USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1920-1924 > Part 16
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BUILDINGS.
The general condition of our school buildings will com- pare very favorably with those in other towns throughout the Commonwealth. The interior of the four room build- ing at the Center needs tinting and brightening up. The natural lighting of all the buildings with the exception of
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the Sunset Avenue School and the portable building at Mat- field is far from satisfactory and in most cases is positively injurious. A beginning should be made at once to provide electric lights at the various buildings.
The most serious defect about the buildings, however, is the toilets. The old fashioned type of sanitary that we have in or at all our schools is a positive menace to the health and morals of our pupils. These sanitaries should be replaced as rapidly as possible by modern flush closets.
FINANCES.
Owing to a change in the law governing reimburse- ment, the amount received from the State in 1922 was con- siderably in advance of the amount received in 1921. Your attention is invited to the figures given below.
STATE REIMBURSEMENT.
1922
General School Fund, Part I
$7,998.50
1921 $6,050.50 4,608.67
General School Fund, Part II
6,691.27
Reimbursement on Superintendent's and expenses
1,199.94
1,152.96
$15,889.91
$11,812.13
Excess of 1922 over 1921
$4,067.78
Appropriation for 1922
$45,100
Appropriation for 1921
42,500
Increase over 1921
$2,600
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Assuming that there was no surplus from the appro- priation in either year, the net amount raised for the years 1921 and 1922 from local taxation are as follows:
1922
1921
Appropriations
$45,100.00
$42,500.00
State reimbursement
15,889.91
11,812.13
$29,210.09
$30,687.87
It will be seen that the actual amount raised from local taxation for the support of the schools of the Town in 1922 was $1,477.78 less in 1922 than in 1921.
The attention of the reader is called to the following table showing the cost per pupil in nine towns nearest the size of West Bridgewater. These figures are taken from the Reports of the Department of Education and are, there- fore, authentic. They are given for two years-i. e. school years.
Towns
Years · 1920-21 $102.66
1921-22
Hardwick
$106.52
Ayer
45.19
61.63
Holden
66.45
72.38
Medway
63.07
66.53
WEST BRIDGEWATER
59.90
67.68
Wrentham
86.71
96.97
Nantucket
57.67
66.46
Hadley
61.40
68.21
Hopedale
72.36
82.22
Holliston
60.78
65.29
Years
It can be seen that the cost per pupil in West Bridge- water is not excessive when compared with other towns of
137
similar size nor has the increase in cost been abnormal.
The year just closed has been one of profitable en- deavor and the writer feels that with a continuance of the loyal and enthusiastic co-operation of the Committee and teachers and the same generous support of the citizens that 1923 holds out the promise of still greater achievements in the field of education.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS E. GAY, Superintendent of Schools.
West Bridgewater, Massachusetts,
January 14, 1923.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
Dear Mr. Gay :
At your request I hereby submit my second annual re- port as Principal of Howard High School. We began the school year with the usual handicap of a group of new teachers unfamiliar with this school but they have loyally entered upon their work with a great deal of enthusiasm and are doing creditable work. We are, also, fortunate in the fact that two of our best teachers remained with us.
Last June we graduated a class of twenty-six pupils, the largest in the history of the school. Of this group, four are going to college, three to normal school, one to Chandler Normal, and one to Gordon College of Theology. Although we realize the grade of work these pupils do in higher in- stitutions it is not necessarily a test of our own standing, still it is gratifying to know that they are all doing satis- factory work.
138
At the opening of school we had 132 pupils: 53 Fresh- men, 31 Sophomores, 27 Juniors, 21 Seniors. The school is about the same size as it was last year.
During the past year we have had several problems to face. The greatest of them all was the final changing of Howard High School from a private to a public school. Private schools have their own rules, regulations, and standards. A public school must meet the standards set by State. To meet these standards the first innovation was a new curriculum. This curriculum I mentioned last year as a very fine one, dividing the program into four courses : College, Technical, Commercial, and General. Each course has its special aim. The College Course, with its Latin, equips a pupil to enter any of the colleges. The Technical Course emphasizes mathematics and science and prepares our pupils for the technical schools. The Com- mercial Course prepares the students to be stenographers and bookkeepers. The General Course, as the name im- plies, is broad in scope and allows considerable freedom in the choice of elective subjects, but leads only to a diploma. These courses tie a pupil down to certain subjects that lead toward a definite aim, instead of the old method of roving around and getting nowhere.
Along with many of the high schools of the State we have been forced to raise our standards due to the fact of the more comprehensive admission requirements of the colleges and normal schools. Only a few years ago some of these schools were begging for pupils. Today the prob- lem is how to check the vast number of pupils who are ap- plying for admission. The college requires more so we must measure to their demands. To meet this situation, we must seek for more efficient work by our pupils. To be certified to college or normal school, a rank of B is required in each and every subject. The rank of B is not given, but
139
has to be earned by hard work on the part of the pupil.
It has also been found best to lengthen the school day. This has been a great help to both teachers and pupils. It has made it possible to increase our class periods from 38 to 48 minutes. Perhaps this seems small but in reality dur- ing the whole school year it amounts from 25 to 30 more hours or work or study for each period.
Physical exercises for all pupils now form a part of our program. In the smaller high school this State require- ment has been one of the hardest problems to solve. In the larger schools they have teachers for this purpose, with regular gymnasium periods. We have, however, good out- of-door space and a group of willing teachers. The student body is divided into five groups with a teacher as the leader of each group. The whole school spends fifteen minutes each day out-of-doors doing physical exercises and playing group games. It is hard to say which is the more import- ant-the' exercises or the games; but personally I am in favor of the games. They are especially good for the boy or girl who does not know how to play, and it is surprising how many such pupils there are. On rainy or cold days we stay indoors, and by using every nook and corner we still have our games as well as the more formal drill. The pupils enjoy this work very much, and it has become the pleasant feature of the school day.
There are several other innovations such as the Girls' League. For several years there has been an attempt to form a permanent social organization in the school. Each year there has been such an organization, but at the close of each year it disbanded. The Girls' League hopes to be permanent, aims to bring the girls closer together, and to develop the best there is in the social activities of a school.
A student council has been formed. Many times it is desirable to ascertain the pupils' point of view. They some-
140
times can make helpful suggestions. It is for these sug- gestions and for obtaining the pupils' point of view that the student council was organized.
The school lunch is another desirable innovation. Sandwiches are served every day, while cocoa and milk are alternated each day with hot soup. The lunches are han- dled wholly by the pupils. One of the most gratifying features is that the food sales each day are much greater than the candy sales have been. We are soon to experiment serving more hot dishes. So far the lunch is paying for it- self.
In athletics the school is easily holding its own. Last year we equipped a football team at a great expense. Sev- eral games were played and the sport started. This year we had a regular schedule and played the first high school football game ever played in West Bridgewater. The fact that there were no injuries this year was very encourag- ing and gratifying. Football from now on will be an in- tegral part of our school life. Our basketball teams have been better than the average of our opponents. This year the boys' team has been equipped with a complete new outfit, and we expect to be represented by the best team the school has had in years. Baseball is our weakest point, but this spring we hope to have a team that can compete favorably with the other schools of this vicinity. The team is in great need of new uniforms and we hope to be able to get them before the season opens. Athletics in the school are mostly participated in by boys. To offset this and to give the girls more of a chance, a field hockey out- fit was bought. The expense was rather heavy, but we have already been more than repaid by the increased interest the girls are showing, and next year we hope to play some interscholastic games. Raising money for athletics is one of our big problems. Basketball is the only sport that pays
141
for itself. To get this money it is necessary to hold dances, collect dues, sell season tickets to the games and to obtain profit from the candy sales counter. In the future the ath- letic ability is very liable to be less successful due to the fact that our graduates beginning this year are one year younger than formerly. Good coaching is the only thing that will offset this and good coaching costs money.
The school needs a few things. One of the most de- sirable would be ink wells for all of the desks. I believe that I mentioned this in my last year's report. At present if ink is needed in a certain room, the wells must be taken out of desks in other rooms and carried in. The result is more or less breakage and the ink wells get scattered around the building.
Our gymnasium should be made larger. Although we have a winning basketball team we are not allowed to join the South Shore League due to the fact of our small floor. This could be remedied by removing the platform and re- locating the dressing rooms. A dressing room is very im- portant and, should these be removed, others should be provided not too far from the gymnasium. We hope this matter will be given due consideration.
We also are in need of a baseball and football field. The one we use at present, through the generosity of the owners, is too small and humpy. With Drury Field so handy, but lying idle, it seems too bad that it should not be fixed up. At present the proposition is too big for the school to handle. The matter is a town affair and should be handled as such.
At the present time our program contains only sub- jects for the boy who is not manually and mechanically in- clined. If a boy is not interested in our academic subjects, we have nothing else to give him. He soon develops lazy habits, falls below in his subjects and drops out of school.
142
The girls are somewhat better off, for they lean more read- ily toward the Commercial course. If our system is ever changed or enlarged, courses in domestic science, manual training, or agriculture should be added to the curriculum. This would hold many of our boys and girls in school who are now dropping out and oftentimes these are just the ones who would be most helped byllan education in practical arts.
In closing I wish, in behalf of the teachers and pupils, to thank you and the school board for what you have done, and also the Trustee for improving our lighting system and their promise of slate blackboards. The future prospects of this school as a whole look very bright indeed, if good sound educational principles can be applied and consistent- ly carried out.
Very truly yours, H. D. CARLE, Principal.
West Bridgewater, Jan. 2, 1923.
143
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
Thursday Evening, June 22, 1922, at 8 o'clock.
CLASS OFFICERS.
Raymond L. Johnson, President
Esther L. Ensher, Vice-President Lillian A. Erickson, Secretary Dorothy F. Redmann, Treasurer
PROGRAM.
1. March-"Monstrat Viam"
2. Prayer Rev. C. Leavens Eldredge
3. Music-"Forest Dance" Targett
School
4. Address Dr. Henry H. Crane Centre Methodist Episcopal Church, Malden, Mass.
5. Music-"Rowing" Guglielmo
Double Quartet
6. Presentation of Class Gift Raymond L. Johnson
7. Scholarship and Honor Awards Principal H. D. Carle
8. Presentation of Diplomas
9. Class Ode
Superintendent Thomas E. Gay Written by Esther L. Ensher
10. Benediction
Rev. Lewis B. Codding
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CLASS ODE. Esther L. Ensher
(Tune: Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep) Bright high school days with pleasure rife The shortest, gladdest years of life Have now so quickly glided by Oh why doth time so quickly fly ? The seasons come, the seasons go,
The earth is green, or white with snow; But love and faith will never die
For friendship formed at Howard High. We must now leave this high school home Upon the stormy sea to roam,
And though the ocean's mighty tide Should us from dear old Howard divide, As round the oak the ivy twines The clinging tendrils of its vines, So are our hearts close bound to Howard By ties of love that urge us onward.
In after life should troubles rise To cloud the blues of sunny skies
How bright will seem thru memory's haze The happy, golden, by-gone days. Oh let us strive that ever we May let these words our watch-cry be As every day we travel forward "For God, for Country, and for Howard." AMERICA.
My country, 'tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee we sing: Land where our fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim's pride,
From ev'ry mountain side Let freedom ring.
Our fathers' God, to Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing: Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King.
145
CLASS OF 1922.
COLLEGE COURSE.
Amethyst L. Eldredge, Warren H. Anderson, Esther L. Ensher, Charles I. Ensher, Roger E. Packard.
COMMERCIAL COURSE.
Edith L. Berry, Serepta B. Chadwick, Mildred F. Ellis, Florence E. Embree, Margaret D. Hayes, Eleanor Kirby, Ethel M. Murphy, Dorothy F. Redmann, Helen C. Redmann, Emma C. Silveria, Florence Toomey, Pearl C. Young.
GENERAL COURSE
Diamond F. Alexander, Evelyn A. Allen, Edith Churchill, Lillian A. Erickson, Everett C. Hayden, Mary L. Kent, Grace A. Luddy, Elena R. Ripley, Cynthia L. Vosmus, Raymond L. Johnson.
FACULTY OF HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
H. D. Carle, Principal; Arnold Thiesfeldt, Miss Clara Williams, Miss Alice Hart, Miss Helen Clift, Miss Helen Rogers, Miss Grace Halliday, Miss Laura MacSwan; Mrs. Lois J. Snow, Supervisor of Music.
-
TRUSTEES.
Barrett B. Russell, President; * Edwin H. Lothrop, Vice-President; Orvis F. Kinney, Treasurer; Hervey Dun- ham, Secretary; Hon. Andrew J. Bailey, Miss Edith How- ard, Clinton P. Howard, Harold S. Lyon, Albert Manley, Hon. Richard Olney, John M. Richards.
146
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
Mr. Thomas E. Gay,
Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Mr. Gay :
The annual examination including every pupil of the public schools was completed during the fall term. The necessary recommendations as to treatment was given as the case required. Quite a per cent. of the pupils have been examined a second or third time and in all cases where a certificate to return to school was issued an examination of the pupil has been made.
Eleven cases of diphtheria developed in our schools. Many cases were of mild form including "carriers." On account of the mildness of the infection there was a lack of co-operation between the parents and the local authori- ties, in some cases, entirely inexcusable, that rendered the work extremely difficult. Public safety demands strict quarantine in these cases even if legal assistance is invoked.
It was found necessary to close several of the rooms of the school on account of the apparent epidemic, which action was endorsed by the State department of health.
Dailiy visits were made with the valuable assistance of the school nurse in making examinations, taking cul- tures and following up the work.
Report of the spring examination cannot be included at this time as this will be done early in February. The data regarding diagnosis and treatment advised are in the hands of the school nurse to be used to follow up work and will probably be incorporated in her report.
We wish to extend our thanks to all who have assisted us in the work.
WALTER C. WHITING,
ELLIS S. L$LACHEUR,
147
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE.
Mr. Thomas E. Gay,
Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Mr. Gay :
I herewith submit my second annual report as School Nurse of West Bridgewater.
Following the same general plan as in 1921, physical examinations were made by the School Physicians and in- dividual records kept by the nurse.
A total of 198 visits to the schools have been made as follows:
Center School
60 visits
Sunset Avenue School
34 visits
North School
20 visits
South School
23 visits
Matfield School
15 visits
Cochesett School
17 visits
Jerusalem School
9 visits
High School
11 visits
Fifth and Sixth Grades
9 visits
Owing to the epidemic of diphtheria the regular sched- ule was upset for a time.
One hundred fifty cultures were taken and five cases of diphtheria were contracted by children whose records show that they had diseased tonsils and adenoids. As a re- sult of this disease three of the children have partial par- alysis of the vocal cords; the voice assumes a peculiar thick nasal tone which will never be normal.
To date there are four.cases of scarlet fever and chick- en pox is prevalent.
During the year 65 home calls were made. At least 10 children have had adenoids and tonsils removed as a
148
direct result of these calls. The records show that since Primary School days teachers have been trying to convince the parents of one child that he needed glasses. By repeated calls this was accomplished. Many other cases show like results.
Scales have been furnished; children have been weighed and measured. Sufficient time is necessary to work out a nutrition program. Children who are 10 per cent. or more underweight should give the parent concern. Statistics prove that more children in country schools are undernourished than in the city schools, because the sani- tary and ventilating systems are better in city schools; also dental clinics are available.
The Forsythe Dental Infirmary states "That Every Child Should Begin His School Career With Clean Sound Teeth." It is very important to preserve the temporary teeth in order to insure sound and even second teeth and a natural growth of the face and jaws. Straighten and filling at this age, when necessary, can be done without pain and at small cost. At the age of six years the first permanent molar comes back of the temporary teeth. "These Six Year Molars" need immediate attention by a dentist.
Systematic cleansing with a tooth brush should begin · as so on as one tooth appears and continue four times each day after meals and BEFORE GOING TO BED. Parents do not realize this, as a result few visit a dentist until it is too late.
It is the earnest desire of the writer, that the Town of West Bridgewater take steps to organize a Dental Clinic. These have been successful in many small towns and are practically self supporting.
Simple health talks on cleanliness and on the care of the teeth have been given by the nurse. The Health
149
Crusade (with which I think you are all familiar) has ac- complished much in teaching the children GOOD HEALTH HABITS.
It is best to be cautious about sending children to school with colds. They are exposed to drafts and fre- quently get their feet wet and do not realize the danger of remaining in school. In this condition they are more sus- ceptible to disease, especially during epidemics. There is danger of infecting others too.
Hot lunches at the High School, although served un- der difficulties, are a success. It is hoped there will be a way to provide new dishes as the equipment is very inade- quate.
Over 150 children at the Center School bring lunches. Something hot served at noon time to eat with the lunches brought from home would add to both body and mental development. Some equipment is necessary to carry on this work.
Milk and crackers are served as a nourishing lunch. Since September 1,410 quarts of milk were consumed, 7,050 servings.
Thirty-one dollars was realized from a whist party con- ducted for the benefit of the School Health Fund and en- ables us to provide liquid soap for the use of pupils, one soap server for each school.
In closing my report I wish to express the hope that the Dental Clinic referred to above may become an estab- lished fact, with the belief that the children of West Bridgewater will receive untold benefit from its help.
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN M. HEWITT,
School Nurse.
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools and the School Commit- tee of West Bridgewater:
I herewith submit my report on the work in music in the schools.
The work in the centralized schools moves along more methodically, more uniformly, and more rapidly than that in the outlying schools. At the opening of the fall term much time and energy are spent in amalgamating the pupils from outside with those of the Center School. An extra half day once in two weeks is being spent in the rural schools which promises good results. The need of this was shown one day recently at the Overflow room at the High School building. The Fifth Grade is a grade from the Cen- ter School of the previous year where the supervisor vis- ited every week. The Seventh Grade is from the outlying schools with supervision once in three weeks. In a recita- tion on musical knowledge reviewed the Fifth Grade were better prepared and were almost the only ones answering questions. In some cases where a teacher may not be par- ticularly strong in teaching music the extra supervision is a great help.
Some new song books are being used at Matfield and Cochesett which add to the musical interest of the class.
The closing of the schools owing to sickness inter- rupted the work for a time.
At the beginning of the year there was a most dis- couraging unresponsiveness on the part of the pupils in the Center Primary. We dropped the regular work for a while and using the victrola taught singing games and dances. It was very gratifying to sense the difference in the class attitude. There was new life. Some time should be given to this work. In like manner lessons in music appreciation
151
in the upper grades add much to the value in broadening musical knowledge.
The chorus work at the High School so far has not been encouraging. The chorus is smaller and has been singing from a book used for two and a half years. Nat- urally the students have lost interest. A new book, I am sure, will renew the singing spirit. Music is a spontaneous expression of feeling. Boys and girls do not want to sing unless they feel like it. It is one of the tasks of the teacher to make a child feel like it, to help him cultivate the happy habit of singing. This is a difficult thing to do when the barometer is low and falling.
May I express here my sincere appreciation of the hearty co-operation given me by the teachers; and it is a pleasure to me to receive the courteous attention of the boys and girls when I come before them in my class work.
Respectfully submitted,
LOIS J. SNOW, Supervisor of Music.
West Bridgewater, Jan. 16, 1923.
Appendix.
TABLE OF STATISTICS.
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
Year ending Year ending June 1921 June 1922 8 8
Number of regular teachers required
Number of different regular teachers employed
8
9
Number of special teachers
1
1
Number of pupils enrolled
136
143
Aggregate days attendance
23,162
23,199
Per cent. of attendance
96.9
94.6
Number of tardinesses
268
156
Average number of days school was
actually in session
186
187
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
Number of schools
15
16
Number of regular teachers required
- 15
16
Number of different regular teachers employed
17
19
Number of special teachers
2
2
Number of pupils enrolled
472
504
Aggregate attendance in days
77,096
79,696
153 .
Average membership
454
486
Average attendance
433
446
Per cent. of attendance
95.3
92.
Average number of days the schools
were actually in session
178
179
TEACHERS IN SERVICE JANUARY 15, 1923
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
Teachers.
Henry D. Carle, Principal
William F. Gallagher
Charles H. Taylor
West Bridgewater
Clara H. Williams
West Bridgewater
Alice L. Hart
West Bridgewater
Elizabeth B. P. Conklin
West Bridgewater
Grace Halliday
West Bridgewater
Esther E. Hoffman
West Bridgewater
CENTER SCHOOL.
Rose L. MacDonald, Principal Grade VIII
449 West Chestnut St., Brockton
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