USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1952 > Part 5
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Mr. Charles F. Day was elected by the Committee to the position of Director of the Vocational School upon the recommendation of the State Department of Voca- tional Education.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Conclusion
We are all pleased with the cooperation of the townspeople in providing for the fine elementary building for our boys and girls. We feel certain that as our program develops and as the opportunities for wider experiences are provided, the children of Dighton are going to develop better school attitudes, achieve higher academic standards, learn to work to- gether better, and become better citizens in the school as well as in the community.
In closing I wish to thank the townspeople for their continued support of the school program. This support and cooperation is vital for the maintenance of efficien- cy and high morale in our schools. The interest of our School Committee in improving the schools should be recognized by the townspeople. Let us endeavor to con- tinue to work together toward the common goal - "the best education possible for the boys and girls of Dight- on."
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. ROLFE,
Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Mr. Rolfe:
I hereby submit the following report as School Nurse for the year 1952.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The annual physical examinations were given all pupils enrolled in Dighton schools by the school doctor, Dr. Charles M. Souza. Again both eye examina- tions and hearing tests were included in the health pro- gram. If at any time any of the results are question- able, a child is re-examined and the parents are notified of the existing condition.
It has been said by people who know, that the Dighton Elementary School has one of the finest and best equipped Health Rooms in southeastern Massachusetts. It has made my work more efficient and easier to meet the great increase in pupils requiring first aid treatment. Such a well equipped and comfortable room makes a program for increasing good health habits among school children very popular and inspiring.
The Dental Clinic was held for a total of sixty-two days with four hundred pupils in attendance. May I of- fer my sincere thanks to the many parents, citizens and members of the P.T.A. who have provided much of the transportation for this program.
Two classes of home nursing were offered at the high school. Twenty-two Red Cross certificates were awarded upon completion of these courses.
Again I wish to thank the school authorities, par- ents, and friends for their constant cooperation and sup- port in carrying out this health program.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER BOWDEN, R.N.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE DIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my fourth annual report as Prin- cipal of the Dighton High School.
A year ago, my report dealt with recommendations based on a survey of the more important departments of the Dighton High School. This report will discuss our present program and show its relationship to modern ed- ucational philosophy.
Attendance
With only eighteen Rehoboth students registered this year, our enrollment as of October 1, 1952, dropped to 272 students. This figure will remain constant for one more year, at which time the last of the smaller classes will have graduated and our enrollment will com- mence to climb.
Enrollment indicating the distribution of pupils by towns and curricula statistics on October 1, 1952, fol- lows:
Enrollment Statistics
Class
Dighton
Freetown
Berkley
Rehoboth
Lakeville
Taunton
Total
Freshman
52
12
19
1
84
Sophomore
46
11
13
70
Junior
21
17
14
52
Senior
28
13
6
18
1
66
Totals
147
53
52
18
1
1 272
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ANNUAL REPORT
Curricula Statistics
Class
College
Commercial
General
Vocational
Totals
Freshman
33
31
4
16
84
Sophomore
20
34
5
11
70
Junior
20
20
6
6
52
Senior
29
19
11
7
66
Totals
102
104
26
40
272
High School Program
The program of studies at Dighton High School pro- vides for three distinct courses of study, each of which has a definite goal and is designed to meet the indi- vidual needs, abilities, and interests of all students.
The College Preparatory Curriculum prepares for colleges, nursing, and technical schools. Minimum re- quirements are those asked for by most colleges. Stu- dents select additional courses under the guidance of home room teachers and the principal to insure adequate preparation for the vocation and school selected. One change should be noted in the program of all courses. Health Education is now required of all Freshmen twice a week. This academic subject was formerly in the extra-curricula program.
The Commercial Curriculum is designed to give the general background and special training necessary to prepare pupils for the business field as general office workers, file clerks, typists, stenographers, secretaries, and bookkeepers. The average student upon graduation
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ANNUAL REPORT
will have reasonable skill in general office procedure. This course is weak in mathematics in the last two years and as soon as a faculty member has the time available, it is planned to add a course in arithmetic in the senior year.
The General Curriculum is intended for those stu- dents who do not plan to go to college and who do not wish to take the specific vocational training which is given in the vocational curriculum. It is designed to pro- vide a broad background of subjects which, when com- bined with participation in the various extra-curricula activities, will prepare pupils to live as active, well- informed, and intelligent citizens who realize their in- dividual and cooperative responsibilities to communty, state, nation and world.
The Vocational Program is established according to the standards required by the State Department of Voca- tional Education and is designed to give the boys who se- lect it, general and specific skill in machine work, auto- mobile repairing and painting, forge work, welding, and woodworking. This course provides a thorough training in the use of hand tools and electrical equipment such as saws, shaper, joiner, drill press, lathes, and miller.
All boys spend a minimum of three hours in the shops. As of September, 1953, arrangements will be made so that one half of the time out of shop will be de- voted to mathematics and science. This will enable us to meet the state requirement of at least 450 minutes of related work per week. In the remaining twenty-five per cent. of the day, it will be necessary to schedule Eng- lish, history, physical education, guidance, assemblies, and extra-curricula activities.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Our present educational system in this country rec- ognizes that students of high school age should be trained for profitable employment. The Vocational High School of Dighton aims to develop in each student, dexterity in doing a variety of semi-skilled industrial pro- cesses and service jobs.
Methods of presenting the school honor roll were investigated during the year and a change from letters to "honors" was made. The following interpretation is now in use:
All A's Highest Honors
At least three A's and remainder B's High Honors
At least two A's and remainder B's With Honor All B's Honorable Mention
Many schools are now using this more general clas- sification since it does aid in eliminating comparison of the number of A's and B's between students.
Extra-Curricula Program
The modern school today has to meet the require- ments of all students. Many of these requirements are not found in the academic program, but only in what we call the extra-curricula program. This program has now become so desirable, the wall separating subject matter courses and clubs is gradually disintegrating. So that the public may be acquainted with what is offered in this program, the following activities are listed as being available in Dighton High School.
Band, Orchestra, Boys' Glee Club, Girls' Glee Club, Dramatic clubs (four), Audio-Visual Aids Clubs (two),
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ANNUAL REPORT
Driver Education, Home Nursing Clubs (two), Mechani- cal Drawing Club, Varsity Club, Fishing Club, Photogra- phy Club, Science Club, Traypainting Club, French Club, Typing Clubs (two), Yearbook Club, Record Club, School Newspaper, Dancing Club, Personality Club, Junior Red Cross Club, and Cooking Club.
Driver Education continues to be a problem in that we cannot give the necessary time to all seniors who wish to obtain licenses. To conduct this club adequately, more school time should be offered or extend the instruc- tion beyond the school hours.
Our school newspaper, known as the "Beacon," is assembled during the club period, but is printed at one of the local newspaper offices. This change in printing relieves an overburdened commercial department and produces a periodical more like a commercial news- paper in appearance.
The Dancing Club is new this year and answers an annual demand for ballroom instruction. The Handi- crafts Club was dropped because of lack of interest and the French Club was revived by popular demand.
Through this program we will strive to meet the demands of young people that cannot be given through the usual academic program.
Guidance Program
Throughout the year, it was the guidance policy of our school to place pupils in close contact with the at- tractive features of continuing their education at insti- tutions of higher learning. Talks with representatives of several such schools and periodic group meetings suc-
9
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ANNUAL REPORT
cessfully helped to transmit entrance and scholarship information to interested seniors.
All members of the Junior Class now take the Bos- ton University Co-operative Guidance Battery. Previ- ously it was taken on a voluntary basis. Results from this battery of tests are extremely useful in suggesting particular vocations. A similar test which stresses Eng- lish and mathematic fundamentals is given in the eighth grade. However, Boston University will not make the eighth grade battery available in the future. Our plan is to substitute a condensed form of a mental ability test administered by our own factulty. This will not be ade- quate, but it will partially replace the previous more com- plete battery until such time that a member of the fac- ulty can be named to take over the guidance program and develop a complete testing plan.
As in the past, the Massachusetts Employment Service is giving all seniors not continuing their educa- tion beyond High School, vocational aptitude tests. These results are useful in placing graduates in suitable positions.
Our guidance program will continue to collect as much information about each student as possible and to guide each student towards his choice of a school or job. This program will also attempt to aid students in meeting the problems that come before them during school and post-school life.
Athletic Program
Our atheltic teams did not win as many games as they had in previous years, but did maintain those out- standing qualities of sportsmanship, fair play, and great
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spirit that is typical of all Dighton High School teams. A summary of games won and lost is given as follows:
Boys' Basketball Won 3 Lost 14
Girls' Basektball Won 9 Lost 0 Tied 1
(Narry League 2nd Place)
Baseball Won 12
Lost 3
(Narry League 2nd Place)
Football Won 6 Lost 3
(Narry League 2nd Place)
It is our aim through the athletic program, to de- velop young men and young women who, while exerting every effort to win, can win or lose with grace.
Cafeteria
Each year the cafeteria continues to harass us with its financial problems. To continue to furnish an ade- quate hot lunch at the present prices and conduct the program without cost to the town, necessitates careful planning and time consuming price comparisons. The government has made more surplus materials available to schools this year and only through these surplus com- modities have we been able to meet our expenses.
The greater part of our expenses, labor, and sup- plies, are fixed and can only be varied slightly as prices increase. Our income, to meet these expenses comes from the sale of hot plates to about fifty per cent. of the students and from the Federal reimbursement of nine cents on each hot plate sold. We receive the maximum reimbursement from the Federal School Lunch Program. It is doubtful if the sale of hot plates can be increased further as we are now serving fifty per cent. of the stu- dents which is considered to be very good.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Assembly Program
Our assembly program consists of educational speakers, student talent and exchange assemblies be- tween neighboring schools. Our paid assemblies, gener- ally instructive in nature, are paid for by monies raised by student activities and generally bring in speakers and topics not available through the regular school program. We attempt to give every pupil in the school the oppor- tunity to appear before the student body and express himself in some way before a large group.
Our musical organization delivered an assembly to Oliver Ames High School and one of our dramatic clubs visited Dartmouth High School. In turn, these two schools were our guests as they presented assemblies to our student body.
In closing this report, may I express my apprecia- tion to you and to members of the School Committee, for your close support of the educational program at Dighton High School.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD H. GILLESPIE,
Principal
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE
DIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my first annual report as Princi- pal of the Dighton Elementary School. This report will
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ANNUAL REPORT
of necessity, deal with events and activities of the school that have happened since the opening of the new build- ing.
The past four months have entailed much planning and development of educational philosophies and pro- cedures as well as overcoming previous conceptions of educational procedures which had dealt with an entirely different situation.
This report will deal only with those events and ac- tivities that have shown definite trends or results as well as problems that confront our future progress.
The School Cafeteria
Closely related to the health problem is the proper administration of the cafeteria relative to the needs of pupils. The school cafeteria is the outgrowth of the early attempts to provide for indigent and hungry chil- dren at very low cost. Usually, free or low-cost lunches were furnished only to elementary school children be- cause the economic selection of the high school prevent- ed most of the indigents from entering the secondary schools. Today, the lunch program has developed to such an extent that nearly 70 per cent of all school pupils participate in the National School Lunch Program. The program has gained momentum because our citizens have discovered that good food habits and balanced meals are conducive to physical and mental develop- ment. Our state and federal governments have also seen fit to appropriate federal and state funds to subsidize the lunch program.
The subsidy enables the participating schools to receive surplus foods purchased with federal funds and
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ANNUAL REPORT
distributed to the participating schools at nominal costs (handling and storage fees). Each school receives at the end of each month a cash payment. The cash payment is based on the total number served during the month and the type meal served. The greater the participation, the greater the cash payment. This subsidy - surplus food distribution and the cash payment - enables the participating schools to offer well balanced meals at low cost to the participants.
The citizens of this town have also seen fit to in- clude in their new building a cafeteria equipped to meet the nutritional needs of their offspring and the resulting participation has amply rewarded their wise judgment - approximately 73 per cent of the school enrollment par- ticipate in the program.
The lunch is prepared by a staff of three full time workers assisted by students who assist in the serving of lunches, washing of dishes, and general clean-up.
The success of our program rests mainly with stu- dent participation. Participation can only be guaran- teed by what we have to offer the student. We strive to make our lunches appealing to the student by making them appetizing - maintain quality - and provide suf- ficient quantity. All our meals are in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth in our contract with the National School Lunch Program.
School Activities
School activities under our consolidated system pre- sents many problems in scheduling and organization. However, much has been accomplished in so short a space of time and adverse conditions.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Under the capable and enthusiastic guidance of Mr. Usher, our music program has developed with amazing results. A forty-piece band is now organized and developed to the point where it has participated in a school assembly program. A number of basic instru- ments and players are needed to better balance the ef- fectiveness of what we now have. Individual and group instructions are scheduled daily so that much can be expected in respect to the quality of our productions be- fore too many months pass by. .
A choral group or glee club has been recently formed in the three upper classes - rehearsals are held twice weekly.
Students in the seventh and eighth grades have organized and published a school paper as part of their Art and English program.
A student council has been organized and students elected to serve on the council. Student and general school problems are discussed and recommendations are made for better school service.
Stamps and cooperative shares are sold weekly. Many valuable experiences are gained by those partici- pating. This program is carried on as part of the arith- metice program in the seventh and eighth grades.
Physical education has been handicapped because of playground conditions and conflicts in program sched- uling. A change in scheduling for next year is recom- mended so that classes will not conflict with the school lunch program.
Now that the play areas about the building have been seeded and the gymnasium completed a program
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ANNUAL REPORT
suitable to the needs of the pupils can be planned and developed.
There is a need of playground equipment - equip- ment of a nature that will help develop strong healthy bodies as well as providing opportunities for developing strong qualities of character. Much time and thought should be given this matter before such equipment is purchased.
Assembly programs have been planned for the en- tire year. These programs are planned in observance of holidays and days of special interest. No invitation to the general public has been extended because of com- plications that would arise in seating an audience. How- ever, we have had a number of parents to each of our assemblies and their response to our student porform- ances has been most gratifying.
The activity program of our school is and must be an ever evolving process of cooperative effort and en- riching experiences for each and all of us - students, teachers, parents, and community. Our schools' assign- ment and summons is to discover, awaken, and develop latent personal power of our pupils and to channel the resulting current through democratic ideals and con- scious service to an enduring and powerful citizenship.
Audio-Visual Program
The problem of the improvement of the classroom environment into which we bring learners for the pur- pose of explaining socially important information is ever with us. The problem mounts toward new proportions of seriousness today, since all about us there are evi- dences of an expanding world environment of changing
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ANNUAL REPORT
cultural patterns, scientific advancement, and shifting political ideologies which challenge us not only because we must keep abreast of them information-wise, but pri- marily because our very safety and future social and in- dividual existence is at stake.
This problem can best be served through a well planned and coordinated audio-visual program.
Audio-visual education emphasizes the value of concrete experiences in the learning process as opposed to purely verbal or symbolic experiences. It is not an end in itself; it is a means toward the end. It should be geared to meet the needs of the curriculum. Audio- visual materials are tools for the implementation of the curriculum.
The problem of the use of audio-visual materials in the school program involves making accessible to the teacher all the audio-visual services needed to help him to provide a good learning situation within the classroom. It is imperative that certain basic services should be pro- vided in order to have the proper tools to use. Some of these services are:
1. A person in the building trained in the use of audio-visual materials.
2. The following equipment should be accessible at all times:
a. Standard lantern slide projector;
b. A combination 2×2 and film strip projector;
c. An opaque projector;
d. Magnetic tape recorder;
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ANNUAL REPORT
e. Three speed record player;
f. Sound motion picture projector (16 mm);
g. Daylight screen;
h. Radio (FM & AM).
3. Supplies for making learning materi- als should be available:
a. Materials for hand-made lantern slides;
b. Photographic materials;
c. Materials for bulletin board;
d. Poster and exhibit materials;
e. Materials for sound recordings.
Opportunities should be provided for
4. field trips, work experiences, etc.
5. In-service training in the proper util- ization of materials and equipment should be provided for all staff members.
6. An audio-visual library service should be maintined in each school in order to ac- quaint the teacher with literature in the field. This service should include such items as books, periodicals, teacher guides, film and slide catalogs, and material lists.
Some materials that should be readily accessible are:
a. Films;
b. Slides (all kinds);
c. Strip films, film rolls;
d. Recordings;
e. Live radio programs and television;
f. Picture collections;
g. Exhibits.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Teachers often fail to use audio-visual materials simply because they are inaccessible at the time they are needed. Availability of these materials is of pri- mary importance.
In conclusion the use of audio-visual materials is es- sential in the school program because programs and pur- posely planned arrangements for the learning of chil- dren, and children learn by starting with the concrete and going on to the abstract.
I wish to express my appreciation to the students, members of the faculty, custodians, kitchen staff, par- ents and friends of this school for their cooperation and interest in the welfare of the school.
Your assistance and cooperation as Superintendent of Schools and that of the School Committee has made my task a pleasant and an enjoyable one.
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVER J. COLLARD, Principal, Dighton Elementary School
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Mr. Rolfe:
This is my first annual report as music supervisor in the Dighton Public Schools. For this reason it is im- possible for me to objectively analyze our music program by comparing it with what it was last year. This report
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ANNUAL REPORT
might be of more value, then, if it contained a diagnosis of our present music program, pointing out any weak points it might have and prescribing any treatments which would help to improve upon it.
The elementary school vocal program is being car- ried on as it has been in the past, with weekly visits to each classroom by the music supervisor. Daily treatment of uncertain singers in the first three grades is an im- portant part of our program. Note singing from a text- book is begun during the latter half of grade II and is carried on through the eighth grade. Each grade level presents to the student several new musical problems, until, at the end of grade eight, all the fundamental rhythmic and melodic problems of vocal music have been considered.
My report would not be completely honest if it omitted any specific comment about our vocal music sit- uation in grades seven and eight. This particular age group is generally a problem musically throughout the nation. One contributing factor to this situation is the boy's changing voice. His changing voice not only makes it difficult to determine which part a boy should sing, but it makes the boy himself uncomfortable and self-conscious. This in turn often leads to a feeling of dislike for music, which, if allowed to continue, may de- velop into a serious problem of discipline. The only way to solve such a situation is to make the music period en- joyable as well as educational. Such a twofold objective requires the guiding hand of a classroom teacher with exceptional abilities. Anything short of complete under- standing on the part of this one teacher may have far- reaching effects on a large part of our vocal program, for within two years these seventh and eighth grade stu- dents will form a large part of our high school glee clubs.
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