USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Pepperell > Town annual reports of the officers of the town of Pepperell, Mass 1930 > Part 4
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Pepperell > Town annual reports of the officers of the town of Pepperell, Mass 1930 > Part 4
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The special testing done in the schools during the year was confined to that by the staff of the Worcester State Hospital of pupils recommended for examination with reference to placing in the special class ; and the Otis Classification Tests given in the fall by principals and teachers in the upper grades, which helped to give evidence of real ability of pupils to do their work, how well they were working up to the measure of their ability, and how correctly in accordance with this was their present placing in the grades.
Respectfully submitted. GEORGE B. CLARKE.
Superintendent of Schools.
76 REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
This report omits many of the statistics which have appeared from year to year, for there has been no change for several years in the number of teachers, distribution of work to teachers, pro- gram of studies, length of session, length or number of periods, or method of ranking.
Registration is smaller than a year ago. There is no one reason for this. Changes that are being made in the construction and equipment of buildings, and the reorganization and enlarge- ment of programs of work suggest to Pepperell that something must be undertaken, sooner or later, to attract more pupils to high school and hold them there for four years. The town can not afford to postpone action indefinitely. Certainly good roads and good schools are two good advertisements for the prosperity of the community. There may be a difference of opinion as to their relative importance. Too much emphasis can not be placed, how- ever, on a well-equipped, up-to-date high school.
While the enrolment is smaller, the number of classes is not diminished, and the number of classes is a big factor in determin- ing the needs of the school. The work of the high schools, both curricular and extra-curricular, is increasing each year. It is not likely to diminish, for increasing demands and responsibilities are being placed upon it. This is a matter that should be brought home to parents and public.
The clubs that are more or less concerned in the welfare of our schools can find much to do in the work of improvement.
There is no likelihood that any boy or girl will get too much education, but there is danger that many will not get enough. It is not merely a question of getting a better living, it is also a ques- tion of place and fitness for rendering public service, of meeting
:
77
and solving social problems. The only solution for many of our problems is education ; education that includes knowledge of facts, ability to think straight, sense of personal responsibility, control and right direction of feelings. Ignorance, one-track minds, nar- row views, selfish hearts, prejudice, intolerance; these will not even preserve what good things we have, to say nothing of adding to human welfare.
We have a multitude of devices for making tasks easier, for saving time, for serving up entertainment that may lead young people to follow the line of least resistance, drift into a state of passive receptivity, take all the world will give them and give no- thing back. Character and service, being and doing, are our needs individually and in groups. Effort is a law of progress.
Our exhibitions of school work near the close of the year have been worth while and should be continued. Our efforts in debate have been creditable. Our few dances and socials have been remarkably free from undesirable occurences. Our sports have not been a success in every respect, yet a record for clean play is something with which to be pleased. Some of the hind- rances have been unavoidable. We appreciate the spirit and the assistance of Mr. Sanford and Mr. Abele, who gave all they could of their time.
Vocal music in the school is not what it should be, not what I would like to have it. It does not appeal to the boys. They regard the period as time wasted or better spent in some other way. At present the singing is confined to the girls, and is mainly chorus work. It seems to me there is lacking a knowledge that high school pupils should have, a willingness to work on some- thing difficult, a desire to come as near as possible to mastery of something. If the preparation is not deep enough and broad enough, if not enough time is devoted or devoted often enough, if these weaknesses can be remedied by expenditure of more money and if the people of the town really want music effective in the high school, an improvement is possible.
After repeated attempts and persistent encouragement for
78
years, a beginning was made a year ago at the realization of a dream, the formation of an orchestra under the leadership of Mr. Sussman of Lowell. This year the orchestra is larger, interest is stronger, and proficiency is of course increasing. Mr. Thibault is instructing at present. Mr. Sussman gave his services without charge and so far Mr. Thibault has done likewise, but we should not expect this to continue indefinitely. It is a demand on time and energy that merits compensation. The school has raised money absolutely necessary to keep the orchestra in existence. An orchestra must have music. If the people of the town regard an orchestra in the high school as worth while, there is a way to main- tain it.
We have reason to be proud of the class that graduated last June, because of the number, the quality of their work, the ex- cellence of their graduation parts, and the number continuing work in other schools. Parker is in University of Maine, Pike in Dartmouth, Winn in W. P. I., Cobb in North-Eastern, Anita Marston in Jackson, Winifred Hall in Keene Normal School, Drown and Drum in the Bartlett School of Tree Surgery at Stam- ford, Conn., Mildred Robbins, Genevieve Tumpney, Arlene Mc- Grath, Marian Drum, and Catherine Whalon in Business School, and Ruth Bates in a Training School for Nurses. The supply of teachers for grades below high school discouraged some of the girls from going to Normal School.
The attention of parents who have children in line for college is called to what follows. 141/2 to 16 credits are required for ad- mission. This total can be made up in our school from the follow -ing subjects : English, 3 credits ; Latin, 2, 3, or 4; French, 2 or 3; Mathematics, 21/2 or 3; Science, 2 or 3; and History, 1 or 2. In English four years of study are required but only 3 credits are allowed. Some of the colleges will require three years of Modern Languages after this year. Changes are being made in the sub- ject matter wanted, in the character of the examinations given, and in methods of admission. So many students are applying for admission that early application is advisable, and a high school pupil must stand in the highest third or fourth of his class in order
79
to be at all sure of entering on certificate. A principal can not safely certificate a pupil unless his record is much higher than the passing mark for graduation from high school.
The average rank in a subject should not be less than 85% in the case of a pupil going to college. The principal has to rely to a considerable extent on the marks given by teachers. He can not slip up many times without losing the certificate privilege for his school. Teachers should be very careful not to mark college preparatory pupils too high, and parents must not expect a high rating unless it is merited. It does not follow that a pupil is pre- pared to enter college because he has received a diploma from high school, and it does not follow that he will be a star in college be- cause he had the highest rank in his high school class. In nearly every case a Freshman brings home from college the report that he never knew before what it was to work. It would be well if pupils and parents could understand that hard work is needed in high school and teachers do not pile on the work unnecessarily. Good preparation for college can not be obtained unless the pupil attends strictly to business, is regular in attendance. prompt in doing the work assigned, and does his best all the time.
Enthusiasm for college is strong at present. This is shown by the number taking fourth year Latin and Mathematics, and by the smaller number of boys in the Commercial department. The larger number of pupils in the Mathematics classes promises bet- ter work in the Science course in the senior year. It is absolutely necessary for pupils to get a strong grasp on first year Latin if they hope to get even a passing mark in the following years.
Much criticism is made of young people, that they are head- strong, conceited, extravagant, wasteful, frivolous, and worse. Grant that the criticism is true-Where does the responsibility lie? What is to be done about it? We are all accountable, di- rectly or indirectly, more or less, for a social condition. Example is a powerful influence and it is found everywhere. Pupils of high school age everywhere are keen in sizing up their teachers. They may be just as keen in sizing up their parents. For a teacher
80
to exert the best influence on a pupil, the pupil must have confi- dence in the teacher. Probably the same holds true in the home. If this is true, parents as well as teachers have a serious matter to reflect upon. What example am I setting for my son or daughter ? Am I carrying myself in a way to hold my child's love, confidence, and respect? Am I doing all I can to make my home the most attractive, best-loved spot on earth? Clubs, dance halls, motion pictures, automobiles, et cetera, must not reduce the home to a mere lunch room and place to sleep, if homes are to continue the foundation stones of our Commonwealth.
We find the mimeograph of service, and we are considering the purchase of some kind of projector that shall be of practical use in several subjects.
It may not be out of place to say here that our high school teachers are very glad that the superintendent has allowed them to attend the Teachers' Convention in Boston instead of the Con- vention at Ayer. Without exception they feel that they get more out of the larger convention. There has been no indication of dodging attendance. Every teacher attended full time in October and reported in writing on the addresses heard.
In my opinion a day for visiting other schools is time well spent.
We are grateful to the Trustees of the Public Library for the interest shown in buying reference books that may be of use to the high school.
Almost every year there is a pupil in the graduating class who has the ability, the preparation, and the desire to go to college, but who lacks the money needed for the first year there. He ought to have at least four or five hundred dollars at the start. One may say that he should have been saving his money, that he can earn his way through college if he is made of the right stuff, etc. That may be true, and yet it is just as true that a little financial aid at the beginning may save a boy from a life of drudgery and un- happiness, may lift him from a position that offers little to a posi- tion of greater profit and larger service. I wish' there were peo-
81
ple in town with the means and desire to look into such cases, and aid if they seemed deserving. I have done it more than once and never has the boy gone back on me. But a teacher in a small town can not do much in this way.
As to the appropriation of money for school purposes, I am well aware that it is not only what the schools need but also what the town can afford to spend that must be considered. Yet it may be that the town can not afford to expend less than the schools need. It may be that to me in the midst of school work some things appear more important than to others on the outside, but I am thoroughly convinced that American schools must furnish the solution to American problems.
To the superintendent of schools I am glad to have again an opportunity to return thanks thus publicly for his counsel and sup- port in the management of the high school.
Respectfully submitted.
D. L. WHITMARSH,
Principal.
82 REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The following is my report on the Music in the Schools of Pepperell for the period from September to December 31, 1928.
Having been Supervisor of Music in Pepperell only since September, I have not been able to do much more than carry on the work begun by the grade teachers. The wonderful coopera- tion I have had from these teachers is surely most heartening and inspiring. Their ability to impart instruction and secure results has been proven by the progress shown in this short period.
The greatest assistance the schools can have is the coopera- tion of the pupils' parents. Home supervision of study in any line is of the utmost importance. Therefore I urge the parents to interest themselves in this matter and to impress upon their children the value of this great work, that they may apply them- selves diligently, to the end that we may have more and better music as time goes on.
It is my aim to have every child equipped with a knowledge of music that will enable him to enjoy and appreciate the art to its fullest extent; to make the children love to sing songs worthy of commendation, so that their leisure hours may bring much joy and happiness to themselves and their associates.
THE GROTON STREET SCHOOL
My work at this school has been most enjoyable. The daily work of the teachers has shown much progress. Here we have much individual singing, group work, and part singing. The tone quality is greatly improved, and we may expect some excellent work before the season is over.
83
THE CLARA M. SHATTUCK SCHOOL
The daily work of competent teachers has put this school well on the way toward a successful year musically. The spirit in all the grades is most excellent. I should like to suggest the comple- tion of the Music Education Series, as it would simplify the work greatly, and new material always proves an incentive toward great- er achievement.
During Schubert Week my day was given over to Apprecia- tion of Music. The life of Schubert was presented in conjunc- tion with records of his compositions on the Victrola. Miscella- neous records were also played and interpreted and explained.
PEPPERELL HIGH SCHOOL
The situation in the High School at the beginning of the year was rather difficut. There seemed to be a general lack of in- terest and an indifference toward music. After much experi- menting, it was decided to inaugurate a girls' chorus, and we now have forty-five voices singing three-part songs. A boys' glee club is under consideration, and this I hope will materialize, for I can- not think of a high school of consequence without a boy's chorus. One hour a week, which is all they have, is not enough to accom- plish the results normally expected of any high school.
I hope for one of the best school concerts ever given in Pep- perell at the close of the season.
A new piano is greatly needed at the High School, and might act as a stimulus of interest.
It has occurred to me that we might prepare for and arrange to have a competition with some of our near neighbors. If other schools can do this, Pepperell schools can.
I thank all those connected with the work of Music in the Schools for their kind interest, and ask that they maintain this in- terest and spirit of cooperation in the year to come.
Respectfully submitted. EDITH BOYNTON.
Supervisor of Music.
84 REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The chief purpose of art education in our schools is to de- velop in our pupils a love for the beautiful, and the ability to ex- ercise good taste in the things they wear and use. All children cannot be taught to draw well, but most of them can be taught to discriminate between the good and the bad. To realize these ob- jectives the courses are planned so that they are adapted to the child's age and interest from grade to grade, to build step by step from the framework to the finished product.
Nothing can be drawn from the child's mind before some- thing has been put in. Drawing is no different from language. All attempts in original expression result in scribbling and bab- bling until some vocabulary has been acquired. This vocabulary does not interfere with individual expression. It aids it. I be- lieve it is worthwhile to mention here apropos to the above that at the last Eastern Arts Association convention in Hartford, Conn., last April one thing was stressed again and again. It was the utter futility of the old time curriculum in which the drawing of type solids and their approximate forms, and the teaching of perspec- tive were drilled into the weary minds of the pupils to the exclu- sion of everything else. It killed individuality, and certainly was not the proper material to help build for good taste and apprecia- tion.
Since the above mentioned are my main considerations, and not merely technique and exhibition material, the resume of each grade's work will necessarily be brief. From Grade I through Grade III, the children are wholly untrained. Problems are given to develop hand dexterity and also to familiarize the pupils with the drawing tools. In Grade IV and V, the mental process is keener, and problems are more complicated. Design, color, letter- ing, measurement, landscape, perspective taught like advertising, are some of the main subjects. The higher development of men-
-
85
tal power in the three upper grades makes it possible to introduce theory and the application of the same subjects previously men- tioned. Monograms and mottoes are worked out after practise in lettering, etc., stained glass window after the study of color and design, etc.
Never before has there been such a demand for things that are beautiful as well as useful. If we train our boys and girls to know them, they will demand them. To demand them is to get them. We can ask no more.
Respectfully submitted, MOLLIE MARBERBLATT,
Supervisor of Drawing.
86
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
East Pepperell, Mass. January 21, 1929.
To Mr. George B. Clarke,
Superintendent of Schools.
I submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1928.
Number of cases
46
Insufficient clothing
6
Illness
8
Investigating
L
4
Kept from school by parents
2
Moved from town
6
Truancy
20
Total, 46
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH T. SHEPARD.
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE Year Ending June, 1928
Total Memb.
Ave. Memb.
Ave. Attend. 83.76
% of Attend. 93.33
Tardi- ness
Dismis- sals 75
Clara M. Shattuck School,
Grade VIII, Mr. Burney, 25
22.9
21.67
94.58
4
2
Grade VII, Miss Wood
35
29.91
27.48
91.86
88
30
Grade VI, Miss Aldrich, 37
30,84
29.36
95.2
30
15
Grade V, Miss Flynn,
34
32.22
30.99
96.17
35
8
Grade IV, Mrs. Wright,
44
38.9
36.82
94.66
58
31
Grade III, Miss Hearn
34
29.61
27.92
94.27
39
5
Grade II, Miss Parker,
46
38.78
36.08
93.03
12
16
Grade I, Miss Pond,
47
40.67
36.91
90.75
73
14
Total,
302
263.83
247.23
93.71
339
123
161
High School,
105
89.15
87
Total Memb.
Ave. Memb.
Ave. Attend.
% of Attend.
Tardi- Dismis- sals
ness
Groton St. School,
Grades VII-VIII, Mr.
Doherty
40
35.23
32.61
92.54
40
19
Grades V-VI,
Miss Lester,
32
30.05
28.06
93.37
28
1
Grades III-IV,
Miss Dugan,
38
33.62
31.63
94.09
40
13
Grades I-II, Miss Mack, 49
44.16
41.92
93.73
32
17
Total,
159
143.06
134.22
93.82
140
50
Varnum School,
15
10.4
9.77
93.94
11
4
Grand Total,
581
506.44
474.98
93.79
651
252
.
HONOR ROLL
Not absent, tardy, nor dismissed during TWO YEARS:
HIGH SCHOOL
Ruth Glow.
C. M. SHATTUCK SCHOOL
Isabelle Callum, Leonard Follansbee, Lewis Glow, Charles Shattuck, Roscoe Shattuck. (5)
GROTON ST. SCHOOL
Everett Button, Salvatore Scuderi. (2) For the Year Ending June, 1928 Not absent, tardy, nor dismissed during the YEAR:
HIGH SCHOOL
Augustus Moody, Lillian Callum. (2)
C. M. SHATTUCK SCHOOL
Dorothy Parker, Roger Dunbar, Emma Nichols, Flora Glow.
88
Walter Jensen, John Cotton, Ida Fitzgerald, Clyde Stewart, Helen Sylvester, Rupert Blood, Alphonse D'Orozio, Fred Shattuck, Harry Shattuck. (13)
GROTON ST. SCHOOL
Esther Borgatti, Arthur Lasky, Clarence Blood, Alton Cook, Eleanor Hames. (5)
Not absent, tardy, nor dismissed during THREE TERMS:
HIGH SCHOOL
Martha Annis, Hugo Borgatti, Fred Cobb, Clyde Parker, Mildred Robbins, Anna Stuart. (6)
C. M. SHATTUCK SCHOOL
Winslow Brew, Madeline Carr, Austin Nichols, Everett Carr, Maxine Flory, George Shattuck, Gordon Twichell, Frances Ben- nett, John Doane, Everett Ham, Ruth Straitiff, Wendell Toomey, Richard Woodward, Alice Brew, Helen Davis, Angie D'Orazio, Beverly Blake, Simon Czarmiouka, Louis Sperski, John Tersyk, Stanley Tersyk, Milton Young, Frances Cotton. (23)
GROTON ST. SCHOOL
Margaret Archer, Staffie Lewandoski, Robert McGrath, Arthur Milan, Mary Boulia, Valentine Duda, Lorraine Gardner, Edward Hawley, John Sullivan, Eugene O'Leary, Rita Allen, John Anderson, Inez Borgatti, William Gardner, Edward Lewandoski, Diana Mills. (16)
VARNUM SCHOOL
Myrle Nutting. (1)
Not absent, tardy, nor dismissed during TWO TERMS:
89
HIGH SCHOOL
Joseph Duda, Arthur Glow, Ruth Greeley, Winifred Hall, Ruth Porter, Lawrence Sliney, Dorothy Winn, Aaron Young. (8)
C. M. SHATTUCK SCHOOL
Stuart Lavendar, George Mahony, Daniel Straitiff, Bernard Twichell, Donald Palmer, Stella Milroy, George Attridge, Gifford Colburn, Ruth Gardner, Rudley Duke, Edwin Fuller, Mary Hardy, Amos Mahony, Glenys Toomey, Gerry Attridge, William Conley, Florence Mclellan, Ann Straitiff, John Grainger, Char- lotte Gray, Norman Toomey, Evelyn Twichell, Ernest Bostic, Martin Davis, Arnold Esser, Francis Greiczius, Bernard Hamil- ton, Genevieve Penniman, Robert Winch. (29)
GROTON ST. SCHOOL
Henry Archambault, Frances Boulia, Anne Colbert, Gertrude Sullivan, Philip Sullivan, Catherine Colbert, Mary Duda, William Lasky, Catherine O'Leary, Hazel Piper, James Piper, Mark Sul- livan, Charles Adamovich, Margaret Colbert, Pauline Gingras. Ray Hackett, Leo Pillsbury, Lawrence Piper, Richard Rootchai- vich, Robert Starkie, John Archambault, Ruth Chase, Madeline Colbert, Harold Denault, Rita Gagnon, Helen Gardner, Josephine Murphy, Paul O'Leary, Walter Sliney, Rita Starkie, Robert Tumpney.(31)
VARNUM SCHOOL
Philip Gagnon, Willis Grainger. (2)
90 ENUMERATION OF MINORS (Ages as of October 1, 1928)
Boys
Girls Total
Number in town October 1, 1928, five years of age and under seven,
48
60
108
Number in town seven years of age and un- der fourteen,
206
157
363
Number in town fourteen years of age and under sixteen,
44
42
86
Total number in town five years of age and under sixteen,
298
259
557
5 to 7 7 to 14
14 to 16
BGB
G
B
G
Number of above in institutions,
1
Number of above in private schools,
1
4
Number of above in Vocational
Schools,
3
Number of above not attending school,
15
19
1
4
8
Number of above attending public, schools,
33
41 206
155
33
33
ENROLMENT BY GRADES
December, 1928
GRADE
I II III IV V
VI VII VIII IX
X XI X11
Toatl
High School,
33
19
19
14
85
C. M. Shattuck School,42 36
33
33
45
33
26
27
275
Groton St. School
37 17
20
13
22
13
16
15
153
Varnum School (ungraded)
*10
*Total number assigned at present to Varnum School, 14.
523
PUPILS AT VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
At Lowell Vocational School :
91
Electricity Course : Harry Lawrence, Roger Lawrence.
Machine Course: Francis Lorden.
Automobile Course : John Marks.
Carpentry Course : Austin Nichols.
EYE AND EAR TESTS-Fall of 1928
C. M. Shattuck Sch. Groton St. Sch. Varnum Sch.
Number of pupils examined 273
144
Number defective in sight,
12
9
Number defective in hearing,
0
3
0
Number of parents and guardians notified,
11
12
3
AWARDS IN HIGH SCHOOL COMMERCIAL STUDIES FOR 1927-1928
Silver Pin for Part II of 20th Century Bookkeeping: Mildred Bailey, Helen Prescott, Winifred Hall, Verna Robbins, For- rest Knight, Evelyn Thorpe, Freda Marks, Beatrice Tucker. Certificate for Part II of 20th Century Bookkeeping: Roger Chapman, Anna Lorden, Arlene McGrath.
Bronze Pin for Part I of 20th Century Bookkeeping: Charlotte Cotton, Veronica Duda, Ruth Greeley, Arthur Jensen, Ruth Porter, Vivian Stocker, Catherine Straitiff.
Certificate for Part I of 20th Century Bookkeeping: Marjorie Drum, Mary Sliney.
Royal Typewriter Pin (40 words a minute) : Mildred Robbins, Mildred Bailey.
Underwood Typewriter Pin (40 words a minute) : Mildred Rob- bins, Mildred Bailey.
Remington Typewriter Pin (40 words a minute) : Mildred Robbins.
Royal Typewriter Certificate (30 words a minute) : Mildred Bailey. Marjorie Maxwell, Freda Marks, Verna Robbins.
Underwood Typewriter Certificates (30 words a minute) : Mil- dred Bailey, Irene Blood, Marian Drumm, Anna Lorden, Arlene McGrath, Freda Marks, Marjorie Maxwell, Helen
92
Prescott, Verna Robbins, Evelyn Thorpe, Genevieve Tump- ney, Beatrice Tucker.
Remington Typewriter Certificate (25 words a minute) : Irene Blood, Forrest Knight, Helen Prescott, Verna Robbins, Eve- lyn Thorpe.
GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOOL June 28, 1928 . COLLEGE COURSE
Charles Ethan Allen
Albert F. Parker
Charles Fred Cobb
James Frederick Drown
Anita Blanche Marston
Richard Gilman Pike Catherine Mary Whalon Clelan Gleason Winn
GENERAL COURSE
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