USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1917 > Part 8
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"The work in sewing this year, with the exception of the fifth grade, has been largely devoted to the Special Aid work. This war relief work creates a splendid patriotic spirit among the girls. Indeed, the boys realize the utility of the girls along this line and have overcome the boy's usual dislike for needle art and many of them have insisted on helping with knitting and the making of squares for ambulance robes.
The sewing work, while devoted to this war relief work, has not been without its lessons in accuracy and problems in sewing.
The fifth grade has necessarily been of the usual elementary foundation, the stitches being taught and then applied to making of different articles.
The sixth grades have accomplished the darning sampler and are making serviettes.
In the seventh grade the different methods of patching on cotton cloth and practice in stitching has been accomplished and are making slings.
In the eighth grade the button-hole problem is taken up and patching on woolen cloth has been accomplished and are making T. bandages and comfort bags for the soldiers.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
While the sewing part has been carried on in the schools for this great cause, the girls have been using spare moments at home for knitting of various necessary articles."
The boys in the manual training department have not yet done much of anything special. We are in touch with a committee in Boston which is to act as a clearing house for army needs which the schools may supply. All we can do along this line will be bookbinding, printing, and wood-work. We cannot do any complicated work in the last named because we have no power nor machinery.
Many pupils assisted in the drive for the sale of bonds of the Second Liberty Loan. The following schools bought bonds for themselves besides. assisting in the sales: High, Hurd, Prospect, Lincoln, Franklin, Warren, Greenwood, and Montrose.
LIBERTY BONDS
The pupils of the different schools were instrumental in selling bonds as given in the following list:
High School
$11,100.00
Lincoln
3,500.00
Greenwood
3,000.00
Prospect Street
2,300.00
Warren
2,000.00
F. P. Hurd
1,300.00
Franklin
1,100.00
Montrose
50.00
$24,350.00
I shall speak of the War Gardens under another heading.
We shall help in the sale of the Thrift Stamps and War Savings Stamps by placing them in the schools under the charge of the principals. We shall not have this run in opposition to the School Savings Bank, but rather along with it. If the teachers enter into this enthusiastically I believe we can teach thrift concretely and sell many stamps for the Government. Many children will buy them when their interest is aroused and they find the stamps on hand. Their enthusiasm might cool off some if they waited until they could get to a bank, post office or some place of business.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
For some time we have been considering adding a physical instructor to our corps of teachers. Last summer the Committee found it possible to do this. We secured the services of Miss Eleanor Blaikie, a graduate of the Sargent School, for full school time to teach all the grades, and the girls in the High School. She gives instruction to the pupils in class work and assists the teachers with the recess games.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Last year one of the teachers in the High School gave class instruction in free arm movements to a volunteer class of girls. Very few of those who registered withdrew after the class had been formed. Now the work is com- pulsory for all girls unless excused for physical disability, such excuse being accompanied by a statement of cause from the family physician. During pleasant weather much of work the is done out of doors.
During the last school year the Greenwood Parent-Teachers' Association paid Miss Blaikie to supervise the physical training and games in the Green- wood School.
The Lincoln, Franklin, Hurd and Prospect Schools did something with organized play at recess, and made a beginning in the lower grades, particu- larly with simple folk dancing. Now all schools have similar work, every pupil who is physically able receives some training in correct posture (sitting, standing and walking) in exercises to develop the muscles, emphasis being given to those which are least often used, proper breathing, team play, fair play, and good sportsmanship.
There probably has never been a time when physical instruction has received so much attention as during the past two or three years. The country needs more than ever clean limbed, clear minded, well trained youth to take the places of those who are giving their time and services to the country. People are feeling more and more that education has not been an all-around development, that the physical side has been neglected.
Miss Blaikie's work has been satisfactory and in this short time is showing good results.
NEW BUILDINGS
Last spring the voters at Town Meeting made appropriations for two · new school buildings and appointed committees to proceed with the erection of the same.
The committee in charge of building a new high school organized and selected an architect. He has presented preliminary plans, but from quota- tions on these it was seen that the committee could not possibly build at the present time, that is, they could not provide the necessary accommodations for the amount appropriated, $280,000.
The need has not decreased, on the contrary I feel it is even stronger than ever for with the present opportunities and the present higher wages, there is a temptation to leave school and go to work. The heavy demand for workers, offers an alluring attraction to the students in the High School. I feel that they should continue their education as long as possible. In order to keep them in school there is more need than ever for courses in the manual arts and in domestic science. We cannot offer either of these with the present accommodations. If it appears that the new building is too far in the future the Town should provide quarters where we can adequately handle this work.
The appropriation of $25,000 for the new Montrose building was not large enough to provide as large a building as we wished. The building is
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
well under way and should be ready late in the sping. This section of the Town will then have an up-to-date equipment which is badly needed.
We should make special mention of the site for I believe the Building Committee selected the best in the District. The lot fronts on Lowell Street, and will have an entrance from Wharton Park. There is plenty of room for expansion, for playgrounds, and school activities.
There are two other sections of the Town which are in need of new buildings, Woodville and Prospects Street. New schools should be built in these communities as soon as possible. If building conditions were not so bad and if the government had not requested municipalities to forego new construction except where absolutely necessary, I should recommend that the Town erect a new building in the Woodville district next year, but under the conditions we ought not to urge construction.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
For the past two years I have spoken of the advisability of establishing a Junior High School, so called, as a part of our school system. I was dis- appointed because the Town would not even give this a hearing when the question of a new high school building was before it, for I believe they should have given it careful consideration. The educational needs of Wakefield would have been better taken care of if our next new building could have been one to house grades 7 to 9. If I read the tendencies rightly, it is only a few years when this question will be strongly before the Town if it wishes to be abreast of other wide-awake communities. In the meantime we should reorganize the upper grades and place them upon a departmental system somewhat approaching the scheme of a Junior High School. We may make some 'modifications in our present scheme so the boys may have a longer time for manual training each week, and the girls a longer time for sewing with the addition of some simple work in domestic science. Of course this will still mean that both the boys and girls will be unable to continue their work during the last four years of their schooling in town.
The number of boys in increasing in the upper grades. Now there are some boys who cannot go to the manual training class every week. They lose one out of each three or one out of each five lessons. To obviate this under present conditions it seems to be necessary to omit manual training work in the sixth grade.
SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENS
For the past two or three years we have been laying some emphasis upon home garden work. Last summer, with the war conditions it seemed as though we should put especial stress upon it. The Town voted to establish a course in agriculture in the High School and made an appropriation for the same. The State pays two-thirds of the salary of the instructor. The Committee elected Mr. Donald White as instructor. He planted demonstra- tion gardens for each of the graded schools and advised with the chairman of the committees from the Parent-Teachers' Associations or other local
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
civic societies. These chairmen with their committees did all the work of helping the pupils in their districts and deserve commendation for the interest they showed and the work they did.
The season was unfavorable, but many gardens gave forth very good results. I think that with the experience of last year, even though some gardens did not do as well as they would have done under more favorable conditions, the pupils will try again this year to do their "bit" for the pro- duction of food, for the food situation will still be acute during the coming seasons.
I wish to mention especially those leaders who did so much for the gardens.
Chairmen of Home Garden Committees.
High School
Mrs. Luella Sidney
Warren School
Greenwood School
Mrs. Adelaide Boynton
Lincoln School
Mrs. Winifred Lindsay
Franklin School
Mrs. Nellie F. Ayscough
Woodville School
Prospect Street School
Mrs. Julia R. Carter
Hurd School
Mrs. Anna Noble
Montrose School
Mrs. Marion W. Maclardy
Hamilton School
William Burke
SCHOOL NURSE
During the fall of 1916 when we were all disturbed about Infantile Paralysis, the School Department engaged three nurses to make daily exam- inations of the pupils. After three or four weeks the Committee felt that one was sufficient to take care of the needs of the schools.
When writing my report last year I expressed a hope that we might have a nurse added permanently to our force. I am pleased to state that this has been done. I feel that this is an important move for now we can rake care of another side of the physical education far better than before. The nurse gives all of her time to this department during school hours.
The following, which is a part of the school nurse's report, shows what she is doing, and some of the results which are very satisfactory:
"The Committee made out a schedule on which days I was to visit the different schools, most of my time being spent in the school rooms observing and examining the children. The general inspection includes the skin for skin diseases, and pediculosis, conditions of teeth, the nose and throat for tonsils and adenoids, and in some cases the clothing. The general condition of the child is also noted, all cases needing attention are referred to the school physician.
"In May I assisted the school physician in examining the throats of all children in the grades and cards were sent to their respective parents stating ailments. The teeth of the children in grades six, seven, eight, and high school were also inspected, and cards also sent to parents.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
"I have visited many homes in regard to children being treated for tonsils and adenoids, also in regard to eyes and ears, of these forty had tonsils and adenoids removed during the summer and early fall, and twelve are now wearing glasses. Very little has been done in regard to teeth. I have called on one of the leading local dentists to see if some arrangement could be made to have children's teeth treated here in town as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary is some distance away and the Boston children and Boston School Nurses have the preference, although I have talked with the clerk and can have reservation if the local dentists do not arrange to take the school work. There is a noticeable decrease in skin diseases and pediculosis this fall and winter, very few children being excluded from school with the latter. During November and December a few cases of measles, mumps and chicken-pox have developed in different parts of the town, but in no instance was there any danger of epidemic or undue exposure. I find that the committee ruling the temperature of school rooms being 65 and windows opened has been very beneficial to the children, there being very few colds during the fall.
"The purchase of first aid cabinets by several of the schools in November has proved very useful in cases where children have received minor injuries in school yards while at play, and I am in hopes that by the end of this term all schools will have purchased the same.
"During the week of December 10, I assisted the school physician in weighing the children of the first grades. This was for the purpose of ascer- taining by observation if children under weight and children losing weight in or through the winter school term are children poorly nourished and children having a tendency towards dullness in learning, also to note if present war conditions by lack of certain foodstuffs would have a noticeable effect by loss of weight."
We cannot give in dollars and cents the value of the work done by Miss English, but the fact that small things that lead to absence are done away with is alone worth all it costs the department for her services. I take pleasure in commending her work and the enthusiasm with which she does it.
LONGER SCHOOL DAY
In my last report I spoke of lengthening the school day. With the present shortage of fuel this is not feasible, but as soon as we can I believe we should make the afternoon session longer than it now is. Besides the reasons given last year, we have the additional reason of having a physical instructor. Some time each day should be devoted to corrective exercises. We can hardly spare the time from the present day and we cannot get the best results unless we have more time.
HIGH SCHOOL
We did not expect that the High School would have its normal increase this fall because of opportunities to work. Some authorities had expressed a fear that there would be only one-third as many boys enrolled as there should be. Our registration does not bear this out for the membership in December 1916 was 506 and in December 1917, 498.
.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
As I have said elsewhere in this report we should have other courses added to the subjects which we now offer. These should be such as would appeal to many students more than the general academic which is practically all that we now have.
At the beginning of the next school year we should offer Spanish for those who wish to enter certain commercial work. There probably will be a growing need for this in many forms of business. We have teachers who can teach this subject so we shall not have to add to our force to take care of it.
The lunch counter is conforming to the food conservation requirement by observing wheatless and meatless days.
I am particularly interested in that part of the Principal's report which states that of those who have entered high school in the past six years 53 per cent have graduated, and of those entering the six years previous 47 per cent graduated. These figures are much higher than certain people have published abroad in magazines.
IMPROVEMENTS
I presume the Committee has covered in their report the matters of permanent improvements.
The installation of a steam radiator in the small room at the north end of the Lincoln building, which Miss Hurley uses, means considerable for efficiency. Formerly this room was made available for use by means of a gas radiator, but this ate up the ogygen so rapidly that the room was not really fit for recitation purposes.
The basements are now thoroughly shut off from the exits by fire walls and self-closing fire doors and by a second set of doors, metal covered and fitted with wire glass, at the heads of the stairways.
SCHOOL SAVINGS BANKS
1917
Greenwood
Lincoln
Franklin
Totals®
Active Accounts .
225
194
203
622
Number of Deposits
1874
2065
1416
5355
Amount of Deposits
$804.59
$444.09
$214.94 $1,463.62
Withdrawals.
47
93
60
200
Amount of Withdrawals
$27.53
$138.40
$45.83
$211.76
Amount transferred to pupils'
accounts in Savings Bank . ..
$802.50
$342.00
$190.00 $1,334.50
Balance in custody of Trustee. .
121.08
38.90
54.77
214.75
No. of Savings Bank Books issued.
48
22
18
88
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
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SUMMARY FOR FIVE YEARS
Number of Deposits
9399
8736.
7036
25,171
Amount of Deposits
$3,076.37 $2,214.05 $1,517.49 $6,807.91
Amount of Withdrawals
$176.78
$460.93
$386 24 $1,023.95
Amount transferred to pupils'
accounts in Savings Bank.
$2,833.18 $1,699.21
$962.00 $5,494.39
Number of Savings Bank Books issued.
324
174
189
687
MANUAL TRAINING
As in other years we have tried to make the work in Manual Training as practical as possible. This year the boys have made their models for instruction purposes, and for practical application have done the follow ing among other things:
Refinished several desks
Framed several pictures
Jumping standards for Lincoln School
Ladder for basement at Lincoln School
Large bulletin board for Lincoln School Remodeled sand table for Warren School
Repaired sewing machine cover for Hurd School Made foot-stools for manual training room Made cabinet for galleys Made table for imposing stone
Made table for paper cutter Made two saw-horses for manual training room
Made long bench for book-binding
Cabinet for shelves for book-binding Drying rack for printing
Our recommendation that instruction in printing be given in the manua training department has been carried out by the purchase of a 9 x 12 press and equipment. Six boys may work at a time. Some who did not care for woodworking have taken to this.
The routine instruction and practice of course takes up considerable time, but we have tried to have all of the work as practicable as possible. The boys have done several small jobs for the department as well as some for the different schools. Some of the jobs they have done are as follows:
Certificates of Promotion Attendance Officers' Cards
Unit History Cards Report Cards Headings on postal Cards Labels for bottles
Invitation for Parent-Teachers' Association.
Play Programs for the Franklin School Prize Cards for Garden Contest, Prospect Street School
Tickets for entertainments, Hurd School
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
EVENING SCHOOL
The attendance in the evening school has dropped off very noticeably, particularly in the illiterate section. The office issued comparatively few certificates last year to minors, 16-21, who were not able to read and write English. This seems to be due to the fact that several have acquired enough English to pass the literacy tests, and many have left town.
Our class in citizenship, while the membership changes, remains about the same in average attendance. I think that one reason why this does not have a larger membership is that many do not fully understand just what the purpose of the class is.
During the fall we held a meeting at which some of the town officials and a lawyer from Boston spoke. All urged the necessity of all aliens who intend to live. in this country and enjoy its benefits to become citizens of the country. After this meeting the membership of the class increased some.
This class has as its purpose the preparation for examination of all who wish to become citizens of the United States. The work is largely in United States History and civil government. The teacher, Mr. Raymond Dellinger, gives his personal attention to those who wish to take out either first or second papers, even goes to the court with the candidates for citizenship.
There does not seem to be sufficient demand for drafting to warrant continuing a class in this subject, consequently we have discontinued it.
Lately we have had several requests to form a class in English which would give more advanced work than we have offered heretofore. After the Christmas vacation we will organize such a class where we shall give instruc- tion in English of high school grade, spelling, and rhetoric and composition. About twenty have indicated a desire to be enrolled.
The membership in the evening sewing and millinery classes has dropped. I presume this is because the women have so much to do as their share of war work that they do not have the time to spend two evenings each week in school. Others probably feel that they have learned enough to do their own ordinary sewing and millinery without further instruction.
TEACHERS' SALARIES
While the Town made an appropriation large enough so the School Committee could raise the salaries of the teachers and janitors, the new maximum is not high enough particularly with prices as they are to-day. I am glad the Committee has recommended a further increase of $50 for all teachers and janitors, and I hope the Town will see fit to appropriate enough for the Committee to carry out the increase.
COST OF SCHOOLS COMPARED WITH STATE AS A WHOLE
I have taken some figures from the State Reports showing how the amount of money spent in Wakefield compares with the amount spent by the State as a whole. The figures also give the per capita cost of different parts. of the school appropriation based upon average membership for the years. 1 916 and 1917.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
II7
DAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
1916
1917
Expenditures based upon average membership for support, exclusive of general control
$28.94
$31.27
For salaries and expenses of principals and supervisors, and for salaries of teachers
22.15
24.03
For text books
.51
.53
HIGH SCHOOL
For support, exclusive of general control
$51.02
$51.79
For salaries and expenses of principals, supervisors and teachers
39.65
42.16
For text books
2.02
1.98
COST IN WAKEFIELD COMPARED WITH COST IN STATE
Rank in State
1916
1917
1916
1917
Valuation per pupil in average membership .
$5,246.00
$5,417.00
196
202
Cost per pupil in average member- ship from local taxation
32.69
33.94
1.84
193
Cost per pupil in average member- ship for expenditures from all sources
33.45
35.13
287
285
Expenditure per $1,000 valuation for school support from local taxation
6.23
6.26
129
124
Rate of local tax per $1,000 valua- tion
25.20
23.20
6
34
CHANGES IN TEACHING FORCE. HIGH SCHOOL
Norman C. Mansur, granted leave of absence during service for the Government.
John B. Sawyer, sub-master, resigned to accept an appointment in the legal department of the B. & M. R. R.
ELECTIONS -
George C. Dickey, from Central Falls, R. I., Sub-master.
Hazel M. Andrews, from Rockland, Maine, English and History. Gertrude M. Butler, from Middleboro, Mass., French-German. Ellen Cole, from Chelmsford, Mass., French-Algebra.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
GRADES
Resigned
Glennah Shepard, Lincoln, Grade III, to be married.
Catherina Slaiger, Lincoln, Grade I, to Attleboro, Mass. Mabel Whittaker, Warren, Assistant, to Somerville, Mass. Mary Donovan, Hamilton, I-II, to be married. Pertie Gray, Greenwood, VIII, to Somerville, Mass. Mercie Wittemore, Greenwood, II, to be married. Dorothy Packer, Franklin II.
ELECTIONS
Philomena Silva, to Lincoln I, from Harvard, Mass. Ruby Bassett, Warren, Assistant, from Revere, Mass. R. Louise Cone, Hamilton, I, from Foxboro, Mass. Ruth Willey, Franklin II, from Saugus, Mass. Mary G. Cole, Franklin I-II, from Warner, N. H. Hester A. Walker, Franklin, Assistant, from Wrentham, Mass. Isabel C. Hill, Woodville III-IV, from Winchendon, Mass. Ellen Connorton, Woodville, I-II, substitute, Everett, Mass. Eleanor Blaikie, Physical Instructor.
TRANSFERS
Bernice Hendrickson, from Lincoln III-IV, to Lincoln III. Ruth E. Hickey, from Woodville III-IV to Lincoln III-IV. Josephine Rourke, from Warren, Assistant, to Greenwood VIII. Gertrude Howland, from Greenwood I to Greenwood II. M. Louise Pettingill, from Franklin I-II-III to Greenwood I.
CONCLUSION
I wish to thank all who have taken an interest in our school work and have assisted to make Wakefield stand to the forefront'in education.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLARD B. ATWELL
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER AND CENSUS ENUMERATOR
Mr. W. B. Atwell, Superintendent.
Dear Sir :- I hereby submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1917.
I have investigated 439 cases as reported to me and found the pupils absent for the following reasons:
Sickness
101
Truancy
77
Lack of clothing, shoes, etc.
44
Kept out by parents
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