USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1947 > Part 33
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education at Fitchburg Teachers College and Boston University. Prior to becoming principal of the Rogers School in Fairhaven, he was teacher in the elementary schools in Holden and Winchester and served as elemen- tary school principal in Sterling.
For the position of vocal music supervisor, held on temporary appointment for 1947-48 by Mrs. Frances Pic- ard, the Committee elected Elizabeth Crook, music su- pervisor in Seekonk. Miss Crook is a graduate of the Rhode Island College of Education, as well as of the Mass. Institute of Normal Methods. During the past summer, she was a member of the teaching staff at the latter institution.
Elizabeth Egan of Quincy, a graduate of the Massa- chusetts School of Art in 1948, was chosen as supervisor of art in the elementary grades. Miss Egan followed Ha- zel Bates, who was made full-time teacher in the Junior High School.
Ardys Farnsworth, who was graduated from the physi- cal education cour'se at Bridgewater State Teachers' College in February 1948, was appointed to the position of physical education instructor for girls in Junior and Senior High Schools.
The following new appointments of teachers to the Junior High School staff were made for the school year 1948-49: (1) Antone Spath from the Kingston High School staff was appointed to teach social studies and mathe- matics. Mr. Spath was graduated from Plymouth High School in 1931, Dean Academy in 1933, and Tufts College in 1937. He has engaged in graduate study both at Tufts and Boston University. (2) David E. Barlow of this town, a teacher in the High School at Wilmington, Vermont, was selected to teach elementary science in place of Louis Cappannari, who was transferred to the mathematics
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vacancy. Mr. Barlow is a graduate of Rhode Island State College and has done graduate work at Boston Univer- sity. (3) William Tedeschi of this town, who had served as part-time music instructor in the Junior High School during the spring of 1948, was appointed to full-time serv- ice in the fall. Mr. Tedeschi is a graduate of Boston University, where his studies emphasized biology and music. Under the general direction of the supervisor of vocal music, he conducts the classwork in music, as well as the glee club and operettas. (4) Phyllis Boucher, a teacher in the High School at Cummington, was ap- pointed to teach civics and English in grade nine, taking the place of Virginia Pekarski. Miss Boucher is a grad- uate of the Worcester State Teachers College, class of 1947. (5) Mrs. Jean Patenaude of this town, was appointed substitute in social studies and English for Phyllis John- son, on leave of absence for advanced study. Mrs. Pate- naude is a graduate of Bridgewater and had previously taught in the Junior High School.
The following new appointments were made to the Hedge School staff: (1) Mrs. Claire Goodwin of this town, formerly teacher of grade five at Mount Pleasant School, was appointed to teach grade five at the Hedge. Mrs. Goodwin is a graduate of Bridgewater. (2) Mrs. Arleen Shaw of Carver was appointed to the vacancy in grade four. Mrs. Shaw is a graduate of Bridgewater and has had two years' experience in the elementary schools at Windsor, Connecticut, and Attleboro, (3) Barbara Gilles of Lynn was appointed to the third-grade position vacated by Mrs. Cappannari. Miss Gilles is a graduate of Colby College in the class of 1948, and has done graduate work in primary education at Boston University. (4) Rose Marciole of Kingston was chosen for the third-grade position vacated by Maxine Swett. Miss Marciole was graduated from the East Carlysle Teachers' College at
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North Carolina, and has done graduate work at Fitchburg, Hyannis, and Duke University. Miss Marciole comes to Plymouth after a teaching experience of sixteen years in other states. (5) Mrs. Jeanette Holmes of this town was appointed on a temporary basis as teacher of the practical arts class. Mrs. Holmes has substituted for the past several years in various capacities in our schools. (6) Mrs. Berthine Cavi of Kingston was appointed to the practical arts position for the remainder of the school year on termination of Mrs. Holmes' service in Novem- ber. Mrs. Cavi is a graduate of the Hyannis Normal School and has had five years of teaching experience.
Two new appointments were made at the Manomet School. (1) Mrs. Violet Mieg, now of this town, was ap- pointed teacher of grades three and four. Mrs. Mieg is a graduate of the Jamaica, New York, Teachers' College and has had seventeen years of experience with children of elementary and junior high age. (2) Mrs. Flora H. Kite of Kingston, was appointed teacher of grade two. Mrs. Kite is a graduate of Lesley College and has had eighteen years of teaching experience in Wakefield and Plympton.
Mrs. Ruth Trask, who served as secretary in the School Department for many years, was appointed assistant to the School nurse during the absence of Mrs. Post.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Parent-Teacher Associations
In addition to the usual means of informing the citizens regarding school activities and needs, such as newspaper reports and the Annual Town Report, we now have in- creased possibilities of contacting our citizens through two new Parent-Teacher organizations. The Mount Pleasant Parent-Teacher Association was formed in the winter of 1948 with 87 members and the Cornish-Burton Association was organized in the fall with 103 members.
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The monthly meetings of teachers and parents in these associations will bring school and home into a closer re- lationship. They will provide an effective means of creat- ing a more general understanding of school policy and school problems on the part of the parents in these major school districts, and will also afford the school offi- cials the opportunity of a better understanding of the points of view held by parents. These Parent-Teacher groups plan to hold joint meetings from time to time which will be open to the public.
American Education Week
A very large number of parents took advantage of the special invitation to confer with teachers during Amer- ican Education Week, November 7-13. The schools re- ported a total of 1413 visits divided as follows:
Senior High School 142
Junior High School
207
Cornish School 311
Oak Street School
54
Cold Spring School 64
Hedge School 415
Mount Pleasant School 176
Manomet School 44
Total 1,413
In addition to the annual graduations of Junior and Senior High Schools, other school events in 1948 inviting public participation were the two All-School Music Nights held in May, the Junior High Concert with Band and Drum Majors' Corps, and the Science Fair, an exhibit by pupils taking science courses in Senior High School.
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Science Fair
At the High School Science Fair, the floor and wall spaces in the auditorium were taxed to capacity with a showing of most interesting projects and problems being engaged in by individual pupils and pupil groups. A very large attendance of parents and friends showed a marked interest in the work being undertaken.
The Public Contributes
There were many evidences during the school year of the interest our citizens take in the schools. On behalf of the School Officials I wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge with deep gratitude some of the many fine services rendered Plymouth schools by local groups of citizens. These include the Kiwanis Club for its Town- wide celebration of Halloween, including an appropriate program for all pupils on all grade levels, also for its Kiddies' Christmas Party for needy children; the Rotary Club for its sponsorship of Career Day at the Senior High School and for its annual dinner to the High School foot- ball squad; the Plymouth Woman's Club for its Annual Education Program to which our teachers were invited; the Plymouth Grange for its annual reception to teachers; the Plymouth Boosters' Club for its financial assistance to and strong support of our athletic program in Senior High School; and to all organizations and individuals who contribute scholarships and awards for the benefit of our High School graduates. Many other acknowledgements could be made.
The Larger Public
The larger public from time to time becomes acquainted with the Plymouth schools by reason of the fact that our Town occupies so unique a place in our history. I refer by way of illustration to the pre-Thanksgiving trip of the High School Girls' Glee Club to New York with its sev-
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eral concerts that were broadcast. Another event involv- ing our schools was a unique broadcast arranged through station WBZ, in which pupils of our sixth grade at the Mount Pleasant School were interviewed by Ben Hudel- son, Educational Director of WBZ, with reference to the Plymouth Thanksgiving and modern Plymouth. A similar broadcast had been arranged with pupils of Plymouth, England, as participants. The two broadcasts were in- corporated on one record and presented on a large net- work of stations in this country as well as in England.
SUMMER SCHOOL
The usual six-week term of summer school was pro- vided for about 100 pupils in grades 4 to 8 who needed special help in the fundamental subjects. The school, housed in the Burton building, opened on Tuesday, July 6, and closed Friday, August 13. The daily sessions began at 8:30 a.m. and were three hours in length.
Of the 100 pupils in attendance, ninety were present - twenty or more sessions of the twenty-nine held. A gain of one-half year or more was made by fifty-six pupils in one or more subjects. An additional fifteen pupils gained -
at least one-third of a year. Eighty-six of the group were marked "B" or better. The teaching staff was composed of Mrs. Susan Beauregard, principal and teacher of mathe- matics; Mrs. Miriam Raymond, teacher of English and spelling; and Mrs. Alice Graeme-Harrison, teacher of reading and mathematics. The results obtained in this summer session offer good evidence of its value.
DRIVER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
During the second year of our Driver Training Course, 59 pupils have been enrolled. All pupils passed the writ- ten tests prepared by the Registry of Motor Vehicles, most of them with a grade of 80% or over. Of 52 pupils who took the state driving test, 49 secured operators' li-
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censes. The time spent in behind-the-wheel driving has averaged about six hours per pupil, and the average distance driven by each pupil was approximately 50 miles.
Co-operating agencies that reduce the cost of this course to the Town are the following: the Registry of Mo- tor Vehicles, which loans testing apparatus and films; the Pontiac Motor Company and American Automobile Asso- ciation, through which agencies we obtain the loan of the car without charge; and the Bailey Motor Sales Company, which garages the car without charge. The Park Depart- ment has allowed the use of Stephens Field for most of the preliminary driving instruction.
IN AID OF OTHERS
Junior Red Cross
During the year 1948, the Junior Red Cross has used some of its funds to purchase small school supplies for children in Europe where these articles are difficult to purchase. Some materials have been made for the com- fort of hospitalized soldiers.
The annual drive for membership was deferred this year to January, 1949. Membership fees usually amount to about $150. It is hoped that permission can be secured from National Headquarters to use some of our funds for useful work within our own community.
Crusade For Children
The annual all-school music nights held on June 3 by the Junior and Senior High Schools and on June 9 by the elementary schools, took the form of a benefit. The pro- ceeds of the nominal admission fee were donated to the Crusade For Children, a relief measure under the direc- tion of the United Nations Organization. The sum of $152.19 realized for this purpose was increased by pupils of the Mount Pleasant School to a total of $159.33.
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Clothing Collection
The annual clothing collection made in October for use of needy children of Europe and for less favored children in our own country, yielded 1800 pounds, making the total collection during the past six years of 11, 519 pounds or nearly six tons. The distribution of clothing is made by the national organization known as "Save The Chil- dren Federation."
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LUNCH
Elementary school lunches have been maintained in three schools during the year, namely, the Cornish- Burton, Hedge, and Manomet. Larger numbers of pupils have participated this year, there being 164 at Cornish, 90 at Hedge, and 63 at Manomet. Principal Donald Welch of the Cornish-Burton District is business manager of the lunch, and Mrs. Richard Smiley is in charge of pre- paring the lunches at the Cornish preparation center. From this point the food is transported to the other buildings.
The full government subsidy of nine cents a meal was restored in September. With the exception of the cost of equipment, which is provided by the Town and Fed- eral School Lunch Program, our cash income from pupils, teachers, and the Federal Government has now fully cov- ered our expenditures for the five-year period 1943 to 1948.
PUPIL ACHIEVEMENT
ยท Standardized Tests in the Elementary Grades
Along with those fundamental attitudes and qualities needed by our pupils for social living, and which the school tries to help develop in our children, our schools have the very definite responsibility of helping pupils acquire the knowledge and the skills in the "tool subjects" that are required for further education and for successful living. In May of each school year, standardized tests are
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given to determine the achievement and growth of each pupil in the basic subjects. Incidentally, the results, when averaged, indicate whether our pupils are "up-to- standard" on the several grade levels. The results answer the question, "Do our pupils progress as rapidly, on the average, as do the thousands of pupils in various parts of the country who have taken these tests, and together have established the standards?"
In May, 1948, our pupils in grades 1 and 2 were given the Metropolitan tests, form R, and those in grades 3 to 6 were given the Stanford tests, form G. The results on the various grade levels were encouraging. Grade 1 tested, on the average, at the exact test standard of achievement. Grades 2 to 6, inclusive, tested, on the aver- age, above the test standard as follows: grade 2, 3 months; grade 3, 1 month; grade 4, 2 months; grade 5, 4 months; grade 6, 6 months. These over-all results achieved by pupils in the "tool subjects" give evidence of the qual- ity of work being done in this important phase of the school program by our elementary teachers.
Standardized Tests in Grade 10
Prior to the middle of the first year in Senior High School, our sophomore class was given a series of tests on its standing in the fundamental phases of language and arithmetic mastery. These tests are given and scored by the Testing Service of Boston University. They include the following tests in the language field: grammar and diction, punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure and spelling. The tests in arithmetic include those in the four fundamental processes.
The results of these two series of tests given in Decem- ber, 1948, showed the Plymouth sophomore class to be one point above the standardized scores achieved by sophomore classes in New England high schools in gram- mar and diction, capitalization and spelling. In sentence structure, our pupils were at test standard, and in punc-
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tuation they were two points below. In the arithmetic series, Plymouth pupils were substantially above test standards in all four of the fundamental processes.
School Competitions
That our Plymouth pupils show relative proficiency in some other phases of educational development than in the "Three R's" is evidenced in certain state and regional competitions. I refer to such occasions as the Eastern Massachusetts Musical Festival held in Brockton in the spring when our girls' High School choral groups and the Junior High Band were given the rating of "superior." Another instance was the Regional Physical Education Demonstration held in Brockton in the spring term, when both the boys' and girls' divisions from our Senior High School were awarded "highest honors" in a 6-town com- petition.
SCHOOL EXPENDITURES IN PLYMOUTH
Even though our school appropriations were increased in 1947 and 1948, the cost of supporting the Plymouth schools, when compared with the costs in twenty-four Massachusetts towns ordinarily used for comparison, show the Plymouth costs to be below the median. This is true on all indexes: the school tax rate, the portion of the total municipal tax that is devoted to schools, and the expenditure per pupil.
The towns included in the accompanying table are the twelve next larger than Plymouth and the twelve next smaller in population and having the same plan of school organization as Plymouth; namely, the elementary, junior high and senior high schools. Though ten of the towns used for these comparisons are wealthier than Plymouth on the basis of the State valuation per pupil, there are fourteen that are less wealthy. Your attention is called to Plymouth's relative standing in the accompanying table.
COMPARATIVE DATA ON SCHOOL EXPENDITURES - PLYMOUTH AND 24 MASS. TOWNS
(12 Next Larger and 12 Next Smaller Having Elementary, Junior, and Senior High Schools)
1947-48
1947
(School Year)
1945 Pop.
1947 Equalized Valuation Per Pupil (1)
1947 (Fiscal Year) School Tax (2)
(Fiscal Year) Per Cent School Tax is of Total Tax
Expenditure for School Support Per Pupil
Belmont
28866
Swampscott
$18672 Northbridge
$26.05 Northbridge
63.5% Norwood
$240.23
Framingham
25502
Wellesley
18342
Athol
22.11
W. Spring.
50.6
Wellesley
225.29
Milton
21718 Norwood
16491
Shrewsbury
21.14
Bridgewater
49.6 Swampscott
211.61
w. Spring.
19453
Winchester
15631
Bridgewater
19.63
Shrewsbury
48.0
Belmont
209.77
Winthrop
18696
Milton
15396
Rockland
19.31
Needham
47.0
Winchester
201.65
Wellesley
17581
Belmont
15275
Adams
18.56
Winthrop
46.4
Milton
195.53
Greenfield
17020
Greenfield
15039
Reading
18.27
Adams
46.4
w. Spring.
192.56
Norwood
16508
Andover
14363
Natick
17.27
Reading
46.4
Needham
191.63
Natick
15789
Webster
13408
Winthrop
17.16
Athol
45.1
Andover
186.85
Winchester
15300
Marblehead
12524
Webster
16.07
Belmont
44.7
Reading
182.36
Needham
14507
Plymouth
11935
Stoneham
14.93 Natick
43.6
Webster
180.35
Lexington
14452
W. Spring.
11912
Needham
14.80 Rockland
41.1
Shrewsbury
180.22
*Plymouth
13536 Needham
11830 W. Spring.
14.77 Andover
40.5
Lexington
177.08
Webster
13534 Framingham
11791
Marblehead
14.22
Lexington
38.3
Marblehead
173.02
Adams
12724
Lexington
11590
Plymouth
13.92
Wellesley
37.7
Framingham
170.39
Marblehead
12524
Stoneham
10288
Belmont
13.85
Winchester
37.5 Greenfield
170.27
Reading
12327
Winthrop
9445
Lexington
13.77
Greenfield
37.4
Plymouth
164.05
Stoneham
12032
Reading
9331
Framingham
13.72 Marblehead
37.4
Stoneham
160.84
Andover
11920
Adams
8956
Greenfield
13.48
Milton
35.4
Natick
160.40
Swampscott
11835
Natick
8890
Andover
13.37
Norwood
35.4
Winthrop
155.83
Athol
11804
Rockland
8753
Norwood
13.10
Framingham
34.3
Athol
150.23
Northbridge
10212
Athol
8354
Wellesley
12.35
Plymouth
33.1 Rockland
148.59
Shrewsbury
9296
Northbridge
8317
Winchester
12.30
Webster
32.1 Northbridge
142.13
Bridgewater
8641
Shrewsbury
8030
Milton
11.81
32.0
Adams
136.38
Rockland
8603
Bridgewater
6818
Swampscott
10.79
Swampscott
30.8
Bridgewater
112.27
*Median
13536
$11830
$14.77
40.5%
$177.08
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(1) Valuation established by State for five-year period 1946-1950
(2) Local tax per $1,000 for school support (not including outlay).
Stoneham
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STATE-AID MEASURES
For many years Massachusetts has contributed rela- tively little from the State Treasury to the support of local schools. Until 1948 our local communities received only about 9% of the school costs from the State, while other states have been paying from one-third to one-half or more of local school costs, the national average now being about 40%.
It has been clear for some time that two important objectives can be accomplished through larger state aid in Massachusetts. First, by substantially increased state aid, the less wealthy communities could provide at least a reasonably satisfactory basic program of educational opportunities for their children. Second, through larger state taxation for school support, the tax load now borne almost wholly by local real-estate taxpayers could be lightened since the State has a wide variety of tax re- sources not available to the local communities. If, as normally assumed, it is to the general benefit of the Com- monwealth that its children and youths be guaranteed adequate schooling wherever they may reside, it seems reasonable that the financial support of education should be shared by the population of the Commonwealth gen- erally.
Transportation Aid
Three state-aid laws have been enacted by the Massa- chusetts Legislature during the past two years that in- crease state aid from about 9% to about 17% of the total amount expended for support of schools. The first of these measures is the transportation-aid law enacted in 1947. (Chap. 680, Acts of 1947). Since Plymouth's trans- portation expense is relatively large, we receive a rela- tively large amount of aid from this source. This is paid from the proceeds of the State income tax and amounted in 1947 to $6,841.85, and in 1948, to $10,185.27.
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General Aid
In 1948, the General Court enacted Chapter 643, which repealed existing aid laws and adds about nine and one- half million dollars to the six millions of state aid dis- tributed in 1948. Under the new law, effective Jan. 1, 1949, these funds come from a pooling of various financial resources used for school aid heretofore, including the income from the Massachusetts school fund and the pro- ceeds of the State income tax. To these resources will be added any federal aid that Massachusetts may receive as a result of any new federal-aid-to-education laws. The major present resource is the State income tax receipts, which have increased measurably during the past several years. Plymouth will receive in 1949 as school aid under Chapter 643, the sum of $34,687.00 as compared with $18,055.00 received from the same sources in 1948 as re- imbursement for teachers' salary payments under Chap- ter 70. These increased receipts for schools under Chapter 643 are to be paid in November and taken into account by the assessors in establishing the tax rate for 1949.
School-building Aid
What is perhaps the most important new State-aid law -at least for the immediate future - is Chapter 645, Acts of 1948. This law provides aid to communities for plan- ning and constructing new school buildings and additions to present buildings. The amount of aid to Plymouth will be 26%. Wealthier communities will receive less, the minimum being 20%. The less wealthy communities will receive more, up to a maximum of 55% in the case of regional schools in rural areas.
From these indications of a new interest in larger state aid for schools in Massachusetts, it would appear that the movement in this direction may continue until the State reaches a percentage contribution toward the support of schools that will compare favorably with the contribu- tions made by other states.
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In conclusion, may I ask your consideration of the various specific needs and achievements of the several schools and departments of the Plymouth school system as set forth in the following reports of the principals, supervisors, and directors. It is obviously impossible to meet all of the apparent needs in one year or two. My hope is that each year may make a worthy contribution to the progress of the schools and that the educational opportunities open to our young people may thereby become increasingly helpful to them and to our commu- nity.
Respectfully submitted,
BURR F. JONES
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REPORT OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Five years ago, in the winter of 1943-44, most school men were looking forward to this time in the fond hope that by now the war would be well behind us and prob- lems imposed by war well on the way to liquidation. The present reality falls far short of that hope.
In the teaching of Science (Physics, Chemistry, Bi- ology, etc.) we lived from hand to mouth because of war- time restrictions on chemicals and similar supplies, because of stringencies in equipment as a result of scarcity of materials, or priorities favoring either indus- tries or the college laboratories. So we exhausted reserve supplies, used up old equipment - depleted our slender resources. In the years since the war ended mounting costs have worked against us with the result that much that is desirable is still denied our students. An inventory made within this department discloses that instructors are limited in their presentation of recent scientific ad- vancements (material necessary for successful progress in college and in industry) to demonstrations by analogue or with old out-moded devices that at best give only a partial comprehension of the principles and procedures involved. Comparison with up-to-date high school labora- tories shows the extent of the deprivation imposed on our pupils. Our orders during the last two years have resulted in a stop-gap, piece-meal approach to this problem. We need assurance that we can carry out an organized, in- tegrated purchasing program to rehabilitate the depart- ment on a sound basis.
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