USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1947 > Part 5
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ANNUAL REPORT
able to give to the boys and girls of Dighton the good school experiences that they deserve.
Although there is general agreement that State Aid for education is necessary to supplement the local real estate tax, no relief was provided by the 1947 Legislature except for an increase in the transportation aid. This year Dighton received from the State $3,660.70 for transportation reimbursement whereas heretofore it has received nothing. We estimate that for 1948 our grant will be approximately $5,200. Several plans for State Aid will again be presented at this session of the Legis- lature whereby a town such as Dighton will be aided appreciably.
School Plant
At its regular May meeting the Dighton School Committee voted to ask the Selectmen to appoint a com- mittee to investigate a possible site or sites for the Town's elementary school building needs. This Committee which was made up of John Bolger, Charles Swartz, John Rolfe, Harold Woodward, James Callaghan, Roy Horton, and Al- bert DeMello, viewed a number of sites and recommended that 11 acres of the Whitmarsh property on the corner of Milk and Main Sts. be purchased. In the selection of a site the Committee had to consider such factors as size of lot, drainage, location, and the grading and water prob- lems. A more centrally located site would have been more ideal but none that met the Committee's specifica- tions was available. At a special Town Meeting held in November the Town voted to purchase the Whitmarsh property for the sum of $3,300 and a committee was chosen by the moderator to select an architect and to make plans for a new elementary building.
As was pointed out in this report last year, no plan could be devised that would meet with the approval of
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ANNUAL REPORT
all groups. We are all familiar with the many serious shortcomings present in our South School and we realize the hopelessness of making it liveable and safe. The sooner that the people who are interested in boys and girls decide that the situation is tragic the sooner we shall have definite action. The building committee is meeting regularly in an endeavor to be able to present plans and costs at our March Town Meeting. This will be the opportunity for the townspeople to show whether or not they are interested in the welfare of those boys and girls who have to experience school conditions that should be tolerated no longer.
Repairs
In addition to many miscellaneous repairs that have been made by our janitors many other improvements have been undertaken. In the North Elementary School windows were cut in each classroom whereby adequate natural lighting could be provided. This improvement was one of the most important that has been made in many years. The painting of the exterior of the building and the continuation of interior redecoration added greatly to its appearance. The condition of the water pipes necessitated 100% replacement. New ceilings in each room should be provided as soon as our budget will permit in order to improve lighting and so that the pres- ent excessive heat loss condition may be eliminated.
The only major repair necessary at the North Pri- mary School is the painting of the exterior of the build- ing. This project will be undertaken under our 1948 budget.
At the high school the janitors re-sealed and waxed all floors, washed all walls and woodwork, and painted those areas where conditions warranted it. The gutters
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ANNUAL REPORT
along the retaining wall of the athletic field were re- paired and resurfaced by Mr. Milton Sherman. Certain areas on the exterior of the building where water seepage was noted were waterproofed. This latter condition has caused considerable trouble but we hope to be able to correct the situation from time to time without a major expenditure of money.
Improvements at the South School were limited to general painting, cleaning, and repairing by the janitor. No major projects were undertaken. However, if the Town should fail to realize the need for a new school, a large special appropriation will be necessary to provide adequate lights, fire escapes, painting of exterior and in- terior, replacement of floors, and improvement of play- - ground.
New Equipment
A much needed intercommunication system and a new scrubbing and polishing machine have been pur- chased for the high school. Another wood lathe was pro- cured for the vocational shop. Maps and globes were purchased for all schools. Through War Assets we pro- cured a used sound projector for the elementary schools although the school department must make an expendi- ture for repairs. Our program of desk replacement was halted because of a shortage of this type of equipment.
Music
Much could be written concerning the rapid strides made by our music department. The enthusiastic re- action of the townspeople is good evidence that the extension of our music program is justified. Our school glee clubs, band, and orchestra had many opportunities to appear in public during the past year and were enthu- astically received everywhere. The school band of fifty
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ANNUAL REPORT
pieces, the large girls' glee club, and the forty voice boys' glee club help to develop school spirit and community cooperation in addition to providing the students with many desirable experiences, skills, and opportunities.
Free instrumental instruction is available for any boy or girl above the fourth grade. A limited number of instruments are available for those pupils who cannot furnish their own. Although special attention is given to our various musical organizations the regular music work of the classroom is not neglected. Under the direc- tion of Mr. Harris the teachers continue to emphasize special training for those having singing disabilities and special emphasis is given to training in fundamentals, music apprecation, and all of the other phases of music work.
High School Bleachers
The graduating class of 1947 donated $150 toward a fund for bleachers for the athletic field. On July 8 the School Committee approved plans for the erection of a section of bleachers to be provided by funds to be raised by popular subscription or in some manner other than from the tax levy. This section was completed in Sep- tember by the Mandigo Construction Company. In November a group of interested citizens organized a drive for funds by popular subscription. From individuals, business, and outside donators more than $3,600 was realized. This sum includes approximately $250 that was transferred from the Salvage Account by the Dighton Salvage Committee. These monies in addition to other sums yet to be realized will make it possible to provide adequate seating for all spectators at our football games. The townspeople are to be congratulated for their splen- did response to this very worthwhile project.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Dental Clinic
At the 1947 Town Meeting the sum of $1,200 was voted by the Town to be used for the dental clinic that was first started in December of 1946. Mrs. Bowden made arrangements with Dr. Lynwood Murray of Taun- ton to take care of the dental work of Dighton pupils on an hourly charge basis to be paid from the above men- tioned appropriation. All income from the $1.00 per operation charge to children is turned over to the Town Treasurer. The success of this project is evidenced by the large number of pupils participating and by the great improvement in the condition of the teeth of the children. The net cost to the Town for the past year was approxi- mately $500. Taking care of the dental needs of the children in the office of a dentist is far superior to the former method of having the work done in the various schools with inadequate equipment. We hope that this very necessary work may be continued.
Conclusion
During the past year improvement in our schools and in the cooperation and interest of our townspeople have been most gratifying. On the whole the morale in our schools and in the town seems to be on the upgrade. Let us continue to show the interest and sup- port so necessary for harmony and progress in our com- munity.
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the townspeople, the town officials, and the School Commit- tee, for the many evidences of their interest in the best welfare of the children of the Town.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN J. ROLFE
Superintendent of Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL STATEMENT, 1947
Receipts
Appropriation
$108,242.40
Dog Tax
582.39
Total
$108,824.79
Expenditures
General Control
$4,906.49
Transportation
6,425.70
Teachers' Salaries
69,938.70
Books
1,204.43
Supplies
1,652.85
Janitors' Salaries
8,307.00
Fuel
3,290.41
Electricity
1,549.96
Gas
93.09
Janitors' Supplies
409.64
Miscellaneous
512.65
Boiler Repairs
998.44
Repairs
3,100.84
Health
1,970.60
New Equipment
1,420.22
Library
129.29
Staff Expenses
37.36
Tuition
13.20
Vocational Education:
General Shop-Day
1,379.39
Practical Arts-Evening
298.00
Household Arts-Day
195.64
Dental Fund 985.00
Balance 5.89
$108,824.79
ANNUAL REPORT
13
NET COST TO TOWN
Expenditures, 1947
$108,818.90
Receipts, 1947:
Reimbursements, Teachers' Salaries (Part I, Chap. 70 $4,641.45
Reimbursement, Superin-
tendent's Salary and Travel 1,189.24
Reimbursement, Vocational Ed.
3,366.70
Tuition:
Berkley
6,729.56
Freetown
5,039.82
Rehoboth
7,890.43
Miscellaneous Tuition
240.54
Miscellaneous Receipts
286.95
Transportation
3,660.70
Dental Clinic Income
489.00
Total Receipts, 1947
33,534.39
Net Cost to Town
$75,284.51
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ANNUAL REPORT
Report of the School Nurse
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir:
I submit the following report as School Nurse for the year 1947.
The annual physical examinations were given to all pupils, with no serious defects found. Notices were sent to parents in cases where correction was found necessary.
The high school seniors had chest X-rays as part of their physical examinations, and all new teachers and school personnel were X-rayed. All reports were nega- tive.
All other examinations were carried on as usual.
The Dental Clinic which was started in December, 1946 has proved very successful. From December, 1946 to June, 1947, only pupils in the first 4 grades attended clinic. At the opening of school in September, the chil- dren of the first eight grades were examined. Notices were sent to their parents of the work to be done, and the approximate cost. Since September, ninety pupils have attended clinic and 38 pupils have had all necessary work completed. Of the 388 pupils examined, 122 had no defects and several had only one cavity or a cleaning to be done. This certainly shows a big improvement over previous years. More pupils are realizing the value of regular check-ups at their own dentists, as well as the pupils taking advantage of the school clinic. Since the
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ANNUAL REPORT
beginning of the clinic, 148 pupils have attended. It is our aim at the clinic to teach the children the proper care of teeth and to go to a dentist for check-up as fre- quently as necessary. Permanent records of work done and material used are kept and each pupil is given a copy of his record. It is my hope that we can continue this good work.
I wish to thank the teachers for their cooperation and all who have helped with the health program.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER BOWDEN, R.N.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Calendar Year 1948 Dighton High School
School opens closes
January 5, 1948
School opens closes
February 20, 1948 March 1, 1948 April 16, 1948 April 26, 1948 June 18, 1948
School opens
closes School opens closes
September. 8, 1948 December 24, 1948
Elementary Schools
School opens closes School opens closes . April 16, 1948
January 5, 1948 February 20, 1948 March 1, 1948
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ANNUAL REPORT
School opens closes
April 26, 1948
June 11, 1948
School opens
September 8, 1948
closes
December 17, 1948
Schools will close on the following days:
March 26-Good Friday
May 31-Memorial Day
October 12-Columbus Day
October 29-Teachers' Convention
November 11-Armistice Day
November 25 and 26-Thanksgiving recess
Report of the Principal of the Dighton High School
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my third annual report as Princi- pal of Dighton High School.
No yearly report of a high school should be con- sidered complete without the expression of the philosophy and policy controlling the administration throughout that period. I quote from my last annual report: "There must be an adequate program of studies offered, and also a program of school activities, as a result of which, the total life of the student is sufficiently enriched to give a more balanced background and preparation for advanced education and 'citizenship' with its complexities of re- quirements during this post war period. The total program at Dighton High School has been gradually established
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ANNUAL REPORT
and is still being established with the objective of per- mitting greater numbers of students to achieve success- fully and participate in an active capacity." The above quotation represents just as adequately the bases of policies during this past year.
Further consideration was given to the Program of Studies and the various limitations which were apparent. As the schedule had been previously established in one English class or United States history class, for instance, there were students representing all five curriculums (College, Commercial, General, Vocational and House- hold Arts). To a certain extent the objectives are differ- ent in that the College Preparatory students have more exacting requirements from the standpoint of preparation for admission to college, whereas students in other curri- culums, Vocational for example, need more general preparation and perhaps more suitable experiences in reading, directing them toward appropriate use of leisure time. Another illustration of the problems resulting from such grouping of students is perhaps more apparent with chemistry, as previously scheduled, wherein College Preparatory, General and Vocational students were in the one class existing each year. With the forty-five minutes available in each class period, it was very difficult for the teacher to make allowances for the various objectives desired from the instruction.
Therefore, the schedule of classes was revised con- siderably with the result that in all English and United States history classes those students in certain curricu- lums were grouped together in individual divisions. Chemistry and physics are now taught in alternate years with the result that during this current school year there are two divisions of chemistry, one being college chemis- try and the other general chemistry.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The Household Arts Curriculum was revised begin- ning last September in accordance with the recommenda- tion of the State Department with the result that the major courses required in this curriculum are taken dur- ing the first two years. The junior and senior years now call for English, United States history, consumer educa- tion, problems of democracy, homemaking, and two electives from the following: general science, geography, and business mathematics.
The Commercial Curriculum has been revised to the extent that the first two years require basic courses in English, citizenship and occupations, general business training, bookkeeping I, business mathematics, geogra- phy, and biology or general science. Typing is now taken each of the last two years every day instead of two or three times each week over a three year period. Stenography is no longer required of all commercial graduates in view of the office requirements of today which are varied and in many cases do not demand a knowledge of shorthand. However, those students hav- ing higher grades in English and superior scholastic aver- ages during their first two years will be advised to take stenography during their last two years.
The English teachers have completed a tentative English Course of Studies covering all four years with particular reference to a revision of the supplementary reading requirements, speech training and vocabulary development. Public speaking has been incorporated into every English class and culminated in a Prize Speak- ing Contest on May 27, 1947 with all eleven speakers being chosen as finalists through the results of oral presentations in the various English classes. It was grati- fying to present the winner with an award given by the Dighton High School Boosters Club.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Since September the physical education program has been in the process of revision and expansion in order to present a more completely balanced program of activ ity and exercises. Posture in particular has been concen- trated on with a beginning in individual instructions. Dancing classes under the supervision of the physical education teachers have been inaugurated as a part of the program for the purpose of developing greater coordi- nation and also as a medium of preparation for leisure time. Health classes have been held at intervals with the idea that the well balanced physical education pro- gram must include the theory and knowledge concerning the maintenance of good health.
For the second consecutive year a testing program was administered under the auspices of the Boston Uni- versity School of Public Relations. All eighth grade stu- dents of Berkley, Dighton and Freetown were given a bat- tery of tests covering mental maturity, reading compre- hension, English fundamentals, mathematical reasoning, mathematical fundamentals and mechanical comprehen- sion. All juniors in the high school who desired to pay the small sum of eighty cents were given a vocational battery of tests covering fields of interest, types of inter- est, mental maturity, problem solving ability, reading comprehension, space relations ability and habits of speed and accuracy.
First of all the results of such tests are invaluable in administration due to the fact that many thousands of students in New England had taken the same tests. Care- ful examination of the results in Dighton in comparison to results by other students and schools has enabled analysis of our instruction thereby permitting correction and improvement where necessary.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The vocational guidance tests taken by the mem- bers of the junior class were valuable in offering guidance concerning the selection of appropriate subjects, the choices of colleges and the choices of future vocations. Wherever it was advisable, individual conferences were held with the students who had taken the vocational battery.
Last spring there was begun a consideration of the present report card and the possibility of a need for revision. Our card which has been in use for some years has provided only for a scholastic mark. It was realized that every demand for a recommendation or transcript by a college, commercial school, or hospital called for a great deal of personal information beyond the transmis- sion of a scholastic mark or average. It seemed that par- ents should have available all possible personal informa- tion concerning their boy or girl in order to be more ade- quately informed concerning progress through high school. As a result, through the cooperation of the State Department of Education, many types of report cards were examined. A faculty committee was organized to consider our needs for a report card. As a result of view- points and suggestions, a tentative card was formulated and considered in October.
Revisions were made and finally a report was estab- lished. It was decided to have a scholarship report and also a personal qualities report. The scholarship report four times a year will contain the grade of the student and his effort as reflected in each class. The personal qualities report will be given to the parents twice each year and will indicate the following: initiative, coopera- tion, industry, leadership, reliability, health, disposition, personal appearance and total citizenship. They will rep- resent the combined judgment of all members of the faculty who have had sufficient association with the pupil
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ANNUAL REPORT
in classes, activities, study halls, athletics, school func- tions, etc., to warrant the expression of such opinions.
The above described report card is now being print- ed by a trade school at comparatively little cost. The plan is to use the tentative card for a year thereby allow- ing further revisions if necessary and then submit to the School Committee for approval before final printing.
The activities of the school have been continued as previously established and in several cases expanded. There have been groups and clubs meeting on an average of once a week. A change has been made in the publish- ing of the school paper, "The Beacon," by integrating it with the English classes themselves and having most materials derived from actual assignments carried on by the students thereby creating additional motivation. All work involved in the printing of the paper is per- formed in the Commercial Department. A typing group has been formed from the college preparatory students of the junior and senior classes with the purpose of teach- ing the fundamentals of typewriting and thereby pro- viding those non-commercial students with sufficient basic knowledge of typing to be of value in future col- lege work.
The School Band initiated a year ago has increased in membership to approximately fifty boys and girls. Im- provement throughout the year has been phenomenal and there have been many occasions on which the band has played, including all football games this past fall, the Football Banquet, assemblies at Dartmouth High School and Bristol County Agricultural School, our own assem- blies and an exceptional appearance for a half hour pro- gram on the Brockton radio station.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The Boys' Glee Club participated with the band in the radio program and the assemblies at the previously mentioned schools.
In athletics it should be noted that the girls' basket- ball team won the championship of the Narragansett League during the past season; the boys' basketball team was runner-up in the Principals' Tournament held in New Bedford. The football team again completed a very suc- cessful season by finishing second in the Narragansett League.
At the conclusion of the football season the boys of the football squad were greatly honored by a banquet held at the Mount Hope Finishing Company cafeteria. All members of the band and the cheerleaders were pres- ent as guests in recognition of their activities during the fall.
Since September a Bank Savings Program has been initiated and already approximately two hundred stu- dents have voluntarily participated. For several years in the face of greatly increased costs and larger senior classes, it has become more obvious that the raising of all funds necessary for the Washington Trip were no longer justifiable as class projects exclusively. It should be pointed out, for instance, that in an average class of sixty students, less than half as a rule, participate equally in the carrying out of the numerous money raising projects. It is obviously unfair that many students derive the benefit of the trip without having earned it in the same manner as other members of the class.
Therefore, when the Commissioner of Education for Massachusetts asked that all schools establish Savings Programs to foster desirable habits on the part of students
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ANNUAL REPORT
it seemed very appropriate to establish such a program with the specific objective of all students saving for the expense of the annual Washington Trip. As a result it will be the policy in the future that the responsibility for providing funds for the trip shall rest with each student, although class funds as raised through nominal activity will still be used to reduce that individual expense.
The Audio-Visual Aids program continues with films and film strips being used to supplement and motivate in- struction. The high school subscribes to the Boston Uni- versity Film Library and is able to utilize many films directly correlated with class material. Many diversified film strips are owned by the school and, as a result, are available for use at the most appropriate time in various subjects such as biology, chemistry, citizenship and occu- pations, social studies, mechanical drawing, etc.
Enrollment figures indicating the distribution of pupils by towns and curricula statistics on October 1, 1947 follow:
ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Class
Dighton
Berkley
Freetown
Rehoboth
Totals
Freshman
48
11
13
2
74
Sophomore
40
17
8
25
*91
Junior
24
9
11
22
66
Senior
29
11
5
14
59
Totals
141
48
37
63
*290
* One sophomore from Taunton
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ANNUAL REPORT
CURRICULA STATISTICS
Class
College
Commercial
General
Vocational
Household Arts
Totals
Freshman
16
22
7
15
14
74
Sophomore
23
33
12
21
1
91
Junior
23
17
10
13
2
65
Senior
15
18
16
6
5
60
-
Totals
77
90
45
55
22
290
The attitudes and the fine spirit revealed by the students at Dighton High School throughout the entire year and the excellent cooperaion of the faculty have been greatly appreciated.
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