USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1918 > Part 7
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We looked for decrease in our numbers this year, but instead we have had an increase. We have reached the point where we now have more teachers for the forenoon session than we have rooms. It is a question of only a short time before we shall have to arrange for two classes to attend mornings and two afternoons. The late session afternoons is particularly bad. The young girls ought to be able to reach home before dark, and all pupils ought to be able to study by daylight.
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
The cost of a new building will undoubtedly be greater than it would have been before the war, but for the sake of the students we need it as soon as we can have it.
NEW BUILDING NEEDED FOR WOODVILLE
The Woodville section should be provided with a new building, and one ought to be built there in the immediate future. The present building is old and draughty, and while it is heated by a furnace, the general conditions there make it hard to heat. There are outside toilets the usual distance from the building.
If · a new schoolhouse is erected, it should be considerably larger than the present one, not only to take care of future growth, but to relieve the congestion at the Lincoln School, which is filling up to the point where it now looks as though we shall have to resume single sessions for some grade or grades. We shall be probably at least one room short there. By building at Woodville, we could easily transfer some of those pupils living east of the track at the Center, as well as some from the Franklin School where we also have congested conditions. The Town ought to take immediate steps towards a new building for Woodville.
WAR WORK IN SCHOOL
During the year the schools have entered enthusiastically into work to assist in winning the War.
All the schools joined the Junior Red Cross with 100% membership. A portion of the report of the sewing teacher shows how much work the children accomplished for this department.
"The work accomplished by these children has been a worthy, patriotic effort. In fact the exhibition was most favorably commended by the visitors, and even the headquarters of our Chapter at Lowell expressed their appre- ciation of the large amount of careful work done by the Wakefield Junior Red Cross.
"These young patriots of the Wakefield schools have shown resource- fulness and a fine spirit of co-operation. The Junior Department has been self-supporting, that is the expenditure for material has actually been furnished by the children themselves, the total amounting to one thousand, six hundred'eight dollars and nine cents.
"The Tag Day signaled a success netting five hundred twenty-three dollars and eighty-seven cents. The girls and boys have demonstrated their zeal to help by initiating several school entertainments and sales, these were independent efforts on the part of the children. All preparations such as the plan of entertainment and its setting and even the tickets were designed by the children.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
IOI
"The regular sewing period has been used for the Junior Red Cross work with at least one hour of extra time given after the school session. This extra period, though by volunteer plan, has been well attended. The work accomplished to date, which covers a period of five months, is as follows:
188 refugee garments, including girls' chemises, under- shirts, pinafores, dresses
569 game bags
806 property bags
396 kit bags
216 comfort pillows
1
169 handkerchiefs
93 infant jackets
18 pair bootees
10 layettes
75 infants' outfit
300 shot bags
245 crutch pads .
30 quilts 1 shawl
299 triangular slings
50 serviettes
12 swat sticks
622 pin-balls
130 bandages
151 knitted eye bandages
150 wash cloths 40 chin bands
42 afghans
120 knitted garments including socks, sweaters, helmets, wristers, trigger mittens, trench caps
"The Junior Red Cross Work has proven a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the utility of the sewing classes in the public schools.
"An effort has been made to maintain the accuracy of handcraft while increasing the quantity of production."
The Department has sold War Savings and Thrift Stamps to and through the students. On the report rendered to State Headquarters, I find that the Department sold $12,367.56 to the children. The following table shows the amount of stamps owned by pupils, regardless of where they were purchased.
102
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
School
Enrollment
Number holding stamps
Amount
High .
524
328
$3,981.25
Lincoln
555
218
2,662.50
Warren
280
254
3,303.75
Hamilton
113
86
523.75
Greenwood
292
163
1,574.50
Hurd
150
112
994.00
Franklin
353
178
929.50
Montrose
66
32
445.50
Woodville
74
22
134.50
Prospect
70
62
905.25
2,477
- 1,455
$15,454.50
DEPARTMENTAL WORK
In previous years I have written somewhat at length upon the Junior High School as an integral part of the school system. I will not go into a. discussion of it at this time, but merely give modifications which have been adopted to date.
We have started departmental work in the large grammar schools in the grades seven and eight, thereby giving teachers a chance to make a. thorough study of one or more of the major subjects instead of spreading their energies over all those in the curriculum. The pupils receive the benefit of this concentration.
We cannot carry out the plan with many elective courses yet, for we have not the equipment nor the numbers to do this to advantage.
I believe in the Junior High School and I also believe that we should endeavor to make this a part of our system.
SCHOOL SAVINGS BANKS
The sale of Liberty Bonds and War Stamps of course has lessened the amount the pupils have saved through the School Savings Banks. I give below a table showing the amount saved and transferred to the individual accounts.
Greenwood Lincoln
Franklin
Total
Active Account
208
142
178
528
Number of deposits
968
1,055
723
Amount of deposits
$495.53
$346.24
$102.17
2,746 $943.94
Withdrawals
45
101
164
310
Amount of withdrawals
$29.22
$142.22
83.49
254.93
Amt. trans. to pupils' accts. in Sav- ings Bank
449.86
193.00
73.45
716.31
Balance in custody of Trustee
49.92
49.92
No. of Savings Bank Books issued .
17
9
11
37
I03
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Summary for Six Years
No. of deposits
. 10,367
9,791
7,759 27,917
Amount of deposits
. $3,571.90 $2,578.29 $1,619.66 $7,769.85
Amount of withdrawals .
206.00
603.15 469.73 1,278.88
Ammt. transferred to pupils' accts. in Savings Bank .
3,283.18 1,892.21 1,035.45 6,210.84
No. of Savings Bank Books issued
341
183
200
724
HIGH SCHOOL
We have continued the double session plan for the High School, and it now looks as though it is a question of only a short time before we shall have to make another change by having the two higher classes attend the forenoon and the two lower classes attend afternoons. Already there are more teachers in the morning than there are class rooms. There are no vacant rooms where a teacher may stay during a spare period. They often use the already crowded office. This interferes with the management of the school, for in this small room the principal has to attend to visitors, cases of discipline, and routine work while the clerk is attending to her regular duties.
Last spring Mr. Donald White held classes in gardening and poultry raising. As there was no available space in the High School building we had to secure temporary quarters at another place. The Odd Fellows Building Association rented their small hall at a nominal price where we held all these classes. This work should be continued and enlarged upon during the coming season. I hope to see a course in agriculture permanently added to the High School work as has been provided for in the budget for 1919. It will be a distinct step forward if we can add this, together with the beginning of a domestic arts course by adding cooking if we are unable to do any more.
We have a nucleus of a library, but no room nor an available teacher for using the same to its fullest advantage. We have no other space than the present which we can utilize. We should provide adequate quarters for a library in the new building which should be made attractive and equipped for thorough work. I suggest that the new one be called the Charles H. Howe Memorial Library in honor of the late and beloved principal who worked so long and faithfully in the present building, and who was intensely interested in building up a working library.
There has been the usual number of changes in the teaching corps. It now looks as though it will be necessary to have an additional teacher in the fall. This new teacher could teach a part of the time and assist the English teachers by correcting themes and book reviews.
The work in general science should be broadened and new equipment secured.' The present roon has very poor facilities for handling this subject, with practically no chance for individual experimentation.
An additional course has been offered to the first year boys, namely, industrial arts. This is only a beginning and will be developed as time goes on and as we have more space and machinery available. A chance for the girls will probably be given in the spring or fall in elementary work in cooking.
104
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
The enrollment has shown a gain over last year and with the labor situation as it is and probobly will be, there should be a further increase next year. We have an average graduating class and a large entering class for fall.
The call for boys to go out on farm work last spring did not make any heavy demands upon our schools.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
105
GRADUATION EXERCISES WAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1918 Town Hall, Thursday, June Twenty-seventh, Eight o'clock
PROGRAM
Overture and March
Chorus-"Columbia, Our Mother Land" . . Ries
Oration-(Honor Part)-"Back to the Farm" Frederick Everett Wilkins
Recitation-"The Lost Word" Mary Lucy McAuliffe
Henry Van Dyke
Chorus-"The Toreador's Song" .
Bizet
Oration-(Salutatory Rank)-"Greece and the Great War" Evangelos Soteriades
Oration-"Our Heroes" William Raymond Drugan
Semi-Chorus-Senior Class-"The Birth of Joy" Brahms
Recitation-"The Night Wind" Field
Seeing Things at Night
Charlotte Hastings Boody
Declamation-Flag Day Address 1917 President Wilson
John Francis Murray
Chorus-"Viking Song"
Coleridge-Taylor
Oration and Veladictory-"Democracy" Lester Clark Lewis
Presentation of Diplomas -Mr. J. Lowe McMahon,
Chairman School Committee Class Song-Tune-"America, the Beautiful"
National Songs- "God Save the King" "The Garibaldi Hymn" "La Marseillaise
"Star Spangled Banner"
TO6
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
MOTTO-Truth Conquers
CLASS SONG
Charlotte Hastings Boody
Another goal attained to-night, A long-sought guerdon won; Yet now there stretches far ahead The race that we must run. Pacing the winding road of life To heights we fain would reach, "Truth conquers" be the watch-word That courage strong shall teach.
"Truth conquers." Through school days and ways Our motto's worth was shown, And with advance to other paths We hold it still our own. And as the pulsing ranks move on In glorious strength of youth, We do not falter nor lose heart Because we stand for Truth.
"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again," Our motto and our hope, To courage give, what'er the task With which we have to cope. So nineteen-eighteen's class will learn To cherish it the more, However hard the toils and strife The future has in store.
+
GRADUATES
Classical Course
Dorothy May Baker Ruth Bonney Charlotte Hastings Boody
Ethelind Hodgkins Brown
John William Burke Timothy Collins Cyrus Mason Dolbeare William Raymond Drugan
Ruth Marion Peabody
1
107
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
General Course
Lester Clark Lewis
Gaston Emil Loubris
Olive Wenonah Lunny
Franz John Paul Lux
Charles Albert Crabiel
Chester Stanley Marshall
Clifton Dean Davis
Roger Ingles Moore
Robert Manton Dean, Jr.
Philip Burrows Orme
Ethel Grace Eaton
Leeman Foster Packard
Bernard Esner
Dorothy Cooper Pease
Helen Marie Gould
Herbert Eugene Rea
Cora Carmela Guarnaccia
Edward Augustus Rich, Jr.
Nellie Luella Hawyard
Luella Conkling Sidney
John William Hurley
Evangelos Soteriades
Helen Beatrice Jones
Frederick Everett Wilkins
Bernice Irene Young
Commercial Course
Josephine Petronella Anderson
Mary Frances Hurton
Rollo Marshall Baker
Carroll Fay Jacobs
Blanche Eleanor Batchelder
John Joseph Kalaher
Joseph James Brehaut
Charles Locash
William Morgan Brown
Etta May Magee
Mary Arline Carter
John Howard Marshall
Joseph Walter Clements
Irene Amelia Mayer
Merrill Plestid Cotting
Mary Lucy McAuliffe
Frances Edythe Curtis
Catherine Cecilia McCarthy
Margaret Frances Desmond
Gertrude Irene Mellett
Clara Pauline Eager
John Francis Murray
William Francis Finneran
Bertha Mayer Reynolds
Viola Friburg
Mary Dorothy Skulley
Gladys Josephine Gerrior
John Harold Surrette
Jennie Gersinovitch
Gladys May Hawkes
Hildegarde Hendrickson
Alice Irene Heywood
Doris Blanche Hillsgrove
Florence Irene Westover Elizabeth Winkler
NUMBER OF PUPILS
Boys
Girls
Total
First Year
89
88
177
Second Year
59
80
139
Third Year
55
75
130
Fourth Year
25
57
82
228
300
528
Helena Emma Austin Helen Small Barber Bertha Ward Brown Sarah Burwen
Joseph Caswell Heustis
Mabel Alice Thrush Arthur Andrew Tupper Allston Van Wagner Sylvia Ellen Vint
108
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
HIGH SCHOOL STATISTICS
1912 1913 1914 1915
I916
1917
1918
Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec.
Dec. Dec.
No. graduated
65
70 .80
69
100
80
80
Av. age at graduation
18 3-12 18 3-12 18 9-12 18 6-12 18 5-12 181-12 183-12.
Senior Class
67
70
81
69
102
80
82
Size when entered .
125
122
146
135
168
158
173
Junior Class
81
90
84
119
98
100
130
Size when entered .
122
146
135
168
158
173
186
Second Year Class
108
98
147
120
127
160
139
Size when entered .
146
135
168
158
173
186
182
First Year Class
127
161
147
168
177
167
177
Size when entered .
135
168
158
173
186
182
187
EVENING SCHOOL
The registration in the illiterate classes in the evening school have been very small this year, the smallest in several years.
The special class for those who are planning to take examination for their final papers in citizenship is not as large as it ought to be. There are more than we have registered who might find this work of value to them. The government furnishes text books for those who have taken out the preliminary papers and gives a certificate of graduation to those who are admitted to citizenship. The instructor is willing to render all possible assistance to those who need it both in filling out the blanks and also at the court room in Boston.
Late last winter there came a request from some who knew a little English, but wished for more advanced instruction, both in composition and rhetoric, and in literature. We formed a class for these applicants and have continued it this year as a part of our regular work. I believe this is an im- portant step in Americanization.
This fall we have started another class for the young men of an Italian club where they can come and study together.
The next step is to interest the older men who do not seem to come into the school. We have some plans under way which I hope will materialize before long.
Our sewing and millinery classes are not as large as they ought to be. Now the War is practically over, the women will have more time for this kind of work. Large demands have been made upon them and they have responded well. With fewer calls for their time, I think they will feel that. they can take up this work again.
109
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK
The attendance in the class for mechanical drawing has been so poor that it did not seem wise to begin the class this year.
We had plans perfected for starting classes for radio and buzzer operators, but the signing of the armistice made this work unnceessary.
.
GARDEN WORK
During the spring we gave some new courses to the High School students in different lines of agricultural work. We were fortunate to secure Mr. Donald White to take charge of this. He gave instruction in gardening to beginners and advanced students andin poultry and swine raising. Thegarden- ing classes were well attended and were of decided benefit to those who were willing to do the necessary work. The usual home garden projects were carried on under the immediate supervision of committees appointed by the different Parent-Teacher Associations with advice and suggestions from Mr. White.
The work was seriously interrupted during the summer because Mr. White left us to enter the Army. Later the epidemic of influenza caused delay of the usual fall exhibits.
I hoped to be able to give a fairly accurate estimate of the value of vegetables raised in these gardens, but our plans were dropped because Mr. White could not take care of it. If he is released this spring we shall continue the work begun last year, and carry it on as a regular part of our . high school instruction. We shall then be able to give a more complete report of the value of this kind of work to the students as well as the value ec- onomically to the homes.
According to reports from the government there will be an even greater need of raising foodstuffs this year than last. I believe we should make a special campaign again this year for home gardens.
INDUSTRIAL ARTS
The work in the Industrial Arts Department has been carried out along the lines given in my last annual report.
We have made some changes in the classes accommodated. I regret that our accommodations do not allow many children from the grades and from the high school to participate in the work. To provide for this we need not only more room, but more teachers and much more equipment. The finances of the town do not seem to warrant advocating such a radical change at this time, but I hope that we may keep this before us as a goal.
During the fall it seemed wise to discontinue the work with the sixth grade and offer work for the freshman boys in the high school. Two divisions of boys have elected the work and will carry it on from the point reached at the end of the eighth grade.
To make the work more effective, we need additional apparatus and machinery which I hope we can purchase this spring. At present we have no machinery of any kind, and it is useless to try to provide for high school
IIO
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
boys without some. A small amount has been set aside in the new budget for new equipment. This will take care of a beginning, but we shall need more when suitable quarters are given in the new high school building.
I have given below a partial list of the work accomplished last year.
PRINTING
Quantity
Nature of Work
Stock
Estimated Labor
Estimated Market Value
100
Absence Notices
$.10
$1.50
$1.62
100
Evening School Attendance Cards
2.00
2.00
400
Parent-Teacher Association Notices
1.50
1.50
500
Agricultural Courses for High School
.37
5.00
5.44
1000
Thrift Stamp Cards
1.75
3.00
5.10
700
High School Course Applications
.85
3.50
4.52
300
Poor Work Notices
.50
3.00
3.60
5000
Nurse Report Cards
10.60
12.00
24.72
6000
Labels for Canning Centre
1.00
4.00
5.20
2000
High School Tardy Slips
.60
4.00
4.72
5000
Class Attendance Slips
1.00
4.00
5.20
5000
Attendance Slips
1.00
4.00
5.20
2000
Record of Attendance Cards
3.20
5.00
8.84
3000
Lincoln School Absence Slips
.50
1.50
2.10
300
High School Report of Supplementary Examination Slips
1.50
1.50
1000
Community Canning Center Slips
. 50
2.00
2.60
2000
High School Class and Room Cards
3.50
6.00
10.20
3200
Sugar Cards for Town
9.00
8.00
18.80
1000
High School Requisition Slips
.80
2.00
2.96
250
Evening School Cards
1.75
6.00
8.10
500
Junior Red Cross Requisition Slips
.30
1.50
1.86
400
Franklin School Tardy Slips
.10
1.50
1.62
5000
High School Admission Slips
.80
3.50
4.46
1000
Letter Heads for School Principals
.75
2.50
3.40
500
High School Courses of Study
1.25
15.00
16.50
500
Envelopes for Food Administration
.70
1.00
1.84
500
Letter Heads for Food Administration
1.50
3.00
4.80
100
Postal Cards, Supt's Office
1.50
1.50
250
Envelopes for Franklin School
.35
1.00
1.42
200
Post Cards for Supt's Office
1.00
1.00
1000
Community Canning Centre Cards
1.50
1.50
500
Registration Cards
1.00
2.00
3.20
500
Evening School Vocational Agri. Cards
2.85
7.00
10.42
600
School Report Cards
12.00
16.00
30.40
500
Corporal Punishment Cards
1.00
2.50
3.70
500
High School Division and Room Cards
1.15
3.50
4.88
1000
Canning Centre Cards
2.50
2.50
500
Letter Heads for Supt's Office
2.00
2.50
4.90
60875
$71.67
$157.50
$243.50
BOOKBINDING
Lincoln School
147 volumes
Greenwood School
57
66
Franklin School
132
Warren School
48
66
Hurd School
7
Wakefield Town Library
13
66
300
Parent-Teacher Association Notices
1.50
1.50
2000
Food Production and Conservation Cards
8.90
5.00
15.68
Teachers' Monthly Report Cards
75
Citizenship Class Postal Cards
1.50
1.50
200
Envelopes for Greenwood School
1.00
1.00
Duplicate §
404 66
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
III
Cost of material to bind one book
5 to 6 cents.
Market value of rebinding
35 cents.
Cost of material used in binding 404 books
$24.24
Market value of rebinding of 404 books . 141.40
Price of equipment, outside of materials used in binding
31.00
WOODWORK
Brush handles repaired.
Bulletin Board repaired, Lincoln School, third grade room.
Bulletin Board, Supt's Office.
2 galleys for printing.
6 chopping boards for Canning Center.
Cabinet for Principal's Office, Lincoln School.
Bulletin Board, Food Administration Office.
Rack for pamphlets, Food Administration Office.
Sign Rack, Food Administration Office.
Bulletin Board, Red Cross Rooms.
Setting up rack for Junior Red Cross Exhibition.
1,000 Knitting needles, Junior Red Cross.
Checkers for Junior Red Cross.
Large Bulletin Board for Item Window.
Christmas Tree standards for schoolroom Christmas trees. Flag sticks.
Bookbinding shelves for Manual Training Room.
Red Cross diploma framed for Hurd School.
Glass put in picture frame, Lincoln School.
Thrift Stamp Diplomas framed, Supt's Office and Principals' Offices.
Repairing of desks about building.
DOMESTIC ARTS
During the summer the Department hired a teacher to teach and assist in the Community Canning Kitchen. The work was so successful that we should add this work to our regular program for the high school at least, and also grades seven and eight if possible. If a new high school is not near at hand we could with little expense fit up the kitchen on the Wakefield Estate for a beginning of teaching Domestic Science. The teacher could work during the summer to assist in community work and thereby benefit many others besides those enrolled in the schools.
CLUB WORK
In connection with the Middlesex County Farm Bureau we have con- ducted club work for canning, poultry, gardens and swine. The Agents of the Bureau report very satisfactory work in all these clubs. The boys and girls not only have to do all the work, but they have to keep records and render reports. I believe all this work should be encouraged as far as possible.
II2
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
.
NURSE'S REPORT
I wish to call attention to the work done by the School physician and the School Nurse. The full report of the School Physician will be found at the end of this report. Below I give a portion of that submitted by Miss English which shows the scope of her work.
"During the winter a number of homes were visited. Clothing, food, and shoes were obtained for those needing them. through the District Nurse Association, Junior Red Cross and other organizations.
"In March a number of cases of Diphtheria were reported. Through the careful way it was handled by the physicians and strict watch kept of all suspected cases in our schools of children who were known to be in company of any child known to have the disease, we were able to keep the schools open and prevent the disease from spreading. Very few cases of Scarlet Fever or Measles were reported during the spring, German or Liberty Measles being prevalent, also Mumps, which necessitated many children being absent from school.
"During April the children of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades were examined by the doctor to determine the condition of the teeth, and notices were sent home in regard to those needing treatment. The children in the lower grades were examined in regard to conditions of throat, nasal, obstructions and hearing. It was gratifying to find so few homes to notify in regard to these troubles. This I believe is due to the careful observation the children are always under. In cases where I have had occasions to call at the homes I have always found the mothers very glad to help and have the children operated on when the case required it. The mothers are taking more kindly to the children wearing glasses also, and you will now find children in all grades using them, even in the first. The general appearance of the children has improved greatly in the past year. In some of the schools the use of paper towels donated by the Parent-Teacher Association, has helped towards this.
"I assisted the School Doctor in weighing and measuring the children in May. This was started owing to war conditions of food substitutes. We are happy to report that in no way has it affected our children as the average gain per child was two pounds.
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