USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1942-1946 > Part 41
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We are gratified to report that our schools were singularly free from serious accidents during the year just past. It might be pointed out that in the handling of accidents as well as sudden illness arising in our schools, it is our strict policy to render emergency treatment only and then to refer the child to the im- mediate care of his or her private physician.
HEALTH INSPECTION
Periodic sanitary inspection of the various schools have revealed conditions in the school buildings to be most commendable, which is to the credit of all principals and janitors.
This report is being supplemented statistically through the report of the School Nurse, whom we wish to thank especially at this time for her most in- valuable assistance in the examining of the children and recording of our findings, as well as in her follow-up work in the case of children found to have some physical defect. It is through her personal contract with the parents of such chil- dren that the correction of most defects is insured.
We would be lacking in completeness of this report if we omitted special
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mention of the unwavering courtesy and cooperation of our Superintendent, our Principals and Teachers. Through their attitude toward the School Physi- cian they have shown their awareness of the importance of the physical wel- fare of each child in school and have contributed unstintingly to make our department as efficient as possible.
As a closing word we would urge the parents of our school children to continue and even increase their response to the instructions from their School Health Department. Without such cooperation, this department can hardly expect to report ever improving health standards in our schools.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM E. LANGEVIN, M. D.
School Physician
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I wish to take this opportunity to report on the physical health program in our Southbridge public schools-some of it new, some of it a successful repeti- tion of programs of preceding years. The aim is "a perfect program."
The School Health Program covers service to five elementary schools and two secondary schools with an enrollment of 1,785 students in 1945-1946 and 1,853 students in 1946-1947.
Physical examinations are given to all children enrolling in the Southbridge public schools for the first time in the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and twelfth grades; to athletes, and to specially selected children from other grades. These examinations are given to determine the child's physical status, his health needs, and to provide an opportunity for health education.
Approved vision and hearing tests are given annually and received careful follow-up. Systematic readings of heights and weights are taken and recorded twice yearly in elementary schools by the teachers, and once yearly in high school by the nurse. Daily observation and inspection is made of children's behavior and attitudes by each home-room teacher, with attention given to mental and emotional factors as well as physical conditions. A weekly Dental Clinic at the Town Hall, under the supervision of the Board of Health, is available to pupils of the four lower grades. 'Parents of these pupils sign a dental permit. Three hundred students attended during the 1945-1946 school year.
In all our elementary schools, time is allowed for each grade to participate in physical training. There is need of a trained physical director who could devote one day a week in each school. This is one objective to keep in mind and for which to work.
Health education, as a means of improving health and well-being, is taught and practiced throughout the school day. Dental hygiene is given constant consideration. Parents will help by discussing their children's problems with the teacher and nurse.
It should be clearly understood that the school examination is in no way meant to be a substitute for the careful yearly examination by the family physi- cian in his own office. The only object of the examination is to determine that the child has no defect which will prevent him from carrying on normal school life, or will be aggravated by school work.
From February 1946 to June 1946, 625 children were given physical examinations. Since the opening of this school year in September, 881 children have been examined. Where defects are found, a slip is mailed to the parents. Parents are asked to cooperate with us by taking their children to their attending physician or dentist when a defect slip is received, so that further investigation and supervision of health problems may be made. While conducting our physical examination, both the doctor and nurse make a special effort to have the ex- amination constitute a real educational experience. Posters on posture are used and folders, published by the Massachusetts Public Health Department, are handed out to each student. These folders vary in character with the grade of
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the pupils. Special emphasis is placed on general cleanliness, the importance of eating a good breakfast, posture, and the need for periodical dental care and constant personal dental hygiene.
In our follow-up work, the child found with a defect is re-examined the following school year to verify whether the reported defect has been corrected. A home visit is made by the nurse to the parents of children whose defects have gone unattended.
The nature of the defects found are mainly in the following order: throat, teeth, feet, vision, hearing, poor posture, heart condition, poor nutrition, and a few curvatures of the spine.
Since February, the nurse has made:
Visits to schools 250
Assisted at physical examinations
1,506
Class room inspections 90
Individual conferences 150
Consultations with parents
8
Home visits
86
Rendered first-aid
19
In April, a class in Home Nursing was started for River Street School girls. Eight girls were given the course. Mrs. Andrews assisted the nurse with the course. The girls did exceptionally well.
The nurse also assisted the Board of Health nurse with the four Diphtheria Toxoid Clinics for Pre-School and School children, conducted in April and May at the Town Hall. One hundred five school children and 23 pre-school children attended.
The school nurse also assisted the Board of Health nurse with the four Pre- School Clinics held in the Town Hall in June. One hundred and fifty-five chil- dren attended the registration clinics and 84 returned for physical examinations.
On June 18 and 19, while the Mobile X-ray Unit, made available to the public through the purchase of Tuberculosis Christmas Seals, was in Southbridge, the following were x-rayed:
442 students at Mary E. Wells High School
107 students at Cole Trade High School
38 school personnel
A week before the Unit was in Southbridge, a film on Tuberculosis was shown to the students at Mary E. Wells High School and at Cole Trade High School, and our school physician, Dr. William Langevin, addressed the as- sembly. The response on the part of the students was splendid, and most gratifying to anyone helped organize the program.
The sale of Tuberculosis Christmas Seals also made it possible for us to send six boys to the Sterling Health Camp for the summer. These candidates were chosen by both the Board of Health nurse and the school nurse, keeping in mind tuberculosis contracts or undernourished children.
In concluding this report, the people of Southbridge should be told that our two school physicians, our principals, our teachers, and the school nurse are doing all in their power to stress the importance of good health to each child. Children carry all this valuable information home, but there are still many parents who fail to show the interest which their child's welfare deserves.
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO TO HELP:
In our civic effort to develop a strong and sound young generation, the home still remains the central and chief agency. It is the home that builds bone and muscle and red blood through provision for an adequate and balanced diet; through provision for regulated sleep and rest; through the development of habits of cleanliness, and through the regular use of private medical and dental care. The schools may teach youth the principles of strength and robust health, but the home must bring these theories and these practices into a permanent,
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continuing program of everyday living if our boys and girls are to develop physically and mentally to their utmost. PARENTS, PLEASE HELP!
Your school nurse will be happy to discuss any health problem with you. She is available for conferences at her office, or for home visits at any time.
Respectfully submitted,
EDNA C. PINSONNEAULT,
School Nurse
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The position of the attendance supervisor covers a wide range of services from those of the social worker acting in the capacity of child counsellor to ap- pearing in court when necessity requires. It is a thankless job. The fairly rigid state laws are observed, and the attendance work is carried on in a business- like manner.
School attendance should be the normal life of the normal child. If a child is absent from school, these is a reason even in the case of truancy. Absence from school is always indicative of some irregularity in the life of the child. It is the duty of the attendance officer to discover the reason for absence and to make proper adjustments, if necessary, by visiting the school or the home or both.
Why do children miss school? Primarily, they are absent because of illness; second, for some disturbing cause usually emanating from a factor within the home-no shoes, no rubbers, no ironed shirt, no lunch, a sick mother, a broken clock, a brother home from the service, and the ever-present truancy are the most frequent causes.
A great challenge to all educators is the large family of ever-tardy, always- dirty, frequently-ill children. Many of these homes reveal parents who are in- different, oftentimes with borderline intelligence, and who are also borderline, economically. They seem able to earn some money but incompetent to spend it wisely and meet bills with it. Nutrition is poor and the children's teeth will be carious. The children smell dirty and they are dirty. They sniffle and snuff all autumn, winter, and spring. Their shoes are always holey, and their clothes always in a state of great disrepair. They are out of school one-third of the time. These children, nevertheless, have a right to as much education as any other average child, but unfortunately will get one-half as much.
Then comes the truant. Children are truant for one reason only-they are running away from something. The easiest truancy problem to solve is that of the children who run away from the actual school situation itself. A child can usually tell if it is the actual school work he dislikes, and an analysis of his abilities, his interests, and his program can help make such adjustments that school living is a happier experience for him. Often the truant does not know why he did skip school. It is difficult to get an explanation from him. Then a home visit with some knowledge and an analysis of existing home conditions reveal all the types of emotional disturbances that account for truancy.
Lack of parental supervision is the root of the majority of evils where children are concerned. Children 7, 8, and 9 years of age can be seen walking in "gangs" and playing in the streets late at night. Little by little, vandalism, a form of juvenile delinquency, begins and juvenile delinquency can develop very quickly and in every way when the children are not properly supervised.
The majority of juvenile problems, today, represent neglected children, not necessarily underpriviledged, but rather children who have been neglected or pampered. Some of them wind up in our juvenile courts today because of the failure of someone to give them an adequate and happy home life. It takes more than four walls to make a home. It is almost too late to become interested in Jimmy and his friends after they wind up in juvenile courts. It cannot be denied that adult delinquency is the root of whatever increase there is in juvenile
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problems. Why not give our children everything they need for a future happy life instead of moulding them for and leading them to our overcrowded penal institutions?
The following report gives an account of the work done during the past year:
Persons 5 years of age or over and under 7 403
Persons 7 years of age or over and under 14 1,653
Persons 14 years of age or over and under 16
536
Number of pupils investigated for absences due to illness, truancy, lack of clothing, contagious diseases, and other reasons. 579
Cases investigated for home permits
52
Cases of persistent tardiness
38
Cases of children working unlawfully
65
Follow-up and friendly visits
39
Number of children assisted with shoes and clothing
14
Number of children adjusted in their school work
33
Number of employment certificates 16-21 literate
750
Number of employment certificates 16 21 illiterate
22
Number of employment certificates 14-16 limited 96
Home permits
11
Newsboy's badges and Street Trades
8
Respectfully submitted,
RAOUL O. LATAILLE
Attendance Officer
REPORT OF THE VISUAL AIDS DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools:
This is a report of activity in the Visual Aids Department from January 1, 1946 to December 31, 1946.
In obtaining films for the schools I have attempted to obtain free commer- cial films whenever possible. Well-known companies engaged in food, clothing, transportation, building materials, pharmaceutical supplies, as well as numereous other products, seek to advertise their merchandise through the medium of films. These films for the most part are cleverly produced. They carry vital teach- ing lessons, as well as important information to the pupils of this town.
Briefly, here are the contents of some films exhibited:
1 The making of a tire 6 Telephone communication
2 The growing of coffee 7 Progress of radio
3 Lumber and homes 8 The petroleum industry
4* Salmon in Alaska 9 Seeing America
5 The making of bread
10 Work of railroads
Now and then I get requests for certain films that are not produced as advertising mediums. As a result, I obtain these films from the Y.M.C.A. Film Exchange at a low rental charge.
During this period, the two sound projectors were in unreliable working condition due to the lack and unavailability of replacement parts. Consequently, the extent of their widespread use was at times limited. The two projectors are being overhauled for the coming year.
Materials were distributed to the local schools as follows:
TOTALS
92
Film Strips
352
Slides (sets)
42
Pictures (sets) 63
IN DETAIL
Mary E. Wells High School
20
Film Strips
28
Motion Pictures
Slides (sets) 12
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Motion Pictures
River Street School Film Strips Pictures (sets)
56 4
West Street School Motion Pictures Film Strips Pictures (sets)
8
60
8
Marcy Street School
Motion Pictures
2
Film Strips Pictures (sets)
12
Charlton Street School
Motion Pictures
7
Film Strips
85
Slides (sets)
16
Pictures (sets)
21
Eastford Road School
Film Strips
58
Slides (sets)
14
Pictures (sets)
18
Cole Trade High School
Motion Pictures 15
The facilities of this department were used when sought to show films released for civic welfare, such as:
Cancer Control
F.B.I. (Local Police School)
Coast Guard Recruiting
Summarily, I have endeavored to fulfill the requests for visual aids in the School Department, as well as extend the services to civic organizations who sought assistance from this department.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM V. DELANEY
Director
CONTINUATION SCHOOL REPORT
To the Superintendent of Schools:
At your request I hereby submit my report for the Girls' Division of the Continuation School for the year ending June 21, 1946.
This year saw the smallest enrollment in the Continuation School since its establishment. There were only ten girls enrolled through the year, as follows:
14-15 years 3 15-16 years 7
Due to the fact that in industry and commerce minors must be sixteen years old or over if they are to be employed, these girls all had home permits which allow them to remain at home as mother's helpers. They are not allowed to work outside their own homes.
Classes met on Wednesday afternoons from one o'clock to five. The time is divided equally between classes in Household Arts and Academic Subjects.
Miss Louise Corbin had charge of classes in foods and clothing. Girls were taught simple sewing and the making of plain garments as well as the freshening and remaking of worn clothing. In foods classes they were taught elementary cooking and the preparation of breakfast and luncheon dishes.
I feel that the very practical lessons given in the Household Arts Department are extremely useful to these girls who are already engaged in the care of the home. These classes are greatly enjoyed by the girls.
Because the girls, who come to Continuation School, came from grades varying from all levels of preparation to one year in High School, the work done
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by the girls as individual students necessitates assignments on the basis of indi- vidual ability.
Academic subjects include English, arithmetic, civics and hygiene.
In English, we aim to help the girl to improve in oral and written self- expression through spelling, letter writing, and drills in corrective exercises. Guidance in the selection of magazines and books for leisure reading may prove of lasting value for both information and pleasure to be derived.
Arithmetic is applied to meet the everyday needs of the individual by use of drills and practical problems.
In every way we have endeavored to make our teaching "to the point" and of immediate value to our students.
Respectfully submitted, LAURA B. DESMARAIS, Director
SOUTHBRIDGE SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
To the Superintendent of Schools:
In accordance with your request, the following complete report on the acti- vities of the 1946 summer playgrounds is hereby submitted:
As in the past, the Southbridge Summer Playgrounds extended for a period of six weeks from July 8 to August 16, five days a week for a total of thirty days, and the length of the day was as follows:
9 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. - 1 P.M .to 3:30 P.M.
The playground sites were the same as in the past years because of their convenient location making them easily accessible to all children (parochial as well as public school children) from all sections of the town. These areas were at Charlton Street School, Eastford Road School, River Street School, and West Street School.
Total Playground Enrollment 1327
Average daily attendance 538
Average % of attendance 39.8
Largest daily attendance 817
PERSONNEL
General
Director: Raoul O. Lataille
Music Supervisor: Mrs. Hedwiga Kochanowski
Payroll: Miss Elsie Hofstra, Secretary to Superintendent of Schools Charlton Street Playground
Supervisor: Mrs. Charlotte Henderson
Assistants: Miss Victoria Themistocles, William Nickerson, Roger Hebert
Eastford Road Playground
Supervisor: Mrs. Constance Earls
Assistants: Miss Beverly Kezar, Lawrence Simonds
River Street Playground
Supervisor: Mrs. Clara Reed
Assistants: Miss Nancy Wilkinson, Jean Paul Casaubon
West Street Playground Supervisor: Mrs. Celestine Sweet
Assistants: Miss Anne Laliberte, Henry Remian
ENROLLMENT AND ATTENDANCE
Never before during the six years of Summer Playgrounds have we had such a large enrollment. This was indeed a banner year from all angles. In fact, at the end of the second week of playgrounds the enrollment had already soared 46 children over our past record of 1105 children.
The children also attended each session much more regularly this year
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than in the past years. They were vitally interested in the inter- and intraplay- ground schedules, the crafts have been more to their liking, the movie features have given them more pleasure, the new music program has fascinated them, and last but not least, the supervisors and assistants at each playground have done a masterful job.
PUBLIC INTEREST
More noticeable than ever before the Southbridge public is becoming play- ground minded. Last Summer, many parents visited the grounds, many wished they were young again so that they could have the opportunity of learning craft- work under the able direction of the playground supervisors; the newspapers have given us 100% cooperation on publicity, our local newspaper has given us a column each day entitled "On the playgrounds" which describes playground contests and also gives an account of coming events. The children have been interested exceedingly in this column. Parents have also commented on how quiet the different neighborhoods are, and on their children learning to do something worthwhile.
The climax to our successful season came when the playground director was invited to take part in the radio program "This Is Our Town" over broad- casting station WTAG. This honor proved that our playground program was con- sidered an integral part of our town government and that our untiring efforts had not been in vain. It was also a tribute paid the playground staff for their work that had not passed unnoticed.
MEETINGS
Every Monday morning at 8 A.M., a complete staff meeting was held to discuss present problems, to visualize plans for the remainder of the season, to outline various contemplated activities, and to secure materials needed for the proper completion of the arts and crafts. Special meetings were also held at different times to settle unexpected matters.
A final annual picnic and staff meeting was held at Point Breeze in Webster during which a gift from the playground staff was presented to Miss Celestine Carey in view of her approaching marriage. ; ACCIDENTS
I am indeed happy to report the absence of any accident at any one of the four playing areas. Unfortunately one mishap has marred a perfect accident record during my three years as director. This incident was explained in the playground report of 1946. The credit for this fine record, considering the large number of children attending the playgrounds, is a tribute to the staff for its incessant efforts in maintaining play order and supervision.
DAILY PROGRAM
Because of the varied age groups from day to day, each daily program was planned according to the group present.
The salute to the flag and the taking of attendance was always the first step of every morning and afternoon session .
The inspection of apparatus and grounds, the marking of courts, the posting and making of announcements were always done at the beginning of each session.
Various activity games, group games, quiet games, story telling and arts and crafts formed the largest part of the days program.
RAINY DAY PROGRAM
Rain or shine, the playgrounds were always open two sessions each day for the five day week period. The gymnasium at each playground was available for play on stormy days.
Rainy day programs varied with the playground but included the following activities :
Movies Arts and Crafts
Quiet indoor games More active indoor games
Story telling
Group singing Folk dancing
Special playground programs
PLAYGROUND ACTIVITIES
A variety of intra-playground sports were played last summer, both by boys
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and girls. These included: basketball, touch football, paddle tennis, darts, hand- ball and soccer
Inter-playground competition took place in the following sports: Boys: Baseball, softball, table tennis, horseshoes and quoits. Girls: Badminton, volley ball, dodge ball, and croquet.
Other daily activities consisting of use of apparatus included: baby swings, high swings, slides, jungle gyms, and parallel bars. However, relative to this matter, the only playground with high swings was River Street playground. Other swings had been ordered as far back as last March but the shortage of this type of equipment made it impossible for us to get them here before the play- ground season opened. In fact the apparatus did not reach us until the middle part of September.
The slides available at the different grounds were in such a condition that they had to be barred from use. Again in this case, new slides were ordered and have now been received and will be ready for use next summer.
All playgrounds had sand-box work and various crafts for the younger chil- dren including block games, jig-saw puzzles, colored crayons and ready outlined pictures to color. Activity group, folk dancing, and singing games were always enjoyed by this younger group.
PLAYGROUND CHAMPION
West Street Playground.
This playground had very little trouble this year winning the honor.
The playground champion was again determined by a point system and the largest number of points garnered by each playground during the season served to decide the winner of the "Southbridge Playground Champions" banner. Points 5-3-1 for first, second, and third places respectively for baseball, softball, etc. and each event of the Field Day which took place during the final week of play- grounds added to the points won at the swimming meet served to determine the winner of the banner.
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