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 1945-1949 > Part 23
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 | Part 39 | Part 40
Federal Grant-George-Dean Funds
20.00
Smith-Hughes Funds
104.31
Total
124.31
Expended
124.31
DIRECTORY OF TEACHERS
Teacher Nils G. Lindell, B.S., Ed.M Eleanor C. Blaine, B.S.
Vincent D. Gori, A.B., M.A. Elliott L. Hawkes
Higlı
Phy. Ed., Sci., Soc. St.
High
Shop, Eng. 9, Econ. & Soc. 12 Household Arts, Phy. Ed.
Evelyn R. Hoyt, B.S.
High
Winthrop E. Jackson, A.B.
High
Social Studies
Katherine HI. Johnson
High
Commercial
W'm. Henry Moss, B.S.
I ligh
English
Lela Murphy, A.B.
High
Mathematics
Janice M. Rylander, A.B.
High
Languages
Roger G. Viens, A.B.
I ligh
Sciences
Sarah B. Yukna, B.S., M.C.S.
1 ligh
Commercial
Richard J. Farrell, B.S.
Center
Principal, Gr. 6
Geraldine Alfieri, B.S.
Center
Grade 4
Bridgewater Teachers
Catherine L. Blumberg
Center
Grade 3
Concord Training School
Veronica Hawkins, B.S.
Center
Grade 5
Evelyn M. Murphy
Center
Grade 2
Bridgewater Teachers
Gertrude M. Pillsbury
Center
Grade 1
Bridgewater Teachers
Theresa Miller
Sunset Avenue Principal, Gr. 6 & 7
Brockton Bus. Univ.
Mae L. Blanchard
Sunset Avenue Grades 3 & 4
Geneva Garvey, B.S.
Sunset Avenue
Grades 1 & 2
Mary L. Horrigan, B.S.
Sunset Avenue
Grades 4 & 5
Bridgewater Teachers
Elizabeth W. Nelson
Cochesett Principal, Gr. 1, 2
Bridgewater Teachers
Anne O'Keefe
Cochesett
Grades 3, 4, 5
Bridgewater Teachers
Mary F. Nelson, B.S.
Jerusalem Principal, Gr. 1, 2, 3
Bridgewater Teachers
Abbie C. Brown
Matfield
Principal, Gr. 1, 2, 3
Hyannis Teachers
Lois J. Snow
All
Supervisor of Music
Arthur B. Lord, Jr., A.B., Ed.M. All
Superintendent
Preparation Tufts, Harvard Bridgewater Teachers Boston College Gorham State Tea. College Framingham Teachers Colby, Boston University Chandler Secretarial Mass. State College
Brown University Boston University Clark University
Boston University
Bridgewater, Boston U.
130
Hyannis Teachers Tufts, B.U., Harvard
School
High
I ligh
Subject or Grade Principal Grade 7
Bridgewater Teachers
Bridgewater Teachers Bridgewater Teachers
131
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT
Following is the annual report of the School Committee. It is our hope that these reports will be informative and give the taxpayer something of an insight into what we, as a committee, are endeavoring to do for the education of the children of the town.
Superintendent
Our Superintendent has now been with the system for three years and the committee feels that we could not find a better man for the position. He has done a fine job in correlating the studies throughout the system which makes for a smoother run- ning program up through the grades. The Committee feels that there never has been finer cooperation among the teachers and that there is a feeling of mutual respect between the administra- tion and the staff. We will go a long way to find a man to take his place should he leave us.
Teachers
The teacher situation is a fluctuating one. The picture is forever changing; no sooner do we get straightened out in the secondary school than the elementary schools present a problem.
At the present time our difficulty is with the elementary replacements. The conditions are getting continually worse as there seem to be few teachers being trained for the lower grades. Colleges are training many teachers for junior high, high and college teaching. Why they think that the elementary schools do not need replacements is beyond our comprehension. However, at present we have the situation fairly well under control. The recent salary increases will undoubtedly help to keep it so.
Athletic Program
We seem to be holding our own in this field with towns of comparable size but there are problems. In order for players who
132
live far out from the school to participate in games out of town, they have some difficulty in getting to the school to be picked up by the bus. This is also true on the return home after the games as they have no means to get back home other than walk after they are dropped at the school. On exceptionally cold nights this is not a good practice. Your Committee is now studying this problem and we hope to find a reasonable solution. All in all, there is fine school spirit among the players and the athletic pro- gram has definitely improved morale in the student body.
School Housing
The Junior-Senior High School Housing problem is still in the air. Your Committee sent me, as a representative of the West Bridgewater Schools and Mr. Harvey Scranton, of the Building Committee, to go along with the Bridgewater representatives to visit consolidated schools in Connecticut and New York to in- vestigate their consolidated systems and see if we felt it advisable to recommend the same for our two towns. The trip was most impressive and the Committee, as a whole, felt that consolidation was the way we could best improve our offering of education to the children of the two towns without crippling the towns fin- ancially. At the present time, however, the committee also feels that it will not come to pass unless we can get a larger percentage of state aid. The committee is now going into that phase of the problem and hopes to have a report for you in the near future.
The elementary schools still present a serious problem which is growing worse as time goes on. The crowding has reached such a peak that we have overflowed into the high school building and used up nearly all the available space there. See pupil distribu- tion under the Superintendent's report.
Something surely must be done soon. Whether or not to build a consolidated elementary school is a question but seems
133
like the obvious move. If we wait until building costs go lower, we may have to hold classes under the sky or in very unsatis- factory quarters.
The children of this town are entitled to as good an education as children in the wealthier towns and we should see to it that they get it! We still feel that more State Aid is the only solution.
State Organizations
The West Bridgewater School System this year joined the New England School Development Council whose membership includes most of the progressive towns and cities of the New Eng- land States. Its purpose is to study ideas for development of Ed- ucation in this area and to exchange details of successful educa- tional practices as they have been worked out in other commun- ities. Already the benefits to this Town are apparent.
The School Committee also joined the Massachusetts As- sociation of School Committees, recently organized primarily to provide an opportunity for School Committees to discuss common problems and coordinate action on the State level.
Rules and Regulations
In previous years it has been the policy to refer to decisions of the School Committee in other years by referring to School Committee Minutes. This practice has been cumbersome and frequently inaccurate in that the Minutes have been interpreted differently from one occasion to the next. On other occasions a new Committee has reversed decisions of previous committees with the result that there has been some confusion. This year the School Committee has codified previous rulings and has estab- lished "Rules and Regulations" governing the West Bridgewater School System.
134
The School Committee appreciates the fine cooperation of the Superintendent of Schools who very effectively puts into oper- ation the policies developed by the School Committee. We also appreciate the fine cooperation of the parents, the teachers and all of the organizations that have helped to assist the school pro- gram in town.
Respectfully submitted, FOR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
A. PHILIP ERBECK, Chairman
135
ANNUAL REPORT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To The School Committee:
I herein submit the report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year 1947. As usual this report reviews data and achieve- ments of the year and also contains recommendations for the im- provement of the School System. Following this report are reports from the various schools and other school officials.
Teachers
This year West Bridgewater has lost some fine teachers, but the salary increase granted at the beginning of the year retarded the trend of the previous year.
As a matter of policy, the Committee decided to employ a High School teacher to devote full time to mathematics. As a result, Mrs. Elizabeth Carbonara, most recently appointed and not trained in this field, was released and Mrs. Lela Murphy, an expert in the subject, was elected.
Mr. Herbert A. Wessling who taught in the Shop as well as in the High School secured a fine position in Boston and in his place the Committee elected Mr. Elliott L. Hawkes, who has had several years' experience in this field.
Miss Elizabeth Hallisey, who taught grades 5, 6, and 7 at Center School, and Miss Jane B. Cass, who taught grades 2 and 3 at Sunset Avenue School and who later took Miss Roger's place in grade 3 at Center School, resigned to be married. In their places we have secured the services of Mrs. Veronica Hawkins in grade 5 at Center School and Mrs. Mae Blanchard in grades 3 and 4 at Sunset Avenue School.
Miss Katherine Rogers, who taught grade 3 at Center School resigned and we have now elected in her place Mrs. Catherine L. Blumberg.
136
Both Miss Froio, Sunset Avenue School, grades 1 and 2 and Miss Mary Condon, grades 4 and 5, resigned to teach in Brockton and we have in their places respectively, Mrs. Geneva Garvey and Mrs. Mary Horrigan.
In December Mrs. Pillsbury, who has taught in West Bridge- water since 1919 and who was teaching Grade I at Center School, resigned and we have secured in her place Mrs. Mildred Metcalf who has been substituting in West Bridgewater.
As previously stated, one of the great factors in retaining teachers here has been the willingness of this Town to pay salaries similar to those paid in other Towns. Two other factors in this connection must be mentioned, however. The first is that the shortage of teachers, particularly in the elementary grades, is far from over. Competent authorities expect the shortage to last for another three years. Secondly, approval of the "single salary schedule" whereby all teachers regardless of grade placement receive the same salary and approval of "equal pay for equal work" wherein men and women teachers are on the same schedule have raised salary levels in most Towns in Massachusetts. While West Bridgewater has approved neither of these plans, our sal- ary schedule must be realistically adjusted into the general pat- tern if we are to be able to compete for teachers' services.
With these facts in mind and after a survey of proposed sal- ary levels in neighboring towns, the School Committee has voted salary increases again this year. Again this year, a bill is filed with The Massachusetts General Court to establish a minimum salary for teachers at $2,400. Our maximum salaries next year will be $2,300. for women in the Elementary Schools and $2,450. for women in the High School.
Pupil Distribution
I cannot state too emphatically that housing of our pupils will be an increasingly complex problem unless some steps are
137
taken to relieve mal-distribution and crowding. It is generally conceded that in the Elementary School the maximum size of a class should not exceed 35 pupils and in the lower grades 25 is a desirable number. Reference to the School Membership report elsewhere in this report will show what the situation is this year. The Center School is now crowded even with the seventh grade in the High School Building, and Sunset Avenue School cannot accommodate many more. Much of the new building of houses is in the Center School district, and the prospect for accommoda- tions in the school is poor. The only desirable solution is the con- struction of a new school but there are other temporary alter- natives. One is to provide classroom space at Town Hall. Another is to transport children out of the Center district into the other schools. Another proposal is to build an addition to the Center School building. The obvious criticism of this plan is that capital outlay is made for a temporary solution. Such a plan is therefore uneconomical.
West Bridgewater Birth Rate
Gr. 1 Enrollment
Year
Number
Grade
Year
Estimate
Difference
1947
89
1
1953
108
19
1946
72
1
1952
91
19
1945
74
1
1951
93
19
1944
70
1
1950
89
19
1943
72
1
1949
91
19
1942
59
1
1948
78
19
Actual
1941
54
1
1947
70
16
1940
51
2
1946
60
11
1939
44
3
1945
74
30
1938
45
4
1944
66
21
1937
50
5
1943
67
17
138
Difference between births and First Grade enrollment aver- ages 19 pupils. The estimated figures for 1948-53 make no pro- vision for increased building in these years.
Last year the Town was asked to provide room in Town Hall for pupils and the Town refused despite the fact that the first and second grades of 60 pupils at Center School suffered in meet- ing in one room. In a sense it is fortunate that as the High School schedule of classes developed, it was possible to crowd the seventh grade into the High School and relieve the situation at Center School. This circumstance was fortunate only in that it helped Center School. The transfer interfered with the High School program and the move solved one problem only to create another. The only justification is that the move injured the High School less than the retaining of pupils at Center School would have in- jured pupils of the first and second grades. With increased growth we may be unable to accommodate the seventh grade at the High School.
Until this Town will face the fact that our children deserve good school buildings and ultimately must be decently housed, we must continue make-shift arrangements which are not con- ducive to good education.
Courses of Study
A major task the teachers have undertaken this year has been the writing of courses of study for all basic subjects in all grades. In a school system where even in normal times there is a rather constant change of teachers, the desirability of study guides for teachers is rather obvious. Only by such a device can we know that the pupils are being prepared in the various schools year-by- year in certain basic material so that when they arrive in High School they have a common core of learning. Our teachers have this year worked faithfully on committees under the general sup- ervision of Miss Eleanor Blaine to systematize study in the var-
.
139
ious schools. It will now be possible for new teachers coming into the system to carry on the work in harmony with the work of other teachers. The courses of study are not rigid but are flex- ible guide lines.
This year the State Department of Education released a cur- riculum Guide for the Primary Grades. All West Bridgewater teachers in these grades have these Guides. Your Superintendent with others in the district has been attempting to have the Bridge- water Teachers' College offer an Institute for teachers to help them in the use of the Guide, but to date no action has been taken. Such an Institute has been promised for January, however.
Text Books
Standardization of text books in a school system supple- ments the course of study in coordinating the instruction. This year again we have extended the standardization of texts, par- ticularly in the social studies field and next year it is our hope to introduce a standard set of arithmetic books in all schools- all grades.
Testing Program
Again this year we have administered tests of mental ability and of achievement. It is important that mental tests be given over a period of years because any single test may not accurately record ability. Mental tests results help us to determine which pupils to have tested by the State psychiatrist.
Achievement test results throughout the Town do not show any spectacular improvement but there have been some cases of good progress in some grades beyond normal annual gains. A- chievement above the national average is not particularly sign- ificant but achievement should be at the national level in all sub- jects and in all grades. West Bridgewater must make definite gains in some subjects, particularly arithmetic.
140
Instruction
Until we can do better the things we are already attempting, we should not increase our curriculum offering. Not until our pupils can achieve a better understanding of arithmetic and social studies should we add science, health, safety and art to our pro- gram. The best school programs make these offerings in the el- ementary school but, in my opinion, we are not yet ready for them. Particularly those teachers who are teaching two or even three grades do not have the proper time to devote to increased subject fields. A better quality of education can be provided where a teacher teaches only one class a day. Until West Bridge- water grows or, until we consolidate all of our grades into one building, such a program cannot be developed.
A major handicap to pupils and teachers in West Bridge- water has for years been the effect of the slow-learning child upon class progress. A child, who through no fault of his or his teacher, is in the fourth grade with a second grade reading ability not only is seriously handicapped himself but, because of the extra teacher's time he takes, retards the progress of the whole class. While West Bridgewater does not have an unduly large percent- age of such children, we do have enough to warrant employing a special teacher to work with such children so that no one will suffer. We have had generous help from Brockton, Bridgewater Teachers' College and Mrs. Sherman, the social worker, in the past but Brockton has had to apportion its time more equitably among neighboring towns, and we can no longer expect so much aid. We are, therefore, planning to engage the services of a teacher trained for remedial work.
High School
Last year in my report I outlined progress in the High School and pointed out the plans which were being undertaken to
141
strengthen the offering. Rather than elaborate myself on the work accomplished this year, I refer you to portions of the report of Mr. Lindell, the High School Principal.
School Health Council
In order to coordinate the complex work of providing for health through the Schools, we have this year established a Health Council, whose membership includes teachers, parents, the social worker, the nurse, the school physician and a member of the School Committee. To date the council has begun work on a general bulletin which will be distributed in the Spring for par- ents of entering pupils. The Council has also tried to assist Mrs. Hewitt, School Nurse, in the establishment of a School Dental Clinic. The Clinic is now operating partly through the financial cooperation of the West Bridgewater Lions' Club.
Maintenance
Now that some materials and labor are available, we have undertaken some of the work for care of our buildings which is essential. With so much that needs to be done to make our build- ings what they ought to be, it is a problem to decide where to begin. This year we have had simple routine work done and have purchased materials for a fence at Sunset Avenue School and chain for swings at all elementary schools. Because the power saw in the Shop was dangerous, we have spent $300 for a first- class production saw so that no one will be hurt by inadequate equipment.
We have also started re-surfacing the grounds at Center School to bury the rocky gravel which has caused many bruises and cuts.
On the expert advice of Mr. Adrian Beaulieu, we changed the heating duct work at Jerusalem School, and for the first time in several years the building is now warmer in cold weather.
142
In the coming year, however, much major work should be done. A definite program (extending over a period of years) to maintain our property is in order. In 1948 all school buildings with the exception of Cochesett should be painted outside. Another year many classrooms, particularly at Center School, should be painted. Portions of floors at Center and Sunset Ave- nue need to be re-laid and floors at Center School need to be sanded and treated.
Cost of Education
Just as the cost of living has increased, so, too, has the cost of Education. By far the largest cause of increase in school bud- gets is increases in salaries. However, the cost of everything we buy from pencils to floor wax has increased and the results is that school budgets have in some communities almost doubled. The situation in West Bridgewater is no different and the tax- payer real estate owner is asked to share these rapidly increasing costs. The result is that the tax rate has increased very rapidly and is a concern to all thinking citizens.
It is with this in mind that educators, taxpayers groups and legislative representatives suggest that in order to protect the property taxpayer that other sources of revenue be found and that the burden be more equitably distributed. There is a bill before the Legislature now to provide "State" money to those towns most severely pressed by rising costs. This is no new prin- ciple but merely the extension of the existing law. For instance, under existing law the Town of West Bridgewater received $308. for school transportation while the Town of Raynham received over $4,500.
If the present bill is passed, West Bridgewater and Raynham property taxpayers would benefit greatly and because there are no large incomes in this district no one would be really hurt by extension of the income tax if the money were raised this way.
143
We have recognized the fact that because costs were in- creasing that we must make every dollar count as never before. We have tried to assure the taxpayer fair return for the dollar spent by operating under strict business principles. Among other things we have let out to open bid all jobs involving large sums of money, as in the case of some maintenance work, fuel and bus contracts. This year we called for bids on transportation for a three-year interval and thus made it possible through a three- year contract for bus operators to invest in new equipment which was badly needed.
Cooperation
Special attention should be called to the fact that Education is a cooperative endeavor and it is gratifying to find so many people who recognize this thought. Our Parent-Teacher Organ- izations are working in the interest of the child as might be ex- pected, but they are working so cooperatively as to be worthy of special comment. Parents individually recognize the single ob- jective they and we have and the result is improvement of the learning situation.
A beautiful trophy has been presented to Howard High School by Mr. Paul H. Lundgren, of the School Committee, which will be awarded annually to the boy or girl who is determined to be outstanding in scholarship, athletics, sportsmanship and cit- izenship. We are indeed fortunate to have so many awards and scholarships to offer for recognition of merit in our High School students.
We are gratified by the interest shown by organizations which raise money for playground equipment, for the Dental Cli- nics, and for scholarships. In appreciation we list below the groups who have assisted:
1. West Bridgewater Parent-Teachers Association
2. Wm. J. and Anna Clifford Howard
144
3. Howard Lodge-Knights of Pythias
4. Kay Jewelry Company
5. The Alumni
6. West Bridgewater Lions' Club
7. Jerusalem Parent-Teachers Association
8. Matfield Parent-Teachers Association
9. The Grange
10. The American Legion
Of great importance is the professional esprit de corps of the teachers. Their cooperation with the School Committee and Superintendent, but especially their desire to work together to- ward their common goal is remarkable, and I wish to extend to them our appreciation for their patience and understanding.
As a professional educator I am constantly impressed by the fact that our citizens have chosen our School Committee so wise- ly. Their work is little appreciated but every decision is based on the best interests of the majority of school children and in this way they serve faithfully the people who elected them to office.
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR B. LORD, JR.
Superintendent of Schools
145
Commencement Exercises
CLASS OF 1947 HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL Howard Hall, June eleventh at eight o'clock
CLASS OFFICERS
President
Vice President
Secretary
Robert W. Hagglund William S. Twomey Bernice M. Pratt
Treasurer Malcolm R. Haskins, Jr. Motto-"Before us lies the timber, let us build" Class Colors-Green and White Class Flower-White Rose
PROGRAM
1. Processional-Pomp and Circumstance
L. Kenneth Manzer-Francis Hoyt
2. Invocation Reverend Edward C. McClurg
3. Response-God's Treasures Senior Boys
4 Piano Solo-Capricante Robert W. Hagglund
5. Address-You Can't Stand Still Reverend Francis L. Cooper
6. Music-1. Neapolitan Nights 2. Calm As The Night Howard High School Chorus
7. Presentation of Class Gift and Gavel Robert W. Hagglund President of Class of 1947
146
8. Acceptance for School
Richard E. Swann President of Class of 1948
9. Trumpet Solo-Honeysuckle Polka Malcolm H. Haskins, Jr.
10. Presentation of Awards
11. Piano Solo-Excerpts from 2nd Piano Concerto Elizabeth J. Hardinger
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.