USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > Town annual reports of Carver 1956 > Part 5
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School, in which the Carver teachers attended. The two-day program centered around the fields of Reading and instruction in Reading and Literature for the several grades within our school. It dealt also briefly with the question of the best ap- proach to teaching classes which may contain a few very able learners, a few slow learners and a majority of average pupils. An effort was made in this conference to keep the discussion centered upon those classes similar in type to those in the local school.
The Pupil Insurance program was approved and continued for use in the school this year. We now have the greatest number ever enrolled, about 70%, and trust that others not enrolled will see the benefits of this and find it possible to join another year. Every reasonable effort is made to prevent ac- cident but in spite of the effort unforeseen things do happen sometimes and the financial protection and assistance afforded by insurance is extremely valuable in time of need.
The committee sought bids for gas service and for fuel oil this year as in the past. There were no bidders who filed on the gas service. Two bids were received on furnishing the No. 5 fuel oil; one from the Volta Company of Plymouth and the other from Staples in Taunton. Staples Coal Company of Taunton submitted the better bid and it was accepted.
The budget prepared for the 1957 calendar year will have to be larger than the funds available to the use of the com- mittee in the calendar year of 1956. In order to make progress in the matter of teachers' salaries there will have to be extra funds in this section and the tuition requirements will be rather markedly increased upward. The rate for tuition of the pupils at the Silver Lake Regional School for this school year has been $300.00 per person. The committee was advised that the rate for the school year which will open in September, 1957, is to be set at $400.00 per person. This is an increase of 33 1/3% and must be reflected in the budget for 1957 in re-
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lation to that portion of the year. These two items, with small allowances for the transportation service, will constitute the chief increase in the budget.
In the matter of teachers' salaries it is well sometimes to reflect upon our relative position as compared with the state in general. A recent publication of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, BulletinP 18-IV of 12/27/56, provides informa- tion on salaries paid to teachers in towns in the group of class IV A, which is to say over 1,200 population without high schools. The median salary among this group of towns for classroom teachers is shown at $3,640.00. The salary for Carver teachers, exclusive of the principal and the small sums paid as payment for special services, results in an average teachers' salary in Carver for the current school year of $3.536.36. This, you will note, is something behind the median salary already paid in the towns as they are today. The salary plans in the 1957 budget will raise the average teachers' salary, considered under the same conditions as above, to $3,663.00 or just a few dollars above the median of last Decem- ber. However, by this time next year we shall without doubt find the median salary somewhat advanced and more than likely we shall be just about behind the average and in a relatively same position next year as we are at this time. We are fortunate to have as little change as we have had, for good teachers are not easy to find. Moreover, the competition for teachers' services is increasing in this part of the state as school population rises and new classrooms are opened. There are not nearly enough teachers being graduated from the Teachers' Colleges. In recent years, our best source of supply has been found among those who previously taught and whose situation is such that they are ready to re-enter the profession.
The Committee has received some general indications that the time may not be too far in the future when the question of what to do for high school accommodations will again be be- fore it. The Silver Lake Regional High School continues to
97
have growth in school population among its own membership. While no definite date has been set for withdrawal in the future, the statement has been made that the question of en- rollment for the future will have to have attention after next September.
There has been some reason to hope that a regional plan can be worked out for submission to the voters which will call for regional high school for Plymouth and Carver. Some ex- ploratory work has been done in this respect to date and the formation of a definite plan now awaits Plymouth's action on setting up a Regional School District Planning Committee at its next town meeting. When this formality has been met, a definite agreement can be worked out by the two committees for submission to the voters of each town.
We feel the year closed has been one of progress. We con- tinue to try to refine and improve the program offered the pupils, we watch their progress in the outside secondary schools, we test them and compare the results with national norms and we aim to keep informed on all new worthwhile developments in the field of public education. We appreciate the interest and cooperation whic the teachers, School Com- mittee and superintendent receive from the parents and citi- zens and trust we may continue to serve upon this foundation.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. AUSTIN,
Superintendent of Schools, Union No. 36
98
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE GOVERNOR JOHN CARVER SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith present my report as principal of the Governor John Carver School for the calendar year of 1956.
The school opened in January with one change in the teaching staff and with the creation of a new position. Mr. George McCarthy joined the faculty as the assistant principal and teacher of shop, mechanical drawing, and science to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Daniel Marcelonis. The newly created position, that of the school clerk, was filled by the appointment of Mrs. Faith Young, who was with the school for fifteen hours a week. The duties of the position are varied, yet the bulk of the time is taken with the school lunch program. Other duties include the handling of school finances other than those appropriated by the voters of the town, typing, duplicating, and the keeping of the records of the school. Being relieved of these routine duties gives the principal more time for the more important, but often neglec- ted, supervisory aspects of the position.
In February, Mrs. Eveline McLure took over the cooking of the domestic science program offered to the girls of grades seven and eight. The appointment places this area of the household arts program on a somewhat more permanent basis than we have been able to provide for the sewing classes.
A revision of the testing program was put into practice in the late spring. Under the present plan intelligence tests are given to pupils of grades one, three, and seven: achievement tests are administered to grades three, five and seven. The
99
latest revision of the Iowa test was used for this purpose. Of the three grades tested two scored above the national average for the grade, while unfortunately, the remaining grade scored below this average.
The monthly principals' meetings instituted during the latter part of 1955 were continued through the school year of 1955-1956. The above mentioned revision of the testing pro- gram was one of the outcomes of these meetings. Other topics discussed were the supervisory role of the principal, the finan- cial reporting of the school lunch program, and the planning for special class instruction. From these meetings came many practical suggestions which were incorporated in the oper- ating procedures of the school.
The athletic affiliations of the school continue to be with the recently formed Massasoit League comprised of Berkley, Carver, Dighton, Freetown, Lakeville and Rochester. Two basketball and one baseball games are played with each mem- ber of the league. The season closed with a track meet in Dighton in which twenty-eight Carver children took part. The coaching time spent in such a program is far in excess of the salary paid for such services. Mr. Eldridge and I greatly ap- preciate the help given to us by the alumni who make up opposition teams during practice- giving our youngsters ex- perience against strong competition. The sports program for the girls has not kept apace of that for the boys. Coaching time and transportation needs militate against such an equal- ity. During the year baseball games were played against one of the towns in the Massasoit League. At the present time plans are in the making for a ten game basketball schedule.
The school year of 1955-56 closed with the graduation ex- ercises held on June 10, at which time thirty-four diplomas were presented. Two inovations marked the program. The school orchestra trained by Mr. Fred White made its first public appearance and made known to the parents Mr. White's
100
talents. The second feature new to Carver graduations was the presence of a guest speaker. Judge Frankland P. Miles proved to be an excellent choice to introduce this new feature. The American Legion Essay Award was won by Michael Penti and James Jennings, whose essays were read during the pro- gram. The American Legion Auxiliary Poster Award was won by William Bisbee and the Humane Society Awards were won by Elizabeth Weston, Rebecca Shaw and George Young.
The list of graduates is as follows:
Chester Leonard Krakowski b
Robert William Birkenhead b
Donald Manuel Lopes b
Stephen Francis Brown
c
Francis Xavier Mills, Jr. a
Anthony Correia e
Michael Paul Penti a
Richard Paul Courtney a Edward De Jesus, Jr. a Irene Marie Pina
Kenneth Myron Pimental a
a
James Norbert Desroches a Roderick Jay Potter a
Lorraine Helen Ferreira a John Roland Santarpia b
Henry Mendes Fontes
a Laura Frances Shurtleff a
Lynne Helen Fountain
a Philip Vernal Shurtleff d
Gwendolyn Ann Gomes a Darrell Emanuel Silva
a
Judith Marie Gomes
a Brian Davis Thayer d
Richard Lloyd Gould e Lloyd Joseph Thomas, Jr. d
Laurie Ann Halunen
a Geraldine Rezendes Vieira d
Leonard Allen Heikkila b David Wayne Wainio a
James Allan Jennings a
a Silver Lake Regional High School
b New Bedford Vocational High School
c Bristol County Agricultural School
d Left school
e Moved from Carver
Patti Maxine Lavern Andrews a Carolyn Elizabeth Laine a
Ramona Elizabeth Brier
a Mary Ellen Maki a
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The opening of the new school year in September found us still faced with the usual problem of unequal distribution of pupils throughout the grades, and with an unexpected number of children entering grade one brought about by families moving to Carver during the summer. The problem of un- equal sizes of grades was solved in part by a home room made up of two grades, and in cases where this was not possible, by relieving the teachers of large grades of certain clerical duties, such as keeping of the school register and the collection of lunch money. These duties were taken over by the school clerk whose time was increased from fifteen to twenty hours a week. A discussion of the special class will be presented by Mr. Austin in his report.
New texts have been added during the school year. Chief in importance is the new language series, "Our English Language" by Bailey and Walker, which provides the basic tests for grades three through eight. This replaces a series introduced in 1943. Other additions have been limited to specific grades; a new music series was provided for grades six and seven and the latest edition of the science texts in use since 1946 was purchased for grade seven.
We are much pleased with the operation of the recently in- troduced public health nursing service whose headquarters are in the building. By this plan the nurse is at the school the greater part of the time between 8:30 a. m. and 1:00 p. m. on every school day. The summer schedule gives the nurse the opportunity to interview all families moving to Carver during the vacation period so that all necessary school records are complete at the opening of school in September.
The annual magazine drive ended with a subscription sales totaling $1,152.57 from which a profit of $331.58 was netted. The sale of group photographs totaled $145.40 giving the school a profit of $21.15. The other drives of the school were
102
in the nature of public service- a list with the money collected follows:
Junior Red Cross $39.58
March of Dimes 25.76
Poppy Drive 20.40
Insurance
241.50
Christmas Seals
15.00
Instruments
101.00
The school lunch program is now in its sixth year of oper- ation under the capable management of Mrs. McLure. Our rate of pupil participation still continues to be very high. Dur- ing the month of December we had an everage daily attend- ance of 269 pupils; during which time the daily number of pupil meals served averaged 245. A financial accounting of the program is given below.
Receipts
Balance on hand January 1, 1956
$1,062.86
Sale of Pupil lunches
7,845.20
Sale of Teacher lunches
688.50
Reimbursements from Common- wealth
3,877.04
Other Income
177.48
$13,651.08
Expenditures
Food
$8,185.64
Wages
4,636.00
Services
271.50
Supplies
48.95
Equipment
44.45
$13,186.54
Balance
$464.54
103
The above statement represents our receipts and expendi- tures for the year: it fails to take into consideration the unpaid bills, the accounts receivable and the value of the inventory on hand. Following is a statement of the financial position of the program as of December 31, 1956.
Closing cash balance
$464.54
Value of inventory
533.58
Reimbursement claims due
346.40
Total Assets
$1,344.52
Bills payable
$1,000.08
Balance
$344.44
The staff of the school is most appreciative of the efforts of the school committee to bring the salaries paid to the Carver teachers more in line with those of the surrounding towns than they have been in the past. We are always aware of the sup- port given us by you, our superintendent, and by the school committee.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY M. SHAW,
Principal.
101
SCHOOL CENSUS Age-Grade Distribution, October 1, 1956
Governor John Carver School Elementary:
Ages 5-7
7-14
14-16
16-21 Boys Girls
Totals
Grade 1
18 13
2
2
.
SilverLake Regional High School and Vocational School:
Grade 9
4
3
7
11
2 0
2
19
Grade 11
.
.
0
4
9
5
18
Grade 12
4
6
10
New Bedford Vocational
High School:
7
0
5 0 12
Bristol County
Agri. School:
1
0
3
0
4
Sacred Heart
Parochial:
2
1
0
1
1
0
5
21
Grand Total
380
Total number of children, age 7-16, resident in the town
309
Pre-School
to enter, 1957 15 18
.
. .
. .
1
25
57
In other Schools
3
0
6
. . 1
10
.
. .
32
Grade 3
17
21
·
.
.
38
Grade 4
18
17
.
.
35
Grade 5
17
20
37
Grade 6
20
1
0
.
.
.
16
15 11 10 3
2 3
1 3
.
29
Grade S
32
Special Class
5
3
0
11
-285
.
·
36
Grade 7
15
Grade 10
8
9
. .
- 74
.
.
. .
Respectfully submitted,
30 . . 33
Out of School
. .
3
In military service . .
FLORENCE K. SAND,
Census Enumerator.
1
7 15
9
Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls
35
Grade 2
.
0 27
1
105
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCY UNION NO. 36
Report of the Secretary
The annual meeting of the School Superintendency Union No. 36 was held at the Governor John Carver School in Carver, April 23, 1956.
Officers elected for the year were as follows: Chairman, Harold L. Griffith, Jr., and Secretary Norma E. Perkins.
It was voted to terminate the services of Mrs. Madeline Baker as school nurse for the Union as of June 30, 1956, Carver having planned for the employment of a full-time nurse with the combined duties of school and town. By separate vote, Rochester and Lakeville are now utilizing the services of Mrs. Baker and have found this to be a very satisfactory arrange- ment.
On November 2, 1956, the semi-annual meeting of the Union was held at Assawompset School, Lakeville.
A most successful workshop for the teachers of the several towns on the subject of "Reading" was held in September. The Union committee agreed if the teachers were willing to volunteer their time to such a program which would benefit the children of our schools, we were also willing to cooperate by financially supporting the program for a similar workshop this year, and voted $150.00 for this purpose.
The law has been drawn which provides for the position of a school adjustment counsellor and the time may not be too distant when such a person may be required to serve the towns of this Union.
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Leave of absence was granted Mr. Austin to attend the an- nual convention of American Association of School Admin- istrators at Atlantic City, February 16-21, 1957.
We, the members of the Union committee, believe we are very fortunate to have for our advisor a man of Mr. Austin's ability and experience and are grateful to him for his con- tinued cooperation and counsel.
Respectfully submitted,
NORMA E. PERKINS,
Secretary.
107
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE
To the Public Health Committee:
My report as Public Health Nurse covers the period from July 2, 1956 to December 31, 1956.
The first part of my report will be devoted to what has been done for the past six months in connection with my work as Public Health Nurse for the Town of Carver but does not in- clude my work in connection with the school. The second part will deal with my work at Gov. John Carver School as School Nurse.
Early in July, Miss Mildred Foster, Superintendent of the Southeastern Health District, visited me at the Gov. John Carver School and gave some very helpful information about public health nursing both in the community and in the school. Since her visit, much of this informative discussion has been most valuable to me in my work.
During the past six months 89 home visits have been made as follows:
Cardiac 8 Tuberculosis 5 Diabetes 37 Non-Communicable 39
The above listed visits have been disposed of as follows: Unpaid cases 5 Paid cases 21 Old Age Assistance 45 Public Welfare 4 Disability Assistance 14
108
Two emergency visits on off duty time have been made as requested by doctors.
A pair of crutches has been donated to the town and these may be rented at a fee of $1.00 a month.
In December, I transported one patient to Plymouth County Hospital, Hanson for medication and one unlisted visit was made at the request of Miss Foster in October.
We have had two polio clinics at the Gov. John Carver School. On August 16, Dr. Mayo administered:
187 second inoculations
15 first inoculations
44 delivered to family doctors to administer in Ware- ham, Kingston, Plymouth, and Middleboro by Mr. Mazzilli and me.
At our second clinic on Sept. 17, Dr. Mayo administered:
6 first inoculations
39 second inoculations
13 received by school personnel as suggested by Dr. Mayo 6 doctors to administer.
43 first and second inoculations delivered to Silver
Lake Regional High School, Kingston.
Twenty-six additional inoculations were administered on Monday mornings in Sept. and Oct. by Dr. Mayo. Some of these were first and some second inoculations. At both clinics, I was very ably assisted by Misses Edna and Elsie Salmi who volunteered their services. Miss Crownenshield, the oper- ating room nurse at Lakeville Sanatorium, very kindly auto- claved our supplies and for each clinic I have been able to borrow sufficient syringes from the Public Health Office in Lakeville.
109
I am at my office at the Gov. John Carver School Monday - Friday from 8:30 A. M. - 1:00 P. M. Anyone wishing my services should contact me before 9:30 A. M. if possible.
The following is my report on school health from Sept. 5, 1956 to December 31, 1956.
In July and August, I visited the home of each child entering the first grade to obtain the necessary information for the school health record. Twenty-five such visits were made, and parents were reminded of having the child vaccinated prior to entry. I was rewarded by these visits to have met the parents and to obtain additional information most helpful in understanding the child.
Early in October, Dr. Mayo began his examinations and con- tinued one day a week until a total of 131 physicals were done. All children of grades one, four, and seven were examined, all those absent the previous year during examinations, all child- ren new to the school who entered without an adequate health appraisal from the school previously attended, and all children who were participating in competitive sports.
Invitations were sent home with all children of the first and fourth grades requesting parents to be present during his child's physical. Only three were able to attend, but I do hope more could plan to be present to discuss the child's health with the school doctor. A urinalysis was done on all examined, and the findings were negative in every case. Notice of any defects found was sent home to the parent. They have been most cooperative in attending to these promptly.
On December 5, Mr. Reardon from the Division of Maternal and Child Health, Boston, came to the school to instruct me on the use of the Audiometric equipment. The Pure Tone Audiometer tests have been started and all first graders have been tested. Thus far two failures have been noted, and both have further consulted their own doctors in the matter.
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Weighing and measuring has been done in all grades and notices have been sent home with children who are either overweight or underweight.
I have made 51 home visits since the opening of school. These were mostly transporting home children who were ill. Four home visits were made to check on the absences of sev- eral days duration who had not contacted the school. All were found to be ill. One other child was taken to the Medical Center, Plymouth and two to St. Luke's Hospital, Middleboro. Four were excluded, having been in contact with a contagious disease, two excluded with contagious conjunctivitis and one excluded with impetigo. One child received a finger injury serious enough to require two stitches. This was done by Dr. Mayo.
December was the month for the sale of T. B. Santa Claus pins. 300 pins at 5c each were sold at school and $15.00 was sent to Brockton to help support the Plymouth County Health program.
I wish to thank the Public Health Committee for their most helpful assistance and for the teachers and parents of Carver for their kind cooperation in these first months of my duties as Public Health Nurse.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY A. KORPINEN, R. N.
Public Health Nurse.
TOWN WARRANT
AND REPORT OF
FINANCE COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of CARVER
MASSACHUSETTS
OF
IN
CARVE
TO
VER
MASSACHUSETTS INCORPORATED 1790
Annual Town Meeting, March 4, 1957 at 12:00 Noon
113
TOWN WARRANT AND REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Plymouth, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Carver, Plymouth County, Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify and warn the Inhabitants of the Town of Carver qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs to meet at the Town Hall in said Carver on Monday, the fourth day of March, 1957, at twelve o'clock noon, then and there to act on the following article, namely:
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officials, the follow- ing officers to be voted for all on one ballot, viz .: One Moderator, Three Auditors, Three Constables, Three Herring Committeemen, One Tree Warden, One Highway Surveyor, each for one year. One Assessor, One Selectman, One School Committeeman, One Cemetery Commissioner, One Park Commissioner, One Member of Board of Public Welfare, Two Library Trustees, each for three years. One Town Clerk (to fill vacancy ), One Collector of Taxes (to fill vacancy), and One Town Treasurer (to fill vacancy), each for two years. One member of Planning Board for five years, and One mem- ber of Planning Board (to fill vacancy) for two years.
The polls will be open for at least seven hours.
And you are directed to further notify said Inhabitants of said Town that as soon as the ballots have been counted the meeting will adjourn to Saturday, March 9, 1957, at two o'clock P. M., and at that time will reconvene at the Gov. John Carver
114
Schoolhouse in said Carver, then and there to act on the follow articles, namely:
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1957, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 2. Recommended by the Finance Committee.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money not to exceed one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars from free cash in the town treasury for the sole purpose of meeting charges against the Cemetery funds in the town treasury.
Article 3. Recommended by the Finance Committee.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to accept the cem- etery fund or funds paid into the town treasury under perpet- ual care statutes, or act anything thereon or thereto.
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