USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1957-1961 > Part 79
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gram.
At this point in the report, some indication should be made of the need to find some solution to the heavy teacher load at the Junior High School, and the addi- tion of effective electives might fill this need. It is earnestly hoped that some plan can be found to free teachers at least three periods a week in order that they can cope with the mounting requirements of the job. At present, homeroom teachers accompany classes and assist in supervision in all activities.
6. The institution of a minimal program in physical edu- cation. This appears to be mandatory for students of junior high school age, and in keeping with the recommendations of all authorities in the field of pre- adolescent and adolescent growth. Although it is rec- ognized that only a minimal program could be initiated under the circumstances of present physical limita- tions, even a partial program would appear to be pre- ferable to none.
7. Planned program of assemblies which would widen the scope of student experiences and assist their growth in audience behavior. It is further anticipated to use assemblies as an outlet for student expression. Our limited experience to date has given evidence of the vast oportunity we have for improvement in this area.
8. Orientation program for incoming junior high school students. This would be planned for a time near the end of a pupil's 5th-grade experience and would serve as an introduction to a new and somewhat more de- manding school experience.
9. Program of non-academic activities that would allow participation by all ability groups. While it is desir- able to keep classes together in ability groups for pur- poses of academic growth, there appears to be some necessity to schedule non-academic activities that would allow participation by all ability groups includ- ing the advanced elementary classes. This would furnish a feeling of cohesion within the school and do much to establish an all-school spirit.
Many of the above anticipated changes have some decided implications. Some of them can be put into effect with few, if any, budgetary problems. Others imply the need for addi- tional personnel and/or materials and equipment. All of them are recommended as feasible and desirable improvements for a program that has made a promising start in the direction of improved education for all of the pupils of junior high school age in Southbridge.
The present Mary E. Wells Junior High School has achieved some status in its short existence. Three students were awarded prizes in a community creative writing contest spon-
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sored by the Jacob Edwards Memorial Library. Another stu- dent was awarded a medal for a contribution to an essay con- test sponsored by the Civil War Centennial Committee. The advanced elementary classes presented a program of Christmas Carols in French on Station WESO. Plans are being made for a spring music and drama program.
It has taken the cooperation of many people to successfully launch Mary E. Wells Junior High School. Primarily, the com- mendation goes to a dedicated, enthusiastic staff of teachers. In addition, we are sincerely appreciative of the friendly and helpful assistance we have received from Mr. Lataille, Miss Cal- lahan, Dr. Robertson, and Mr. Desroches, and also for the patient and understanding help we have received from Mr. Robert Fox, the Superintendent of Schools and his office staff.
REPORT OF GUIDANCE AND PLACEMENT DEPARTMENT
DR. LEWIS A. KYRIOS, Director
The essence of our guidance services consists of an em- phasis on cherishing the uniqueness of the individual student and on bending the efforts of the school staff to aid in his de- velopment. It is our intent to aid the student who has less learning ability than his peers to achieve as high a level as is possible for him in the skills so important for his performance as a worker, a family member, and a citizen. Our bright stu- dent is no longer made to slow his steps to those of his fel- lows. He is now guided and encouraged in obtaining an enriched education commensurate with his gifts, interests, and needs. The child whose social development interferes with his optimum use of school is helped by means of counseling, parent education, and changes in the school environment to understand and cope with the socialization process. Our point of view maintains that educators need to understand each student so that they may use the facilities of the school to advance his total de- velopment by helping him make the best use of educational op- portunities.
In developing our guidance concepts, our services have been concentrated on the following areas:
1. Individual inventory services
2. Information service
3. Counseling service
4. Placement service
5. Follow-up service
Our individual inventory services emphasize our testing program, and our comprehensive testing program is utilized to determine levels of interest, ability, and achievement. These tests are given as soon as possible after the start of the school year and at the close of the school year. At some time in the nominal rate of grade progression, mental ability and achieve-
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ment tests are given. Cooperative tests and specialized tests, such as the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Tests, National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, College Entrance Exams, and National Educational Development Tests, are given to the secondary students as they are announced.
Educational information, occupational information, and orientation conferences constitute our guidance informational services. This type of service, established to assure adequate information, is available to our students in their preparation for successful living. This phase of our guidance program is struc- tured in the following manner:
A. Maintaining up-to-date guidance library
1. College and school catalogs
2. Scholarship and financial aid information
3. Educational reference books
4. Occupational information files
B. Recruiting pupils for such activities as conferences, interviews, and visitations to colleges, hospitals, tech- nical schools, and industries.
C. Providing application forms for College Entrance Ex- minations.
D. Processing applications for scholarships
E. Preparation of publications for student orientation purposes.
To improve our informational services, a visual-aids section of our guidance library is being organized. This particular project is being developed by our visual-aids director.
Our counseling may be defined as individualized and per- sonalized help extended to a student in making choices, plans and adjustments, with all pertinent facts studied and analyzed, and a solution sought, with the student assuming increasingly greater self-direction. Counseling is the "backbone" of our guidance services. Stress is placed in the areas of educational planning and educational adjustment. Every high school stu- dent is interviewed during the course of the year.
A placement service is offered by the Guidance Depart- ment. This service is utilized to assist students who wish to be placed in various positions in the labor field. Part-time work has been secured for many students. Students are notified when part-time positions are available.
An important function of our guidance office is our follow- up service. It consists of the presentation of a composite pic- ture of what happened to the last graduating class and a sur- vey based on a five-year follow-up study.
A study of the 1961 graduates revealed the following in- formation:
Boys
Girls
Total
Per- cent
Colleges and Universities (4-year degree granting)
24
18
42
34+
27
Junior colleges Nursing schools (R. N. & L. P. N.)
4
9
13
10+-
0
9
9
7+
Business schools
3
5
8
6++
Private preparatory and post- graduate secondary schools
0
1
1
.8
Trade, technical and vocational schools (non-degree granting 0
7
7
5+
Total continuing in post- secondary education
31
49
80
65,
State employment
9
28
37
31
Service
6
0
6
4
TOTAL
46
77
123
100
The results of a survey of the 1957 graduates are as fol-
lows:
Class of 1957
Degree granting colleges
21 Total
95 Graduates 22.2 Percent. 10.5, 9.4
Junior colleges and all other schools
9
Total degree-granting colleges, nursing
schools, junior colleges and all other schools
40
42.1
Armed Forces
16
16.8
Labor market
39
41.1
TOTAL
95
100.00
Information concerning the students who attended the de- gree-granting colleges from the above class is as follows:
Degree-granting college entrants
21
Degree-granting college graduates 15
Percent of graduates
71
The six students who did not graduate are listed as fol- lows:
Seniors at present
2
A Navy Pilot after two years of college
1
Married
1
Did not complete college
2
The present positions of fifteen graduates of college are listed as follows:
Teachers
5
Engineer
1
Entered medical college
1
Entered Air Force (Officer)
1
College instructors (Fellowship Scholarship) Yale
1
Michigan State
2
Industrial management
1
Graduates entering:
Nursing schools
10
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Graduate students Research worker Librarian
2
1
1
Information concerning the students who attended nursing schools is as follows:
Nursing school entrants 10
Nursing school graduates
7 (RN)
The three students who did not graduate are listed as fol- lows:
1
Student nurse
2
Information concerning the students who attended junior
colleges is as follows:
Junior college entrants
5*
Junior college graduates
5*
Information concerning the students who attended other schools is as follows:
Agriculture
graduated 1
Art school
graduated 1
Hairdressing school
graduated 1
School of accounting
graduated 1
Airline hostess school graduated 1
Sixteen students entered the Military Service. Two stu- dents are still in the Service. Three are in college. Eleven are in the labor market.
Thirty-nine students entered the labor market. Thirty- eight are still in the labor market or at home.
One student entered junior college after the statistics on the preceding page were compiled.
Conclusion
It is important, before bringing this brief report to a close, that acknowledgment be made to members of the School Com- mittee for outstanding service during the past year. They have given unselfishly of their time and energy in solving the many difficult problems that have been presented to them for deci- sion.
Our educational and service staffs have demonstrated high morale, a continuous pride in their work, and a desire to strive continually to improve the Southbridge Public Schools as an instrument to educate the children of our community.
The various town departments have given excellent co- operation throughout the year.
ยท To all of these public-spirited and interested citizens who have contributed their services, ideas, and support, I wish to express appreciation and gratitude.
Respectfully submitted, ROBERT L. FOX,
Superintendent of Schools
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Married
EMERGENCY PHONES
Police
PO 4-3310
Fire
PO 4-2547
Town Ambulance
PO 4-2547
Water Supply
PO 4-8692
Gas and Electric
PO 4-3261
Highway
PO 4-7271
Hospital
PO 4-2511
Civil Defense
PO 4-2501
ONS
JUN
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