USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1950 > Part 6
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The office of the Superintendent is open daily from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. except Saturdays when it is open in the forenoon only.
Personal appointments with the Superintendent may be made by calling the office.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN Charles E. P. Thompson, M.D., 65 Center St.
SCHOOL NURSE AND SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Mrs. Louise F. Dennie, R.N., Spring St., Marion
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School Calendar
1950-51
Weeks
Open
Close
First Term
16 Wed., Sept. 6
Fri., Dec. 22
Second Term
7 Tues., Jan. 2
Fri., Feb 16
Third Term
7 Mon., Feb. 26
Fri., Apr. 13
Fourth Term
9 Mon., Apr. 23
*Wed., June 20
1951-52
Weeks
Open
Close
First Term
16 Wed., Sept. 5
Fri., Dec. 21
Second Term 7 Wed., Jan. 2
Fri., Feb. 15
Third Term
7 Mon., Feb. 25
Fri., Apr. 11
Fourth Term
9 Mon., Apr. 21
*Wed., June 18
* Schools will close if 180 days have been held by this time.
There will be no school on the following days which occur during the scheduled terms of 1951:
Mar. 23
Good Friday
May 30
Memorial Day
Oct. 12
Columbus Day
Nov. 12
Armistice Day
Nov. 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess from noon Nov. 21
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL 22
7:30 A.M. Indicates no school for all day.
12:30 P.M. Indicates no afternoon session for grades 1 to 7.
It is the policy of the School Department to order the no-school signal only in the most severe weather conditions or when the transportation service is interrupted. At other times parents are expected to use their own judgment in sending children to school.
115
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Fairhaven:
We submit herewith the report of the School Com- mittee for the year ending December 31, 1950.
MEETINGS
During the year 1950 we have held 30 executive meet- ings of the School Committee, 12 of which were regular and 18 special. In addition to these meetings we have attended an unrecorded number of other meetings and conferences on official matters with the Building Committee, Finance Committee, Selectmen, Precinct Meetings, Improvement Associations, and Parent-Teacher Associations.
FINANCES
The School Committee has been able to complete the year with a reduced budget because of a combination of factors some of which were planned and others unfortunate and foreseen. Coal bins and supply shelves were very low at the close of the year. Purchases of maps and other mat- erials were postponed. Several positions were filled by teachers at lower salaries. Further balancing of the budget came about through retirement, illness, and death.
SPECIAL. REPAIRS
Three large items of special repair were completed this year. The Oxford School roof repair was provided for by a transfer of $1,425 and the Rogers School boilers were replaced as an emergency measure by an appropriation of $11,500.
The third large item of expenditure for the improve- ment of school buildings was the installation of fluorescent lighting in the classrooms of the Rogers and Anthony schools.
116
The School Committee recommends that certain other improvements be undertaken as soon as possible but because of the amount of money involved has placed them in sepa- rate articles for the Annual Meeting :
1. H.S. Addition, Renovation of heating system $2,000
2. H.S. Addition, Fluorescent lighting 3,500
3. H.S. Addition, Scrub coating, (water proofing) 1,000
4. Oxford School, Scrub coating (watering proofing 3,000
REGULAR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
We have continued to employ three maintenance men whose work for 1950 is reported by the Superintendent of Schools. The program for 1951 includes repairs and re- novation in all buildings. With the amount of property which is entrusted to the School Committee we feel that the full time employment of these men has been well worth while.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
Our primary purpose is to provide a good system of public education from grade one to grade twelve. We feel that we are accomplishing this purpose and that we are furnishing the type and quality of educational service which the Town and the State demand.
During the past year we have authorized certain changes which will improve the educational program. The Oxford and Anthony Schools have been divided into two separate principalships. The principal at East Fairhaven is now a supervising principal and serves also as a helping teacher. A director of guidance in the High School is pro- viding a valuable service. The Committee is anxious to have the standards of education kept high and to serve the public well.
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BUILDINGS NEEDS
The members of the School Committee have worked with the other members of the School Building Committee in planning for more school facilities. We are glad to re- port our unanimous agreement with the findings of the Building Committee as a whole and we look forward to using, as soon as possible, the additions planned for the Oxford and East Fairhaven schools.
Respectfully submitted,
WALDO E. HAYDON, Chairman CLARENCE E. MAGUIRE, Vice-Chairman LAWRENCE B. MAXFIELD EDITH M. MOORE HAROLD S. MACOMBER, JR. F. STANDISH KELLY
School Committee
118
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the Fairhaven School Committee:
I submit herewith my twelfth annual report as Superin- tendent of Schools.
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
Average Membership
1,674
1,704
1,788
1,900
Percent of Attendance
94.56
94.14
94.62
93.21
Further information concerning attendance may be found in the accompanying tables.
TEACHER CHANGES
Name
Began
Left
Memo
Anna P. Malone
Sept. '27
June '50
Agnes T. Gleason
Sept. '43
Mar. '50
To Fall River Retired Aug. 2, 1950
Joan R. Hall
Sept. '44
June '50
Edith I. Gardiner
Sept. '45
Apr. '50
Died July 10, 1950 To Dartmouth
Norman L.Gifford
Sept. '48
June '50
Beverly M. Farwell
Sept.
'49
June '50
Edward Wojnar
Oct. '49
June '50
To Freetown
Principalship
Rose Nieviedgal
Nov. '49 Jan. '50
David M. Cargill
Apr. '50
June '50
SCHOOL ACTIVITY ACCOUNTS
New statutes require that certain school activity receipts previously handled by the Superintendent and the High School Principal be deposited with the Town Treasurer and that all bills for such activities be paid by him after approval by the School Committee and Selectmen. In conformity with these laws there has been deposited with the Treasurer the funds of the High School Lunch Room, the Elementary School Milk Program, and the High School Athletic Association. Summaries of the finances of these three activities are presented herewith. Any change in the custody of other activity funds should be postponed until the law is clarified.
119
HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
Receipts
Sales (177 days)
Federal Funds
P.T.A. Dinner
$24,164.92 Ave. $136.52 per day 7,127.60 Reimbursement 90.43
Increase in Inventory
568.38 Food only
From Surplus
201.60
Total
$32,152.93
Expenditures
Food
$22,596.46
Labor
7,822.20
Other
1,734.27 Mostly equipment
Total
$32,152.93
Improvements during the year included new tables, a food chopper, two food trucks, and some smaller equipment.
ELEMENTARY MILK PROGRAM
Receipts
Sales (147 days)
$2,011.22
Federal Funds
864.96 Reimbursement
Mothers' Club, 1950
196.81
From Surplus
23.82
Total
$3,096.81
Expenditures
Total
$3,096.81 57,864 bottles
Receipts other than from sales permitted the distri- bution of 8,735 bottles of milk free, an average of 59 per day.
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Summary for 1949-50
Item
Income
Expense $3,378.19
Profit $480.38
Loss
Football
$3,858.57
Basketball
1,394.93
1,268.90
126.03
Baseball
92.84
597.94
505.10
Bleachers
598.17
598.17
Total
$5,346.34
$5,843.20
$606.41
$1,103.27
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Cash Account
Balance, Sept. 1, 1949
$1,793.76
Receipts, indicated above
5,346.34
Total
$7,140.10
Payments, indicated above
$5,843.20
Balance, Aug. 31, 1950 Total
1,296.90
$7,140.10
Although a comparison of the balances indicates a net loss of $496.86, it should be noted that in addition to the bleachers there was on hand August 31, 1950 new sports equipment valued as follows :
Football $208.80
Basketball
243.40
Baseball 49.40
Total $501.60
A serious difficulty facing high school athletics is found in the decreasing gate receipts at football games and increasing expenses. With decreasing balances in sight the School Committee may have to consider the desirability of an appropriation for athletic purposes.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
The educational program has benefited this year by the following changes:
1. Two additional elementary teachers.
2. An additional high school teacher and one addi- tional half-time teacher in commercial subjects.
3. Changes in the principalship organization in the Oxford, Anthony, and East Fairhaven schools.
4. Establishment of a guidance department described in the High School Principal's report.
5. New elementary textbooks in arithmetic and geography.
Other changes which should be planned for 1951 include the following :
1. Additional elementary teacher.
2. Additional half-time teacher in High School.
121
3. An additional full time teacher of Physical Education.
4. Art and Music Supervisors should be engaged full- time instead of 90%.
5. Further development of the program in audio- visual and guidance work.
6. Further study of the language course.
While the work of the School Nurse and that of the Supervisor of Attendance are not entirely educational in nature the two officers are a definite part of the eductional program. Since the regretted loss of Mr. Charles H. Lawton who served for many years as supervisor of at- tendance the duties of that office have been combined with those of the School Nurse. We find that most of the attendance cases are actually health cases and the combina- tion of the duties of the two offices in one person seems to be working well.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special acknowledgment is due the central P.T.A. for its contribution to the Audio-Visual work of the schools. It has made available for our use a film library on which about $1250 has been expended. The organization has sponsored a series of Clare Tree Major productions of educational value and has shown in other ways its interest in the schools. Meetings have been held in the Huttleston Avenue Auditorium.
The East Fairhaven P.T.A. has met regularly in the school auditorium. During the year it has donated $50. for a scholarship and $25. for records suitable for the school's record player. It has also provided curtains and a couch cover for the teachers' room.
The Fairhaven Lions Club presented us with a vision testing apparatus which is used by the Nurse in the annual examination of all pupils.
We are very grateful for the cooperation we have received from these organizations.
122
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS
The maintenance of school buildings is a perpetual problem in any school system. The work this year has included the usual amount of cases where a plumber or electrician must be called in. Contract work has been completed on the Oxford School roof, fluorescent lighting in the Anthony and Rogers schools, and new boilers in the Rogers School.
The three maintenance men have completed most of the other work throughout the school system. The principal items are listed by schools.
High School and Addition
Painted corridors and classrooms.
Repaired ventilators, doors, door checks, flashings.
Repaired glass in walk over tunnel.
Moved and repaired bleachers.
Repaired piers at stadium entrances.
Oxford School
Painted all classrooms. Repaired conductor pipes. Finished and installed flag pole.
Anthony School Repaired roof.
Tripp School Painted exterior. Repaired gutters, mouldings, doors.
East Fairhaven School
Painted exterior.
Washington St. School
Removed cupola. Repaired roof.
Rogers School
Repaired and rehung doors. Repaired portable.
Other work by Mr. Bettencourt and his assistants in- cluded checking roofs of all schools, moving equipment, repairing damage after storm of November 25, and other miscellaneous items. The program is of such value that its continuance should be assured.
123
TRANSPORTATION
The number of children from Oak Grove Lane and that vicinity became so great that a new bus route was begun in September. Starting from New Boston Road and going by way of Oak Grove Lane it delivers pupils to the High School and to three elementary schools. A detailed report is given in a separate table.
CONCLUSION
I do not need to stress the fact that we have been badly crowded this year. The additions so long considered for the Oxford and East Fairhaven schools will provide welcome relief for a time, and it is hoped that the year 1951 will see their construction well under way.
Your attention is called to the accompanying reports of the High School Principal and to other reports submitted at this time which will give an insight into some of the factors and problems of a school system.
Respectfully submitted, FLAVEL M. GIFFORD Superintendent of Schools
124
Report of the High School Principal
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I have the honor to present my fourteenth annual report as Principal of the Fairhaven High School.
ENROLLMENT
The school enrollment of October 1 was 768 including 565 in the four-year high school, 160 in the eighth grade, and 43 in a seventh grade assigned here because of over- crowded elementary schools.
GRADUATION 1950
On June 21, 1950, 108 students received diplomas from Mr. Waldo E. Haydon, Chairman of the School Committee. The three students having the highest marks in the class had parts in the program. They were Robert Barrows, Barbara Pearson and Marjorie Howes. Awards were made as follows: The Julia A. Sears Essay Prize, Barbara Pearson; The Lady Fairhaven Cup, Irene Fredette and Richard Norman; The Lady Fairhaven Citizenship Award, Patricia Sylvia; The Bausch and Lomb Medal for Excellence in Science, Alberta Silveira; the D.A.R. Good Citizenship Award and an award of $10.00 from the John West Fund, Mary Harding.
For many years some of our graduates have received financial aid from the colleges they attended; others have been helped by the New Bedford College Club, but until recently there were no scholarships for the exclusive use of Fairhaven High School seniors. It is worth noting, therefore, that last June the Principal was able to announce ten scholarships with a total value of $1300. The scholar- ships and the recipients were: The Fairhaven Mothers Club $100 and the East Fairhaven P.T.A. $50 to Robert Barrows; The Mattapoisett Woman's Club $100 to Alberta Silveira; New Bedford College Club $200 to JoAnn Walker; Fairhaven-Mattapoisett Teachers Association $250 to Jacqueline Burke and $250 to Sherman Kinney of the Class of 1949; The New Bedford Kiwanis Club $100 and the Palestine Scholarship $100 to Richard Norman; St. Luke's Hospital $100 to Marjorie Howes and $100 to
125
Joanne Carlson. Some of these scholarships will not be ours every year, yet the high cost of college education makes financial aid necessary for many capable students. It is to be hoped that additional scholarships will be made available to supplement money earned by students or borrowed from the Huttlestonian Loan Fund. The New Bedford College Club and the New Bedford Harvard Club presented books to Pearl Samaska and David Sweet both of the Class of 1951. The class gift to the school was a sum of $100 to be spent to convert two niches in the east corridor into trophy cases. The guest speaker was Dr. Alexander Brin, chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Education.
ATHLETICS
Friends of Fairhaven High School will long remember the year 1950. Playing with spirit, skill, stamina, and unfailing sportsmanship, our basketball team won game after game until they had a perfect record for the regular season and were invited to play in the Eastern Massachu- setts Tournament in Boston. Here their fine team work and clean play brought praise from all including opponents, officials, and sports writers. The team won victories over Marblehead, Milton and Belmont and the Class B championship. A week later the boys returned to the Boston Garden to defeat Westerly, R. I. in the New England Tournament.
Great credit is due the coach, Mr. Entin, and Mr. Clement, the assistant coach, Miss Hastings, Mr. Gonsalves and the band, Mrs. Sullivan and the cheer leaders, the students and the adult supporters who followed the team so loyally. But most of all credit is due the boys who won for themselves and their school the praise of all who saw them play or who listened to the radio.
By popular subscription enough money was raised to provide gifts for the players and to send the coaches and the entire squad to New York to see the Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament.
Eager to add still more luster to the season, the cheer leaders entered for the first time the competition for cheer leaders held at the David Prouty High School in Spencer, Massachusetts and won third prize in the senior division.
126
When spring came Coach Clement's baseball team was so successful that it was invited to play in the area play- offs for the Eastern Massachusetts title. The boys got through the first round and were eliminated in the second round by a close score.
In the fall of 1950 an inexperienced football team developed skill rapidly and won four out of seven games and made a good showing in every contest. A start was made on a more extensive JV program for boys not able to qualify for the Varsity squad and a tennis tournament was arranged. These latter activities were in charge of Mr. Cook.
The physical education and athletic program planned by Mrs. Sullivan provided for the girls the usual intramural contests and some games with other schools.
GUIDANCE
Last September the School Committee made it possible for us to expand our guidance program. Mrs. Bruce now devotes her full time to this work. Individual conferences are planned for all seniors and juniors and opportunities are provided for pupils in the lower classes to receive assistance with social and academic problems.
The New Bedford office of the Massachusetts Employ- ment Service administered without charge to the seniors who wished it a battery of tests designed to reveal voca- tional aptitudes. The Boston University Vocational Bat- tery was offered again this year to Juniors and Seniors. About 130 students took these various tests.
An employment bureau has been set up to place students in part time jobs and to help graduates find permanent positions. Between October first and Christmas, fifteen students were placed and an increasing number of employers are calling for workers. In cooperation with Mrs. Noyer, twenty graduates were helped to secure full time office work.
A College Conference Day was held December 21 for juniors and seniors. Twelve graduates of the Class of 1950 now attending college provided a lively and instructive panel discussion on problems that confront a college fresh- man. A series of assembly programs also is being held to acquaint pupils with opportunities in various fields.
127
A follow-up program should be started to enable the school to keep in touch with graduates and to enable those who have left our school to tell us what preparation they find most valuable so that curricular revision and future guidance development may be kept in line with the actual needs of our young people.
The director of guidance has enjoyed fine cooperation from pupils, faculty, parents, college representatives, em- plovers and the Massachusetts Employment Service. Our guidance program while still in its infancy appears to be functioning well.
REDECORATING
The interior of our school has been made much more attractive by repainting all class rooms and corridors and the Huttleston Avenue Auditorium. The gym and the Larch Avenue Auditorium remain to be redecorated. The trophy cases made possible by the Class of 1950 are being built and will soon be ready for use.
IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED
Among the items needed are lunch room chairs, light proof curtains for a projection room in each building and for the physics laboratory, modern lighting fixtures, addi- tional radiators in the addition, new locks for the wooden lockers, and the completion of the remodeling of the foods laboratory. Our gym is quite inadequate to care for the crowds of students and adults who wish to attend our games and the basketball court is considerably below standard size. Before long we shall need additional room and equipment for our classes in typewriting and office practice and we should consider adding a course in automobile driving such as is offered by many high schools in the state.
CONCLUSION
When only a few of the children who completed ele- mentary education went on to high school, a relatively narrow course of study met their needs fairly well. Now that high schools must offer a worthwhile program for all the children of all the people a much broader cur- riculum is demanded. This in turn requires more teachers with special training and more shops, laboratories, and equipment.
128
The great struggle in the world is to possess the minds of men. We are attacked by specious argument and clever propaganda that make error resemble truth. This is not time to send out of schools young Americans who have been inadequately prepared to think and to act.
In our school we are trying to do our share in the essential and difficult but challenging work that falls to teachers. For the support and encouragement we have had, we are very grateful.
Respectfully submitted, CHESTER M. DOWNING Principal of High School
Report of School Nurse
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I present herewith my eighth annual report as a school nurse.
Health Education has been defined as the sum of all experiences which favorably influence habits, attitudes, and knowledge relating to individual and community health.
The nurse has cooperated in protecting the health of school children. Each school is visited once a week and more often if necessary and many home visits have been made.
Clinics are held during the year to discover defects of eyes and ears. Diphtheria immunization was given under the auspices of the Board of Health. All children in grades one to seven were weighed three times during the year.
In September The Fairhaven Lions Club presented the School Department with the Massachusetts Vision Testing Equipment which we are very happy to own.
129
We hope to share soon in the benefits of the Greater New Bedford Mental Health Clinic which is being established.
In cooperation with the National Safety Council a record is kept of all pupil accidents, in school or out, sufficiently serious to result in absence from school or re- quiring medical attention. Accident reports are sent each month to the Superintendent of Schools and to the National Safety Council.
ACCIDENT REPORT
Month
School Days
Accidents
Days Lost
Jan.
21
4
151/2
Feb.
14
4
1
March
23
5
41%
April
14
5
1115
May
22
3
6
June
131/2
1
10
Sept.
17
4
221%
Oct.
21
3
315
Nov.
191/4
4
14
Dec.
16
3
71%
Total
181
36
96
The Nurse assists with the milk program. Pupils may purchase a one-half pint bottle for 4 cents a bottle. The Federal Foods Distribution Administration reimburses us at the rate of 11% cents per bottle and proceeds from the Mothers' Club Tag Day provide free milk for needy pupils.
SUMMARY OF YEAR'S WORK
Classroom Visits
1058
Follow up Cases
212
Office Calls
31
Referred to School Physician
7
Phyically Handicapped Children
28
Home Visits to above
5
Accidents in School
12
School Children for Toxin Clinic
89
Audiometer tests in January
787
Retests in January
95
Audiometer tests in October
784
Retests in October
118
Massachusetts Vision Tests
1169
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DENTAL CLINIC
The School Nurse cooperated with the Board of Health Dental Clinic held in the Tripp School each Tuesday and Thursday morning. Pupils from each school may go once in every five weeks. The dentist, Dr. Edward Mee, treats from twelve to sixteen children each morning. Charges vary from 20 to 35 cents, but the work is done without charge for those unable to pay.
SUMMARY OF DENTAL WORK
Fillings
376
Extractions
178
Cleanings
63
Examinations
39
Treatments
49
Respectfully submitted, LOUISE F. DENNIE, R.N.
School Nurse and Agent of the Board of Health
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Financial Statement
SCHOOL EXPENDITURES AND 1951 BUDGET
ITEM
Expended 1949
Expended 1950
Budget 1951
GENERAL CONTROL
Salaries and Expenses
$ 9,111.79
$
8,912.15
$ 8,955.00
INSTRUCTION
Teachers
217,416.64
240,195.03
256,875.00
Textbooks
5,278.76
4,715.97
5,580.00
Supplies
6,923.72
5,808.82
7,990.00
OPERATION
Janitors
25,259.65
25,937.00
27,720.00
Fuel
8,504.69
6,448.03
9,500.00
Other Expense
6,046.47
6,122.17
6,800.00
MAINTENANCE
Repairs and Replacement
13,552.57
12,143.69
14,750.00
OUTLAY
Buildings and Grounds
3,165.36
27.16
3,000.00
New Equipment
4,713.82
512.79
2,600.00
OTHER AGENCIES
Transportation
9,827.40
10,473.77
13,150.00
Tuition
317.19
628.61
600.00
Health
3,457.76
3,511.76
3,700.00
Sundries
1,029.54
847.81
1,000.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$314,603.56
$326,284.76
$362,220.00
APPROPRIATION
295,500.00
306,427.00
345,160.00
DOG FUND AND TRUST FUNDS $19,103.56
$19,857.76
$17,060.00
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS AND 1951 ESTIMATES
EXPENDABLE INCOME
High School Trust Funds
$12,546.27
$11,817.49
$11,540.00
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