USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rockland > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Rockland Massachusetts for the year ending 1959 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
We are most fortunate in the shop to have a man of the capability of Mr. Frank Manzella who is in charge of the mechanical drawing and printing. He is assisted by Mr. Louis Rowean who is in charge of the woodworking and metal areas. It must be recalled by the citizens of Rockland that our shop is strictly pre-vocational and is not vocational in any sense of the word. We do not teach automobile repair nor did we ever plan to do so. This is the function of a vocational shop. We do study motors of all types.
Our commercial department reflects creditable growth. We have been able to add more equipment in this department and I feel that our commercial students are ready to enter the field of business upon graduation from high school. Mr. John T. McGarigal is presently
148
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
serving as chairman of the department and because of his versatility and knowledge of business our students have received much favorable comment from employers and test groups. In the field of social studies, we are making increased use of maps and other visual aids.
The growth of interest in modern languages is re- flected by our increased enrollment in these fields. I rec- ommend for serious consideration the establishment of a foreign language laboratory. This equipment would be used in the fields of Spanish, French, and Latin. There are several types of equipment on the market but at the time of filing this report I am not prepared to recommend any one product. I suggest that this be made a project for early 1960. I also earnestly recommend that another Eng- lish teacher be added to the staff. Our present staff of four full time English teachers is aided by teachers from the other departments but even this creates an excessive overload on the department. Through no fault of the teachers involved, it is physically impossible to correct the number of compositions and homework assignments which should be given in English classes in this day and age. This is not intended in any way as a reflection upon the teaching ability of the present staff.
I recommend also that an additional guidance coun- selor could profitably divide his time between the high school and junior high school. At present, Mr. Clyde J. Lavine, our Guidance Director, devotes one full day to the junior high school. This means that we operate at 4/5 of the Guidance Director's time and frankly, Mr. Esten, this promotes serious problems. Our pupils should have the benefit of the advice of Mr. Lavine and yet because of an overloaded schedule he is unable to give them the neces- sary time.
Our driver training course this year has been under the direction of Mr. John B. O'Hayre during school hours and Mr. Frederick J. Arata from 2:30 to 4:30 P.M. each school day. We are grateful for the use of the driver
149
Town of Rockland
training car given to us through the courtesy of Rockland Motors.
Our football program was under the direction of Aldo J. Lombardi as head coach, assisted by A. Scott MacKinlay and Richard Hamilton. Mr. Joseph Kelly was in charge of freshman football. Coach Lombardi has stated on many occasions that this year was one for building and establish- ing football strategy.
The basketball team suffered from lack of depth. Too many boys are more interested in work after school than they are in the athletic programs. This was mention- ed in last year's report but bears mentioning again because it is the cry of coaches and administrators throughout the country that the lack of interest in athletics can be traced to the increased interest in the automobile.
The baseball program was under the direction of Andrew F. Callahan and showed much improvement and we are looking forward to a successful season under the coaching of Mr. Joseph Kelly. In the field of Cross- Country and Track, Rockland can hold its head high. Under the coaching of Charles D. Kraemer, our boys won the championship of the Old Colony League in Cross- Country.
The girls' athletic program under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth Gould, has developed consistently and we are proud of the accomplishments of the girls. We have noted this year much enthusiasm in field hockey and I think I am safe in predicting that great interest will be found in girls' sports this coming year.
In general may I say that this year has been profit- able from the point of view of the students and the facul- ty. I appreciate the cooperation of the members of the staff, and the fine work of the custodians who have done so much to keep the building in its excellent condition. Our cafeteria, since September, has been under the direc- tion of Mrs. Toiva Tyni, assisted by Mrs. Hazel Damon,
150
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Mrs. Emma Packard, Mrs. Elizabeth Rossi, and Mrs. Sally Bissett. Mrs. Damon left the latter part of the year to join the junior high school staff. These ladies have done much to produce balanced meals in clean surroundings. To them we are grateful.
I want to express my sincere appreciation and thanks to Mr. Joseph W. Cogan, Assistant Principal. Mr. Cogan has done much to make this year a success in every way.
I appreciate particularly the fine work of Miss Lucy De Young who has carried on a heavy program despite the fact that the office is understaffed. Without the coopera- tion of the commercial department we would not have been able to process much of the necessary data.
May I express to you, Mr. Esten, my appreciation for your thoughtfulness and consideration during the years that we have worked together. My admiration for your work and ability is but a reflection of the high esteem in which you are held by educators throughout the state.
At this time I want to thank the members of the School Committee for their understanding and considera- tion of school problems. The members of this committee devote long hours to the problems of young people.
The following awards were made at the Graduation Exercises held in June :
H. May Hurley Scholarship, $500.00, Josephine Es- ther Hallett.
Katherine M. Burke Award, $300.00, Walter Joseph Tonaszuck.
Kiwanis Scholarship, $300.00, Peter Edward Hickey.
Ellen Conway Spellman Oratorical Contest Award, $270.00, William Gray Nash.
Rockland Visiting Nurse Association, $200.00, Rose- mary Therese Walsh.
151
Town of Rockland
P. M. Scholarship - Rockland Woman's Club :
1. $200.00, Kathleen Marie Reardon.
2. $200.00, Ann Elizabeth Delorey.
3. $200.00, Joan Marie Ellis.
Rockland Police Association, $200.00, Jean Elaine Daylor.
Rockland P.T.A. Scholarship, $200.00, Alice Patricia Damon.
Fraternal Order of Eagles Scholarship, $150.00, Peter Edward Hickey.
Rockland Teachers Association Scholarship, $150.00, Joy Anitra Kavka.
Rockland High School Athletic Award, $150.00, James Anthony Twomey.
Ralph Tedeschi Scholarship:
1. $100.00, Jean Elaine Daylor.
2. $100.00, Kathleen Marie Reardon.
3. $100.00, William Gray Nash.
Rockland Woman's Club, $100.00, Anne Elizabeth Basile.
American Legion Post #147 Scholarship, $100.00, Jean Elaine Daylor.
May L. Mahoney Legion Auxiliary Post #147, $100.00, Constance Ann Cronin.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Buddy Club Scholarship, $100.00, Kathie Lee Gifford.
Massachusetts Catholic Woman's Guild Scholarship, $100.00, MaryJane Emily Skatoff.
Rose and Nathan D. Barron Scholarship, $100.00, Kathie Lee Gifford.
National Honor Society Award, $100.00, Jean Elaine Daylor.
152
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Kenneth Wheeler Ransom Scholarship, $100.00, Rus- sell Raymond Blake, Jr.
American Legion Oratorical Contest, $25.00 Bond, Barbara Ann Stoltz.
Rockland Chamber of Commerce Complimentary Memberships :
1. John William McCarthy
2. Michael Carroll O'Connor
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Alumni Award (medal), Richard John MacDonald.
National Merit Certificate (certificate), MaryJane Emily Skatoff.
Women's Auxiliary to the Norfolk South District Medical Society Nursing Scholarship, $100.00, Barbara Ann Stoltz.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN T. HIGGINS
Principal
153
Town of Rockland
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ROCKLAND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. R. Stewart Esten
Superintendent of Schools
Rockland High School
Rockland, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Esten :
I herewith present my report as principal of the Rockland Junior High School for the period of September 1, 1959 to December 31, 1959.
This marks the second year of operation of a separate junior high school in Rockland. Little by little, we are be- coming more of a genuine junior high school and less of a miniature high school. A prodigious beginning was made last year in the development of student responsibility, tradition, and spirit by Mr. Ralph Lordi and his faculty. I feel that these ideals are progressing even further this year.
As of December 18, 1959, the enrollment in grades 6, 7, and 8 is 700 pupils. Although this figure represents a great many students, we are offering a fine educational program for all pupils.
There are many points I would like to mention in this report, but because of limited space, I will confine myself to some of the more significant developments now taking place.
Through the efforts of Mr. Lavine and Mr. Carey, our guidance program has been improved and extended this year. Mr. Lavine now spends one day a week in the junior high school and Mr. Carey devotes fifty per cent of his time to guidance. We have also instituted a guidance course for all grade eight pupils which meets one period each week.
Student activities are an important phase of every school, especially at the junior high school level. Bene- fits derived from student activities are many. The Student
154
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
Council and Board of Marshals help to develop more stu- dent responsibility and better citizens; assembly pro- grams, presented by the students under the direction of a faculty advisor help to develop poise and many new ideas are learned through this type of activity ; more and more creativity is being developed by members of the art and home economics clubs; and of course good working habits are developed in all these activities, but especially in our athletic program.
One of the best examples of the development of co- operation and spirit was our Christmas murals. Here, members of the art classes painted the murals while the boys in shop classes built the frames and were responsible for placing and caring for the murals in front of the build- ing.
Athletics are another important part of our program. This past fall, we had a freshman football team and, at present, we are working with our freshman basketball team. Each home room will also have a boys' team and a girls' team in intra-mural basketball. While this program is being conducted, Mr. Beatty will have basketball for boys in grade six. In the spring, we will have baseball.
At the present time, all pupils in grade six are taking part in educational television programs in French and science. These teaching aids are of great benefit to most pupils. In the future, we will have to be more selective in our choice of classes for television since every class does not benefit from this type of learning situation.
Our cafeteria is serving more than 400 dinners each day. Grade six is handled with ease, but the cafeteria is very crowded when the second shift, consisting of grades seven and eight arrive. Because of this overcrowding, I intend to schedule three lunch periods next year so that each grade will eat at a separate time.
It should not be assumed from what I have written that these programs are all we offer the children. Scho- lastically, pupils in grades six, seven, and eight, are being
155
Town of Rockland
given wonderful opportunities at the junior high school. We have an excellent faculty, of which parents and pupils both are justly proud.
The junior high school years are years of exploration for each student. It is here that he must make a final de- velopment of good work habits, bolster his study skills, and learn to work alone and hard. We are making every effort to instill these goals in our pupils.
I must emphasize that none of the factors above could be accomplished without the co-operation of all, especially the teachers and pupils in the junior high school.
I would like to thank the School Committee and you, Mr. Esten, for all the help and co-operation given me; Miss Grant, our secretary ; custodial and cafeteria staffs; and especially teachers, pupils and parents of the junior high school.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH L. MULREADY, Principal
Rockland Junior High School
156
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. R. Stewart Esten Superintendent of Schools Rockland, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Esten :
Presented herewith is the annual report of the Guid- ance Department covering the period from January 1, 1959 to December 31, 1959.
The services of the guidance office were materially increased and improved by the addition to the staff of a part-time secretary, Mrs. Norman Whiting. The guidance director has been relieved of many clerical duties and is now able to devote more time to professional activities, particularly counseling and testing.
The Junior High School Guidance Study Committee worked long and hard during the early months of 1959 to make specific recommendations concerning the im- provement of guidance services for the Rockland Junior High School. As a result of their work, one teacher, Mr. W. Bernard Carey, has been scheduled with fifteen peri- ods each week for counseling, testing and group guidance. In addition to this, the guidance director spends one full day each week at the Junior High School.
In the belief that grade 8 is one of the important "choice-points" in a student's school career, a planned program of group guidance was instituted at that grade level in December. A carefully chosen text, You: Today and Tomorrow forms the basis of the course. It is interest- ing to note that this text was compiled by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey, the same organ- ization that sponsors college board examinations.
Through the fine cooperation of all the principals, the assistant superintendent and the Junior High School Guidance Study Committee, a unified program of psycho- logical testing was developed covering all grades from one through twelve. The Otis Test of Mental Abilities, a
-
157
Town of Rockland
measure of "I.Q." or general academic aptitude, is given at Grades 1, 4, 6, 8 and 11. The Iowa Basic Skills Tests, measuring achievement and growth in reading, vocabu- lary, language, arithmetic and study skills, is used starting with grade 3 and continuing through grade 8. At grade 10 level the Differential Aptitude Tests are given to all students for the purpose of measuring potential in such areas as verbal reasoning, abstract reasoning, clerical speed and accuracy, language usage, space relations, mechanical reasoning, and numerical ability. College Preparatory students in grade eleven take the Ohio State University Psychological Test which is an aptitude device designed specifically for predicting success in college. In addition to a total score, it provides an excellent measure of reading comprehension. At grade twelve level, the guidance department cooperates with the United States Employment Service in the administration of their General Aptitude Test Battery to non-college students who expect to be on the job market the following June.
In addition to the regular high school psychological testing program, two national programs are provided for juniors and seniors. The first is the National Merit Schol- arship Qualifying Test which is administered in the Spring of each year to interested members of the Junior Class. This test is the preliminary screening device in the Nation- al Merit Program and consists of five tests of general edu- cational development as follows: (1) English Usage, (2) Mathematics Usage, (3) Social Studies Reading, (4) Natural Science Reading and (5) Word Usage. As a re- sult of high achievement on this preliminary test a mem- ber of the Class of 1959, Miss MaryJane Skatoff, became a finalist in the scholarship competition and was the recipient of a "Certificate of Merit". A member of the Class of 1960, Robert Najarian, has been honored with a "Letter of Commendation" for excellent performance on this same qualifying test.
The second program is the new Preliminary Scholas- tic Aptitude test which is prepared and distributed to participating schools by the Educational Testing Service.
158
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
This test was designed to take the place of the Junior Year College Board Examinations and is also the screen- ing device for several scholarship programs including that of the National Honor Society. In October of this year, eighty college preparatory juniors and seniors took this two hour examination under the supervision of the Guidance Director. Scores will be reported in December and will be on a scale of 20 to 80, comparable to the regu- lar College Entrance Examination Board, Scholastic Apti- tude Test scores running from 200 to 800.
The guidance department continues to use the ser- vices of Northeastern University for supplying up-to-date occupational information to our student body. Among these services are career assemblies for both the high school and the junior high school, career conferences with speakers from business and industry and a series of tape recordings concerning specific occupations.
As a result of the provisions of Title V of the National Defense Education Act, the guidance department received Federal funds during 1959 for the purchase of tests, office supplies, reference materials, and equipment for the gen- eral improvement and expansion of guidance services throughout the school system. The total of this Federal grant was $843.50. Of this amount, $292.50 was for test- ing and $551.00 was for supplies and equipment such as our new Revere tape recorder and filmstrip projector.
Looking to the future, it would seem that increased emphasis should be given to individual counseling, the heart and core of any good guidance program. The State Department of Education recommends a ratio of 300 students to 1 full-time counselor. At present, our ratio is in excess of 500 to 1 at both the high school and the junior high school. I would strongly recommend the addition of professional personnel to the guidance staff at the earliest time possible.
Respectfully submitted, CLYDE J. LAVINE Guidance Director
159
Town of Rockland
REPORT FROM SUPERVISOR OF VOCAL MUSIC
Mr. R. Stewart Esten Superintendent of Schools Rockland, Massachusetts
My dear Mr. Esten :
In the vocal music program, on the elementary level, we have concentrated mainly on singing. We are now developing our creative, rhythmic, and listening experi- ences, and look forward to much progress with the help of our new rhythm instruments and autoharps purchased for each elementary school.
On the Junior High School level, the seventh and eighth grade classes meet once a week on an elective basis. Music can finally be made a required subject because of the assistant coming in September. The choruses per- formed in the Talent Show, for assemblies, and last June, in the First Annual Elementary and Junior High Choral Concert, which included Glee Clubs and classes from both of these levels.
The High School Girls' Chorus performed in the first Music Scholarship Concert last May, and also sang for Memorial and Parents' Day programs. In the High School, since September, we have also started a Boys' Glee Club, which performed alone and also combined with the Girls' Chorus for the Christmas Assembly program. We also participated in a tape-recorded program over Station WJDA during the Christmas season.
I am extremely grateful to all who were concerned with providing an assistant for me as of September, 1960. There is much work yet to be done on all grade levels, which includes not only teaching the children, but also instructing and aiding the teachers to develop their class music programs. I anticipate a more rapid development of the vocal music in the system because of this addition to the department.
160
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
I wish to thank all of the administration and teachers for their support and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, ELEANORE M. BUBA
Supervisor of Vocal Music
REPORT FROM HIGH SCHOOL ART SUPERVISOR
Mr. R. Stewart Esten
Superintendent of Schools
Rockland, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Esten :
I hereby submit my annual report of the art depart- ment in the high school.
Art is an elective in the high school course of study. Any student may elect three periods of art a week if he has no conflicting course scheduled for the given period.
The aims of the art curriculum are to develop an appreciation for the aesthetic and the creative through participation, demonstration and observation. This is ac- complished by mastering skills with brush, linear tools and instruments for creating form, by learning and applying fundamentals of design and by individual creative experi- ences. The freshman class was introduced to the various media, their function and application in the development of an art product. The sophomores applied and created with these media on a more complex level. The third year students reached a higher level of achievement with the various materials through practice and clearer under- standing of art fundamentals. The seniors applied these skills and facts with experimentation to aesthetic creation with more freedom for individual approach.
New crafts incorporated in the art curriculum during
161
Town of Rockland
the past year are ceramics, metal enameling and sculpture in wood or plaster composition.
I would like to thank the administration for the co- operation given during the past year. I would also like to state that it is a privilege to teach in a classroom with such excellent physical facilities.
Respectfully submitted, PHYLLIS MANN
REPORT FROM THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ART SUPERVISOR
Mr. R. Stewart Esten
Superintendent of Schools
Rockland High School
Rockland, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Esten :
With our increasing emphasis on science we need to re-emphasize the place and function of art in education. Achievement in one area alone is narrow and to be avoid- ed if we are interested in developing well-balanced crea- tive thinking. Human expression is closely identified with human relations and the arts are essential to the complete and abundant life.
The art program at the Rockland Junior High School now includes elective classes in the seventh and eighth grades, with art a requirement at the sixth grade level. Classes are supplemented by the addition of seventh and eighth grade art clubs, allowing for the inclusion of crafts in the program.
Variety in materials and program is essential to stimulate interest and experimentation. Originality and observation are stressed, but an attitude of appreciation
162
Eighty-sixth Annual Report
and understanding takes precedence over the develop- ment of skills.
Art appreciation - discussion of both historical and contemporary art - augments our program. In the fu- ture, the purchase of slides, prints, and textbooks would be of great value.
Respectfully submitted, LAURA RICCI
REPORT FROM ELEMENTARY ART SUPERVISOR
Mr. R. Stewart Esten
Superintendent of Schools
Rockland, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Esten:
Perhaps the most important item to report this year is the addition of a third Art Teacher in the Junior High School. This has provided more time to visit the Elemen- tary School children.
Our supplies have been generally of good quality, and the addition of bulletin boards in Lincoln and McKin- ley Schools have been of great aid to the teachers.
I wish to thank all the principals, teachers, and cus- todians for their cooperation this year and in the past.
Respectfully submitted, ELEANOR CROOK
Elementary Art Supervisor
163
Town of Rockland
REPORT FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION SUPERVISOR FOR BOYS
Mr. R. Stewart Esten
Superintendent of Schools
Rockland, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Esten :
I hereby submit my annual report of the Boys' Physi- cal Education Department.
The physical education program this year emphasizes such objectives of education as the physical, the social, the emotional, the recreational and the intellectual devel- opment of each pupil. One of the primary functions of physical education is to develop each student to his great- est possible physical fitness. This is attained through a complete and varied program in group and individual activities. We relate the social aspect to physical educa- tion particularly in intramural and rhythmic activities. Through the teaching of groups or team sports, students learn to work together and understand each other better. Because of the nature of physical activities, we hope that a student will learn self control and by participating in physical activities lessen the tensions accumulated during the school day. The physical education department has directed its program so that the students who find them- selves with leisure time can, if they wish, use the time for recreational purposes. In later life these activities could prove beneficial.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.