USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1944 > Part 48
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During this school year four dances have been held. The earnings from this and other projects finance the purchase of equipment not usually included in the School Department budget. Since September, a new public address system with phonograph and radio has been partially installed to replace the antiquated one which was also financed by school earnings. Batons for the drum majors, monogrammed sweaters for the band, records for the victrola, and trophies for the winning teams have been purchased.
The moving picture and strip film projectors previously purchased from school earnings are in constant use in the development of the visual education program.
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The school has been organized as a unit this year with officers elected by and for the entire school, and in con- junction with this, a student council established. As the program develops the number of pupils assuming re- sponsibility will constantly increase.
During the last two years, Mr. Howard F. Pierce, county probation officer, has worked effectviely with pupils who have been placed in his care for out-of-school misdemeanors. His kind understanding and good advice has helped many a child adjust himself. At the time of writing, arrangements are being made for Mr. Pierce to discuss his work with those in the community who are interested in the handling of juvenile problems.
In closing this report tribute should be paid to our loyal and capable teachers who are so very faithful to the children entrusted to their care. One hears so fre- quently the phrase, "the five-hour" day. That is the length of the day for pupil classes but not for teachers. A teacher is required to be in the classroom fifteen min- utes before and after each session. Many come earlier and all stay later. Each teacher is also required to be in the classroom one afternoon each week for each sub- ject taught to make it possible for any child who wishes to benefit from special help to obtain it. Without being required, most teachers are, in addition, ready to help pupils every afternoon. Free periods, so called, are de- voted to helping children who return from long absences and those who live so far away that they cannot benefit from afternoon sessions.
To further help children who may be in danger of failing or who have other problems, parents are fre- quently invited to come in for conferences with teachers. A very earnest effort is being made to do everything possible to help the child.
MARY M. DOLAN,
Principal.
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REPORT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
An important project of the elementary schools during the past year has been the organization, by the primary teachers, of a definite and systematic phonics program for grades 1, 2, and 3 with a half hour daily being used for this work. Plans are being made to extend the pro- gram to grades 4, 5, and 6. It is anticipated that this greater emphasis on phonics will help the pupils in both reading and spelling.
A committee of elementary teachers has prepared a handbook for parents who have children entering first grade. This booklet contains general information about the elementary schools and will help parents to make their child's introduction to school life happy and satis- fying.
To relieve the overcrowded classes in the middle grades of the Cornish-Burton School District, the school committee decided that the following measures should go into effect when school opened in September:
(1) transfer from the Cornish School to neighboring schools those children in the middle grades who live nearest the borders of the district and
(2) establish a center for transported pupils at the Hedge School, where the classes are relatively small, with a view to taking to this center enough pupils (in addition to transfers) to reduce the size of classes at the Cornish.
In carrying out this plan the committee established a school lunch project at the Hedge School which pro- vides a hot lunch at noon for approximately sixty pupils.
The changes are working out satisfactorily to all con- cerned and, what is more important, have helped to equalize the educational opportunities of all pupils in the middle grades.
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A brief outline of the service activities in which the pupils and teachers have participated during the past year, is as follows:
1. Contribution of $63.40 to Junior Red Cross.
2. Sixty-seven Junior Red Cross boxes filled for chil- dren overseas.
3. Seventy-two bags, or 1250 lbs. of clothing collected for needy children all over the world.
4. A collection of $77.14 from the sale of Christmas Seals.
Respectfully submitted,
ELOUISE E. CASHIN, HELEN S. MANCHESTER, FRANKLYN O. WHITE,
Principals.
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REPORTS OF SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS
Music-Eleanor Anifantis, Teacher
The year 1946 was quite an eventful one for the Music Department. Outstanding were the High School Glee Club and the High School Octette. Both were awarded superior ratings at the State Music Festival held at Needham, Massachusetts. They were commended highly on their tone quality, appearance, and stage deportment. Mr. Kenneth Kelley, Dean of College of Music, Boston University and Mr. Robert W. Gibbs, well-known com- poser and director of music were the judges. The Glee Club and Octette scores were 96 and 94 respectively. Ninety-six was the highest rating in Class C schools and was also the highest score in the state for choral groups.
The next outstanding musical event was the operetta "Little Gypsy Gay" presented by the Hedge School on March 28 and 29. The school auditorium was filled to capacity both nights. Proceeds of the operetta are to be used for purchasing musical instruments. For their splendid work, untiring efforts, and cooperation in mak- ing the operetta a great success, the Hedge School fac- ulty deserves much credit.
Other events in which the vocal music groups partici- pated were: High School "Theater Hour,"-Boys' "Show- er-Room Sextet" and Girls' Octette; Hospital Club 40th Anniversary Meeting,-Girls' Octette; Eastern Star in Wareham, Massachusetts,-Girls' Octette; Installation of Rabbi Nathan Wise and Officers of Beth Jacob Syna- gogue,-Girls' Octette; Mansfield High School and Mansfield Eastern Star,-Girls' Octette; Barachias Club, Church of the Pilgrimage,-High School Glee Club and Octette; Plymouth Teachers' Club, - Glee Club and Octette; St. Peter's Parish, Reunion program for return- ing veterans at Memorial Building,-Girls' Octette; Post- masters' Meeting, Ellis Atwood Screenhouse Carver; Junior High Memorial Day Assembly,- Boys' Chorus; Junior High School Graduation,-Glee Club and Ninth
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Grade Chorus; High School Graduation,-Class of 1946; United Nations Assembly, Junior High,-Ninth Grade Glee Club; Student Council Convention, Plymouth High School,-Glee Club and Octette; Woman's Club, Har- wichport, -- Octette and Assisting Soloists; The American Legion Auxiliary of Plymouth,-Octette; Plympton and Pembroke Granges,-Octette and Assisting Soloists; Thanksgiving Assembly, Junior High,-Junior High Mixed Glee Club; Catholic Women's League,-Octette; Christmas Assembly, High School,-High School Glee Club; Plymouth Colony Association-Christmas Program of Christmas Caroling,-Glee Club.
In addition to the above, the Glee Clubs at Manomet, Cornish, and Hedge Schools have been active, contribu- ting to various school assembly programs.
This year two new groups have been added to the Music Department. In the Junior High School, a mixed- glee club has been organized so that boys as well as girls may participate in extra-curricular vocal activities. In the elementary school program, the toy orchestra has been introduced.
One aim this year is to have a junior high and an el- ementary glee club accompany the high school club on its trip to the Spring Music Festival at Medford.
Instrumental Music-John Pacheco, Teacher
ELEMENTARY GRADES
Here in the elementary grades lies the foundation of our instrumental music program leading toward later participation in musical groups of Junior and Senior School.
Pupil interest in instrumental music is very high, but due to a scarcity of musical instruments we have not been able to get them into the hands of children. Steps have already been taken to remedy the situation and we
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hope in the next few weeks to get instruments to young- sters who are interested. Lessons on all instruments are free of charge.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Instrumental music in Junior High consists of individ- ual and group lessons together with training in the band and orchestra. There are forty-five members in the band. Rehearsals are held three times a week, twice during school and once after school. After the reorganizing of the band in February of 1946, our immediate aim was the annual concert and drum major drill at Memorial Hall in May. The band and drum majors have taken part in numerous activities and holiday celebrations- Memorial Day parade, Firemen's Memorial Day, Arm- istice Day, and the Kiwanis Halloween Party; also a brass quartet from the band played for the Hospital Club Bazaar in August.
The orchestra has twenty members and meets twice a week. Both rehearsals are after school hours. The or- chestra has played a number of engagements-the an- nual "I Am An American Day" program, and with the Senior Orchestra for Woman's Club programs.
The Drum Major Corps has been increased by twelve new members. Competition was very keen and in choos- ing the new members a series of marching tests was given. The Corps drills once a week after school hours. It is a distinct honor to become a member of the Drum Major Corps. Not only do the girls have to possess nec- essary qualifications; their scholastic standing also has to be high.
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
The band has twenty-two members and rehearses once a week during school time on a rotation schedule. The instrumentation is not that of a balanced band, but all twenty-two members are capable performers on their
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instruments. The band performed at all high school pep meetings, football games, assemblies, and at the Kiwanis Halloween Parade.
The Senior High Orchestra has eighteen members and rehearses once a week after school hours. The orchestra possesses players of professional calibre and has given concerts for the Junior High School and the Woman's Club, performing Tschaikowsky's and Rachmaninoff's piano concertos.
Art
A. Junior and Senior High-Mrs. Margaret E. Brown, Teacher.
The talent of Plymouth High School Art Students was recognized and rewarded by several local organizations in 1946.
The Plymouth Community Nurse Association spon- sored a contest during National Public Health Nursing Week and three prizes were awarded our students for the most original and artistic posters depicting the value of public health nursing and its local organization.
The Plymouth Woman's Club also gave prizes for the best work in four types of design and drawing done in the art classes, namely Christmas transparencies, covers for annual report of the Plymouth public schools, life drawing, and out-door sketches.
The 1946 Christmas Contest which the Plymouth Col- ony Association organized for all pupils in the Plymouth schools was incorporated into the regular Christmas project in the High School Art Classes. The subject was in keeping with the spirit of Christmas and the majority of the paintings were of "The Madonna and Child". The prize paintings were exhibited in a store window during the Christmas season and the awards were substantial certificates for merchandise in local stores.
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Christmas and Thanksgiving decorative place cards and favors were made in both Junior and Senior High School classes for a Veterans Hospital, a teachers' club supper, and the banquet in Plymouth for the National Social Studies Association Convention.
The largest High School project for the year was the work for graduation exercises. Six large murals in ivory, blue, and gold were built around drawings of our Fore- fathers' Monument, the central figure being Faith, and the other symbolic figures-Law, Morality, Freedom, and Education. These combined with the design of the seal of the United Nations Organization illustrated the theme of graduation, "Peace, Ours to Preserve".
Drawing and painting heads from life, painted bird. designs, careful study of lettering, and the making of Thanksgiving and Christmas favors were the principal problems in Junior High classes.
The greatest single achievement in these classes was the service rendered the community by the art students. In turn the pupils received not only recognition for good work done but also an opportunity to apply their artistic knowledge and skill for really worthwhile purposes.
B. Elementary and Junior High -Hazel Bates, Teacher.
Greater achievement through a finer spirit of cooper- ation and endeavor has been our aim for the past year.
Featured in the art work of the several grades were the following:
First Grade-Figure drawing.
Second Grade-Representation of nature and the backgrounds of the pictures.
Third Grade-Representation of action in figure drawing and added detail in the drawing of clothing.
Fourth Grade-Animal drawings.
Fifth Grade-Design work and nature drawings.
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Sixth Grade-Poster-design and technique. Honor is due one sixth grade as the grade which has made the greatest achievement in general growth-watercolor technique, nature painting, poster work, orderly arrange- ment, beautiful blending of colors and original design.
Team work is being developed by the painting of murals. This project has also uncovered some fine hid- den talent.
The activities in Junior High School have been cen- tered around Art Appreciation and Junior Red Cross work. In Art Appreciation, a loose-leaf notebook is being made. An idea of value is presented each month from which an illustrated theme is developed. The illustra- tion must be by a recognized artist and the theme in- cludes a resume of his life. This work requires much practice in printing.
For Junior Red Cross, favors have been made for the Veterans' hospitals to brighten their holidays. Over 150 calendars were made as a New Year's gift to the hospital- ized soldiers.
Physical Education
A. Junior-Senior High School Girls - Mrs. Beatrice Garvin, Teacher.
The Senior High girls' class program has been based on the seasonal sports of speedball, basketball, volley ball, and softball. Classes have been scheduled in num- bers small enough so that these highly organized games may be played, now that the girls have reached a degree of skill where they should expect to participate in team games. To this program are added squad skills, appara- tus, marching, dancing, and rhythmic activities. Square dancing has developed to the extent that all simple calls can be followed and social dancing is considered a must for every high school girl. All girls are reporting with their class, though some take part in only modified
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activities. A number of girls being trained as class leaders to assist with Junior High squads.
The Junior High School spends more time on lead-up games, using kick baseball, line soccer, long base, and various types of basketball games. They also utilize the grand march and social dancing with an occasional class including boys.
It is still believed that every girl should be given an opportunity to participate in the sports program and through that program to earn points toward the school letter. This makes it impossible to concentrate on a se- lected varsity group, but the girls are able to play very creditably in inter-school games even though their prac- tice time is limited. The basketball season is one of intra-mural and inter-class games for the large group, followed by class games with other schools. Inter-class as well as inter-school softball games were played and all girls on the varsity hockey squad had an opportunity to play on either the first or second team. A very large group of ninth graders are interested in sports, so that the basketball has been divided in two divisions. It is a problem to do all that should be done-the time avail- able in the gymnasium is limited and the playground is inadequate both as to space and availability.
B. Junior-Senior High School Boys-John H. Walker, Teacher.
The physical education program is divided into three main categories: Class Activities, Intramural Sports, and Varsity Sports.
CLASS ACTIVITIES
All boys are given a thorough physical examination by the school physician before being permitted to take part in the physical education classes. Some, due to functional disabilities, are excused from participation. Others are
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given individual attention with physicians and parental cooperation and advice.
Class activities consist of calesthenics, marching, ap- paratus, gymnastics, tumbling, sport fundamentals, and participation in class games.
A new series of physical tests are being given to all boys this year. The tests have been developed in cooper- ation with the West Point authorities and are a series of strength and skill tests which show the physical capabili- ties of the boys. A comparison is made of the individual's score with that of boys of the same approximate age group according to height and weight. Wherever pos- sible, special attention is given to correcting deficiencies. The tests will be given three times annually.
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
The most important of all after-school activities are the intramural sports. The individual is given the op- portunity to put to use knowledge learned in class by participation in the intramural sports. Intramurals give many more boys the opportunity to play than varsity competition could allow. There is tremendous enthusi- asm among the boys, and the teachers have commented on the help which the sports program has been in the academic classes due to the rules of eligibility that have been enforced. The intramural sports are open to all boys regardless of ability or skill.
During the fall, home-room leagues in tag football operated in both the eighth and ninth grades. Trophies were awarded the winning home-room teams at a sports assembly. The outstanding players were invited to parti- cipate in practice with the varsity football team. Ap- proximately ninety boys were active with the home- room teams. Basketball leagues are now operating on the same principles, and softball and baseball teams will be formed in the spring.
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An intensely competitive volleyball league is being carried on in the High School and is limited to boys not participating in varsity basketball.
VARSITY SPORTS
We feel that many of the future leaders of our com- munity are being developed on our varsity fields. The development of true sportsmanship is our chief aim. When the desire to win is the chief aim the primary purpose of varsity competition is defeated. Cooperation self-discipline, loyalty to team and school, good sports- manship, and physical coordination are the primary goals that we are trying to instill in our athletes.
Varsity competition is being carried on in the three major sports of football, basketball, and baseball. All boys must have parental consent and must be members of the group insurance issued under the auspices of the New England Headmasters' Association before being al- lowed to participate in varsity competition.
Elementary Program-Carolyn Parren, Teacher
The "Health Through Physical Education" program in the elementary grades continues with much the same activity as in previous years.
Square dancing has been introduced and is proving of great value in promoting acceptable social habits. New games and folk dances have been added to the schedule to increase interest and physical agility.
Reports from physical examinations seem to indicate that the pupils have a better knowledge as to what con- stitutes and governs good posture. Thus formal gymnas- tics still has a place in the school room.
Equipment is greatly needed for the recess and lunch hour activities. The small amount of material now on hand cannot begin to service the large groups partici- pating during these hours.
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Adult Civic Education-Helen Perrier, Director
Classes in English and Citizenship were held in the Cordage-Harris Hall from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the evening, of the same days, from 7:00 to 8:45 p.m. a class in citizenship has been in session at the Cornish School. For the people who are unable to attend these classes there is a "Home Study" course prepared by the U. S. Department of Justice. The pres- ent total enrollment its 40.
The non-citizen is prepared for citizenship. Those who have received their naturalization certificates are given further study in local, national, and international affairs. The English group is taught basic English.
In the alien registration of 1940, there were 725 non- citizens in Plymouth and the smaller towns near by. At present, there are probably not more than 500. These non-citizens are not coerced into becoming American citizens. This is voluntary. But it is the wish of the U. S. Department of Justice through the Immigration and Naturalization Service and our local school department that these non-citizens be duly informed and spared the pitfalls of un-American and anti-social practices. They are invited to attend our classes. The informal discus- sions are encouraged. Full privileges of a citizen are shown to be desirable.
Pottery Vocational School-Katherine Alden, Instructor Decorative Painting Classes-Mrs. Margaret Brown Handicraft Classes-Mrs. Louise Chrimes, Instructor
The pottery classes conducted at the Sparrow, House for the tenth year have continued to evoke the interest and attendance of capacity groups, one on Mondays, an- other on Wednesday evenings, and an all-day class on Thursdays throughout the year, there being a waiting list most of the time. These classes are primarily attend-
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ed by local people, but are getting increasing notice from out-of-state persons anxious to join. Exhibitions and sales have been held here in town, in Fitchburg, Worces- ter, Northampton, and Marblehead. These events have been under the auspices of the Mass. Assoc. of Handicraft Groups of which the Plymouth groups are members.
Needlework under the direction of Mrs. Louise A. Chrimes of Boston has had its second and third groups of interested workers in classes also conducted at the Sparrow House on Fridays. Many more would like to join or continue with advanced work than can be accom- modated.
A third craft has had its inception this fall with classes in painted decoration conducted at the High School on Monday evenings by Mrs. Margaret Brown. All mem- bers have been enthusiastic in their introduction to this type of work and hope for further opportunities.
The cost of instruction in the pottery classes for the past ten years and in the art classes for the past two years has been paid wholly from the George-Deen Funds received as a Federal grant through the State Depart- ment of Vocational Education. After these classes have proved their value in the community, it is expected that a portion of the cost of instruction shall be raised from local funds.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
We are glad to report fewer cases of contagious diseases during the year 1946 than in the past few years. There have been, for example, only 39 cases of scarlet fever this year compared with 134 cases last year. There may be several factors which enter into this. One is probably the fact that the parents have become more alert to signs of contagion because of many articles on this subject appearing in the newspapers and current magazines. Another factor may be the mildness of the weather, especially in the fall months.
A list of pupils with enlarged or diseased tonsils was sent to each doctor in June and a number of these had tonsils removed during the summer months. We appre- ciate this cooperation on the part of the family phy- sicians.
In reviewing our school health work and program, it appears that there are certain weaknesses which, it seems to us, could be remedied. We do not utilize the school physician's services to the best advantage. We have felt a school physician should be brought into the teaching situation as it relates to health in the class- rooms. Many physicians have no training along this line. We feel that the teaching staff would find it beneficial to have a doctor as a consultant from time to time on matters pertaining to teaching of health.
Some communities have what is called a health committee composed of members of the teaching staff whose job it is to coordinate the efforts to deal with the complex problems of health. It may act as a policy- forming body, In various larger communities there has been appointed a health coordinator who is responsible to see that the policies of this committe are carried out. This health committee is one of the best agencies for
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determining the respective duties of the various person- nel dealing with the school health program for coordi- nating school, home, and community health activities. This committee also fills a great need in arranging stu- dent health committees for a more active participation in school health programs. Student committees on safety, playground and classroom sanitation, cafeteria, and health libraries should be formed in order to promote better health practices. This phase of coordination be- tween program, physician, and school health studies is the one part of our program which should be developed in the future.
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