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 7
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Helen C. Curtis
Center
Grade 5
Bridgewater Teachers
Anne Newton
Center Grades 3 and 4
Jean Nicoll, B. S.
Center
Grade 2
Gertrude A. Pillsbury
Center
Grade 1
Theresa I. Miller
Sunset Avenue Principal, Grades 6 and 7
Bridgewater Teachers
Katharine A. Rogers
Sunset Avenue Grades 4 and 5
Bridgewater Teachers
Janc B. Cass, B. S.
Sunset Avenue Grades 2 and 3
Elsic Minardi, B. S.
Sunset Avenue Grades 1 and 2
Edna Merithew Myrtle A. Ryan
Cochesett Principal, Grades 3, 4, and 5
Cochesett Grades 1 and 2
Jerusalem Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
Bridgewater Teachers
Mary E. Nelson, B. S. Abbic C. Brown
Matfield
Grades 1, 2, and 3
Hyannis Teachers
Lois J. Snow Arthur B. Lord, Jr., A. B., Ed. M.
All
Supervisor of Music
All Superintendent
Preparation Tufts, Harvard Boston College Framingham Teachers Kent State University Syracuse University Massachusetts State College
Salem Teachers Boston University
Salem Teachers Bridgewater Teachers
Bridgewater Teachers
154
Keene Normal Bridgewater Teachers Hyannis Teachers
Bridgewater Teachers Hyannis Teachers Gorham Normal Eastern State Normal
Hyannis Teachers Tufts, B. U., Harvard
High
155
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
1945 Expenditures 4337.27
1946 Expenditures 4508.50
1. Administration
2. Instruction
Salaries
41554.65
44823.00
Books & Supplies
2839.65
3000.00
3. Operation
Janitors
3072.68
3100.00
Fuel
2645.42
1000.00
Miscellaneous
1192.43
1200.00
4. High School Operation
1636.82
1700.00
5. Maintenance
786.26
1700.00
6. Auxiliary Agencies
Library
267.56
300.00
Health
1522.03
1560.00
Tuition
526.93
500.00
Transportation
3201.30
3350.00
Misc. Expense
146.73
150.00
Teachers Retirement
36.25
39.00
7. Vocational Education
1016.78
1410.00
Grand Total
64782.76
68340.50
Spec. Warrant
1975.00
Appropriation 63221.00
65196.00
Balance
413.24
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Reimbursements:
Chapter 70, Part I
4168.00
Superintendent's Salary and Transportation
1288.89
Vocational Education
294.37
State and City Ward Tuition
1050.25
Total Reimbursements
6801.51
Total Expenditures
64782.76
Net Operation Cost to Town for 1945
57981.25
Household Arts:
Balance from 1944
533.41
Federal Grant-George-Deen Funds
375.00
Smith-Hughes Funds
30.54
Total
938.95
Expended
691.52
Balance (Available for 1945)
247.43
TO THE CITIZENS OF WEST BRIDGEWATER
SUPERINTENDENT
The Union School Committee of West Bridgewater and Rayn- ham received with regret the resignation of Superintendent Charles Taylor in the early part of June, 1945. Mr. Taylor served in this capacity for four years.
Immediately your committee in conjunction with Raynham planned the necessary procedure for securing a suitable successor. After careful consideration of several well qualified candidates, Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. was elected for a term of three years. In the
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short time Mr. Lord has been with our School Department he has carried out his duties in a manner which indicates that we were very fortunate in securing his services.
HIGH SCHOOL OPERATION
Once again we are faced with the necessity of paying certain operational costs of Howard High School. Janitors supplies, fuel, electricity, gas and water are now paid entirely out of the School Department funds. An amount sufficient to finance these items will be requested in our regular budget.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Athletic program enlarged. Shortly after the beginning of the school year, the committee granted the high school permission to include football in the athletic program. Admittedly, this was done with some misgivings because of the size of the school, but we are no longer in doubt. The record the Howard High boys made for the school in this first football program speaks for itself. The com- mittee is completely in favor of a good strong program of organized athletics. It builds mentally and physically. It stimulated the work of most students educationally because they cannot participate if their marks aren't up to the required level.
VISITING DAYS FOR PARENTS
The Committee encourages and commends the efforts of the teachers in setting apart prepared work of the students for the pur- pose of better acquainting the parents with what their children are accomplishing.
We hope this will continue to receive the full support of par- ents as usual.
REPAIRS
The maintenance of our elementary school buildings, espe- cially Sunset Avenue and Center, is more of a financial problem
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each year. In 1945 major repairs were made on three of the several heaters at the Center buildings, and more will have to be planned for next year. When conditions return to normal, we believe a modern heating plant to provide for the two buildings would in the long run save the taxpayers money. The cost of operating an up-to-date plant would be substantially less than for the antiqua- ted one we now have.
SCHOOL HOUSING ยท
As the population of this town increases and the school enroll- ment becomes larger, the problem of distributing the children in the various grades automatically becomes more serious. Your com- mittee is very much concerned with how this can be managed when the construction of new homes begins in earnest and our population increases another 15 or 20%.
See the superintendent's report for more information on this subject and other recommendations for the School Department.
Respectfully submitted,
FOR THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Sherman H. Perkins, Chairman
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ANNUAL REPORT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee:
I herein submit the report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year 1945 after a period of six months in this position. Be- cause of the limited time I have been here, most of my work has been in observation and study of the educational system and school plants to prepare a foundation for long-range planning and opera- tion as school administrator. Consequently, in this report I wish to evaluate what I have observed, note the major changes which have taken place in 1945, and indicate in part the trends which I believe should be followed in the coming years.
TEACHERS
This year West Bridgewater lost many fine teachers to better paying positions in other communities. We must accept the fact that this Town cannot compete with larger or richer towns, and that we shall continue to lose teachers to them for three or four years because of the shortage of trained teachers. We must pay commensurate with our ability, but we must compete with other towns of our class if we are to hire teachers. At the present time we are just about average. The teachers who have left are as follows:
Name
School
Grade or Subject
Jean F. Dwyer
High
Commercial, Phys. Ed.
C. Warren Gardner
High
Social Studies
Ronald H. Humphrey
High
English
Mary E. Seitz
High
Household Arts
Hubert W. Ward
High
Manual Arts, Phys. Ed.
Naomi White
High
Commercial
Marjorie Davis
Center
Grades 4-5
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Mary Campbell
Center
Grades 3-4
Mary Voudouris
Sunset Avenue
Grades 5-6
Elsie Minardi
Sunset Avenue
Grades 1-2
Mrs. Anastasia Covell
Cochesett
Principal and Grades 4-5
Mrs. Marian B. Lukaweski
Cochesett
Grades 1-2-3
Gertrude J. Ward
Matfield
Grades 1-2-3
We have been very fortunate in securing the services of the following teachers often on short notice and from a very limited number of candidates:
Name
School
Degree
Grade or Subject
Vincent Gori
High
A. B., M. A.
Phy. Ed., Sci., Soc.
St., Grade 8
Evelyn R. Hoyt
High
B. S.
Household Arts
Lucia S. Mason
High
B. A., M. A.
Social Studies
William Henry Moss
High
B. S.
English
Louise C. Ricciardello
High
B. S.
Commercial,
Herbert A. Wessling
High
B. S.
Shop, English
Sarah B. Yukna
High
B. S.
Commercial
P. A. L.
Helen C. Curtis
Center
Diploma
Grade 5
Annc Newton
Center
Diploma
Grades 3 & 4
Jean Nicoll
Center
B. S.
Grade 2
Jance B. Cass
Sunset Avenue
B. S.
Grades 2 & 3
Edna Skillings
Sunset Avenue
Diploma
Grades 1 & 2
Edna Mcrithew
Cochesett
Diploma
Principal-Grades
3, 4, 5
Myrtle A. Ryan
Cochesett
Diploma
Grades 1 & 2
Abbie C. Brown
Matfield
Diploma
Grades 1, 2, 3
Teacher morale is high and all teachers who are working dil- igently to help children to grow are to be commended.
TRANSFER OF PUPILS
In the Spring it was agreed that by moving pupils of grade eight to the high school some of the overcrowding in the grade schools could be eliminated. An extra teacher was employed at
Phy. Ed.
Grade 8 & 10
161
high school in part to teach this group and in part to make it pos- sible for two high school teachers to specialize in Shop instruction and the coaching of athletics. The pupils have been rather well absorbed in the high school, but the great advantage is the im- provement of conditions in the grades. At Sunset Avenue School, grade one now has a teacher almost full time (part of her time being given to a few second grade pupils ) and at Center School the pupil- teacher ratio has been reduced.
We have now agreed to move pupils of grades four and five from Jerusalem to the Center School, partly to equalize the teach- ing load and partly to provide opportunity for greater growth by these pupils. Note the report of the Jerusalem School Principal.
TEXT BOOKS
In the past three years many fine books have been purchased particularly in the field of reading, some in geography, some for high school classes. These new books which we have are superior, but this job is incomplete, and we should continue to replace books which have served their purpose.
TESTING PROGRAM AND GUIDANCE
It has been the practice to give only achievement tests in the grades and to refer to the Brockton Guidance Clinic, the district Social Worker, and the district psychiatrist abnormal or problem children. This guidance program has been fine in the grades, but not so much has been done in the high school. We have given achievement tests in the high school this Fall, and we have planned general mental testing for all grades to supplement the existing pro- gram. Analysis of a pupil's achievement is significant in the light of his ability which must be tested. As may be seen from the reports which follow, alert teachers are working with the individual child to help him to grow and develop within the scope of his ability.
On the administrative level, the testing program makes it pos-
162
sible to analyze the weakness of the existing program and to seek means for strengthening the offering.
INSTRUCTION-TEACHING
The classroom instruction in West Bridgewater varies widely in method in the different schools. Some of our teachers are using progressive techniques while others rely on the older methods. Within limits we can tell and show a teacher how to teach, and cer- tainly supervision would be easier if there were a uniform method. But teaching is partly an art, and are all artists to execute in the same manner? With any method, teaching may be good or bad. Regardless of method, good teaching calls for attention to the in- dividual growth and development of the child. The child should be interested, have tasks set which he can accomplish, be made (if need be) to acquire the skills, but be helped by the teacher to see beyond the immediate subject or problem, and be given the oppor- tunity by opportunities for self-discipline and personal judgment, when he is old enough, to grow emotionally and socially as well as physically and mentally. West Bridgewater is fortunate in having several teachers who are quite successful judged on the above dif- ficulty criteria, and most of the others are working constantly to achieve these goals. Generally speaking, our children are in good hands.
INSTRUCTION-PROGRAM
The allocation of time to subjects in the grades and the sub- jects offered in the high school has received my attention. I am meeting with the grade principals to establish a better allotment of time to subjects and the high school principal and I have reorgan- ized the high school program of studies to eliminate unessential courses and add specific time for an activity period every day. This program is designed for a six year high school in an adequate school plant and would not operate very well in the existing struc- ture. The program is typical of the best secondary school programs
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today and is designed to promote pupil's growth emotionally and socially and in character traits. It incorporates the best thinking of the state-wide committee, of which I am a member, now at work on reorganization of the secondary program in Massachusetts.
MAINTENANCE
Some of the work planned for this year could not be done be- cause of a lack of help. The only work undertaken was to repair furnaces and buildings where absolutely essential, with the excep- tion of building a new office at Sunset Avenue and finishing the office at Center School. As labor becomes available, we shall re- surface play grounds, improve drainage, and paint buildings.
At the high school the Trustees have done much to provide minimum safety by building fire exits from all rooms and replacing the rusted out parts of the fire escape. For the past two years, they have allowed the School Committee to meet monthly in the Trus- tees' room, and this Fall they also generously made available to the superintendent the Trustees' room for his office.
I present here the reports of the Principals and Supervisors.
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Lord:
As principal of Howard High School, I have the honor to sub- mit to you my annual report for the fiscal year of 1945.
Victory has been achieved. Air raid drills, civilian training courses, and salvage drives have been discontinued. The sale of stamps and bonds, however, still goes on. The school is gradually
164
shifting its emphasis from an all out for war program to an educa- tional one wholly for life in a peaceful world.
During the war, some boys left school to enter the armed. ser- vices, while others were drafted before graduation. The school is cooperating fully with these boys so that they may receive a high school diploma. In order to award such a diploma three things must be taken into consideration: first, the total number of credits already earned by regular attendance in high school; second, the number of credits to be assigned after an evaluation of the training and experience in the armed forces; and third, the additional sub- jects and credits needed to obtain the total of 80 credits required for a diploma. When additional credits are needed to complete the required total, a discharged veteran may attend, free of charge, the regional high school set up in Bridgewater by the State Department of Education. One man is now in attendance at Bridgewater, and three others have taken the preliminary steps toward earning their diplomas while in the service.
In 1932 the position of drawing supervisor was temporarily dropped. This unfortunate action eliminated drawing from the high school curriculum, leaving a gaping hole in the program of studies. Most high schools believe art in various forms should be available to their pupils as a medium of creative expression, and as a definite part in the development of the students appreciation of some of the finer things in life. I believe that the enrichment of the school's curriculum by the return of drawing merits serious consideration.
One phase of the school's program that gives me considerable concern is the work of the orchestra. In recent years there has been a general decrease in interest in instrumental music, and the num- ber of pupils coming into the high school who possess either some previous instrument training or a genuine desire to receive instruc- tion has dropped considerably. As a natural result, the orchestra has suffered so severely that the question of attempting to carry on
165
may well be raised. The school owns a sousaphone, a trumpet, two violins, a cello, a bass drum, and a snare drum for the purpose of loaning them to worthy students. The trumpet and the drums are the only instruments now in use, in spite of repeated attempts to have the others used. Classes in instrument instruction have been encouraged in high school without much success. Perhaps some sort of a music program for revival of interest in the community may be necessary before interest in instrumental music manifests itself in the high school.
Crowded conditions existing in the Center School made it nec- essary to provide for the eighth grade in the high school building. Facilities in this structure are far from ideal, and many new and difficult problems have arisen in connection with the eighth grade. These problems include scheduling classes in a building with ample seating capacity located mainly in large rooms which do not lend themselves to separation, the arranging of three teaching schedules including combinations of eighth grade and high school subjects especially with shop classes held in the Center School .6 of a mile away, adjusting individual programs because of the failure of tea- cher time to provide for sufficient music and art, and the develop- ing of activities at the pupil's own age level. Many problems have already been solved while others are being solved by an alert co- operative staff of teachers.
Many communities, conscious of a need for wholesome recrea- tion for their youths, have established recreation or youth centers, meeting once or more times a week. Upon the insistent urgings of a group of high school pupils supported by the entire student body, game nights were organized and met on Friday evenings whenever the Town Hall was available. Dancing and games of various kinds and light refreshments kept groups of 45 to 127 young people en- thusiastically interested. Organized on a committee basis, the pupils planned and executed all details under adult counsel. In order to encourage healthy growth and a fair distribution of work, commit- tee chairmen as well as committee members were changed periodi-
166
cally. Difficulties encountered included conflicts with other school and town activities, a lack of convenient storage space for equip- ment between meetings, and a generally poor response from parents who were asked to serve as adult supervisors. The group began in March and remained active through the spring and summer into the fall. An increase in other activities, both in school and in the community, made advisable a temporary suspension of the project. A new committee is now looking forward to an early reopening.
For the first time in over twenty years, the school organized, equipped, and enthusiastically supported a football team. Holding steadfast to the principle that no team should be placed upon the field unless the boys were properly clad in the best available pro- tective equipment proved to be one of the greatest factors in delay- ing the beginnings of an excellent team. Untiring efforts, however, produced results in an almost hopeless field from several sporting goods firms, from another high school, and from an independent team. Another factor of importance involved the raising of suffi- cient funds to purchase necessary equipment. This was accom- plished by running a series of motion picture shows, and by the fine support of various organizations and several individuals who con- tributed most generously to the Football Fund. Still another prob- lem was solved by cooperation. Rocks, trees, bushes, and mounds of dirt rendered the Town Field unfit for use. The field committee and the Selectmen unhesitatingly came to the rescue by having the obstacles removed. Such cooperation all along the line, and literally from everywhere, supplied the required ingredient to supplement excellent coaching and the unrestrained enthusiasm of twenty-six boys. The results were most gratifying. A well coached team of hard working, clean players emphasized good sportsmanship for which Howard High School teams have been noted. Winning two of the four games played and losing the others by low scores estab- lished a wonderful return of football in the school. In addition to the physical benefits, the sportsmanship, the taking of hard knocks, the lessons of cooperation and team play, the revitalization of
167
school spirit, the one item standing above all others is cooperation. I cannot recall any project that has engendered so much enthus- iasm and cooperation from everyone. It stands as a shining exam- ple for what might be accomplished with other projects in the educational field.
A need of long standing was finally met last fall. For years, the high school principal and the superintendent shared the same inner office. Upon occasions many awkward and embarrassing situations for both men interfered with each others work . Recently, a room adjacent to the outer office, used but a few times a year by the Trustees of the Howard Funds, was made available to the su- perintendent for his office. Speaking for myself, this arrangement is perfectly satisfactory and a great advantage in the administra- tion of the school.
Strong steps in the interest of the safety of the high school pupils and personnel have been taken by the Trustees of the How- ard Funds. Fire escape exits on all floors have been remodeled, the south fire escape has been repaired, a new gas safety light has been added in the assembly hall, and new stairways with exits have been installed in both the gymnasium and the household arts room, all in accordance with recommended safety specifications.
For many years it has been the custom for the senior class to pre- sent a three-act play. Also in recent years, three one-act plays have been presented with great success. An unfortunate condition of not having a suitable stage and auditorium in the school necessitates the staging of these, plays in the Town Hall. There the stage facil- ities are such that the selection of a play must be limited to a very small cast without a change of scenery, and the director painfully restricted as to space. Most inconvenient of all the large scenery flats must be carried from the attic in the school down five flights of stairs some of which are quite narrow, and then transported to the Town Hall often by boys on foot. The flats are returned in the same manner. Such excessive handling of the scenery incurs con-
168
siderable damage and expense each year and some interference with class room instruction.
In the physical education and health fields, the lack of suitable lockerroom, shower, and gymnasium facilities is a decided handi- cap. Not only do all visiting teams strenuously dislike playing in our gymnasium but the list of those schools absolutely refusing to play on our floor is increasing at an uncomfortable rate. Permission to use the gymnasium granted by the State Department of Public Safety was not received until just prior to the first home game in December. Previously, when the use of the gymnasium was in doubt, contacts were made in Brockton in unsuccessful attempts to obtain the use of a suitable floor upon which our home basket- ball games could be played. These delaying actions and incumber- ances rendered the administration, team development, and schedule making exceedingly unsatisfactory and difficult.
Another unfortunate condition concerning the use of the gym- nasium involves the high school and the Seminary in a situation for which neither is responsible. In accordance with a general agree- ment, the Howard Seminary is entitled to use the floor two after- noons a week. Prior to a few years ago the Seminary girls used the gymnasium for about an hour beginning anywhere from 2:45 to 3:30 p.m. This time permitted the three other afternoons in the school week to be utilized for the training and development of our two varsity basketball teams. Obviously such a division of time is wholly inadequate for our basketball requirements. The chief difficulties confronting the Seminary are the absence of a floor of their own to carry on their physical education activities, and the lack of adequate hot water facilities in their own building. Should their showers be used late in the afternoon hot water would not be available for their evening meal dishes. Recently a compromise arrangement wholly unsatisfactory for both institutions allots three afternoons at four o'clock to the Seminary and the balance of time to the high school. Both schools are usually cooperative in an un- fortunate situation that should not exist.
169
In my opinion, the problems presented above and many more will not be solved until a new modern school structure becomes available to the youth of West Bridgewater.
In conclusion, I wish to thank you, the School Committee, the teachers, and all others who have striven with me during the past year toward making Howard High School a more effective factor in the educational lives of the youth it serves. I wish to commend especially, the fine cooperation the high school has received from everyone at the Town Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
NILS G. LINDELL, Principal Howard High School
Mr. Arthur B. Lord, Jr. Superintendent of Schools West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Lord:
Two outstanding factors of the Center School are: 1, attention to individual needs, and 2, extra-curricular activities.
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