USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1953-1957 > Part 16
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English, Latin Worcester State Teachers College B. S. E.
Eighth
Grade 1 R. I. Colleg of Ed.
B. E.
Second
SUPERVISORS
Degrees or
Years in
Name
Subject Preparation
Years
Town
William L. Rinehart
Handwriting University of Pittsburgh
A. M.
Ninth
Christine Wilson
Music N. E. Conservatory of Music
Three
Ninth
Marjorie K. Weed
Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
Four
First
86
87
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR PERIOD
January, 1957 to June, 1958
Open
Close
High School
January 2, 1957
February 15, 1957
February 25, 1957
April 12, 1957
April 22, 1957
June 21, 1957
Summer Vacation
September 4, 1957
December 20, 1957
January 2, 1958
February 21, 1958
March 3, 1958
April 18, 1958
April 28, 1958
June 20, 1958
Elementary Schools
Same as High School except:
Close June 14, 1957
Close June 13, 1958
School Not In Session
Memorial Day Observance, May 30, 1957
Teachers' Convention Day, November 1, 1957 Veterans Day Observance, November 11, 1957 Thanksgiving Recess, November 28-29, 1957
88
AGE OF ADMISSION TO SCHOOL
Any child who becomes six years of age on or before January first of the year following the term when he wishes to enter school may be admitted into the first grade, but in every case the admisson of a child under six shall be de- pendent upon the fitness of the child to profit by the work of the school, such fitness to be determined by the superin- tendent. Pupils under seven years of age who have not pre- viously attended school shall not be permitted to enter later than thirty days after the opening of school in September of any school year.
SCHOOL REGULATIONS
Any complaint or representation which any person de- sires to make shall be presented or referred in writing to the superintendent of schools, who, in his discretion may bring it before the school committee. In cases of discipline or oother school matters relating to their children, parents shall first discuss the matter with the teacher concerned. If for some reason they are not satisfied they will further discuss the matter with the following persons, if necessary, and in the following order: first, the principal of the building and then the superintendent of schools. If, finally, the superintendent has been unable to satisfy the parents, he shall report the case to the school committee for consideration and action.
THE NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
It is the policy of the school officials to practically a- bandon the use of the "no school" signal on account of wea- ther conditions. This is in line with what many other cities and towns are doing. The reason for so doing is that much confusion has resulted from the use of the "no school" signal, and the realization that the loss of even one school day is a very serious one.
89
However, there may be days when it is advisable to close schools on account of severe weather conditions or any other emergency.
Arrangements have been made with Radio Station WNAC, WBZ, WWON, WNRI, and WMOO to broadcast the fact whenever it is necessary to close the schools. The "no school" signals are usually given before, during, or immedi- ately after the news program. The siren will also blow three blasts twice at 7:30 A. M.
If schools do not close on any particularly bad day (rain, snow, or cold) parents are requested, and urged, to use their own judgment in sending their children to school.
90
SCHOOL FINANCIAL REPORT
RECEIPTS
General Appropriation
$72,628.72
Dog Tax, 1956
512.28
Total Receipts
$73,141.00
Total Expenditures
$72,846.90
Unexpended Balance
$294.10
REIMBURSMENTS
State Aid
$15,708.46
All School Transportation 10,673.18
Superintendent : Salary-Transportation
1,493.31
State Wards: Tuition, Transportation
982.17
Vocational Education 970.75
Tuition 636.88
Total Reimbursements $30,464.75
ยท TAXATION COST OF SCHOOLS
Total Expenditures
Reimbursements
$72,846.90
30,464.75
Net Cost by Taxation
$42,382.15
91
EXPENDITURES
School Committee Expense
$62.00
Superintendent's Salary
2,879.97
Superintendent's Secretary Salary
911.94
Superintendent's Expense
318.45
Supervisors' Salaries
1,641.52
Teachers' Salaries
38,022.58
Textbooks
1,301.88
School Supplies
1,259.26
Wages of Janitor
3,166.56
Fuel
1,910.99
Janitor Supplies
875.03
Telephone
163.95
Electricity
628.02
Labor
32.00
Advertising
15.75
Post Office Box Rent
3.04
Commissioner of Public Safety
10.00
Replacements
438.62
Trash Removal
20.20
Repairs
3,746.43
Library
6.00
Health
927.73
Transportation
12,844.18
Driver Education Program
465.68
New Equipment
1,037.06
School Lunch Program
158.06
$72,846.90
92
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the citizens of Mendon the School Committee makes the following report:
Resignations were accepted this past year from Mrs. O'Neill, high school English teacher, Mrs. White home economics teacher, Mrs. Pennington, first grade teacher, and Mrs. Weed, art teacher.
Mr. Llewellyn, the commercial teacher, was called into military service.
The committe has made adjustments in our teacher salary schedule so we are paying well for a small community. However, we continue to lose teachers for salary reasons and further adjustments will probably have to be considered as long as the current teacher shortage exists.
The painting program has been completed and the building and grounds are in excellent condition. The only major project to be completed is the recovering of the worn corridor floors.
The building is extremely overcrowded and action on one of the proposals to be submitted by the Regional and Building Needs Committee is essential.
93
We wish to express our appreciation to Superintendent Rowe, Mr. Clough, principal, and the teaching staff, for maintaining our high standards of education.
The effort of the cafeteria workers, custodian and transportation people has been outstanding this year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHESTER F. FITZGERALD,Ch. HARRY C. YORK GORDON R. GOOD, Sec. Mendon School Committee
GRADE - AGE DISTRIBUTION
October 1, 1956
AGE
Total Boys
Total Girls
Total
GRADE
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14
15 16 17 18 19
20
I
B
1
19
17
37
G
1
16
24
II
B
4
20
9
33
G
2
7
III
B
18 2
22
42
IV
B
1 12
1
14
G
3 9
2
14
28
V
B
5
9
3
17
17
34
G
2
15
VI
B
11
3
2
1
15
2
18
34
VII
B
4 7
3
4
1
10
1
12
30
VIII
B
3
10
1
1
15
21
36
G
6 14 1
20
94
G
4
18
16
G
18
G
IX
B
2 15
1
18
G
4 12 2
18
36
X
B
2 8
2
12
5
11
16
28
XI
B
2 5
1
2
10
4
1
5
15
XII
B
1 3
1
5
3
5
8
13
Boys
1 23
20
19 19
9 22 20
8 22
11
8
4 2 1
189
Girls
1
18
11
21 11 18 16 18 19
18
13
7
6
177
Total
2 41 31 40 30 27 38 38 27 40 24 15 10 2
1
366
G
G
G
95
96
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Mendon:
Gentlemen :
It is with pleasure that I submit for your consider- ation my annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
During 1956 there were four changes in our school faculty. Resignations were received in the summer from Mrs. Doris O'Neill, Mrs. Lillian Pennington, and Mrs. Mildred White. These teachers all accepted much better paying positions in other towns. Mr. Howard Llewellyn was inducted into military service at the close of school in June. Miss Arlene Maroney, of Upton, replaced Mrs. O'Neill in the High School English Department. Mrs. Anne Davenport, of Mendon, took the place of Mrs. White in the Home Economics Department of the High School, and Miss Lucille Rabidoux, of Woonsocket, was engaged to replace Mrs. Pennington in grade one. Miss Irene Smith, of Slatersville, was engaged to fill the position in the High School Commercial Department left vacant by Mr.Llewel- lyn's induction into military service. In addition Mrs. Marjorie Weed, of Upton, was engaged to fill a vacant art position. It will be noted that three of the new teachers are at the junior-senior high school level with a total staff of five. This is a sixty percent teacher turnover and is very undesirable. Salary increases and adjustments made during the year should decrease the number of new teachers needed next year. All of our new teachers are intensely interested in their work and are doing an excellent job.
97
Our actual day to day classroom intruction has been maintained on a high level. This phase of our educational system is of the utmost importance as this is where practi- cally all formal learning occurs. All of our teachers are doing a very fine job. Many new textbooks have been purchased. The entire school is well furnished with all teaching aids and supplies. Considerable new educational equipment has been obtained during the year, the most important of which are, record player, tape recorder, type- writers, transistor, home economics appliances and science equipment for physics and chemistry. For over a year it has been impossible to find an art supervisor to replace Miss Coleman who was appointed to be a regular classroom teacher. Last spring we were fortunate enough to learn of Mrs. Marjorie Weed, of Upton, who was interested in the position. Mrs. Weed is a graduate of the Cleveland School of Art. She was engaged and our drawing and art programs have again become very successful. Children are extremely interested and many have exceptional talent. A school savings program was inaugurated during the year with the cooperation of the Milford Federal Savings and Loan Associ- ation.
All of our elementary teachers in grades one to six attended a one day conference, or workshop, in the new elementary school in Upton in October. Teachers in the elementary schools of Grafton, Hopedale, Bellingham, Upton, Uxbridge and Northbridge also took part. The theme of the conference was "Improvement in Written Expression." Several of our teachers participated in the program. These conferences are very beneficial and helpful to our teachers. These conferences are held each year through the cooper- ation of the State Department of Education, Faculty of the Worcester State Teachers College and the Superintendents of Schools in the towns in the immediate vicinity. All
98
school personnel attended the meetings of the Worcester County Teachers Association the first Friday in November.
American Education Week was observed in November. An "open house" night was held one evening during the week. This gave an opportunity for all parents to visit the school and classrooms. There was an exhibition of actual school work of all pupils. Parents conferred with teachers in regard to their children's educational progress. An unusually large number of interested parents were in attendance. We are very grateful to Mrs. Dautrich and Mrs. Wright for their kindness in serving refreshments in the school cafeteria. Parents are cordially invited to visit the school and classes at any time convenient to them.
Each year in May registration days are held in order that each and every parent in town can register all children who are to enter school in September in grade one. This reg- istration is becoming more and more important each year due to increasing enrollments. It is absolutely essential that the School Department know well in advance approximately how many first grade children to plan for at the opening of school in September, 1957. All parents are requested and urged to register all children who will enter grade one for the first time, next September.
A very important step was taken during the year in re- gard to the health program. Perfecting of the Salk polio vaccine made it possible to inoculate all persons in town from age six months through nineteen - also expectant mothers. Approximately 500 have received shots and almost all have received two shots. The third shots are to be given in January to all through age 14. Those in the fifteen through nineteen year age group will receive their third inoculations in March or April, well before the beginning of the 1957 polio season. All this has been a tremendous undertaking.
99
Many clinics have been held at the school building. All clinics were under the direction of Dr. Ronald Lukert, School Phy- sician, assisted by the school nurses and members of the District Nursing Association. Many hours of work by many persons were necessary for the success of the entire program. The Board of Health, Dr. Lukert, all of the nurses of the District Nursing Association, and all of the directors, Prin- cipal, Mr. Clough, teachers, volunteer workers, newspapers, radio stations, parents and many others have done a splendid job in carryying out this project. Without the wonderful cooperation of all, this great task would not have been suc- cessful. All Mendon children who have received the shots should now be immune to this dread disease.
The greatest problem facing the School Department at the present time is that of continuously increasing school en- rollment. The school building is now seriously overcrowded. Only eleven classrooms are available for all grades, one through twelve. Six of these rooms are used for grades 1-6, leaving 5 classrooms for use of the junior-senior high school pupils. Three of these five rooms are the science room, home economics room, and the commercial room. All are used every period for classes and frequently classes must be held in the cafeteria. There are no study rooms. Every regular class in grades 7-12 must also accommodate quite a number of study pupils which is very undesirable. Some of the classes are much too large. The third grade, for example, has 45 children. This is far too many for any one teacher. The class should be divided into two sections, but this cannot be done due to lack of space. The following table shows the actual enrollment from 1946 through 1956 an dthe pre- dicted enrollment from 1957 through 1965.
MENDON SCHOOL DEPARTMENT Actual and Predicted Enrollment 1946-1965 Grades
1 2 3 4 5 6
Total
7 8 9
10
11
12
Total
Grand Total
1946
19
21
25 18
29
20
(132)
41
16
21
15
11
11
(115)
247
1947
25
20
24
25
20
28
(142)
28
28
16
16
12
7
(107)
249
2
1948
32
21
18
22
22
20
(135)
27
27
23
12
13
12
(114)
249
same
1949
32
36
24
21
27 27
(167)
23
23
24
18
12
12
(112)
279
+30
1950
28
38
36
27
24
24 (177)
33
19
19
22
16
11 (120)
297
+ 18
1951
27
31
43
45
29
24 (199)
27
32
17
23
16
13
(128)
327
+30
1952
39
35
28
42
39
30 (213)
21
22
28
14
19
17 (121)
334
+ 7
1953
35
38
35
26
44
39 (217)
33
21
21
23
12
18 (128)
345
+ 11
1954
39
38
37
36
25
43 (218)
37
29
19
16
20
11 (132)
350
+ 5
1955
32
40 35 35 37 27
(206)
44
39
31
18
14
18 (164)
370
+20
+
100
1956
37
33
42
28
34
34
(208)
30
36
36
28
15
13 (158)
366
4
1957
44
40
34
43
28
34
(223)
37
27
33
31
24
14 (166)
389
+ 23
1958
51
47
41
35
43
28
(245)
37
33
25
29
26
22
(172)
417
+ 28
1959
45
55
48
42
35
43
(268)
31
33
30
22
25
24 (165)
433
+16
1960
52
48
57
49
42
35 (283)
47
28
30
26
19
23 (173)
456
+23
1961
44
56
49
58
49
42
(298)
38
42
26
26
22
17 (171)
469
+ 13
1962
41
47
58
50
59
49
(304)
46
34
39
23
22
20
(184)
488
+ 19
1963
44
44
48
59
51
60 (306)
53
41
31
34
20
20
(199)
505
+ 17
1964
48
47
45
49
60
52
(301)
65
47
38
27
29
18
(224)
525
+20
1965
51
51
48
46
49
61
(306)
57
59
43
33
23
26
(241)
547
+22
101
All figures as of October 1st
102
It could well be that September, 1957, one, and perhaps two, additional classrooms will be needed. This depends upon the size of the entering first grade and growth of existing classes. For example, take grade 3 which on October 1, 1956 had 42 pupils. in December this same grade had grown to 45. It is too big now and, if it further increases, will have to be divided. There are only three possible methods of providing for our expanding school population.
1. Double sessions.
2. Mendon building an elementary school. school district.
3. Mendon joining a regional junior-senior high school district.
The first of these, double sessions, means some pupils going to forenoon class and other to afternoon class in the same building and same classrooms. It means a shortened school day for all children on the two-platoon system. There are many other undesirable features. Such a program should not even be considered.
Mendon could build its own elementary school. This would provide for all elementary children, leaving the present school building for junior-senior high school use.
The town could also join in a regional junior-senior high school district with any nearby town or towns. This would leave the present school building available for grades one to six. It woul dalso provide a much better educational program for junior-senior high school pupils than the town could afford to pay for with its own enrollment at this level. Any solution will be costly. No onecan speak for the State
103
School Building Assistance Commission, but it can be assum- ed that they would grant no financial assistance to Mendon to build its own high school or junior-senior high school. This is because of the small enrollment in the school which would make the cost per pupil of an adequate secondary program prohibitive. The State would pay 50% of the construction cost for an elementary school and 65% of the cost of a regional school, the town to pay all interest charges in either case.
The annual census and distribution of all minors be- tween the ages of 5 and 16 was taken in October, 1956. All figures are as October 1, 1956. Figures shown in this table will not necessarily agree with the figures in the Age-Grade Enrollment Chart. The results of the October 1, 1956 census are as follows :
5 yrs. or over and under 7
7 yrs. or over and under 16
Boys
40
162
Girls
34
158
74
320
Distribution of minors
In public school membership
40
295
In private school membership
1
25
Not enrolled in any school
33
Totals
74
320
Among the more important repairs and improvements made during the year other than usual routine repairs such as plumbing, heating, and electrical, are the following: re- placement of worn window shades, improvements to grounds immediately in rear of school building, improvements to newly acquired land (tree removal, grading and smoothing),
104
repairs to tennis court, new stair treads and landings, roof repair, purchase of additional lunch room steel folding chairs, and extensive interior painting.
Among the items to be considered for the future improve- ment and development of our educational system would be the following: careful checking by the School Department and the school planning committees on future enrollment trends, flourescent lighting in classrooms, continued policy of keep- ing the building in first class repair, possibility of new roof on new part of school, repairs to grounds, modern individu- al movable desks and chairs for upper grade rooms and new floor covering in hallways.
In conclusion, I wish to express to you my sincere thanks for your efforts in making the school year a very successful one. The assistance of Principal Clough, teachers, super- visors, school physician, school nurse, townspeople, parents, and pupils is also deeply appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
PERCY L.ROWE, Superintendent of Schools
105
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To Mr. Percy L. Rowe
Superintendent of Schools :
I herewith submit the annual report of Mendon High and Center School for the year ending December 31, 1956.
Enrollment figures for the entire building are very nearly the same as those of last year. The average room enrollment in the elementary grades, one through six is thirty-five. Grade three, however, with forty-five pupils is crowded. Enrollments in grades seven through twelve, with a total of one hundred sixty-one, show an increase of ten pupils in the senior high grades. Crowded conditions in the junior-senior high school are gradually approaching limits which cannot be exceeded without impairment of school effi- ciency, control, and accomplishment.
The graduation exercises of the Class of 1956 were held on the evening of June 20, 1956. The members of the gradu- ating class were : Geraldine M. A. Alward, Edward D. Barnes, Henrietta M. Bison, Cornelius B. Bracco, Charmayne Dolores Channing, Jacqueline R. Corr, Gail J. Dudley, Jacquelyn S. Hamilton, Norman B. Handley, Frederick Gordon Harvey, Louise E. Lamothe, Joan E. Lundvall, Raymond A. Miller, Louis H. Morton, Frances E. Scott, Shirley C. Smith, Joan A. White, Eleanor M. Wills.
Twelve members of the class are continuing their edu- cation this year in schools and colleges of higher learning or technical training.
106
First place in scholarship was attained by Charmayne Dolores Channing who was also the winner of the Alumni Medal presented by the Mendon High School Alumni Asso- ciation. Jacquelyn S. Hamilton was the winner of the Amer- ican Legion Medal presented by the Roger L. Wood Post of the American Legion. Joan E. Lundvall was chosen to re- ceive the Good Citizenship Medal and Certificate awarded by the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Shirley C. Smith was elected by the high school student body to represent Mendon High School on Student Govern- ment Day at the State House in Boston.
Irving C. Dudley and Joy L. Murch, members of the Class of 1957, were named as delegates to the annual assem- blies of Boys' and Girls' State.
The annual prize speaking program occurred April 6, 1956 at the Mendon Town Hall. The following pupils present- ed selections : Irving C. Dudley, Constance H. Hamilton, Don- ald P. Kimball, Mary F. Lamothe, Jean M. Maspelli, Joy L. Murch, Norma A. Phipps, Barbara E. Rogers, Barbara L. York.
Prize winners were Constance H. Hamilton, Barbara E. Rogers and Donald P. Kimball.
The Class of 1957 presented a three act play, Dear Diary, at the Town Hall on the evening of December 7, 1956. A musical entertainment under the direction of Miss Chris- tine Wilson, Supervisor of Music, was presented March 16, 1956.
Substantial programs have been prepared and given for the beneft of the Mendon Parent-Teacher Association on several occasions by school pupils. These programs have in-
107
cluded Christmas entertainment, Senior Night, and a musi- cale hy elementary pupils presented at the Mendon Town Hall on May 11, 1956 for the benefit of the Parent-Teacher Asso- ciation Play School.
Driver Education was offered during the first half of the calendar year. Mr. Elmer C. Nelson, proprietor of the Nelson Motor Company of Milford, very generously made available a Buick car for the use of the driver education class. As of June 1, 1956, all pupils sixteen years of age, who wish to take advantage of the opportunity had received licenses to drive. The smaller number of eligible pupils who wish to en- roll in the course during the current school year does not justify the renewal of the car training program before the early part of 1958.
The annual open house evening was held November 14, 1956 in connection with the observance of American Educa- tion Week. A large registration of visitors on that occasion indicated genuine interest on the part of parents in this plan of parent-teacher conference.
Perennially, the need persists for emphasis on study hours outside school time for all junior-senior high school pupils. No pupil can do satisfactory work who does not reg- ularly devote home study to lesson preparation. There is not sufficient time in the day's schedule to allow for proper lesson preparation. Beginning in Grade Seven and continuing through Grade Twelve, every pupil should spend some time every day in home study. Almost without exception, poor high school records and subject failures can be explained in terms of lack of study. The practice of home study is de- sirable for all, and absolutely necessary for the pupil who hopes to attend college. It is wholly unrealistic and even ridiculous to aspire to a college education without a back- ground acquired through a rigorous routine of home study.
108
A high school day increased in length by one full hour might be a desirable change. The added time in school would make possible longer class periods as well as study periods. A portion of each class period given over to supervised study should be helpful to all piupls.
Savings programs are in operation in all grades. Sev- ings stamps continue in use in grades one through four. Since September 1956, grades five through twelve have had the opportunity to make weekly bank deposits through a plan sponsored by the Milford Federal Savings and Loan Association.
The school lunch program under the direction of Mrs. Louise Dautrich and assistant, Mrs. Thressa Wright, operates with continued excellence and efficiency. A relatively small number of very generous and willing mothers and friends continue to donate their time and effort to assist in the daily opepration of the lunchroom. Their contribution is deeply appreciated.
Parents are cordially invited to visit school and to confer with teachers and principal at any time.
In conclusion, I wish to thank Mr. Percy L. Rowe, Super- intendent of Schools, the School Committee, the Mendon Parent-Teacher Association, and the townspeople of Mendon for their cooperation and assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY P. CLOUGH, Principal
109
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
December 21, 1956
Mendon School Department
Mendon
Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
The following is my report of Mendon School work for 1956.
Toxoid Clinic opened March 29 and closed May 8. 11 children received the protective doses. 74 children received booster doses.
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