USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dighton > Town annual report of the offices of the town of Dighton 1954 > Part 5
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November 11-Armistice Day November 25 and 26-Thanksgiving Recess April 8-Good Friday May 30-Memorial Day
closes
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ANNUAL REPORT
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Receipts
Appropriation
$191,235.00
Transferred from Reserve Account
1,445.05
$192,680.05
Expenditures
General Control
$ 7,662.23
Transportation
16,189.53
Teachers' Salaries
128,011.43
Books
3,488.42
Audio-Visual Aids
330.00
Supplies
3,517.33
Janitors Supplies
1,297.78
Fuel
4,517.12
Electricity
2,745.10
Gas
417.14
Water
429.46
Janitors' Salaries
13,410.90
Miscellaneous
1,458.68
Boiler Repairs
83.09
Repairs
1,979.03
Health
2,639.35
New Equipment
1,288.05
Library, High School
139.50
Staff Expenses
64.33
Tuition
75.60
Vocational Education :
General Shop
1,351.13
Household Arts
44.06
Dental Fund
858.25
$191,997.51
Balance-Returned to Town
682.54
$192,680.05
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ANNUAL REPORT
RECEIPTS
Dog Tax Refund
$ 564.88
EXPENDITURES
Elementary School Library 408.18
Balance $156.70
NET COST TO TOWN
Expenditures, 1954
$191,997.51
Receipts, 1954 :
Chapter 70, General State Aid 35,998.47
Reimbursement, Superintendent's Salary and Travel 2,426.66
Reimbursement, Vocational Education
6,466.49
Transportation
11,797.36
State Wards and Youth Service
934.51
Tuition :
Berkley
10,489.93
Freetown
11,475.93
Rehoboth
175.00
Lakeville
175.00
Miscellaneous Tuition
327.50
Miscellaneous Receipts
351.93
Dental Clinic Income
437.00
Total Receipts, 1954
$81,055.78
Net Cost to Town
Balance Returned to Town
$110,941.73 $ 682.54
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Citizens of the Town of Dighton:
Herewith is submitted my first annual report, and since I assumed the duties of this position in June, the report will be rather brief. Incorporated herein is the report of the Principals, Vocational School Director, the Music Supervisor and the Nurse, and I recommend that you read them care- fully in order that you may become better acquainted with the operation of your schools. Any additional information concerning the schools will be given readily when requested.
Personnel
After eleven years of diligent and conscientious service as the school superintendent of Dighton, Freetown, Berkley, and Gosnold, Mr. John J. Rolfe resigned in April in order to accept the appointment to a similar position in Wareham, Mass. Under his capable leadership the elementary grades of Dighton were brought under one roof, and molded into a unit which was, and is, the envy of the citizens and pupils of many communities.
Mr. John F. Usher, Jr. Music Supervisor for the past two years decided to enter the field of educational admini- stration, and resigned to become Principal of the Freetown Elementary School. Mr. William H. Kahn, a man with an excellent educational and experience background in the field of music has already proven himself a worthy succes- sor to his very capable predecessor in the Dighton Public School music program.
Mr. Olivio A. Lopes who in his seven years as a teacher of English in Dighton High School, did much to raise the standards in that area of the high school curriculum, re- signed in order to accept a position as head of the English department in Attleboro High School.
However, in general the number of people who re- signed was not great, and this must be attributed to the fact that the members of the Dighton School Committee have
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ANNUAL REPORT
seen fit to have a salary schedule which will attract and re- tain good teachers.
The appointment of Mrs. C. Claudia McCarthy, form- erly elementary supervisor in South Hadley, Massachusetts, as a reading specialist has filled a great need, and in the few short months she has been on the staff the results of her work are evident.
In cooperation with Dr. Mary A. O'Rourke, State Ele- mentary Supervisor, an all-day Teacher Conference was held in the Dighton Elementary School on December 9th. Through the courtesy of the School Departments of Brock- ton, Weymouth, and Taunton, as well as the State Depart- ment of Education, expert consultants were on hand, and the elementary teachers of Dighton, Freetown and Berkley, as well as the elementary school principals of Taunton, spent a very profitable and enjoyable day. I hope that in the future we may promote more of this type of in-service train- ing for the teachers for it is stimulating and of great benefit to the pupils.
I have found during my short time in Dighton that the entire personnel of the school department is intent upon performing all assigned duties in a manner which will guarantee to the pupils and taxpayers the greatest possible return for the monies expended.
Finance
The budget for 1955 shows a regretable but inevitable increase. The constantly growing school population neces- sitates a greater expense for books and supplies as well as a sizable increase for transportation. The latter will be re- imbursed by the state, and I am sure that all will agree that if we are to safely transport our pupils the numbers on the buses must be lessened by adding more bus runs.
The teachers salary item, too, represents an under- standable increase.
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ANNUAL REPORT
In increasing the tuition charge from $175.00 to $225.00 in the high school a sum of approximately $6,900.00 more will be paid into the town treasury, even though the cost to our neighboring towns of Freetown and Berkley is a nominal one.
School Population
Much was said of the increased school enrollment in the School Report of 1954, and it is again this year the main topic of the report of Mr. Gillespie. Your committee which has recently been appointed to study the needs of the Digh- ton Schools will report its findings at the annual Town meet- ing. I strongly recommend that you carefully study its re- port.
Repairs and Improvements
The usual excellent program of building maintenance has been carried on by the very capable and diligent staff of custodians.
In order to save the lawn of the elementary school from the ravages of the grub of the Japanese beetle, it was necessary during the past summer to authorize the treatment of the entire lawn by the Hixon Tree Company.
Future Needs
If the Dighton Public Schools are to continue to im- prove, and if the buildings are to be kept in first class condi- tion it will be necessary to carry on the program of past years, that is, the purchase of various items of equipment for instructional use and supplies for maintenance purposes.
Hurricanes
Late in the summer when hurricanes Carol and Edna brought disaster and devastation to Dighton, as well as many other parts of New England, our school buildings served as havens of refuge for many of the citizens of the town. We could very readily see that in times of disaster, no matter what the cause, our schools, because of their rooms, well equipped kitchens and auxiliary power plants are very important units. I strongly recommend that in the
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ANNUAL REPORT
near future the auxiliary power plants of both schools be put in such working condition that practically anyone could place them in operation simply and quickly. I believe that the expense of this should be paid for by special appropria- tions at a town meeting.
Conclusion
I wish to thank all those who have done so much to make me feel and know that I am going to enjoy working, living, and raising my family in Dighton.
I strongly urge all who have constructive suggestions for the good of the public schools to discuss them with us in the system. If we are to do the best for our children, and they are deserving of no less than that, then we must all co- operate in a spirit of harmonious understanding and good- will to achieve our mutual goal.
Respectfully submitted, THOMAS L. WARREN, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools;
Dear Mr. Warren :
I submit the following report for 1954.
The annual physical examinations were given all pupils attending Dighton schools by Dr. Charles M. Souza, school physician. The Massachusetts Vision Test and Puretone Audiometer Test were given under my supervision. When defects were discovered in the vision or hearing of the pupils tested, the parents were notified immediately.
The Dental Clinic was conducted two mornings a week at the office of Dr. L. C. Murray, Taunton. With the assist-
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ANNUAL REPORT
ance of the volunteer drivers, members of the Dighton Ele- mentary School Parent Teachers' Association, five hundred forty-one pupils were transported to this clinic. All dental work needed was completed for a total of one hundred eighty pupils.
During the Pre-school Clinic, forty-nine pupils were vaccinated against small pox.
For the first time in Dighton, a day at school, called "Get Acquainted Day", was arranged, in order that the 1954 first grade pupils could experience their first day at school, in the company of a parent, prior to the opening of the school year in September. The experiences of this day in- cluded riding the school bus, meeting the teachers and the school staff, a tour of the Elementary School, a play period out of doors, and lunch in the cafeteria. The success of this endeavor was proven by the quick adjustment the children made to school life in September. This was our aim in con- ducting this program.
The services of the Bristol County Mental Health Clin- ics, Inc. were open to pupils in the Dighton schools. This affiliation has proven more than worthwhile.
Home Nursing classes were conducted at Dighton High School. During the program at "Open House", parents were given demonstrations of techniques learned and many im- provised articles, which are made for use in a home where there is sickness, were on display.
May I offer my sincere thanks to the entire school per- sonnel, parents, and all who have aided in making this health program a success in 1954.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER BOWDEN, R. N., School Nurse.
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE DIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I herewith submit my sixth annual report as Principal of the Dighton High School.
Over the last two years my reports have dealt with the major programs of the High School. Last year the guidance department was thoroughly explored. This report will out- line some of the major problems of the school and investi- gate entirely the pupil housing problem.
Enrollment indicating the distribution of pupils by the towns and curricula on October 1, 1954, follows :
ENROLLMENT STATISTICS
Class
Dighton
Freetown
Berkley
Lakeville
Total
Freshmen
37
21
14
72
Sophomore
26
23
15
64
Junior
36
6
12
1
55
Senior
30
9
13
52
Post Graduate
1
1
2
Totals
132
61
54
1
245
Curricula Statistics
Class
College Commercial
General
Total
Freshmen
38
27
7
72
Sophomore
22
29
13
64
Junior
16
27
12
55
Senior
13
25
14
52
Post Graduate
2
2
Totals
91
108
46
245
1
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ANNUAL REPORT
Curricula Changes
The popularity of the Household Arts Department ne- cessitated the addition of a class in Cooking. This class is an elective and is open to all girls in the school. Any fur- ther expansion of the Household Arts Department would mean elimination of the Elementary School students from the program since the instructor would be spending 100 per cent of her time in the High School.
The five subject per day program instead of four per day for non-college students was so successful last year that we have established it on a permanent basis. Under this plan there is less work outside of school and more accom- plished during scheduled classes. In too many cases the study periods were not effectively utilized. We still feel that the average college student needs the extra study period for library research work. At the present time, we are unable to add the extra subject to the program of seniors due to the non-availability of a room.
Guidance Program
The Guidance Program was covered very thoroughly in the 1953 town report and my recommendations are stated therein. Since there is much more work that should be done in guidance if time were available, I strongly urge the school committee again to make plans to develop this very impor- tant field.
During the year several vocational guidance talks were held with the juniors and seniors. Speakers in the fields of nursing, accounting, and art were enthusiastically received. The Northeastern University career program was used dur- ing the year. This program brings to the students essential information in approximately one hundred and fifty different occupations through slides, talks, and discussions.
The Taunton State Employment Office has been con- stantly improving their services for the benefit of our guid- ance program. The results obtained from their interview-
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ANNUAL REPORT
ing, testing, and counseling are forwarded to the school for our use. The Employment Office was successful last year in placing several members of the 1954 graduating class in positions compatible with their training and personality.
Activity Program
The Student Council completed, after two years work, a very comprehensive handbook which will be issued to freshmen for the next two years. After a trial of two years, plans are to revise and issue in a more permanent form. Such handbooks acquaint new students with essential in- formation about the school. All work was done by the stu- dent council and the commercial department.
A handbook for the faculty has also been prepared this year. School department regulations, high school policies, information concerning activities, etc., are there for the orientation of new faculty members.
The following changes in the Activity Program have been made for 1954-1955. The Home Nursing Club has been dropped due to lack of interest, the Photography Club was eliminated since no qualified and interested faculty member was available. The addition of a class in Foods made the Cooking Club unnecessary. In its place a very popular Handicrafts Club is operating.
There have been many articles during the last year re- ferring to the proper place of the Activity Program in the overall school day and its importance in relation to the aca- demic program. At present a faculty committee is studying the Activity Program and from its findings a probable re- vision will follow.
Housing and Enrollment
I would like to explore fully the Housing situation in the High School. The school department must soon decide what its secondary education policy will be and the housing needs of that policy. The town can meet this problem by :
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ANNUAL REPORT
1. Participating in a regional high school.
2. Developing the High School into a Junior-Senior High School and then back into a Senior High School for Dighton pupils only.
3. Eliminate Freetown and Berkley pupils until only Dighton students remain.
4. Construct a Junior-Senior High School or add onto the present building.
Naturally secondary school needs should be tied in with elementary school needs. This report does not attempt to answer this problem but does suggest a way to gain time to make the correct decision.
Dighton High School and Vocational School can hold at capacity three hundred pupils. Next year, with the fresh- men from Berkley and Freetown, approximately three hun- dred and forty-six students would be enrolled. More impor- tant, one hundred and sixteen eighth graders will enter in the fall although the largest class we can handle consists of eighty pupils.
There is a way we can hold these tuition pupils for an additional two or three years, giving an adequate time for clear thinking and discussion on future housing. Conversion of the town office space to school rooms would enable us to take all of the students from Berkley and Freetown for two and possibly three years.
From the selectmen's office and town treasurer's office could develop two small classrooms. These two rooms would enable the enrollment to increase to three hundred and sixty or seventy. There are more than enough classes with pupil enrollment of less than twenty to fill these small class- rooms during the day. The two rooms would handle the extra classes that would result from larger entering classes for at least two years and possibly three. To supervise these classes, one additional teacher would be needed in 1955-56 and two additional teachers the following year.
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ANNUAL REPORT
The difference between tuition received and salary paid for additional faculty members would partially pay for con- struction of a town office building. It seems sensible to con- sider using all of our school space first for school housing before considering further construction.
The town government program appears to be growing annually as the town population increases and a town office building would permit this expansion.
In addition to holding the tuition pupils, the added space would make possible the following changes in the High School program.
1. Provide a guidance office.
2. Provide an Audio-Visual Aids room.
3. Make possible adequate office space for the Prin- cipal.
4. Furnish a student activity room for such activities as yearbook, school newspaper, senior business, dance preparations, which are now done in every nook and cranny of the school.
5. Conference room to interview students. (none available now) .
6. A room for guidance testing. (none available now).
7. More storage space.
8. Band space.
9. Athletic equipment space.
10. Free Chemistry Laboratory of other than science classes enabling the science instructor to use the laboratory during his free time.
11. Put clock and bell system and safe in principal's office where it belongs.
12. Add two extra classrooms.
13. Enable us to improve the curriculum by adding Health and Business Mathematics to the freshmen and senior classes respectively.
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ANNUAL REPORT
In summarizing this discussion of school housing, I would like to say that by the expenditure of very little money a better high school, more town office space, and time to develop a future building program would result.
It has been a pleasure to be associated with you over the past year. Your cooperation and close support of the educational program at Dighton High School has enabled me to pursue a policy that seems to be in the best interest of the students. Our philosophy in the High School has been, and will continue to be, one that furnishes a strong academic program with sufficient extra-curricula interest to create an efficient holding power.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD H. GILLESPIE, Principal.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE DIGHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I am pleased to submit for your consideration, my third annual report as principal of the Dighton Elementary School.
This year I am deviating from the usual summary of our year's activities and wish to relate the aim and objec- tives of our reading program and the roles that guidance and testing have in the program itself.
Guidance, Testing, and the Reading Program
The teaching of reading has been stressed again this year and everything possible is being done to improve our reading program. The great emphasis upon reading in re- cent years has brought about the appearance of reading consultants in many school systems. Some schools have gone
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ANNUAL REPORT
a step further and are employing collaborating teachers in this field, it being felt that the increasing teacher load in the elementary school makes it impossible for the regular teacher to meet the needs of all the children in her class. Much research is carried on in the field of reading, and pub- lishers are using the results to prepare new reading pro- grams.
During the past year two workshops were conducted here in our school. The first workshop dealt specifically with reading and was conducted by the publishers of our basic reading books, The Ginn Publishing Company. At this session our basic program was reviewed, discussed, and evaluated. Suggestions were made by the reading consul- tant to help us improve our program.
The second workshop was held this fall and several fields of study were included in the program, reading again being one of the fields of study. Again consultants and specialists in their fields discussed major problems and made helpful suggestions. This workshop was conducted in co- operation with our own State Department of Education.
It would appear that in general principals and teachers who make use of available information can do an efficient job of teaching reading without the help of the specialist, provided that factors such as teacher-load, pupil ability, school facilities and other factors are normal.
If all children learned equally well and quickly, there would be little need for educational diagnosis and remedial treatment. It has been established that all children do not learn any segment of knowledge equally well or make the desirable adaptations to the school environment in approxi- mately equal time.
Experience shows not only that all children do not learn equally quickly, but that some fail to learn at all. Educa- tional diagnosis is therefore needed to discover the strengths and weaknesses of individual pupils as the basis for their educational guidance.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Diagnosis implies the collection of instruments (test- ing) and a greater background of scientific studies available for both preventative and curative practice (guidance) .
Educational diagnosis is the identification of some of the causes of learning difficulties or of failure to learn, so that proper attention may be given to measures which will facilitate learning.
If a diagnosis is to be satisfactory it must be valid ; that is, the condition which is demonstrated to exist must have a relation to the defect which has been determined, and re- medial measures based on the diagnosis must be effective.
In order to be satisfactory a diagnostic method must be objective. It may be said to be objective if several different persons reach the same solution as to the causal factors.
Another requirement for satisfactory diagnosis is re- liability. If the same result is secured by two or more diag- nosticians, using the same methods, there is evidence of re- liability.
In order to be entirely successful, a diagnosis must be reasonably specific. It is of interest to pupils to know that they are showing progress or lack of progress in their work. Measurement of progress is established through the use of tests used in the testing program. These tests have been carefully prepared and have undergone careful screening to meet the four points just described before they are placed on the market to be used in testing programs in our schools.
After diagnosis of a pupil's difficulty has been made, it is necessary to follow up the diagnosis with suitable reme- dial material.
The growth of the individual must be the primary con- sideration. Attention must be focused on the learner rather than on the subject matter. Children of limited capacity cannot be expected to show the mastery of subject matter which is achieved by their more able fellows.
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ANNUAL REPORT
In order that the educative process may be directed as efficiently as possible, it is necessary that all the objectives of instruction be clearly formulated, so that no essential one is overlooked.
Remedial instruction is an integral part of our educa- tional program ; its treatment is specific in that it attacks the difficulties at the present level of the learner, and proceeds on a tentative basis in that it uses various methods and ma- terials to cope with individual problems as they arise.
The remedial reading specialist works with children of normal ability, who have inadequacies in their reading.
Another type of specialist, the special class teacher, is not to be thought of in the same sense as the remedial read- ing specialist. Her work deals with children who deviate from the average so markedly that they cannot properly be cared for in classes with normal children. The proper edu- cational care of these children has been designated by the term "special education," or "education for exceptional chil- dren." Such children may be cared for in special classes under the direction of the local superintendent of schools and subject to supervisory attention of the state department of education.
To give assistance to the proper functioning of our pro- gram, a special technique or service called guidance is em- ployed. All school personnel employ it in some form or other and in many cases a specialist or guidance director is employed to organize and direct the program. Guidance is based upon the fact that human beings need help. Some believe that there is something inherent in every child that will enable him to solve all his problems himself if we only let him do it-that all he needs is sympathetic understand- ing and freedom from control or direction. They would also have us believe that education need not prepare for the fu- ture ; its function is merely to enable the child to live his own life better. Fortunately, few people act upon this assum- tion.
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ANNUAL REORT
The demand for guidance is based on the firm convic- tion that the school should effectively provide for individual differences in abilities, aptitudes, interests, and needs. This implies that all the aspects of a youth's development must be considered-physical, social, emotional, vocational, and recreational.
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