USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1930 > Part 12
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Last year it cost the Senior Class $501.91 for class day exercises, class day banquet and graduation reception. We have no class dues. All this money is raised by the Junior Class Party, the Senior Class Party and the Senior Class Play. At all three functions each member of the class is re- sponsible for one ticket, either to use it himself or sell it. As this is the only way we have of raising the necessary funds I insist that each pupil be responsible for one ticket. Those who do not do so are excluded from the class banquet. Besides spending this money the class left $150.00 to pur- chase a raido as a class gift.
We have a Boys' Glee Club of 45 to 50 boys who practice regularly one hour every Wednesday after school. They give three concerts each winter. The Boys' Glee Club has been doing this excellent work for the last six years under the leadership of Mr. Fulton. Because of the excellent training these boys have had, many of them made the College Glee Clubs when they went to college. I recommend that these boys be given 12 credit for the work done, the same as we give for the orchestra.
This year we have had three public speaking classes under the direction of Miss True Hardy. They meet regularly one period a week and are taught
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how to speak with poise, and how to feel easy in public. I think it is a very desirable course. At present 57 seniors are enrolled. It is so successful a course that I recommend that the pupils who pass successfully be given 1/2 credit for the year.
We have had what I call Office Practice work in connection with the Commercial Department since school began in September. There are 23 pupils in the course. If is for seniors only. Miss Alice Ryan is in charge of the work and the class meets the last period four days a week. Any special work that the office wishes done, or any of the teachers wish done, is done there. Pupils are taught to use the various machines that are found in business offices, also filing. We lack room and equipment but they are doing excellent work with what they have to work with. I recommend that the pupils receive credit for work done the same as for typewriting or stenography. That is 1/2 credit for one period of work done for the year.
At the present time there are 102 pupils in college who have graduated from the High School during the last four years. This is in addition to those who are in Normal Schools and Business Colleges. Of this number 92 entered college directly from high school, the other ten went to preparatory school after graduation before entering college. For a town of our size that is a very remarkable showing.
ELEMENTARY WORK
Early in January the Stanford Achievement Test was given to grades three through eight. This is the battery of tests in all school subjects which has been given every two years since we began testing achievement. This test gives us objective data relating to the progress in each subject, in each grade and in each school in town. The results of this years' test showed improvement in most cases and efforts are being made to bring the standing of all grades and all subjects up to the standard before the next test.
A diagnostic reading test was given early last fall that each teacher might have a better knowledge of the ability of her class in silent reading and have a definite basis for remedial work during the year. A similar test will be given late in the spring to check the results of this remedial work.
Fifty two children were tested for entrance last fall. Of these sixteen or about thirty per cent were admitted and all are doing good work.
A modern text in arithmetic was put into grades three through six last January. This was very much needed for the old one had long ago outlived its usefulness. The careful following of this text should raise the accom- plishment both in computation and reasoning.
A committee which has been working for nearly a year has recommended to the superintendent the adoption of the Open Door Language Series for
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use in grades one through six. These texts are closely adapted to the ac- tual conditions of the modern school room and are based on interesting group activities that stimulate thought, develop personal initiative and promote a spirit of co-operation.
The next important step will be the study of the newer reading methods in order to recommend a method which will employ the new objectives in the teaching of reading; "(1) rich and varied experience through reading (2) strong motives for, and permanent interest in, reading (3) desirable at- titudes and economical and effective habits and skills."
This year being the three hundredth anniversary of founding of Massa- chusetts Bay Colony much work has centered around this theme. Special assemblies were held in the various schools, posters and booklets were made illustrating various phrases of colonial life and much of the English work followed along this line. During Wakefield's Tercentenary Week an excel- lent exhibition of school work was held in the gymnasium at the High School.
Under the new grouping of special class children, we are able to fit the work to the needs of the pupil to a greater degree. We now have a class for younger children at the Franklin School and one for older and one for younger children at the Hamilton School. In these small classes children who have formerly been unsuccessful in school work are given the special attention that they need. A class for very young children is badly needed at the Franklin School.
Our required age for admittance is one month less than the median required age for the State as shown by a recent bulletin from the State De- partment of Education. If the required age for admittance in Wakefield were raised it would tend to decrease the number of repeaters in our first grades and help to increase the achievement in those grades.
Principal Charles R. Thibadeau gives the following report on the deter- mination of promotions which is the proceedure throughout the Town.
In this report I would like to bring to your attention a brief summary and how the non-promotion list has been handled for the past three years. Of course I am aware of the fact that you are thoroughly familiar with the proceedure since it was you who suggested that the method be used. We, the principal and teachers, are, however, so much pleased with the results obtained by this method that I personally feel an outline of it should be in your possession.
Applying the "Case Method" to the "non-promotion list" in the Frank- lin and Woodville Schools.
The following is a brief account of how the principles of "Education as Guidance" are applied in dealing with the pupils whose chances of pro- motion, in the judgment of the teachers, are doubtful or poor.
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During the second week in February the teachers make up a list of all the pupils in their rooms whose chances of promotion are, up to that time, doubtful or poor. This is known as the "non-promotion list." These names are sent to the office and tabulated together with all the objective data on file for each individual.
Each individual is considered as a "case" and each case is considered from two points of view. The principal formulates a solution on the basis of the data at hand including the results of all achievement and mental tests. The teacher formulates a solution on the basis of her subjective opinion. (A definite technique for "case" solving is followed. That is, all the alternative solutions are listed. The "pros" and "cons" for each al- ternative are considered and weighed. The issues involved are also con- sidered.)
The alternative solutions are the same for each "case." That is, there are four courses of action open for each individual.
1. Promotion.
2. Non-promotion
3. Trial promotion.
4. Conditional promotion.
Trial promotion means that the child is sent to the next grade for a period of six weeks. The teacher, to whom the child is sent, is fully ac- quainted with the case. At the end of this period she recommends one of two courses of action, (a) the child be allowed to continue in the new grade. (b) the child be sent back to the grade from which he came.
Conditional promotion means that the child is to attend the regular summer school and if passing work is done in the subjects offering difficulty during the year the child is promoted.
The issues prove much more individualistic in nature.
For example:
1. Is the pupil over age for his grade?
2. Does this "over-agedness" create a social misfit condition?
3. Are there physical conditions that tend to handicap the pupil-as eye or ear trouble, health, etc?
4. Is the pupils' lack of achievement due to irregular attendance?
5. Has the child taken from the grade all that he is capable of absorb- ing?
6. Home conditions, etc.
(It will be of interest to note that after the first two or three "cases" are worked out that the time required for solving a "case" is surprisingly brief.)
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As soon as the "cases" are solved by both principal and teacher the solutions of each case are compared. It has been our experience that there is almost absolute agreement between the two solutions among the extreme "cases", (very low "cases") but not such a high correlation among the border- line "cases." For example, some pupils with an I.Q. of 85 or 90 are, accord- ing to the teacher, doing better work than others with an I.Q. of 95 or 105. Such a condition is weighed in the light of the factors, other than intelli- gence, which contributes to successful achievement.
After comparison it is necessary for the principal and teacher to agree on one of the alternative solutions. Such solution is of course considered as tentative since considerable time remains to the end of the year.
How to use the time that remains to the best advantage of the pupil is the crux of the whole situation. The problem has been met by having the principal's assistant (Mrs. Knight) devote the major part of her time to the pupils on the doubtful promotion list. (Throughout the year the assistant works with small groups of children who have been having diffi- culty in one or more subjects. This does much in making the "non-pro- motion list," that is handed to the principal, shorter.) This extra help is continued so long as the assistant feels the pupils are profiting by it. (The assistant's opinion provides another datum to be taken into account when the "case" is again considered.)
Since each "Case" is only tentatively solved, it is necessary to recon- sider each, one or more times. (The reviewing of these "cases" takes very little time since each is kept constantly in the mind of the teacher and the principal's data sheet furnishes him with pertinent information.)
The teacher's reaction to this method is well illustrated by citing what one teacher said to me. "After a 'case' has been solved the two solutions compared and a decision reached, I feel very comfortable about it. I know that the whole matter has received careful thought. I feel that the so- lution accepted, although tentatively, is the best that can be done in the interest of the pupil under the circumstances."
By this method the basis of promotion becomes an individual one de- cided on the merits of the case, rather than by an artificial standard of pass- ing marks. That is, the center of gravity changes from what the child has learned to what the child should learn. Important facts are considered as, the age of the child, the probability of his continuing in school, would he profit more by repeating the grade or would he profit more by going on to the richer content of the next grade?
Some further advantages of this method may be briefly listed as fol- lows:
The teacher has considered the case from all angles (mostly subjective). The principal has considered the case from an objective point of view. These
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combined results produce a highly refined judgment. By comparison, much more refined than would result on the basis of normal distribution or some other less scientific device.
The case has been brought vividly to the attention of the teacher, early enough in the year to allow time for a constructive remedial program.
On this basis the job of making out a "non-promotion list" is not con- sidered as just another routine, but rather as something important and useful.
The teacher and principal start working on this list as soon as it is made up. Cases are reviewed from that time on. The "case" is reconsidered when reports are made by the assistant or new data are found. Improve- ment in achievement, etc.
About the first of June (or sometime before the promotion sheets are made out) the superintendent of schools goes over the final list with the principal. He notes the criteria upon which the solutions are based. This final going over by the principal and superintendent has proved very valuable. It is another safety-valve, another opportunity to weigh or correct the judgment by which the final disposal of the case is made."
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Slowly but surely the regular teachers of elementary grades are be- coming more and more interested in the physical welfare of the child, realiz- ing that the motor areas are closely related and largely identical with the psychic, and muscle culture develops brain centers as does nothing else. Muscles are the vehicles of habitation, imitation, obedience, character and of manners and customs. For the young, motor education is cardinal. This is the foundation of the school child's life, and if the motor life of the child has been good the child in later life will be able to apply him or herself to purely mental training. Through the lessons which have been carefully selected, well demonstrated and properly supervised the child is taught to acquire a healthy strong body which contains within a bright keen mind. Co-operation and enthusiasm have been exhibited by the children. Miss Blaikie is working with the lower grades and conducting after school games for the girls. We have several girls who are students of Physical Education doing practice teaching in the upper grades and helping with after school games in the High School. This has enabled us to conduct more classes under special supervision than heretofore.
There is, however, much need for another full time teacher in the grades.
With a minimum cost the assembly halls of some schools might be used by the children for their regular lessons and after school games. We might be able to put on a more thorough physical education program.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Interest in after school games for both boys and girls of the grammar schools is growing steadily each year. Seven schools were represented in the Annual Inter-School Track Meet which is held at the High School each year. This spring, in spite of the heavy down pour each and every point was hotly contested. The three year cup donated by the Rotary Club was won this year by the Greenwood School. Considerable interest was shown by the schools in these different contests and both boys and girls are learn- ing how to compete in athletics, how to co-operate with team members, how to become leaders of the future and to play hard but fair. Other track meets were held between the High School Freshmen and Lafayette and Greenwood Eighth Grades. These meets are bringing out boys who have ability but who have had no other opportuntiy to show it and should prove to be a foundation for future teams in the High School.
More interest was shown in the Grammar School Baseball League than in any previous year. The reason was, of course, that most of the teams were evenly matched. This year Greenwood defeated Franklin in a post season game which was played on the High School field with about three hundred howling spectators yelling for their respective teams. The final outcome was 6-5.
The league ran more smoothly this year because most of the games were played on the High School field with some member of the High School Baseball team in charge. These boys are playing very smart baseball. The annual award of the cup was made by the Wakefield Lodge of Elks.
Touch football in the eighth grades proved a good substitute for the regular game. This game gives the boys the real fundamentals and know- ledge of the game, but eliminates the actual tackling because of the lack of equipment. Touch football has been played until the ground was frozen, and where there was a group of boys who had access to a ball, a game was in progress. A grammar school league was conducted for the first year and the interest was surprisingly great. Seven teams battled savagely for a cup donated by the Wakefield Daily Item. The cup was won by the Frank- lin School whose team was composed of some very prospective looking ma- terial for future teams in the High School.
In the Grammar School Basketball League the Woodville School pulled somewhat of a surprise when they won the three year cup which was do- nated by the Hi-Y Club. These boys had had little opportunity to prac- tice basketball, except for the few times when the Y. M. C. A., was avail- able. Much might be accomplished in after school activities if the assembly halls in the different schools were available. About 70 boys played basket- ball during the winter. This number hardly represents the number of boys who would play if given an opportunity. Lack of facilities and equip- ment have made it practically impossible for more to enter competition.
As a climax to the work conducted in the regular gym classes for the year a play day was held in May. Stoneham, Reading, Melrose and Wake-
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field gym classes were represented. This play day took the place of the regular exhibition. Athletic teams were made up of representatives from the different schools present. The events consisted of baseball, volley ball, horseshoes, field events and relay races. This was our first attempt at anything of this kind and it proved very satisfactory. Over 400 girls par- ticipated. This play day was under the supervision of Miss Bent assisted by girls chosen from the senior gymnasium classes.
During the week of the National Physical Education Convention which was held in Boston in conjunction with the Tercentenary celebration a group of boys representing the gynamsium classes of the High School gave an exhibition of fundamentals of boxing. This demonstration was put on in the Brookline High School gymnasium before 3,000 teachers of physical education.
Work in the regular gymnasium classes for boys and girls consists of Swedish and Danish gymnastics, clog dancing, apparatus, calisthenics, relay races, and regular games. There is boxing and wrestling for the boys.
Some corrective work is done in group form during the regular classes but due to the inability to arrange a suitable schedule whereby the gym- nasium or some other suitable room might be available for the individual correction of faulty posture, little or no work has been accomplished.
However, much work of this kind is needed and is vitally important to the welfare and health of the students. It has been disappointing that a course in Hygiene has not been conducted for both boys and girls of the freshmen classes.
Special effort is made to get as many boys and girls in competition in fall and spring. About one hundred fifty girls played Inter-class hockey this fall. Some fifty boys played soccer football with class games with Stone- ham High. About one hundred twenty-five girls played baseball and one hundred took part in track. An inter-class meet was run off by Mr. Heavens in which forty boys competed.
During the past year we enjoyed the most successful football season in the recent history of the High School. The boys are playing much more intelligent football and together with the constant drilling in fundamentals, which are essential to any football team, the team has won more than half of the scheduled games and the prospect for next years season is even brighter. The season started with over seventy boys in uniform and closed with fifty, loyal, and still fighting for a place on the chosen eleven.
With the same combination back on the court in Basketball we suc- cessfully defended our title as Champions of the Middlesex League. The success of this team was due to the seldom erring judgment of one boy who ยท captained the same team two years. He proved both a great leader and a real sportsman. This team was together two years and an almost entirely new team will be called upon to carry on the work, and the outlook is not
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quite so bright as other years. This year we are making plans to run a Freshman Team which will compete with other Freshman Teams or those of Junior High Schools. We have plenty of good material coming along as the result of Grammar School Leagues, Eighth Grade Teams and Inter- Class Teams. Last year Inter-Class games were played every Friday after- noon and over fifty boys took part. However this year we hope to be able to use the Armory for these boys and additional teams will be organized. Basketball is by far the most popular sport in the school and if time and a place were available, I believe that we might have nearly every boy play- ing on some sort of team.
In Baseball, as a member of the Mystic Valley League, we finished a tie for third place. This was fair but disappointing in some ways. Ner- vousness and misjudgment at the opportune time helped to bring about our downfall. We should enjoy a good season this year if we are able to keep all boys who are available eligibile. However we were honored to have our Captain chosen on the All-Scholastic Baseball Team chosen by a Boston paper and two others played on the All Mystic Team against the All Surburban Team which we again won.
We feel that we have started to put Track back in the place which it once occupied in the athletic world. The Track Team won a first place in the Middlesex League scoring more points than both the second and third place teams. We also made a good showing in the Mystic Valley Meet. We feel that much of our success was due to our being able to use the Armory three hours a week and about fifteen boys kept faithfully prac- ticing to the end.
The number of girls engaged in competition is surprisingly great. This due to the fact that two years ago we did away with the usual Varsity Teams and played Inter-Class Teams among the classes of the school and later played these same teams against the class teams of other schools. Per- haps our teams were not so good as they might have been if we had a few special players but we gained our objective and that is we have many play- ing instead of a few.
The following figures will give some idea of the number of boys and girls interested in athletics:
Girls
Boys
Basketball, 125
Baseball (Varsity) 35
Tennis *
Football (Varsity) 50
Baseball 125
Soccer (Class) 25
Track and Field 100
Basketball (Varsity) 20
Basketball (Class) 50
Field Hockey 150
Track (Class) 40
Track (Varsity) 30
*Courts not available until very late because of wetness and inability to drain them.
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The School Nurse gives the following information concerning her work:
The Chadwick clinic for underweight children was held in the High School. This clinic has been very satisfactory to the State Doctors who conduct the clinic. Many of our children have been permanently dis- charged and all have improved, so we now have a small group to be re- examined. The following is a copy of the last report :
No. of children re-examined 10
No. of children X-rayed 7
No. of children Von Pirquet 1
No. of children improved 5
No. of children remaining improved over a period of years 4
No. of children un-improved 1
No. of children discharged 5
The following is a brief resume of the work done:
Assisted School Physician in the examination of children in grades and High School.
Notices sent home of all defects.
No. of eyes tested 40
No. of defects not requiring written notice 96
No. of homes visited 205
No. of children excluded from school 12
No. of first aid treatments 120
No. of children accompanied to hospitals
24
I would like to state that in visiting the homes the mothers are always glad to discuss the health and habits of the children and they have always co-operated along these lines.
The School Physician's report is sufficiently interesting to publish it in full.
For the second consecutive year the incidence of contagion has been very small. There has been very few cases of scarlet fever, diphtheria and infantile paralysis and no epidemic of the so-called less severe diseases, though there has been a moderate number ill with chicken pox. For the last half of the year there has been a marked absence of ordinary colds and sore throat.
The usual complete physical examination of the first and fifth grades and the first year high school has been made and defects sufficiently marked
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