USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1927 > Part 33
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Emphasis is laid upon increasing accuracy, care of materials, proper technique of simple working drawings, neatness, good construction, and accuracy of measure- ment.
It is planned to have every project take some useful form which the pupil really desires to complete to the best of his ability.
The following are among the things made: Calendar pads, loose leaf note books in different sizes, desk blotter holders, sewed note books, clipping files of different sizes, folios, writing cases, and bound pamphlets. All of these require much planning, careful workmanship, and train not only the hands but the thinking power of the pupils as well.
11. Physical Activities in the Grades. (See picture page 39.)
The elementary physical education activities are car- ried on regularly indoors and out, providing the right kind of exercise through play interest.
One of the greatest assets to the work is the organized
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recess period, which results in every child having proper space and opportunities for exercise under pupil leader- ship. Recess must mean :
a. Thorough relaxation
b. Wholesome play
c. Recreation of the nervous reservoir
d. Throwing off waste products of sedentary work
e. Fresh air
The present recess period accomplishes this in the most satisfactory manner. The children select their game, organize their group, and carry through their play with little adult interference. This will develop their abil- ity to supervise their own play activities away from the school yard, and to recognize leadership in home and neighborhood groups.
The formal work, necessary for every child because of long sitting positions, is given in general stretching exer- cises. The fundamental standing position is emphasized, fostering an habitual good poise among the average chil- dren.
Other indoor activities are utilized in the playrooms, which all schools have, excepting a few of the smaller buildings. The rhythm, beauty, and joyful feeling in every child is cultivated through folk dances. Although, perhaps, more adapted to the girls, there is an excellent opportunity for training in courtesy toward the other sex in group dances such as the "Virginia Reel". The most popular type of game in the grades is the relay race; and rightly so, since it gives countless opportunities for the teaching of fundamental skills. During the fall months all varieties of kicking games are used, in the winter a combination of throws and passes suggestive of basketball, and in the spring skills which will train the future baseball player.
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12. Physical Activities in Junior and Senior High Schools. (See picture page 40.)
Whenever the weather is suitable, setting-up drills take place outdoors. The picture on opposite page shows the kind of drills that the boys and girls take every day from 9.45 to 10 o'clock. The pupils enjoy these outdoor drills which give them a chance to relax. Far different is it on stormy days, or days too cold for exercising in the open, when the drills must take place indoors in corri- dors. The air here soon becomes vitiated as over two hundred boys and the same number of girls, are crowded in these narrow spaces. There is no other place in the school, however, in which these can be taken.
Other indoor activities for the Junior High School girls have been carried on in the upper hall. Newspapers have been spread on the floor and corrective postural exercises have been taught in the prone position. Sus- pension bars for further work on physical defects will be installed at convenient places in the halls. Folk danc- ing with victrola accompaniment has been very suc- cessful.
Much emphasis has been given to organized games so that a large number of pupils receive the benefits of the game. In the Fall in soccer, an eight team league was formed in the seventh grade and a six team league in the eighth, involving about 140 boys. Fourteen basket- ball teams, enrolling 75 boys, were organized and played at Memorial Hall. In the spring baseball and track have many participants.
The freshmen have had squads in football and basket- ball. Regular weekly games have kept the interest of the boys and developed their skill and improved their physical condition.
In the Senior High School, the football team had a season without defeats. The basketball, the tennis and the track team maintained an excellent standard, win- ning their respective championships. Baseball has also been maintained on a sound basis.
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Through the leadership of the Brockton Y. M. C. A. indoor track and swimming has been added this winter to the list of activities, and additional boys have been able to take part.
The girls have had field hockey and basketball teams, which have been of a high standard.
All the teams have an excellent reputation for clean playing and good sportmanship. This is far more essen- tial than winning of games. This spirit is due to the splendid attitude of those in charge of the various sports.
Regular physical examinations for the boys and girls have been conducted. Proper follow up work in the form of corrective work has had to be neglected because of the congested schedule and lack of facilities.
HEALTH EDUCATION
No school system is complete without a well organized and effective health program closely correlated with that of physical education. The instruction in organized play, in correct posture, and in remedying physical defects, together with that in the care of teeth, in proper food and sleep, and in other health habits is very essential, if each child is to have a strong healthy body. The fol- lowing report of Dr. J. H. Shaw, the school physician, shows that splendid results are accomplished by his de- partment. The state has heartily endorsed the whole health program.
1. Correction of Physical Defects. (See picture page 57.)
The figures show that 2,233 physical examinations have been made by the school physician and as these are the foundation of all health work in the schools every effort is made to interest the children and their teachers in them.
The 100% plan for Health and Hygiene begun last year continues to be the most successful method of arousing interest and securing the correction of defects.
It has been found worth while after examining the pupils in each room to have a personal interview with
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the teacher reporting to her and announcing to the pupils the number of children in the room found to be 100% in Health and Hygiene. Also the names of those who are 100% with the exception of defective teeth, the most common defect, are read.
The teachers employ many original methods for stimu- lating interest in the plan.
In June 1927 bronze medals bearing the legend "Health and Hygiene 100%" were awarded to all children who met certain physical requirements and whose school work was satisfactory. There were one hundred and forty- five of the medals awarded at that time. In June 1928 two hundred and ninety-two children received the award or more than twice as many.
2. Nutrition
The figures indicating the percentage of pupils ten per cent or more underweight in the grade schools as obtained by the school nurse are as follows:
PERCENTAGE OF GRADE PUPILS TEN PER CENT OR MORE UNDERWEIGHT
Spring
Fall
Dec.
Mt. Pleasant,
10%
14%
9%
Knapp,
5%
10%
6%
Hedge,
4%
4%
4%
Cornish and Burton,
11%
14%
8%
Nine 1 and 2 room schools,
9%
12%
9%
Average,
7.8%
10.8%
7.2%
The figures show a marked increase in the percentage of underweight in the fall over the spring weighing but in the final check up in December there is a marked im- provement. On the whole the percentage of underweight pupils has been higher this year than last, due probably to the epidemic of measles which began early in the year and reached its peak in the week of March twenty- fifth when eighty-two new cases were reported, offset to a considerable extent the attempts of the nurse and
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teachers to overcome malnutrition in the schools.
We know that many children lost weight as a result of an attack of measles. We could have shown a much lower figure than 7.2% in the December check-up had it not been for the epidemic.
This also undoubtedly affected the results obtained at the State Re-examination Clinic held April 9th, when of the eighteen children re-examined twelve were reported as improved and six as unimproved.
The record of the Hedge school which has maintained a uniformly low average of underweight of four per cent throughout the year is sufficiently striking under the conditions to which attention has been called to merit special comment. Mention should also be made of the Russell Mills school which has an enrollment of twenty pupils and has had no underweight pupils since the spring weighing.
The underweight problem at the Junior High school is more serious than elsewhere as is always the case. There were nineteen per cent of the school ten per cent or more underweight at the spring weighing and fourteen per cent in December. A solution of the problem here would be an adequate rest room.
At the National Health Day exercises "Tags" for satis- factory weight, posture and teeth were supplied by the State Department of Health; 1753 children received weight tags.
3. Fresh-Air School
In June, five of the twelve pupils in this school were recommended for transfer as follows:
FRESH - AIR SCHOOL-(Continued)
Age
Grade
Gain Height
Expected Gain Weight
Actual Gain Weight
% Gain Weight
Remarks
I. K.
13
VI
11/4 inches
108 oz.
9 34 lbs.
144%
Entered Sept. 30, 1927. Teeth put into satisfactory condition at Dental Clinic. Nervousness, for which she entered, practically gone.
C. R.
13
VI
31/4 inches
114 oz.
18 lbs.
252%
Entered Sept., 1927. Teeth put into satisfactory condition at Dental Clinic. Operated, 1923, for empyaem. At Plym- outh County Hospital several months in 1927. Now in excellent condition.
A. J.
11
III
11/2 inches
76 oz.
3 3/4 lbs.
126%
Entered Sept., 1927. All but one of her teeth put in satisfactory condi- tion at Dental Clinic. Nervous, home cooperation wanting. Transferred to Knapp school, Grade IV.
A. B.
8
11/2 inches
62 oz.
4 3/4 lbs.
122%
Entered Nov. 4, 1927. Had ten dental cavities in September. All but two have been corrected at Dental Clinic.
T. B.
10
II
1 inch
54 oz.
41/2 lbs.
133%
Entered Dec. 4, 1927. Has had work done at Dental Clinic. Weight is now exactly right for his age and height. [Transferred to Cornish school, Grade III.
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Of the seven pupils remaining in the school September, 1928, one, T. G., although he was very much underweight, was allowed to go to the Hedge School as he was very unhappy because there were no pupils of his age left in the school. Arrangements were made so that he could have a rest period lying down at the Hedge school and he has been doing very well.
I. M., age 12, Her record since September, 1927, was as follows :
grade V, left town.
Gain in height 31/4 inches
Expected gain in weight 114 oz. Actual gain in weight 9 lbs. = 144 oz. or 126%
Teeth put in satisfactory condition at Dental Clinic Nervousness improved
One pupil, B. A., will be transferred to grade I at the Cornish school after the Christmas recess. He has gained six pounds or 96 oz. in weight since September 14th. His expected gain for that period would be about 24 oz. so that he has made an actual gain of 400% of his expected gain. His nervousness which was quite marked a year ago has improved. His teeth have been taken care of at the dental clinic and he is now 100% physically.
Two pupils who joined the school late in September have made the following gains:
E. H., age 10, grade IV.
L. B., age 7, grade I.
Gain in height since entering about September 21st 1/2 inch . Expected gain in weight 24 oz. Actual gain in weight 2 lbs. = 32 oz. or 133% Gain in height since entering about October 1st 1/2 inch
Expected gain in weight 18 oz. Actual gain in weight 5 lbs. = 80 oz. or 444%
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The Fresh-Air-School teacher, Miss Carpenter, now has a small group of children the oldest being thirteen years of age, so that she is able to get very satisfactory results from the teaching point of view.
4. Rest and Nutrition Class. (See picture page 58.)
Through the interest and cooperation of the principal of the Cornish school district, Miss Jessie L. Boyd, it has been possible to organize a class for underweight children of the Cornish-Burton group which has some unusual features. Miss Niland, Master of the U. S. Grant School at East Boston, who has a "Rest and Nutrition Class" which has proved to be very successful in dealing with the undernourished child problem, was good enough to come to Plymouth and tell our teachers about her class.
Our class which is similar to the one at East Boston began on October eighth with twelve pupils selected after examination by the school physician. These pupils carry on their school work in their own rooms as usual but when the other pupils go out at recess they go to the Fresh- Air-Room in the Cornish building where they have a half hours rest lying quietly on cots with windows open. Blankets are provided. After resting and drinking a half pint of milk they go back to their own rooms and take up their work again. At noon instead of going home they remain at the school and have another rest of an hour lying down followed by a hot noon lunch. They then go back to their rooms to work until school is dis- missed when they again go to the Fresh-Air-Room where they receive wholesome food of some sort to be eaten as they go home, a slice of bread and butter, a ripe banana or whatever can be most conveniently offered them on that day. This method has the advantage of allowing the pupils to carry on their work with their own teachers uninterruptedly and at the same time assures them a nourishing meal with plenty of time in which to eat it and a maximum amount of rest under hygienic conditions.
The class began on October eighth and at the end of the
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month the thirteen children then in the class had made an aggregate total of forty-four and a half pounds in indi- vidual gains running from 11/4 lbs. up to 63/4 lbs. Only when you know that the expected gain of children of this age group is about a half lb. a month does the spectacular nature of these gains become apparent.
For the month of November the aggregate gain was twenty-six pounds in individual gains all the way from 1/4 lb. up to 51/4 lbs.
December made the poorest showing. One girl who gained 51/4 lbs. in November lost 34 lb. and two others neither gained nor lost. However the aggregate for the fifteen members of the class for three weeks of December was seventeen and three-quarters pounds. Taking into consideration the short school month the aggregate gain of 171/4 lbs. was not bad.
The expected gain for the group for this period would not be over 6 lbs. From October eighth to December 21st this group of from 12 to 15 pupils has made a total gain in weight of 873/4 lbs.
The school principal, Miss Boyd, says : "During Thanks- giving week the parents in the district sent in a very gen- erous supply of food which has helped keep down the cost of feeding this group."
The improvement in the children is noticeable to par- ents, teachers and (perhaps best of all) to the children themselves. They are much more alert to do their school work. Their eyes are brighter, their color is better, the posture is improved and they are less nervous. The hour and a half rest each day relieves the strain and fatigue of the school day. In every case there is decided improve- ment. Each child has gained more than the normal ex- pected gain.
Each child is weighed on Friday and a report of the gain sent home to the parents. Parents report that chil- dren show, more willingness to eat all kinds of food, less nervousness and a desire to go to bed earlier than usual. As soon as a child reaches normal weight he is
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graduated thus making room for another child. Several parents have asked to have their children remain in the class after they have reached normal weight.
One of the most gratifying phases is the enthusiasm of the children. The importance of rest has been so stressed that the children relax better than at first. They are a very happy group at meal time and learn to eat whatever is served. Their appetites are improved in the social atmosphere. The children are continually telling how long they sleep, how many helpings they had and com- paring weight gains. They watch their weight charts and express joy at gains or probe for reasons for unex- pected losses:
Many devices are used to keep the children interested in following the habits which will help them gain in weight. Much praise is due the director, Miss Carolvn Carpenter for her work with this group."
Each pupil in the class is assessed seventy-five cents a week for the purchase of food but it would have been difficult if not impossible to provide nourishing food on this amount had not the local chapter of the American Red Cross generously contributed sufficient funds to pay for the milk taken by the class for some time. A card party arranged by the Cornish and Burton teachers yielded sufficient money to purchase necessary supplies for the start.
5. Oral Hygiene and Dental Clinic
In the fall of 1927 the school dentists examined 1,563 children and 1,508 were found to need dental attention. June 15, 1928, 418 of these children had had their teeth all repaired and received certificates from their family dentist and 775 children had had some of their work done.
As a part of the National Health Day exercises in June 479 "tags" were awarded to children who held dental certificates from their family dentist showing that all necessary dental work had been done.
On Friday, September 7th, 1928, a conference on dental work was held at the clinic rooms in the Governor Brad-
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A Boy and Girl Awarded the 100% Bronze Medal in Health and Hygiene in 1928
100%
41743H
HYGIENE
1928
A Group in Oral Hygiene
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H
Rest and Nutrition Class at Cornish School
Successfully Given at the Hedge School Laura Lamborghini, the Author, and Scenes from a Health Crusade Play
/
Somente
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CHART OF MEMBER OF REST AND NUTRITION CLASS
SEPT
OCT
NOY
DEC
JAN
FEB.
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
SEPT.
OCT
NOV.
DEC
JAN
55
54
53
52
51
ACTUAL GAINS
50
AFTER
49
SHOWING EXPECTED
ENTERING
48
CLASS
47
LINE
46
ACTUAL
GAINS
BEFORE
ENTERING
CLASS
44
43
42
The above chart is an enlargement of the one shown in the picture of the "Rest and Nutrition Class" on page 58 and shows at the left a graph of the gain in weight of a girl for 10 months before joining the class. At the right is a graph showing the gain in weight of the same girl after joining the "Rest and Nutrition Class." The straight line with the stars in it, slanting up from left to right across the chart, represents the expected gain of a normal girl of her age and height over the whole period indicated by both graphs.
45
VACATION
-
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ford building. Those present were Dr. Curtin and Mr. Maxwell of the Board of Health; Mr. Handy, superintend- ent of schools; Dr. Shaw, school physician; the clinic dentists, Drs. Donovan and Dyer; Mrs. Wood (former dental hygienist), and Miss Jane Bradford, the newly appointed dental hygienist.
At this meeting it was agreed in view of the above satisfactory results following the examination of the first six grades to include the Junior High school and the fol- lowing program was endorsed.
1. Dentists to examine pupils of the first six grades and the Junior High school and report findings to parents.
2. Concentrate repair work on early grades begin- ning with the first except that pupils of any grade referred by the Poor Department are to be treated gratis.
3. Repair work and extractions to be restricted to those unable to go to family dentist.
4. Do no "root canal treatments."
5. Extract all teeth not amenable to simple filling.
6. Charge for all work at the clinic to remain ten cents for each visit.
7. Encourage children in schools to work for dental certificates.
8. Teaching program in the schools by the dental hygienist.
9. Offer dental prophylaxis to all pupils who do not go to family dentist for it for "contact" and edu- cational value.
A comparison of the results of the 1927 examination with that of 1928 in the grades is interesting showing as it does a very striking improvement in the occurrence of carious teeth and more pupils with sound teeth. The 1928 examination shows seventeen percent. less of defective permanent teeth and fifteen percent. less of defective temporary teeth while there are 119 pupils with sound teeth against 55 in 1927.
School Six
ORAL HYGIENE AND DENTAL CLINIC-(Continued)
Number Examined
Defective Permanent Teeth
Defective Temporary Teeth
Number Free From Cavities
1927
1928
1927
1928
1927
1928
1927
1928
Hedge
446
443
2,002
1,701
2,300
1,722
3
20
Cornish and Burton
348
349
1,068
867
1,184
1,176
25
32
Knapp
. .
243
246
991
830
1,057
990
11
11
Mt. Pleasant
219
240
617
535
909
718
13
33
Cold Spring
49
46
162
85
255
164
0
7
Manomet
48
56
122
144
204
208
0
5
Eight small schools
210
213
624
462
1,078
964
3
11
Totals
1,563
1,593
5,586
4,624
6,987
5,942
55
119
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Four hundred and sixty-five pupils were examined for the first time at the Junior High school, forty-one of whom were found to be free from dental caries. The number of defective permanent teeth among these pupils was found to be 2,287, and the number of defective tem- porary teeth 162.
The Plymouth schools have been pioneers in teach- ing oral hygiene as the records will show and much of our success in this innovation has been due to the enthusi- asm and originality of Miss White (now Mrs. Colburn Wood. (See picture on page 57.) In May Mrs. Wood took a class of twelve pupils from the Burton school to a meeting of the Mass. Dental Hygienist Association at the Hotel Statler, Boston, where she demonstrated her method of teaching oral hygiene with the school condi- tions reproduced on the stage.
6. Statistical Report of Teacher of Oral Hygiene
No. of children having teeth cleaned 1,008
No. of Oral Hygiene lessons taught in schools . 292
Amount of money taken in for cleanings $78.55
DENTAL CLINIC
Number of examinations 2,344
Number of fillings 217
Number of first teeth extracted 187
Number of second teeth extracted
31
Number of tooth-ache treatments 20
Number of patients treated at clinic 150
Number of children finished at clinic 64
Amount of money taken in for filling $16.00
Amount of money taken in for sale of tooth- brushes $27.91
7. State School Hygiene Survey
In February Dr. Fredrika Moore made a School Hy- giene Survey of our schools for the Division of Hygiene of the State Department of Health. The report is vol- uminous, taking up each school in detail but a few quo- tations might be permissible here.
"For a town with a school population of only 2,564, eighteen is a disproportionately large number of school
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buildings. In a consolidated school far better drinking, washing and toilet facilities can be maintained at less or no greater cost than in several scattered small buildings."
"The greatest problem at the moment from a sanitary standpoint is presented by the High, Junior High and Cornish and Burton schools."
"The Junior High lacks certain facilities desirable from the standpoint of health such as an adequate lunch room and gymnasium. The washing and toilet facilities are not sufficient. There is no health service room. The building is over crowded and there is some cross lighting."
"The High school is overcrowded and is a fire hazard. The lunch room is poorly ventilated and inadequate. The coat rooms are crowded, the boys' is dark and near the coal bin. There is no health service room. The lighting in the assembly hall, which is also used as a study room, is poor. The ventilating system is antiquated. In some of the rooms there is cross lighting. Toilet facilities are unsatisfactory and washing facilities inadequate."
"Burton school - the playground, which is shared with the Cornish school, is too limited for active games. The building is old; the stairs are dangerous, being steep and worn. The toilets are poorly lighted and ventilated. There is cross lighting in the school rooms."
"Cornish school - one of the worst buildings from a sanitary point of view. The stairways are hazardous, indeed the building itself is a fire hazard. The toilets are dark and not well ventilated. The booths are old and wooden. There is cross lighting in the school rooms ; windows high above floor in some rooms."
"The Cornish and Burton schools are decidedly undesir- able from a health standpoint and from that standpoint should be the next buildings to claim attention. It is difficult to see how anything but a new building is going to adequately solve the problem here."
Dr. Moore spoke to the teachers Monday afternoon, March 26th, at the High school auditorium on Health Education, the platform being filled with material illus- trating her talk.
.
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As a result of her recommendations three books con- taining material and suggestions for health teaching were placed in the schools.
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