USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1958-1960 > Part 11
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William Johnson, B.S.
Lawrence C. Keenan, M.Ed. Sally Ann Kennedy, M.A. Russell E. Kidd, M.S.
Barbara Murphy, Ed.M.
Peter J. Murphy, Ed.M.
George O'Neil, B.S.
Edmund A. Peratta, B.A.
Carl Sampson, B.S.
Alma Shmauk, B.S.
Edward Elliott Small, M.Ed.
Patrick A. Soccorso, A.B.
Paul A. Svenson, B.S.
Ella L. Vinal, M.A.
Edgar L. White, Jr., B.S.
Erroll K. Wilcox, B.S.
French, Latin Chairman, Home Economics, Industrial Arts, Art Biology, Chemistry Science, Biology Spanish, French
English, Dramatics Chairman, English
Chairman, Business Education
Social Studies
English, Social Studies
Librarian Mathematics
Business Education
Vocal Music, Music Appreciation
Chairman, Mathematics
Physical Education, Health
Social Studies, English
Physical Education English, Guidance
Latin, English Science
English, Social Studies
Social Studies
Art, Mechanical Drawing
Mathematics
Mathematics
Social Studies, Science, Mathematics
Chairman, Social Studies
Science, English Chairman, Science
SCITUATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Thomas E. Abbott, B.Ed., Principal, Central School Office, Branch Street Residence, Shady Lane
LInden 5-3300 LInden 5-2423
Judson R. Merrill, A.B., Principal, Jenkins School Office, First Parish Road LInden 5-3300
Residence, 132 Summer Street LInden 5-0010
Joseph C. Driscoll, Ed.M., Principal, Wampatuck School Office, Tilden Road LInden 5-3300
Residence, Thomas Avenue
LInden 5-1742
6
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Charles E. Bordne, A.M.
Guido J. Risi, B.S.
Mary R. Agnew, B.A. Edward J. Bielski, M.Ed.
Catherine F. Callahan, Diploma Ethel V. Clayton, BRE
Richard S. Cobleigh, M.Ed.
Mrs. Justine Cook, B.A.
Grade 6, Wampatuck Grade 1, Central
Mrs. Marjorie S. Cooper, B.A.,B.S. Grade 1, Central Robert J. Corbin, B.S. Grade 6, Jenkins Mrs. Eleanor P. Costello Mrs. Patricia Crisp, B.S. Mrs. Helen C. Curtis, M.Ed. Grade 3, Central Robert Deakin, B.S.
Grade 6, Central
Grade 2, Central
Grade 1, Wampatuck
Grade 2, Jenkins Kindergarten, Central
Mrs. Madalin C. Ford, Certificate Grade 3, Central
Grade 1, Jenkins
Grade 4, Wampatuck
Teacher's Aid, Reading
Grade 4, Central
Grade 5, Central
Grade 3, Jenkins
Grade 1, Jenkins
Speech Therapist Grade 1, Central
Grade 2, Central
Grade 1, Wampatuck
Grade 4, Central
Grade 2, Central
Elementary School Music
Kindergarten, Central
Grade 3, Jenkins
Grade 5, Jenkins
Grade 4, Jenkins
Assistant Principal, Jenkins School, Grade 6 Assistant Principal,
Wampatuck School, Grade 6 Grade 2, Wampatuck Grade 6, Jenkins, Director Adult Evening School Grade 5, Jenkins
Grade 3, Wampatuck
Grade 3, Wampatuck
Kindergarten, Wampatuck
Jean M. Feeley, Diploma Mrs. Edith L. Fennessy, B.L.I.
Rose M. Fisher, Diploma Marion Fleck, Diploma
Mrs. Jane Gillingham, Diploma Thomas E. Gleason, M.A. Elizabeth Grassie, Diploma Mrs. Grace Grassie, Diploma Mrs. Helen Hammill, Diploma Mrs. Flora D. Harvey, B.S. Mrs. Mary D. Heffernan, Diploma Ann Louise Hoar, B.A. Mrs. Margaret E. Hoey, Certificate Florence Hyde, B.S.
Priscilla Kelley, Diploma
Mrs. Dorothy D. Kettell, B.S.
Margaret Leach, Diploma Nancy S. Little, B.M.
Mrs. Edna Locklin, Diploma Mrs. Winifred McAuliffe, Diploma Mrs. Eileen C. Menslage, Diploma Mrs. Alice D. Merz, M.Ed.
7
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Mrs. Vera Mitchell, Diploma Mary E. Monahan, (Equiv.) A.M. Grade 6, Wampatuck Mrs. Anna E. Murphy, Diploma Physical Education, Elementary Schools Grade 2, Wampatuck Kindergarten, Jenkins
Mrs. Helen M. O'Connor, B.S. Mrs. Florence O'Hern, Diploma Marguerite O'Hern, Diploma Ellen E. Parsons, B.S. Sandra Poole, B.S. Mrs. Kathryn H. Pilot, M.Ed. Mrs. Doris Reddy, Diploma Mrs. Vera Reublinger, Diploma Gertrude Reynolds, M.B. Mrs. Joan Sampson, B.S. Mrs. Barbara Sargent, B.S. William G. Smith, M.A.
Mark A. Swift, B.S.
Mrs. Rose Trefry, Certificate Mrs. Madeline Vickery, Diploma Marilou Walters, B.A. Gertrude Ward, Diploma® Jean Weldon, B.S.
Eleanor Wescott, Diploma Peter Wilcox, B.Ed.
Grade 5, Central
Grade 4, Wampatuck Grade 4, Central Art, Elementary Schools Grade 2, Jenkins Grade 3, Central
Grade 4, Jenkins Elementary School Music
Grade 3, Wampatuck Grade 5, Wampatuck Physical Education, Elementary Schools Acting Assistant Principal, Central School, Grade 6 Opportunity Class, Central Grade 2, Jenkins Grade 4, Wampatuck
Grade 1, Jenkins
Art, Elementary Schools
Grade 5, Central
Grade 6, Central
Mrs. Gladys I. Wiswall, Diploma Grade 2, Wampatuck
SUPERVISORS
Herschel Benson, M.S. Robert E. Morrill, B.S. Mrs. Gertrude L. Russell, Diploma Samuel J. Tilden, Ed.M.
Director of Physical Education Director of Music
Coordinator of Reading Director of Guidance
HEALTH OFFICERS
Max D. Miles, M.D. Mrs. Eva Mckeever, R.N.
Mrs. Ellen Meiser, R.N.
Donald Parsons, D.D.S .* Mrs. Lillian Higgins*
School Physician Nurse, Jenkins and Wampatuck Schools Nurse, High School and Central School School Dentist Hygienist
* Employed by Board of Health
8
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
SUPERVISORS OF ATTENDANCE
William F. Kane, Chief of Police All Schools
Mrs. Eva Mckeever Mrs. Ellen Meiser
Jenkins and Wampatuck Schools High School and Central School
SECRETARIES
Mrs. Leah C. Allan Mrs. Marguerite E. Cahoon
Mrs. Emily S. Colton
Mrs. Dorothy Foster Mrs. Muriel L. Johnson
Mrs. Jean E. Strzelecki Mrs. Martha Thompson Mrs. Doris Walker
Clerk, Superintendent's Office Secretary, Superintendent's Office Secretary, Central School
Secretary, Jenkins School Bookkeeper, Superintendent's Office Secretary, High School
Secretary, Wampatuck School Secretary, High School
CAFETERIAS
Mrs. Gertrude Timpany Mrs. Florence James Mrs. Harriet E. Bubin Mrs. Giertrug McCarthy Mrs. Margaret McCormack Mrs. Bessie M. Dooley
Mrs. Enid Billings Mrs. Florence Flaherty Mrs. Ann Fettig Mrs. Roberta Merritt
Mrs. Connie Saccone Mrs. Mae Stark Mrs. Florence Young
Supervisor, All Cafeterias
Cafeteria Manager, Central School
Central School
Central School
Central School
Jenkins School, Cafeteria Manager
Jenkins School Jenkins School Jenkins School Wampatuck School, Cafeteria Manager Wampatuck School (part-time) Wampatuck School Wampatuck School
CUSTODIANS
Herbert E. Bearce Miss Annie Barry John A. Cogswell* John F. Curran William F. Harrington Francis W. Hartnett Daniel E. Healy
Head Custodian Jenkins School High School, Contact Man Jenkins School, Contact Man Central School Wampatuck School, Contact Man High School
9
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Mrs. Genevieve Hill
Wampatuck School
Earl Jenkins
Central School, Contact Man
High School
Mrs. Irene Johnson Percy Mayo
High School
Joseph Murphy
Jenkins School
Lewis B. Newcomb
Wampatuck School
Carl A. Roset
High School
Harry Soule
Central School
Thomas F. Woods
High School
* Retired February 27, 1959
+Hired January 12, 1959
BUS CONTRACTORS
Richard S. Tibbetts
Route A
Andrew Finnie
Route B
James Finnie, Sr.
Route C
Alfred Elliott
Route D
Lissie Berg
Route E
William J. Mays
Route F
William Steverman
Route G
C. Alan Merry
Route H
Henry Bearce, Jr. Mrs. Richard Tibbetts
Route J
Humarock
STAFF CHANGES AND ADDITIONS, 1958 - 1959
Joseph C. Driscoll, junior high school teacher, and acting teaching assistant principal, Central School, was elected principal of the Wampatuck School.
Judson R. Merrill, Administrative Assistant and acting principal of the Jenkins School, was appointed principal of that school.
Charles E. Bordne, acting teaching assistant principal Central School, was appointed teaching assistant principal, Jenkins School.
Guido J. Risi, acting teaching assistant principal Wampatuck School, was appointed teaching assistant principal of that school.
William A. Cook, B.S. from Springfield College, and M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University, since 1956, chemistry and general science teacher in the Bergenfield, N. J., High School, to teach biology and chemistry in the high school. He is driver educa- tion instructor as well.
10
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Donald Burgess, A.B. from Boston College, and M.Ed. from Boston State Teachers College, teacher in Whitman High School in mathematics, science, and drawing, to teach Junior High School mathematics.
Donald L. Hermance, B.A. in music from Duke University, and graduate work in music from Boston University. Music teacher in Arlington High School since 1953, to teach vocal music in grades 7-12.
Carl W. Sampson, B.S. from Boston University, practice teach- ing in Scituate Schools in 1957-1958, to teach Social Studies in the junior high school.
Russell E. Kidd, B.S. and M.S. from University of Massachu- setts, teacher in the Portland, Maine, High School, physical educa- tion and science in the junior high school.
Peter J. Murphy, A.B. from Boston College, and Ed.M. from Boston State Teachers College, and graduate work at Boston College and M.I.T., teacher in Brockton High School, to teach English and Latin in the junior high school.
George C. O'Neil, Scituate, B.S. from Florida Southern College, teacher of mathematics and science in Silver Lake Regional High School since 1956, to teach science in the junior high school. Mr. O'Neil replaced Mr. Leon Harvey who had resigned January 5, 1959.
Edmund A. Peratta, B.A. from Bowdoin College, with graduate work at Harvard, formerly instructor in Marshfield High School, and reporter for the New Bedford Standard-Times, to teach English and Social Studies in the high school.
Paul A. Svenson, B.S. from Boston University, practice teaching in Central Junior High School, Quincy, to teach science, mathe- matics, and social studies in the junior high school.
Richard E. Cobleigh, B.S. from Keene, N. H., State Teachers College, M.Ed. from Boston University, fifth grade teacher in Marsh- field since 1956, to teach grade 6, Wampatuck School.
Mrs. Marjorie S. Cooper, B.A. in music and chemistry from the University of Minnesota, and B.S. in elementary education from the same college, formerly third grade teacher in the Minneapolis Pub- lic Schools, and teacher in grades 1-8 in the Army Dependents School in Germany to teach Grade 1 in Central School. She replaces Miss Alice Moore who resigned with the opening of schools.
11
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Thomas E. Gleason, Scituate, B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University, New York, and extensive work at Harvard Graduate School of Education, practice teaching, Newton, and intern teach- ing, Winchester, to teach Grade 4, Wampatuck School.
Mrs. Hugh R. Hammill. Curry School, Boston, formerly teacher in Lynn, and substitute teacher in Scituate, Grade 5, Central School.
Miss Nancy S. Little, B.M. from New England Conservatory of Music, practice teaching in Newton and Chestnut Hill, to teach elementary music.
Miss Ellen E. Parsons, B.S. from Gorham, Maine, State Teachers College, teacher in Westbrook, Maine, to teach grade 4 Central School.
William G. Smith, B.S. and M.A. from Boston University School of Education, teacher since 1957 in South Boston, to teach physical education in the elementary schools.
Miss Marilou Walters, B.A. from the University of Massachu- setts, teacher in the Boston Public Schools, to teach Grade 4 Wan- patuck School.
Peter C. Wilcox, B.Ed. from Keene, N. H., State Teachers Col- lege, formerly 5th grade teacher in Hollywood, Florida, and 6th grade teacher in the Army Dependents School in France, to teach 6th grade in Central School. Mr. Wilcox replaced Mr. Lincoln who resigned in October.
Miss Sandra L. Poole, B.S. from Massachusetts School of Art, to teach art in the elementary grades.
Miss Jean M. Weldon, B.S. from Massachusetts School of Art, to teach art in the elementary grades.
Mrs. Ellen M. Meiser, R.N., school nurse in the high school and Central School.
Mrs. Eva A. Mckeever, R.N., school nurse in the Jenkins and Wampatuck Schools.
MASTER'S DEGREES EARNED IN 1957 - 1958:
A. Leslie Faulkner, Lawrence C. Keenan, E. Elliott Small, all high school teachers, and Mrs. Helen C. Curtis, elementary school teacher. They are to be congratulated on their achievement.
12
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
RETIREMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
Mrs. Helene G. Fulton, art teacher in the Scituate schools since 1946, and art supervisor since 1954, retired in June 1958. Her in- fluence in the art program has been great.
Miss Margaret O'Donnell, school nurse since 1942, loved by pupils, parents, and teachers, resigned September 8, 1958.
Mrs. Doris Mckinlay, 4th grade teacher, on leave of absence during 1957-1958, resigned to move to Florida.
Mrs. Flora D. White, school nurse since 1952, resigned in June 1958.
Mrs. Frances M. Drago, first grade teacher, resigned during the summer of 1958.
Mr. Charles Rathclement, 7th grade Social Studies teacher, re- signed effective the closing of schools in June.
Mr. Leon Harvey, science teacher in the junior high school re- signed in November 1958.
Mr. William A. Lincoln, Assistant Principal, Central School and 6th grade teacher there, resigned in October to accept an ele- mentary school principalship in Newbury, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Agnes Peirce and Mrs. Gertrude Queeney, cafeteria workers over a long period of years have resigned their positions.
13
FACTS ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS FOR BUSY CITIZENS
By EDWARD K. CHACE, Superintendent of Schools
1. WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS? Elementary school capacity is figured by multiplying the number of classrooms by the number of pupils you want to have in each room. We have 21 classrooms in the Central School, and 16 cach in the Jenkins and Wampatuck Schools, a total of 53 rooms. Hence, if you think that 25 is the correct number of pupils to a room, multiply 53 by 25 and the capacity is 1325. (Note: Kinder- gartens being on double sessions will permit a few more in each case). With 30 to a room, the capacity becomes 1590; with 35 it becomes 1755. Of course, these are AVERAGE figures. Population distribution often makes for larger classes in one school than in an- other. The figures used below allow for double sessions in kinder- gartens, hence are slightly larger. Of course if all grades are placed on double sessions, the capacity of the school is doubled.
2. WHO PREDICTS ENROLLMENTS? Dr. William K. Wilson who was hired to help us when the problem was what to do with the old Jenkins and Hatherly Schools in 1952-1953, made one. The School Building Assistance Commission has made several. The Educational Service Associates (Tufts University), affiliated with Allen Benjamin, Municipal Planning Consultant, made an- other November 1, 1957. Your superintendent has made such en- rollment predictions annually.
Each of these was based on the birth rate, the number of pre- school children, movement into the Town, the past enrollment history. Always, the births, and the population influx have exceeded all predictions.
For instance in 1955-56 with individual grade enrollments first hitting the 200 mark per grade, all of these authorities expected that 240 by 1963-1964 would be a top grade enrollment. Last fall, Kin- dergarten, and Grades 1, 2, and 3, each exceeded 240! Kindergarten now is 267, Grade 1 is 271, Grade 2 is 252, and Grade 3 is 241!
We now hope that the grade enrollments may level off at 350! But we can't count on it. 400 might be a better guess!
In 1955-1956, we hoped that our maximum total enrollment in 1963-1964 would be less than 3000. Next fall it will be just about 3000!
Scituate is building housing development after development. The school population is increasing by more than 250 a year, or eight classrooms per year. This year we added 274 pupils or nine class- rooms! Where will this stop?
14
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
15
SCITUATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Enrollment Predictions Made By Superintendent) (Revised October 1958)
Grade
Actual 1957-58
Actual 1958-1959
Predict 1959-60
Predict 1960-61
Predict 1961-62
Predict 1962-63
Predict 1963-64
K
223
267
270
285
300
320
330
1
242
271
290
300
310
320
330
2
230
252
280
300
310
320
330
3
217
241
260
290
310
320
330
4
223
229
265
280
310
320
330
5
223
235
245
285
300
310
320
6
225
233
245
260
300
310
320
Sp.
7
9
10
14
15
15
30
Total Enrollment
1590
1757
1865
2014
2155
2235
2320
Total Capacity at 35
1995
1995
1995
1995
1995
2590*
2590*
Total Capacity at 30
1680
1680
1680
1680
1680
2190
2190
7
155
220
240
265
260
280
290
8
169
163
235
250
270
265
285
9
132
159
175
230
240
280
275
Total Enrollment
456
542
650
745
770
825
850
Total Capacity
650 (7-12)
650
650
900+ (7-9)
900 (7-9)
(7-9)
(7-9)
10
148
138
165
185
230
245
285
11
96
140
135
165
180
225
240
12
83
90
135
140
160
175
240
Total Enrollment
327
368
435
490
570
645
765
Total Capacity
(650)
(650) (7-12)
(650)
800+ (10-12)
800 (10-12)
800 (10-12)
800
(7-12)
(7-12)
(10-12)
900
900
(7-12)
(7-12)
(Enrollment Predictions Made By Superintendent) - continued
Grade
Actual 1957-58
Actual 1958-59
Predict 1959-60
Predict 1960-61
Predict 1961-62
Predict 1962-63
Predict 1963-64
7-12
Total Enrollment
783
910
1085
1235
1340
1470
1615
7-12
Total Capacity
650
650
1550
1550
1550
1550
1750
K-12
Total Enrollment
2373
2647
2950
3249
3495
3705
3935
K-12
Total Capacity at 35
2645
2645
2645
3695+
3695
4290*
4290
Total Capacity at 30
2330
2330
2330
3380
3380
3975
3975
* Open New Elementary School
+ Open Senior High-Junior High School Addition
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
16
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
3. WHAT IS THE CAPACITY OF OUR JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (GRADES 7 - 12)?
We can house 600 pupils more or less comfortably in the exist- ing high school building. If we use the Administration Building, we can accommodate 50 more, or a total of 650. However, insur- ance underwriters tell us that to use the Administration Building or Hatherly School for pupil use, we must spend a considerable sum of money to make either safe for pupil use.
You cannot figure high school capacity as easily as elementary school capacity. Some classes, such as English will have 30-35; others such as advanced mathematics and languages may have as few as 15. Several formulii can be used. The capacity total of 600 comes out with all.
Hence, the capacity of the existing building is 600. This year we have 910 pupils in it. Grades 7 and 8 attend from 12:45 till 4:45 P.M. Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12, attend from 8:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. This is what we call "double sessions". Naturally, pupils do not get the same education in a four-hour day as in a six or seven hour day.
17
4. LET'S COMPARE ENROLLMENTS WITH CAPACITIES:
1958-59
1959-60
1960-61
1961-62
1962-63
1963-64
K-6 Total Capacity
1680 1995
1680 1995
1680 1995
1680 1995
1680 1995
1680 1995
(30 to a room) (35 to a room)
K-6
Total Enrollment
1757
1865
2014
2155
2235
2320
7-9
Total Capacity
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
7-9
Total Enrollment
542
650
745
770
825
850
10-12 Total Capacity
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
600 (7-12)
10-12
Total Enrollment
368
435
490
570
645
765
7-12 Total Capacity
600
600
600
600
600
600
7-12
Total Enrollment
910
1085
1235
1340
1470
1615
K-12
2330 2645
2330 2645
2330 2645
2330 2645
2330 2645
2330 2645
(30 to a room) (35 to a room)
K-12
Total Enrollment
2647
2950
3249
3495
3705
3935
Total Capacity
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
18
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
5. BUILDING PROGRAM FOR SCITUATE:
(a) New Senior High School, capacity 800, open, September 1960 and New Junior High School addition, raising capacity from 600 to 900, open on or before September 1960.
(b) Fourth elementary school, sixteen to eighteen rooms, open September 1962.
These projects should care for expansion through 1965. Beyond that anyone's predictions are wholly guesswork. Why? The new development off Route 3A and Country Way will add about 300 youngsters. Other developments will add even more. The new Southeastern Expressway will make Scituate more accessible from Boston. Will more people move to Scituate as a result? Will the Town consider light industry to help defray taxes on houseowners? Will the Town consider some action to curtail housing develop- ments? What will happen after 1965 will depend on the Town's answers to these questions.
6. WILL WE HAVE MORE ROOMS THAN WE CAN USE?
YES. However, these rooms will provide relief from the ele- mentary school crowding and possible double-sessions there until September 1962 when a fourth elementary school should be ready. The 6th grade could be housed in either the Senior High School or the Junior High or in both.
General Ernest N. Harmon, President of Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, stated recently in his annual report, that he feels it is better to build now than later, that a few extra rooms con- structed at Norwich will be cheaper to build now than at inflated prices a year or two years from now.
Experience has taught us that building costs are higher each year. It would be nice for a year or two to have a little more than we need so that classes can be smaller, rather than to continue crowd- ing, improvising, and curtailing.
19
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
7. JUNIOR HIGH OR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL? In February 1958, I solicited prices on an 800 pupil senior high school (grades 10-12), and a 1000 pupil junior high school (grades 7-9) from three architects, two experienced in school contruction, one inexperienced.
These estimates were:
Architect A Architect B
Architect C
Senior High - 10-11-12
800 Pupils
$1,910,000
$2,200,000
$1,660,000
Junior High - 7-8-9
1000 Pupils
$2,238,000
$2,400,000
$1,700,000
Addition to Existing Bldg.
350 Pupils
$ 502,000
$ 550,000
$ 420,000
Senior High -9-10-11-12
1100 Pupils
$2,483,000
$2,600,000
$2,050,000
These estimates were based on similar rough specifications for buildings such as would be built in Massachusetts communities for public school housing.
The 1000-pupil junior high school in each instance costs more than the 800-pupil senior high school. Would it not be fair to imply that the costs of buildings of the same capacity, junior or senior, would be about the same, with perhaps a shade on the side of the senior high school because of the chemistry-physics laboratories re- quired there? Architects to whom I have talked think so.
Further, if we built a junior high rather than a senior high on the Route 3A site, we would then need to add additional chemistry- physics laboratories in the existing building, thus raising the cost of the project whether it be an addition to the existing building or conversion of rooms.
Junior High School athletics differ from senior high school athletics. The area around the present building is crowded for football, hockey and cross country in the fall, and for girls' and boys' baseball and track in the spring. This is certainly not a major point, but emphasis on these sports being less in a junior high school, the area is more adaptable to the use of 7th, 8th, and 9th graders, than 10th, 11th, and 12th graders.
The larger rooms in the present building are also better suited for the larger junior high school classes.
20
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
A six-year high school, I am convinced, is not desirable. 7th and 8th graders are not high school students. Physically, emotionally, and intellectually they are elementary school pupils who are matur- ing, who are filled with uncertainties, anxieties, and problems. The influence of the maturer high school pupils does not help them. These junior high pupils need more guidance, more security, and activities and studies which will help them through the difficult teen years.
Hence, in Scituate, our 7th and 8th graders have been indeed "second-class citizens" in a six-year high school. Some of the best junior high schools which house grades 7 through 9 are in older buildings, others are in new ones. The important considerations are leadership, understanding teachers, competent guidance and a program of studies developed and utilized for these teen-agers, a program which is designed to help them over these difficult years. The building so long as it is adequate means much less than the program of studies, plus understanding, sympathy, strictness in dis- cipline, and guidance.
I, indeed, favored a junior high school a year ago. I changed my mind. Having weighed the evidence as an administrator, and, more important, as an educator, it was evident to me (and I speak only for myself) that the decision which was proposed to the Town of Scituate last March was the best. At the 1958 Annual Town Meeting, the Town voted to bring to this year's Town Meeting finished bids and bid prices on an 800-pupil senior high school and an addition to the existing building which would raise its capacity from 600 to 900, such building to be used as a junior high school.
I see no reason to change my mind or the decision. To do either would reverse what I consider to be a wise decision and delay badly needed construction, raise the cost of the construction, and delay the needed relief from double sessions in grades 7-12.
8. HOW DOES A TOWN "BUY" A SCHOOL?
(a) First the curriculum of the school is developed. What is to be taught and how it is to be taught come first.
(b) Educational specifications are placed on paper. To do this means that if there will be 800 pupils in a high school, the number who will be taking a given subject is divided by the proposed class size (say 30), and the result multiplied by the number of periods this subject will meet per week. The result is the number of rooms needed for that subject. One then knows how many rooms will be needed.
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