USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1941-1945 > Part 23
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At the close of the school year in June 1943 we accepted with regret the resignation of Mrs. Stella Kibbe as school nurse. She was very capable and efficient and served the schools most faithfully. We were very fortunate in securing as her successor Miss Mary O'Brien, who has had a long and
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successful career in the nursing profession, both in hospital work and in the home.
We have many times in the past called your attention to the need of more land near the High School for athletic and playground purposes. This need grows more imperative as the years roll by. It has reached the point now where none of our neighboring high schools are willing to play foot- ball on our field, which has been called by them either "The Rock Pile" or "The Dust Bowl." We also need better seating arrangements in our gymnasium for spectators at our basketball games. This could, we feel sure, be provided without too great expense.
Any other items in which you may be interested you"will, no doubt, find explained in our Superintendent's report.
In closing we wish to thank all who have helped to make the year 1943 a successful school year. May we merit your continued cooperation during 1944.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman SIDNEY F. ATWOOD MRS. GRACE B. REED WARREN C. BODURTHA EDSON A. FERRELL PAUL J. ADAMS, SR.
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Financial Statement
December 31, 1943
Town Appropriation
$162,000.00
EXPENDITURES
General Expense $ 6,966.09
Salaries of Teachers, Supervisors and Principals
99,630.85
Text Books.
2,224.91
Stationery and Supplies
5,053.98
Wages of Janitors.
11,848.24
Fuel
6,490.60
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses
3,983.07
Repairs and Replacements
4,205.65
School Libraries
104.70
Health . .
2,207.80
Transportation .
12,719.70
Tuition-Trade School
1,427.25
Insurance on Buildings and Equipment.
1,294.36
Miscellaneous Expenses
609.41
Outlay-Buildings and Equipment
715.20
Agriculture.
2,977.08
Vocational Household Arts.
1,371.62
Adult Civic Education
311.00
Total.
$164,141.51
Paid by Federal Funds:
Smith-Hughes Funds for Agriculture. . . .. $354.20
George Deen Funds
for Agriculture ... 941.66
George Deen Funds
for Voc. Household
Arts.
847.00
2,142.86
Paid by Town.
161,998.65
Unexpended Balance. ....
1.35
$162,000.00
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COST OF SCHOOLS TO THE TOWN
Total Expenditures by Town. . $161,998.65
Returns to the Town on account of Schools, but not returnable to the School Department: From the State:
On account of Teachers' Salaries $ 11,268.37 For Agricultural Instruction . . . 1,716.91
For Household Arts Instruction 66.20
For Adult Civic Education .
149.00
On account of Trade School Tuition
1,027.02
Tuition and Transporation of State Wards.
854.26
From the Manual Training Dept.
260.36
From Rental of School Buildings.
84.00
From the Federal Government for Typewriters
125.00
Miscellaneous
10.06
15,561.18
Amount paid for Schools from Local Taxation
$146,437.47
SALE OF WAR STAMPS AND BONDS FOR THE YEAR 1943
Junior-Senior High School $ 7,516.05
North Agawam School.
5,163.40
Agawam Center School.
3,698.85
Springfield Street School.
1,534.10
Feeding Hills School
1,532.65
Total Sales
$ 19,445.05
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Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and the Citizens of Agawam:
The subject of the superintendent's report this year is "The War Continues". There is a temptation to write on the topic, Education for Victory and Peace. In as much as such a subject projects us too much into the future, and since there is some mystery as to the nature of the peace that will emerge after the victory has been won, it seems best to report on the school situation as it existed in 1943. The topics under consideration are: Teachers, Curriculum, Democ- racy, Guidance, School Days, School Plant, and Alumni.
TEACHERS
The war has caused several changes in the faculty of the Junior-Senior High School. The list of teachers departing from our service in 1943 is as follows: Mr. Onischuk, Mr. Freme, Mr. Oulton, Miss Gibson and Miss Yuill. In this connection mention should be made of those who left our ranks the previous year; namely, Mr. Baker, Mr. Hadley, Mr. Montagna, Mr. Frye, Mr. Holmes and Miss Griswold. As the war continues, we continue to lose our Junior-Senior High School teachers.
To date we have been able to find capable replacements for our war losses; thanks to the fact that our Federal gov- ernment has not drafted women into the war effort, and to the policy of the school committee to hire married women as war substitutes. However, there are some teaching positions in our high school which women substitutes cannot fill, such as Physical Training for boys and Industrial Arts. It is hoped that the continuance of the war will not decimate these departments.
The growing scarcity of teachers brings more vividly to our attention the invaluable services which the teachers give to our country on the home front. We shall win a shallow victory and a questionable peace if in the meantime our schools disintegrate. A high sense of duty to our country has kept many teachers at their desks, although the war offered
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greater financial rewards in other places and possibly greater adventure. As the war continues we will hear more about the worth of a teacher.
CURRICULUM
The war has placed great emphasis on Science, Mathe- matics, Industrial Arts and Physical Training. Agawam has kept in step by enlarging and expanding all of these fields of instruction. The war curriculum is more serious and difficult than the prewar curriculum. In that respect it adds a new note to secondary education.
DEMOCRACY
Democracy is no new way of life in the Agawam school system. Fairness and honesty have not been in abeyance waiting for the war to revive their values. Talent and leader- ship, wherever found, in whatever race, nationality or creed, are cherished and encouraged in all fields of endeavor, not only by the teachers but also by the pupils themselves: mediocrity and weakness have not been frowned upon. Un- der such conditions an atmosphere has been engendered which gives both teachers and pupils the right approach to their studies in the Social Sciences and Literature, from which sources stem the important recorded principles and illustra- tions of democracy in action, the ideals to be taught our boys and girls.
GUIDANCE
A total war injects a major influence into the field of guidance. The boys approaching war age naturally ask themselves the following question: What can I study in school so as to get the best placement in some arm of the national service? After ascertaining the capabilities and capacities of these pupils, we aim to give them such studies as will advance them in their chosen fields of study. The. government, however, has the last word in the placement of those who are drafted.
There are some qualifications which are in great demand of all workers and are recognized and rewarded in all fields of placement; namely, skill, industry and integrity. Great stress should be given to these qualities, not only in war time but in peace time. The general unrest caused by this
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war should not blind us to the fact that such qualifications are of supreme worth. Statistics, charts, diagrams, curves, medians, I. Q.'s and such data may give us the picture of the child, but it is a drab picture for guidance unless it reflects some measure of skill, integrity and industry. We can diag- nose; but can we prescribe and work a cure? Facing that question, we are stressing in all grades the value of skill, industry, and good old-fashioned honesty.
SCHOOL DAYS
To go to school or not to go to school, that is the ques- tion. This dilemma has been in the minds of parents, pupils, and administrators in many instances during the past year. In Agawam, the answer has been go to school. A few pupils from the Senior High have left school to enter war work. In most of such cases that action will prove to be a mistaken attitude. School days come only once in a lifetime. There have been many calls to dismiss pupils from school to work on farms, in post offices, in stores, in war plants and in busi- ness offices. Wherever and whenever help could be given in such cases without impairing the schooling of the pupils, accommodations have been made. However, school has not been dismissed to meet such requests. It seems a short- sighted policy to dismiss a high school in order to provide a few workers, when by such action a large proportion of the membership of the school is left on its own in a prolonged vacation.
SCHOOL PLANTS
In this war period our school buildings have for the most part proved to be adequate for the educational needs of the town. As the war continues certain improvements and re- placements make themselves more manifest.
The life of the Feeding Hills School has been somewhat rejuvenated and extended by the painting of four class rooms and the installation of a lunch room, during the past year. Such improvements can be considered only as temporary in nature. The present building has served its time and genera- tion and should be replaced as soon as convenient after the close of the war. This action on the part of the town would not only confer a great benefit upon the children in that area, but would also add dignity to the vicinity and invite new home developments in a terrain so advantageously located geographically. It is quite possible that the construction of
134
a new school building in this section may offer a much-needed source of employment in a postwar period.
Our Junior-Senior High School building is a splendid testimony to the wisdom and integrity of those who facili- tated its construction in the year 1921. Time has taken very little toll from its halls and walls and its sturdiness portends a long period of usefulness. There are, however, some fea- tures of any school building which are susceptible to the wear and tear of natural usage. In this connection mention should be made of some needed improvements and refine- ments in the boys' showers, toilets and locker rooms. In short, this entire part of our building should be modernized. Our Domestic Science rooms, located in the basement of the building, do not receive the proper light for the type of work required of pupils in that department. These rooms should be equipped with fluorescent lights in order to remove the excessive glare caused by the artificial lights now in use.
The accommodations for spectators in the balconies of our gymnasium have never been satisafctory. Indeed, this feature of our building was never completed. The foundations are there and adequate super construction should be made, so as to give the maximum seating capacity for those who attend our games and exhibitions. The floor of the boys' gymnasium has outlived its natural life by several years, and this too in spite of the intense wear and tear of depression days when N. Y. A. and W. P. A. programs exacted their necessary toll from its surface. We shall need a new floor soon.
A few years back our play ground in back of the High School was the envy of most of our neighboring towns. To- day our opponents refuse to play on our football field, be- cause it is too narrow and presents an unwarranted danger to life and limb. The field is actually too small for the needs of our school and for the development of a modern physical training program.
To summarize, the needed improvements in our High School plant call for new toilet and locker facilities; fluorescent lighting for the Domestic Science rooms; the construction of accommodations for spectators in our gymnasium; a new gymnasium floor, and more land adjacent to the building for play ground and athletic purposes. Most of these projects could wait for the war to cease and might then provide a series of postwar projects. However, the need of more land for play ground and athletic purposes is very dominant.
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ALUMNI
There is an honor roll on the front lawn of the High School grounds. This honor roll was erected by the Wilson- Thompson Post of The American Legion. We are grateful that it is placed near the High School building, for on its lists are hundreds of names of graduates of our high school.
As the war continues, almost daily some of the alumni on furlough come in to visit their school. They come not only from the confines of our own country but also from Iceland, Greenland, England, Italy, India, Australia and Africa. They are a fundamental part of us, torn asunder by the un- toward generation which nurtured them. They have steeled themselves for Armageddon. Their names and valorous actions on land, in the air, on and under the seas, have erected a memorial that will outlive the halls and class rooms from which with loyal devotion they went forth to the defense of our liberties.
CONCLUSION
As the war continues, the problems of school administra- tion become more tense. Teachers are drafted, students are drafted, curricula are changed, schools are called upon to release pupils to give help in many fields of the war effort. Schools are requested to lend their aid to Bond Drives, Junior Red Cross, First Aid, Victory Gardens, Rationings, Salvages, War Chests and Victory Corps. These are legitimate demands and are natural concomitants of this all-out war.
It is essential, however, for the best of all concerned to keep unrest and confusion at low ebb in the school rooms. This problem has been solved to a high degree in 1943 be- cause of the continued cooperation of parents, teachers. pupils and school committee.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN J. PHELPS, Superintendent of Schools.
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ATTENDANCE REPORT AND ENROLLMENT FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR
SEPTEMBER 8-DECEMBER 23, 1943
Total Mem- bership
Average Mem- bership
Average Daily At- tendance
Per Cent At- tendance
Tardi- ness
High School
Senior High III
68
67.65
62.49
92.38
45
Senior High II
90
88.20
81.31
92.19
85
Senior High I
105
103.76
95.97
92.49
79
Junior High III
125
121.72
114.61
94.16
41
Junior High VIII-1
28
26.78
25.33
94.58
3
Junior High VIII-2
29
28.03
26.39
94.15
11
Junior High VIII-3
34
33.15
31.08
93.73
3
Junior High VIII-4
29
28.69
27.14
94.13
9
Junior High VII-1
28
27.11
25.53
94.19
13
Junior High VII-2
28
28.00
26.77
95.61
0
Junior High VII-3
32
30.54
28.63
93.75
28
Junior High VII-4
34
33.25
31.76
95.46
20
Special Class
19
18.60
16.68
89.70
9
Agawam Center School
Grade VI
37
35.28
33.68
95.44
23
Grade V
37
34.07
31.55
92.62
5
Grades IV-V
27
25.67
24.19
94.19
23
Grade IV
34
31.67
29.77
93.05
5
Grade III
40
38.96
35.95
92.28
12
Grades II-III
36
33.34
30.77
92.22
5
Grade II
41
36.24
32.78
90.47
1
Grade I-A
27
25.65
21.89
85.30
15
Grade I-B
28
25.73
23.29
91.01
12
North Agawam School
Grade VI
33
31.69
30.35
95.76
1
Grade V
35
32.19
30.53
94.83
8
Grade IV
30
28.19
26.87
95.31
8
Grade III
31
30.43
28.82
94.72
7
Grade II
32
31.08
29.26
94.14
12
Grade I
32
31.13
29.43
94.53
9
Special Class
18
16.25
15.18
93.42
3
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Springfield Street School
Grade VI
24
24.00
23.10
96.25
4
Grade V
33
31.72
29.35
92.54
23
Grade IV
28
26.56
24.80
93.37
4
Grade III
27
26.47
24.34
91.93
19
Grade II
32
30.28
27.30
90.16
11
Grade I
32
30.82
28.20
91.02
11
Feeding Hills School
Grades V-VI
28
27.86
26.77
96.09
1
Grades IV-V
32
29.96
27.69
92.12
3
Grades II-III
25
22.66
20.83
91.92
1
Grades I-II
25
22.09
20.97
94.93
1
Total Membership for Town.
1453
Average Membership for Town
1395.47
Average Daily Attendance for Town
1301.35
Per Cent Attendance for Town
93.25
Total Tardiness for Town.
576
Total Membership for Town, December 23, 1942
1541
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REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Herein is my sixth annual report on the Junior-Senior High School.
WARTIME ACTIVITIES
The wartime program of education in this school can be best described by saying that it brought about redirected emphasis in the subject fields rather than entire reorganiza- tion. There has been no drastic upheaval because of the war, but a readjustment to its demands. Realizing that certain fundamentals are valuable to all generations and economies, regardless of temporary emergencies, the basic structure of the school curriculum has been held intact, while certain modifications have been made in subject matter content, and the teaching thereof to insure learnings immediately desirable for furtherance of the war effort. New subjects have been included when necessity demanded; and other subject bases have been broadened to cover specific points. Entire co-oper- ation with governmental agencies and civic organizations has been stressed.
A Victory Corps was formed with the hope that it would intensify patriotic zeal and be instrumental in the completing of war-born tasks, but when it was found to be paralleling the aims and duties of other groups long established in the school, it was allowed to dissolve, and the original bodies enlarged their activities with very desirable results.
The Student Council assumed the sale of War Bonds and Stamps in the school. The members are assigned specific home rooms to canvas each day and have been very conscien- tious and interested in doing their patriotic duty. During the year, they sold a total of $5335.30. This amount will pur- chase two amphibian jeeps and four of the more commonly seen variety. The United States Treasury Department sent the school certificates attesting the purchases of the jeeps.
To stimulate the sale of War Bonds and Stamps, an as- sembly program was organized. The admissions to it were based on the purchase of War Bonds or Stamps. It was re-
139
peated by request for the soldiers stationed at the Exposition Grounds.
Pupils have participated in the various drives for scrap, paper, etc., out of school time and, when necessary, during school hours. Many are working part-time on defense work in the neighboring industrial plants and others worked on farms. When necessary their programs have been arranged to allow early dismissal.
Because it was desirable in compiling an honor roll for the school to tabulate all within a specific classification, it was necessary to confine the names to graduates. There were too many non-graduates who were enrolled in the school for a short period of time and then moved from Agawam. The list contains 231 names. Included among them are eight girls. This is approximately 19% of the total number of graduates (girls and boys). Also included are the names of twelve undergraduates who were members of the school when they entered the service. Agawam should be very proud of such a large service group.
The Junior Red Cross chapter of the school has been very active during the year. By making and collecting articles, it accumulated many comforts for the soldiers of surrounding cantonments and hospitals. The industrial arts department aided greatly in the construction of games, tables, and like articles for the various branches of the armed forces.
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT
Traditionally scholarship in this school is on an extremely high level and last year the students did not deviate from the usual trend. The few who went to college received good grades; those entering business acquitted themselves favor- ably; and a large portion of the boys who became members of the armed services were chosen for the more desirable specialized training.
Since its organization, this school has maintained an "A" rating with the State Department of Education, and during the past year it again earned that distinction. Re- cently the New England College Entrance Certificate Board renewed the privilege of certification to colleges that the school has enjoyed for all of its years. The privilege grants a right to certify pupils to any college under the juridiction of the Board and to those controlled by other boards with
140
whom it has a reciprocal agreement. Receipt of these two endorsements allows this school to compare favorably with any other public or private school in the New England area.
Pro Merito is the school's highest and most coveted scholastic honor. To achieve such distinction, a pupil must not only have rare ability but also must work faithfully and diligently throughout his four years in high school. During the year the following named won that honor:
Gloria Aldrich John Duplessis Mary Quirk
Jean Blackburn Evelyn Giordano
Marjorie Raffinetti
Joyce Bowe Marjorie Helfrich
Beatrice Stratton
Florence Conkey Norma Mckeown Shirley Wentworth
Following are the names of pupils who were presented medals during Commencement exercises for outstanding work in the areas designated:
Andrea Cornfoot-Citizenship Award English Award Valedictorian Award
Frances Kaskeski-Art Award History Award
Francis Nolin-Science Award Virginia Spear-Commercial Award
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Again it was necessary to curtail these important supple- ments to the regularly scheduled subjects. But lack of travel facilities and shortages in equipment caused elimination of baseball, oratoricals, one-act plays, and the annual oper- etta.
The activities scheduled during the year follow: Basketball-Played ten games: Won six, lost four Agawam Mirror-Victory Edition Senior Class Play-"What A Life"
Football-Played six games: Won two, lost three, tied one
Sophomore Party Personality Club-Sadie Hawkins Dance Tri-Hi Dance Promenade
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Valley Wheel Track Meet-Won second place Western Mass. Track Meet-Won fourth place Senior Class Banquet Junior Cabaret
ASSEMBLIES
The assembly program was not normal, but the subjects recognized were numerous and varied. By some the pupils were entertained and by others they were enlightened. All of them were worth-while. The list follows:
Moving Pictures: Commercials Office of War Information Professionals
Holiday assemblies presented by pupils
Pro Merito-Prof. Frederick S. Conlin
Professional-Anouta, a Baffin Bay Eskimo Oratorical elimination for American Legion prize Health (Posture)-Mrs. Mary Carr Baker, Mass. State Dept. of Health
Girls-Ensign Mary Chase (Waves) Inspirational-Mr. Benjamin J. Phelps Professional-Dr. Marinus James-"Stories of the Sea" Health (Teeth)-Dr. Florence B. Hopkins, Mass. State Dept. of Health
Memorial Day-Mr. Henry McGowan, Commander Wilson Thompson Post, American Legion
Professional-Mr. William Hocker-Pianist
Professional-Mr. Warren Lee Terry, Gilbert & Sullivan Operas
Safety-Mr. Hazen Carty, Inspector State Dept. of Motor Vehicles
RECOMMENDATIONS
Over a long period of years the need for an athletic field has become progressively acute until at the present time it is an absolute necessity. Baseball was. abandoned last year
142
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because there was no available field within walking distance of the school. The school buses, which had been used in previous years, were not available for such an activity due to a governmental ruling. It was necessary to play all the home football games at Pynchon Park in Springfield as coaches of competing schools refused to al ow their teams to play on the school field because of its narrowness, and the rocky, dusty formation of the soil. A committee has been appointed by the Moderator to investigate sites, and costs of a new field, and report to the annual town meeting. It is earnestly hoped that the voters of the town will support its recom- mendation.
CONCLUSION
Problems in a secondary school are multiplied and the demands upon it increased during wartime. But I appreci- ate that the assistance you, Mr. Phelps, and the school com- mittee have given me, and the loyal support of the faculty and pupils has aided greatly in reducing to a minimum the extra burdens imposed upon this school, and I am deeply grateful to all.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK T. DACEY,
Principal.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL HEALTH DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Herewith is submitted the annual report of the Health Department of the schools.
Dr. Langer and Dr. Steele were the school doctors during the past year. Dr. Langer is back from service and with us again.
The medical inspection of 1200 children up to date found the following defects:
Enlarged tonsils, 60 Defective teeth, 300
Enlarged glands, 12 Poor nutrition, 20 Poor posture, 30 Defective hearts, 30
Since the medical inspection 30 children have been taken to dentists by the school nurse and 36 children have been taken by parents.
Report of School Nurse:
Home visits, 600 Office visits, 1610 Children weighed, 1404 Health talks, 9 Children taken home ill, 27
Children taken for glasses, 8
Taken to Westfield for X-ray, 6
Taken to hospital for appendix, 1
Taken to hospital for operation for tumors on eyelids, 1
Office hours at High School are from 8:30 to 10:30 each day.
Visit outside schools every day. Room inspections given once a week Eight children were taken to Camp Frederic Edwards in July
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Infectious diseases reported for the school year:
Scarlet fever, 67 Mumps, 7 Measles, 64 Whooping cough, 22 Chicken pox, 17
We are just starting to examine eyes with the Keystone testing machine, for which I am grateful.
On May 20 the regular vaccination clinic was held with Dr. Steele, the school physician, officiating. Ninety-six pupils were vaccinated. The check-up clinic was held on October 5: ten more were vaccinated.
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