions cannot be carried out because of a failure or de- ficiency in this particular.
Closely connected with good scholarship are school attendance and effective home study. In both the home must share the respon- sibility with the school. The lack of regular and prompt attendance, in addition to forming undesirable habits, places an additional burden upon both teachers and pupils, and make-up lessons are seldom, if ever, as effective as the regular class work. Absences which are the direct result of illness are excusable. Others seldom are. In its re- lationship to school success, consistent and conscientious home study is likewise a fundamental necessity. It is the daily tasks well done that contribute greatly to happiness and success in the future.
In September and again in November a rather comprehensive testing program was given. The first was a battery of five vocational and educational guidance tests administered by Boston University. This was given to all seniors.
The second was the well known battery of Iowa Tests of Educa- tional Development. This was given to all freshmen and sophomores by members of our teaching staff.
As the war progresses it has become more and more evident that a well rounded program of extra-curricular activities for pupils is increasingly essential. If the demands for the use of our gymnasium and auditorium is any barometer of the effectiveness of such a pro- gram at our school, we have reached a high degree of attainment. There are few available hours, afternoons or evenings, when these facilities are not being used by either school groups or outside organi- zations.
It is a satisfaction to announce that our athletic teams have been able, for the most part, to participate in schedules comparable to those of normal years. Our football team of this fall completed an ambi- tious schedule of seven games and our championship girls' hockey team played eight games.
At the time this report is being written, an inclusive intramural basketball program is in progress similar to that of the baseball intra-
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
murals of last April. This program is entire exclusive of the regular basketball schedule which is underway and which calls for a schedule of sixteen games for three teams : girls' varsity, boys' varsity and boys' second team.
In the non-athletic area our girls' glee club has a membership of twenty-seven, and our recently formed student band is growing almost weekly in numbers and equally in interest and enthusiasm. These two organizations are being directed by Miss Gertrude Reynolds and Donald Leach respectively who took over the work early in November following the resignation of William Smith, our former music super- visor.
The All-School Play, "Johnny On the Spot," directed by Miss Gile, and given in December was both a dramatic and financial success.
Three to four assemblies are being held each month in which pupil participation is being emphasized. Assemblies which might be rated as the "Assembly of the Month" are:
"The All-Music Assembly" in October "The Armistice Day Assembly" in November "The Christmas Assembly" in December
At Christmas time our art department issued a "Scituate Cal- endar." It contains thirteen block prints of scenes in and around Scituate. The prints were drawn and cut by pupils. The calendar met an enthusiastic reception and sale which is a tribute to both the pupils and their supervisor, Miss Rowell.
Plans are already underway for the commencement number of "The Chimes."
It is with sincere thanks and appreciation that our school ac- knowledges the receipt of the following gifts since the last annual report :
1. Gold and Silver basketballs given by the Scituate Kiwanis Club to members of the 1944 Girls' Basketball Team-presen- tation made at the club's banquet in honor of this team.
2. Use of "Dreamwold" for 1944 Senior Reception-by Mr. Bernard Killion.
3. Two large Navy war wall maps-by Mr. Melvin W. Cole.
4. Two large framed pictures, one of the Roman Forum-by Mr. Arthur Damon.
5. Five volumes of "Foreign Affairs".
Twenty-one volumes of "Dickens"-by Mr. Jesse G. Swift.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Added to the above list have been generous contributions in both time and service given by parents and friends, not the least of which has been the aid in the transportation of our athletic teams. To all these our school gives hearty thanks.
The school's honor roll contains 337 names and ten gold stars. It is a record of which any school of this size should be immensely proud.
Before closing this report I wish to take the opportunity of re- spectfully registering my belief and support in two suggestions which we have discussed already in past conferences.
The first concerns the expansion of the physical education pro- gram both in time allotted to the individual pupil and in the content of the program. In my opinion the lessons learned from this war more than justifies this conclusion.
The second concerns the formal organization of a modest but effective guidance department. Already we are doing most of the things that would be included in such a department, but for efficiency and effectiveness, I believe these should be assembled and a study made of their value and use, after which they should be organized and administered with definite guidance objectives in view. Ultimately, this would necessitate a part-time guidance or teacher director.
In concluding this report I would express my sincere appreciation to my co-workers for their friendliness, their earnest spirit of co- operation and their valuable assistance-to you, Mr. Wingate, to the school board, to the teaching staff and to other school personnel, and to the student body. I am most happy to have the opportunity of working with each of you.
Respectfully submitted, WESTLY J. NELSON, ยท Acting-Principal.
REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Mr. Harold C. Wingate, Superintendent of Schools, Scituate, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit my second annual report as Supervising Prin- cipal of the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
The following table shows the enrollment by grades as of October 1, 1944.
Grade
I
II
III
Total
Hatherly 37 46
232
Jenkins 52 37
11 260
-
Total 89
83
85
76
69 VI 32 37 Sp.
11 492
The regular testing program as organized a few years ago and as outlined in a previous report has been carried out during the year. The Pintner-Cunningham Intelligence Tests, the Otis Quick-Scoring Intelligence Tests, and the Stanford Achievement Tests are all being used in the elementary schools.
Because of the lack of an assembly hall in either of the schools, assemblies are held in one of the larger rooms that is provided with movable seats. These assemblies have been in the nature of moving pictures, radio programs, playlets and at Christmas time, character readings by Mr. John Hines. This year he presented a dramatiza- tion of "Peter Pan" by James M. Barrie. The Greater Boston War Fund moving picture was shown at both schools during the fall. The fifth and sixth grades at Hatherly School have regularly listened to the Columbia Radio School of the Air.
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