USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1959 > Part 7
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46 Hedge St.
Assist. Chief Eng.
148
SCHOOL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN
MASSACHUSETTS
AIRHA
O
N
NM
TO
ASS
INCORPO
TOWN HALL
22-1812.
A
ED
FEB
FOR THE
YEAR 1959
School Committee
Term Expires
Albert M. Gonsalves, 145 Washington St.
1960
Waldo E. Haydon, 43 Hedge St.
1960
Cecil H. Whittier, 68 Laurel St. Chairman
1961
Francis P. Delaney, 143 Pleasant St.
1961
Clarence I. Bangs, 125 Laurel St.
1962
John T. Morgan, 10 Coggeshall St. Vice-Chairman
1962
Regular meetings are held in the Superintendent's Office in the Fairhaven Junior High School on the second Wednes- day of each month at 7:30 P.M.
SUPERINTENDENT AND SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE
Lynwood P. Harriman, 128 Pleasant St. Office WY 3-1241 - Residence WY 3-8977 OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Fairhaven Junior High School Building
Helen R. Porter,
Rounseville Rd., Rochester Co-ordinator of Elementary Education
Beatrice M. DeCoffe, 212 Main St. Secretary to the Superintendent
Emily B. Tate, 69 Summer St. Financial Clerk
Alda H. Hayward, 19 Cottage St. Clerk
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 Harold W. Woodcock, M.D., 1 Main St.
SCHOOL NURSE AND SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE Louise F. Dennie, R.N., Water St., Mattapoisett
150
School Calendar
1959-60
Weeks
Open
Close
Days
First Term
15
Wed., Sept. 9
Wed., Dec. 23
70
Second Term
7
Mon., Jan. 4
Fri., Feb. 19
35
Third Term
7
Mon., Feb. 29
Thurs., Apr. 14 34
Fourth Term
9
Wed., Apr. 20
Fri.,-June 17
42
38
181
1959-60
Weeks
Open
Close
Days
First Term
16
Wed., Sept. 7
Fri., Dec. 23
72
Second Term
7
Mon., Jan. 2
Fri., Feb. 17
35
Third Term
7
Mon., Feb. 27
Fri., Apr. 14 34
Fourth Term
9
Mon., Apr. 24
Wed., June 21 42
39
183
There will be no school on the following days which occur during the scheduled terms of 1960:
April 15 Good Friday
May 30
Memorial Day
Sept. 5
Labor Day
Oct. 12
Columbus Day
Oct. 28
Bristol County Teachers' Convention
Nov. 11
Veterans' Day
Nov. 24-25 Thanksgiving Day Recess from noon Nov. 23 NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL 22
7:00 A.M. Indicates no school for all day.
11:30 A.M. Indicates no afternoon session for Grades 1-8.
Announcement will be made as early as possible on Radio Stations WBSM and WNBH.
It is the policy of the School Committee to order the no-school signal only in the most severe weather conditions or when road conditions are such as to make transportation extremely hazardous or impossible. When school is held in inclement weather, parents are expected to use their own judgment in sending children to school.
151
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Fairhaven:
MEETINGS
Your School Committee has held 36 meetings averaging three or more hours each during the year at which time the public and the press were welcome, except when personnel problems were discussed in executive sessions. The increased weight of policy decisions involving enrollment and curricu- lum problems as well as staff procurement have continued to be the more difficult problems confronting the Committee. It has been our policy to acquaint our constituency with the proceedings of the Committee by allowing full information to the press so that newspaper coverage might keep people informed.
The Committee has met with interested groups of people at other times as individuals and as a group on problems of special interest to the town and the school committee as a whole.
ENROLLMENT
As of October 1, 1959, official enrollment indicated a total of 2538 pupils. Enrollment has reached predicted figures of previous years or exceeded them in almost all cases. The high schools show the greatest over-loading at the present time. The Junior High School has an enrollment of 477 pupils this year and was designed for an ideal enrollment of 450. This should not go appreciably higher in the next few years unless the town population increases greatly. Next year's enrollment should be approximately the same as this year's or a little less.
The High School enrollment is 787 this year, in a building designed for an optimum number of 700 students. As we will graduate approximately 170 students and take in nearly 220 Freshmen next year, the expected enrollment may well top 825 in the fall of 1960.
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The East Fairhaven School is rapidly getting terribly over crowded as well. For these reasons, we have suggested the appointment of a School Facilities Survey Committee to study this problem of over-crowded conditions with a view toward presenting recommendations to the Town for the construction of additional facilities or the renovation or al- teration of existing facilities.
TEACHER'S SALARIES AND COMPETENCE
The 1959 General Court passed a law making mandatory a minimum salary of $4,000 beginning in September 1960. The economic principle of supply and demand makes the acquisition of properly qualified teachers unavailable to us unless we can pay salaries comparable with other commu- nities in our general geographical area. For the first time in many years, nearly every community in the Greater New Bedford area will be paying salaries approximately the same with very few exceptions.
We have attempted to select our teachers on as profes- sional a basis as possible and we have tried to keep only those whose professional competence was at such a high level that they could reasonably be expected to be meritorious of tenure status at the end of three years of service. It is our desire to require such a degree of competence that a teacher's salary might reflect this competence. To this end we have enacted a policy of professional improvement consistent with the desire. We believe that our present staff is as professionally competent as we could reasonably expect, and that our im- provement in method and curriculum are a reflection of our change in policy for professional improvement and our ex- pectations in that regard.
1958 COURT ACTION ON SCHOOL BUDGET
A consent degree was entered in December as a compro- mise agreement in the amount of $6,374.37. This amount in addition to the penalty resulting from the 1957 Court Case was necessary to fulfill budgeted obligations on teachers sal- aries and other staff salaries. Since many items under dis- pute in the court cases were subsequently provided in the 1959 budget, the amount of $3,515.20 was returned to the town from the funds provided under the Supreme Court de- cree on the 1957 case. It is our fervent hope that such legal proceedings shall not be necessary again.
153
COMPARATIVE EXPENDITURES
We have consistently over the years spent less per pupil than the average cost per pupil in the Commonwealth or in Group 11 (Towns with over 5,000 population). The most re- cent figures show the following average cost which includes transportation, but not capital outlays or general control :
GRADES
FAIRHAVEN
GROUP 11 AVG.
STATE AVG.
Elementary
1-8
214.70
255.75
262.84
High School
9-12
267.54
374.83
377.60
All Grades
1-12
233.07
283.96
296.15
The large difference found in the High School figures is due to our high pupil-teacher ratio and lower than average salaries.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
We have completed the scrub-coating of the High School during this fiscal year at a cost of $19,978.45. Although there is no outward change in the appearance of the building, the building has been completely recaulked, repointed and waterproofed.
The High School heating system has been converted from coal to oil with the elimination of the old high-pressure boil- ers and their replacement with new low-pressure boilers and oil burners. The Committee is greatly indebted to the Heat- ing Survey Committee for their interest and assistance in this matter. The comfort of the building is greatly improved as well as the safety and cleanliness.
ARTICLES RELATING TO SCHOOLS-1960 WARRANT
High School Sewage. The School Committee is asking for the appointment of a special committee to study the sewage ejection system and be empowered to replace the present ejection pumps with a modern ejection station. The present pumps are in danger of mechanical failure at any time and cannot be repaired except at great expense. The present system has been in operation for over 56 years and is of an obsolete type for which no repair parts can be secured. A preliminary estimate from a reputable engineering firm calls for an appropriation of $35,000.00 for this replacement. We consider this to be a number one priority repair.
154
High School Lighting. The School Committee is requesting a committee to study the electrical and lighting system at the High School to report to the next town meeting. The candle power in each classroom is very inadequate by present day standards, and the wiring is too light to handle electrical demands upon it by modern day equipment.
High School Radiation. We feel that this problem is a seri- ous one which is difficult to estimate accurately. The steam returns running from the radiation back to the boilers have deteriorated from salt water and surface water under the surface of the concrete subterranean floor in the main build- ing. This deterioration has caused so many leaks in this system that boiler water escapes in large quantities. As a consequence, we have been having to add cold water con- stantly to the heating system resulting in approximately a 25% increase in fuel consumption in order to heat this cold water to steam. Another result is that water vapor is es- caping from pipe entrances throughout the basement floors. Approximately $3,000 to $4,000 has been spent during this fiscal year in emergency repairs doing this work by the School Committee and the Heating Survey Committee.
In addition, pneumatic tubing, running through trenches with the return pipes, are also deteriorated so that the system which controls the temperature in each room is inoperative and room temperatures cannot be controlled resulting in much heat and fuel waste.
It is our feeling that these items should be repaired by replacement of the complete sub-floor return system and pneumatic control system as soon as possible, in order to save fuel expense and repair expenses.
CONCLUSION
We would like to call your attention to the report of the Superintendent of Schools and other staff members included herewith as part of the annual report of the Fairhaven Public Schools.
155
We would like to express our appreciation to the princi- pals, teachers, staff members, the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee and other town agencies and interested citizens for their support and interest during the past year. We also would like to express our particular appreciation to the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Harriman.
Respectfully submitted,
CECIL H. WHITTIER,
Chairman JOHN T. MORGAN, Vice-Chairman CLARENCE I. BANGS FRANCIS P. DELANEY ALBERT M. GONSALVES WALDO E. HAYDON
The Fairhaven School Committee
156
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the Fairhaven School Committee:
I am pleased to submit herewith my second annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
1955-56
1956-57
1957-58
1958-59
Average Membership
2220
2276
2333
2476
Percent of Attendance
94.34
95.07
93.06
93.78
Further information on school attendance and enrollment by grades may be found in the enclosed tables of supporting information.
TEACHER CHANGES
Name
Began
Left
Memo
Chester M. Downing
9- - 37
6-30-59
Retired
Mary Ann Hanrahan
9-8-58
8-12-50
Married
Pauline E. Desmarais
9-4-57
6-24-59
Dartmouth, Mass.
Dora C. Pope
11-22-48
9-4-59
Retired
TEACHER SHORTAGE
The teacher shortage seems to be slightly less this year in comparison with previous years. The difficult positions to fill are those in specific fields. These would include pri- mary grades, homemaking, industrial arts, mathematics, science and guidance. Our source of supply still seems to be the local area, which places us in a rather fortunate posi- tion by being in the immediate area of three cities. Of 18 new teachers this year, 10 were beginning teachers and 8 were teachers with 3 to 18 years of experience.
ENROLLMENT AND SCHOOL FACILITIES
The enrollment in our high school is rapidly reaching alarming proportions. Predictions made in 1956 indicated an expectance in 1958 of 714, our actual total was 784. They indicated a total in 1959 of 706 and our total was 787. The 1956 report of projected enrollment (1956-1966) shows an expectancy of 741 students in the fall of 1960. Our present
157
figures indicate that we may expect in excess of 835 students in 1960 and approximately 875 in 1961. We expect, however, that by 1961 our students from Mattapoisett will be going to a new high school of their own, and we may expect our enroll- ment to decrease to 770. With a maximum rated capacity in the high school of 750, it should be obvious that we are crowd- ed with 780 to 800 students. With over-crowding in excess of 800 students, this problem becomes so serious that it will seriously hamper the educative process, and endanger our chances of accreditation for college entrance, which we are presently undergoing.
I am extremely gratified that the School Committee has seen fit to request the appointment of a School Facilities Survey Committee to study this problem and determine the need for the alteration of existing facilities or the construc- - tion of new facilities. It has long been the feeling of the school administrative staff that the best solution to the high school problem would be the expansion of the new junior high building to provide for the removal of the 9th grade from the present high school building and an organizational change to a 6-3-3 school system. It is my belief that this may be required before we can secure accreditation for college entrance.
SCHOOL SERVICES AND STAFF ORGANIZATION
It has been our intention to increase our services to chil- dren as much as possible in order to better fulfill our func- tions. We have added further guidance services at the high school with the addition of a guidance counselor in order that we may be able to know more about each individual student and the way that they learn.
We have been very pleased with the addition to our staff of Mrs. Elinor Martin as Reading Supervisor in the elemen- tary schools. Her services in helping individual teachers in the teaching of reading and with problem cases in reading as well as her assistance in co-ordinating the library pro- gram has been well received and is already beginning to bear fruit.
We are pleased with the appointment of Mr. Harry Rogers as Director of Special Education in charge of special classes for the handicapped. Mr. Rogers resigned as Princi-
158
pal of the Oxford School in order to accept this position in a state subsidized program. He also serves as intermediate special class teacher.
Mr. Rogers has been capably replaced by Miss Mary Toledo, formerly principal of the Edmund Anthony, Jr. School, who was in turn replaced by Mrs. Ellen Rex, a former Fairhaven teacher.
Mrs. Martha Berg was transferred from the intermediate special class in the Oxford School to the newly formed pri- mary special class of the Tripp School. In this capacity we are able to use her capabilities in speech and hearing therapy and psychological testing.
In order that we may better understand each child as an individual, we have increased our testing services for both individual and group psychological tests, as well as ability, achievement and aptitude tests. These tests enable us to in- terpret for parents how a student is doing in school, in rela- tion to his capabilities and they enable us to examine our teaching methods in the light of results obtained on tests. It is our intention to know as much as possible about each individual student so that we may better fit him to take his place in a modern society.
MAINTENANCE
The maintenance of school plant and facilities this year has taken a proportionately large part of time. The increase in buildings and grounds areas has greatly increased the work load for the maintenance staff this year, not with- standing the fact that maintenance men were used as substi- tutes for sick janitors for over 60 days this year. We feel that each year increases the standard of cleanliness and re- pair of the buildings and grounds. In view of the tremendous investment in buildings and grounds entrusted to our care, we feel that it is our duty to see that these are properly cared for and kept up.
A great deal of credit and praise is due our custodial and maintenance staffs for the fine job they have done in keeping our buildings in such excellent shape.
159
THE SUPERINTENDENCY
I have attended 36 meetings of the School Committee this year, 6 meetings of the Finance Committee as well as many meetings of the various building committees and survey com- mittees. The professional management of a school system of this size is becoming more complicated as it expands. At present, we have 122 professional staff members, including the nurses, teachers and principals. There are approximately 60 more full-time or part-time people in the cafeteria, custo- dial and maintenance divisions which brings the cumulative total of employees to approximately 180. In order that better co-ordination might be effected throughout the system on purchase and use of equipment and supplies as well as the amount of time involved working with architects, engineers, and contractors on major repair programs, I feel that in the very near future, we will be facing an increasing need for an administrative assistant to the Superintendent. I find myself increasingly unable to inform myself on small details of administration as well as lacking in my duty for providing the instructional leadership for the system.
CONCLUSION
I am including herewith as a part of the 1959 School Report messages of interest from the Co-ordinator of Ele- mentary Education, the Principal of the High School, the Principal of the Junior High School and the School Nurse and Supervisor of Attendance.
Respectfully submitted,
LYNWOOD P. HARRIMAN Superintendent of Schools
160
Report of the High School Principal
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I present my first annual report as Principal of the Fair- haven High School.
Class of 1959
On June 17, 1959 Mr. Cecil H. Whittier, Chairman of the School Committee, presented diplomas to 165 seniors. Of these about 43 per cent are continuing their education. One- third of the class are attending four-year colleges, 10% are in the service, 7% are married and 40% are employed.
Scholarships and awards valued at $7,335 were given out as follows :
SCHOLARSHIPS
Fairhaven Mothers' Club
F. H. S. Honor Society
National Merit Scholarship New Bedford Woman's Club Northeastern University
Standard-Times Proctor & Gamble, Johns Hopkins University Anna B. Trowbridge Key Club
Mattapoisett Police Assn. Mattapoisett Woman's Club
East Fairhaven P.T.A.
Mattapoisett Teachers' Assn.
Haslam Memorial Varsity Club
Edward Coyne Marianne Marques Marilyn Wightman
Jonathan Botelho Jeremy Jackson Diana Zieba Edward Coyne
Thomas Renahan Marilyn Wightman
Raymond Arruda Nancy Motta
Gregory Erhard Susan Pelson Gale Heuberger Lucille Dumoulin
Gale Heuberger Linda Knight Edward Coyne Raymond Arruda
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Fairhaven Teachers' Assn.
F. H. S. Alumni Assn.
Mattapoisett P.T.C.
Future Nurses North Fairhaven Improvement Assn. Lady Fairhaven Cup
Lady Fairhaven Award D.A.R. Citizenship Award Phillips A. Noyes Awards (French) (Spanish) Sears Essay Prize
Bausch and Lomb Science Medal
Future Teachers
Patricia Martin Polly Ann Maxfield Elaine Stening Carolyn Howland Edward Coyne Lorine Durfee Carolyn Eldridge Judith Makin
Patricia Baron Elizabeth Radcliffe Thomas Renahan
Marianne Marques
Marianne Marques
Thomas Renahan Jonathan Botelho Jonathan Botelho
Marilyn Wightman Nancy Motta
In September, the Future Nurses Scholarship was award- ed to Marianne Marques because of a change in plans on the part of the original recipient, Judith Makin.
The Class of 1959 and the Class of 1960 together provided funds with which to purchase a Daylight Projector in order that classroom instruction might be improved by use of this modern equipment.
GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING
Additional personnel and "The National Education De- fense Act of 1958" have made possible the expansion of Guid- ance Services.
Participation in a freshman forum, designed to aid stu- dents in their adjustment to high school and to help them identify, and find solutions to personal, social and scholastic problems, is required of all pupils enrolled in Grade 9.
An extensive testing program consisting of achievement tests, a mental maturity test, "School and College Ability Test" and an interest inventory have been administered to
162
students enrolled in Grade 10. Early awareness, made pos- sible by this program, of academic potentials and limitations, strengths and weaknesses makes possible a wiser selection of high school courses and an opportunity to overcome re- mediable difficulties.
An opportunity to participate in the "National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test" the "Scholarship Qualifying Test" and the "Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test" was given to pupils of Grades 11 and 12. Students of Grades 9 and 10 were able to take "The National Educational Devel- opment Testing Program." Many took part in these national programs.
Seniors entering the labor market or undecided in their educational or vocational plans were given the "General Aptitude Test Battery." Personnel from the New Bedford branch of the Massachusetts Employment Bureau adminis- tered the program. This was preceded by an interview and followed by the counseling of all who took the tests. This program is without charge to the individual.
Some students in grades 9-12 have participated in a pro- gram for the further development of reading skills. More time is needed for this activity.
Each pupil is unique with respect to his abilities and de- sires. To develop the best in each one requires close working relationships between home, school, church and community. It is well for us to remember that no one agency such as the school can do the job alone.
ENGLISH
All classes in English are now grouped homogeniously according to ability and effort as evidenced by the final mark of the previous year. This entails virtually individual pro- gramming and ascertains that pupils of high caliber scholar- ship shall receive the type of advanced and challenging lan- guage training which higher institutions of training now demand. Moreover, those students encountering difficulty with their work are grouped in divisions where drill and re- petitive procedures may insure improvement.
The recommendations of the Conant Report regarding written composition at the secondary level are being consid- ered in lesson planning. However, it will not be possible to
163
fully implement the recommendation of one written theme per week until the teacher-pupil ratio in the English Depart- ment is adjusted accordingly.
The success of alumni in English courses at college indi- cates that the preparation in this subject at Fairhaven is well founded.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In education we tend to group many subjects under the general heading of Social Studies. This may be considered satisfactory when there is a department head who can direct the correlation of these courses so that our efforts have a mutual goal. Economic Geography, for example, is tied in very closely to our future in history, civic conduct, and eco- nomics. Yet without a department head, we tend to teach these subjects without taking into account the influence of one on the others. I feel that consideration should be given to establishing a position of head of this department.
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
There is a distinct movement in education to make the teaching of modern foreign languages more effective and more valuable to the student. Mr. Dufour of our staff is con- ducting a class of conversational French on the eighth grade level. When these pupils enter high school, they will be mo- tivated to begin French in the freshman year with a possibil- ity of continuing the program throughout the four year period. During this time, more emphasis will be placed on oral and aural instruction than has been customary in the traditional classes of the past.
BUSINESS EDUCATION
Our staff for training in commercial subjects is well or- ganized so that pupils who complete the curriculum have much to offer when they seek positions in this field.
A Dictaphone transcribing and dictating machine was added to the office machines section during the school year. A new Victor adding-listing machine was bought to replace an older model.
Many of the present machines including typewriters need to be replaced since they are now nearly five years old:
164
The area devoted to business machines leaves much to be desired because of cramped and crowded conditions.
HOMEMAKING
Every girl is a potential homemaker. For most, the home will be the focal point of their careers. With the fact in mind that every girl is now living in a family group, we offer courses which will help her be a better family member. The courses offered are practical and cover many phases of fam- ily life as selection and preparation of foods, selection and making clothes, managing personal and family finances, planning and furnishing a home, and the guidance of small children.
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