USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1955 > Part 4
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A surge tank was also installed in the Low Level Sewage Pumping Station near Water Street.
By Developer under Town Supervision:
Karen Road-1080 feet.
Daniels Road-450 feet.
Griffen Road-790 feet.
Putnam Avenue-1710 feet.
CONNECTIONS
Connections made during the year-135.
Number of connections made to date-3468
HIGHWAY DIVISION
The Highway Division continued its program for maintenance and construction as far as time and funds would permit, however the work was retarded considerably due to the inclement weather this year.
Under Chapter 90 Maintenance $3,900.00 was available for the sur- face treatment of streets.
Under Chapter 90 Construction $42,000.00 was available for recon- struction and widening of North Avenue from Church Street to Armory Street. Bids were received for this work in December 1955, and expect to start work in the Spring. This work was not done in 1955 due to the red tape involved in leasing a strip of land and purchasing a portion of land from the Boston and Maine Railroad.
New Sidewalks, Rebuilding Sidewalks and Replacing Curb - this work was not ready for bids until late Fall. A start was made on this work and it will be completed in 1956.
Chapter 90 Maintenance
Appropriation by Town
$ 1,300.00
Appropriation by County 1,300.00
Appropriation by State
1,300.00
Total
$ 3,900.00
47
144TH ANNUAL REPORT
The following streets were given a surface treatment: Lowell Street was given a seal coat, starting at the junction of Salem and Lowell Street and extending in a westerly direction 5,500 feet to a point opposite the Dolbeare School, also New Salem Street from Vernon Street to Butler Avenue. New Salem Street from Butler Avenue to Chapman Road was treated with mixed in place. This work had a total distance of 2.4 miles at a cost of $ .10 per square yard.
STREET RE-SURFACING
Thirty-four streets were given a treatment of seal coat a distance of seven miles at a cost of .08 square yard.
Tuttle Street parking area was repaired this fall with a gravel base and a treatment of oil and sand, an area of 2,778 square yards at a cost of $ .28 per square yard.
In conclusion I wish to express my deep appreciation for the assist- ance given me in the performance of my duties by the elected and ap- pointed officials of the town. I particularly appreciate the co-operation of the Board and assistance of the employees and division superintend- ents of the Public Works Department.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH H. DeFOE, Director
Report of School Committee
ORGANIZATION-1955
Lane W. Fuller, Chairman 1956
59 Parker Road
Henry F. Galvin, Secretary 1958
340 Albion Street 1958
Mrs. Dorothea J. Wettergreen, Treasurer 7 Newell Road Richard J. McGrail 1956
6 Avon Court
Mrs. Jean W. Beebe 1957
142 Main Street
Richard J. Volpe 1957
265 Nahant Street
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
John B. Hendershot 74 Chestnut Street ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
R. Edgar Fisher 24 Summit Avenue
SECRETARY TO SUPERINTENDENT
Pauline E. Meads 24 Richardson Avenue
SECRETARY
Lora E. Harris
53 Prospect Street
Eleanor M. Cardillo
CLERK
97 Nahant Street
48
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The March, 1955 Town Meeting authorized the following:
1- Addition of four rooms to the Walton School at a cost of $115,000.
2-Transfer of land between the property of Charles H. Buxton and the School Department which enlarged the play area at the Mont- rose School.
3-Transfer of part of the Town Farm Property to the School Depart- ment.
4- To take by right of eminent domain land off Bennett Street to pro- vide an entrance to Strong's Meadow.
5 - Appointment of a Committee to study the possibility of developing Strong's Meadow into an Athletic Field for the High School.
Final reports on both the Walton and Dolbeare Elementary School Building Committees were read and accepted.
The War Memorial Plaques in the old town hall were moved to the Memorial High School by vote of the Town Meeting.
A good part of the year was occupied by a sub-committee of the School Committee and representatives of the Teachers' Club in dis- cussing a new Salary Schedule for Teachers. The following schedule was presented and adopted by the School Committee:
Men-Bachelor's Degree-$3,200 to $4,850-in twelve steps Women-Bachelor's Degree-$3,000 to $4,650-in twelve steps Men-Master's Degree-$3,400 to $5,050-in twelve steps
Women-Master's Degree-$3,200 to $4,850-in twelve steps
The maximum increase at any one time is limited to $250.
It was voted to pay the teachers every two weeks and a new sick leave plan was adopted, as follows:
10 days per year accumulative to 20 days for teachers with 1-5 years service.
10 days per year accumulative to 30 days for teachers with 6-10 years service.
10 days per year accumulative to 40 days for teachers with 11-15 years service.
The salaries of custodians were discussed and it was voted that their present salary schedule remain unchanged. A 40-hour week was denied except for those custodians working on the late evening shift in the Senior and Junior High Schools. A 40-hour week was voted for these men with the understanding that their weekly work will be completed to the satisfaction of the head custodians of the two buildings.
The School Committee unanimously voted to name the Junior High School the Willard B. Atwell Junior High School in honor of Mr. Atwell who was superintendent of the Wakefield Public Schools for nearly 37 years. A dedication ceremony took place at the Junior High School on Thursday afternoon, October 13, with Mr. Atwell the guest of honor.
In January, the 7th and 8th grades were moved from the Woodville School to the old High School and classes were started in the Memorial High School for the four classes of high school students. The Memorial High School was officially dedicated on February 22.
49
144TH ANNUAL REPORT
In September, the Junior High School program was inaugurated for grades 7, 8, and 9 and the Memorial High School was established as a 3-year Senior High School. The Woodville School was opened at this time as a six-grade elementary school. The Junior High School hours were established at 8:00 A. M .- 2:10 P. M.
The School Committee voted to change the system of awarding credits for High School Graduation, starting with the Class of 1955, as follows:
A minimum of 60 credits to graduate, 15 of which are to be passed in the senior year. Of the 60, 15 must be for English and 5 for United States History.
The School Committee voted to discourage the use of school build- ings on Sundays and also that only the 3 big class dances were to be held in the Memorial High School gymnasium. All other school dances to be held in the Cafeteria.
A program of telephone communication between the classroom and the home, for physically handicapped children, was established.
The Committee voted to approve the administering of the Salk Polio vaccine to children in grades one and two.
Sixty new band uniforms were bought in June from funds raised by the Rotary Club of Wakefield, the Red Men's Association, and a donation from the Wakefield Teachers' Club.
The Town and the School Department are extremely grateful to these organizations for their gifts to the Band.
During the year the Rules and Regulations for the School Commit- tee and the School Department were brought up to date and revised. The election of officers on the Committee was changed from the first Tuesday after election in March to the first meeting in September. The Committee failed to elect a chairman and Mr. Fuller continued as chairman for the year. Mr. Galvin was elected Secretary, and Mrs. Wettergreen, Treasurer.
Mrs. Wettergreen was appointed as School Committee delegate at the State Conference of School Committees in Swampscott. Mrs. Beebe and Mrs. Wettergreen attended the State White House Conference on Education at Amherst.
During the year 15 teachers were elected to tenure.
A second driver-training car was purchased, and an instructor was appointed.
A class for trainable children was started at the Franklin School.
A summer school program was inaugurated with a six-week pro- gram held at the Dolbeare School.
Eye and Ear examinations for all children in the public schools were given again this year, and the lip reading class was continued.
Because of the polio epidemic the opening of schools in September was postponed two weeks. The Committee decided at a later date to make up six of the eight days lost by shortening the February vacation by two days and closing school on June 22nd.
50
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
During the year a sub-committee has been making a thorough study of transportation of school children. Particular reference has been made to danger spots for children walking to school. Recom- mendations were made to the Board of Public Works to eliminate these danger areas.
The Senior High School parking area was made available to citizens of the town during July and August.
The School Committee believes that the year 1955 saw continuing progress in the developing of a modern school system for the Town of Wakefield. The Committee is most appreciative of the work done by all members of the School Department and of the interest shown by citizens of the town, to make the school system of Wakefield one of which to be proud.
RICHARD J. McGRAIL
MRS. MARCUS G. BEEBE
RICHARD J. VOLPE LANE W. FULLER, Chairman HENRY F. GALVIN, Secretary MRS. DOROTHEA J. WETTERGREEN,
Treasurer
To the Wakefield School Committee,
I have the honor to present for your information and consideration the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year end- ing December 31, 1955.
PER PUPIL COST
Cost per pupil for instruction and maintenance exclusive of general control based on average membership for the school year 1954-1955 end- ing June 30, 1955.
State
Wakefield
Average
High School
$ 292.04
$ 335.23
Elementary
189.14
210.83
All Public Schools
217.34
252.44
Net Cost of Schools
Expenditures, 1955
$941,612.51
Receipts through the Department
211,875.64
Net cost from local taxation
$729,736.87
I wish to express my appreciation to the School Committee for its friendly advice and encouragement, to the school staff for its loyalty, friendship, diligence and co-operation, to the citizens for their financial co-operation and to the Parent-Teacher Associations for their promo- tion of better understanding between the home and school and all other organizations which have been so helpful during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN B. HENDERSHOT
Superintendent of Schools
51
144TH ANNUAL REPORT
FROM THE REPORTS OF STAFF MEMBERS
The Senior High School, Gerard G. Barry, Principal
The high school lost an unusually large number of the members of the staff through retirement at the end of the school year in June -
Roland H. Kinder, principal
Howard J. Heavens, director of guidance
Joseph H. Fanck, director of instrumental music
Thomas C. Murray, teacher Joseph Cassano, teacher
At the end of the first calendar year in the new building the enroll- ment was 860. The new building has made a big difference in the life of the school, solving, temporarily at least, many of the problems, over- crowding particularly, which we faced in the old building. For example, the library is no longer used as a study hall.
Notes from the Various Departments
The Social Studies Department co-operated with the State Depart- ment of Education in the Good Government Day Program, sending a representative to the State House on that day.
A course in Personal Typing for the students in the College Pre- paratory Course has been added.
A Speech Course, to promote poise, ease in speaking and diction, has been started in the English Department.
The Science Department now has a course in General Physics for seniors in non-college courses. The department as a whole has 76 more students than last year.
Sheet metal work and machine shop methods have been included in the program of the Industrial Arts Department.
It has been impossible to accommodate all the girls who wished to take courses in the Home Economics Department. This is due to the necessarily small classes and the double periods involved. It is hoped that an additional teacher can be obtained next year.
The high school has had an exchange student under the American Field Service this year, Guillaume Piedboeuf from Liege, Belgium. This association has been beneficial to all concerned.
There is a serious need for more outdoor space for our intramural physical education program, which now has to be cut down because space is not available.
A second instructor and a second car have been added for the Driver Training Course. Last year a total of 94 students qualified for their Driver Education Certificates.
During the past several years a number of local organizations have provided scholarship funds for members of the senior class. However, the total amount of such scholarship funds available does not exceed $900.00, which, for a school of our size, is much smaller than it ought to be.
Thanks to the efforts of the Rotary Club, the Red Men, the Teach- ers Club, and many other organizations and private individuals, the band has been equipped with new uniforms.
52
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Guidance, Maurice J. Dwyer, Jr., Director
Meeting the routine problems in the life of the students is the broad area in which guidance seeks to do its work. These problems may be the choice of courses of study, planning for vocations, selecting and preparing for colleges, emotional disturbances. A major function of guidance, therefore, is fact gathering-educational facts derived from tests and teachers estimates, vocational facts obtained from study and from communication with persons working in the various areas, per- sonal facts from many sources, college facts, scholarship facts. These facts become important as they contribute toward the solution of par- ticular personal problems.
Beginning this year three interested teachers have been relieved of classroom duties for one period a day, and this period is used to assist in the counseling. Mr. Grahn is working with Sophomores, Miss Conley with Juniors, and Miss Clifford with Seniors. Each will follow his group through its high school career. The counseling staff is attempting to re- view subject elections with each student. It is planned to co-operate with the Junior High School teachers in reviewing the subject elections of ninth grade students before they begin their high school course.
As in past years the Boston University battery of tests has been given to Juniors. It is hoped that a similar series of tests may be intro- duced itno the junior high. A rather comprehensive library of voca- tional information has been assembled. Speakers prominent in particu- lar areas meet monthly with the students to discuss various fields of op- portunity.
Two needs of the guidance department are already evident. It is planned to send a questionnaire to all 1955 graduates next Fall. A sum of money will be necessary to take care of printing and mailing. Then there is a need for clerical assistance to work on the assembling of the factual information, thus relieving the guidance staff for the more im- portant task of counseling.
Dean of Girls, Elizabeth V. Upham
The Dean of Girls has to be a combination of Emily Post, Beatrice Fairfax, John F. Dulles, and a dozen other personalities. Among her many duties she needs to have a great deal of personal information about a great many girls. She has considerable disciplinary duty. She must spend a lot of time in conferences involving a variety of prob- lems. She is a liaison between women faculty members and the prin- cipal, between students and teachers, between teachers and teachers, between students and students, between parents and teachers. She must co-operate with the administration and with the health department. She is the sponsor of all three classes and of the Inter Nos Club. She conducts a weekly class on "Living With Others" and teaches two Eng- lish classes.
The Dean maintains contacts with schools, colleges and educators. One such contact made it possible for one Wakefield girl to attend a particular school for her entire business training without paying one cent of money at the time.
53
144TH ANNUAL REPORT
Cafeteria, Martha Cummings, Manager
During the year the cafeteria has shown an increase of about 500% participation. The attempt is made to serve a well-balanced meal every day, with about a five week cycle for a basis. The students seem pleased with the assortment of pies, cakes and desserts furnished, as well as with the main dishes made in our kitchen. Homogenized milk is furnished at the low cost of three cents per half pint. Ice cream in variety is also offered as a dessert.
The Junior High School, Wilbur F. Stanton, Principal
The Courses of Study in the various fields were evaluated, some re- quiring a general reorganization. The attempt was made to retain the best features of the elementary and to streamline them to fit the con- cepts of the junior high school.
A Social Program for the entire year was set up, since we recog- nize the obligation of the school to provide opportunities for social as well as academic development.
A Junior Community Chest Fund was established, each student contributing $1.50, which provides for fifteen events during the year.
A Student Council was created with these aims-
1. Operation of the Social Program.
2. Organization of a point system to recognize the contributions of the school's various activities
3. Act as a recommending board for student participation in the operation of the school
4. Act as a service group for the many opportunities to make this a better school.
The Assembly Program seeks to include as many students as pos- sible in the planning and presentation. Home-School Relationships in- clude the forming of a Parent-Teacher Association, a Conference Week following the issuance of report cards, and the Supplementary Report which notifies the parents as soon as an academic problem arises, and the Quarterly Report which evaluates both effort and conduct.
Looking to the Future
1. A program of Study Techniques will be inaugurated in January - object, to teach students how to study
2. The Club Program will be reactivated to promote hobby interests
3. The establishment of an Athletic Council, with more stress placed on intramural sports
All future progress will depend upon two factors, student population and building facilities.
FROM THE REPORTS OF THE SUPERVISING PRINCIPALS
Franklin-Woodville Schools, David F. Dix, Principal
The Woodville School was reopened in September as a six-grade elementary school. The pupils are showing great enthusiasm for the program which is being provided for them. This program includes vari- ous sports activities, plays, assemblies, a school paper and different club activties. The 6th grade organized a student government through which many school problems are solved.
54
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
For the Winter months all pupils bring their lunches to school, re- maining at the school during the noon hour. This is primarily for the benefit of those who live some distance from the school. Classes are dismissed earlier to compensate for the shortened noon hour.
The Franklin School is now also a six-grade school. School activi- ties continued very much as in the past. The weekly assembly periods find the pupils appreciating the newly-painted auditorium and the new stage curtain.
The percentage of membership among parents attending Parent- Teacher Association meetings has reached a new high.
The new Special Class for trainable children was begun during the year, but will be transferred to the Montrose School early in 1956, where a more suitable room is available.
A new method of parent-teacher conferences has been worked out and put into operation. This has proved very satisfactory to both par- ents and teachers.
Greenwood School, Eliot B. Leonard, Principal
The organization of this school is now established at three class- rooms for each grade. The first grade is the largest with 100 pupils, and all indications point to even larger first grades year by year.
The adoption of the Follett Social Studies series has probably been the greatest instructional improvement of the current year.
The community was saddened last Fall by the death of Ross Var- don, retired principal of the Greenwood School. He will always be re- membered by friends and colleagues for his long and faithful service and for his sincerety of purpose.
The co-operation of the elementary supervisor with the teachers who have expressed a need for help has been of great assistance in keeping our instructional level high, and of great help in meeting in- dividual needs of children with special difficulties.
The annual enrollment of the school children in the school group insurance plan found 416 out of an enrollment of 528 voluntarily joining.
The Civilian Defense program to have all the children tagged with identification tags has been almost completed.
Hurd-Lincoln Schools, Richard F. Smith, Principal
The program at these schools has been a most active one. In the content subjects extra emphasis was placed on penmanship and arith- metic. Several of the teachers administered special tests in addition to the regular testing program.
The Hurd School had an excellent Social Studies and Science Ex- hibit, and the Lincoln School a fine exhibit of Man's Progress, a greater part of the work exhibited by the pupils being accomplished either at home or after school hours.
The teaching staff at both schools is to be complimented on the fine work that has been done day in and day out.
55
144TH ANNUAL REPORT
Warren-West Ward and Walton Schools, Jules I. Philie, Principal.
At the Warren School we now have one first grade, one second grade, two third grades, one fourth grade and three fifth grades. Until the four extra rooms at the Walton School are ready the two sixth grades will continue at the Franklin School.
The children at this school had an unusually large number of field trips during the year, including visits to all the public buildings in Wakefield.
The West Ward School still has only the first and second grades. The front walk and a small area of the yard were resurfaced with hot- top during the Summer.
At the Walton School it is still necessary to use the auditorium as a classroom, a condition which we expect will be ended with the open- ing of school in September 1956. The four-room addition will somewhat restrict the play area, and it is expected that all rooms will be full when they are ready for use.
During American Education Week all the teachers contributed to the exhibit at the junior high school, and also set up exhibits in several store windows in the business area.
Dolbeare-Montrose Schools, William D. Healey, Principal
All classes at both schools have been taken on at least one field trip, the trips in every case being accompanied by follow-up work. Days in which parents were invited to attend either morning or afternoon ses- sions were arranged, so that the parents could observe what their chil- dren are doing. Assemblies were held frequently, the idea being that each pupil could participate as often as possible. Wide use has been made of bulletin boards with each class being responsible for the ma- terial displayed at different times.
At both schools we are rapidly reaching full pupil capacity, and there are a number of rooms with more than forty pupils.
Plans are under way for a study of the recreational utilization of the grounds at both Dolbeare and Montrose. The Parent-Teacher As- sociations are keenly concerned with this matter and hope that some- thing may be done through the Recreation Commission and the School Committee.
During National Education Week the Dolbeare staff provided a win- dow display for one of the stores on Main St., and the Montrose staff prepared an exhibit for the general exhibition at the junior high school gymnasium.
Report of the Elementary consultant, Mrs. Katherine A. Morrill
The Metropolitan Achievement tests in arithmetic and spelling were administered to grades two through six, and the Gates Reading tests to grades one through six. The medians for Wakefield were equivalent to those established by the tests as national norms.
The purpose of the testing program is primarily to assist teachers in providing for individual differences through a knowledge of pupil strength and weakness. A number of teachers have requested and ad- ministered tests in other subjects in which they felt they had a need for further information.
56
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Individual tests have also been given at the request of parents, teachers and principals. In September, Reading Readiness tests were given in all first grades, which also had a group intelligence test in October.
Grade meetings were held monthly January through April.
A new social studies series was chosen after careful examination by a text-book committee.
An orientation meeting for all new teachers was held prior to the opening of school in September. In addition several conferences have been held with individual teachers and some demonstration lessons have been taught in social studies and reading.
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