USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1950 > Part 15
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The School Committee again records with sincere regret two more resignations from its board. In August Mrs. Alma S. Dutton resigned be- cause of pressure of personal obligations, and in December the secretary of the Committee, Arthur C. Lane, resigned, effective January 1st, 1951, for reasons of health. Frederick W. Bliss was appointed at a joint meet- ing of the Selectmen and the School Committee to fill Mrs. Dutton's vacancy, and on December 28th the School Committee submitted to the Selectmen the name of Lane C. Fuller to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Lane.
The School Committee records its deep appreciation of the devoted service of Mrs. Abbie A. Bell, Miss Irene F. Norton and Miss Winifred R.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Beal whose retirement has taken place this year. Their contribution to education in Wakefield has influenced the lives of many young people who have passed through their hands, a far-reaching factor for the good of the country scarcely to be estimated.
At the Harvard Commencement in June, Superintendent Bair was awarded the degree of doctor of education, the first Wakefield Superin- tendent to be so honored. Dr. Bair represented the School Department at the high school graduation exercises.
Continuing the policy of planned modernization in the older buildings $8,678.75 was expended in replacement of toilets at the Franklin School.
School Committee members served countless hours on various sub- committees. Mr. Collins was chairman of a sub-committee to study re- gional schools, Messrs. Hancock and Hickey serving with him. They brought in a detailed report which was published in the press, advising against Wakefield participating in such a plan. Mr. Lane and Mr. Hickey served on the salary evaluation committee, and Mr. Lane was also School Committee member on the town Dental Clinic committee. Mr. Hancock served as chairman of a committee to evaluate extra-curricular pay, Messrs. Hickey and Lane serving with him. Their recommendations are embodied in this year's budget. Mr. Hancock also served as chairman of the in- formation committee of the joint planning and school committees. The members consider the time to have been well invested, if the Wakefield school system can continue to increase the knowledge, the health and the vision of its young people.
MARY LOUISE TREDINNICK
ARTHUR C. LANE
WALTER C. HICKEY MICHAEL F. COLLINS
HERBERT D. HANCOCK
FREDERICK W. BLISS
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
It is a pleasure to submit my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
The natural pride one might have in reviewing the progress of an organization with which he is serving is, in this case, diminished by first, the realization he is leaving at a time when Wakefield can, if the voters agree, have one of the outstanding school systems in New England, and second, that the happy and fruitful associations which have blessed your Superintendent of Schools for three years are soon to end.
It seems proper that the record show the appreciation your superin- tendent has for the courageous and self-sacrificing attitude of the School Committee members. One would have to search widely to find a com- mittee more devoted to its task of building a good school system during one of the most trying times in United States history. Problems such as high costs, shortages of materials and teachers, rapidly increasing enroll-
213
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ments, obsolete and neglected buildings, inadequate and worn out equip- ment, frequent public apathy, and the complicated character of our type of town government, are sufficient to cool the ardor of less courageous public officials.
The faculty, facing many of the same conditions plus decreasing parental interest and cooperation, has done a remarkable job. Standardized tests have, on many occasions, shown the achievement of Wakefield's pupils to be considerably above average. Certainly there are weak links in our system, but the percentage in Wakefield is much below the aver- age. It should be thoroughly understood that on our staff are many who would rate favorably with the best in the nation. Every effort is being exerted to keep them in Wakefield.
The High School Planning Committee and the Elementary Planning Committee should be singled out for praise. The former committee has worked hard for two years, preparing first, plans for an addition to the high school which were not accepted by the voters, and second, several plans for a completely new senior high school building which will be pre- sented to the annual town meeting in 1951. Had they not been terribly concerned with the present conditions and extremely devoted to their assignment, it would not be hard to imagine that their discouragement would cause many resignations from the committee. Instead they have tackled, with typical New England determination, the new and expanded problem which they were given, and have developed outstanding plans for the solution of Wakefield's secondary school problem.
The Elementary Planning Committee has done a very thorough study of existing elementary buildings here and elsewhere. They have met whenever and wherever a new idea existed. The quality of the analysis they have made and the soundness of their proposals will be easily under- stood when their report is filed.
The future of democracy is assured when voluntary committees of laymen undertake civic duties as comprehensive and time-consuming as these groups did. It is natural that the conclusions and proposals which they have prepared would be outstanding. The future of our community, if indeed not our nation, is assured when the citizenry unselfishly follows the recommendations of such committees.
The small but active parent groups which have steadfastly sought better educational opportunities for their children have contributed much to such progress as has been made. It remains for their contemporaries who have not found P.T.A. attendance possible or desirable to rally around them at this time of great urgency. Finally, Wakefield can justly be proud of its youths. They have accomplished much under sub-standard conditions. They have made the effort worthwhile. -
With the School Building Survey Report by Dr. Homer Anderson and his staff available, there is little value in reviewing its contents. The rec- ords should show that the School Department is still reporting that the No. 1 need in Wakefield is proper housing for the school children.
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Little concern has been seen relative to the supply of good teachers. Wakefield is a good example. Between September, 1947, and September, 1951, 32 additional professional staff members will have been added. Dur- ing the next 5 years similar growth will doubtless be felt. Where will we find these teachers? From 1947 to September, 1950, not more than 1/2 dozen Wakefield High School graduates have chosen education as a pro- fession. This situation is nation-wide. During the school year of 1950, 23 new teachers were employed by the Wakefield School Committee, al- though only 6 were additional ones. In other words, the teacher turn- over is nearly 20%. All of the teacher-training schools in Massachusetts graduate less than 500 a year, yet some 2500-3000 replacements are needed. The war now in progress will cut this number seriously, but will not re- duce our elementary school enrollments at all. As a matter of record, both the marriage and birth rates are again rising alarmingly.
Your superintendent realizes that until untrained and unqualified people are appointed to teaching positions and the parents begin to see the damage being done, no strenuous action will be taken. It will be too late then, because it takes 4 years to give our youth the minimum back- ground for teaching.
Each year in the Massachusetts General Court attempts are made to close or at least curtail our teachers colleges. THEY ARE OUR PRIN- CIPAL SOURCES OF SUPPLY AND MUST BE EXPANDED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR NEEDS. Every citizen should demand that our legisla- tive representatives take the initiative to expand, improve, and protect our teachers' colleges. They are currently obsolete, under-manned, in- adequately financed, and to some extent involved politically. Children who will be attending school 4 to 8 years hence will suffer because of the lack of foresight now.
High School students cannot be forced to train for educational serv- ice, but citizens can do much to improve conditions so that young people will seek opportunities in this splendid profession. Parental cooperation, pleasant working conditions, adequate and modern facilities, and good pay will do much to remedy this serious situation. Centuries ago Socrates appealed to his people saying, "If I could reach the highest point in Athens I would raise my voice and say, 'What ails ye, fellow citizens, that ye turn every stone to scrape wealth together, yet neglect your children to whom ye must one day relinquish all?'"
The vast increase in Wakefield's school population has had, and will continue to have, a serious effect on the School Department budget. Ad- ditional school staff members during the last 4 years represent more than $100,000 increase in school costs. The decreased purchasing power of the dollar has nearly doubled the cost of supplies of all kinds during the last 11 years, and has caused at least a 15% increase in the other expense items of the 1951 budget request. For each additional pupil en- tering our schools, it costs from $150-$230, depending on the grade in which he enters. Two hundred additional pupils therefore, represent ap-
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
proximately $40,000 in operating costs alone. The cost of new equipment, etc., must be added to the above figure.
On the other hand, in Wakefield during 1950, excise taxes were paid on 1,600 more automobiles than in 1949. This represents a total assess- ment of $3,375,440 which brings into the Wakefield town treasury approx- imately $123,000, or an increase of $39,000 over the preceding year. Wake- field's total assessed valuation has reached more than $26,500,000, an in- crease of approximately $1,100,000 between 1949 and 1950. The increase in the last year alone represents approximately $51,000 in new municipal revenue. It also represents an increase of more than $3,250,000 since 1947. Wakefield is no longer a small town to be operated on a small town basis. It is a big business and must be handled in an appropriate manner.
During the year of 1950 several key educational posts have changed hands. Mr. William Black, principal of the Franklin and Montrose Schools, was granted a leave of absence to work with the State School Building Assistance Commission. His successor is Mr. Paul U. Antony. Mr. Francis W. Dinan, principal of the Hurd and Lincoln Schools, and an officer in the naval reserve, was recalled to active duty. Mr. Richard Smith will succeed him. Mr. Myron E. Gallop, head of the Science De- partment in the high school, left education to enter the field of business. Mr. John Broderick of Walpole was elected to become the new depart- ment head. Miss Marion J. Jennings, Reading Consultant, resigned to accept a post at the University of Iowa, and has been succeeded by Miss Elizabeth P. Lenk of Auburn.
A major change in policy resulted from the over-crowded conditions at Hurd, Warren, and Greenwood Schools. It was necessary to renovate, re-equip, and re-open the Woodville School in September, 1950. Seventh and eighth grade pupils from the Hurd and Warren Schools, and eighth grade pupils from the Greenwood School are being transported by bus to that building. This temporary arrangement has proven popular to pupils and parents alike.
The curriculum study received a major setback when the co-chair- men, Miss Jennings and Mr. Black, left the department. However, Miss Lenk and Mr. Antony have taken over and considerable progress has been made. Plans have been made and an appropriation requested to place 2 grades in the Warren School under the double session plan in September, 1951. One or two grades at the Hurd School will probably be housed in the new auditorium at the same time. This condition will get increas- ingly worse until buildings are constructed in the North Ward and on the West Side.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORTS OF STAFF MEMBERS
From the report of Mr. Kinder, Principal of the High School.
Unsettled conditions in the world are having their effect upon the boys and girls in the high school. In general, there is an increased rest- lessness - and a tendency to question the desirability of working hard in
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
school to prepare themselves for what they would like to do. We in the school are doing all we can through guidance and advice to influence them to make the best possible use of their time.
From the standpoint of the faculty the situation will be critical if some of our most active teachers are recalled for military service.
The enrollment is nearly the same as last year, which means that the lack of space continues to be the same pressing, frustrating problem.
Mr. Heavens, guidance director, has become an increasingly important factor in the welfare of the school. The most needed addition in our guidance work is a clerical assistant and a separate office.
History Department.
An innovation this year was the attendance each week of two students from the government classes at the meetings of the Selectmen in Wake- field and Lynnfield. Each class member attends at least one meeting and reports his impressions to his classmates.
The election held in October brought the whole student body to the election booths - the regular voting booths and ballot boxes of the Town of Wakefield were loaned to us - in the gymnasium where ballots were cast for class officers, members of the Student Council, and student rep- resentative on the Athletic Council. Over 900 voted in less than an hour, and students acted as supervisors and election officials.
Mr. Barry has organized a Junior Forum for World Affairs, and one assembly took the form of a forum in the manner of the Town Meeting of the Air.
Language Department.
This department has continued to take the lead in the use of audio- visual aids. During the year a new opaque projector and another slide film projector were added to the equipment.
English Department.
Two goals were set for the year's work in English.
1. The encouragement of wider reading for enjoyment and enriched vocabulary.
2. Improvement of skills in composition for all groups.
The 1950 Classbook again received a first place in the national contest sponsored by Columbia University.
Household Arts.
Under present conditions we cannot give the girls any additional training in this department. It would be helpful if the girls could be taught some of the elementary things in cooking and sewing before they come to high school.
Science Department.
The results which Mr. Broderick, the new Head of this Department, has accomplished since he came to us indicate that he is a welcome addi- tion to our faculty.
The lack of adequate seating space continues to be a handicap to the Science classes.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Fine Arts Department.
For the second time this department has contributed pictures by students to the International Art Program of the Red Cross. The twelve submitted have been distributed to eight countries.
Again this year there were Christmas paintings at the main entrance and in several of the windows.
I still want to have students decorate the cafeteria walls.
Driver Education.
This year the members of the classes in driver education were given a set of psycho-physical tests in the mobile Driver Educational Clinic which Mr. Marché arranged to have visit the high school.
Military Instruction.
During the year officers from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and National Guard have come to the school to speak to the senior boys.
"Living With Others."
Under Miss Upham, Dean of Girls, a new course bearing this name, and intended to be instruction in manners, is given to all freshmen, for one period a week for five weeks.
Air Raid Warden.
Mr. Heavens, who was chief air raid warden for the high school in World War 2, and who is an assistant to the town civilian defense direc- tor, is again acting in a similar capacity.
Book Clubs.
A Teachers' Book Club and a Teen Age Book Club have been organ- ized under the direction of Miss Sheldon, librarian, who also supervises the teachers' professional library.
Unfortunately the library is still used every period of the day as a study hall.
Clubs.
As in past years the various clubs and student organizations have had varying degrees of success. The Student Council, for example, has spon- sored six canteens, and is working on problems of morale and has made recommendations which have proved beneficial. Again, the program com- mittee for the senior play collected more than $500.00 for advertising. The musical organizations continue to reflect the versatility, enthusiasm for good music and painstaking attention to details of the director, Mr. Fanck.
Class Gifts.
The Class of 1950 made it possible to have the office records of all members of the High School for the past twenty-five years recorded on micro film which is kept in the vault of the Wakefield Trust Company.
Faculty.
There are forty-five men and women on the Faculty. At the present time the faculty is divided into twenty-five committees which have begun a program of self-evaluation of the school in all its phases. It will be a
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
process extending over a considerable period of time. Through the eval- uation we hope to appraise the achievements, point out our deficiencies, and come to some agreement on our needs, so that we can channel our endeavors more effectively in the future.
Report of the Guidance Department, Mr. Heavens.
It is the considered opinion of the Guidance Department that the chief function of guidance is to supplement the instruction given in the school in any way it can, to implement and give meaning to the instruc- tion in such a way that the school will be more meaningful and purpose- ful to the students. Through tests, teachers' grades and an accumulation of past experiences we have gathered together and catalogued as much information as we can about each pupil. From this picture the boys and girls have been given what help we can to encourage them to plan their preparation for those things they want to do. We have tried to facilitate the process for some children to make an intelligent choice of occupations by giving as much information concerning the work world and the trends of the labor market as we have available. Some actual placements have been made, but it is preferable to try to guide the way so that the young- sters may gain the preparation and find the work of their choice for themselves. I do not feel it is kind actually to do too much of this for them, but rather to encourage and teach them to do it so that they will act for themselves.
To give occupational information, conference groups meet once a month at which workers in the field come in to tell the students about it. In the fall the students are shown why it is essential to make intel- ligent plans. In the winter and spring, the areas covered are the ap- prentice trades, advertising and merchandising, opportunities in industry and offices, engineering, nursing, and the professions. In April a pre- view of the employment market is given.
The guiding of the pupils is an individual proposition. This is done by scrutiny of the choices of courses, and individual counseling. We are greatly hampered in this phase because of the lack of personnel in this department, but it is useless to ask for help unless there is some place to house it.
It is interesting to note, through follow-up, how closely the school instruction fills the occupational needs of the students. There is a def- inite lack in our schools to give a sufficiently diverse instruction in many of the apprentice trades and in home economics. This lack is only partially filled by sending some of the students to the various trade schools in the county. But if these trades could be taught at home, it would act as an inspiration to many others who are groping for help to try their hand in this field. Without it we lack that inspiration.
Two summary tables follow of the placement of the last three grad- uating classes, based on returns by the boys and girls.
Table 1. Placement of Classes of 1950, 1949, 1948:
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
219
1950
1949
1948
Div. Name
No.
%
Nite
Later No. %
No.
%
I Armed Service
15
7.1
14
7.2
6
3.6
II Office etc.
47
22.3
15
2
49
25.0
37
22.4
III Trades etc.
62
29.4
6
3
30
15.3
35
21.3
IV Vocat. Sch.
10
4.7
14
7.2
13
7.7
V Comm. Sch.
11
5.2
22
11.2
15
9.2
VI Nursing
8
3.8
7
3.6
7
4.2
VII Prep. School
7
3.3
11
5.6
9
5.5
VIII Jr. College
9
4.3
3
1.5
7
4.2
IX Sr. College
36
17.1
33
16.8
35
21.3
X Miscell.
6
2.8
13
6.6
1
0.6
211
97.0
196
95.1
165
Tot. of Group
218
206
202
81.6
The following table shows the members of the Class of 1950
who placed in jobs for which they were prepared in High School.
Course Taken
Num.
%
% Following Training
Col. Preparatory
73
34.8
31.8
Commercial
83
39.5
31.4
English
33
15.7
Indust. Arts
21
10.0
Report of Mr. Fulton, Supervisor of Cafeterias.
1
Two changes in the operation of the cafeteria were made necessary at the opening of school in September. One was a change in financing made necessary by a bill passed by the State legislature, and the other was the starting of a cafeteria at the Woodville School.
All school lunchroom funds must now be deposited with the town treasurer who pays the bills with the approval of the School Committee. Cafeteria employees become town employees subject to the benefits of pen- sion and compensation laws. The old reserve equipment fund was turned over to the town treasurer, the sum of $1,195.00 being first spent for a dish-washing machine.
The Woodville cafeteria, with two women in attendance, is operated in conjunction with the one at the High School, with Mrs. Prince acting as dietitian and manager of both. Full advantage is taken of the free commodities offered by the surplus commodities division. Pupils may, of course, bring their own lunches, buying from the cafeteria only if they so desire. Efforts are made, however, to encourage the pupils to have a hot lunch.
The following figures, computed for three months in the fall, may be of interest:
High School
Woodville
Daily average number buying hot dish
66-7% 474-50%
54-27%
Daily average number buying milk
153-76%
Average amount spent per pupil
13.7c 14c
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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Two problems exist-the lack of table space at the High School, and the fact that the cafeterias could not be operated without state aid unless prices were raised considerably.
Excerpts from the reports of the Supervising Principals
One outstanding feature of the program at the Franklin and Mont- rose Schools is the assembly. At Franklin particularly dramatic units formed without direction from the teachers, and have written, directed and presented plays and skits of real worth. The children are encouraged to participate in any way they see fit.
At both schools student councils are developing real and dynamic leadership among the pupils.
Parent-Teacher groups are functioning well, with good attendances on conference nights.
Mr. Antony suggests the wisdom of setting up a program of visual education in all the schools, and a further study in the area of textbooks so that better standardizations may be obtained.
Mr. Philie, reporting for the Warren-West Ward District, states that there has been an expanding use of audio-visual aids in his schools, par- ticularly by acquiring exhibits from various industrial concerns and the purchase of film strips.
The transfer of the 7th and 8th grades from the Warren to the Wood- ville School has, temporarily, made more room for the increased enroll- ment in the lower grades. However, there will be overcrowding again in the fall of 1951.
During the past year the interior of the Warren School was redec- orated. Among the improvements still sadly needed at both this school and the West Ward are better lighting and better playground facilities.
Miss Pfeiffer, acting Principal at the Lincoln School, stresses the handicap presented by the fact that this building has no auditorium. Playroom facilities are below the desired minimum.
She further suggests that a greater uniformity might be obtained if the school nurse weighed and measured the children, and tested both eyes and ears.
A number of clubs have been organized in which the children take a keen, active and creative interest.
The major problem at the Hurd School, Miss Widtfeldt reports, is the rapidly increasing enrollment because of the housing development in this area. This problem is further complicated by the heavier traffic on Pleas- ant Street extension, which is a direct means of access to the Glen Meadow development.
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