USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Pepperell > Town annual reports of the officers of the town of Pepperell, Mass 1930 > Part 3
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Pepperell > Town annual reports of the officers of the town of Pepperell, Mass 1930 > Part 3
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The Shattuck School as well as the High School was affected by the sickness of the janitor. The Groton St. School has had its afflictions at namely scarlet fever. Several cases disturbed. the workings of this department. Under the wise direction of the School Physician and others, the malady was suppressed. The School Committee are quite proud of this school in every way. The plumbing which was installed 38 years ago has been replaced by new modern arrangement and a new septic tank built under- ground outside the building. All rooms and halls have been tho- roughly renovated. The teaching force is good, and the children there are having advantages as good as any in the vicinity. The tone of the school has been very much improved within the past few years. The school takes no second place to any in Pepperell.
The Varnum School numbers more than last year, but owing to sickness and the cold weather the pupils have been taken to the Clara M. Shattuck. Both schools have lost numbers by the in- fluenza.
Considerable is said about the amount of money expended on our schools every year. We would state that according to Massachusetts reports we spend less money by several thousand dollars than the average town in Massachusetts of our size, number of children, and wealth. We feel that we have been as econ- omical as any town, and more so, in this regard.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES H. JEWETT,
Chairman for the Committee.
64 REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Pepperell :
Gentlemen :
I am pleased to submit herewith my ninth annual report, which is also the fifth since the formation of the present super- intendency union. This report is accompanied by reports of cer- tain other officials and supervisors in the schools, and other ma- terial for its present interest or future reference. ʹ
TEACHERS. This topic is given first place in considera- tion of its overwhelming weight as a factor in the success of the schools. The School Committee have shown surpassing interest and zeal to encourage and to improve the schools to the limit of their ability. The attitude and interest of parents and the general public compares very favorably with many other communities. A similar comparison may be made as to equipment and general conditions for work. But with all the improvements in the last three or four generations in facilities for gaining an education, the old saying about a log with Mark Hopkins on one end remains as true as ever. All other factors strengthen and support the work of the teachers.
"When we're through changing we're through." (Bruce Bar- ton.) The last thirty years have seen the rise and decline of the trolley car as a factor in transportation. The railroads are now desperately seeking to adapt themselves to a new era in order to maintain at least a partial existence. The advent of the safety razor mperiled the male portion of the barber's trade. Other outlets must be found for the products of the textile industry in place of much that went into clothing twenty years ago. On the other hand, whole new industries and branch or subsidiary indus- tries have grown into prominence in connection with such new features of modern life as the motion picture, the automobile, and the radio.
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The point is that the ordinary school of thirty years ago would afford extremely poor preparation for the needs and de- mands of the present day. The best of the schools are always lagging behind the changes in the times. Most parents can ap- preciate how much must be lost to a student restricted in a science course to a book published as recently as eight to ten years ago. It would be worse than useless to have a teacher use and teach faithfully the contents of a geography published before the World War. When there are so many more things coming along im- portant to know, it is a more serious offense than ever to spend precious time teaching partial payments or cube root, or any topic in arithmetic or any other subject which the pupil will never again have occasion to use.
Most parents are as busy with their work and interests as we with ours. For this reason it is only natural that we should con- tinue to find it true that they fail to realize how much the schools have changed. To many of them the concept of a school is of the institution they attended. Some more than others follow the work of their children and some visit the schools as often as we wish all might do. These parents learn the meaning of the silent reading of which they have heard, and how far the reading work has changed from the fluent oral expression which they have stressed, how much greater emphasis is now laid on the under- standing which makes reading worth while and an aid to some other aim. They may also be shown by teachers that geography and history are not subjects for drill and recitation. but grouped under a few large topics or problems to be worked out in note books with all available reference material. Particularly with some of the high school classes, they may be shown how the work is organ- ized and given to the class in monthly assignments.
Data is lacking for comparisons and there is no disposition to enter on them. We realize that most towns have excellent fea- tures in their schools. We are not the best. We appreciate the fact that we are susceptible to improvement, and while we con- tinue to feel thus the prospects for further improvements are good. Sometimes it happens that teachers return from a visiting
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day when they have tried to see superior work, with a report that other teachers are not doing some things which we have here or not doing them as well. There may be a question as to the whole- someness of this situation, and on the other hand their feeling may be somewhat grounded in fact. We would not be entirely un- justified in paraphrasing the slogan of another town in this county by placing upon our stationery : "Pepperell Schools are Good Schools."
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT. No previous year has seen quite as much evidence of a good professional spirit. Last winter one hundred percent of the teachers responded to a call for enrollment in the National Education Association, on the occasion of the convention of the Superintendents in Boston. They have had the magazine of the Association for the year as a con- sequence. Nine teachers took an eight week course in Lowell last spring in Mental Hygiene. Three teachers took summer courses, more than most other years. Some are preparing to do the same in 1929. We would not otherwise be keeping up with other towns in this respect, with the greatly increased enrollments in summer schools of recent years. Some teachers are now taking corres- pondence courses in Hygiene with that institution. This led to the teachers of the Shattuck School gained credit last year for corres- pondence courses in Hygiene with that institution. This led to the evening program at the Town Hall by the Shattuck School last spring. One requirement of the courses of these teachers was to carry out such a project. Other teachers worked out some feature of health or physical training instruction so as to comprise in all a full evening's program. This event, with the athletic tests for badges at both grammar schools, and the third annual field day an exhibition of the physical training under the direction of Miss Antonio, combined to carry out rather well the aim of the State Department of Public Health in their suggestion for a May Day Child Health Program. While remedies may be needed for some present conditions in the health service, much valuable health in- struction is being given in the daily work of the regular teachers. And health instruction and improvement is a very large element in
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the modern school. The whole child goes to school, where once only his brain was considered.
The physical training work has improved in the last year by broadening its scope and giving more attention to game which have very specific aims for training and development. Miss An- tonio has again taken up her supervision at the high school. New direction has been given to some of the work in cooking. The success of Mr. O'Sullivan in manual training shows in improved control over the classes and evidences of greater skill by the boys in their finished projects.
The high school held last spring a successful evening program of typical reciation periods, one by each teacher, at the Town Hall, with exhibition of written work in all subjects displayed about the room.
Education Week was brought to the attention of the citizens again by special invitations to visit the schools and by the display through the week of work in the store window of Mr. Hayes. The work of pupils at both elementary schools and the Varnum pupils attracted considerable attention, especially the main feature, a miniature of the Shattuck School building and grounds, street with passing traffic and the working of the safety patrol.
A further step was taken last year in relation to the county conventions. The teachers have for many years belonged to the Northwest Middlesex Association, which has usually met at Ayer. This relation is another evidence of changing conditions. It was formed in days when a trip to Boston was much more of an un- dertaking than it is now considered, and when the conduct of the large Middlesex County Convention and congested meetings there made them less helpful than at present We recognized the value of the inspiration and practical help derived from many speakers in the average Ayer Convention and the facts of the closer contacts there. On the other hand, the population, wealth, and ability to be found in Middlesex County are among the greatest in the country. We came to regret more and more to miss the great store of inspiration available there, and to which we were clearly
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entitled. Two years ago the teachers attended both conventions, partly for purposes of comparison. However, closing school on two successive weeks for the purpose is too much for a regular procedure. A year ago the teachers attended the larger meeting in Boston, and again this year, at this latter time formally with- drawing from the smaller group at Ayer. Written reports show the teachers are attending the meetings in Boston with commend- able faithfulness, and making a sincere and successful attempt to profit thereby.
SALARIES
Some of the younger teachers have gone during the past year to take beginning salaries from two to three hundred dollars higher than they received here. The average salaries of elementary teachers in Pepperell and in most of the towns adjacent to Pep- perell differ by about that amount. The quality of service being rendered by Pepperell teachers is not inferior to that extent. The discussion of the subject in previous reports might be repeated here. More than two thousand dollars of additional funds would be necessary to increase elementary school salaries to a point where they would be a fairer remuneration for the efficiency of the teaching. One thousand dollars additional would make it possible to take a first step toward that end. The last important increase in salaries was made nine years ago. The salaries were then made to compare favorably with other communities. But times have changed.
RETIREMENT OF TEACHERS
More than passing notice is merited when older teachers are retired from the schools after long service. The year 1928 mark- ed the end of service of Miss Mary Wood on pension and of Miss Amy Aldrich for disability owing to illness. Miss Wood taught thirty eight years in the Pepperell schools and in the Shattuck School most of the time since its erection. Miss Aldrich taught twenty two years in Pepperell, mostly in the Shattuck School.
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Both represent a splendid type of teacher which will be missed as the times continue to change. Both have influenced the lives of hundreds who have been their pupils, many of whom remain in town and many who are now scattered. Their works will follow them.
The seven years ending last summer, when Mrs. Anna Lewis taught english in the high school were a period when many pupils reaped the benefit of her efficient teaching and strong character. Miss Marion Dugan resigned from Groton St. to accept a higher salaried position, after three years of service in which she had done excellent work and made many friends.
HIGH SCHOOL
Some of the points made in the report of Mr. Whitmarsh appear very timely. The enrolment is smaller this year, and to some it has appeared a poor time to agitate about a new building Since the reasons for a new building has been covered in previous reports, and since they will continue to exist and to become more acute, as a larger number of schools have better advantages, the new school must come at some time and the question should not be allowed to drop. It may be considered whether it is not more important rather than less to agitate the matter at this time. The number of poential pupils is not less, and an old building lacking in some modern facilities will not help in attracting more.
In filling the vacant English position we determined to secure someone with broad experience. The policy was adhered to in this and other positions filled in town this year. It was amply justified. Miss Gould has brought an unusual store of plans and new material for strengthening and improving the work in the subject. As a rule, the difference is marked between the work done by our new teachers of the older and more mature type, and what could be done by the average inexperienced young applicant.
Miss Boynton has brought to the perplexing problem of the high school music all of her general musical experience. The
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effort to get results with the boys was so discouraging that they were temporarily dropped. A small number of them have now been taken in and for half the period given some simple work, the rest of the time being given to the girls. The consolation is that in having such a high school music problem we are far from being alone.
An orchestra in the high school has been long desired and a little tangible encouragement may prove fruitful. The results ·have been excellent for the amount of experience the individuals have had and for the fact that such leadership as the orchestra has had has been so far gratuitous.
The high school orchestra would be further aided by helping the orchestra possibility in the grammer grades and so getting them better prepared when they enter the high school.
The question has been raised previously whether high school pupils should be required to secure credit in American History in order to graduate. State law requires that all pupils before gra- duation take a course in American History and Government, but the law is not interpreted as making it compulsory to pass in such a course. A pupil who does not like the subject may nominally enter the course, not attempt to do enough work to pass, and gra- duate by taking enough courses in other subjects. The law is good, and some pupils are not complying with what is the evident intent.
C. M. SHATTUCK SCHOOL
The increase in the amount of departmental work in the upper grades recently put into effect will make it possible for teachers to improve their work by specializing in fewer subjects, and the fact of having lessons in three different rooms with different teachers will give pupils more preparation for high school procedure. Mr. Burney now teaches the mathematics and history, Miss Flynn takes grades seven and teaches the language subjects in the three upper grades. Mrs. Wright takes grade six and teaches in the three grades the geography, music, and drawing. She takes the
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physical training work of the three grades with the girls while Mr. Burney takes the boys. These teachers are making plans for further study of their subjects.
The serving of milk to pupils has continued the past year, and warm lunch has been taken up again this season for the cold months.
The taking of correspondence courses by teachers and the work in safety training so far as relates to traffic problems have been largely a feature of this school.
GROTON STREET SCHOOL
Nowhere else at present are relations so harmonious and gen- eral conditions more a source of satisfaction. As at other build- ings teachers in the past have come and gone. Some in particu- lar are most favorably remembered. The general trend has been upward. At one time upper grade conditions would be more sat- isfactory there and the problem to improve lower grade work. Later the problem would be reversed. The school continues to run more smoothly in the second year of Mr. Doherty's principal- ship. Most of the excellent features of a year ago are being con- tinued.
The work of the lower grades last year was very satisfactory except that the large number of pupils in the primary room was rendering attention to the needs of all impossible. An assistant teacher was engaged for this school year. This proved most for- tunate in view of the large entering class, large enough to be a roomful in itself. Miss Gibbons has proved very helpful. We have in Miss Conroy for grades three and four a normal graduate of high rank and therefore do not suffer as much from the loss of a more experienced teacher. Miss Flaherty came to the upper grades in December and is already finding the weak spots and do- ing effective teaching. The school has tried to hold to the good while going on to the better. It will always suffer in comparison with the work of schools where there is a teacher for each grade, provided other conditions are equal. Nor when other conditions
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are equal should as much be expected of younger teachers as com- pared with those of greater maturity and experience.
Conditions in the building are much better and more cheerful after the thorough cleaning, varnishing, and interior decorating done last summer, and especially with the installation of flush toilets and general improvements of the basements.
VARNUM SCHOOL
There has been considerably more of the hand work desired for these pupils done since September, as was partly shown in the exhibit in the store in November. It should be noted in the data accompanying this report that the number of pupils who have been assigned to this school is fourteen. Such a class is required where there are ten or more pupils for it. The class was recommended for one or two other pupils who were examined by the clinic from the Worcester Hospital but they had not been three years retarded and it was decided not to send them there at this time. As many of the older pupils from this class have been allowed to take the manual training and domestic science work at Tarbell Street as the space there would permit. The children have received attention in regular subjects much beyond what would be possible in a large school. With it they have made more nearly normal progress. They have enjoyed the hand work and been helped by it. Among the projects carried out have been reed baskets, coping saw wood work, clay and permacraft work, oil painting on glass, etc., paper belts, bibs, wax ornamentation on napkin rings, flower pots, etc., bread boards, coat hangers, book binding, and lamp shades.
The idea of the class has been started in town. To accom- plish this it seemed necessary to secure rooms outside any of the schools, as all school rooms were in use. The class has been going through a period of trial common to the idea in all the smaller towns, and the isolation has caused some pupils to feel more than would otherwise have been true that some sort of stigma was con- nected with membership.
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It is very true that some space can be provided in the Shat- tuck School if sufficient effort is made to do so. It is probable that if this is done all the advantages of the Varnum House will be realized that would probably be realized in any case with the younger type of teacher. The hand work could still be carried on. the pupils could have the needed help in some or all regular subjects as the case might require, and when as in this town the number of seriously defective pupils is small, the teacher could be more useful by planning to have her give some time to helping a much larger number of pupils. Many pupils are not sufficiently backward to be assigned to such a class by a clinic but still can be kept from failure in promotion if they can have more help than the regular teacher can give. Some pupils get out of step from absence. The work of their entire class is much hindered on their return to school if the class must be kept waiting while they catch up. Our thoughts have been along these lines as a result of our experience so far with the special opportunity class.
PENMANSHIP AND ATHLETIC TEST AWARDS
Eleven pupils in grades seven and eight at the Shattuck School received the final Student's Certificate in Palmer Writing last spring: Marie Coady, Helen Cotton, Wilfred Denault, Arline Greenwood. Dorothy Harris, Caroline Hearn, Adeline Jensen, Stella Milroy, Austin Nichols, Eva Robbins, and Albert Wisnos- ky. Wesley Young received the next lower order, or Improve- ment Certificate. Nine Shattuck School pupils in grade six re- ceived the Progress Pin for proficiency in drills 1 to 112: Helen Bennett, Isabelle Callum, Maxine Flory, Ruth Gardner, Lewis Glow, Anna Greene, Evelyn Hannah, Stephanie Kelpus, and June Kimball. Fifteen pupils in the upper grades at the Groton St. School were awarded this pin : Margaret Archer, Frances Boulia. Isabelle Dapkus, William Drum, Mary Duda, Valentine Duda. Lorraine Gardner, Marion Kiely, Staffie Lewandoski, Eileen Lorden, Madeline Lynch, Catherine Morrissey, Beverly O'Brien, Leola Schofield, and Gertrude Sullivan. The following other awards were given: Merit Button for drills 1 to 59, to 13 in
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grade five at the Shattuck School; and to 2 in grade four, 10 in grades five and six, and one in grade eight at Groton St .; Palmer Button for drills 1 to 25, 19 in grade three of the Shattuck School, and at Groton St., 8 in grades three and four, 8 in grades five and six, and 7 in grades seven and eight and the Grade Two Gold Star Button, 11 at the Shattuck School and 7 at Groton St.
Nearly two dozen boys in grades six, seven and eight qualified in either the first, second, or third tests for badges on athletic tests, showing in these various grades of tests a certain standard of proficiency in the all-round combination of events such as run- ning, accurate or distance throwing, jumping, climbing, etc. They help to a well rounded physical development, and incidently fur- ther the general physical condition which should help the Athletics in high school.
MUSIC
The music supervisor's report takes up the special problems in turn at each of the buildings. Miss Boynton has made some progress already in getting a softer and sweeter tone quality where emphasis on this was most needed.
Training in appreciation of the best music ought to become a feature of school music work receiving more attention. Com- paratively few of the pupils will after school days do much with chorus singing. All should have a certain experience with it and become familiar with the essentials of the technical side to read music well, just as they should become able to read aloud readily though not intending to make this part of a later vocation. But all can through life have opportunity to hear the best music as performed by others. It will add much to the quality of what they will enjoy and will greatly elevate their use of leisure time if they come to really enjoy the best in music. It would be a splendid achievement if all might have in school the opportunity now enjoyed in so many homes of what is available by the radio. The broadcasting companies are by now arranging more and more programs especially for school periods. More and more schools
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are installing sets to take advantage of this. I would like to see this started in one of our schools. Possibly we should look to one of the Parents' Associations for assistance.
BOOKS AND TESTS
Although gradually for nine years or more the condition of the books in use has been improved by substitution of newer and more interesting texts for those worn out and proving less satis- factory. further changes are still possible so far as available funds will permit. Last fall the new series of junior high school ma- thematics was extended into the eighth grade. Pupils entering high school next season will have had a different mathematical training. A series of hygiene books of a newer type, by Prof. Turner of M. I. T. was tried out and met with favor. It aims to popularize good health habits and desire for health and strength. Most of the hygiene books are among the oldest books in the schools. The geography work in the lower intermediate grades is more and more out of line with the newer courses. Few of the rooms have spelling books in the hands of the pupils. The sub- ject of language might receive attention all along the line. We might to advantage have in other rooms more of the excellent language books placed a year ago in grades three and four at Gro- ton St. Nearly nine years ago the present arithmetics were in- troduced. While they are still good, there has been considerable advance in what and how to teach in the interval, and now there are much better books on the market.
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