USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1955 > Part 11
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1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
Total Cost of Schools-
$117,807.16
$136,509.06
$136,921.76
$154,762.98
$189,520.58
Reimbursements-
17,306.74
20,487.53
22,787.82
24,125.98
34,457.10
Net Cost to Town-
100,500.42
116,021.53
114,133.94
130,673.00
155,063.48
Valuation of Town-
11,273,720.00
12,281,040.00
13,203,960.00
13,945,610.00
14,192,350.00
Tax for Schools-
8.91
9.45
8.64
9.34
10.93
Number of Pupils Oct. 1-
530
543
591
598
674
Gross Cost per Pupil ----
222.32
251.40
231.28
258.80
281.19
Net Cost per Pupil- 189.62
213.67
192.79
218.51
230.06
A glance at the table will show the steady increase in the total cost of school operation. This is to be expected with rising costs of materials, increased enrollments and additional teachers for regular, special and kindergarten classes. In spite of this, increases in valuation and reimbursements have kept the rise in tax for schools to $2.00 since 1951. It is of in- terest, too, that Harwich receives more than 50% reimburse- ment on the salaries of special class teachers. This reim- bursement on 1955 expenditures will be received in 1956, and will affect the report for that year.
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS
The high school building has reached an age where repair and upkeep involve considerable expenditure. A number of plumbing, heating and electrical repairs were required dur- ing the year. It is hoped that interior painting will be con-
162
tinued, a little at a time. The difference between the rooms that have been done and those that have not is striking.
A number of repair items are planning for 1956, including the necessary work involved with reopening Brooks Academy.
Several typewriters were traded during the year, and two new pianos were purchased. In the coming year some emphasis on audio-visual equipment can be justified. The high school commercial department would benefit from ex- perience with an electric typewriter. And some floodlighting at the elementary school parking lot would improve public safety there, as it was improved at the high school in 1955.
PERSONNEL
A number of new people have joined our teaching staff this year. Mr. Arthur LaFrenier of South Ashburnham is teaching English at the high school. He trained at Fitchburg State Teachers College. Mr. George Colbert trained at Boston College and Bridgewater State Teachers College. He also at- tended Boston University and brings twenty-one years of teaching experience to our staff. Miss Thora Walker is a graduate of Bridgewater State Teachers College where she prepared to teach physical education and coach girls sports.
At the elementary school both Miss Jane Reynolds and Miss Eleanor Conners are graduates of Perry Kindergarten Normal School. Miss Conners teaches the two kindergarten sessions and Miss Reynolds teaches third grade. Our other third grade is taught by Miss Norma Bassett of South Chat- ham, who trained at Brandeis University.
The trainable special class is taught by Mrs. Katherine Armeson of Dennisport. Mrs. Armeson's wealth of training and experience are a great asset to our efforts in this field. Mrs. Muriel Mackay teaches the primary-level educable class and Mrs. Jane Alcock teaches the intermediate-level educable class. The work being done in these classes is heartening. It lends a degree of fulfillment to the following words of Mass- achusetts' first Commissioner of Education, Horace Mann: "I believe in the absolute right to an education of every human being who comes into the world". Harwich is to be congratu- lated on the establishment of these classes and the kinder- garten. I believe in the value of both.
CONCLUSION
I wish to express my pleasure to be living on the Cape again and my appreciation for the welcome and cooperation of the school personnel and townspeople of Harwich.
Respectfully submitted,
SYDNEY G. PIERCE, Superintendent
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Report of the Principal of the High School
I take pleasure in submitting my third annual report of the Harwich High School. ยท
Because we have some students in the high school who are very low in reading comprehension, we have arranged a course of study to help these students. As they have difficulty in reading, it became evident that they also were handicapped in pursuing any subject that required reading skill. It was consequently impossible for them to do well as long as they were unable to keep up with other students in necessary studying or reading which was too difficult for them.
These eight students were members of the eighth and ninth grades. We have arranged our English course in which many of the reading skills in which they were deficient have been retaught. Some phonics, spelling, vocabulary, compre- hension and topics which serve as a background for reading have been adapted to their needs. Skill in pronunciation, rec- ognition of words, increasing the reading speed and reading exercises are used to help these students. We hope that this English course will so improve their reading ability that their progress in other academic subjects will become im- proved.
In the meantime, the students are taking extra time in shop for the boys and in household arts for the girls. We hope that we may be able to continue to offer these students a course of study better adapted to their particular needs than would be possible without making provision for them.
The faculty of the high school have started on a long and arduous undertaking. Some months ago at a faculty meeting, the high school teachers expressed the desire to make a study of curriculum revision. We felt that we might improve the courses of study in both the college preparatory and the non- college groups. Further than this, we hope to outline in de- tail the content of each subject.
164
Since the project may take two or three years, we are starting first in the departments of English, social studies and mathematics. As the work done in high school is largely based upon the grade school preparation, committees of five teachers in each department, two from the high school and three from the grade school, are to thoroughly co-ordinate the subject matter. This will require a detailed study of what is taught in each of the twelve or even thirteen grades, counting kindergarten, so that proper growth in each subject through the grades may be determined. In such a study, too, the high school will better know exactly what the background in sub- ject matter has been so as to more efficiently advance the work. Also the grade teachers will better know what prepara- tion the high school would like to have. By having a com- mittee in each field composed of both grade and high school teachers, we believe that we can resolve many problems con- cerning subject matter which have been plaguing us for some time.
A steering committee for the high school part of the project is made up of Mr. Alcock, Mr. Colbert, Mrs. Kimball, Mr. Nelson, and the writer of this report. It is the purpose of this committee to propose topics, as the study advances, for the high school to discuss at a faculty meeting. A report will be submitted to the school committee when each phase of the work is completed.
All of the high school teachers are working on various committees. Although we are concentrating on English, the social studies and mathematics with the grade teachers, physical education, the commercial subjects, household arts, shop, science, and languages are being carefully studied.
The high school faculty is also considering the marking system and the honor roll system now used in the high school. At the last faculty meeting, three different marking systems were discussed. No decision was reached at this meeting because the teachers wanted a longer time to think over the advantages and disadvantages of each system.
A class for ballroom dancing is held under the super- vision of Miss Thora Walker during an activity. The object of the class is not only to teach the dance steps but also to teach etiquette. The class has been very popular.
Although we have a school library which is constantly in use, we are handicapped for want of proper care and super- vision. But very few students take advantage of the fact that there is seldom a teacher present in the library. We do, however, need a regular librarian to care for the many li-
165
brary services which are impossible for us to provide at pres- ent. Books get out of place on the shelves, periodicals are sometimes left on the tables, and books taken out have to be traced. Without a librarian we are not able to provide library facilities which are essential in a high school.
When I consider the co-operation of the high school faculty and the enthusiasm with which they have under- taken the curriculum study, as well as other high school problems, I feel that this report would be incomplete without a tribute to their zeal and interest in voluntarily spending many dozens of hours at faculty and committee meetings to improve our high school.
Respectfully submitted,
CHAUNCEY D. MacKAY Principal
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
It is with pleasure that I submit the annual report of the Harwich Elementary School.
Since the submission of the last annual report great changes have been noted at Harwich Elementary School. In January of 1955 the pupils moved into the fine new addition to the existing structure and all of the boys and girls formerly housed at Brooks Academy were integrated into the element- ary school with the result that your elementary school is now one of the largest on Cape Cod.
It is perhaps interesting to note that we now have two kindergarten sessions; three first, second, and third grades; two fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades; one class for trainable retarded youngsters and two classes for educable retarded youngsters.
During 1954 a law was passed by the Massachusetts Gen- eral Court providing for the establishment of classes for edu- cable, trainable, and custodial retarded children. Harwich enjoys the distinction of being the first town on the Cape to recognize and provide for the needs of these youngsters. Chil- dren from other towns attend these classes on a tuition basis. We may be also proud of the fine work which is being done in these classrooms.
166
In order to achieve a greater measure of success in the programs of retarded classes we have attempted to release the learning program from requirements and conditions of the usual graded curriculum so that the pupils' interests may be used as fuel for learning, so that there may be provision for environment, so that the materials of instruction may be varied in both difficulty and subject matter and so that skill learning may be a function of the purposeful activities of the learners rather than the starting point and core of the pro- gram.
As in years past we are continuing the school safety patrol program. In learning to carry out the lawful requests of the safety patrol it is felt that youngsters learn early some of their community responsibilities.
The school savings program sponsored by the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank is again moving in high gear. As was indicated in the last report the high incidence of pupil participation is indicative of the success of the program.
It is continually hoped that the participation will increase since the value of the program is of such paramount import- ance.
With the availability of our fine new auditorium we have had many excellent programs presented from our stage, per- haps the most elaborate of which was the Minstrel Show of last spring. As during last year, programs commemorating the major holidays have been planned with pupils of the various grades taking part.
Under the direction of Mrs. Viola Regan, our lunch room staff is serving an average of 350 lunches daily. Your school lunch personnel are constantly striving to make the meals more appetizing and more appealing. I state again that the success of our school lunch program, as the success of any school lunch program, depends wholly on student participa- tion. Without it there could be no such fine program.
Harwich is fortunate in having such fine personnel in its school health department. Excellent jobs are being done on the elementary school level by Dr. Norris Orchard in process- ing the complete physical examinations of our youngsters and by Dr. Malcolm Dana, the school dentist, both of whom are ably assisted by Miss Adelyn Peabody, our excellent school nurse.
Our elementary school supervisor, Dr. Harriet Chace, is constantly working toward the improvement of instruction in the elementary school. We are all appreciative of the very fine work which she is doing.
167
The townspeople of Harwich are, I believe, very fortunate in having an excellent staff of teachers in their elementary school. Each one of your teachers has the best interests of the individual child at heart and endeavors at all times to see that these best interests are well served.
With the opening of the new building addition it was found necessary to increase the custodial staff to two and one half men. The usual fine job is being done by the full time custodians, Mr. Charles Smith and Mr. Lovell Ernst, Jr. Mr. Edward Whitney, who divides his time between the ele- mentary and high schools, is an able assistant.
It is always reassuring to the parents, I am sure, to feel that their youngsters are well taken care of on their trips to and from school. We are most fortunate in the town of Har- wich to have such a conscientious group of bus drivers to whom we entrust the safety of our children twice each day.
I wish to express my appreciation to the teachers, par- ents, and pupils for their cooperative interest in the school.
I am grateful for the assistance and cooperation given me by the Superintendent of Schools and the School Com- mittee.
Respectfully submitted, DONALD C. NESMITH, Principal of the Elementary School
REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I am pleased to submit my second annual report as Guid- ance Director for the Harwich High School.
Thirty-one students were graduated in the class of 1955. Eleven are now locally employed. Five are in the military service, two are married, and thirteen are continuing their education and training.
During the past year the testing program was re-evalu- ated at the high school level. Some of the recent tests of lower validity have been eliminated in favor of older proven forms. It is felt that more use can be made of fewer tests with savings in time and money.
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A guidance record designed to meet the needs of our pro- gram has been developed in cooperation with the faculty. Information accumulated on each student will include: (1) his scholastic record, (2) the standardized test record, (3) personality and character development evaluations, (4) in- terests, activities, work experiences, and plans record, (5) disciplinary record, and (6) health record.
Heretofore guidance records have been confidential in nature and directly available only to the faculty. The new record will be open for inspection to each student, his parents and his teachers. It will be set up on a trial basis in the eighth grade for the remainder of this year before requesting print- ing funds.
The new guidance record was necessary in the approach to a number of problems which demand the attention of par- ents and teachers. Scholastic achievement, course selections, thrift in career planning, and personality adjustment involve problems that are based largely on attitudes. And attitudes are slow to change. It is hoped that the new record, open to each student, will directly influence attitudes and provide a basis for the cooperative efforts of parents and teachers to exert a consistent and continuing influence.
Although the guidance program is faced with problems, it has been a rewarding experience in the past year to learn of the confidence which admission officers and employers have in our graduates and of the enthusiasm with which graduates face new challenges.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES W. ALCOCK, Guidance Director
REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SUPERVISOR
It is a pleasure to submit my second annual report as elementary supervisor in the schools of Union #16. In my last year's report I considered it important to explain how I plan- ned to fit my work into the educational system. I listed sev- eral ways in which I aimed to help. In this second report I hope to show how I am carrying on these aims.
The testing program has been carried out as scheduled. Group intelligence testing was done at first, third, and sixth grade levels in April and again in September. The results of the mental testing showed a wide range throughout the school.
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Achievement tests were given with the following ranges of grade levels:
grade one
from 1.1 to 2.4
grade two
from 1.4 to 4.4
grade three
from 1.8 to 5.9
grade four
from 2.8 to 6.9
grade five
from 3.4 to 8.4
grade six
from 3.9 to 8.9
Because of the wide range in mental ability and achieve- ment as indicated by these tests and by daily work of students, it is obvious that the school has to provide for a program that takes care of individual differences. Harwich has a right to be proud of the way the school system is caring for the slow learning child. We have set up three classrooms and selected three excellent teachers to help these children. Our class for trainables under the fine guidance of Mrs. Armeson compares favorably with any in the state or country. The other classes for educable students, an ungraded primary taught by Mrs. Mackay and an ungraded elementary taught by Mrs. Alcock, are working to give children special help aim- ing to return them to regular classes if their work gets up to grade. By limiting these classes to eighteen students, the teacher is able to give that individual attention not possible in a larger group. Already these students have made much gain.
Careful grouping in the regular classrooms also is pro- viding for individual progress and serving to enrich the program for the average and superior learner. It is desir- able to utilize the alertness and eagerness of a child for the development of hobbies and interests which will serve to enrich his life in later as well as in present years. Ob- jective criticism and a sense of responsibility can be developed because of the natural desire to learn and the eager interest of the elementary child. Our excellent nature study, physi- cal education, art, and music programs as well as creative class room activities are providing for much enrichment.
The kindergarten was started this fall and provides a much needed program of orientation and training in skills to help the small child adjust to school life and curriculum. It is hoped that more parents will bring their children to kindergarten next year.
The teachers in Harwich Elementary are constantly try- ing to improve their work to better meet the needs of indi- vidual children. They have welcomed me into their rooms and been appreciative of any help I could give. All of the
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teachers in Union #16 are working on ways to improve the phonics teaching in the schools. Recently we heard Dr. Anna Cordts of Rutgers University, a leading educator in the phon- ics field, discuss methods and materials. On January 11th the state supervisor will be down to discuss the state pro- gram in phonics training. We are also initiating a program of study into the English, Mathematics, and Social Studies Curriculum with an aim toward improving the vertical grad- ing of materials for a more efficient level of presentation. In this venture we will cooperate with committees being formed at high school levels. Another in-service training program will be a course under State University Extension on social studies skills.
Everyone in the field of education must constantly seek self-improvement. Thus, in adition to reading, studying, and writing on educational matters, I have attended three con- ferences to gather materials for teachers and keep abreast of educational affairs in the nation and world. One of these conferences, held at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, was an attempt by industry and education to find mutual aims in the field of science. The second, held by the National Council for the Social Studies, presented materials, concepts, and methods for history, geography, and related subjects. The third meeting was held by the health de- partments of the state and the superintendents and aimed to improve the health services of the schools.
In closing, I should like to thank the school committee for their confidence in reappointing me to my position and to express appreciation for the cooperation, friendliness, and courtesy of the superintendent, school principal, and teachers in Harwich. It has been a most pleasant year.
Respectfully submitted,
HARRIETT CHACE, Elementary School Supervisor
REPORT OF THE ART SUPERVISOR
As educators, we are finally emerging from the quite senseless feeling that art teaching must somehow be vindi- cated for being placed on the school curriculum. Art needs no vindication, unless we live in a mechanical world where everything is evaluated in terms of cash value. Art is the one force which exists purely for the pleasure it brings and be- cause it is an instrument for developing finer individuals from
-
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the basic raw materials. Too, it has a vital role as a means for emotional outlet, whether that art form be painting, music or dancing. And, from a factual viewpoint it is one of the few courses which contains the seeds of its own propagation. Each student who enjoys his class in design will find him- self enjoying the lessons all over again when he sees a grace- ful building, an appealing landscape or a home that has been laid out and furnished in what we call "good taste" which is only another phrase for "valid design".
Along with my teaching duties here I also have the privi- lege of serving on the executive board of the Massachusetts Arts Education Association. A "Contemporary Technique Pro- gram Analysis" is under way at present. Demonstrations of various media and reproduction methods take place at meetings that are held four times during the school year. Participation is the next step as teachers pass on information gained to their students. Evaluation is made from question- aires sent to teachers and the published results are made available to all schools. Harwich, along with every other city and town in Massachusetts benefits from these meet- ings.
In January 1955, Mr. Vernon Smith joined me in guiding the creative urge of Union #16 youngsters. Although Mr. Smith did not have the professional training of a public school teacher of art it was felt that his tremendous back- ground of years in the field would be of great value to the students. This proved to be a fact when the work by his students was so well received at the Spring showing of school art at the Cape Cod Art Association Galleries in Hyannis.
The work produced in Harwich is of a higher quality than found in other towns in the union. Time and space are two important factors in the production of art work. Time is available everywhere but Harwich has provided the space. The Art Room in the elementary school building is one of the most important rooms we have. Having materials close at hand and having working areas available seem to enable the student to produce work of higher quality. The room must be preserved if this excellence in accomplishments is to continue.
1954 and 1955 graduates are now attending Vesper George School of Art and The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. One of the present Seniors plans to attend the Massa- chusetts School of Art, and a Junior is working on an art school scholarship. That is a wonderful record for any high
172
school. Those in school in Boston are doing wonderful work and those planning to continue their art training after gradu- ation should do just as well.
Any request the public asks is granted if possible. I regret that some of the requests for exhibits or posters have to be refused. If we said yes to every request for posters it would be impossible to schedule regular class activities.
Any success that the art department may have is in part due to the fine cooperation we receive from other faculty members.
Respectfully submitted, C. LEO FERRIS,
Art Supervisor
REPORT OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SUPERVISOR OF UNION #16
I hereby submit my report as Supervisor of Instrumental Music in the High Schools of Union #16.
I am very happy to report that last year was a very ac- tive one musically in the three high schools. The Chatham orchestra performed at the Memorial Auditorium last Feb- ruary in a joint concert with Mr. Gricius and pupils of the elementary schools. The Harwich Orchestra and Girls Glee Club gave a joint concert last April, and in Orleans, the orchestra participated in two concerts at the close of the school year. The first was a concert of Junior and Senior Orchestras with the Junior and Senior Choruses of Mr. Tile- ston, and the second was a formal concert and dance given with the Orleans Girls Glee Club with Mr. Reynolds. As in past years, our orchestras also participated in the various graduation programs in the three high schols. I was par- ticularly pleased at the number of parents who took the time to speak to me and other supervisors at the close of each concert concerning the musical activities and problems of of their children. Such parental interest is a great help to the supervisor.
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