USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1922 > Part 9
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OLD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
When we do make the transfer from the old building, this will be available for such purposes as we may determine on for the benefit of the Town. As I have stated elsewhere there are three districts which are now, or soon will be, badly over crowded. The annex which was added about twenty years ago is suitable for grade work. These six rooms can be used for the 8th grades of the Town without any expense for alteration. They are heated by two fur- naces, so the plant can be run economically. I see no other way than to use them as soon as we can by bringing all the 8th grades together here, with the possible exception of Greenwood. At a comparatively small expense, room 1 can be made over into an assembly hall which might also be used by other town departments, when a large committee or hearing room may be wanted. Prac- tically all that would be necessary would be to remove the seats and desks and replace them with portable chairs. Probably about $500.00 would make all the necessary changes.
By transferring the 8th grades, we shall not only gain room in the elementary buildings but I believe we shall increase the efficiency of the work in this grade. By transferring those teachers who are interested and efficient in certain lines, we can more thoroughly departmentalize the work, and I believe, give a better fit to those who finish the elementary school.
Mr. George E. Hayes who is now serving as principal of the Warren School will take charge of this work in addition to his other duties. He is at work on plans so there may be no delay when we are ready to begin.
CROWDED CONDITIONS
I presume there will be few reports written this year which will not have something to say about the lack of room for the pupils of the community. Many cities and towns do not have seats enough for all the pupils in spite of the fact that they may have several portable buildings in use.
In my report last year I showed the growth of the school population and the lack of growth of accommodations for the past ten years. There was no in- crease in the number of rooms until 1917 when the new Montrose building was erected, except a one room portable in the Franklin district. The Woodville School followed in 1919, adding four rooms. Next came a two room portable building at the High School. While we were adding eight available rooms, the school enrollment increased about 500. You see we have had a serious problem in housing, but I feel that we satisfactorily took care of the situation. The new High School building is not yet ready for occupancy, and probably will not be before spring.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Three districts are now in bad shape as far as seating accommodations are concerned. There are part time classes in the Lincoln and Franklin districts. We transferred the two room portable building from the High School to the Greenwood district, expecting the new High School building would be ready at least by January 1. This transfer has been a serious handicap to the work of the High School, but it has temporarily taken care of the situation in Green- wood. There has been a large amount of building in this section, and this of course means an increase in the population, which in turn means an increase in the number attending school. Last fall we had a large entering class, and a comparatively small graduating class. We expect the same thing to be true next fall. If it does materialize, we shall need another room at least, if not two.
There are of course four ways to meet this situation:
1. Put some classes on part time again.
2. Add another portable building.
3. Assign the 8th grade to old High School building.
4. Build a new schoolhouse or an addition.
If the finances of the Town seemed at all to warrant such action, I should by all means advocate the building of an addition to the present building. Hav- ing shown the possible solutions of the problem, and bearing in mind the financial conditions of the Town, I leave it to the people to suggest which plan they wish to adopt at the present time.
The Franklin district is in fully as bad a condition as the Greenwood district. Here we have a portable in use and two grades on part time, with other rooms housing more pupils than they should. We can ease the situation a little by sending the 8th grade to the old High School building when available, but I am afraid that even this will not give all the relief we shall probably need next fall. The Town has got to face a problem here in the immediate future. It certainly looks as though we shall have to ask for an addition within a year or so.
In the Lincoln district we have one grade divided and attending part time. If we transfer the 8th grades to the old High School building, we shall have two extra rooms available for the others. These will take care of the part time grade and give some relief to those other rooms which are now over crowded. I do not feel sure that we are secure for any considerable length of time.
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT
Two years ago the Committee adopted a plan to stimulate study for pro- fessional improvement on the part of the teachers. This plan was published in full at that time. We are already seeing results, showing the wisdom of the plan. Many teachers are now doing some regular studying to better fit themselves for their work in hand. Last year there were four who were given the necessary six credits and the resulting increase of $75.00 in salary. This year there were four others who gained the six credits. This work cannot but
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
help improve the classroom work, for it gives the teacher a larger store from which to draw.
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION CLASS
Since the Committee presented the plan for recognizing professional im- provement by a special increase in salary, many teachers have taken courses at various institutions, including the University Extension courses. We felt that it might be possible to save some expense of time and travel if we could have a course given in Wakefield, if we could find one that would appeal to a sufficient number of teachers. We were finally enabled, through the Uni- versity Extension Department, to make arrangements with Prof. John Ma- honey of Boston University and Harvard College to come to Wakefield and give his course of "English in the Grades." We find that the teachers are in- terested in the course and that it is having a vital effect in turn upon the work in the schools. I believe that courses given in this way are important enough to include as a part of our regular program.
BUSINESS PAGEANT
Last fall the Elks gave a Business Pageant in the Armory, at which the School Department made an exhibit of practically all phases of school work. The red room was assigned to us, and we made use of the walls and tables to show specimens of work and photographs of certain classes at work. We also ex- hibited charts showing the increases in enrollment and membership, and the increases in appropriations for the different divisions of our department.
The exhibit showed the work of the Town as a whole rather than the work of individual schools. I feel that this must have been worth while, judging from the number of visitors who spent considerable time in the room. Two men teachers were on hand at all times to answer any questions which might be asked and to make any necessary explanations.
TEST BY DR. TROXELL
During the spring and fall the State examined many children to determine if possible why these pupils were below grade. We have just received the last report of these examinations. There were many who were three years or more below grade. We should establish a class or classes to take care of these children and give them the special attention which they need. When we move to the new High School, we might take one room in the old building for this work
SCHOOL SAVINGS BANKS
The schools in which the teachers are interested do the best work with the School Savings Banks. Below is a table giving the data for the year and also the data for the years in which we have been giving attention to this work.
The School Savings Bank necessarily takes a great deal of time from the principal or some teacher. It is so complex that it is hardly safe to leave much of it to the pupils, as there are so many chances for mistakes. I hope the time may soon come when each school may have an automatic teller.
Lincoln
Hurd
Montrose
Greenwood
Warren
Franklin
Woodville
Total
Active Accounts. .
252
114
Amount of Deposits
$974.06
$539.26
54 $127.65
301 $1,489.64
284 $325.39 650
213 $534.29
137 $389.37
1,355 $4,379.66
No. of Deposits.
2,378
1,138
145
2,182 47
No. Withdrawals. .
172
67
3
Amount of Withdrawals. .
$471.70
$59.96
$4.74
Amt. trans. to Pupils' Accts. in Sav. Bnk ..
$420.38
$521.00
Bal. in custody of Principal. .
$100.83
$85.29 28
$155.86 $14.53 10
$1,398.26 $105.68 59
14 $10.78 $345.50 $83.07 43
$19.11 $524.00 $78.17
824 23 $135.00 $205.00 $49.37 61
9,080 373 $701.29 $3,570.00 $516.96 290
SUMMARY FOR TEN YEARS
No. Deposits 62,156
Amt. Deposits
Amt. Withdrawals
$22,178.98
$2,751.37
Amt. trans. to Pupils' accts. in Savings Bank $18,566.33
No. Sav. Bk. Books Issued
1817
1,763 47
70
No. Savings Bank Books issues .. .
19
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
EVENING SCHOOL AND AMERICANIZATION
Miss Josephine Rourke who acts as Director of Americanization and Prin- cipal of the Evening School has done a fine piece of work and deserves com- mendation. I include a portion of her report, which will give some idea of her work.
EVENING SCHOOL REPORT FOR 1922
In the organization of the Evening School classes during 1922, an effort was made to meet the needs and desires of the greatest number of students, both native and foreign born. In an attempt to carry out this purpose, four dis- tinct types of work were offered.
I. Practical Arts. Millinery and Sewing.
II. Adult Immigrant Education.
III. Instruction to Illiterate Minors.
IV. Civil Service Preparatory Work.
Adult Immigrant Education
According to the census returns of 1920, 25% of Wakefield's entire population, or 3,312 persons are of foreign birth, the majority of whom come from such non-English speaking countries as Italy, Poland, Russia, Sweden, etc. Many of these people own their own homes, contribute to Wakefield's Industrial pro- duction, have become citizens by Naturalization and form a very desirable population. By the following report of work as it has been carried on in the Americanization classes during the year, it is evident that a large number of the remaining aliens are anxious to learn our language, history and govern- ment so that they also may become respected citizens of the country. The town will no doubt be amply repaid for the effort it is making to help these people to become assimilated.
Early in January, Mr. Charles M. Herlihy, the State Supervisor of Ameri- canization, visited all the classes and granted that their organization and work complied with the State's requirement for reimbursement. Unlimited help and guidance was given by Mr. Herlihy's office throughout the year. In com- pliance with an agreement made when classes were opened in the fall, Federal Examiner Spellman was sent to Wakefield to give the final examination for citizenship in the classroom. It proved to be a very agreeable arrangement and will be repeated each year as the men complete their course.
The Closing Exercises for the Evening School Classes of 1921-22 were held in the Town Hall, Friday evening, March 24th. They were the first public exercises of the kind held in Wakefield and proved of great interest ana sig- nificance. The immigrants brought their friends to see their work and their exercises and to rejoice with them when they received their diplomas and cer- tificates for their year's work. The attendance of so many townspeople and
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
their services in helping to decorate the hall and make the program a success is greatly appreciated. We wish to thank the patriotic organizations who loaned their "colors" and sent representatives to the exercises.
The striking features of the program rested in the messages brought by three members of the evening classes, Messrs. Guarnaccia, Pirro and Nutile.
Mr. Guarnaccia, who was a member of the Advanced English class read a paper on "Americanization" which he wrote in school. He expressed his be- lief that the foreign born men and women of Wakefield are better and happier because of their attendance in the evening school classes.
No better argument could have been offered for the truth of his statement than Mr. Nutile's story of what he had learned at school during the winter and and what the new knowledge meant to him. He produced his first citizen- ship papers, check book and insurance papers signed in his own writing and explained that before this winter he had never known what it meant to write his own signature.
Mr. Pirro, a member from one of the club classes, explained that although he had lived in this country for several years, he had learned to speak almost no English because he had never mingled with the American people. In his class, he was learning to speak English as he demonstrated and he was "very, very sorry that the school must now finish."
Federal diplomas were awarded to the pupils who passed the citizenship examination and State certificates to pupils of the Adult Immigrant classes who were in regular attendance throughout the course. Special town certifi- cates were given to members of the Practical Arts, Advanced English and Minor classes.
Music of a very classical nature was furnished by the Columbus Musical and Educational Club band which donated its services to the school for the second time during the year.
Immediately following the close of school in March, a second Citizenship class was organized and taught by the Director at the High School during the evenings of May and June. These men passed their examinations and received their final papers at the end of the course.
During the spring months, a special effort was made to reach the foreign women to a greater extent. Small groups of mothers who were unable to at- tend the schools during the winter were organized into classes, meeting at one of the homes. The teacher with portable blackboard, books and other sup- plies went from house to house meeting each group three times a week for half hour periods. Many of these women have lived in Wakefield for five, ten and more years but because of their large families have not had the opportunity to mingle as their husbands do with the American people. They are almost pathetically eager to learn and will drop their work to "speak English" when- ever the teacher can come.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Opening of Classes in Fall.
The majority of students who attended school last year, with the exception of the Citizenship graduates, returned when classes reopened this fall, to carry on thier work in higher grades. Their progress is very marked and it is intensely interesting to step into an Intermediate class and hear men who could speak almost no English a year and a half ago, carrying on a very intelli- gent conversation in short but perfect English sentences.
The possibility of this advancement is due in large part to the carefully pre- pared course of study offered by the State and used in all of our Americanization classes. Teacher improvement conferences have been held at regular inter- vals to discuss such topics as :-
Drills-Devices-Illustrative Material.
Advanced Conversational Lessons for Beginners.
Method of teaching Conversational Lessons in Intermediate Classes, etc. The major text materials used were sent to the town by the State, free of charge. Over 200 copies were received during the past year. These "Massachusetts Lessons" have been adopted by the Federal Government, bound into book form and are being circulated for use in Americanization classes in all the states of the Union. Supplementary texts were purchased by the School Depart- ment.
Evening School Classes Opened in Wakefield in the Fall of 1922.
Class
Place of Meeting
Enrollment 104
Practical Arts.
Millinery High School
Sewing High School
Adult Immigrant Education
131
Beginners'
High School
Santa Maria Club
Baptist Chapel
66
Heywood Wakefield Co.
Intermediate
High School
Santa Maria Club
66
Sons of Italy
66
Baptist Chapel
66
Heywood Wakefield Co.
Citizenship
High School
(Individual help for men who cannot attend class)
Work with Mothers in the Homes
Minors' Class . 38
(Compulsory attendance-some of these pupils are put in other classes that better suit their needs) .
English Class High School 14
(advanced)
Civil Service Preparatory High School 30
Total Number Registered .
317
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
There has been a growing demand on the part of the pupils in the school for assistance in making out applications for first and second papers and for ad- vice on immigrant problems. Miss Mary L. Power, field secretary from the Mass. Bureau of Immigration, spent one evening at the school assisting in mak- ing out papers and helping to unsnarl some of the problems that were bother- ing the students. She carried several cases to the State Bureau for help. As- sistance rendered at the school during the year:
I. Applications for 1st papers 50
II. Applications for 2nd papers . 20
III. Investigations, personal assistance, etc. 35
Total 105
Factory Classes.
After the Evening Schools were well on their way this fall, the Heywood Wakefield Co. was approached with the proposition of allowing the School Department to organize English and Citizenship classes in the factory. Mr. E. W. Packard, Employment Manager, reported immediately after taking it up with the management that the plan was accepted and put men to work clean- ing out the upper floor of the paint shop, building tables and getting all in readi- ness for the opening of the school.
On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday when the whistle blows at 5.15 P. M. the men pass quickly from their work to their class which remains in session until 6 o'clock. Through these classes the school is reaching men that have never been reached through the Evening School. The educational survey which was taken at the factory and the effort made by the company to provide com- fortable and convenient schooling for their immigrant employees has opened a channel through which some splendid work should be accomplished. In the long run both employer and employee are bound to profit by it. I hope that in the future these classes may be prominent in all of the industries in Wake- field that employ non-English speaking people.
Practical Arts Classes.
With an enrollment of 104 pupils in the Practical Arts classes last October, it was necessary to engage three additional teachers. We were very fortunate in securing young women who are trained teachers and who are at the same time in the employ of such companies as L. P. Hollander, E. T. Slattery and R. H. Stearns.
The five classes were made up of mothers from all sections of the Town, young ladies who are employed in the factories and teachers in Reading and Wakefield. Pupils attending from Reading are charged for their tuition.
Illiterate Minor Classes.
Approximately 35 boys and girls under the age of 21, who have not com- pleted sixth grade work are employed in the factories of Wakefield and neigh-
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
boring towns. These pupils are compelled to attend the Evening School regular- ly. A record of their attendance is sent to their employer every two weeks. At the beginning of the year no little time and effort was spent in following up the attendance of these pupils and keeping them in school. With a helping hand from the factories, however, conditions were quite reversed before the term was over and the absences reduced. Some of these boys and girls are unable to do work above third and fourth grade. There is no group in the school that needs more individual attention. For this reason, all the illiterate minors who are unable to speak English are placed in the Americanization classes, leaving the "Minor Class" for those who speak English but who have not an elementary education.
Civil Service Preparatory Work. (English and Arithmetic).
A request came from several of last years Advanced English Class for a Civil Service Preparatory Course. The matter was taken up with the Mass. Division of University Extension which agreed to furnish the course and pay for the instruction one night a week, the town paying for the other two.
Purpose of the Course.
Experience proves that the greatest weakness of people who seek positions through Civil Service examinations lies in their inability to express themselves in writing so that they can be understood. They fail to convince the examiner that they know their subject well because they do not tell what they know in a clear and connected fashion. The course aims to train men and women who have knowledge to present it clearly and correctly. While everyone ought to be able to express himself clearly and correctly in writing, few are able to do so without training.
The arithmetic course afforded instruction in percentage, profit and loss, insurance, taxes, commission, interest, and partnership.
SCHOOL NURSE .
One of the valuable additions to the program was the employment of a school nurse for full school time. Miss Mary K. English not only gives all her time during school hours to her work of looking after the physical welfare of the pupils, but she spends many more hours in visiting the homes for follow up work and consultation with the parents, and gives many Saturdays to taking children to different clinics in Boston for treatment.
Below are excerpts from her report:
"The children in all schools were examined by the school physician and, as has been done in the past few years, the primary grades were weighed and meas- ured. The children in the Hamilton School where they have milk every day, were weighed and their weights compared with the childrens' weights at the Hurd School. The result showed very little or no difference in their averages. This I think proves that the children in both schools are well nourished, re- ceiving proper food at home and are well cared for.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
"Our weighing of the children in the lower grades showed a very small per- cent. of children under weight.
"In the early spring a list of all retarded or backward children was prepared by the teachers. These children were examined by a doctor from the State. I was present at some of these examinations and a teacher was always present. We found a number of children of school age who had never been admitted to school; others who were admitted and were not able to attend or advance beyond the first or second grade. In order to examine these children, it was necessary to have permission in writing from the parent. I visited these homes in advance of the doctor, ten in all, and obtained the permission, calling later with the doctor and examining the children. The doctor was very much pleased with the manner in which he was received as he had considerable trouble in some of the surrounding towns in examining the children in their homes. Dr. Troxell recommended institutional care for these ten children.
"In the spring examination of throats, the number of notices sent home in regard to enlarged or defective tonsils were very few. The teeth are better cared for in the primary grades, which I believe is in a large measure due to the teachers who have taken great interest in the health of the child. The eighth grade and first year High School show a large precent. of the child- ren having defective teeth.
"We have been very fortunate in not having out-breaks of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria. In the Hurd district where Scarlet Fever broke out, the school was visited every day for a period of two weeks, the children closely observed and any child showing symptoms was sent home. In the Warren School, Whoop- ing Cough started and it was impossible to check it, as the children had been in school and others in the class were exposed. I did what little I could in ad- vising children and mothers of the children who had coughs to stay at home and have their "family physician." In one instance a child had been advised to stay home but returned to school and said 'Mother did not think she had Whooping Cough but she must not go near Baby.'
"I would like to report one case of a child in the third grade. One day while visiting this school, the class was having reading period. This little girl was called on to read. I noticed how closely she held her book to her eyes. The teacher said her eyes were normal in the eye test, but the last few days she had complained of not being able to see the writing on the blackboard. On examin- ing the child, I was amazed to find a very faint film over the pupil of the eyes. I informed the doctor and he immediately notified the child's father. She was taken to the Eye and Ear Infirmary and it was found that she had cataracts on both eyes. The child was treated and she is in school again and doing well."
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