Town annual reports of Medfield 1940-1949, Part 61

Author: Medfield (Mass.)
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1594

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As a member of Union No. 45 we have, in Mr. Eaton, a Superintendent of Schools widely recognized as being at the top of his profession. His knowledge of education, his loyalty to the town, and his untiring efforts in our behalf could scarcely be duplicated elsewhere. He is responsible for two of our most important advences in keeping with the modern trend of education; Reading Progress in the elementary school and the establishment of the Standard High School Courses of Study.

Mr. Locke is now serving his second year as Headmaster of the combined Medfield Schools. The importance of this position cannot be overestimated and we are indeed for- tunate to obtain a man of Mr. Locke's calibre. Discipline is on a high level throughout our schools and truancy at a minimum. He has established the leadership which is so necessary if we are to raise our schools from mediocrity. Under his direction weekly school assemblies have been es- tablished. Class functions have become well organized and directed. The use of motion pictures, or Visual Education, has been stepped up. Under him the teaching staff has per- formed with efficiency and harmony.

The teaching staff is the backbone of our schools. The raising of salary levels for all teachers justifies a more critical selection and the demanding of higher qualifications. Our present teaching staff is excellent and has earned the respect of the students. Our teachers are enthusiastic and cooperative and are carrying out many new school programs. The majority of our teachers are new. As replacements in the staff have been made we have consistently endeavored to strengthen the positions created by the vacancies. Today there are no outstandingly weak spots in the staff.

New school programs include the forming of debating teams, the teaching of instrumental music and preparation for the forming of a school band, the reestablishment of Senior Plays and formation of a Dramatic Society. The au- ditorium Stage is being equipped for theatricals. A generous contribution of $100 from the Parent Teachers Association provided the materials for scenery flats. These were con- structed in the Shop by the boys with the help of intersested adults. A theatrical switchboard has been installed and foot- lights provided, using a balance left from paper salvage. Much additional stage equipment is still required and it is hoped that this can be obtained gradually out of proceeds obtained from the use of the stage.

The importance of health program in schools is well recognized, but all too often it is perfunctory in character. Through the efforts of Dr. Goldthwait a very definite health program has been established in the Medfield Schools. The program is one of long range and its value will become ap- parent over a period of years. This program is recognized as the ultimate in creating constructive health and is now mostly in effect in some of the best private schools. The subject of health is now receiving state-wide and national emphasis. In adopting the present program, Medfield is far in advance of the times.

Athletics play an important part, not only for the phy- sical educational value, but in setting and maintaining a proper school spirit. The difficulty in obtaining sufficient ma- terial for the teams when the student body is small is ap- parent, but in spite of this handicap the football, baseball, and basketball teams have acquitted themselves splendidly. Our budget includes provision for properly equipping our athletic teams, but since the existing equipment was at a very low ebb it will take several years to reach our full com- plement of supplies without excessive expenditures in any one year.

Given favorable weather conditions, the Athletic Field should be in shape for football in the fall of 1948. The prog- ress of this field has appeared to be discouragingly slow, but by letting nature do the work of rotting out most of the solid materials a substantial saving has been made. Expendi- tures to date have been only for mechanical equipment hired to do the filling and leveling and for the purchase of lime and seed for the cover crop which has been planted. There are sufficient funds unexpended to provide for fertilizing and har- rowing in the spring. Only a small additional amount of money will be required to buy seed and provide labor for the completion of the field in the spring of 1948. At a later date additional appropriations will be necessary for specific pro-

jects such as fencing and the construction of tennis courts, but in the meanwhile the field will be in usable condition.

The high school shower rooms have never been sufficiently heated until this year when supplementary radiators were installed. Shower curtains were made by the Household Arts students and have been hung in the girls' shower rooms to partition the stalls.

The school kitchen has been equipped with a new and larger refrigerator; also, a 20 quart mixer and a nine inch round blade slicer. The mixer and slicer valued at $400 were obtained by Mr. Eaton through governmental distribution of war surplus goods.

The local Red Cross Organization gave a fluorescent lamp and a dental chair to help equip the dental clinic. The Vis- iting Nurse Association gave an all-wool blanket for use in the nurse's room. These items are very much appreciated by the school health department.

Mr. Arthur Lewis, chairman of the High School Building Committee for 1942, presented to the school a bronze tablet bearing the names of the building committee members. This tablet has been placed in the main lobby of the school where townspeople may read the names of those who were responsi- ble for erecting our beautiful and practical High School Build- ing.

The elementary school children returned to school in Sep- tember to newly painted class rooms. The interior was bright, clean and attractive. The long hall and lockers were painted in lighter shades. This building had been in need of painting for several years, but material and labor short- ages during the war prohibited this work. The next major repairs must be to the elementary school roof which is now twenty years old. During the last several years boards have been replaced and leaks patched repeatedly. The roof is of a flat construction bordered by a parapet which does not al- low for adequate drainage during heavy rain and snow ac- cumulation. A peaked roof is a necessity and a special war- rant article for elementary school roofing has been submitted to the town.

Fire precautions have been taken to safeguard Medfield children and property. Fire hose in the elementary building has been replaced, fire extinguishers are in first class work- ing condition; and fire drills take place each month.

Our school principal, Mr. A. H. Hartford, retired in Au- gust after serving twenty-four years in Medfield and a total of 40 years as a teacher in Massachusetts. Mr. Hartford is missed in school and the school committee expresses the

thanks of the students and townspeople for the happy and understanding manner in which he always conducted school days. It is our hope that Mr. Hartford will find long happi- ness and enjoyment in his retirement in Medfield.

Dr. Harry L. Park resigned in May at the end of the school year as school doctor. The school committee is grate- ful for the service which Dr. Park has given in school health and especially for the service through the war years when the doctor-shortage was so acute. Dr. A. Ritchie Stagg has taken over the work of school doctor. School health records will be found among the following reports.

Respectfully submitted, DANA B. JEFFERSON, JR., Chairman EDITH C. HOWLETT, Secretary JOEL E. GOLDTHWAIT

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

This year, this is a larger class than previously. As is usually the case with this subject, we are only just beginning to get moving after twelve weeks of school. Students find it difficult, at first, to grasp the meaning and place of this subject in the curriculum. This class has been no exception to the rule. However, in general, this group is taking hold faster than is usually to be expected. Consequently, I am looking forward to an interesting and profitable course de- veloping throughout the remainder of the year.

Besides the subject matter in the book, we discuss one day each week current events upon which our subject has a bearing. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get all students to participate in these discussions. Nevertheless, the discus- sions have greatly helped the students to clarify their views. Individual or group projects or topics on various assigned subjects related to our study have just commenced, and so far have been excellent and interesting.

Teacher lectures have been reduced in number from last year, but this has not had all the desired effect upon student participation for which we hoped.

Respectfully submitted, MALCOLM S. SMITH,

Economic Geography Teacher.

SHOP

Shop this year has definitely improved with policies in- augurated in previous years beginning to show results. The most prominent is in the attitude of the boys toward the shop and its activities. This improvement in attitude has greatly minimized the discipline problem, and the boys them- selves recognize this change and its value to them.

At the beginning of the school year the boys built a tool vrib in the end of the shop where all the tools are now kept. A student in each class is in charge of issuing tools. He also sharpens tools and takes care of all ordinary tool crib duties. This system is similar to that used in many indus- trial shops and will prove extremely valuable.

With the advent of our new school efforts in dramatics, it became necessary to build stage sets. This was done in large part by the shop boys. It was a big project and done on a mass production basis.

So far this year we have not had many individual pro- jects, and in many ways this has been advantageous.

Our next objective is to broaden the scope of work covered in shop. To do this will require a sizeable financial outlay which is difficult to obtain, as is much of the needed equip- ment. Thus, this objective is one which must be realized over a period of years. The shorter that period, however, the better and the sooner the shop program can do for the school and pupils what such a program should do. Once we have more types of shop projects we will have more interest in the shop program. This will result in more effort by the students and consequently more knowledge and pleasure in a profitable field.

Our second objective is to increase individual initiative. In the lower grades a program has already been instituted which will help us achieve this goal. The eighth grade is doing mechanical drawing in order to help them develop skill in visualizing objects about them. This latter is the key to individual initiative in shop work. In the upper grades we cannot plan a long range program, and therefore the task of creating individual initiative is considerably harder. The prin- cipal method used is to give them numerous small projects to figure out and construct. However, quality usually suffers under suc ha program, and this condition is evident here more often than we care to think about. On the brighter side, it may be said truthfully that the boys who are doing quality work are turning out products of greater quality than in recent previous years.

Respectfully submitted,

MALCOLM S. SMITH, Shop Instructor.

MECHANICAL DRAWING

Mechanical Drawing this year suddenly became in great demand, and for the first time girls have come into the course. They are doing very good work, and rivalry between the boys and girls is strong, which makes for an interesting and competitive class.

Meeting only twice each week, we do not really have enough time to devote to the subject. But considering this handicap, the students, in general, are proceeding extremely well, and appear to be understanding the fundamental pro- cedures. There has always been considerable clamor for a second year course in Mechanical Drawing. I hope this will be able to be done in another year.

So far, we have taken up lettering, layout ,and simple three-view projection. We will consider before the year's end, invisible edges, common angles, foreshortening, and if time permits, arcs, curves and circles.

The Grade VIII shop boys are doing drawing, and have so far covered lettering, types of projection, measurements and measuring instruments, tools of the trade, and are now beginning actual layout and three-view drawing.

Respectfully submitted, MALCOLM S. SMITH,

Instructor, Mechanical Drawing.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

To the School Committee of the Town of Medfield:

I hereby submit my fifth annual report as Superintendent of Schools for the year ending December 31, 1947.

Following this report there are reports from the various School Departments, namely: the Principal of the Medfield School, Household Arts and Cafeteria, Industrial Arts, Physi- cal Education, Health and Music. I urge you to read these reports for there is much valuable material here to help all to understand the various details in operating a modern school plant. All of the reports are incorporated into this total report to the School Committee.

Salaries

1947 has been a year in which Medfield has been able to improve its faculty. There is a friendly, cooperative spirit between the teachers, the administration, the pupils and the townspeople.

Doubtless one of the reasons for the better spirit in our schools has been brought about by the generous response of the School Committee and the townspeople in increasing the salaries of the teachers of Medfield. This was a step in the right direction; however, Medfield teachers are not overpaid and are not up to the rates of nearby communities. A study of the New England School Development Council's report on Salaries shows that in the towns reported, with equal pay for men and women, the average minimum is about $1800 and the average maximum is $3200. Of course, there are three scales -for those with degrees, without degrees, and with Masters degrees. Medfield must not allow other towns to offer higher salaries and attract Medfield teachers elsewhere.

Higher salaries and better work go hand in hand, and our Medfield teachers, I can assure you, will give their best, as they always have, to the children of Medfield.

Living costs in October 1947 reached a new high 63.8% above the pre-war level of 1935 to 1939 according to the B.L.S. Consumers' Price Index for large cities. In Massachusetts the cost of living in October 1947 was 154.7 as compared with 98.9 for January 1941.

Thus, in the first month of the School year 1947-48, the increased support for schools provided by the town of Med- field was being canceled out by the rising tide of inflation. The September 1947 dollar bought about as much as 93 cents bought a year earlier and as much as 61 cents bought in the pre-war years. These figures show definitely that not only were supplies hard to get but more costly and that the in- crease which averaged $500 per teacher per year were worth $465 in 1946 buying power.

State Aid for the support of schools in Massachusetts now totals about $6,000,000 which is about 8% of the total cost. Massachusetts ranks about 43rd among the States in this respect. State aid in Delaware, Washington, New Mexico, California and Michigan averages $4,150 per classroom. In Massachusetts it is $270 per classroom.

The goal aimed for is $28,500,000 state aid for Massachu- setts schools. At the present time Senator Ralph C. Mahar, Chairman of the Committee of Education in the senate has filed a bill for the 1948 session of the legislature. This bill is No. 164, so everyone, teacher, parent, taxpayer, will want to work for this bill. This bill will equalize the burden of pay- ment for education within the state. At present there are many inequalities. The relatively wealthy city of Springfield received about $12 per pupil, while Revere, a rather poor city, was reimbursed about $9 per pupil.

Let us keep this bill in mind and help in every way pos- sible, for it will mean much to the boys and girls of Medfield.

-- -

A survey of the teacher shortage in Massachusetts in September 1947 was made by the Massachusetts Teachers Federation. It was noted that a total of 122 positions in the state were unfilled. The real shortage is not fully measured by 122 for many Superintendents stated that positions had been filled by temporary or unqualified persons. This agency reports "an actual shortage of about 300 teachers." Increased enrollments in the next few years due to the rise in birth rates will tend to substantially increase this shortage of teachers.

School Health Program

Your Superintendent of Schools represented Medfield at the School Health Workshop held at Barnstable High School June 23 to 27, 1947. This Workshop was under the sponsorship of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Fifty administrators of the Schools of Southeastern Massachusetts were present.

The Workshop studied the administrative aspects of the school health program, with special emphasis on means of coordinating school medical services, healthful school living and the supervision of health teaching.

There were many lectures from outstanding experts: Stuart Stevenson, M.D., Harvard, Fred Moore, M.D., Dr. Ruth Strang, Columbia, Dr. Alfred Simpson, Harvard, and many others. Your superintendent was chairman of a committee that reported on "The Role of the Teacher in Cooperating with Physician and Nurse."

Many interesting discussions were forthcoming following the many addresses. The purpose, always kept in mind, was to find ways to improve the administration of the Total Health Program. Some of the problems follow:

1. There is a need for a head to the health program and it was decided that "the superintendent is probably the best official we have at present for the job."

2. There should be a central coordinating group or coun- cil, whose function is to bring together all persons who should be concerned with the total health program. Represented should be all groups, who are concerned with the health of children, including pupils of High School age. This council should include people both in schools and from the community at large.

3. The need for clear delineation of responsibility and procedures. The doctor, nurse, principal, classroom teacher, guidance department, physical education, superintendent, coun- cil and others must have a clear idea as to their relation to all others in the total program.

Functions of participants in the Total Health program follow:

1. Classroom teacher-Screening as well as health teach- ing.

2. The education of parent is most necessary for it is useless to teach pupil what to eat if parent does not provide it.

3. Healthwork must begin with child in pre-natal stage and be continued throughout school career.

4. Physical examination

a. spaced instead of annual

b. more thorough individual examination

c. stripped in case of elementary

d. mother present

e. mother not present in High School

f. Nurse to improve follow-up

g. Physicians function primarily guidance

5. Broaden the health concept of physical education.

6. Procedures from Workshop

a. Teach health as a subject

b. Close integration of health guidance with general guidance needed.

c. Need for study of social and emotional health

d. Avoidance of question of sex indicated that we are still unwilling to face the problem in a realistic manner.

It is certainly true that "the opportunities to improve the health situation on all levels presents a tremendous chal- lenge to educators. It offers an opportunity for patient work and the utilization of all existing professional agencies."

Medfield schools are working along these lines and will, as time goes by, make their health program better than be- fore. The people of the town should consider the appoint- ment of a full time director and teacher of Physical Educa- tion.

Adult Education in Medfield

During the last school year the School Department con- ducted a Veterans' Evening School at the Medfield High School. Several Subjects were taught which were equivalent to the regular High School subjects. The teachers of this school were Mr. Frederick Welch, Mr. Clarence Washburn, Mr. Harold Stevens, Mr. Raymond Locke. The following returned vet- erans attended two evenings each week, received credit, and graduated:

Francis E. Chick Robert C. Chick John R. Hazel George N. Kennedy

George W. Kingbsury Robert J. Larkin

Robert K. McCarthy Joseph E. Ryan

*James Tubridy

* Will receive his diploma in June 1948.

This school completed most of the general needs of our veterans who had left for war before graduation. However, other boys may attend classes at any Veterans' School in Massachusetts, the nearest being at Franklin, Framingham and Norwood.

Mr. Raymond Locke, Principal and Guidance Director, will gladly confer with any veteran concerning his educational plans. The Principal and Superintendent will be pleased to help to the limit of their knowledge of opportunities. Frequently boys drop in for conference and we encourage this for we are only too pleased to be able to encourage and to help the vet- erans.

In the Spring of 1947 a class in dressmaking was held at the High School Building every Wednesday evening for ten weeks. About twenty-two Medfield women participated in the program and produced some excellent garments for themselves and families. The work of this course was very helpful for it taught many women the art of dressmaking, so useful in homemaking.

Safety Education

This year, and every year, Safety Education is a must in every school program. Not only is it important to teach chil- dren to be careful in their homes, in the school and on the streets but we must also stress care in matters of fires and simple accidents such as falls, throwing stones, etc.

Fire prevention is necessary and all teachers are constantly on guard to see that children realize the danger of setting fires and being careless in connection with the burning of rubbish and paper. This fall millions of dollars worth of valuable timber, homes, school houses, whole towns were lost in the forest fires in Maine. In Medfield we are fortunate to have had only a few fires and we hope that we have helped a little to keep this danger to a minimum. The efficient Fire Department is always alert to help and we at the School ap- preciate their cooperation during Fire Prevention Week and throughout the year.

During this year the School Department, along with the various other towns of the Commonwealth, have cooperated with the Registrar of Motor Vehicles in his drive for safer high- ways. Your Superintendent has attended the various confer-

ences held during the year. On May 16th we attended the "Governor's Highway Safety Conference" held at the State House and at the Hotel Statler. Your Superintendent came back to Medfield impressed with the greatness of the job and with ideas to carry on a better program of "Highway Safety" in our classrooms. The slogan of the conference-"Highway Safety is Your Business"-helped us to realize our duty in teaching all children the need for care and especially those young men and women about to become drivers. Their added responsibility is greatest when they sit behind the wheel of a car on the highways of the state. We were impressed with the words of Rudolph F. King, Registrar, "Our approach to the problem of highways safety must be positive and con- structive. There is no more tragic waste of human lives, no more unnecessary background of human suffering, no more needless source of economic loss than traffic accidents. Need- less, because a complete, adequate safety program of state and local government, fully supported by the people, both through organizations and as individuals, can bring down and hold down the highway casualty list. Safety on our highways is the business of every pedestrian and motorist in the Common- wealth."

During the month of September your Superintendent at- tended the First "Driver Education Workshop or School Ad- ministrators" held at the State House. This conference was sponsored by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles with Milton D. Kramer, Director. Many topics were discussed and many new plans made for better Driver Education in the High Schools of the State. Information was presented to help High Schools obtain dually controlled cars at a minimum cost to the Town. Briefly the course in Driver Education would contain the following units:

1. History and Importance of the Automobile.

2. Importance of Automobile in World War II

3. Motor car construction

4. Vehicle Preventive Maintenance

5. Physical qualifications of a good driver

6. Mental attitudes

7. Motor Vehicle Laws and Traffic Regulations

8. Operation of the Motor Vehicle-Behind the wheel training.

9. Accidents-Causes and Prevention

10. Safety Devices.

11. Pedestrian and Bicyclists.

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Town annual reports of Medfield 1940-1949, Part 61

Author: Medfield (Mass.) Publication date: 1940 Publisher: The Town Number of Pages: 1594

Author: Medfield (Mass.)
Publication date: 1940
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1594