USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rockland > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Rockland Massachusetts for the year ending 1936 > Part 41
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Group Piano Lessons
Another year has passed and we continue to encourage and foster group piano lessons for those pupils who have musical interest. The course is designed to afford par-
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
ents an opportunity to ascertain their children's talent in order to determine the advisability of more advanced music training which is usually supplied by private in- struction. The actual cost of the instruction of this specialized program is borne by the parents. Miss Maude F. Burnham of Taunton has been the instructor since the inception of the project three years ago. Miss Burham has presented in June a recital of the work accomplished in her classes and only words of highest praise have been spoken for her work.
Character Education
For the past two years a teachers' committee has been working on a Course of Study in Character Education for our elementary grades. It has been adopted and is now effective in grades 1 to 6. The challenging job of the parent and the teacher is to help the child meet his life situations, that is, his tasks, duties, and conflicts, man- fully and successfully. Left unaided and unguided, the child would, in many instances, no doubt, respond in ways that are wholesome and that develop such traits as in- dustry, self-reliance, honesty, self-confidence, patience, and foresight. But in far too many instances the clash between impulsive desires and duty is disastrous, devol- oping such traits as loss of self-control, attitudes of fail- ure, inferiorities, selfishness, sullenness, dishonesty, lazi- ness, indifference, and poor judgment. These maladjust- ments make the child a misfit in group living. He is said to be abnormal. He is doomed to failure and unhap- piness. Guidance, then, at all those points in his experi- ences where wrong choices are likely to be made is the child's birthright. It is evident, then, that character training has a two-fold aspect: (1) Prevention, that is, helping the child learn to make wholesome adjustments to his daily life situations so that he will emerge out of every conflict stronger physically, intellectually and em- otionally; and (2) Cure, that is, helping the child over- come certain maladjustments or bad habits by supplant- ing these with good habits. Unfortunately character
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
training too often has to spend its best energies upon the latter aspect-uprooting the bad habits.
HIGH SCHOOL
The increased enrollment in our Junior-Senior high makes it rather imperative to add at least one additional teacher this year. We need to do more with a guidance program than we have been able to do in the past. It is alarming to realize the large percentage of students who graduate from high school and college and then never pursue the work for which they are trained. It is evi- dent that more attention must be given to the individual guidance of our pupils. This is not possible at present as our teachers have full programs and no instructor is released for this important function in our school.
It is gratifying to know that the graduates of our high school who are undertaking advanced training in higher institutions of learning are doing a very creditable piece of work as indicated by the reports we are receiving from the various colleges and schools of nursing. I am very much pleased with the excellent reports we have received from the testing service of the American Council of Edu- cation referred to in the principal's report which indicate that we are doing a high grade of work in our school.
Although our student librarians are doing well, there is still great need of a teacher librarian so that the li- brary may be opened to our students throughout the school day and after school hours. Our pupils need in- struction in library methods and the use and selection of books. We are indeed grateful to all organizations who are generously assisting us in building up our li- brary. Pupils who go to college find themselves greatly handicapped if they have not had instruction in the use of a library. If we had an additional teacher or two we might be able to extend the use of our library to more pupils.
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
As a large percentage of our students do not receive any formal education beyond the high school it is desirous that they receive the utmost attention while in high school. This will necessitate the broadening of our Gen- eral Course which at present includes a large percentage of college preparatory and commercial subjects with a very few offerings in the Practical Arts such as advanced work in Clothing, Cooking, Home Making, Woodworking, Printing, Drawing, etc. It is impossible to add these sub- jects to our curriculum on account of a now over-loaded personnel and the expense of equipment.
Recognizing the importance of good English speech in school and especially in after life I wish to quote directly from the report of the Head of our English Department to which I subscribe 100 percent. "The Crying Need of our English department is for correct and clear speech at all times and in all places. Upon examination it is al- ways found that pupils know how to speak correctly, but are unwilling to do so. Because of poor speech heard and practised outside of class, they are inclined to regard correct speech as weak, effeminate and undesirable. We must, at least, insist on good English everywhere within the school building if we are to accomplish what we know to be vital for the future progress of our pupils."
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION AS IT AFFECTS THE SCHOOLS
We still continue our plan of cooperation with the town officials and the federal government in providing suitable quarters for the Sewing and Recreation projects of the W. P. A. in the Mckinley School Building. It is necessary to keep this building open throughout the entire year to accommodate these projects which is an added expense for light, heat, power and janitor service, although this is partially met by the citizens of the town in their an- nual meeting when they raise and appropriate $400 to help defray this additional expense of opening the build-
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
ing for these two projects. During the month of Decem- ber we had an electric bill amounting to $53.00. The gymnasium is in use practically every afternoon and eve- ning until 9 to 9:30 o'clock.
We have availed ourselves again this year of the op- portunity of the National Youth Administration as it op- erates in schools and colleges throughout the United States. Our quota in Rockland since the opening of schools in September is set at $90.00 per month, an addi- tional $18.00 over last year's quota. We have at present seven boys and eight girls who are receiving this financial aid of $6.00 per month for which each renders twenty hours of service to our schools per month. Two of the boys are engaged in janitor service at the Mckinley build- ing whereas the others are rendering clerical or janitor service at the high school. The six dollars per month is given by the government to assist these students in pay- ing for school lunches or to purchase necessary clothing in order to continue their attendance in high school.
The Nursery School authorized by the Works Progress Administration continues to operate although it was clos- ed from the middle of June until about October first by order of the federal government. The sessions are held as formerly in the gymnasium of the Mckinley building. The enrollment comprises children from three to five years of age whose parents are on W. P. A. or low income. The unit includes at present one teacher and a cook but until the first of December we had two teachers and a cook. At the present time we have a requisition for an additional teacher. The federal government pays the wages of the employees, the Town and the School Depart- ment handle the other expenses of the project. We have twenty-five enrolled at present with an average attend- ance of twenty. The session of the school is from 9:15 A. M. until 2:00 P. M. with a noon luncheon. This sys- tematic care and training of children has proved benefic- ial to both pupils and community and should be continued, if possible.
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
TEACHER REPLACEMENT
In June Miss Marion T. Hall of Morrisville, Vermont and a graduate of the University of Vermont was ap- pointed a regular teacher to handle Miss Tobey's classes in Clothing and Social Science. Miss Hall had substituted in those classes since Miss Tobey resigned in January to be married.
Miss Helen Molloy, for nine years a teacher in our Junior High resigned in June to be married. Mr. John Ryan for the past two years a teacher of one of the fifth grades at the Mckinley School was transferred to the Junior High to take Miss Molloy's place. Mr. Ryan is a graduate of Boston College and Bridgewater Teachers' College.
The vacancy in the fifth grade at Mckinley caused by the transfer of Mr. Ryan to the Junior High was filled by the appointment of Mr. John Metevier of Rockland, a graduate of the Bridgewater State Teachers' College in 1939.
Miss Marjorie Smith, teacher of the first grade at the Mckinley School resigned in April to be married. As it was unwise to change teachers in the first grade so late in the school year she was asked to substitute for the re- mainder of the term. In September Miss Madeline Lan- nin who had taught the lower room at Gleason was trans- ferred to the Mckinley to fill the vacancy made by Miss Smith's resignation. Miss Alice Murrill, for two years a teacher at Central Street school was transferred to the Gleason School. Miss Geraldine Crowell, a graduate of Bridgewater Teachers College, who had substituted in various schools during the past year was appointed to fill the vacancy at the Central Street School.
In December Miss Helen M. Miley, a teacher in our Commercial Department resigned to accept a position in Lasell Junior College. She is remaining with us' until her place is filled.
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Junior Senior High
A very much needed improvement to our school grounds was made during the past summer by the installation of a cement curbing and black top to the circular drive in front of the high school building. At the annual town meeting money was appropriated to pay for the material cost and a W. P. A. project provided the labor. Much less gravel and dirt are now brought into the school via the front entrance. It will be highly desirable to install a hard top in the parking area and drive at the rear of the building whenever funds are available.
The mastic floors in the corridors and toilets have been repaired by our janitors and wooden floors filled and wax- ed. Major repairs on our mastic floors will soon be nec- essary. We have found it necessary to replace several window shades in the building due to the fact they have been soaked and over a period of years have rotted. Sev- eral more will need to be replaced each year as they be- come torn and inadequate.
In order to stop the rapid deterioration of the large ex- it doors in the gymnasium and auditorium as well as the entrance doors to the building, galvanized sheet metal has been installed to hold them together and to make them water tight. It will undoubtedly prolong the life of these doors several years and provide a definite saving as these doors are very expensive.
Domes of silence have been placed on all the stools in the high school cafeteria. These have been very much needed since the opening of the building twelve years ago as stools are very noisy when being moved about on a cement floor by more than 400 pupils. This improve- ment will reduce greatly the noise and thus the confusion while pupils are eating their luncheon.
Although the leaks in the outside walls of the building
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
have been greatly diminished the past eleven years nev- ertheless due to the fact that they lack air spaces to dry them when moisture does enter, repairs on the plastered walls have been necessary. It was therefore essential to redecorate some of the walls after they were replast- ered.
The linings of the drapes in the auditorium were torn and ragged on the south side so it was necessary to re- line them. The water from the metal window frames had entered along with very strong sun over a period of sever- al years and as a result had rotted the linings. The drapes on the north side will need to be relined this year or next.
On account of the natural drainage of the Rockland hill we seem to have large quantities of rust in our water pipes and system so it is only a question of a short period of time before many of our water pipes will need to be replaced. In several cases already small pieces of pipe and unions have rusted to the leaking point making re- placement necessary. We are using a solution in the water of the heating plant to prevent and retard the ac- cumulation of rust. We have noticed great improvement in our results of heating the building.
Repairs have been made on locks, door checks, bubblers and furniture by our janitors and in some cases the ser- vices of a carpenter. A small cabinet has been construct- ed to store the music of the orchestra and band. This is located back of the stage.
Mckinley School
On account of the danger from sliding snow, guards have been placed on the roof to prevent that hazard.
I should like to call attention to the fact that it is just a question of a short time before the insurance inspectors will condemn the water tube boilers in this building. The inside shell of each boiler is becoming very thin and so
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
this makes a fire hazard. As soon as possible one section- al boiler should be installed and this one used except in the very cold weather when one of the two water tube boilers could be used in conjunction with the sectional boiler for a month or two. The water pipes are so cor- roded that the pressure is greatly reduced and major re- pairs will be necessary almost any minute. The ventil- ating system has been renovated and repaired so we are getting a larger degree of efficiency from our heating system.
It is evident that conductor pipes should be installed on the rear side of the building to improve drainage condi- tions on the grounds. The school yard is flooded during the wet season, due to a large amount of drainage water from the roof. Dry wells would remedy this condition.
The stone and brick work of the building needs repoint- ing. Last spring we tried to secure a W. P. A. project to make these necessary repairs but to date have been un- successful. This work is imperative.
Two additional lights have been installed in the lobby of the building to assist in reducing the danger of small children leaving their rooms at the close of school during the dark months.
The office has been connected by a doorway with the classroom occupied by the principal to make more effici- ent the administration of the school. This improvement has been needed for several years.
The gymnasium in the basement needs renovation. It has not been redecorated for more than twenty years and now that it is used constantly by the Nursery School these repairs are most desirable.
On account of insufficient funds in our budget we have been unable to install the new light fixtures that are very much needed in the building. This should be done as soon as funds are available.
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
Several of the blackboards, desks and floors have been refinished, as well as many minor repairs made in the building. The auditorium floor has been filled with a preparation which makes dancing on the floor much bet- ter than heretofore when floor oil was used. The cement floors in the boys' and girls' toilets have been treated so they are cleaner than formerly.
Lincoln School
The heating plant in this building is very old and it is only a question of time before new equipment will be necessary. We are using a fluid in the boilers to pre- vent further corrosion which is improving the heating efficiency of the building.
One or two portable book cases have been placed in the classrooms of this building.
There is need to repaint sections of the building on the outside as the paint is badly peeling. Because of possible danger the fire escape platforms were recovered.
Some of the blackboards in the building have been re- finished as well as some of the desks and chairs. Other repairs of locks and door checks have been made.
The hurricane of a year ago had caused considerable damage to the ventilators on the roof of the building so repairs were made as well as the installation of wire mesh over the openings of the ventilators to prevent the en- trance of pigeons which had caused considerable commo- tion.
Jefferson
Repairs were made on the roof of the building. The desks and floors have been refinished. Some repairs were necessary in the toilets as well as several panes of glass replaced.
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
Webster Street School
The heating unit in this building has outlived its use- fulness. It should be replaced as it is very difficult to heat the building properly during very cold weather. There should be a cellar under the building and the foun- dation walls repaired.
The small motors used to throw the heat into the toil- ets have given out and will need to be replaced.
The floors have been refinished and the desks revarn- ished. Other minor repairs have been made.
Gleason School
There is still need to repair the outside fire escape from both floors by eliminating a long flight of stairs, which may be accomplished by building an intermediate plat- form at the first floor level and connecting the two floors to the same stairs, thus eliminating one set of stairs. Hand rails must be provided on the inside stairs from the first to the second floors.
The blackboards and floors have been refinished. The coal bin has been repaired and improved.
We have not found it possible to secure sufficient funds to improve the lighting system on the second floor but this should be done as soon as possible.
Market Street School
The heating unit in this building is very old and inade- quate and the same suggested data for the Webster Street School applies to this building. Minor plumbing repairs have been made and repairs to the outhouse which is now used for storage of supplies.
Central Street School
On account of a greatly increased enrollment in this building additional desks and chairs have been installed. We now have 36 in this one room building. Repairs to the heating system and plumbing have been made.
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
A new water service for this building was imperative last fall as the pipes from Central Street were loaded with rust so we received insufficient water for the bubblers and toilets. Although we used Welfare help with a fore- man to do the digging of the trench, the expense of these repairs came to approximately one hundred dollars. The Water Department furnished the pipes at a cost of $77.20 and supervised the installation.
SPECIFIC NEEDS
The enormous increase in the number of bicycles brought to high school the past few years has developed a problem of housing these vehicles as no provision was made in the building for them. At present we are park- ing the bicycles in the basement corridors but as the number has increased to more than thirty and therefore a hazardous situation prevails, it will be necessary for us to install a rack outside of the building in the rear of the school this spring where all bicycles will henceforth be parked.
The large increase in the enrollment of the 7th and 8th grades of the Junior High school the past few years has made inadaquete the equipment in the sewing classes for the girls. We are in need of one or two additional sewing machines and if possible we should have the more modern type, the electric machines.
I wish to call attention again to the fact that the lock- ers in the boys' shower bath room are inadequate for our present needs and should be replaced as soon as funds are available. I wish to suggest that we install one new section of twelve or fifteen a year until they are all re- placed. It is hoped that we can cut a door through the locker room, opening outdoors, so that our boys who are engaged in outside sports such as football, baseball and track will not find it necessary to walk through the corridor, down into the gymnasium and thus out on to the field. It is even more necessary now since the locker
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
room is being used by other than school organizations for football and outdoor sports. The wear and tear on our gymnasium floor will be greatly diminished.
We have a Golding Printing Press in our print shop that was second hand when we purchased it twelve years ago and it should be replaced by a more modern press. Safety devices are available on the newer machines and although we are still using the press it is quite inadequate so that our printing department is seriously handicapped. A first class second hand machine with safety equipment will cost from $300 to $400. Several new fonts of type should be purchased as soon as possible.
Because the wear and tear on the shop tools are so great and very few have been bought the past two years it is necessary to replace and repair the tools to keep them in first class condition. Additional machines are very much needed.
SALARY SCHEDULE
It is highly desirable in any school system, no matter how small, to have a salary schedule which outlines pro- fessional requirements of its personnel with the corres- ponding salary payments in order to maintain the esprit de corps of the faculty and a scholarship level worthy of a Class A School System. With this in mind a schedule has been established by the School Committee a copy of which is herewith printed. This became effective at the opening of schools in September 1938. From time to time educational and economic conditions may necessi- tate changes in the schedule.
The return to the policy in September 1939 of allowing teachers a "sick leave" of five days during the school year for "personal illness" without loss of salary is in line with the practice in most cities and towns in the state and a ruling that was effective in Rockland in 1931. More interest in the activities of the school is evidenced by the personnel as a result of this judicious practice.
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SIXTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT
SCHEDULE
Minimum Maximum 3600
Supt of Schools
Secetary to Supt of Schools and School Committee
1400
Junior-Senior High School Principal
3000
*Junior-Senior High School Sub-Master
2500
Senior High School Teachers
holding Bachelor's Degree
1100
1700
Senior High School Teachers
holding Bachelor's Degree
1100
1800
(men)
Senior High School Teachers
not holding Bachelor's Degree
1100
1600
Junior High School Teachers holding Bachelor's Degree
1100
1600
Junior High School Teachers holding Bachelor's Degree
1100
1700
(men)
Junior High School Teachers
1400
not holding Bachelor's Degree Elementary School Teachers
1000
1400
Principal of Mckinley Building Principal of Lincoln Building Principal of Jefferson Building
1500
1450
Supervisor of Music (2 days per week)
900
Orchestra and Band Instructor (3 days per week)
1200
Supervisors of Art and Physical Education holding Bachelor's Degree 1800
Supervisors of Art and Physical Education
not hold Bachelor's Degree 1700
School Nurse and Attendance Officer
1700
School Physicians 175
Janitors - To receive maximum salaries paid in 1937
All new school employees must successfully pass a tu- bercular examination before accepting a school position.
(women)
(women)
1600
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TOWN OF ROCKLAND
All teachers who are not receiving the maximum salary shall receive a yearly increment of $50 until the maxi- mum is reached.
All teachers who hold a Master's Degree will be elig- ible for a super-maximum of $100 additional salary.
All regular teachers in the Junior-Senior High school and elementary schools are required to have at least four years of training beyond high school to be eligible for appointment.
All teachers who have reached the maximum salary and who do not hold a Master's Degree will be required to take at least 4 points of degree credit within a period of three years.
The maximum salary of the High School Sub-Master elected before 1937 shall be $2500 and elected after 1937 shall be $2200.
CONCLUSION
The education of our boys and girls is Rockland's big- gest and most important enterprise. To keep the spark glowing, to illumine the minds of our youth, to build and strengthen the character of each individual is big busi- ness and demands the earnest support and cooperation of every parent.
My appreciation and thanks go continually to our entire staff of teachers and to the members of the Rockland School Committee who work diligently for the advance- ment of local education, without remuneration and often without the thoughtful understanding cooperation which should be part of the investment every parent puts into the fine business of his child's education.
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