USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1952-1954 > Part 15
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Administrative philosophy tends toward primary education, de- emphasizing grade levels. We would rather talk about how well the individual does in the primary school than whether or not he or she is reading on a given grade-level. We are interested in a pupil's being prepared for the work of the intermediate grades, and, again, in his progress in the intermediate school as opposed to progress in a given grade. Some children move rapidly; others move more slowly.
Isn't it better to forget about the grade levels and prepare the child for the intermediate school, than to emphasize grade retarda- tion and thus build up retardation until it really becomes a problem? We think so. A child in the second grade reading on first grade level is not retarded. A child in high school ninth grade reading on fifth grade level is retarded. Our plan is to do everything in our power to reduce the differential between reading level and grade level through the grades by means of guidance and individual instruction.
25
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
We believe in phonetics. We will teach phonetics but we may not teach it exactly as you and I learned it. Modern philosophy says (and I think there is ample proof) that a child should learn to have fun actually reading before he is brought into contact with techniques. Certainly we learn languages better if we learn to speak and think in them BEFORE we learn the grammatical and rhetorical rules.
BUILDING COMMITTEES
The High School Building Committee, the Elementary Schools Building Investigating Committee, and the Elementary School Building Committee, whose reports will be found elsewhere in this report, have worked long and hard to solve knotty problems. It is not easy to do the big jobs required of them. As one who has spent long hours, ex officio, with all three of these committees, I can speak for their great interest in solving the housing problems for the pupils and for the Town, and of their never-flagging zeal in the face of, at times, insurmountable obstacles. They merit appre- ciation and thanks.
ADULT EDUCATION
Evening courses in vocational subjects for adults are now in progress. Each of five nights during the week will find classes in upholstering, dress-making, ceramics, rug-making, and decorated ware in progress. The interest has been great as has been the clerical work involved in starting and maintaining these classes.
CONCLUSIONS
To you, the members of the School Committee, I wish to pay tribute for giving unfailingly of your time, your work and your lives. Always you have placed the welfare of the child first. You have given of yourselves unselfishly when often you had ample cause to do otherwise. The Town may well be proud of your work for the Scituate schools.
To the teachers, commendation for a splendid esprit de corps and hard work in the face of difficult teaching conditions of from 37-47 in a room and full programs.
To the principals and their assistants, high praise for leadership under trying circumstances and for results far above what might be expected under such conditions.
26
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
To the office workers, janitors, cafeteria workers, bus operators and every other worker, my praise for helping to give our children the best education possible and conditions favorable to the best education.
To my fellow Townspeople, my thanks for your understand- ยท ing, your assistance, your cooperation, and your forbearance in helping us with our job.
The Schools of Scituate are the Public Schools. They are yours. Again, I want you to know that the problems are yours and mine. I shall tell you about them and I shall expect you to tell me about your problems with the schools. Only by complete understanding and cooperation of our personnel and you can we give our boys and girls the education they deserve. They are your boys and girls just as they are my boys and girls no matter how many or how few children you have.
Unless we educate these youngsters of ours well, unless we give them good housing, good teachers, good counsel, and good homes, these United States will reap the whirlwind.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD K. CHACE Superintendent of Schools
27
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF THE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Edward K. Chace Superintendent of Schools Scituate, Massachusetts
.
Dear Mr. Chace:
My annual report as principal of the Scituate High School is submitted herewith.
On October 1, 1952 there were 443 pupils enrolled of which 197 were in the Senior High 246 in the Junior High. This is the eighth straight year that the enrollment in this school has increased. It will be noted that the greater increase was in the Junior High.
The large enrollment greatly overtaxed the capacity of the building. In order to accommodate the Junior High pupils, it was necessary to place the seats in double rows in order to get approxi- mately fifty pupils in each room. This close seating arrangement is unsatisfactory in all ways, but without additional rooms the in- creased enrollment could be handled in no other way. When it is considered that two additional Junior High divisions will be neces- sary next year, one of the reasons for double sessions will be readily understood.
For the second year, it has not been possible to seat all Junior High pupils in the cafeteria at one time. Again, one division has had to eat early but by rotation of divisions each group has had to have early lunch only one day a week.
The percentage of our graduates going on to college or to other schools of advanced training continues to be high. The Class of 1951 had nearly fifty percent and the Class of 1952 had exactly fifty percent continue their education beyond high school. Last June's graduates are attending the following institutions: Antioch College, Boston University (4); Brown University, Becker Junior College; Bridgewater Teachers College; Colorado College; Fitchburg Teachers College (2); Harvard College; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Middlebury College; N. E. Conservatory of Music; Ohio Wesleyan University; Tufts College; University of Connecti- cut; University of Massachusetts (4); Wheelock (2); Katherine Gibbs School; Fisher School (2), and in two schools of nursing.
Some changes have been made in our testing program. The Iowa Educational Development Tests were discontinued. However,
28
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
we have added a Mechanical Reasoning Test in Grand 9, and achievement tests in reading, mathematics and language are being given to Grade 7. We are now using the testing services of the Drexel Institute of Technology.
A separate report will cover the driver training program during the past year. Let it be noted here that the traffic safety education program, which we had in December through the courtesy of the Atlantic Refining Company, made a notable contribution not only to our driver training program but also to the most important problem of highway safety.
Modern psychology has shown how much more is learned through the eyes than through the ears. It is this fact which makes the visual aids so important in modern education. We have been handicapped in having a suitable program of visual education by two factors. First, it has been difficult to darken most of the rooms because of a lack of black curtains for the windows and secondly, it has not been possible to date to have at least a part time director to head up the program. With the recent purchase of a new daylight screen which can be used satisfactorily even in a well- lighted room, we have overcome the first handicap. It is hoped that the second will be met as soon as we get settled in the ex- panded facilities two years hence.
Since the opening of school this fall, we have appreciated hav- ing a full-time nurse. It will be readily understood how much more can now be done in meeting the health needs of our pupils. Her many activities and services are explained in her report.
Weekly assembly programs have been presented throughout the year. Most programs were planned to give educational in- formation on topics not covered in the curriculum. We have used other assembly programs to give occupational information as a part of the guidance service. Most important have been the opportuni- ties for student participation in the programs in order to give worth- while platform experience. We have tried to make the assemblies interesting as well as informative.
Our athletic teams, both boys and girls, had good seasons in most sports. The coaching and supervision of the athletic program again brought credit to the school. Special mention should be made of last winter's boys' basketball team. It not only won the league championship, but went through to the finals in the Class C division of the Eastern Massachusetts Basketball Tournament at the Boston Garden. Once again the local Board of Trade tendered a banquet
29
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
to the teams and gave jackets to the Seniors on the various squads. The cheerleaders deserve commendations for encouraging support of the teams and for emphasizing good sportmanship. During the year we were able to purchase five more sections of bleachers, some of which were painted and assembled by our Shop department.
Accomplishments in other extra-curricular activities during the year merit brief mention. The Senior Class play and the all-school show offered valuable experience in dramatics to a large group. We were again well represented in the Annual American Legion Oratorical Contest. Another "Blue and White" week was success- fully carried out by the Student Council for the purpose of strength- ening school loyalty. The football rallies were staged under the direction of the Student Council. Delegates from the Council at- tended the two district conventions. The Key Club again handled the tickets during the basketball season and accomplished several other projects of service to the school. A delegate from the Key Club attended the national convention of that organization with financial assistance from the local Kiwanis Club. Our chapter of the Pro Merito Honor Society ably carried out its purpose of encouraging high scholarship and good character. It also con- ducted two impressive induction services. The Chimes staff under the handicap of increased costs put out a fine 1952 yearbook and several issues of the "Scituation." An efficient group of student librarians gave valuable assistance to the faculty librarian in operat- ing the school library. The musical organizations, both vocal and instrumental, gave excellent performances assisting school activi- ties and also certain community events. Separate reports will cover the work of these departments in detail. However, it should be noted here how proud we were of our band's performance at the Plym- outh County Teachers' Association convention held in Brockton last October. In all of these activities educational objectives pre- vailed, and many pupils gained worthwhile experience and knowl- edge not attainable in the regular classroom work.
Miss Dorothy Anderson of the Junior High faculty resigned in June, and Mr. Richard Hands was elected to fill the vacancy. Mrs. Frances Cole, who had been teaching part time in the High School, also resigned at the end of the school vear. Mr. Herschel Benson was engaged on a full time basis. Scituate High suffered a real loss with the passing of Mrs. Thelma Hayward, our loyal and conscientious school secretary.
Sincere thanks and appreciation is again extended to those organizations of the community which give scholarships each year at the graduation exercises.
30
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
As we face the necessity of double sessions next year, let us all be aware that conditions will demand a high degree of cooperation on the part of faculty, pupils and parents. The shorter class periods will also require greater effort on the part of everyone.
This report is concluded with a word of sincere thanks to you, the school committee, the staff and the student body for the co- operation and helpful support extended to me during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE A. J. FROBERGER
REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Edward K. Chace
Superintendent of Schools Scituate, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Chace:
I herewith submit my report as principal of the Central and Hatherly Schools.
We continue to hear a great deal about increased enrollment in our schools. The following table will show the distribution of pupils in the elementary schools as of October 1, 1952:
CENTRAL SCHOOL
K
Gr. 2
Gr. 3
Gr. 4
Gr. 5
Gr. 6
Special Total
94
134
142
131
130
102
12 744
HATHERLY SCHOOL
K Gr. 1
51
160
211
Grand total
956
HOUSING
At least thirty-one classroom groups had to be provided for with the opening of school in September. This was done by as- signing all first grade pupils to Hatherly School using five rooms.
31
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
The sixth room was used to house morning and afternoon groups of kindergarten children. At Central School accommodations were made for four kindergarten groups, two morning and two after- noon, grades two through six, and a Special class. Additional hous- ing will be necessary to meet the increasing enrollment by Septem- ber 1953.
CHANGE IN PERSONNEL
Resignations: Mrs. Barbara Jennings to teach in Norfolk, Va., Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson to teach in Brookline, and Mr. John J. Kelly to teach in Fitchburg State Teachers College.
Appointments: Mrs. Grace Grassie and Miss B. Christine Ander- son to teach grade one, Mrs. Grace Lull to teach a fourth grade, Mrs. Barbara Sargent to teach fifth grade, and Mr. Royal Graves as Assistant Principal and sixth grade teacher.
SCHOOL HOURS
For a number of years it has been necessary for several groups of children to wait at the end of the school day for busses to re- turn to school to make a second or third trip. The present set up has corrected this condition. School now opens at 8:40 A.M. for grades three, four, five, and special, and closes at 2:25 P.M. The school day for grades two and six extends from 9:20 A.M. to 3:15 P.M. Morning kindergarten sessions run from 9:20 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Afternoon kindergartens run from 12:45 P.M. to 3:05 P.M.
TESTING PROGRAM
A new testing program under the direction of Drexel Institute in Philadelphia is now in operation. According to this plan in- telligence tests will be given each year to children in kindergarten, grade three, and grade five. Achievement tests will be given each year to every child.
ART WORKSHOP
Binney and Smith Co., New York, sponsored an art workshop in Scituate last September. The sessions were attended by Cohas- set and Scituate teachers who were given demonstrations and in- struction in the use of the many new materials now available for use in school.
32
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
FIELD TRIPS
The usual field trips (educational) have been made during the year, trips to the Science Museum, Logan Airport, local libraries, historical Scituate and Plymouth. Miss Sprague of Bridgewater Teachers' College and Miss Monahan of Central School collabor- ated in an all day session held at Central School last June. Miss Sprague's pupils met with Miss Monahan's fifth grade. The dis- cussion centered around "Western Expansion" which had been the topic of their most recent social studies unit. Experiences of this type are very worth while.
SCHOOL LIBRARY
Although our library is still being used as a classroom shelves are reserved for library purposes. We are gradually adding books, both reference and fictional, to those shelves. In addition to these we have borrowed about three hundred volumes from the State Lending Library. Miss Bates, our reading consultant, and Mrs. Finnie, librarian of the Allen Library, made the necessary arrange- ments. The local Parent-Teacher Association has been most gen- erous in contributing money toward building up a library of books and records for the kindergartens.
CAFETERIA
Mrs. Florence James, dietitian of the Central School, writes as follows: "During the past year by using the commodities donated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the reinbursements of the School Lunch Program we have been able to serve a complete "Type A" lunch for twenty-one cents. More than half of the pupils at Central School have participated in this type lunch with another one-third buying part of the lunch. The "Type A" lunch includes 2 oz. of protein, 1/2 pt. of milk, 6 oz. of fruits and/or vegetables, 2 tsp. of butter or fortified margarine. This lunch furnishes the child with 1/3 to 1/2 his daily nutritive requirements.
Our aim is not only to serve attractive, colorful, appetizing lunches, but to teach the children well-balanced, nutritious meals and to enjoy a greater variety of foods."
READING
Miss Methyl Bates, Reading Consultant writes as follows: "The past year has been one of growth in striving to improve the teach- ing of reading in Scituate schools. One of the ways in which im- provement has been shown in most classrooms in grades one through
33
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
six is that the pupils have been given books that they could read understandingly. This has been done through grouping pupils within classrooms so that every group was given a book that he could really read.
"Meetings of teachers of cach grade have usually been held each month. These meetings have been by grades so that reading pertaining to that grade could be the chief topic for the meeting. Among the topics presented at our meetings have been methods of teaching reading, exercises for developing phonetic and reading skills, types of seatwork, how to diagnose difficulties and what to do about them, comprehension exercises, and discussions of various questions asked at meetings.
"The Reading Consultant has worked at least once with every group in every classroom in grades one through six during the fall. She has worked with some groups several times. Observation of pupils as they have carried on some phase of reading has been a new project this year.
"Groups of pupils are also taken from rooms to be given in- struction. Difficulties are discovered and exercises presented to help develop better reading.
"In grades seven and eight a beginning in group work and pro- viding for individual differences has been made. Individuals have been analyzed who required work adjusted to their needs and the consultant has done a little work with them in small groups in the classrooms.
"Many individual conferences with parents, teachers, and pu- pils have been most worthwhile. A meeting of parents with teachers carrying on a panel discussion was held last spring.
"The constant cooperation of school officials, administrators, parents, teachers, and pupils should help our reading program to continue to grow."
KINDERGARTEN
The following report is given by the teachers in the kinder- garten department. "Friedrich Froebel who lived from 1782 - 1852 was the founder of the first kindergarten. His purpose in education for the very young was to bring into complete harmony the inner experiences of the child and the natural world in which the child lives. From that time kindergartens sprung up in every civilized country. Not until 1950, however, did Scituate have its first public kindergarten.
34
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
To quote from "Living in the Kindergarten" by Wills and Stege- man: "There is an increasing recognition by professional educators and laymen alike that kindergarten experience is an important part of a child's education. Kindergartens are an accepted lower rung on the educational ladder."
In kindergarten are developed the child's attitudes and skills, essential to success in the reading process. He learns to listen to others as well as to express his own ideas more freely and clearly.
He develops the ability to retell stories in correct sequence and to ask and answer questions in sentence form. He learns to recognize likes and differences in color, form, and size of objects, geometric forms, letters and words. The child's attention is also given to auditory training. He learns to recognize rhyming words and be- ginning sounds, to improve his power to reason through step by step and to develop desirable work habits. Through the proper use of work and play materials he develops physically. He becomes ad- justed to group living, to class routine. He learns to work inde- pendently as well as with others.
When the child comes to kindergarten his number information is spotted and limited. Number doesn't mean much to the child until it is applied to objects. The child learns to count to ten by rote, to count objects, to recognize objects in groups one through five, and the ordinals.
A few children may show a readiness to learn to write their names in kindergarten. Writing is never required and is done only on the child's initiative. We teach the child to copy letter symbols and to letter his name using the handwriting taught in the primary grades.
In closing I should like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for your support and that of the School Committee and to thank the teachers for their cooperation during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
LEROY E. FULLER, Principal
35
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Edward K. Chace Superintendent of Schools Scituate, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
The new schedule of physical examinations of the pupils was started in November, 1952. Now the pupils of grades 2, 5, 7, 9, and 11 can be given a much more comprehensive examination than was possible when the children in each of the lower grades and about half the High School classes were examined every year. Al- though each puppil is thus examined only every two or three years, unless he is on an athletic squad (when he is examined each year), the results are much more satisfactory. For example, per 100 pupils examined since November 12, 1952, 23 were found anemic by the precise method which the Red Cross uses to select blood donors, 34 showed defects of posture, and 32 had foot faults. Pupils needing further attention were advised to see their own physician or go to a clinic, since our work can not be the treatment of physical defects, but is their discovery.
This new schedule, as you know, followed a change in State requirements as to yearly examinations; and the way it is working out is gratifying to me not because I suggested a similar change two years ago, but because it helps us to do much more in promoting the health of the school children.
However, such an advance would have been impossible with- out seriously affecting the nurse's work with sick or injured chil- dren in the other school, until an additional nurse was employed. And I am very fortunate in having Miss O'Donnell to assist me in these examinations in the lower grades and Mrs. White likewise at the high school.
I have been consulted concerning various injuries (the number increases) in school, on playground or athletic field, and the con- tagiousness of many ailments at school. There was no serious epidemic this past year. The meetings of the Health Council have been attended; they are a definite help in improving the health of the pupils.
36
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
I would like to express my gratitude to the rest of the school staff and to the parents for their cooperation in caring for the health of the children.
Respectfully submitted,
MAX D. MILES, M.D., School Physician
REPORT OF JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Edward K. Chace Superintendent of Schools Scituate, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Chace:
For the first time this year there has been a nurse devoting her full time to the Junior and Senior High School. In accordance with the new state requirements we have held complete physical ex- aminations of all pupils in grades seven, nine and eleven and of all new transfer students. The pupils are allowed the option of an examination by their own doctor or by the school physician, Dr. Max Miles, with the nurse in attendance. Parents of all children to be examined were given advance notice so that they might attend the examination if they so desired. The examinations were held in the nurse's office in the High School. When the examination revealed any condition requiring attention, the parents were so advised. As these examinations are to be given these same grades annually we will see every student every other year.
By means of the Massachusetts Visual Test and the Keystone Telebinocular the nurse has examined the vision of the students in grades seven, nine and eleven and twelve. Any suspected visual deficiencies were reported to the parents with the suggestion that they consult their own eye doctor. In all there were sixty-six such cases referred this year. As is the case with physical examinations, these same grades will be given eye examinations next year.
During the winter term, the nurse is to test the hearing of the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades. This test is made by the use of the Audiometer which makes possible an accurate measurement of an individual's hearing.
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.