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 1925-1929 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
Society's greatest hope of attaining these objectives is by strengthening its public schools. Any subject or activity that does not contribute definitely to at least one of the aims listed above has no place in our school program.
The democratic theory of equal opportunity carries with it the assurance that every child shall be offered the type of education adapted to his needs.
CO-OPERATION OF PARENT AND TEACHER
In December a meeting of parents and teachers was held under the direction of the Parent-Teachers' Associa- tion. At this meeting the teachers expressed themselves freely in regard to what was being done in the schools and
166
what was needed to make our schools more effective. It was generally agreed that this meeting was of great help to all. I wish it were possible to have a meeting at which the parents would do the talking and tell us what they think and what they would criticise. If parents and teachers are unacquainted with each other misunderstanding will be sure to rise and may cause harm to our schools. We are all working for one purpose, namely to bring the greatest good to the boys and girls of this community. The only way to get the best results is by the utmost co-operation. In con- nection with this I should like to call the attention of the parents to the following suggestions that were sent to parents by the superintendent of schools in Philadelphia. They apply equally well to this town.
1. Insist upon punctuality and regularity at school, and give no excuses except for the most urgent reasons.
2. Read carefully all notices and reports from school, and through the principal and teachers, keep in touch with the work of your children.
3. Encourage your children to strengthen their weak points as revealed by their report cards.
4. Insist that the older children, who have assign- ments of homework, set aside a definite period for study.
5. Lend your co-operation in the care of school books and other school property entrusted to your children.
6. Withhold judgment regarding reports of happenings at school until you have heard both sides; and then never criticise the teacher in the presence of the children.
7. Insist upon obedience at home and respect for par- ents, elders, teachers and all officers of the law.
8. Know the character of the companions of your chil- dren and ascertain the nature of the entertainments which your children attend before permitting them to attend.
9. See to it that the progress of your children in school is not hindered by the fatigue resulting from insufficient rest or late evening parties.
10. Arrange regular home duties or "chores" for your
167
children so that they may acquire habits of work, ideas of service to others, and a sense of responsibility.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In the past few years we have accomplished some defi- nite things which I wish to call to the attention of the citizens.
1. Closed three of our one-room schools.
2. Enlarged the Sunset Avenue School.
3. Reduced the number of pupils per grade in several schools.
4. Instituted a definite course in drawing with a teacher visiting each class room.
5. Instituted a dental clinic.
6. Extended our health work under the direction of the school physicians and nurse.
7. Measured the progress of the pupils by means of standard tests.
8. Installed electric lights in three buildings.
9. By the purchase of a considerable amount of sup- plies have put the Physics and Chemistry departments of the High School in a workable condition.
10. Replaced all the typewriters at the High School, so that each pupil is working with a good machine.
11. Have revised the course of study in arithmetic and replaced the old books with the very latest and most up-to- date books.
12. Have provided a large number of supplementary readers for all grades.
13. Have departmentalized the work in the upper grades at the Centre and Sunset Avenue schools.
14. By means of trainers from the Bridgewater Nor- mal School we have done some effective work in physical training.
15. Under the direction of the Howard Trustees many repairs have been made at the High School.
168
16. Have reduced the amount of transportation.
17. Added to the library at High School and prepared a place for the books so that they are easily accessible.
In spite of many changes of teachers we have been able to carry on in a manner that has been satisfactory. Our teachers have been efficient and faithful and excellent work has been done by them.
Many of the results have been brought about with a decrease in appropriation of nearly $5,000. This was made possible largely by the addition to Sunset Avenue School and the closing of the one-room buildings. This reduced the cost of transportation and the amount paid for teach- ers.
NEEDS
1. Installation of electric lights in the Centre and Matfield schools.
2. A provision for manual training and domestic science in the High School.
3. A proper playground for the pupils at the Centre School. At the present time there is no place for all the pupils to play. If the larger boys wish to play ball, there is danger of the little boys being hurt.
4. Additions to our library at the High School.
In closing may I express my appreciation of the help rendered by all those who have co-operated with me.
Respectfully submitted,
W. J. B. MacDOUGALL.
169
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
In submitting my fourth annual report as Principal of the Howard High School, I wish to bring to your atten- tion the improvements which have been made by the Trustees of the Howard Funds. In Room I the old furnish- ings were taken out and the floor was covered with battle- chased just recently. I am pleased to say that due to the efforts of the Trustees the building is improving with age.
The change in faculty membership this year was par- ticularly large. Miss Brown, who left to teach in Lexing- ton, was replaced by Miss Margaret Hayes. Miss Miriam Nichols accepted the position held by Miss Carr who is now in Whitman. Miss Leavitt transferred to Needham and her place was taken by Miss Ruth Owen. Miss Annis resigned ship linoleum. This room was outfitted with 45 movable desks and chairs and it is thus possible to put them into any desired arrangement and to take them to other rooms without any inconvenience. Some of the old furniture was used to repair that in other rooms so that when school opened in September every desk and chair in the building was in usable condition. In Room IX there was an old plat- form reminiscent of the days when teachers were placed on pedestals before their classes. This stumbling block was removed and the extra space acquired permitted another row of desks. Slate blackboards were substituted for the paper ones. This makes an excellent room for the commer- cial work. The lunch room was given a coat of paint and the ceiling is to be whitened at a later date. No longer will pupils ask to borrow ink wells as thirteen dozen were pur- and the English is now taught by Miss Evelyn McNally. You will note that three of our teachers left to accept posi- tions in other towns. I do not believe it is possible nor perhaps advisable to keep teachers indefinitely in a small system but a larger wage scale as suggested at a recent
170
Parent-Teachers' Association might lessen the teacher change.
In this practical age it is surprising that a school of this size has no manual or household arts. In my previous reports I have particularly urged the later. "In the educa- tion of every high-school girl, the household arts should have a prominent place because of their importance to the girl herself and to others whose welfare will be directly in her keeping. The attention now devoted to this phase of education is inadequate, and especially so for girls prepar- ing for occupations not related to the household arts and for girls planning for higher institutions. The majority of girls who enter wage-earning occupations directly from high school remain in them for only a few years, after which home making becomes their lifelong occupation. For them the high-school period offers the only assured oppor- tunity to prepare for that lifelong occupation, and it is during that period that they are most likely to form their ideals of life's duties and responsibilities."*
*Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education.
The enrollment of January 1, 1927 is as follows :
Boys
Girls
Total
Post Graduates
0
2
2
Seniors
10
11
21
Juniors
11
12
23
Sophomores
18
25
43
Freshmen
23
17
40
-
-
Total
62
67
129
The school enrollment is smaller this year because the last graduating class was larger than usual and the enter- ing class smaller than average. Double promotion in the grades caused the sophomore class to be the largest.
Bennett in his "School Efficiency" writes: "The most refined children cannot attain their mental development in the midst of littered and mud-tracked floors and walls
171
disfigured with scrawls and spitballs without losing some of their dislike for coarseness and ugliness. Nor can the chil- dren from the crudest homes learn in the midst of scrupu- lously kept surroundings and tastefully tinted walls adorned with masterpieces of art without imbibing some- thing of an enduring love and ambition for such environ- ment." Believing to a certain extent in the above I have shown to the graduating classes the need of pictures for classrooms and have suggested a definite scheme of decora- tion so that gifts may be made in accordance with some predetermined plan. Prints of "The Round Table of King Arthur" and of "Galahad, the Deliverer" of Abbey's Holy Grail were given by two previous classes. With these as a beginning it was decided to carry out the Holy Grail theme in Room I. The Class of 1926 gave "The Departure" and "The Castle of the Maidens"; the Class of 1927, "The Key to the Castle"; the Class of 1928 presented "The Oath of Knighthood." These pictures well express the thought of the painter and are noted works of art. Although the set is not completed, wall space for any more is lacking in Room I. The Class of 1925 gave Ferris' "Washington's Inauguration" which I hope will be a nucleus for an Amer- ican History room.
The school paper, The Climber, is advised by Miss Mc- Nally and the first issue appeared in December. The liter- ary contributions were particularly good and financially it was a success. The Climber is a member of the Southeast- ern Massachusetts League of School Publications. Each member of the staff may attend two meetings of that or- ganization. About 200 people from different schools go to these meetings which are held in the High Schools of the League. This gives the staffs of various papers a chance to meet one another, to compare notes, and to become better acquainted with other schools.
The athletic program of the school is similar to that of last year. The idea of a midget basketball team which Mr. Frellick introduced last year was successful and is being
172
carried on this season. This permits the boys of 100 pounds and under to play the game as an organized team and to meet teams of similar weight. The purchase of additional equipment permits a large number to participate. Mr. Frel- lick coaches the boys' sports while Miss Hayes is in charge of the girls'. Next year it would be advisable for the girls to continue field hockey which was dropped two years ago. Because greater interest is being shown by other schools in this sport a schedule of games could easily be arranged. Interclass contests in football and basketball were held earlier in the year. The new tennis court built by the Trustees will be ready for use in the spring. This court is for the High School alone and is not restricted to the girls as was formerly the case.
The set of encyclopedias purchased last year has been a most useful investment. These volumes and some others are located on shelves at the back of Room V where most of the study pupils are seated. A large table and some chairs comprise the rest of the library equipment. A small amount of money should be put aside annually to purchase reference books. "A good library is an essential feature of every well equipped high school. An acquaintance with the important books in the various fields and at least a fair skill in finding the facts and material stored in books is an important part of an education. The newer methods of teaching, such as the project and directed learning, make the high school library a vital part of the school work. Under the best conditions the library is a laboratory or workshop for all the departments of the high school. The work in English, in history and the other social studies and in science, if it is to be most efficient, must make large use of reference books. The class work in foreign languages, the fine arts, household arts, manual training and the com- mercial branches can be greatly enriched by a good school library."*
*State Bulletin-List of Books for High School Libraries.
I73
The school welcomes at all times parents and friends who wish to visit.
In closing I thank you, the teachers and the Trustees for co-operating with me.
Respectfully submitted,
EARL H. MacLEOD, Principal.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL Class of 1926 HOWARD HALL June twenty-fourth at eight-fifteen o'clock
"We Finish But to Begin"
CLASS OFFICERS
President, L. Merrill Caswell Vice-President, G. Wendell Hennessey Secretary, Ruth I. Smith Treasurer, Doris Broman
Class Colors-Old Rose and Silver
Class Flower-Sweet Pea
I74
PROGRAM
1. March-National Emblem E. E. Bagley High School Orchestra
2. Prayer Rev. St. Paul Weaver
3. Music, "See the Harvest Moon is Shining" W. Rhys-Herbert
High School Chorus
4. Address Frank P. Speare
5. Presentation of Class Gift President of the Class of 1926
L. Merrill Caswell
6. Acceptance for School Forrest Chadwick
President of Junior Class
7. Scholarship and Honor Awards Mary Janes Scholarship
Howard Temple, No. 97, P. S. Scholarship Washington and Jefferson Medal
Principal E. H. Macleod
8. Music, "Rest Thee On the Mossy Pillow" High School Glee Club
9. Presentation of Diplomas
Superintendent W. J. B. MacDougall
10. Class Ode Written by Clarissa L. Richards Senior Class
11. Benediction Rev. St. Paul Weaver
CLASS ODE
Words by Clarissa L. Richards
Tune "Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve"
Oh, Howard High, I'd give the world
My high school days to live again
The hour has come when we must part
So we have come to say farewell, No more upon life's hard highway May we thy pleasant influence know,
175
But as the months and years roll by May we thy fruits of labor show.
Chorus: Oh, Howard High, dear Howard High, The days may come, the days may go, But where'er we wander, high or low We'll ne'er forget you were our guide.
Oh, Howard High, farewell to you, To all our joys and sorrows here To all our teachers fond and true And to our classmates full of cheer And as we journey on life's ways Thy memory will we hold most dear To make us gain success and praise And banish every earthly fear.
GRADUATES
College Course
Gladys Louise Alger
Clarissa Louise Richards
Technical Course
Fred Brown Bisbee
Frank Goddard Chadwick, Jr.
Rebecca Clark
Mabel Doris Cunningham George Wendell Hennessey Donald Edgar MacLean Priscilla Grover Wood
Commercial Course
Marjorie Phyllis Alden Annie Ruth Anderson Angelina Perry Braga
Eleanor Mary Crowley Hildreth Louise King Ruth Inman Smith
General Course
Doris Broman Lawrence Merrill Caswell Clifford Stanley Davis Sara Elizabeth Eaton Alice Margaret Guinea
Eleanor Alfrida Halgren
Morris Harold Hertzberg Edna Alice Howard Gertrude Louise Howard
Doris Redfield
Harold Lee Stevens
Frances Wardwell
176
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent of Schools,
West Bridgewater, Mass.
Dear Sir:
In submitting my report as Music Supervisor I do not feel there is much to add to what has been said in the past. The interest in the work as expressed by the pupils has been very satisfactory and the co-operation of the teachers most gratifying: both of which are of vital importance ot the success of the music in our schools.
We have had several changes in the teaching force in the grades but fortunately these changes have not been detrimental to the work. The supervisor is much pleased with the successful way these new teachers are carrying on the course.
The High School chorus is larger this year than it has been for some time. There is real joy in the music period and an increasingly ready response on the part of each one.
We have one very serious drawback, however, the lack of a pianist to accompany the singing. The supervisor is obliged to do this, consequently she does not have the oppor- tunity for proper conducting.
I am sorry some means for continuing the glee club were not found. The club was very promising last year and the majority of its members were interested to con- tinue at the opening of school in September.
At the present time the Centre School is working on a cantata to be given in the spring.
With the closing of the East and South schools the supervisor has been able to put in extra time at the Sunset Avenue and Matfield schools.
Respectfully yours,
LOIS J. SNOW,
Music Supervisor.
177
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
The school physicians have made their usual exam- inations of the pupils in the schools during the year, besides a number of examinations at their offices. During the epidemic of the grippe and chicken pox it was necessary to issue many certificates to admit pupils to return to school, always with the idea of keeping them out of school as short a time as possible.
Sanitary conditions in some of the schools will have to be changed. Earth toilets, properly ventilated and cared for are much safer than defective toilets of the modern type. The Dental Clinic under the management of Dr. Shade and Mrs. Hewett, the school nurse, is doing admir- able work and we sincerely hope that more pupils, especially the younger ones, will take advantage of this clinic.
The physical condition of the pupils, as well as their mental standard can be greatly improved if proper atten- tion be given to adenoids and diseased tonsils as previously recommended. Co-operation of the parents in these cases is necessary to make remedial measures effective. Any other details concerning the work will be found embodied in the report of the school nurse.
E. S. LE LACHEUR, M. D., WALTER C. WHITING, M. D.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
To the Superintendent of Schools and School Committee of West Bridgewater :
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my report as Supervisor of Art in the schools of West Bridgewater.
There never has been a time when the study of Art was so essential to the American people as it is today. It is an
178
economic as well as an aesthetic necessity. No school sys- tem which does not give Art its proper place in the training of the future citizens is complete. The fundamental prin- ciples which it teaches are essentials to industry in its many phases; to manufacturing and merchandising, to the pro- ducer and to the consumer, to the home builder and to the home maker. The buyer creates the demand, the demand stimulates the producer, and the producer seeks designs. Thus is established an endless chain, the character of which is based upon a trained taste or choice. A trained taste is the right of every educated person.
The old idea that Art could not be taught has passed, and it is now recognized that just as by study one may be- come grammatical in English, so may one become gram- matical in Art. One may become an intelligent appreciator and encourage the production of fine things even though he himself may not become a creator. The intelligence and interest of the student will be greatly stimulated if he can see a connection between his school work and his life prob- lems.
The general aim of Art teaching in the upper grades of the schools is the cultivation of taste. Cultivated taste is developed through the study of the fundamental principles which furnish a basis of judgment both in design and color. These principles are studied separately as pure design until they are understood and appreciated, and later applied to problems such as confront the student in daily life. These principles are referred to by the manufacturer, the business man, the salesman, the dressmaker, the home maker and the professional man.
Color is a very important factor in Art and in daily life. In costume, house furnishings, and commercial commodities, if the color is good, one is inclined to overlook commonplace proportions, bad drawings, clumsy technique, and even cheap materials. Boys are more inclined to color-blindness
179
than girls, due probably to the sombreness of their clothing and their lack of contact with color.
Beautiful colors and color combinations in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdom, in costume, in home fur- nishings and decorations, in landscape gardenings, in such commercial commodities as dyes and paints, in posters and in advertising are in general is brought to the attention of the students.
The High School classes carry on and intensify the work of the elementary and intermediate schools.
Parents and friends of the children are cordially in- vited to visit the schools and view the work which is on ex- hibition throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARITA HELGREN.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE 1926
West Bridgewater, Mass., Dec. 31, 1926.
To School Committee and Sup. of Schools, Mr. W. J. B. MacDougal.
Assisted School Physician in making annual examina- tions, including High School, a total of 584 physical examin- ations were made, 93 notices were sent to parents of chil- dren having defective tonsils and adenoids. Many cases were recommended to be examined by their family physician or elsewhere as they were in need of special treatment at once. Five active thyroid gland cases were found. Home visits were made and children now receive special treat- ment.
Tested vision and hearing in schools; 31 children hav- ing defective vision. All but two of these cases have been treated satisfactorily. There were 56 cases of measles, 20
180
cases of whooping cough, 62 cases of chicken pox. Other diseases found scabies, poison ivy, infected sores, pedicu- losis, impetigo, and minor bruises and cuts.
Took 3 undernourished children to Plymouth County Hospital for physical examinations. All needed special care but none were tubercular; there is need of more time to carry on this important work.
Numerous notices were sent for children having de- fective teeth. I want to emphasize the fact that children receive their first permanent teeth at the age of six years, therefore, every first, second and third grade child should go to the dentist twice a year. As we now have a dental clinic established, operating one day a week throughout the year, every parent should take advantage and secure this service at cost. The aim of the clinic is to clean the teeth, preventing acid decay, to do fissure fillings of silver and make necessary extractions. This is a tremendous task, but if all take an interest and with this vigilance on the part of the workers we can make West Bridgewater 100% perfect in this respect. Root canal work is expensive and unsatis- factory ; Enamel work, too, is expensive and requires much time, for these reasons and also because it takes work away from the regular dentist and is not a fair proposition, we do not do this work. The clinic, so far as can be, is self-sup- porting. The community Health Committee makes the clinic possible. Dr. William Slade conducted our clinic and through his untiring efforts from May to December, 1926, 156 children have been treated.
Amount of work done
$427.25
Amount of cash received 270.00
Balance unpaid $157.25
We should take in about $100.00 more as some of these are welfare cases.
Not until we have arrived at middle life and some dis-
181
eases has found its way into our bodies do we realize what might have been prevented by yearly physical examinations. If someone would invent a way to make the parent under- stand what "Positive Health" means, the work of the physicians and nurses would be simplified. We are all in- clined to interview someone who we know will agree with us, we disregard those who will tell us the truth and try in a measure to correct defects, socially or otherwise.
Many colleges are turning down students who are not physically fit. HOW TO LIVE so as to enjoy the benefits derived from an education should be taught long before the youth reaches college age. The farmer who prizes his stock sees that they are fed balanced rations, given plenty of time for exercise, etc. Neither does he wait until they attain full growth before he begins. Why don't we begin just as early with the children, have all visible defects removed, provide proper feeding, proper rest, etc .? If a child has enlarged tonsils and through misfortune they become dis- eased, it is better to part with the tonsils than the child. No matter how young the child, if this operation is properly done, tonsils never grow again. I have actually seen patients in West Bridgewater who have heart trouble and tuberculo- sis due to diseased tonsils that apparently disappeared but which should have been removed in childhood.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.