USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1954 > Part 6
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121
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Fairhaven:
The report of the School Committee for the year end- ing December 31, 1954 is submitted herewith.
MEETINGS
The School Committee has held 15 meetings during the year. The Committee has been represented on the Fairhaven-Mattapoisett Joint School Committee by Mr. Fitzgerald, Mrs. Moore and Mr. Gonsalves, on the Junior High School Building Committee by Mrs. Moore and Mr. Gonsalves, and on the Elementary School Building Survey Committee by Mr. Haydon. Some members have also at- tended meetings of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
BUILDINGS
The building situation remains difficult and will be- come progressively worse until more rooms are available. The over-all picture indicates the immediate need of a junior high school for the seventh and eight grades. The need for more rooms in the Rogers area will become more obvious in the near future. The School Committee has repeatedly endorsed the recommendations of the Junior High School Building Committee as the best step to take immediately in solving the school building problem.
TEACHERS AND SALARIES
We have been fortunate in maintaining an efficient staff of teachers but our salary schedule is too low to guarantee its continuance. Of the 16 new teachers employed this year, 15 were from our local area. Of 25 other Massachusetts towns comparable in population to Fairhaven only one in September 1954 had a Bachelor's Degree schedule lower than ours. It is obvious that we cannot compete for teachers on a state-wide basis.
122
The only change in the salary schedule since the last report was the raise in the Bachelor's Degree salary ior beginners from $2700 to $2800. The maximum of $3700 was continuel as was the $200 differential for the Master's Degree.
We plan to raise the maximum salaries beginning in September 1955 to an amount not yet determined. Nine- teen of the above-mentioned 25 towns are already paying maximum salaries of $4000 or higher. An upward re- vision of the salary schedule is, therefore, a practical necessity.
TRANSPORTATION
The School Committee has established a policy of transporting pupils who live 1.6 miles or more from the local schools with a few exceptions for unusal conditions. Distances have been measured on the usually travelled public highway from the pupil's front door to the nearest walk leading from the street to the school entrance. Pupils attending school out of town have been given transportation as far as the New Bedford bus terminal .-
TOWN MEETING ARTICLES
We have placed three special articles in the 1955 Town Meeting Warrant and a fourth is sponsored by the School Committee and the Park Board.
Blacktop. The Committee would like to use more blacktop, or bituminous concrete, at several schools, but the greatest need is at the Anthony school. The play- ground extends directly to the east windows of the school and a hard surface there would eliminate much of the dust and dirt which now gets into the building.
Utility Vehicle. A pick-up truck or utility vehicle would be of considerable help to the Maintenance Depart- ment in its work on the present six school grounds.
Stage Curtains. The Larch Avenue Auditorium win- dow shades have been replaed but the stage curtains of the same age are badly worn after many years of use and should be replaced with new material.
123
Retaining Wall. The Park Board is confronted with the problem of erosion because of water from the east slope of the Oxford School grounds. While the work to be done is actually on the park property, the School Committee recognizes the problem and urges that something be done to alleviate it.
CONCLUSION
Your attention is called to the report of the Super- intendent and to the other reports included herewith as a report of the School Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
DAVID W. FITZGERALD, Chairman
RAYMOND G. ARCHAMBAULT, Vice-Chairman
ALBERT GONSALVES
WALDO E. HAYDON
CLARENCE M. MAGUIRE
EDITH M. MOORE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
124
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the Fairhaven School Committee :
I submit herewith my sixteenth annual report as Super- intendent of Schools.
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
Average Membership
1,926
1,916
1,972
1,967
Percent of Attendance
94.06
94.12
93.80 94.79
Further information concerning enrollment by school, grade and age may be found in the accompanying tables.
TEACHER CHANGES
Name
Began
Left
Memo
Alma E. Denzler
Sept. 1944
June 1954
To Snyder, N. Y.
Mary I. Cook
Sept. 1944
June 1954
Leave of Absence
Mary E. Minardi
Sept. 1946
June 1954
To Taunton
Hazel L. Rogers
Sept. 1947
June 1954
Retired
Lillian E. Modesto
Jan. 1948
June 1954
To New Jersey
Ethel E. McGrath
Jan. 1949
Feb. 1954
Resigned
Dale E. Allberry
Sept. 1950
June 1954
To Canton
Donald N. Gavin
Sept. 1951
June 1954
To Providence
Grace I. Kenney
Sept. 1952
June 1954
Missionary Work
Ethel B. Winokoor
Sept. 1952
June 1954
Resigned
Jane M. Jackman
Sept. 1953
June 1954
Resigned
Marion M. Severance
Nov. 1953
June 1954
To Marion
Mildred W. Flanders
Sept. 1954
Nov. 1954
Resigned
The list of changes indicates that 13 teachers left dur- ing the year, 6 to teach elsewhere and 7 for other reasons. New teachers included 2 additional elementary teachers, 12 other full-time, and 2 part-time teachers. The residence of the new teachers was as follows: Fairhaven 5, New Bed- ford 4, Dartmouth 2, Belmont 1. The complete list of the present staff may be found elsewhere in the report.
CUSTODIANS AND MAINTENANCE MEN
Name
Began
Left
Memo
John B. Schofield
July 1939
Feb. 1954
Retired
All custodians and maintenance men are now employ- ed under Civil Service regulations. They are listed else- where in this report with their official classifications.
125
LUNCH PROGRAMS
The lunch programs are carried on in cooperation with the National School Lunch Program through which we are reimbursed regularly at the rate of 9 cents on each lunch with milk and 2 cents for milk alone. A supplementary milk program is now being planned whereby a higher re- imbursement, perphaps as high as 4 cents, will be available for milk sold above last year's average sales. While de- signed particularly to help the milk producers we hope that the increased sale of milk will be beneficial for the children and for the finances of the local program.
TEXTBOOKS
New textbooks in Spelling were introduced during the year, the Language Arts Spellers published by the Ameri- can Book Company. Teacher committees are now study- ing Literature, Health and Science texts and will make recommendations to the Superintendent some time during the coming year.
MAINTENANCE
The maintenance department of three men has done much to keep the buildings in repair. The largest single project this year was refinishing the High School gym, an example of excellent workmanship. The men have built backstops, repaired masonry, retreaded stairs, set glass, fixed leaks, repaired locks, replaced doors, prepared a parking area, substituted as janitors, and have taken care of a multitude of other jobs that are necessary in a plant like ours.
There is other specialized work that must be done by outside contractors. Extensive toilet repairs were made at the High School, sinks replaced at the Rogers School, electrical repairs at the High School, and work on the heat- ing system at East Fairhaven.
School buildings and grounds suffered damage esti- mated at over $2,000 during the hurricane of August 31 but very little during the one of September 11. The great- est damage occurred in the Tripp School where the base- ment and boiler room were flooded by the high tide. Con-
126
siderable pumping was required, boiler insulation was re- placed, and repairs to electric wiring and equipment were made.
The cost of maintenance which included repairs, re- placements, and three salaries was $14,699.39 from the ap- propriation, $2,500.00 from a special appropriation, and $1,127.64 from the Hurricane Fund.
PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS
Each of the five elementary schools has the coopera- tion of an active Parent-Teacher Association which meets regularly in the school building. These voluntary associa- tions of parents and teachers have provided film strips, film projectors, slides, screens, a tape recorder, a fluid duplica- tor and other useful items. The schools have not only ben- efitted in a material way but parents and teachers have a better understanding of each others problems.
SUPERINTENDENCE
Newspapers and magazines have been publishing stories from time to time covering the various problems of the public schools. Those articles lead us to appraise more specifically our own situation. We are confronted with expanding enrollments, shortage of teachers, and rising costs as are most other communities. We are fortunately not so troubled with some of the other items, but we do have one problem that has become more serious here and elsewhere, the problem of superintendence, the supervision and management of the school system.
We extend school services to include lunch programs, Blue Cross, guidance, accident insurance, and driver edu- cation. We increase the number of school rooms, the problems of transportation, and the use of school buildings. We are required by new laws to give more attention to phy- sically handicapped children. Thirty positions are now under Civil Service regulations and its necessary proce- dures. There must be more tests, more accounts to keep, more telephone calls, more conferences, more records and more reports, all of which mean more hours of work. The superintendent's main duty to supervise and improve in-
127
struction is expected to continue as usual but the new de- tails, time consuming and unavoidable, prevent your super- intendent from devoting the proper amount of time to the 117 members of his educational staff. What makes the situation tolerable is a fine faculty of classroom teachers and supervisors and a cooperative understanding staff of supervising principals.
BUILDING NEEDS
There is little new to be said on the problem of school building needs except that the present enrollments in grade one and eight are lower than were predicted. The critical condition predicted for 1955 now can be anticipated in 1956. The general picture remains the same with the birth rate continuing about the same as for the last few years. All regular classrooms in the new additions are in use and at East Fairhaven we have a class in one room designed for other purposes. The Rogers School third floor auditorium houses a seventh grade of 41 and we have several other rooms with unfortunately large classes.
CONCLUSION
I am including herewith the reports of the High School Principal and the Nurse and a number of statistical reports which will be of interest to you and to the town.
Respectfully submitted,
FLAVEL M. GIFFORD, Superintendent of Schools.
128
Report of the High School Principal
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I present herewith my eighteenth annual report as Principal of Fairhaven High School.
Enrollment has now reached a point where there is some crowding and the size of classes in the elementary schools indicates that this condition will grow worse. Over- crowding is bound to reduce the effectiveness of the educa- tional program and plans should be made to insure ade- quate room for high school classes.
GRADUATION, JUNE 1954
At appropriate evercises last June the Chairman of the School Committee, Mr. David W. Fitzgerald, presented 117 seniors with diplomas.
A program entitled "You Were There" which dram- atized the significance of recent events in our country was dramatically presented by a group of seniors under the di- rection of Miss Mabel G. Hoyle.
Awards were made as follows: Gail Smythe, the Julia A. Sears Prize; Marietta Vogt and William MacLean, the Lady Fairhaven Cup; Gail Jertson, the D. A. R. award and the Lady Fairhaven Citizenship award; David Sawyer, the Bausch and Lomb Science Medal; Linda Durfee, the Mattapoisett Woman's Club Scholarship; Frances McKnight and Joan Gatie, the Fairhaven Mother's Club Scholarships; Patricia Carmichael, the New Bedford College Club Schol- arship and the Fairhaven High School Key Club Scholar- ship; Elizabeth Rogers and Marcia Tinkham, the Teachers' Association Scholarships; Castella Root, the Anna B. Trow- bridge Scholarship; Hazel Howland and Constance Phan- euf, the Fairhaven High School Alumni Association Schol- arships; John Darling, the East Fairhaven P.T.A. Scholar- ship; Elinore Dreher, the New Bedford Woman's Club Scholarship.
Of the 117 graduates, 53 continued their education. Thirty-five were admitted to four-year colleges including Bates, Boston College, Boston University, Eastern Nazarene,
129
Manhattanville, M.I.T., Framingham, Middlebury, New Bedford Textile, Radcliffe, Regis, Richmond Professional Institute, St. Lawrence, Teachers College of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts, University of New Hampshire, University of Rhode Island, University of Tampa, and Wor- cester Polytechnic Institute. Ten were admitted to nursing schools, 3 to Junior Colleges, and 5 to other schools.
SOME DEVELOPMENTS IN 1954
The Guidance Department has been moved to larger quarters on the third floor. The importance of this depart- ment becomes apparent each year. Through testing, inter- views, and counseling we are able to help pupils make wise educational and vocational choices. We are also able to assist parents, employers, and college admission officers who turn to us for information and advice. Mrs. Doris D. Bruce, Director of Guidance, gives generously of her time to this work. It would be wise to free her from routine clerical tasks by providing a clerk who could assist in this department and in the main office where additional clerical help is also needed.
Our school librarian, Miss Avis M. Pillsbury, has work- ed hard to make our library more attractive and useful. Here, in addition to providing up-to-date reference mater- ial, we can encourage reading for pleasure, an art that is threatened by the abundance of pictures, movies, and TV programs. The library should have a sum of at least one dollar a pupil included in the budget for the purchase of books and supplies each year.
Driver Education which was started last year under the direction of Mr. Raymond G. Boyce continues to be very popular. This year we shall not be able to accommodate all who wish this instruction even though we limit member- ship to seniors. Reports indicate that young people who have had driver education in high school have definitely better driving records than those who have not been so prepared. At present we are providing the classroom part of the course in school time, but all behind-the-wheel train- ing is given after school. We need more of the instruc- tor's time or an additional instructor and car for after school training.
130
Mr. Robinson and his maintenance workers have greatly improved the appearance of the gymasium by var- nishing the woorwork and painting the high ceiling which had not been done for nearly fifty years. All this, how- ever, leaves us with a small basketball court and with little room for spectators. We need a larger gymnasium if we are to carry on a basketball program like that in other schools.
The brick wall around the athletic field needs at- tention. It has been suggested that the wall be replaced by a chain link fence which would better support the canvas and exclude intruders. The sale of the used bricks might help to pay for the fence.
During the summer much-needed plumbing repairs in the girls' locker room were completed.
For the first time Fairhaven High School has been assigned a foreign student under the American Field Ser- vice plan. Harry Jonckheers of Brussels, Belgium is living with Mr. and Mrs. Clarence I. Bangs and attending school here as a senior. After school closes next June, Harry will return to Belgium with an understanding and appreciation of America that can come only from having lived and studied in this country.
Conclusion
The student we can do little for is the student who is unwilling to do much for himself. Most of our students are loyal to the school, and are eager to succeed. Parents do well by their children when they encourage the sturdy virtues of industry, perseverance, respect for authority, and a proper pride in accomplishment. There seems to be a growing recognition of the importance of high standards of conduct. When these are lacking in pupils, the school must try to supply them, but it is obvious that those who come with good attitudes already formed are in the best position to get the most out of their school experiences.
Good work is being done in every department of the school. Our teachers are interested, capable, and willing
131
to help each individual to succeed. They deserve the con- fidence and support of the community and the cooperation and good-will of parents.
We appreciate and are encouraged by everything that the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools do to provide good working conditions for teachers and to help us render maximum service to the young people in our school.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER M. DOWING Principal
132
Report of the School Nurse and Supervisor of Attendance
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I present herewith my twelfth annual report as School Nurse.
The nurse cooperates with teachers, doctors, dentists, and parents in protecting the health of school children. Each school is visited once a week and more often if necssary.
There have been the usual eye and ear examinations during the school year. Diphtheria immunization was giv- en under the auspices of the Board of Health. The nurse has also assisted in cases referred to the Bristol County Mental Health Clinic.
A record is kept of all accidents in school and out, serious enough to cause absence from school or to require medical attention. Twenty-four such accidents were re- ported in 1953 and twenty-one during 1954.
The nurse assists in the elementary school milk pro- gram by collecting and depositing the money every Friday ordering the milk, and preparing the records. Daily orders during the fall term varied from three to four hundred bottles.
Attendance cases are rare that do not involve health. There were fewer cases of truancy in 1954 than in 1953.
133
SUMMARY OF NURSE'S WORK
Classroom visits
1043
Follow-up visits
107
Office calls
29
Referred to school physician
9
Accidents in school
21
Assisted School Physician in examinations
353
Physicaly handicapped children
34
Home visits to above
11
Children for toxin clinic
474
Massachusetts vision tests
610
Audiometer tests
1655
Measles, East Fairhaven
71
The nurse cooperates with Board of Health Dental Clinic by making arrangements for pupils to go to the clinic held at the Tripp School every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Dr. Normand Gamache is the dentist and Mrs. Katherine Govoni his assistant.
SUMMARY OF DENTAL WORK
Fillings
430
Extractions
71
Cleanings
25
Examinations
55
Respectfully submitted,
LOUISE F. DENNIE, R.N.
School Nurse.
134
Financial Statement
SCHOOL EXPENDITURES AND 1955 BUDGET
ITEMS
Expended 1953
Expended 1954
Budget 1955
GENERAL CONTROL
Salaries and Expenses
$ 9,832.19
$ 10,317.21
$ 10,800.00
INSTRUCTION
Teachers
292.156.17
316,460.97
334,060.00
Textbooks
6,847.48
6,861.17
7,620.00
Supplies
9,256.32
10,580.62
10,200.00
OPERATION
Janitors
31,615.86
32,691.98
33,600.00
Fuel
11,601.65
12.838.43
12,800.00
Other Expense
9,422.09
10,720.40
10,700.00
MAINTENANCE
Repairs and Replacement
14,083.28
14,699.39
15,000.00
OUTLAY
Buildings and Grounds
1,161.65
562.39
1,000.00
New Equipment
1,372.12
1,788.05
1,000.00
OTHER AGENCIES
Transportation
19,539.38
22,006.93
24,690.00
Tuition
837.53
1,471.94
1,600.00
Health
4,373.59
3,501.93
4,200.00
Physical Education
1,011.90
1,000.04
1,380.00
Lunchrooms
3.973.44
2,415.60
2,800.00
Driver Education
261.75
952.84
2,000.00
Sundries
1 048.52
963.52
950.00
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$418,394.92
$449,833.41
$474,400.00
APPROPRIATION*
399,355.62
433,157.00
451,540.00
FROM OTHER INCOME
$19,039.30
$16,676.41
$22,860.00
*Does not include Dog Tax.
135
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS
EXPENDABLE INCOME
High School Trust Funds
$12,603.19
$14,085.23
$14,000.00
Elementary Trust Funds
4,428.72
4,251.62
4.202.85
Balance from Previous Year
.50
2,757.15
Bristol County Dog Fund
2,007.89
1961.21
1,900.00
TOTAL
$19,039.80
$20,298.56
$22,860.00
OTHER INCOME
School Aid, Chapter 70*
$90,359.98
$91,464.98
$97,054.98
Transportation, Chapter 71*
3,776.89
6,283.85
7,000.00
Tuition
20,221.95
23,530.92
23,560.00
TOTAL
$114,358.83
$121,279.75
$127,614.93
*Due in year indicated but may be received the following year.
136
TABULATION OF ATTENDANCE RECORD School Year Ending June 1954
SCHOOL
Grades
Principal
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Percent of
Attendance
Tardiness
High
9-12
Chester M. Downing
595
560
529
94.47
768
Addition
8
Chester M. Downing
150
138
132
95.79
118
Rogers
1-7
Ruth B. Wilbur
312
286
273
94.45
118
Oxford
1-7
Harry Rogers
373
349
331
94.82
167
Anthony
1-7
Mary S. Toledo
181
165
159
96.34
56
Tripp
1-7
Elizabeth I. Hastings
238
215
203
94.25
148
E. Fairhaven
1-7
Helen R. Porter
397
362
340
93.97
132
Total
1-12
2246
2075
1967
94.79
1507
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS December 1954
School
Andrade
Cozy Cab 52
U. St. Ry.
Other
Total
High School
5
20
17
....
47
Tripp
14
3
17
E. Fairhaven
257
1
258
Oxford
1
9
10
N. B. Voc. H. S.
6
34
40
N. B. Sight Saving
2
2
N. B. Continuation
2
2
Bristol Co. Agric.
6
6
St. Joseph
23
99
26
148
Our Lady of P. H .*
11
11
Parochial H. S.
5
16
21
Sol-E-Mar
1
1
Fall River Clinic
. . .
..
...
Total
309
183
182
9
683
. .
. . . .
..
1
1
*Temporarily.
137
....
119
H. S. Addition
10
. - . .
. .
..
62
ENROLLMENT BY SCHOOL AND GRADE OCTOBER 1, 1954
School
I
II
III
IV
V
VI VII VIII Sp. Tot.
Oxford
50
61
50
35
38
52
49
14 349
Anthony
21
24
29
23
19
25
24
165
Tripp
26
38
34
26
38
32
21
215
Rogers
37
53
47
35
33
42
41
288
E. Fairhaven 47
70
49
51
50
50
46
363
H.S.Addition
153
153
Total Elem. 181 246 209 170 178 201 181 153
14 1533
High School IX 150; X 167; XI 136; XII 133; P.G. 1
587
Total Enrollment
2120
SUMMARY OF ENROLLMENT
October
Elementary
High School
Total
1934
1649
624
2273
1935
1631
606
2237
1936
1589
648
2237
1937
1423
670
2093
1938
1431
709
2130
1939
1326
702
2028
1940
1267
690
1957
1941
1237
613
1850
1942
1172
506
1678
1943
1113
460
1573
1944
1134
482
1616
1945
1157
495
1652
1946
1190
507
1697
1947
1172
552
1724
1948
1284
506
1790
1949
1355
562
1917
1950
1385
565
1950
1951
1393
548
1941
1952
1439
551
1990
1953
1537
578
2115
1954
1533
587
2120
138
AGE AND GRADE TABLE October 1, 1954
Åge
GRADES
Totals
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI XII |PG Special
5
54
54
6
118
63
181
7
7
151
77
1
236
8
2
23
100
30
155
9
8
20
105
36
169
10
1
8
28
107
34
1
2
181
11
4
4
25
118
46
1
5
203
12
3
9
25
87
49
1
4
178
13
18
29
75
35
1
158
14
1
5
14
23
76
35
1
155
15
1
4
4
27
95
15
146
16
1
10
28
49
13
101
17
1
8
58
55
122
18
9
58
67
19
2 6
8
20
OVER 21
1
3
|1 |1
6
Totals
181
246
209
170
178
201
181
153
150
167
136
133
1
14
2120
Boys
90
132
108
90
93
95
96
72
69
76
66
59
1
11
1058
Girls
91
114
101
80
85
106
85
81
81
91
70
74
3
1062
Note :- The numbers directly above and directly below the heavy line include pupils who may be considered of normal age and grade.
139
III
IV V
SCHOOL ENTRANCE
Children may enter the first grade if they are five years and six months of age on or before September 1 of the current school year. Consequently children will be admitted to the first grade in September 1955 if born on or before March 1, 1950. Certificates of birth and vacci- nation are required at the time of entrance.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE
All children must attend school between the ages of seven and sixteen. Certain exceptions may be made by written permission of the Superintendent of Schools for children who have reached the age of fourteen and have completed the sixth grade.
EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS
Employment permits, sometimes called "School Cards", are required for all persons under twenty-one who are em- ployed in manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile, and cer- tain other work. These may be obtained at the office of the Superintendent of Schools. The minor must appear in person and present a birth certificate or other suitable evidence of age.
REGISTRATION OF MINORS October 1, 1954
Age Group
5-7
7-16
Illiterate 16-21
Total
Boys
265
1041
1306
Girls
249
1025
1274
Total
514
2066
2580
Distribution :
In Public Schools
235
1570
1805
In Private Schools
134
457
591
In Vocational Schools
18
18
Institutions
8
8
Not in School
145
13
. .
158
Total
514
2066
....
2580
140
Present Corps of Teachers
December 1954
HIGH SCHOOL
Began Name
1937 Chester M. Downing, Ph.B., M.Ed. Principal
Brown Univ.
Harvard Univ.
1929
Walter D. Wood, A.B., M.A.
Clark Univ.
Assistant Principal
1945
Doris D. Bruce, B.S.
Bridgewater Boston Univ.
1946
Raymond G. Boyce, B.S., M.Ed.
1939
Alexander M. Clement, B.S., M.Ed.
North Adams
Hyannis
Univ. of N. H.
Wheaton
Univ. of Vermont
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