USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1953 > Part 5
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Respectfully submitted,
JOHN J. ROLFE, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Mr. Rolfe :
I submit the following report for 1953.
During the past year an extensive health program has been carried out in the schools of Dighton.
The Pre-school Clinic was held on May 26th and in addi- tion to a free physical examination and small-pox vaccina- tion, sixty-seven out of seventy pupils listed for entering the first grade were registered, ready for entrance in September. This plan has proven to be beneficial to both students and faculty as it alleviated nearly all the confusion of "the first day." It is planned to continue this in the future with other added benefits to prepare the child for school life.
The Health Room in the Elementary School has been the scene of much activity, although only first aid is given pupils requiring treatment.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The annual physical examination was given to all school pupils as well as the Massachusetts Vision Test and a hearing test by the Puretone Audiometer. If upon examination a child needs further treatment the parents are notified of the exist- ing condition.
Again the pupils of the Elementary School were given the opportunity to participate in the Dental Clinic which was held for a total of fifty-two mornings. Three hundred ninety eight pupils were taken to the clinic. The benefits of this pro- gram have proven very worthwhile and are more evident each year. This program is now in its seventh year.
Another program which has only recently become avail- able, the Bristol County Mental Health Clinics, Inc., has of- fered service to six Dighton pupils.
Again the Red Cross Home Nursing Course was given at the High School. Seventeen pupils were awarded certificates for satisfactorily passing the requirements of this program.
Chest X-rays were taken of High School sophomores and seniors, and all school personnel. This was made possible through the facilities of the Bristol County Health Associ- ation.
Without the cooperation of the school authorities, parents and citizens of Dighton, such a successful health program would not be possible. My sincere thanks to everyone who has assisted in 1953.
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 fifth annual report as Principal of the Dighton High School.
A year ago my report dealt with the major programs of the High School. This report will outline some of the major problems of the school and will explore thoroughly one de- partment mentioned a year ago-the guidance department.
Enrollment indicating the distribution of pupils by towns and curricula statistics on October 1, 1953, follows :
Enrollment Statistics
Class
Dighton
Freetown
Berkley
Rehoboth
Somerset
Lakeville
Total
Freshmen
37
31
20
.
88
Sophomore
49
9
17:
1
1
77
Junior
39
12
14
65
Senior
21
12
11
1
. .
-
Totals
146
64
62
1
1
1 275
Curricula Statistics
Class
College Commercial General Vocational
Totals
Freshmen
27
38
6
17
88
Sophomore
22
32
8
15
77
Junior
18
31
8
8
65
Senior
16
16
9
4
45
Totals
83
117
31
44
275
.
45
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Attendance
Although Rehoboth students were not admitted this year, our enrollment remained the same as last October, 1952-a
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ANNUAL REPORT
total of 275 students. When the present senior class graduates in June, the forty-seven students will be counteracted by about eighty-five pupils entering the freshmen class. This increase of approximately thirty students, allowing for dropouts from other classes, will put an added burden on our room and class facilities. Our ability to house pupils will decrease sharply as the number goes above three hundred.
Housing and Enrollment
With three hundred students in the High School next year, a slight increase expected the following year, followed by much larger numbers in three or four years, we will soon have more students than we can handle.
While we have had as many as three hundred and four- teen students enrolled, the loss of one of our classrooms to the Vocational School, which utilizes smaller class numbers, means we can care for about fifteen less pupils. All of our rooms are occupied six periods a day, five days a week. This one hundred per cent room utilization puts a severe strain on scheduling, room assignments and provisions for extra functions. A war- ranted increase in the number of Household Arts Classes is only possible, under the present arrangement, by taking time allotted to the Elementary School for home economics. Our freshmen civics class must be held in the chemistry laboratory for lack of a proper classroom. Since there is generally a great deal of valuable equipment displayed in the room, it is not ad- visable to use the lab for other than science classes. These situations can be partially rectified by the rooms that would be made available through the construction of a Town Office Building.
Curricula Changes
The additional faculty members in the Vocational School has made it possible to have all academic and related subjects of the shop program taught by Vocational School instructors. The result has been for smoother operation of the High School. Conflicting interests have been eliminated and subject matter pertinent to Vocational Schools only is not necessary now in the High School courses of study.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The household arts department under the very capable direction of Miss Edith Jones, is becoming more popular each year. An additional class in sewing was added this year and a class in cooking should be scheduled in 1954. to meet pupil demand. As I have previously mentioned, this is only possible by eliminating some of the time allotted to the Elementary School. The purchase of four new Caloric gas stoves in Decem- ber of this year, plus room alterations providing counter space for each stove, makes a more functional household arts labora- tory.
As a trial for one year, all non-college students are taking five subjects instead of four. Under this plan there is less work outside of school and more accomplished during scheduled classes. In too many cases, it is felt study periods are wasted. We still feel that the college student needs the extra study period for library research work.
Relieving the High School teachers of vocational subjects, enabled us to add two much-needed subjects to the curriculum. Mrs. Smith is teaching a nursing mathematics course to junior and senior girls working for a nursing career. It is planned to run this course every other year in conjunction with solid geometry. Business math has been shifted to the twelfth grade. In its place, in the tenth grade commercial and general cur- riculum, is given a general review arithmetic called functional mathematics. We expect this change to eliminate some of the arithmetic deficiencies present in the upper classes.
Savings Program
At the end of the year, a change from the Taunton Sav- ings Bank to Durfee Trust Company in Fall River was made in the Savings Program. The Fall River Bank offers a program that entails less homeroom work and administrative time. Pupils also receive interest on their money as soon as deposited instead of after approximately a three month period as was the procedure with the former bank.
Alumni
The first meeting of the Dighton High School Alumni was held as a school reunion at the Elementary School on June
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ANNUAL REPORT
13th. Mr. Robert Oldmixon, Class of 1938, was toastmaster for the banquet which was attended by 275 graduates. Much of the success of the reunion goes to the hard work of Mrs. Eleanor Smith who originated the idea and saw it through to a successful conclusion. It is hoped that the organization will continued to exist and be capably run by the alumni of the school.
Guidance Program
This year our guidance program approached its highest level of organization. This was done by freeing Mr. Francis Vitale from some teaching periods, enabling him to devote time to guidance. The amount of time available is very slight, four periods per week, but it is a beginning and it has been so successful that I strongly urge the School Committee to consider means of setting up a fully organized guidance pro- gram.
Fifty years ago educators and laymen would have con- sidered the idea fantastic if some one had suggested that guidance should be provided at public expense for every child in public schools. Yet after a slow start during the first thirty years, that concept is approaching reality. With principals assuming more tasks than ever before; programs becoming more complex and complicated; the school of today developing a more comprehensive machine with all of the problems of children with many varied interests; the need of the recog- nition and study of individual differences becomes more im- portant. For these reasons, the need of an organized guidance department with trained personnel to handle these special problems is necessary.
The heart of any guidance program is the accumulation of pupil information through testing and counseling and the interpretation and dissemination of results. We make full use of the tests given in the eighth grade which are forwarded to us annually. Students not previously tested are given a men- tal ability test in September by Mr. Vitale. The Boston Uni- versity Co-operative Guidance Battery is given annually by Boston University's Testing Service to all juniors. This bat-
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ANNUAL REPORT
tery of tests indicates mental ability, reading comprehension and vocational aptitudes. The Massachusetts Employment Serv- ice also gives their battery of tests to all seniors to aid in placing graduates. This year for the first time all freshmen took an Interest Inventory. As the name indicates, the test brings to our attention likes and dislikes of pupils and is highly important in solving certain types of maladjustments.
Mr. Vitale has spent as much time as the four periods per week will allow in testing and counseling students. Lack of time means that this phase of guidance can scarcely be scratched. Many cases of maladjustments can only be solved by searching all information available and holding many con- ferences.
I have devoted a great deal of my time to counseling where the need was greatest. Every pupil who has any difficulty with any subject has a private conference at the end of each mark- ing period concerning his work. From time to time, I hold meetings with all seniors who plan to continue their education beyond High School. We discuss choice of colleges, entrance requirements, College Entrance Examinations and scholar- ships. In addition, each college senior has several private con- ferences concerning his choice of colleges and methods of applying.
Mrs. Eleanor Smith acts as Dean of Girls but does not have time assigned for this very important type of work. It is essential that we have more time available for Mrs. Smith as soon as possible to work with those problems pertinent to girls.
It is very gratifying to notice that all faculty members are making more and more use of available information con- cerning individual pupils than at any time in the past. I am sure the emphasis we have placed on the guidance program has carried over to the entire faculty. I am sure also from the response shown that a more extensive guidance program is needed and desired by the faculty. In closing this discussion on guidance, I strongly urge the School Committee to review at its earliest convenience the entire program with the pros- pect of expanding it as much as possible.
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ANNUAL REPORT
I have appreciated the spirit and cooperation revealed by the student body and the faculty over the past year.
Your cooperation as Superintendent of Schools and that of the School Committee and the entire building personnel has made my work easier and furthers greater accomplishments in the future.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD H. GILLESPIE,
Principal.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIGHTON VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
It is a privilege to submit my first annual report as Di- rector of the Dighton Vocational School.
The main objectives of our vocational program are first, to train for good citizenship, and secondly, to train for profit- able employment.
Blinded by a traditional outlook on vocational education, some parents and teachers neglect to see trade training in its true light. More people must come to realize that the idea of skilled workers being inferior citizens is out of date. The 1947 report of the President's Commission on Higher Educa- tion puts this well when it stated, "Democratic society does not distinguish between citizens and workers. Making a living is a function of the citizen; being a citizen is a function of the worker."
The boys who graduated in June were placed in fields of employment directly connected with the trade training they received at our school. The letters we have received from em- ployers who have hired our graduates are most gratifying.
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ANNUAL REPORT
However, many of them state that they are only hiring people who have specific training and skills such as our school offers.
In September the vocational curriculum was completely reorganized. Paul Couture, former science teacher at West- port, was added to our staff. He teaches citizenship, related mathematics, related science, and English. In addition to his classroom teaching, he spends part of each day in the shop with the freshmen students.
Mr. O'Connell has his shop class in woodworking, and also teaches related mathematics and science.
I have classes in auto mechanics, related mathematics, and science.
The freshmen group will spend one-half the year in gen- eral shop, and the other half in woodworking. At the end of the first year a student may elect the trade in which he wishes to major for the remaining three years.
We have selected a new committee for our Advisory Board. These men are key people in industry and have shown a keen interest in our program. They will aid us greatly in anticipating trade trends, labor needs, employment require- ments, and placement. Our curriculum must be geared to in- dustry's needs.
The State Department of Vocational Education has been most helpful in aiding us in our curriculum reorganization. In addition, they have purchased a metal cutting saw for our shop.
In September we had 22 freshmen students enrolled in our program. We have shop facilities for only 14 students. The organization of a testing program is planned, so that all stu- dents having mechanical interests and manipulative abilities will not be excluded from entering the vocational program.
The rapid expansion of vocational education in the last ten years has found many schools in a difficult position as far as space is concerned. Dighton is also in this position. The wood- working shop lacks storage facilities and presents crowded working conditions. The lack of space in this department makes
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ANNUAL REPORT
the installation of much needed equipment impossible, even though this equipment could be obtained without cost to the town. Facilities in the auto shop are most inadequate. Weld- ing, forging, and spray painting must be done outdoors. The working area for automobile repair is extremely small for the number of students enrolled. Storage facilities in this depart- ment are also limited.
The frequent contacts with the trade, employers, and State Vocational Conferences, has enabled us to give the best avail- able opportunities to our students.
I sincerely appreciate all the interest and support you as Superintendent of Schools, your Committee, and all school per- sonnel have given me.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. DAY,
Director.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF - THE DIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I herewith submit my second annual report as Principal of the Dighton Elementary School.
A year ago, my report dealt primarily with the school cafeteria, the audio-visual program and general activities in- corporated in the consolidation of schools. This report will con- tain a summary of the above mentioned activities and deal with those events and activities that have been incorporated during the past year.
Summary
The success of any venture is generally measured by the degree of its acceptance by the public-which in turn deter-
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ANNUAL REPORT
mines profit or loss. The acceptance of the school lunch program by parents of this community has increased steadily and at present we have approximately 80% participation in Type A and Type C programs.
Favorable comments have also been received from numer- ous groups and individuals who have visited our school during the past year.
Continued patronage will insure continued low cost meals.
The audio-visual problem of a year ago no longer exists as purchases made by the School Department has more than met the basic needs of an adequate and well balanced program.
These purchases have been justified as shown by the in- creasing enthusiasm and usage displayed by our staff of teachers and also increased interests displayed by the students themselves.
Now that the play areas about the building have rounded into shape, as originally planned by the Building Committee, usage of these areas has been carried on under a supervised play program. I believe that the restricted use of these areas during the past year has been more than justified by the resulting appearance of our school grounds.
Reading and the Library
The teaching of reading has been stressed again this year. All educators agree that reading is the most important sub- ject in the elementary school and for this reason should receive the most emphasis and the largest time allotment. Many of our scholastic failures in the upper grades and high school are caused by inability to read with understanding. This inability will retard a pupil's progress in history, geography, science and mathematics. In fact, success in any school subject is con- ditioned upon the ability of the pupil to comprehend what he reads.
Thousands of scientific investigations have given a clearer understanding of how to teach reading and to develop a read- ing program. Textbook contents have been made more inter-
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ANNUAL REPORT
esting and socially useful material has been included. The Ginn Basic Readers Series now in use in our schools is considered one of the best.
One of our chief tasks at the present time is to make a variety of attractive books available to the pupils of every room and every grade, even the first. Reference books as well as fiction should be included to supplement the material in the texts. No single text book is complete enough to cover a subject thoroughly. When a pupil is seeking information he should have an abundance of reference material available. It should be clear from the above that we hope to make learning to read and the intelligent use of books one of the main ob- jectives of the entire school life of the child.
Guidance and Testing
Before guidance can proceed with assurance, the school administrator should know the student's strength and weak- nesses. Tests are a means of obtaining a reliable index of a student's pattern of traits. They afford descriptions of the student's intelligence, interests and achievements.
In April we administered the Kuhlmann-Finch Test of Mental Maturity and in May the Stanford Achievement tests. Inspection of a confidential summary report in the form of a profile chart reveals that in the Kuhlmann-Finch Tests 26% of the enrollment fall in an above normal group, 25% in the normal group and 49% in the low normal group.
In the Stanford Achievements Tests, a summary in the form of a profile chart reveals that the group represented is, in general, an average group with average scores in language, social studies and arithmetical computations. Our students are relatively weak in reading comprehension, arithmetic reason- ing and study skills.
We are using these tests as a basis for our work in guid- ance. We have used the results of these tests to:
1. Determine the achievement in a school by grades and subjects.
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ANNUAL REPORT
2. Evaluate instructional materials, teaching methods and teaching effectiveness.
3. Make a comparison of the achievement of the school with schools throughout the country.
4. Establish and maintain standards uniformly from year to year for admission, placement, promotion, certifica- tion and graduation, and for transfer relations with other institutions.
We are now in a period of education when emphasis on the individual child predominates. This emphasis will be but a meaningless slogan unless the teacher knows the strength and weakness of the child and can plan intelligently for his par- ticular needs.
Some of the purposes for which the teacher may use achievement tests are the following :
1. To evaluate the achievement of each pupil in terms of ability and age.
2. To analyze the achievement of selected pupils; i.e., gifted, slow, or other problem cases.
3. To determine both amount and rate of progress made by the individual.
4. To grade pupils for instruction.
5. To determine the achievement of the class at the be- ginning and end of the term.
Our staff of teachers is concerned with helping the child to make choices appropriate to his age and school progress and to adjust himself to the school and his expanding life out of school. In the first grade one of the chief functions of guid- ance is to assist the child in the transition from the home to the school. Life in the home is relatively free; the relationship is between the individual child and the parent; the child is a member of a group consisting of younger and older persons, parents, brothers and sisters. In the school, life is somewhat regimented; there are definite tasks to be done at a certain
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ANNUAL REPORT
time, the child is a member of a group of the same age and the same general mental and physical development. This tran- sition is for many children a very difficult one to make, and maladjustments are common. Many undesirable attitudes and emotional sets have their origin here. Consequently, guidance is directed definitely toward personality development, social behavior, and problems connected with learning. It is distinctly the whole child that is the object of attention.
Conclusion
I wish at this time to express appreciation for the sup- port, loyal co-operation, and sympathetic understanding of par- ents, citizens, school committee members, co-workers, and all others who are helping in this important work of training those who are to become the future citizens of this country.
Respectfully submitted,
OLIVER J. COLLARD,
Principal
Dighton Elementary School.
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Mr. Rolfe :
I herewith submit my second annual report as Music Supervisor in the Dighton Public Schools.
In my annual report of last year I briefly diagnosed our entire music program and prescribed certain treatments which I felt would do much to improve upon it. Several of these treat- ments have now been a part of our program for several months, a period of time long enough to enable us to see their effective- ness.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Music in the Elementary School
Our vocal program at the elementary school level is being conducted as it has been in the past, with weekly classroom visits by the music supervisor. The treatment of uncertain singers continues to be our primary concern in the early grades. A new music book at the third grade level has allowed us to present many new musical experiences for the boys and girls at this step in their musical growth. In order to prepare our third grade for this new music book, our program has been speeded up somewhat at the second grade level.
New music books have also been put to use in grades seven and eight. These books, containing a wealth of interest- ing musical material, integrate well with the music appreci- ation course we have introduced to these grades. Such a course in music appreciation presents to all our students at least a foundation necessary to the understanding of good music. In the past such a foundation has been available only to those students fortunate enough to play musical instruments.
Our instrumental program in the elementary school has started twenty-five beginning students on a varied assortment of instruments. These twenty-five boys and girls, plus the thirty-five carried over from last year, are given weekly, semi- private lessons of about twenty-five minutes in length.
In addition to our elementary school band of thirty-five pieces, we have added an elementary school orchestra to our music curriculum this year. I felt that this step was necessary in order to keep our young string players interested through the trying years of adolescence. Both the elementary school orchestra and the elementary school band are preparing to take part in many of our school assemblies, and their re- spective enrollments will be gradually increased as our be- ginning students show enough ability for ensemble perform- ance.
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