USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1929 > Part 8
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5. Improved transportation service in certain sections of the town with consequent improved attend- ance. This is most important. Poor attendance has been the largest cause for low standing and retardation in our schools. Better attendance reflects itself in better conditions all along the line.
6. The establishment of the Business School in quarters of its own so that its work may be done under adequate conditions. This school is now supplied with equipment and is giving an excellent training of the type intended. We are prepared to meet all the re- quirements of a Commercial High School Course.
7. In general it should be listed as an accom- plishment that we have retained the progress made in former years in respect to Junior High School organ- ization, care for the physical welfare of the pupils and other lines of school progress. These things do not maintain themselves and their continued establishment implies continued effort for their progress.
8. A more nearly uniform system of texts throughout the town. The past five or six years has been a period of great change, a controversy and ex- perimentation in school methods. At last there has come a fairly general agreement about these matters and modern methods have found their way into text material arranged in series going through the grades.
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The texts used always are the course of study what- ever may be said in any printed pamphlet. Organized material is an organized course. We now have in use for the most part material of this sort. With a rela- tively small amount of filling in here, we can place the whole system on a sound organized basis and end some present diversity between various grades in different schools. This item constitutes not only an achievement, so far as accomplished, but the first next step so far as it remains undone.
As conditions calling for attention, I present two items. A condition bordering upon overcrowding at North Dighton and need for further effort towards the prevention of retardation.
In respect to the second item it is always easy to let children slip until a point is reached when they become candidates for special class segregation. While in a town of this size, there will always be some chil- dren who must be specials, our experience over the last few years shows that help in time by a helping teacher can keep along in the grades a considerable number of children that would otherwise fall into a special
I am glad to be able to close this report as in room. With proper coaching all along, the number who need to become retarded three grades is relatively small. Prevention is here far better as well as much cheaper than a large school population in a series of special classes.
I shall not go into a discussion of the proper pro- gram for either of the two conditions mentioned as needing attention. They call for no particular appro- priations and their solution must be worked out in the class room with children rather than in a report with words.
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former years with an expression of appreciation for continued confidence and support in my efforts in be- half of the children.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD L. HILL.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
For the Year Ending Dec. 31, 1929 RECEIPTS
Appropriation,
$61,480.00
Dog Tax,
558.79
$62,038.79
EXPENDITURES
Sup't and law Enforcement,
$2,375.66
Teachers,
27,252.88
Books and Supplies,
4,903.80
Janitors,
2,890.50
Fuel,
2,905.07
Repairs,
1,769.36
Health,
1,757.66
Transportation,
6,942.00
Tuition,
7,240.25
Contingent,
1,318.75
New Equipment,
1,614.25
Balance,
62.61
$62,038.79
Respectfully submitted, T. F. GOODELL, Financial Secretary.
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MEMBERSHIP BY SCHOOL AND GRADES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 T't'ls
North Primary,
31 39 42 42 46
200
North Grammar,
42 32 28
102
South,
37 35 32 43 34 24 21 23
249
Brick,
17 9 6
32
Segreganset,
5
2
6
4
17
Fish
9
1
7
5
22
99 86 93 94 80 66 53 51 622
Commercial, 1st year, 16; 2nd year, 12,
28
Total in Local Schools,
1 650
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1930
Winter Term, 7 Weeks-Monday, December 30, 1929, to Friday, February 14, 1930.
Late Winter Term, 7 Weeks-Monday, February 24, to Friday, April 11.
Spring Term, 8 Weeks-Monday, April 21, to Friday, June 13.
Fall Term, 16 Weeks-Tuesday, September 2, to Fri- day, December 19.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1931.
Winter Term, 7 Weeks-Monday, December 29, 1930, to Friday, February 13, 1931.
Late Winter Term, 7 Weeks-Monday, February 23, to Friday, April 10.
Spring Term, 8 Weeks-Monday, April 20, to Friday, June 12.
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SCHOOL REPORT
DIGHTON PUPILS IN HIGH SCHOOL
SENIORS-15
Taunton-
Charlotte Brown
Robert Cavanagh
Emily Christenson
Elinor Goodell
Anna Ludovicz
Fall River-
Agnes Marsden
Harold Kossoi
Louis Menard
Ruth O'Connell
Somerset- Faith Varney
JUNIORS-13
Taunton-
Herbert Holt
C. Allen Briggs
Ernest Horton
Mabel Broadbent
Natalie Horton
Rudolph Christenson
Dorothy King
Anna Galligan
Vincent Makin
Dorothy Goff
Alma Rose
Donald Hathaway
Elsie Rose
SOPHOMORES-17
Taunton-
Mae Stead
Rolf Anders
Roy Stead
Herbert Ballou
Mary Synan
Kenneth Cameron
Alice Terrien
Patricia Davis
Louise Wyeth
Marion Eddy
Fall River-
Woodrow Hutchins Howell Carr
Margaret Latimer
Milton Kossoi
Barbara Marble
Robert L. Thompson
Everett Smith
FRESHMEN-20
Taunton-
Margaret Bolger
Ernest Atwood Pauline Bukacek
Gladys Perry
Richard A. Perry
Thelma Potter
Margaret Soper , Vernon Stead
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Gladys Cambra Winnifred Goodell
Norman Holmes
Haswell Carr
William Holt
Edward Rose
Arnold Kay Caroll Millard
Evelyn Rose Thomas Rose
Richard E. Perry
Dorothy Vickers
Elmer Richmond
Somerset-
Charles Sears
Sumner Varney
Barbara Wyeth
Fall River- Hanford Carr
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the School Committee, Town of Dighton:
I herewith submit the report of health conditions as recorded during the school year 1929-1930. In this period 605 pupils were examined twice, cases requir- ing special attention were examined three times, the latter being, for the most part, heart cases checked up at intervals, so that 1233 examinations were made during the year. These figures are apart from the ex- aminations made for return to school following con- tagion, skin diseases, vaccinations, etc.
A special examination was made of all pupils relative to heart disease, examination being first made with outer clothing only, removed, parents of pupils presenting questionable heart sounds were consulted relative to examination with clothing removed suffi- ciently to expose the heart area, and of 43 consulted, 23 were willing to co-operate, 16 of this number were found to have signs of valvular heart disease. One extremely serious heart condition was noted at the
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pre-school clinic conducted by Dr. MacKnight from the State Department of Health with the school physi- cian. This case was referred to the Heart Clinic at Fall River.
Defective teeth, gums, and alveolar abscesses ("gum boils") claims the head of the list as regards number, 320 cases being noted, the majority of whom were referred to and treated by Dr. Teeden in the dental clinic. It is the plan of the school dentist to personally examine pupils of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades, and to send, out notices of conditions found and treatment recommmended.
Defective tonsils, either enlarged, diseased, or suspicious and warranting watchfulness and further observation, came next in number, 231 notices having been sent out. Although no fatalities have yet occurred in the clinic, pronounced bleeding has followed a few operations, therefor, as an added measure of safety and precaution the blood of children, upon whom operation is contemplated, is examined to determine its power of coagulating (clotting), the information so obtained is conveyed to the parents. Children show- ing retarded clotting are given pre-operative treat- ment with hemostatic serum which aids the blood in clotting, also other measures and care as will insure safe results.
Enlarged glands, however, not being a disease in themselves, but rather an evidence of associated teeth, tonsils, pediculi (head-louse), etc., were not reported as such but were reported with the primary condition which they accompanied. Enlarged glands were a com- mon finding.
Eczema and allied skin diseases were less in evdence this year than previously, probably due, in a
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great measure, to enforced exclusion from school during the period of activity. Cases of scabies ("itch") were also comparitively few, scattered or occasional cases of "ringworm", otitis media ("discharging ears"), and contagion were also noted or reported.
The sanitary conditions are better each year, and fewer complaints arising, principally due to the fact that the outlying schools, where ideal conditions are impossible, are being given up, only one complaint relative to unsanitary conditions being received during the year, this coming from an outlying school. Housing conditions have been improved, transportation of pupils to and from school and clinics, added measures of safety in the clinics, daily attendance to health con- ditions on the part of the school nurse, and the en- forcement daily of health talks and measures by the teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
H. S. MILLER, M. D.,
163 High Street, Taunton, Mass.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Fall Term, 1929.
To Superintendent of Schools and School Committee :
I wish to submit the following as a general re- port and health outline of the work done in the schools by your School Nurse.
Each school has been visited weekly, classrooms inspected, also sanitaries and outbuildings.
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SCHOOL REPORT
There has been a general inspection of all pupils once a month, and individual inspection of children as the occasion arose, or, at the request of the teachers.
Many pupils have been visited in their homes to ascertain the cause of their absence from school. These visits have been met with co-operation from parents or guardians, and a wide opportunity is given to ad- vise and instruct in home and personal hygeine.
When necessary, children have been taken to the school or their own personal or family physician, to be certain that they received necessary medical treat- ment that they might return to school as soon as pos- sible.
"The Coagulum Test" is now being used in con- junction with the tonsils clinic. This test determines the coagulation time of the blood. The test is very simple and takes but a few minutes, but it is very im- portant, inasmuch as it does away with the danger of post operative hemorrhage. Six children have been tested and two have been operated upon with excellent results. The operations are performed at the Mount Hope Hospital, the School Nurse assisting and remain- ing with the child until fully recovered from ether.
All of the children were weighed in September and December, with the exception of two schools, and those were done the first of January.
The Dental Clinic has been carried on with ex- cellent results throughout the year, 290 children having been treated from January 16, 1929, to January 1, 1930. The general health among the school children has been very good during the past four months, with no contagious diseases.
I wish to express my appreciation to the teachers and town's people for their co-operation, to the Nurses
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SCHOOL REPORT
at Mount Hope Hospital for their kind assistance. Respectfully submitted,
MRS. LEILA A. HOARD, R. N.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
I herewith submit my first report as Music Super- visor in the Town of Dighton. I assumed the duties of this position in April, and it has taken some time for the adjustment of supervisor and teachers and pupils. New teachers mean new methods and procedure. The territory is large and cannot be covered once a week. I have found a fine spirit among teachers and pupils and a willingness on the part of all to follow out the plan of the work. There is still much to be done in systematizing and having the same grades in all schools working uniformly.
Progress has been made in a marked degree in some cases. The supervisor is stressing tone quality, at the same time building up the technical work. Children are naturally given to singing lustily. The spirit of such singing is fine but the music is lacking. It is the aim in teaching singing, to produce beautiful tones, tones that please us and charm. There must also be taught a certain amount of technique in order to de- velop understanding and independence. Children must be led to recognize and discriminate the differences in rhythm, tone color and mood. Teaching does not necessarily mean the imparting of knowledge to the child, but it means also a drawing out of the child ideas. We not only give but we must find what is there.
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SCHOOL REPORT
The amount of time given to music in the different class rooms varies. A visit once in two weeks from the supervisor with but fifteen minutes of actual class time will not accomplish very much. This means but seven and one-half minutes a week. Even assuming that the grade teacher can teach music satisfactorily, there should be more time given to this, the greatest social- izing subject taught in the schools. There was a time when the only place it held in our schools was direct- ly after the devotional exercises and everybody sang a few songs. At least the day was begun right and everyone was put in good humor. There was that re- deeming feature about it.
It is very necessary that a teacher of the primary grades should be able to carry a tune and know the quality of the light head tone. Here the foundation is laid for correct ear training. There should be time in the lower grades not only for the singing of rote songs but for the learning of singing games and folk dances.
Music may be divided under three heads: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony. The first is the simplest and makes an appeal to the physical. Little children feel rhythm and naturally and spontaneously respond.
Much emphasis is placed on the Toy Symphony Orchestra as a means of developing the rhythmic sense, self-expression, concentration and team-work. Most of the instruments require two hands which makes for prompt muscular co-ordination. The Toy Symphony is one of the most potent means for arousing the sub-normal child.
The schools in the past have had a course in Music Appreciation. The present supervisor with but one day a week in the town, cannot continue this very valuable phase of music. As the child begins to study
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SCHOOL REPORT
his songs intelligently he will understand better and enjoy more. I would recommend a course in the ap- preciation of music. What little is done in this broaden- ing way during the singing period is not satisfactory as the time is too short.
The tremendous far-reaching influence of the Damrosch broadcasting concerts on music apprecia- tion is unquestionable. Their educational and inspira- tional effects widely recognized and in many towns and cities school children are privileged to hear these concert lectures on Friday morning from 11 to 11.30 o'clock and from 11.30 to 12 o'clock. These broadcast- ing concerts by one of the foremost musical leaders of America today, are not only instructive and entertain- ing to young and old, but are stimulating and create a desire to know and learn more. The broader our knowledge the keener our understanding and the deeper our appreciation. We store up within ourselves golden melodies for the years to come.
I would value any help or suggestion you may give me. I wish to thank you, and the teachers through you, for the courteous co-operation I have at all times received.
Respectfully submitted, LOIS J. SNOW,
Supervisor of Music.
W. W. GIBSON & CO., PRINTERS Taunton, Mass.
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