USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1955-1959 > Part 4
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Whereas, she has contributed so immeasureably and so cred- itably to the best interest of the community life of the Town of Medfield as both an educator and citizen, and
Whereas, as she will have completed her long and meritori- ous service as an educator of and friend to the many inhabitants of the Town upon her retirement at the termination of the cur- rent school term, and
Whereas, the inhabitants of the Town in gratitude and rec- ognition of her outstanding achievement and memorable record of success, desire to publicly display their appreciation and esteem for her by a testimonial banquet.
Therefore, the Board of Selectmen of the Town of Medfield hereby declare and proclaim that the 16th day of June, in the year of our Lord Nineteen Hundred and Fifty-Five to be desig- nated and known in the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, as Dorothy J. Brown Day.
Joseph L. Marcionette Joseph A. Roberts Herbert B. Burr Board of Selectmen-Town of Medfield
Charles W. Keirstead Town Clerk, Town of Medfield June 6, 1955-Medfield, Massachusetts
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TESTIMONIAL
WHEREAS, Dorothy J. Brown has faithfully served the public schools of Medfield as a teacher and a principal for twen- ty-nine years, and
WHEREAS, this long period of service will terminate on June 30, 1955, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Medfield School Committee go on record as expressing its deep appreciation for such long and valued service, and be it further
RESOLVED, that these resolutions be spread upon the min- utes of the Medfield School Committee and that a copy be pre- sented to Mrs. Brown.
Done at Medfield in the County of Norfolk and the Common- wealth of Massachusetts this 26th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred fifty-five, and of the incorpora- tion of the Town of Medfield, the three hundred and fourth.
Henry R. DeForest
Ralph C. Benedict
Leon M. Bowden
James T. Frame, Jr.
Mary E. Aylward Donald I. Fifield
School Committee of Medfield
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
Resigned:
Mrs. Katharine Barnes June 30, 1955
Mrs. Dorothy J. Brown June 30, 1955
Mrs. Ruth Kitchin June 30, 1955
Mrs. Jessie Merritt
June 30, 1955
Mr. Alan Shaw
June 30, 1955
Miss Joan O'Toole
June 30, 1955
Mr. Alan Hastings
July 6, 1955
Mrs. Cynthia Kellem
Aug. 2, 1955
Mrs. Helen Thomas
Aug. 3, 1955
Mrs. Mildred Coyne
Oct. 19, 1955
Elected to begin service September 1, 1955:
Mr. James G. Bachman (Military substitute, service ends January 30, 1956)
Mrs. Winifred Bagley
Mrs. Mildred Coyne
Mr. Freeman T. Frank Mr. John J. Harrington, Jr.
Mrs. G. Evelyn Kenefick
Mrs. Josephine McMahon
Mr. James H. Morris
Mrs. Norma Rosenberg
Miss Rosemary Ryan
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Mr. John R. Sauer Mrs. Myrtle Cobb (elected October 20, 1955)
Mrs. Dorothy McFarlin (elected October 20, 1955)
Mrs. Helen McLin (long-term substitute)
On leave of absence:
Mr. James E. Morris (Military leave, expires Jan. 30, 1956) Mrs. Pauline Coulter (Personal leave, expires June 30, 1956)
In the field of Instrumental Music, we have been so well pleased with the service rendered us on a substitute basis by Mr. Robert P. Kelley of Dedham that we have made no attempt to fill this position on a permanent basis. Because of the pro- visions of newly-adopted law governing the certification of teach- ers, Mr. Kelley is not eligible for such an appointment. He has continued to make remarkable progress with the orchestra and all of us received a big thrill at the Westwood football game on last Thanksgiving Day when the high school band, which he had organized and coached, made its first appearance on the Medfield side of the field. Because of the disbanding of the Medfield Com- munity Orchestra, many of the incidental expenses, such as repair of instruments and purchase of music, formerly borne by that group will now have to be absorbed in our regular budget.
Changes in Principalships
Upon the retirement of Mrs. Dorothy J. Brown as supervis- ing principal of our elementary schools, your Committee saw fit to elect Mrs. Maude S. Washburn to that position. Mrs. Wash- burn has taught in the Medfield schools since 1942.
Because the pressure of increasing duties has meant that the superintendent of schools can no longer serve as principal of the high school, your Committee elected Mr. Charles F. Mains, who has been teaching in Medfield since 1949, to that principal- ship. Mr. Mains continued to serve as head coach of football and his team turned in a fine showing of 5 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie.
Both these changes became effective September 1, 1955.
THE SUPPLY OF TEACHERS
A great deal of publicity is being given to the scarcity of teachers, and justifiably so. Superintendents of schools through- out the country are resorting to all manner of expedients in an effort to find enough teachers to cover necessary assignments. A great many of the larger school systems which once upon a time insisted upon a minimum of two years of successful teaching before appointing anyone to their staffs are now eager to sign up candidates even before they complete their formal training. This makes it very difficult for communities the size of Medfield to recruit sufficient teachers especially on the basis of the wholly inadequate and out-dated salary scale We have been using up to the present. I have repeatedly called attention to this unhappy
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state of affairs and it is most gratifying to realize that our School Committee is well aware of the problem and is adjusting salaries to meet the crisis. It must be pointed out that we can no longer console ourselves with the thought that we are doing as well as towns of our size elsewhere in the Commonwealth - we must instead do our level best to approach the salary sched- ules of those more populous and affluent communities who are seeking to entice our teachers away from us. In the words of Theodore Roosevelt: "We stand at Armageddon and we battle for the Lord." This would appear to be the proper point, there- fore, to introduce our next topic.
INCREASE IN STATE AID - AND INAUGURATION OF FEDERAL AID - IN MEETING SCHOOL COSTS
As you are aware, the writer is extremely active in the mat- ter of trying to obtain more help from the Commonwealth in meeting our local school costs. He is serving on four separate committees working upon this problem. Massachusetts is lag- ging behind badly in the matter of State Aid to schools-the na- tional average is about 40% of costs reimbursed to cities and towns by the State-while in this Commonwealth only about 16%, exclusive of the cost of new buildings, is refunded to muni- cipalities. On the Federal level, the prospects seem bright for the passage of legislation that would provide up to 40% of the cost of new school buildings. The writer is also very active in that field and during the past year he has attended two nationwide conferences on the problem-without any expense to Medfield.
WASHINGTON TRIP
When it was decided, three years ago, that the Washington Trip was becoming too much of a burden and should be aban- doned, it was agreed that the then-freshman class should be the last one that could expect to make this trip under school aus- pices. Since that is the Class of 1956, the group planning to go to Washington next April will be the last one according to present expectations. Not only does the matter of raising adequate money interfere with most other high school activities, the prob- lem of adequate supervision and proper accommodations during the trip itself is a hard one to solve. Many schools descend upon Washington at that season of the year. The thoughtless actions of some tend to spoil it for all. Medfield itself enjoys an enviable reputation because of the restraint with which our young people conducted themselves.
NET COST OF SCHOOLS
1955
Appropriated
$152,768.35
Reimbursements from the Commonwealth:
General School Fund $33,785.23
All school transportation 1,381.45
Tuition - State wards 736.00
$35,902.68
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Receipts
Building rentals
62.00
Sale of old equipment
17.00
Sale of supplies
8.25
Sale of shop materials
145.40
Tuition
467.60
Telephone tolls
7.89
Damage to property
4.11
$ 712.25
Recapitulation
Re-imbursements
$35,902.68
Receipts
712.25
Unexpended balance of
1955 appropriation
26.99
36,641.92
Net cost to taxpayers $116,126.43
It must be stressed that the sum of reimbursements and re- ceipts goes to the Town Treasurer and is NOT available to the School Committee unless specifically appropriated for school pur- poses. The School Committee can expend ONLY the funds pro- vided by direct appropriation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Medfield Community Chest and the Salvation Army have assisted several of our pupils during the past year and I am sure those who have been helped would say that: "A friend in need is a friend indeed."
The Medfield Parent-Teachers Association is broadening the scope of its helpful activities with each passing year. During 1955, in addition to the usual prizes and awards, the Association inaugurated the "Alton H. Hartford Prizes" to be given to one boy and one girl in the graduating class of the high school who, in the judgment of the high school principal, the superintendent and the president of the Association, best exemplify the qualities of good conduct, consistent effort, courtesy, cooperation and punctuality. It was especially gratifying to have Mr. Alton H. Hartford, whose many years of service as principal of Medfield High School is thus honored, make the first awards in person at graduation last June. The Association also inaugurated a prize speaking contest for high school students.
The Medfield Post No. 6644, Veterans of Foreign Wars, pre- sented each classroom in the Memorial School with a beautiful silk American flag.
The Class of 1955 purchased and gave to the high school two fine large silk flags - one national and one state - to replace those displayed in the auditorium and which had become some- what less than presentable over the years.
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Beckwith Post No. 110, American Legion and the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Post continue to provide awards, medals and a scholarship, as well as giving our students opportunity to par- ticipate in Boys State and Girls State.
The Hannah Adams Club, the first donor of a scholarship to our graduates, continues the custom it inaugurated by making funds available to a worthy student for further education. The Medfield Lions Club also continues its scholarship.
The Daughters of the American Revolution make it possible for one of our girl students to share in the "Good Citizen Award" program.
The changes necessitated by our steady growth have been brought about with a minimum of confusion because of the splendid cooperation of every member of our staff. We believe our present system is equal to the strain because of the careful planning and hard work of those who laid its foundations.
The tolerant and patient attitude on the part of the School Committee together with its very real endeavor to withhold judgment until all the facts are available has probably been the greatest single factor in maintenance of the high morale that prevails throughout our schools. Such a happy state of affairs means that our students learn by practice as well as by precept the fundamental lessons of living together in dignified citizenship.
Very respectfully, WILLIAM H. McLIN Superintendent
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HANNAH ADAMS PFAFF HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I hereby submit my first annual report as Principal of the Hannah Adams Pfaff High School.
This report covers the activities of the school through the calendar year ending on December 31, 1955. I have served as Principal since September 1, 1955.
The graduating class of June 8, 1955 numbered 27. The num- ber of students starting their Freshman year was 49. While only 27 pupils graduated, the seventh grade, housed in this building, brought in 56 students. The year 1955 marks the first time that there have been two Freshman classes. This situation will be re- lieved greatly when the Junior High is moved over to the North Street School.
Of the 27 members of the Class of 1955 who graduated last June, 6 are enrolled for higher education at Middlebury College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Regis College, Univer -.
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sity of Massachusetts, Framingham State Teachers College and Perry Kindergarten Normal School. Our graduates were also accepted at Dartmouth College, University of Notre Dame, Mt. Holyoke College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute but could not avail themselves of the opportunities because of conflicting plans. The armed services have claimed 5 of the graduates and of the remaining 16 all are gainfully employed.
Medfield High School has recently been admitted to mem- bership in the New England Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges, entitling our graduates to full certification priv- ileges for college entrance.
The following awards were made at the June 8, 1955 graduation:
American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Elinor Spring '56 (Helen Smith, '56 alternate)
American Legion Boys State
Arthur R. Stagg Jr., '56 (Bruce MacPhetres, '56 alter- nate)
D.A.R. Good Citizen Joan Louisa Swallow '55
Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow Marie Annette Oja '55
Readers Digest Valedictorian Award
Nancy Frame '55
Gregg Shorthand Awards (100 words per minute) Lorraine Agnes Curry '55 Barbara Ann Rossi '55 Joan Louisa Swallow '55
Harvard Prize Book Arthur R. Stagg, Jr. '56
Balfour Plaque and Key Nancy Frame '55
Alton H. Hartford Prizes (P.T.A.)
Dorothy Elizabeth Brickley '55
Herbert Hutson Smith, Jr. '55
American Legion Medals Nancy Frame '55 Norman Louis Rossi '55
The scholarships were awarded as follows:
Hannah Adams Club Scholarship-Sandra Jane Harmon '55 American Legion Scholarship-Dorothy Louise Aylward '55 P.T.A. Scholarship-Priscilla Gertrude Ehnes '55
Lions Club Scholarship-Beverly Loring Hull '55
It should be noted in passing that to be considered for these scholarships a student must make formal application upon a prescribed form. These completed applications are then carefully screened by a faculty committee which checks only the record and does not know the name of the applicant. While not detract- ing in any way from the praise due those who win these awards, some credit should be given those students who do not file an
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application because they have already won other recognition and who wish to see the honors more widely distributed among their classmates.
The General Court has established 25 "Commonwealth" Scholarships for freshmen entering the University of Massachu- setts. These are awarded upon the basis of high scholastic achievement and all-round social development and since there are but 25 for the entire State, the competition is severe. For two consecutive years our graduates have placed Medfield in the select list of 25 high schools so honored - Louise Allen Fish- er having won the coveted award in June 1954 and Priscilla Ger- trude Ehnes having repeated the accomplishment in June 1955.
The dual-control driver training car was again donated by the Fred C. Browne Company of Walpole. Millis and Medfield share the car for their driver training classes.
I would like to take this time to publicly thank the faculty, students and townspeople for assisting me in making my ex- perience as principal a most enjoyable one.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. MAINS Principal
GRADUATION EXERCISES
of the
MEDFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1955
HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM
Wednesday, June 8, 1955
Eight O'Clock
*
PROGRAM
Processional
Class of 1955
"Pomp and Circumstance" Medfield Schools Orchestra Mr. Robert Kelley, Conductor
Elgar
Marshals:
Carol Anderson, '56
Bruce MacPhetres, '56
Arthur R. Stagg, Jr., '56 Charlotte Wood, '56
Invocation
Rev. Albert Kaucher, Ph.D.
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Essay-"Hail - and Farewell" Norman Louis Rossi, President, Class of 1955
Glee Club-"The Halls of Ivy" Miss Charlotte Roberts, Director
Russell and Knight
Essay-"Youth Today" Sandra Jane Harmon
Essay-"Youth Looks to the Future" Edward Herbert Getchell
Essay-"Youth Eternal" Nancy Frame
Glee Club-"A Hymn to Music"
Ringwald - Adaptation from Chopin
Presentation of Class Gift William Bion Reynolds, Vice President, Class of 1955
Acknowledgment
Arthur R. Stagg, Jr., President, Class of 1956
Presentation of Awards William H. McLin, Principal
Presentation of the Alton H. Hartford Prizes of the Parent- Teacher Association
Mr. Alton H. Hartford, Principal of Medfield High School, 1919-1947
Presentation of American Legion Medals Commander Philip J. Burr, Beckwith Post No. 110, Medfield
Presentation of the Harvard Prize Book Chairman Henry R. DeForest, Medfield School Commit- tee, M.B.A., Harvard
Presentation of Scholarships
Mrs. Malcolm R. Haskell, President, Hannah Adams Club Mr. Stanley C. Fisher, Chairman, Scholarship Commit- tee, Beckwith Post No. 110
Mrs. Warren C. Bois, Past President, Medfield Parent- Teachers Association Dr. Richard M. Heiligmann, Chairman, Scholarship Com- mittee, Medfield Lions Club
Awarding of Diplomas Mrs. Thomas Aylward, Medfield School Committee
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Class Song Recessional March of the Graduates "Washington Post"
Sousa
CLASS OF NINETEEN HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE
Motto: "He can want nothing who has God for his friend"
Colors: Aqua and White
CLASS ROLL
Dorothy Louise Aylward Elizabeth Ann Bosselman Dorothy Elizabeth Brickley
Kenneth Joseph Carpenter Lorrain Agnes Curry Constance May Davis Priscilla Gertrude Ehnes Nancy Frame Gary Owen Fraser Edward Herbert Getchell Sandra Jane Harmon Mary Catherine Hinkley Beverly Loring Hull
Robert William Johnson Marie Barbara Mills Arthur Wallace Milton Lawrence Edwin Nye Marie Annette Oja Judith Gail Peterson William Bion Reynolds Robert Gerald Rooney Barbara Ann Rossi Norman Louis Rossi Shirley Irene Shade Carole Ann Shanks Herbert Hutson Smith Joan Louisa Swallow
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISING ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
This, my first annual report as supervising elementary principal, will be brief as it covers only the last few months of 1955.
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It is a pleasure to record the good school order I inherited from my predecessor, Mrs. Dorothy Brown, and to draw atten- tion to the harmonious relations that exist between school com- mittee members, the superintendent of schools, and the teach- ing staff. With such conditions there could be but one result: a year of satisfactory progress and educational attainment.
It is my aim as supervising principal to maintain the well organized school that is the product of the carrying out of sys- tematic professional and ethical standards.
The two elementary schools have 15 regular classroom teach- ers and 426 students.
All of us who work with the students in the elementary school believe that the reading program is of the greatest im- portance. The aim of reading is primarily the comprehension of the meaning and content of sentences. The objective of phonics is to acquire ease in the pronunciation of words. Since the goal of each differs, we are scheduling the reading and phonics sep- arately in the first three grades, where we build our foundation.
In behalf of the teachers I desire to express appreciation of the thoughtfulness and personal interest of the school commit- tee members, the superintendent, and the Medfield citizens with regard to the staff and pupils of the elementary schools.
Respectfully submitted,
Maude S. Washburn Elementary Principal
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM
To the Superintendent of Schools:
We hereby submit the report of the School Health Activities for the year ending December 31, 1955:
Duties of the School Health Personnel:
1. Physical examinations of all new pupils. This includes all pupils not having had a physical examination in three years and pupils playing football.
2. Control of communicable diseases.
3. Consultations with the Faculty on psychological prob- lems.
4. Rendering First Aid.
5. Regular examinations of hair.
6. Testing all pupils' eyes and ears every year and notifica- tion to parents of any defects found.
7. Weighing and measuring all pupils.
8. Establishing good personal hygiene among the children.
9. Promoting and conducting a Dental Clinic.
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10. Arranging with the Norfolk County Hospital for the Sen- ior Class to have a chest X-ray for the determination of of Tuberculosis.
11. Arranging with doctors and the school department for special clinics such as the polio and the pre-school clinic.
12. Making home visits whenever necessary.
Pre-School Physical Examinations:
A pre-school clinic was held in May for the purpose of register- ing pupils entering public school in September. Each pupil was given a physical examination by Dr. Stagg with a parent present. Thus the parent was given the opportunity to talk with the doc- tor about the child.
Number of Pupils attending Pre-School Day 63
Physical Examinations:
Physical examinations have been done on over half the pupils. (The State requires that one-third be examined.) All pupils are weighed and measured at the beginning of the year and again during the year.
Pupils weighed and measured 596
Pupils with defective throats
8
Pupil with defective heart under care 1
Pupils with defective speech 2
Pupils with wax in ears 2
Pupil with diabetes under care
1
Audiometer Test for Hearing:
Pupils examined 643
Pupils retested
9
Notices sent home because of hearing deficiency 4
Massachusetts Vision Test:
The report of this test is not complete, as all pupils have not been tested.
Pupils tested to date 224
Pupils retested 18
Notices sent home-vision deficiency 5
Pupils now wearing glasses in school 29
Dental Clinic Report:
The Dental Clinic is conducted by Dr. Robert Kirschbaum and the School Nurse under the supervision of the Board of Health.
Pupils examined 417
Pupils not needing care
140
Pupils having their own dentist 149
No replies 30
This clinic includes all pupils in the Elementary Grades.
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Tuberculosis Report:
The Norfolk County Tuberculosis School Clinic was conduct- ed in October in Medfield schools. All members of the Senior Class, food handlers, and school personnel who had not been X- rayed within three years were examined.
Pupils and personnel X-rayed 53 Pupils re-X-rayed 2
Pupils to be found positive and admitted to the Norfolk County Hospital for treatment 1
Salk Poliomyelitis Vaccine Program:
In April we learned that the National Foundation for Infan- tile Paralysis would provide, through March of Dimes Funds, sufficient amounts of the Salk Vaccine to the State Health De- partment so that it could be given in our schools. We had hoped that all children in our school system would have the opportunity to receive the Salk Polio Vaccine, but this was only available for the first and second grades.
Pupils receiving vaccine 123
Minor first aid treatments were given throughout the year and several pupils were taken home because of being ill at school.
The health of the children appears, as usual, to be above nor- mal rate. Measles, mumps, colds, and upset stomachs seem to have caused the greatest part of absenteeism.
May we take this opportunity to thank the Superintendent, teachers, parents, and others, who have so willingly helped us to carry out a good school health program.
Respectfully submitted,
A. Ritchie Stagg, M.D. School Physician
Robert Kirschbaum, D.M.D.
School Dentist
Madeleine I. Harding, R.N. Virginia J. McGill School Nurses
REPORT OF THE GIRLS' PHYSICAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
In Grades I through III, the physical education program con- sists of rhythmic activities, folk dancing, quiet and active games; this program is for boys and girls.
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In Grades IV through VI, we are working on dance as well as lead-up games which teach essential techniques of the team sports. This program is also for boys and girls.
Small classes in the junior and senior high enable the girls to participate in team and individual sports in class and an ex- tensive extra-mural program is conducted after school. Square and social dance, as well as body mechanics are offered in the high school.
Respectfully submitted, Rosemary Ryan Supervisor of Girls' P.E.
REPORT OF THE ART SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The correlating of art into the daily school work is carried on throughout all of the grades in Medfield. Murals and draw- ings are two of the means used by the children to illustrate im- portant facts in geography and history. High School classes bring their knowledge of design, color and lettering into practical use through science covers, P.T.A. and sport posters.
A room, solely designated and equipped for art, would be an excellent stimulant for the students in the Junior and Senior High School grades.
I would like to thank the superintendent, principals, and teachers who have been most co-operative in helping me carry on with the drawing course since October.
Respectfully submitted,
Myrtle P. Cobb Supervisor of Art
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF VOCAL MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Using the note and rote system, listening, rhythmic and cre- ative activities, the music education program for the children throughout the school system is based on the assumption that it will evoke great joy and sustained appreciative attitudes.
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