USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1922 > Part 5
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What percentage of the children in the schools of Fair- haven are of foreign, mixed and native parentage ?
On December 15th the divisions were as follows:
Grades. High School. 28%
Children of foreign born parents
47%
Children of mixed parentage (one parent for- eign born)
17% 16%
Children of native parentage (both parents
born in this country) 36% 56%
20
Suggestions from Data.
1. The employment of a truant officer for at least half-time is needed in order to insure that all children of school age are in school.
2. There is no provision in our system for helping re- tarded children, neither are exceptionally bright children given the extra opportunity their due. Both types need more than ordinary opportunities. Classes for exceptional children should be organized at the earliest possible moment.
In this connection, the semi-annual promotion plan would save valuable time for many children. Under this it is not necessary for a pupil to repeat the work of a whole year. Also in the same connection, a vacation school in the summer to enable pupils to make up work would save time for some children.
3. The junior high school organization aids greatly in persistence of attendance through the upper grades and high school. It is very desirable that one be organized in Fair- haven.
Why doesn't the School Department make these and other changes that might be mentioned ?
The explanation is obvious. They would be expensive. Some affect to believe that the necessary funds could be ob- tained from the Town for the asking. Those who should understand best our financial condition feel that the present is a time for a measure of economy even in expenditures for schools.
What does the Superintendent of Schools believe ?
As a tax payer he would cheerfully bear his small share of the extra burden for these and other changes which would benefit the children. He believes that money well spent in education is the most profitable investment for any commu- nity. Nevertheless, he is able to see the absolute necessity of large expenditures for other things than schools in a rap- idly growing town. He believes that Fairhaven will some- time be a city and that by degrees will be developed the fore-
21
going and other features of a modern city school system. He hopes the time is not far distant when more money will be available for schools.
High School.
The enrollment in the High school for the current year numbers 340 with an actual membership on December 15th of 320. Of this number 248 pupils are from Fairhaven. The increase of local pupils over last year is 37. The fol- lowing table shows the number of Fairhaven pupils in each of the last ten years.
Number of High School Pupils from Fairhaven.
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
1921
1922
111
120
152
175
175
200
180
181
221
248
The present High school building was opened in 1906. The number of pupils from Fairhaven in that year was 103. Growth was slow and fluctuating at first as the follow shows:
Number of High School Pupils from Fairhaven.
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
103
94
81
69
91
94
111
In the last ten years attendance from the town has in- creased 123%. There has been a growth of 37% since 1920.
When the present building was opened many felt it was unnecessarily large for the town. On this account pupils from Mattapoisett, Rochester and Acushnet were admitted. The situation has changed. The school is now crowded, even with no first year pupils from Acushnet and Rochester. Rooms not suited for class rooms are serving as such. In some of these there are insufficient blackboards, no pupils' desks, no teacher's desk, and movable chairs. Pupils are required to keep their books and papers under their seats. The classes in manual training, domestic science and drawing
22
are too large for the space provided for them and work in these branches must be curtailed. This is particularly true of cooking and sewing, advanced classes in which must be omitted next year. These conditions can be remedied in a limited way if sufficient money is expended. It may be pos- sible to enable the building to accommodate approximately one hundred more pupils. The fact remains, however, that its maximum capacity is rapidly being reached. At the pres- ent rate of increase there will be four hundred or more Fair- haven pupils within five years. Inability to add to the pres- ent building or extensively alter it will compel relief to be sought either in a new high school or a junior high. The latter will cost less and will be more in accord with modern organization of the school system.
Despite the large classes and inconvenience of over- crowding the school has never been in better condition. The morale of pupils and teachers is exceptionally good and the standard of scholastic work done is high. Decrease in the number of failures to be promoted has been mentioned else- where. While it is fair to attribute a part of this progress to better preparation for high school through greater effic- iency in the grades the major portion of credit belongs to the high school. The esprit de corps of teachers and pupils is one factor responsible for it! the systematic following up of individual cases by the Principal is another; the professional spirit of the teachers in seeking better methods of presenting their subjects deserves also recognition in this connection.
While preparation for college is the aim of a relatively small number of students and a public high school cannct now, as in the past, specialize unduly in this direction many people are nevertheless disposed to judge the merits of a school by its success in this particular. How does Fairhaven stand? It has for ten years been approved by the New England College Entrance Board. This approval was re- newed last year for three years. It has all the certificate possesses. "In regard for admission to col- privileges any public school to these and to preparation
23
lleges that admit only by examination the Principal says: "It is practically a state-wide practice to recommend for examination and to certify only those pupils who have received a mark of 80%-B, or more in their college entrance subjects. This is the standard required at Fairhaven High school, although a pupil receiving a mark of C-70% is given permission to take the college entrance examinations. The B average has probably been adopted because a pupil who does B work in High school will probably do about passing work the first half year at college because of the increased difficulty of the subjects, the newness of the environment, and the difference in the methods of teaching at college. I am sometimes asked whether Fairhaven High school prepares pupils for a certain college and 1 wish to say that Fairhaven High school prepares for any of the eastern colleges and probably for any other college in the United States. A pu- pil, however, who is planning to go to college must choose his course in accordance with the entrance requirements of the institution that he wishes to enter and he must then have the mental ability and determined perseverance to reecive the B average required for both certification and recommenda- tion for examination."
The morale of the present student body has been men- tioned. Love of the school and pride in its achievements and progress are not confined to them. In June a splendid gathering of the alumni was held. Over five hundred came in response to the invitations of Principal Dickey and a committee which served with him. A clambake at Fort Phoenix, sports in the stadium, social gatherings in the High school and a business meeting in the evening were some of the features. At the evening meeting it was unanimously voted to appoint a committee to solicit subscriptions for an endowment fund, the income from which is to be used in the purchase of prizes for especially efficient work in various de- partments of the school. It is hoped that this will be large enough to accomplish these ends and provide also a scholar- ship for the use of deserving pupils. The interest and sub-
24
stantial support of the alumni association can be an import- ant factor in the success of any school. There is every rea- son to believe that Fairhaven High Alumni Association will be such.
Improvement of School Work.
Recent years have been characterized by unusual pro- gress in the educational world. Problems of school organi- zation, of subject matter content, of methods of teaching, and of measuring results of teaching have been the subjects of extensive investigation and experimentation. While not all the changed theories can be accepted without further sub- stantiation, there is, nevertheless, a wealth of material that has crystalized and is ready for immediate application in the improvement of school work. This material can reach and benefit the pupils only in proportion as it passes through the personalities of teachers in sympathy with it. To assimilate and use it, teachers, both old and new, need to seek every opportunity for professional improvement. The teacher who takes a summer course for this purpose receives in many cities an increase in her salary or a bonus in part payment of her expenses. This is a profitable investment anywhere provided the teacher will contract to return to her position for another year of service. It may well be done in Fair- haven.
Under the auspices of the University Extension Depart- ment professional courses are now being given in various towns and cities. These are of the same grade as those given in college and normal schools during the summer. Some teachers are unable to use the summer months for this purpose. These extension courses make easily available for all the opportunity to improve their work. It would be sound policy for a town to aid in financing one of these every
25
year. The small amount thus expended would return many fold through better quality of school work done.
I know that many will at first consider these recommen- dations to be unsound. While the public in a way knows that teachers need training, it places more emphasis on the qualities of personality than it does on professional skill. Both are needed in order to do good school work, and aid to teachers to the end of better training in service is especially desirable in a community where the salaries paid do not com- mand a high degree of experience nor justify a large expen- diture by the teacher herself for extra training.
It is a part of the work of the Superintendent of Schools to aid his teachers in professional advancement. Under present conditions, practically the only method he has of su- pervising the work of teachers is through the Principals. He tries to keep in close touch with each. During the fall term six by-weekly meetings of the Principals were held at the Superintendent's office. Discussion of general problems and consideration of such specific subjects as the course of study in history, in civics, in spelling, in reading, in penmanship and the teaching of these subjects have proven helpful and the results have been carried into the schools. When Fair- haven has a larger proportion of the Superintendent's time more of this distinctly professional work can be expected from him.
The Fairhaven Union Teachers' Association, by its pro- fessional spirit, contributes in no small measure to the im- provement of the school work of the district. Raising money by membership dues and by an annual entertainment in each town, it uses the proceeds to pay for a teachers' institute held each year in February. The program of the 1922 institute was as follows:
26
10:00. Address: The Teacher's Relation to the System and the Comnminity. Dr. F. E. Spaulding, Graduate Department of Yale University.
10:45. SECTIONAL MEETINGS.
High School Teachers-Room 5.
Subject: High School Methods of Marking. Mr. Arthur L. Campbell, Commercial High School, New Haven, Conn.
Grammar Grade Teachers-Room 4. Subject: Significant Facts in Teaching the Georgraphy of Europe. Mr. Robert M. Brown, R. I. Normal School. Primary Teachers-Room 6. Subject: Penmanship in the Primary Grades. Miss Olive M. Adams, Supervisor of Penmanship, Beverly, Mass.
11:30. Address: Silent Reading. Miss Laura Zirbes, Investigator of Reading, Teachers' College, Columbia University.
12:30. Luncheon and Social Hour.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
1:30. Address: Demonstration and Interpretation of Intelligence Tests.
Professor E. A. Shaw, Harvard University.
2:30. SECTIONAL MEETINGS. High School and Grammar Grade Teachers-Room 5.
Subject : Articulation of High and Elementary Schools. Professor G. S. Counts, Graduate Department of Yale University. Primary Teachers-Room 6. Subject: Primary Reading.
Miss Laura Zirbes, Columbia University. Principals-Room 10. Subject: Problems of Supervision. Dr. Frank E. Spaulding, Yale University.
3:15. Address: The Joy of Being a Teacher. Miss Mary MacSkimmon, Principal of Pierce School, Brookline, Mass.
27
Measured in terms of improved school work, a day like the above represents a large net gain to the pupils, even if one day of school life has been lost.
Health Supervision.
The results of eye and ear tests given by the teachers, report of the work done by the school nurse, report of the dental clinic, and the results of the weighing of pupils in December and other data, follow:
EYE AND EAR TESTS.
(Grade Schools)
Number of children examined. 1399
Number found defective in eyesight 166
Number found defective in hearing. 28 Parents or guardians notified. 164
The results of a thorough individual examination of pupils in the High school are on file there. They include sixteen cases of defective vision. The report of the exam- iner closes with the following statement and recommenda- tion: "My report shows that the cases of defective vision and enlarged tonsils predominate. These must be left with the parents or guardians of these students for correction or removal and of course cannot be amenable to any gymna- sium exercise."
"In those cases where special exercises are advisable, would suggest that a special class be arranged for handling these students, if the same can be arranged without detriment to the general school routine. Much good can be accom- plished in those students suffering from physical defects by use of the varied and valuable apparatus in our gymnasium by our competent instructors."
"Any advice or further examination of these cases dur-
28
ing the school year to ascertain what changes have taken place from my recommendations will most cheerfully be given."
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE.
Hours on duty. 606
Number of school visits. 503
Number of children now under care. 331
Number of follow-up visits to homes. 267
Office calls 109
Number of cases referred to school physician
17
Number referred to clinic at St. Luke's
Number referred to S. P. C. C .. 14
6
Number referred to Family Welfare Society
3
Number referred to Children's Welfare Society
Number cases of pediculosis found. 143
Number cases of impetigo found.
107
Number cases of body lice found.
9
Number cases of ring worm found 5
Number cases of scabies found
9
Number cases of poison ivy found.
22
Number cases of adenoids found 118
Number cases of miscellaneous diseases
221
"In visiting the schools cases of contagious disease are frequently discovered and usually taken home immediately by the nurse. Treatment for boils, burns, abrasions and minor infections has been given. Glasses have been pro- vided eight children."
RESULTS OF WEIGHING IN DECEMBI R.
Number of pupils weighed 1,283
Number of pupils below normal weight. 592
Number of pupils more than 10% below normal weight. 154
Per cent. more than 10% below normal. 12
Through the interest and generosity of the Fairhaven Benevolent Association scales were purchased for use in the schools. The weighing of children is now regular. Reports are sent home to parents and follow-up work is done in some cases by the nurse. The record is 2% better than that of last year. I am convinced that the serving of hot cocoa at noon to children would have a beneficial effect. In a neigh-
29
boring town one year of this has been one cause of reducing the number underweight by 13%.
At the request of the Mothers' Club the School Com- mittee assumed direction of the dental clinic in September. Dr. McKenna was re-engaged and the school nurse has acted as the agent of the Committee in arranging for his work in the schools. His report follows:
DENTAL CLINIC REPORT YEAR OF 1922.
The dental clinic has been open during the year of 1922 just 69 mornings.
During the 69 sessions there were 157 children treated at the clinic. Of this total
19 were from the Anthony School 57 were from the Tripp School
23 were from the Washington School 37 were from the Oxford School
21 were from the Rogers School
Of the 157 children who visited the clinic there were
90 children who made 1 visit 47 children who made 2 visits 13 children who made 3 visits 4 children who made 4 visits
3 children who made 5 visits
During the year there were 20 children treated free and one on a partial payment plan.
30
The dental operations completed at the clinic may be listed as
Cement-amalgam üllings 109
Amalgam fillings 71
Cement fillings 40
Copper cement fillings. 5
Teeth extracted
35
Cases of cleaning.
84
Cases of treatment.
27
Case of drainage from abscess
1
A total of completed operations 372
At the beginning of the school year in 1922, perhaps with very few exceptions, all of the children in the grades had an oral examination. According to the records ob- tained during this survey of the teeth of the school children, I believe, the percentage of dental caries might be safely es- timated at 70%. This per cent. may be greatly reduced from year to year if it were possible for each child to have its first permanent molars filled at the very first appearance of dental decay. This is the most important step in preven- tive dentistry.
AUGUSTA McKENNA, D. M. D.
Continued good work in physical training is being done. Emphasis on posture, exercises to develop right habits of sit- ting, standing, walking, breathing, a splendid program of or- ganized play, valuable educationally, and the development of a wholesome interest in clean athletics, are some of the features of this work. It is well worth while.
Miscellany.
The Joint Committee of the Superintendency District at its annual meeting voted to continue the present arrange- ment for supervision, neither employing an assistant to the
31
superintendent nor dividing the district. There are now 105 teachers in four towns.
Education week was observed in all the schools during the week of December 2-9. A large number of parents were visitors and observed the regular work with some special ex- ercises.
An exhibition of folk dancing was given in the High school gymnasium in June by pupils of the grade schools. The proceeds are on deposit as the nucleus of a fund for the promotion of visual education. The Oxford school through its own efforts has purchased a stereopticon and by renting slides has increased its efficiency in teaching geography and history. A steropticon each for the Anthony and Rogers schools and a movie for the Tripp school, together with a set of graded educational slides, are among the hoped for possibilities.
Acknowledgement is here made of gifts of pictures by Mr. Alton B. Paull and Mr. J. F. Gamans.
The Junior Improvement Associations continue to thrive in Fairhaven schools. There are now nearly 800 members.
Under the new law Fairhaven is compelled to pay the cost of part-time schooling of minors between the ages of 14 and 16 who are at work in the mills. There are now 84 in the New Bedford Continuation schools for whose tuition the Town will be liable in June. Previously New Bedford has met this expense.
The usual statistical tables will be found appended.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. PRIOR,
TABULATED GRADES, TEACHERS, ATTENDANCE, ETC. School Year-September, 1921-June, 1922.
SCHOOL
Grades
TEACHERS
Whole Number
Enrolled
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per Cent.
Attendance
Cases of
Tardiness
Length of
School Year
High
George C. Dickey
314
286.8
274.8
94.4
202
187
Rogers
8
Louie R. Tripp
14
38.8
37.0
95.5
24
185
Rogers
8
Ruth L. Brocklebank
43
36.4
35.4
94.6
33
185
Rogers
7
Eva M. Sherman
54
43.7
41.0
93.8
25
185
Rogers
Elizabeth Hastings
52
44.9
42.0
93.6
36
185
Rogers
6
Evelyn E. Weston
38
35.7
33.2
92.8
22
185
Rogers
6
Alice E. Baker
52
45.2
42.5
93.9
16
185
Rogers
5
Mattie L. Norris
58
47.4
44.2
93.2
23
185
Rogers
Ethel I. Whippie
37
30.7
28.5
92.9
40
183
Washington St.
3
Gertrude E. Janowsky
36
34.7
32.4
93.4
30
183
Washington St.
3
Grace V. Cogger
Washington St.
2
Sadie Feinberg
50
36.3
33.5
92.2
27
183
Washington St.
Helena Carroll
51
38.0
33.9
89.3
72
183
Washington St.
L
Mary A. S. Sale
42
32.5
29.5
90.6
21
183
Washington St.
1
Edith I. Benson
19
32.6
29.6
90.8
8
183
Job C. Tripp
7
Tryphena M. Kendrick
38
30.6
29.0
94.9
23
185
Job C. Tripp
6
Elizabeth Graham
47
39.7
37.9
95.3
10
185
Job C. Tripp
5
Hazel F. Wolf
14
12.1
39.7
94.2
52
185
Job C. Tripp
4 & 5
Alta F. Silsby
54
38.2
35.5
92.9
69
185
Job C. Tripp
3
R. Maude Dewey
53
40.0
38.6
96.5
92
185
38
34.9
32.9
94.3
14
185
32
Job C. Tripp
2
Mary S. Fletcher
50
41.3
38.3
92.6
19
185
Job C. Tripp
1
Pearl E. Levangie
61
46.6
42.9
92.0
17
185
Oxford
6
Myra D. Crowell
53
41.8
38.6
92.3
52
184.5
Oxford
5
Edith Kendrick
47
39.8
36.5
91.7
66
183
Oxford
4
Florence M. Bullen
42
36.1
33.3
92.3
65
184.5
Oxford
3
Velma A. Blake
33
28.5
27.1
95.1
41
183
Oxford
3
Alice G. Longley
44
34.7
31.6
91.0
63
184
Oxford
2
Esther Yoken
58
47.1
44.0
93.3
93
184
Oxford
1 & 2
Katherine Houth
44
40.3
36.9
91.5
47
182.5
Oxford
1
Dorothy Fuller
54
38.6
34.8
90.2
85
182.5
Oxford
1
Dorothy Fuller
11
10.0
9.4
93.9
20
182.5
Ed. Anthony ·
5
Katherine MacCarron
45
38.0
37.0
97.3
34
185.5
1
1
Ed. Anthony
4
M. Olive Murray
37
36.6
35.0
96.3
12
166.5
Ed. Anthony
3
Mary A. Sweeney
39
35.3
33.8
95.8
13
166.5
Ed. Anthony
2
·
Katherine Manning
35
30.0
28.3
94.2
14
166.5
Ed. Anthony
1
Margaret Burding
47
40.3
37.0
91.9
96
166.5
Totals and averages
-
1594.2
1495.6
93.7
1606|
1894
182
33
34
PRESENT CORPS OF TEACHERS.
High School Teachers, 1922-23.
George C. Dickey
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Harvard
Ruby R. Dodge
Smith College
Eunice E. Strong
Oread Institute
Teachers' College, Columbia University
Susan P. Gifford
New Bedford Normal
University of Grenoble
Alliance Francaise, Paris
James Parkinson
Boston Sloyd Normal Art School
Wentworth Institute
Extension Coure, State
Swain Free School
Bates College
Plymouth Business School
Chandler Normal
Sargent Normal School
School for Social Workers
Boston University
Harvard Summer School
Cornell Summer School
Charles H. Johnson, Jr.
Summer Session, Columbia University
Guy B. Staples
Summer Session, Hyannis Normal Tufts College Harvard Summer School
Margaret Siebert
Jackson College Clark University
Catherine Shurtleff
Framingham Normal
Bernice Smith
Mary B. Dee
University of Maine Simmons College
Harvard Summer School
Dorothy Muzzey
Wellesley College
Irene H. Wilson
Wellesley College
Emma S. Daggett
Massachusetts Normal Art
Teachers' College (New York)
Abbie Allen, Secretary to Principal Fairhaven High School
Edwin F. Pidgeon Florence R. Griswold Mildred E. Gurney
1 Ruth M. Cady
35
Rogers School.
C. Harold Striley
Reta J. Reid
Evelyn E. Weston
Eva M. Sherman
Elizabeth Hastings Alice E. Baker
Helen M. Burns
Mattie L. Norris
Ethel I. Whippie
Diana Dufault
Myra D. Crowell
Susan G. B. Livesey Edith C. Kendrick Marjory L. Oakman Alice G. Longley Velma A. Blake Lillian E. Gregory
Lucille C. Hayden Margaret E. Zilch Vesta L. Gross
Salem Normal Harvard Summer School Boston University Course State Extension Course
Bridgewater Normal Framingham Normal Hyannis Summer Session University of Vermont
Hyannis Normal Hyannis Summer School Boston University A. B. State Extension Course Hyannis Summer Session Harvard Summer Session Cornell Summer Session Smith College Farmington, Maine, Normal Bridgewater Normal Fairhaven High School Johnson School, Boston (Sewing)
Keene Normal (N. H.) Keene Summer School Framingham Normal
Oxford School.
Bridgewater Normal New York University Summer School Bridgewater Normal Framingham Normal Keene Normal Lewiston Normal Training School Farmington Normal Miss Wheelock's Kindergarten Lesley Normal School Bridgewater Normal Framingham Normal Hyannis Normal
36
Washington Street School.
Mary A. S. Sale
Edith I. Benson
Bertha D. Doran
Bridgewater Normal Hyannis Summer Course
Grace V. Cogger
Framingham Normal
Sadie Feinberg
Bridgewater Normal
Gertrude E. Janowsky
Keene Normal
Job C. Tripp School.
Pearl E. Levangie
Mildred E. Webb Mary S. Fletcher R. Maude Dewey Alta F. Silsby
Donna H. Johnson
Mildred E. Borden
Hazel F. Wolf
Robinson Seminary Plymouth Normal School Keene Summer School Bridgewater Normal Salem Normal School Castleton Normal School
Salem Normal School
Robinson Seminary Hyannis Normal School Framingham Normal School
Edmund Anthony School.
Elizabeth Graham
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