USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1931 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
Beginning January 1931 the Lafayette School had eight divisions, taught by eight teachers on a departmental basis. The eight divisions were made up on the basis of ability, first from the marks of the teachers of the respective seventh grades attended the previous year, and finally on the marks received during the first two terms in the Lafayette School. Of these eight divisions, seven had sufficient ability to attain a passing grade or better. The other group, which has existed each year that the school has been organized, was not able to attain a passing grade, and in most cases had not attained one the previous year. Most of these pupils are over age and have reached their limit in the study of academic subjects. Provision should be made for them to take a greater amount of domestic and manual arts. Ordinarily some would drop out of this group to work, but with the present economic condition this is impossible. Since we must accept them as students it would seem wiser to provide school work that they can do than to try to teach subjects which they cannot learn. If it is not feasible to give this group manual training and sewing under the special teachers of this work, a regular teacher should be selected who can accommodate himself to the work needed for such a group.
The curriculum of the eighth grades had included three periods of Literature, four of Geography, three of History, five of English, two of Hygiene, besides a club period, an assembly period and physical exercise, music, manual training and sewing.
Under the afternoon session arrangement it was necessary to curtail this program and in September, Literature and English were combined, geography was given three periods instead of four, hygiene one period instead of two and the assembly and club periods were eliminated. While these changes may be considered as effects of the change to an afternoon session, some of them are in line with the best opinion on arrangement of curricula for the eighth grade. The only serious effect has been the short- ening of the period which practically eliminates any opportunity to study under the teacher's direction.
158
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
There are larger classes in the afternoon session and since September we have been operating with seven teachers, one of whom, Miss Kalaher, teaches three classes of freshmen mathematics.
As in any radical change from the conventional way of conducting a school the change to an afternoon session has created some feeling of unrest. I believe, however, that much of it is an attempt to rationalize what they thought might be the condition, rather than a condition which actually exists. We cannot measure the intangible things that are missed by children which are developed by club work and regular assemblies. There are some features of the double session that are of advantage. The time lost previously in going and coming from Manual Training is saved. There is an opportunity to use a gymnasium for boys and girls without going out of the building. We have saved one teacher by having Miss Kalaher teach both eighth and freshmen classes. There is no doubt of the advantage in having the morning to carry on home study while on the other hand it is the best time in which to teach. I think that one offsets the other.
I have found all of the teachers both of the freshmen and eighth grades willing to aid in any way the successful operation of the afternoon session. From 9.30 to 10.30 in the morning there are three teachers back each day to give special help. It would be better if this period could be shifted so that it came from 10.45 to 11.45, but there are no rooms available at that time.
The playground at the Franklin School is in very poor condition. The lower portion is approximately level and during wet weather is muddy, half covered with pools of water and is not a fit place for children to play. The higher portion, near the school, is not of sufficient area for satisfactory play space for so large a group. The bank between these two portions of the playground has been washed and worn away so that many jagged boulders and rocks have been left exposed. I believe that the only way the bank can be improved is by filling in until the boulders are covered and then reducing the angle of the bank so that it will not wear away so rapidly.
The immediate danger from the washout of gravel at the Warren School has been eliminated by the work done during the Christmas vaca- tion. The yard is, however, like a quagmire and the addition of gravel has made it worse. We need more filling of a material which will pack into a hard surface. The need of more playground space is apparent and should be given consideration before more houses are built on the addi- tional land needed and now available.
The School Physician reports the pupils of the first grade, fifth grade and first year high school have been given a complete physical examination, and the results entered on the physical cards. Defects discovered, suffi- ciently marked to warrant a notice to the parents were as follows:
Pupils underweight by 10% or more . 81
Pupils with :-
Decayed teeth
191
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
159
Enlarged or diseased tonsils and adenoids
230
Nasal discharge or obstruction other than adenoids
6
Abnormal heart
19
Enlarged glands
5
Parasitic disease
21
No vaccination
18
Disease of skin, eye and ear
5
"All the pupils in the other grades and in the first three years of the high school have been examined routinely as to their teeth and throats. As a result of these examinations, the defects sufficiently marked to merit a notice to parents have numbered 1092, of which about two-thirds were defective teeth, and a large portion of the others were disease of the nose and throat.
Many pupils have been examined at the request of the teacher for indications of contagious or parasitic disease and several to determine if there was a discoverable physical basis for inferior work in school.
At the high school the girls who are candidates for any of the athletic teams have been examined therefor. The members of the football team, the basketball team and track team have been examined for their physical fitness. I have attended the football games played here and rendered treatment for injuries. Many boys have been referred to me by Mr. Healey and Mr. Shellenberger for examination and treatment of minor injuries. Miss Bent has referred to me many girls who complained of pain, or showed undue fatigue from the gymnasium work. I have given first-aid treatment to pupils injured on the school grounds as far as requested.
The pupils in the lower grades who were immunized against diph- theria in 1930 have been given the Schick test and all who did not show immunity were given another series of toxin-antitoxin injections. About 10% were not immunized by the first injection, but all were immunized after the second toxin-antitoxin treatment. These will be tested for im- munity in 1932, and given a second series if needed. Several parents have brought their younger children to the school to be immunized. Of course not all parents request the immunizing of their children, but nevertheless from two-fifths to one-half the children in the lower grades are now im- mune to diphtheria. Fortunately there was only one case of diphtheria in a child attending school in 1931.
As usual the principals and teachers have given excellent co-operation, and assistance, and Miss English has taken good care of her part of the work. The Board of Health loaned Miss Russell to assist in the diphtheria prevention work. Without this co-operation, the work could not have been done."
The School Nurse writes:
"For the year ending December 31, 1931, the incidence of contagion has been very small.
There have been very few cases of diphtheria and infantile paralysis, a moderate number of scarlet fever and impetigo cases, and about the usual number of the minor diseases.
160
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
I have assisted the School Physician in the examination of the chil- dren in the grades and high school, which is the usual complete examina- tion.
I also assisted in the examination of retarded children and at other clinics held during the year under supervision of the State Physicians. These clinics are called the Chadwick Clinics.
Homes are visited and the parents are invited to be present at these clinics to consult and talk over the conditions of the child. No child is examined without the consent of the parent.
Home visits are also made when a child is excluded from school in cases of skin diseases or anything of a suspicious nature. On these visits I usually find the parents anxious to co-operate.
The following is a list of work done during the past year:
Homes visited 230
Defects not requiring written notices 71
Eyes tested
6
Ears tested 2
Children accompanied to hospitals and clinics 40
Children given first-aid treatment
97
Children X-rayed 18
Children examined at the Chadwick Clinic
17
Children improved at Chadwick Clinic
16
Children unimproved
2
Children recommended to Summer Camp 3
*Children discharged from Clinic as well
1
*This child was a Hilum case of tuberculosis when first examined, has attended clinics and followed the instructions of the doctors which has resulted in a complete recovery."
REPORT OF EVENING SCHOOL
Continuing the organization established in the fall of 1930, the work of evening school was carried on from January to March, organized under the following divisions:
Americanization, Practical Arts, Commercial Subjects and Grammar School Work.
There were four dressmaking, three cooking and one millinery class in the practical arts department. Typewriting, shorthand, commercial English and arithmetic were taught in the commercial department. There were two Americanization classes, one teaching English, the other citizen- ship. The advanced grammar class took up arithmetic, history, English and geography. One hundred and sixty certificates were awarded in March for attendance at these classes.
It is unfortunate that economy demanded a curtailment of the eve- ning school work as the interest in the classes was unusual.
During the fall all Evening School classes were suspended because of reduced appropriation. During the coming winter, the class for illiterate minors, which is required by Statute, is the only one which will be in session.
Dr.
Troxell
161
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
We are trying, through increased activities, to stimulate the children to form proper health habits by showing them the goals which are to be at- tained through the proper kinds of food, undisturbed rest or sleep, clothing and supervised exercise. We are also trying to teach them certain funda- mental skills which will not only increase the muscle tone but something which they may use in their after school years.
The lessons are carefully graded beginning with rhythms, stunts or singing games in the first grade to group dancing and co-operative team games in the upper grades and high school. We have enjoyed much co- operation between the teacher and the pupil.
There is, however, much need for corrective work in the schools, but with one woman teaching in the schools and visiting each room once in two weeks, this is not possible. Pupils should be examined for posture defects and special exercises given to help correct them. Records of health achievements, such as height, and weight (gains and losses) should be kept and reports sent home.
Last year we had several students of Boston Physical Education Schools doing their practice teaching in the upper grades and the high school, but this year we will be unable to obtain the services of these girls because of the lack of funds. All after-school activities have been eliminated for grammar school girls. To date activities for grammar school boys have been conducted as before.
Increased interest in after-school games for the grammar schools is evidenced by the great number who wish to participate. With additional equipment and increased facilities in the assembly halls this might easily be accomplished.
During the spring the girls played baseball, schlagball, and kickball.
The annual grammar school track meet was held with seven schools represented by eighty boys. The cup donated by the Wakefield Rotary Club was won by the Warren School after an afternoon of real competi- tion. These boys were coached by Mr. Heavens, and every event was closely contested. Boys of the High School track team acted as officials.
Other meets were conducted between Greenwood eighth grade and Lafayette School. Another meet was held between a combined team of Greenwood eighth grade and Lafayette against High School freshmen. These meets stimulate interest in this sport and certainly build a founda- tion for future High School track teams.
Franklin School proved too strong for close competition in the base- ball league. This school lost but one game, while other schools played hard in an effort to topple the winner. All of these were played at the High School field under supervision. The results were most satisfactory. The cup for this sport was donated by the Wakefield Lodge of Elks.
Touch Football is increasing in popularity with the boys. This is evi- denced by the appearance of many "pick-up" teams which have made their appearance on the High School field. The season ended with Lincoln and
162
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Franklin tie for first place. The cup for this sport was donated by the Wakefield Daily Item.
Franklin School won its third cup for the year when it defeated Mont- rose in the final game of the basketball season. Other teams were not far behind but these teams proved to have too much size and speed for close competition. Each school was represented by a second team as well as a first team. This has proven to be a very popular sport on account of the fact that the boys like to use the showers after the games. The cup for this sport was donated by the Hi-Y Club of the Y. M. C. A.
Work in the gymnasium classes for girls conducted by Miss Bent con- sists of dancing, gymnastics, apparatus, running races and team games. Class calisthenics are used for group corrective work. Classes for boys conducted by the boys' physical director consist of gymnastics, apparatus, team games, boxing, wrestling and motor ability tests. It has been hard to fit the program to the individual needs because their programs will not allow the boys and girls to be classified to their ability.
The second annual play day was held in May with girls from Stone- ham, Reading, Melrose, Lexington and Wakefield participating. Miss Bent was assisted by girls of the Athletic Council. Some of the events were hockey relay, dodgeball, giant ball, baseball and horseshoes. About three hundred and fifty girls competed on teams with girls from other schools. Girls from our schools were invited to attend a play day held in Lexington.
Basketball kept ninety girls busy during the winter. Classes were divided into teams and in this way many girls learned to play the game and enjoy the sociability of their schoolmates. Later the better players of each class were molded into class teams and represented the school against similar teams from Lexington, Stoneham, Reading and Melrose.
Interest in field hockey for girls waned because time was not available for girls to play. Because Miss Bent teaches in both sessions a satisfactory schedule could not be arranged whereby the girls could practice when the instructor might be free to meet them. However, about thirty-eight girls attended practice regularly.
After winning the Middlesex League Basketball Championship for two consecutive years the record of last year's team proved rather disappoint- ing. It was an entirely new team and proved to be a rather in and out club. Inter-class games were played in the State Armory and seventy boys competed. These teams are also feeders for the varsity squad. However, forced economy and lack of facilities have eliminated inter-class basketball for this season.
The High School was represented in the Middlesex League by a fairly well-balanced track team. The team made a good showing against some very capable opponents and a far greater number of boys participated than in previous years. The team finished second in the annual league meet held at Lexington. Inter-class meets were held before the regular schedule was started. Fifty boys took part. The winners were the Senior and Sophomore classes. This arrangement whereby boys of about equal
163
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ability compete gives all a chance to taste of victory and encourages them to strive for greater things. Freshmen compete against Sophomores and Juniors against Seniors. Fifteen boys came out for cross-country in the fall. They made a fair showing as a team. However, the outstanding achievement of the season was the winning of the Harvard Inter-scholas- tic Cross Country Meet by one of our seniors. He led the "pack" from the start and won with plenty to spare. The race was run in very fast time.
A small group coached by Mr. Fisher, a member of the faculty, repre- sented the school in tennis. The boys did well considering the amount of practice they were able to get on our courts which were far from ideal at any time. The courts have not been used to any great extent because they were wet and the surface slow. An attempt was made to have a tournament for both boys and girls but this was not possible.
The following is a report of the Attendance Department from January 1, 1931, to December 31, 1931.
I have investigated the following cases and taken care of the same:
Sickness
93
Truancy
55
Tardy
9
Kept out by parents or guardians
26
Lack of shoes, clothes and food
59
Found on street and taken to school
7
Found on street and taken home
3
Found in homes and taken to school
7
Misdemeanors on school grounds
11
Holding warrant for good behavior
2
Suspensions
3
Home Employment Certificates
11
Factories and Stores visited
6
Pupils left school
12
Placed in State School
3
Left school to go to work
10
General disobedience
5
Investigated and found them moved
18
Girls who were ill taken home
6
Boys who were ill taken home
2
Schools visited frequently
I have made thirty-four calls at the homes of the parents in the eve- nings and Sundays, and have talked with them regarding their children on several things, with good results.
At the request of the principals and librarian, I have taken books from the library to the Franklin, Woodville, Montrose, Hurd and Warren Schools, and have returned them at the end of each school term.
During the summer I supervised the following major repairs:
Furnaces at the Warren, West Ward, Hurd and Hamilton Schools, cleaned and broken pipes replaced.
Hurd School:
New dampers installed in furnaces
164
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Walls and ceilings cleaned and repainted. Inside woodwork varnished. Outside woodwork painted.
West Ward School:
Roof repaired and cupola removed.
Hamilton School:
Return steam line replaced.
Lincoln School:
Both toilets in the basement whitewashed.
A new wire fence erected on the north side of the lot.
Woodwork of corridors and rooms of upper floor varnished. Walls of corridors and rooms of upper floor cleaned and repainted. Ceilings kalsomined.
A new ventilating fan installed in boys' toilet.
Woodville School:
All standing finish varnished. Building painted on the outside.
High School:
Outside woodwork and metal skylights painted.
I have investigated fourteen pupils who have left High School and I have collected school books and other school property that they had taken home, or the money for the books or property if lost.
The Committee plans to increase the size of classes in the elementary schools where possible, and thereby hopes to save the cost of five teachers. A real attempt to cut the costs of the schools for the ensuing year has been made, even including repairs which may be postponed for one year. All classes in the Evening School have been eliminated except the one for illiterate minors which we are required by statute to operate.
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Amount from State Income Tax based on number of teachers
employed, their training and salary
$ 25,426.75
State Wards
3,948.29
Tuitions :
Lynnfield
16,728.38
City of Boston
1,366.71
Stoneham
368.25
Saugus
1,104.75
Individuals
736.50
$ 49,679.63
165
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
APPROPRIATION FOR 1932
The School Committee has voted to ask for $319,500.00. HARRY B. ALLMAN, Chairman, EVA GOWING RIPLEY, Secretary, DR. J. WILLIAM O'CONNELL, Treasurer, MABEL WALL SWEETSER, THOMAS F. KENNEY, JOHN B. SAWYER,
School Committee.
APPENDIX
A. Statistics of School Enrollment and Attendance. Cost per Pupil.
B. Graph-Enrollment.
C. Tabulation of Records of Attendance for School Year, 1930-1931.
D. School Organization.
E. Cost of Public Day and Evening Schools.
F. How a School Dollar is Spent.
G. Age and Grade Chart, January 1, 1932.
H. Changes in Teachers.
I. Graph-Cost per Capita.
J. Graph-Expenditures with the Department.
K. Graph-Comparison of Appropriations for the Town and the School Department.
L. High School Graduation Program.
M. High School Graduates-Class of 1931.
166
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
A
Population Census, 1930
16,318
Average Membership ending June, 1931
3,418
Average Membership ending June, 1930
3,346
Increase in Average Membership
72
Total Membership, 1931
4,048
Total Membership, 1930
3,955
Per Cent of Attendance, 1931
95.63
Per Cent of Attendance, 1930
96.89
Length of School Year, 1930-1931
39 weeks
Days lost, stormy weather, holidays:
High
14 days
Elementary
17 days
Actual Length of School Year: High
36 weeks, 1 day
Elementary
35 weeks, 3 days
Special teachers employed
6
Regular teaching positions
123
Total teaching positions
129
DAY SCHOOLS
Cost per pupil for instruction and maintenance, based on average membership for the school year 1930-1931:
High School, exclusive of general control
$131.33
Elementary Schools, exclusive of general control
73.65
All public schools, from local taxation, including Evening and Vacation Schools 82.10
All public schools, from all sources, including Evening and Vacation Schools
95.00
Cost per pupil including ordinary repairs, in State
100.77
167
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
B
4125
4025
3925
3825 3725
3625
3525
3425
3325
3225
312 5
3025
2925
2825
2725
2625
2525
2425
2325
2225
2125
2025
1930
1931
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
Total Enrollment
Average Membership
Average Attendance
C RECORD OF ATTENDANCE FOR SCHOOL YEAR -1930-1931
School
Teacher
5-6
7-14
14-16
Pupils 16
or over
Total
Enrollment
Average
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
1-2 Days
Attendance
1-2 Days
Absence
Tardiness
Dismissals
Truancy
High Lafayette
Charles J. Peterson
0
92
409
449
957
921.46
883.57
95.88
159,926
6,226
2,741
2,522
0
Hertha Bergner
23
6
1
89
28.93
27.93
96.54
5,029
180
20
12
0
Genesta B. Tooker
0
17
15
1
60
29.22
27.95
95.65
5,031
230
34
16
0
Ida G. Low
0
32
1
0
49
30.58
30.07
98.33
5,413
93
13
27
10
Lois I. Jordan
0
20
13
0
75
30.38
28.93
95.20
5,209
261
72
42
10
Isabel M. Elliot
0
26
1
0
80
31.19
30.42
97.53
5,476
140
11
17
0
Eliza V. Coburn
0
15
15
0
78
28.10
27.11
96.47
4,880
179
33
27
0
Mary Kalaher
0
16
10
0
80
28.01
26.61
95.00
4,820
253
62
15
8
Ralph O. Powers
0
14
12
1
65
26.30
24.66
92.80
4,438
298
88
12
6
0
32
2
0
34
33.79
32.94
97.47
11,782
304
72
14
1
Franklin
Ethel Rodgerson
30
7
2
41
39.54
38.09
96.33
13,362
539
31
5
0
Lillian B. Nutile
0
29
3
0
35
33.71
32.66
96.88
11,620
364
28
2
2
Cora Guarnaccia
0
37
0
0
37
35.86
34.64
96.61
12,342
430
36
4
2
Mabel F. Johnson
0
36
0
0
36
33.64
32.96
97.97
11,735
243
28
7
2
Edna May Paulson
0
43
0
0
43
39.92
38.25
95.87
13,562
566
18
6
Katherine L. Kelley
0
38
0
0
40
34.59
33.68
97.36
11,924
323
52
6
2
Helen M. Delaney
4
23
0
0
28
24.34
23.34
95.89
8,264
344
24
6
0
Katherine Goodwin
7
18
0
0
27
26.23
25.22
96.14
8,829
359
33
4
0
Avis M. Jones
38
1
.0
0
39
37.63
35.58
94.55
11,796
727
53
4
0
24
7
0
0
38
28.74
26.26
92.34
9,272
817
45
3
0
0
10
1
0
16
13.25
12.36
93.28
4,354
310
21
2
2
0
32
2
0
34
31.88
30.46
95.54
10,907
508
54
18
0
Clareberta Wilson
0
28
5
0
33
33.00
31.65
95.90
11,332
482
64
19
0
Signe M. Peterson
0
32
7
0
41
37.84
36.00
95.11
12,891
679
97
21
3
Elizabeth Gardner
0
36
3
.0
39
38.22
37.06
96.96
13,265
404
51
24
0
Theresa J. Collins
0
36
1
0
40
36.74
33.94
95.01
12,499
655
86
21
0
-
TOWN
OF WAKEFIELD
168
Greenwood
Pupils between
Pupils between
Pupils between
Membership
0
Stella H. Blaikie
Esther M. Winkler Lee Pfeiffer
Myron Gallop
.
C
** . RECORD OF ATTENDANCE FOR SCHOOL YEAR-1930-1931 (Continued)
School
Teacher -
5-6
7-14
14-16
Pupils 16
Total
Enrollment
Membership Average
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
1-2 Days
Attendance
1-2 Days
Absence
Tardiness
Dismissals
Truancy
Amanda Stephenson
.0
38
.0
0
41+
38.58
37.04
96:00
13,261
553
34
22
0
M. Grace Pike
0
34
0
0
35
33.70
32.44
96.26
11,626
452
36
19
1
Winifred R. Beal
0
36
0
0
37
36.27
34.25
94.70
12,301
687
164
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.