USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1951 > Part 15
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 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
Our schools must constantly review their program to ascertain whether or not our children are adequately prepared for all phases of life. Human life is fundamentally physical, and, therefore, pupils must learn to care for, and to use, their bodies efficiently. This is accomplished primarily through health education. Life is also intellectual, and a trained mind is essential as a directing force. The training of the mind is done primarily through the many subjects taught in our curriculum. Life is emotional and control of the passions and feelings is necessary for purposeful living. This is accomplished through the many social contacts in the classrooms, the general administrative control, and the extra curricular activities. Our courses in the Social Science should train our young people in an under- standing of their duties and responsibilities to society. Life, to be refined, must be controlled by worthy purposes and high ideals. Character train- ing that makes definite distinctions between what is right and what is wrong, and that leads to action based on such distinctions, is the way of obtaining desirable results towards worthy purposes and high ideals.
We must keep these thoughts constantly before us as we study our school system for future development and progress.
Perhaps the most outstanding fact which has taken place during the past year as it relates to the future was the town's appropriation of $545,- 000 for the construction of two elementary schools. Delays encountered will prevent the completion of these buildings until September, 1953. Dur- ing the interim, a critical situation is developing. Many adjustments and changes will be necessary.
The problem of paramount importance facing the Wakefield school system at present, and during the years immediately ahead, is the critical need for additional school plant construction. Numerous reports have been made and much has been said concerning the needs. It is no longer the problem of school officials, but one the citizens must accept immedi- ately or positive injury will result to the children through the curtailment of their education. Temporary measures such as double sessions, using basement rooms and auditoriums for classrooms, stepping up our begin- ning entrance age, or portable buildings, are undesirable and unthinkable for the Town of Wakefield which is, and has a right to be, proud of its schools.
It is my opinion, after studying carefully the projected enrollments, the serious lack of facilities existing in the high school, and the overall
201
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
needs of the schools, that the plan of converting the present high school building into a junior high school, and building a new senior high school, is the best plan to meet the future requirements of the schools. This will provide better facilities for the high school, furnish the necessary housing to care for the elementary grades, and enable the school department to develop a program of education for the adolescent youth of grades 7 and 8 who are the forgotten children in many school systems.
The alertness of the Wakefield teaching staff is indicated by the num- ber of extension courses completed during the past year. Forty-eight teachers enrolled in various colleges and completed 271 credits for educa- tional advancement. In a real sense of the word, this is an indication of professional interest and enthusiasm. All of the above teachers are doing a full time teaching job, which means that some of them have drawn heavily upon their reserve energy.
EXCERPTS FROM THE REPORTS OF STAFF MEMBERS The High School, Roland H. Kinder, Principal.
The overall enrollment in the high school has remained at approxi- mately the same number for the last four years. If we had one class- room for each teacher, some of our difficulties would be greatly reduced. (There are 40 high school teachers but only 30 classrooms and labora- tories). The necessary use of the library as both a study hall and a home- room is a misuse of the library facilities. First aid classes, rehearsals, and club and committee meetings are also held in the library.
In Household Arts we formerly had a sewing room, a demonstration suite and a cooking room, with two teachers. Now we have only one course in Foods and Clothing, one cooking room and one teacher. This amounts to a half course in each section, with a maximum of only about 65 girls.
In the Commercial Department our most serious deficiencies are in the lack of a machine room for Office Practise, and a second room for type- writing.
The Science Department continues to have a large enrollment, with nine classes in General Science, seven in Chemistry, five in Biology, and two in Physics.
Aims of some of the departments-
Mathematics-To make all its instruction worthwhile to the students, with a special emphasis on meanings rather than rote, and to eliminate materials which will have neither immediate nor future application. Language-To enable the student to understand and really use the lan- guage as a tool, to enlarge his horizons, and to prepare him to live and deal with other people who have different cultures and ideas.
English-To emphasize the needs of skills and the reasonable mastery of spelling, punctuation, sentence structure and functional grammar. To improve in written forms. To read with comprehension a wide range of material.
Industrial Arts-To give the boys a sound training in the fundamentals of woodworking.
202
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Mechanical Drawing-To lay a foundation of basic principles for future use in the trades or in drafting. To develop necessary techniques for further work in the field. To promote the powers of visualization for making and interpreting plans and blueprints.
Social Studies-To build up an audio-visual program, which includes the accumulation of a film strip library, to give life to current history. To gain a working familiarity with local government.
Special mention should be made of the following:
1. The Language Assembly with its program by the French, Spanish and Italian classes.
2. The continued excellence of the Senior Yearbook, The Oracle.
3. The high standard maintained by the school newspaper, The Lookout.
4. The Christmas decorations by the Fine Arts Department.
5. The elections for officers of the Student Council and the Athletic Coun- cil, supervised by the students themselves and using the town ballot boxes and voting booths.
6. The fact that 75% of those who take the Driver Education course qualify for their certificates.
Military Instruction. The boys in the Senior Class are divided into two groups which meet for one period in alternate weeks. Covered in this course are the main items of information that will be of value to boys who may enter the armed forces, such as military courtesy, procedures in basic military training, and the like. During the year officers of the vari- ous services speak to the boys relative to their respective services.
The Student Council, the Cheerleaders, the Majorettes, the Ski Club, the Inter Nos Club and the Rifle Club have continued to function as in past years, and, because of the enthusiasm of their members, have made a 1 real contribution to the life of the school.
In connection with their report on the Secondary School Curriculum Adjustments for the National Emergency, the Northeastern Commissioners Conference recommendations in 1951 are as follows:
Present conditions would indicate the value of increased and par- ticular emphasis in the program of the secondary schools in the fol- lowing:
1. The basic skills of communication and mathematics. In addi- tion to the normal values for everyday living, the ability to communi- cate effectively and to compute accurately are skills which are essen- tial to the armed services.
2. Health and physical education activities. General activity and experiences in this area should be emphasized rather than such activities as commando techniques and military training.
3. Specialized studies including science and appropriate foreign languages. The schools should provide a basic foundation in the sciences and instruction for selected youth in appropriate foreign languages.
203
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
4. Broad citizenship experiences. These should go beyond some social studies approaches and should seek to produce an informed, socially conscious, articulate people who firmly understand and believe in our American way of life.
5. Preinduction training as a phase of the larger objective of vocational education.
These recommendations are in line with our aims and objectives. As usual, we have not accomplished all that we planned to do in 1951. How- ever, we hope that we shall continue to progress.
Report of the Guidance Department, Howard J. Heavens, Director
Guidance in the elementary grades is carried on by the individual teachers and principals. Each year in the spring a schedule of visitations to the grammar schools by Mr. Kinder and me is made, the primary pur- pose being to acquaint the incoming Freshmen with the offerings of the high school, both educational and extra curricular. At all times the prin- cipals feel free to call upon the high school staff on any of their individual problems.
Quite adequate records come to the high school with each student. These records become the basis for our high school cumulative record cards and are continued through the four years of a student's high school course.
Each high school student is tested in the 9th and 11th years. The re- sulting record for each individual is well-ordered, not difficult to interpret, with an up-to-date national, New England and local norm.
The ninth grade is tested for scholastic aptitude, comprehensive read- ing, English grammar, and arithmetical fundamentals. The eleventh grade program contains a scholastic aptitude test on the adult level, compre- hensive reading, spatial relations, clerical aptitude, and an interest inven- tory. Each of these tests can be broken down for specific weaknesses of each individual in each of the general areas. These tests become a part of the cumulative record.
From the results of the past year it might be said of the class of 1952 that it is a very normal class over all, judging from our New England standards, a percentile or two high in scholastic potential, reading com- prehension, clerical filing, and a point of two low in logical reasoning, and number recognition.
As special cases arise, and more information is needed on an individ- ual, tests are administered on an individual basis, and this information is added to the file.
For the past three years we have subscribed to Mr. Roland Darling's program for occupational information, a program which got its start in Reading, Saugus, Stoneham and Wakefield. The program has now grown to over 80 participants.
Representatives of occupations in 15 different areas met with us during the year. The meetings took the form of panel discussions, with some audience participation. Attendance was voluntary. Our great handicap
204
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
was in the lack of room to accommodate the large number of students who wish to share in the program.
These conferences were held once a month, seven in all, in the year 1950-51. The program of subjects follows:
"Why Plan for the Future?"
"Choosing a School or College."
"What Shall I do for a Living?"
"Men and Women in the Professions."
"High School Graduates in Large Offices."
"Nursing, and their Affiliated Jobs."
"What Future in Secretarial Work?"
"Men and Women in Industry."
"Engineering, and the Allied Fields."
"Agriculture and Forestry."
"Advertising and Merchandising."
"Labor Market Preview for June 1951."
"Summer Employment."
Placement is done on a service basis rather than having the school assume the responsibility. Girls are encouraged to find their own jobs as far as possible, with the school giving them leads, and sometimes direct contacts.
We also have contact with the local office at Malden of the Division of Employment Security. This office would like to come into the school to test more of the boys and girls in the Senior Class who intend to go to work directly after finishing school.
The most important phase of the work is individual counseling. I try to spend most of my time on this phase. It is impossible for me to see each pupil each year, but I do try to see as many as I can, the Seniors first, then the Freshmen, and then the Juniors. I can not even see all of these but try if I can to catch those first who have some educational prob- lem developing in the hope it may be headed off before becoming too serious.
1951 GRADUATES TABLE SUMMARY
1948
1949
1950
1951
Div.
Name
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
Nite
Non- Later Grad.
I
Armed Services
6
3.6
14
7.2
15
7.1
24
11.5
4
II Office etc.
37
22.4
49
25.0
47
22.3
48
23.1
11
2
III Trades etc.
35
21.3
30
15.3
62
29.4
41
19.7
6
4
7
IV Vocat. School
13
7.7
14
7.2
10
4.7
9
4.3
V Comm. School
15
9.2
22
11.2
11
5.2
8
3.8
VI Nursing
7
4.2
7
3.6
8
3.8
12
5.8
VII Prep. School
9
5.5
11
5.6
7
3.3
9
4.3
VIII
Jr. College
7
4.2
3
1.5
9
4.3
7
3.4
IX
Sr. College
35
21.3
33
16.8
36
17.1
44
21.2
X Miscellaneous
1
0.6
13
6.6
6
2.9
3
# reported
165
196
211
208
14
% reported
81.6
95.1
97.0
99.0
Tot. of group
202
206
218
210
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
205
206
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Supervisor of Cafeterias, Mr. Fulton
The lunchroom sales have shown a steady increase during the Fall of 1951 in spite of a slightly decreased enrollment in both the High and Woodville schools. We attribute the increase in patronage of the hot dish to the fact that the Freshmen coming from Woodville have gained the habit of wanting the hot lunch.
The steady increase in the cost of food has been difficult to combat. Some schools have increased the price of the lunch by from two to five cents; we have not done so. However, the state has increased the subsidy for both "A" and "C" lunches, and this will help to offset the higher cost of raw materials.
From the Reports of the Supervising Principals
Warren and West Ward District, Jules I. Philie, Principal
Because of the crowded conditions at the Warren School in September it was necessary to transfer the 6th grade to the Franklin School where a vacant room was available.
There is a large first grade at this school, made larger since it was necessary to move some of the first grade children from the West Ward School to the Warren. These children are housed in a regular sized class- room and an adjacent smaller room, and are supervised by two teachers.
There have been a large number of field trips-to farms, to the post office, to the fire station, to the police station, to the science museum, and to the art museum.
The West Ward P. T. A. bought a slide film projector for use at this school.
Franklin and Montrose School, Paul U. Antony, Principal
In physical education there are organized classes and instruction for all children above the third grade, with an introductory program for the first three grades.
The school dances, warmly supported by the P. T. A.'s, have proven very successful, both from the social and the educational viewpoint.
Each child is given the opportunity, either as an individual or as a member of a group, of having a part in the school assemblies.
A savings stamp program has been started at both of these schools, with eighth grade pupils in complete charge. The children are making use of this program to learn some very valuable lessons.
The value of visual education cannot be over-emphasized, but the fact remains that an adequate job cannot be done until adequate equipment is provided.
Greenwood and Woodville Schools, Eliot B. Leonard, Principal
With the help of the P. T. A. a start has been made in building up a film library for the use of the primary grades at the Greenwood School.
The interior painting at this school during the Summer has caused much favorable comment among parents and teachers, and has had a definite effect in arousing a spirit of pride among the pupils.
207
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
At Woodville the club program inaugurated last year has continued with increasing enthusiasm. The Glee and Science Clubs have been par- ticularly popular, each having a membership of sixty, purely on a voluntary basis.
The activities of the School Nurse are deeply appreciated.
Because of the difficulty of adjustment from the regular program to a semi-departmentalized program, one period of supervised study four days a week has been provided to teach the children how to study.
The administration of the lunch program by Mr. Carlson, combined with the attractive meals provided by Mrs. Toomey, have resulted in a high percentage of the children buying the hot meal each day.
A new, active and enthusiastic P. T. A. has been organized at Wood- ville, the dance sponsored by them in June being one of the highlights of the year.
Lincoln and Hurd Schools, Richard F. Smith, Principal
Included in the objectives at these schools during the past year have been the following-
1. The inauguration of a film strip and motion picture program-made difficult by the lack of adequate equipment.
2. Physical training supervision extended to all grades, with organized play during recess periods.
3. Reorganization and extension of pupil safety patrols.
4. Greater emphasis placed upon the health, safety and general citizen- ship training of the children, with an analysis made of the progress made by each child from his reports.
5. Stressed the philosophy of taking the children where they are, and going ahead at their level, and at their own speed.
Among the urgent needs are-
1. More maps and globes, instructional supplies for the art program.
2. More supplementary texts to provide for more group work and for more attention to individual differences.
3. A study, guided by a science specialist, of the best science texts and reference material, followed by a science workshop and possibly an extension course in the Fall.
4. A citizens committee to explore what could be done with a formal pro- gram for the grades.
From the Reports of the Supervisors
Elizabeth P. Lenk, Elementary Consultant
Weekly conferences were held in September and October to acquaint new teachers with the general policies and practises of the educational program in Wakefield.
367 visits have been made to the grades for consultant service and 25 visits for demonstration purposes.
The testing program-
1. 325 first grade pupils were given the Lee-Clark Reading Readiness test in September.
208
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
2. The Stanford-Binet mental capacity tests were administered to 25 pupils.
3. The Kuhlmann-Anderson capacity test was given to all first grade pupils in January, and the California Mental Maturity test to all fourth and seventh grade pupils in the same month.
4. In the Pre-School Evaluation program 123 individual Binet tests were given in May, 76 children being accepted for school in September, 11 were admitted if parents so desired, and 36 were rejected. Some recommendations for the future-
1. More group instruction.
2. Making subject matter more meaningful to the children.
3. Wider use of textbooks.
4. Establishing an elementary science program.
5. A more individualized method of reporting pupil progress to parents.
Grace A. Jenkins, Drawing
The art program in the primary grades includes directed drawing, free expression-done with crayons or paints-and some pattern work, in the form of clay modeling, which helps the pupils to observe the shape of ob- jects in three dimensions. Paper cutting and pasting help the children to construct simple articles.
In the intermediate and upper grades the pupils correlate their draw- ing, modeling and hand work with their history and geography units. Design and color study have an important place in the program. Many interesting murals have been created by groups of pupils in connection with their history and geography lessons.
In the upper grades some finger painting has been done, with posters made for special events or times of year. The eighth grades worked out an "Ideal Home," constructing the houses from cardboard or wood, and making a portfolio of floor plans, elevations, pictures of rooms, etc.
Director of Instrumental Music, Mr. Fanck
As in past years the High School band played at many public and school events, including the annual Spring Concert and the Massachusetts Music Festival at Marblehead.
The senior band has 52 members and the orchestra 23. Rehearsals for both are held three times a week during the year. Since the best members are graduating every year, a great amount of work has to be done each year to maintain membership and to keep up standards. The attempt is made to acquaint grade school children and their parents with the instrumental program in the high school, and to encourage them, if they appear to have ability, to secure instruction. Lessons are provided Saturdays and after school by a competent group of teachers, the individ- ual pupils paying only a nominal fee for this instruction.
When pupils in this group just mentioned are sufficiently advanced they are organized into a junior band and a junior orchestra, both of which played with the High School groups at the Spring concert. More-
209
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
over these beginning children have three recitals at the close of the school year, with each child having the opportunity to play a solo.
There are approaching 200 students now enrolled in the instrumental program, which creates a great demand for school-owned instruments-a demand far in excess of the instruments owned by the School Department.
Janet W. Walter, Music
The supervisor now visits each elementary teacher every two weeks. This is mainly supervision, however, and leaves little time for other phases of music education. An additional teacher is needed in the music department. For example, one or two daily music periods are needed in the High School.
Music aptitude tests were given in all fifth grades, and letters were sent to parents of children with high test scores recommending instru- mental study. The demand for musical instruments is still far greater than the number which can be supplied.
Class instrumental instruction was begun as an experiment. In this way children can begin lessons at a nominal fee, and continue privately if interest and ability warrant.
Physical Education, Mr. Crompton, Director
The physical education program has been greatly expanded in the elementary grades, and the attempt has been made to give girls equal op- portunities with the boys in the program.
The Winter program consists of basketball-with a tournament-in- door games, dancing and body mechanics. There was a series of social dances held at the Montrose and Franklin schools.
The Spring program consists of softball-with a tournament-dancing, outdoor team games, and two physical education demonstrations.
The physical education teacher visits the lower grades once a week, and a program is organized for the classroom teacher to follow on a second meeting of the class during the week.
The High School girls' physical education program consists of in- struction in sport skills, tumbling, apparatus, marching, dancing, Danish gymnastics, and grace and body poise. In the after-school program the following numbers participated-
Field hockey
47 girls
Softball 76
Basketball
124
Archery
41
Beginners tennis 48
Bowling 135
Golf 19
Badminton 46
Tennis tournament 34
Grade school boys. Boys in grades 5-8 are given an intensive pro- gram which includes learning the basic skills in many physical activi- ties. All students are instructed and played according to their ability.
210
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
101 boys took part in the grade after-school program, each school with its own team and coach.
High School boys must take gym classes unless excused by the doctor. Corrective classes are organized for those boys who have marked physical, social or mental handicaps. The closest co-operation is maintained with the school doctor in such cases. A leader's corps has been formed. An intramural basketball tournament saw 260 boys participating in 113 games -the students themselves conducting the two leagues in this tournament.
There are two serious problems facing the physical education program. The first of these is the fact that the gate receipts from varsity athletic contests do not equal the cost of maintaining the teams. The second is the poor locker and shower room facilities.
The Sports Club has 359 members. It was organized to foster better sportsmanship and school spirit. Three events were sponsored by this group with an attendance of over 1800.
Health
Dr. Sigmund J. Szydlowski reports that in compliance with the new Massachusetts school health program complete physical examinations are to be given to the first, fourth, seventh and tenth grades, which will in- clude the state vision and hearing tests.
To date 1018 students have been examined and the following defects noted --
306 needed dental work
76 needed tonsils removed
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.