USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1941-1945 > Part 40
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The war is over and we are now confronted with the numerous problems of reconversion. Perhaps the most vital of these is the teacher problem. We have several service men who will soon be ready to resume their teach- ing at the High School. During their absence the courses they taught have been shifted around and some of them have been taught by regular substitutes. It will be a task for the Superintendent and the Principal to place these returning veterans in the positions for which they are best fitted. Then, too, we have a number of married teach- er's whose husbands have been in the service. When these husbands return home their wives will undoubtedly wish to give up teaching. With so few graduating from our normal colleges and many of these accepting positions in other states at fancy salaries, it is going to be difficult to fill vacancies in our elementary schools. As we told you last year, our only hope of keeping an adequate and effi- cient teaching staff is to retain those we have by giving
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them salaries sufficient to keep them in Agawam. We have just adopted a new salary schedule which will ne- cessitate an increase in our estimate for teachers' salaries in 1946. During the depression we gave up our salary schedule and we got along without one. When our Super- intendent interviews applicants for teaching positions, it is a great help to him to be able to tell the candidates what our minimum and maximum salaries are for both elementary and high school teachers.
As an aftermath of the war, the head of our depart- ment for Vocational and Occupational Guidance will have many a headache in advising returning veterans who may apply to his office for advice. Some of these veterans, having realized from their war experience the value of an education, will plan to continue their studies either at a college or some other institution of learning under the GI Bill of Rights. Some will be interested in securing jobs in business or industry, while others may wish to estab- lish a business of their own. The pupils in our Junior- Senior High School have been pretty well checked as to ability, industry and aptitude by tests and personal in- terviews given by the Guidance head, Mr. Raymond Har- ris, and his assistants. We feel that the post of Guidance Director will soon develop into a full time job and we are quite sure that Mr. Harris is the right man for the posi- tion. Lack of proper guidance of the youth of today is largely responsible for so much juvenile crime.
We feel that we should at this time pay tribute to those Agawam young men and young women who served their country so nobly during World War II. Not one of them failed in duty, and to those who made the supreme sacrifice we offer our humble tribute. As a slight token of our esteem, the new Athletic Field at Agawam Center was named Memorial Field in memory of the Agawam boys and girls who fought and bled and suffered and died for their country in all parts of the world. And those who come back wounded or crippled, may they soon recover a great measure of their former health.
At the last annual town meeting a sum of money was appropriated to grade a baseball diamond at Agawam Center, to build a road to the field and to erect a suitable fence around unfenced portions of the tract. This was done and we have as fine a field as any high school of our size in this section. If this is to be a permanent field for
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high school athletics, we should at some future date have a field house for use of the teams. We might also in time lay out a track and build tennis courts.
There seems to be considerable demand for a new school at Feeding Hills Center. Quite recently the State Building Inspector went through all our schools and made out a long list of changes that must be made in order to conform to regulations of his department. The school at Feeding Hills is apparently the worst in town. In order to carry out his orders it would cost the town from $7,000 to $10,000, the most expensive item being a new system of heating and ventilating. If there were prospects of a new school at Feeding Hills soon, he would hold in abey- ance the matter of heating and ventilating, provided the other changes he suggested were made. We expect to have a committee appointed at the annual town meeting to investigate the situation at the Hills, with instructions to report their findings at a later meeting.
To make the repairs and changes called for by the State Building Inspector, we shall need to have a special article in the warrant calling for that appropriation. We have a contractor submitting an estimate for the various changes in the different schools, so that we may have a definite sum to ask for.
We would like to pay tribute at this time to Mr. S. F. Atwood, who retired from the School Committee after over twenty years of loyal and fruitful service. Those of us who served with him certainly miss his wise counsel and sterling judgment.
Our school attendance during 1945 was even better than in 1944. We have hopes that in 1946, with the unrest caused by war-time conditions subsiding, that it will be even better.
In closing, we wish to thank pupils, parents, and teachers for their co-operation during 1945.
Respectfully submitted
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman MRS. GRACE B. REED HAZEL M. COOLEY WARREN C. BODURTHA EDSON A. FERRELL PAUL J. ADAMS, SR.
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Financial Statement
December 31, 1945
Town Appropriation EXPENDITURES
$178,000.00
General Expense . $ 7,573.71
Salaries of Teachers, Supervi- sors and Principals
114,299.33
Text Books
1,487.06
Stationery and Supplies
3,908.32
Wages of Janitors
13,339.90
Fuel
6,929.10
Miscellaneous operat'g expenses
4,558.28
Repairs and Replacements
3,014.78
School Libraries
32.13
Health
2,625.70
Transportation
13,228.83
Tuition-Trade School
1,356.37
Insurance on Buildings and
Equipment
1,290.74
Miscellaneous Expenses
378.49
Outlay-New Equipment
750.82
Adult Civic Education
43.00
Agriculture
3,324.97
Vocational Household Arts
1,076.57
Total
$179,218.10
Paid by Federal Funds :
George-Deen Funds
for Agriculture
and Vocational
Household Arts .. $933.72
Smith-Hughes Funds
for Agriculture
and Vocational
Household Arts
284.88
1,218.60
$177,999.50
Unexpended Balance
.50
$178,000.00
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COST OF SCHOOLS TO THE TOWN
Total Expenditures by Town .. $177,999.50
Returns to the Town on Account of Schools, but not returnable
to the School Department: From the State:
On account of Teachers' Salaries $ 11,020.00
For Agricultural Instruction 1,024.28
For Household Arts Instruction
372.08
On account of Trade School Tuition 744.04
Tuition and Transportation of State Wards 1,005.14
Received from Manual Training Department 208.56
Received from Rental of School Buildings
155.00
Miscellaneous
21.51
14,550.61
Amount paid for Schools from Local Taxation
$163,448.89
158
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and the Citizens of Agawam:
The significant sign posted in all parts of the world today is Reconversion. Reconversion in our national econ- omy influences every sphere of action including the schools. In fact, the schools of our state and nation are of prime importance. How appropriate then that the central theme of this year's school report should be Education and Reconversion. The topics presented are as follows : Teachers ; Curriculum ; School Plants ; Budgets; and Com- munity Organizations.
TEACHERS
There is much concern abroad in our land about the scarcity of trained elementary teachers. This dearth in the supply of teachers has come to pass because of the shrinking enrollments of our teachers colleges. For some reason, probably financial prospects, our high school graduates refused during the war period to register in our teachers colleges : said colleges will graduate in 1946 very few teachers : the demand for these teachers will be many times the supply. Reconversion will not help in this situation-very few elementary teachers gave up their positions to enter military service. Communities outside of our large cities have kept schools going because they were able to hire married women as teachers, in many in- stances the wives of the soldiers. Reconversion will un- doubtedly weaken this source of supply: for such teach- ers will return to the homes of their husbands.
In the field of secondary education, reconversion will return to the class room veterans of the war in consider- able numbers. The commonwealth has passed justifiable laws, which make it imperative for towns and cities to restore veterans to their former positions in the class
159
room in case the veterans so desire. Most of the veterans are eager to go back to teaching. Their status as teachers has been impaired as little as possible by the war. The state has not only kept their positions open for them, but has also made provision that all increments, bonuses, and retirement assessments accruing to said positions are credited to their account. Their return to our schools will be welcomed by the administrative forces of our schools. Reconversion in this case should prove to be very helpful to our schools.
CURRICULUM
After every world war important changes in public school administration are set in motion. After World War I Secondary Education was defined in seven fundamental objectives : namely, Education for Citizenship; for Mas- tery of Fundamental Subjects; for Vocational Training; for Proper Use of Leisure Time; for Worthy Home Mem- bership; for Health and Physical Fitness; and for Ethical Training. These are sound objectives, none of which will be discarded in the present period of reconversion. In the past twenty-five years too little progress has been made in making these objectives functional in our schools. Col- lege preparation, which has overshadowed our high school curriculum for a century, is gradually losing its sway. Parents everywhere are now sensitive to the fact that our high schools are not per se college preparatory institutions, but are schools for all American youth.
The fruition of this idea will demand a high school curriculum to meet the needs of all the youths of our land. There are two main objectives of this curriculum, namely, to give all pupils a broad knowledge of the world in which they live and work, and to lay the foundations of vocational adjustment for life after school days are over.
Educational experts have not worked out the details of this curriculum but already signs point to certain courses in science, social studies and English to be man- datory of all pupils. For instance, in the proper stages of a pupil's high school career such courses as World Geog- raphy, World History, American History, Problems of Democracy, General Science, Biology, Physiology and English would be required. Such a procedure would ob-
160
viously do away with the free elective system now so much in vogue and give to all high school pupils a com- mon background for democratic citizenship.
SCHOOL PLANTS
After World War I reconversion demanded of the citizens of Agawam that a junior-senior high school should be founded to meet the needs of secondary educa- tion for the town. Reconversion asks now that the town should give proper attention to making repairs and im- provements to the high school building. A detailed ac- count of these needs was presented in my last report. In brief, these improvements center about modern lighting, heating, toilet and stage facilities. Reconversion can wait until the time when building materials are available, but it is hoped that such a date is not far distant.
The elementary schools of the town, with one excep- tion, are quite sufficient for school purposes. The excep- tion is the building in Feeding Hills Center. To reconvert this building, so as to meet the safety requirements of the state, will cost several thousand dollars. If such an investment should be made, the town would still have the old building, a continuing source of expense, inadequate to meet in proper measure the educational needs of that section of the town.
In my judgment the time is at hand for the town to appoint a committee empowered to recommend a site and to present suitable plans for a new elementary school for Feedings Hills. The building should be of the community type in structure, such as the town has afforded to Aga- wam Center.
BUDGETS
In the reconversion period school budgets in most of the towns and cities of our commonwealth will increase. The reasons for this increase in Agawam are as follows : (1) increased salaries to meet the increased cost of liv- ing; (2) several veterans returning to their positions at or near maximum salaries; (3) retirement assessments for veterans; (4) increased pay to substitute teachers; (5) extra teachers in the elementary grades-due to in- creased enrollments; (6) increased clerical help for high school office; (7) increased cost of all supplies, services
161
and equipment; (8) decrease in amount of Federal Funds allotted to Vocational Agriculture and Household Arts.
COMMUNITY AGENCIES
World Wars always accelerate the interests of the public in education. The reconversion period finds the home and the school in closer relationship than ever be- fore in our history. More and more in recent years the home has given over the care of the children to the schools. The home now looks to the school to safeguard the health, physical fitness, recreation and vocational needs of its children. When the home comes to the school to secure such important services, the school is in line to receive valuable assistance. This assistance is now mani- fest in the support given to the schools of Agawam by the P.T.A.'s, the Lions Club, the Legion, the Women's Clubs and the Men's Clubs of the town.
CONCLUSION
The reconversion period finds our schools facing a serious shortage in the supply of elementary teachers- the remedy for this situation is not at hand: finds the secondary school gladdened by the return of the veterans -we have missed them: finds the curriculum of the sec- ondary school prescribing certain studies for all pupils, so that eventually they may become better citizens: finds budgets increasing, everything costs more everywhere: and finds the home and school uniting in a common effort to give the best possible educational opportunities to our boys and girls.
During the war period, the citizens of Agawam gave splendid co-operation to the administrative forces of our schools. The same spirit of co-operation fostered by pa- tience and optimism is needed in the administration of our schools during the period of reconversion.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN J. PHELPS, Superintendent of Schools
162
ATTENDANCE REPORT AND ENROLLMENT FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR
SEPTEMBER 5-DECEMBER 21, 1945
Total Mem- bership
Average Mem- bership
Average Daily At- tendance
Per Cent At- tendance ness
Tardi-
High School
Senior High III
79
78.25
72.86
93.12
40
Senior High II
94
92.26
87.15
94.46
46
Senior High I
107
101.62
91.42
89.97
42
Junior High III
135
131.78
122.52
92.97
74
Junior High VIII-1
29
28.96
27.68
95.58
5
Junior High VIII-2
24
22.89
21.49
93.88
8
Junior High VIII-3
27
26.09
24.26
92.96
8
Junior High VIII-4
26
26.00
24.92
95.84
5
Junior High VII-1
32
31.41
29.95
95.35
12
Junior High VII-2
31
30.09
28.56
93.97
4
Junior High VII-3
32
31.22
29.51
94.28
6
Junior High VII-4
30
29.96
27.82
92.80
7
Special Class
24
22.49
20.88
93.21
28
Agawam Center School
Grade VI
50
47.37
45.28
95.58
3
Grade V
37
35.66
33.33
93.84
5
Grades IV-V
30
28.61
26.94
94.16
3
Grade IV
35
32.06
30.35
94.69
0
Grade III
39
36.36
33.83
91.69
4
Grades II-III
31
28.06
26.02
92.74
8
Grade II
39
35.71
32.45
90.87
1
Grade I-A
30
27.29
25.36
92.90
1
Grade I-B
30
28.22
25.04
88.75
3
North Agawam School
Grade VI
26
25.32
24.60
97.15
2
Grade V
32
28.79
27.33
94.93
2
Grade IV
38
34.43
32.24
93.65
8
Grade III
31
29.97
28.72
95.85
6
Grade II
35
33.50
32.13
95.93
12
Grade I-A
27
26.39
24.63
93.34
4
Grade I-B
16
15.08
13.85
92.50
4
Special Class
20
19.07
17.85
93.60
1
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Springfield Street School
Grade VI
22
19.42
18.89
97.28
3
Grade V
30
29.64
28.51
96.16
33
Grade IV
26
24.81
23.19
93.47
4
Grade III
29
26.56
24.93
93.86
13
Grade II
36
33.96
31.84
93.76
6
Grade I
35
33.46
31.12
93.01
7
Feeding Hills School
Grade VI
19
18.59
17.44
93.81
1
Grades IV-V
24
22.81
21.77
95.44
0
Grades III-IV
24
23.49
22.47
95.70
0
Grades I-II
29
27.40
26.14
95.76
8
Total Membership for Town
1490
Average Membership for Town
1425.05
Average Daily Attendance for Town
1340.27
Per Cent Attendance
94.05
Total Tardiness for Town
427
Total Membership for Town, December 22, 1944
1466
164
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Herein is my eighth annual report from the Junior- Senior High School.
GENERAL COMMENT
Our total victory over our enemies, while considered inevitable because of our powerful, all-out mobilization for war, was no less gratifying when finally won. The same energies, zeal, and cooperation which characterized our efforts during the war must now be directed toward the winning of a lasting and prosperous peace. Men re- turning from duty with the various services must not be allowed to think that their privations and efforts have been in vain.
It was not felt necessary to reorganize drastically the curriculum of the school for the presentation of war ac- tivities, but rather to redirect emphasis in the several fields to achieve the desired result. Accordingly the re- conversion will not be difficult.
The school will be very happy to welcome back the faculty members who have been in the service. They will facilitate greatly the return to normal.
Agawam should be proud of the high school's war record. The pupils participated wholeheartedly in all war activities. They sold a total of $29,302.35 in war stamps and bonds. They aided in all drives. They contributed generously their energy and money to the Red Cross and other war agencies.
SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT
The war which was terminated recently presented an opportunity for a competition between products of the schools of the country. The graduates of this school com- pared very favorably with those from any section of the country. Our alumni were not inferior to any other
165
groups on the same educational level. The percentage of Agawam graduates who earned high ranks in the armed forces and elsewhere was very high.
Even during the distracting influence of the war, both the junior and senior high school honor rolls were laudably large. Good scholarship continues to be a tradi- tion of the school.
The percentage last year of those who earned Pro Merito, the highest and most coveted scholastic honor of the school, was very high. To be elected to that exclusive society it is necessary to maintain an average of 85 per cent or better during four school years. The following named achieved that distinction :
Meredythe Jane Barker Thelma Jane Harrison
Buelah Amerilis Campbell
Roger Folkins Hynes
David Alan Cornfoot John Joseph Keane
Fern Sybil Dearnley Amelia Jean Lango
Edward Donald Gallerani
Elizabeth Magiera
Jane Catherine Gravel Mary Louise McQuesten
Mary Elizabeth Hanrahan Vesta Belden Porter
Florida Tangocci
During the Commencement exercises, prizes signifi- cent of outstanding work in the areas noted were pre- sented to the pupils named below.
Science-Mary McQuesten and David Cornfoot Mathematics-David Cornfoot
History-Meredythe Barker
Valedictorian-Mary McQuesten English-Mary McQuesten and David Cornfoot Art-Florida Tangocci Music-Jane Gravel
Good Pilgrim (Citizenship)- Fern Dearnley Commercial-Doris Govoni Attendance-Buelah A. Campbell
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Extra-curricular activities are a very valuable sup- plement to the formal school presentations. They offer
166
an opportunity for the presentation of many projects which could not be introduced in any other form. Pupils in all intelligence levels may participate in the majority of extra-curricular fields with the same degree of success. Thus confidence is developed and general improvement re- sults.
During last year some curtailment was necessary be- cause of governmental restrictions and shortage of equip- ment. But a generous list was offered, and the results are tabulated below:
Basketball season, December 12-February 13 Won 12-Lost 3
Tri-Hi Club Activities
Personality Club Activities
Oratorical Contest
Student Council Dance
Upsilon Chi Club Activities
Sophomore Party
Agawam Masque Dance
Senior Play
Baseball Season-(Resumed after lapse of three years.) Won 4-Lost 5
Promenade Senior Banquet
"Agawam Mirror"-Won second place in Columbia Scholastic Press Association contest
Football Season :
Played six-Won six. Acclaimed Western Mas- sachusetts Champions
Operetta-"The Pirates of Penzance"
Junior Cabaret-"The Gay Nineties"
Lions Club Banquet to Football Team "Senior Kid Party"
A well-balanced program of student-organized, pro- fessional, and inspirational assembly programs were pre- sented.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The original building was finished in 1922, and since that time little has been done to improve the toilet and shower facilities until, at the present time, entirely new
167
equipment is necessary in the boys' basement, and some replacements in the girls'. In addition the auditorium is badly in need of paint. It is hoped that these projects may be begun in the near future.
APPRECIATION
The new athletic field adjacent to the Agawam Cen- ter School was dedicated and named Memorial Field be- fore the annual game with West Springfield. The school is grateful to Mr. Clifford M. Granger, Chairman of the School Committee and Field Committee, and to Mr. Benja- min J. Phelps, Superintendent of Schools, for their very effective contributions to the exercises. Many favorable comments have been received on the whole lay-out. The consensus declares the playing surface second to none in this area. The Field Committee may well be proud of their work.
CONCLUSION
During the year I have appreciated your aid, Mr. Phelps; the support of the School Committee; the loyalty of the faculty; and the cooperation of the student body. To all, I am deeply grateful.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERICK T. DACEY, Principal
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REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR
To the Superintendent of Schools :
As Director of Guidance for the Agawam Junior- Senior High School, I am presenting my first annual re- port.
It is a well-known fact that all teachers do much in the field of guidance. I realize that there is so much more a guidance director could do for the youth of Agawam if he were only granted time to carry out his ideas.
With the time alloted to me at present, I have been able to revise the Agawam Guide with the help of a very cooperative committee, which was appointed by you. This committee comprised of Miss Dickerman, Miss Lynch, Miss Miller, Miss Belyea, Miss Phelps, Mr. Wilkinson, Mr. Langlois, and Principal Dacey worked together preparing this booklet for the publisher. It was my desire to have every student in the school own one of these small book- lets. It contained timely words of advice from the super- intendent and principal, also policies regarding the ad- ministration of the school, general rules and regulations, program of studies, and other information of value to any student. I am pleased to state that practically every mem- ber of the school purchased one of these Guides which cost ten cents. The home-room teachers discussed the ma- terial in it with their students. I feel that it did much to- ward giving each pupil a clear understanding of his school and what was expected of him.
Last April I interviewed all of the eighth grade stu- dents individually, so that I could assist them in selecting their course of study before entering high school. I want to state here that this interviewing helped many un- decided pupils in choosing the curriculum most suited for them.
It is the purpose of this department to keep all of the students, especially the Seniors, informed, about all scholarships offered by companies, civic groups, and col-
169
leges. There are many valuable ones offered today and I want to encourage as many Seniors as are eligible to com- pete for these prizes.
With the aid of the eighth grade teachers we com- pleted a testing program which provides the school as well as the parents with valuable information. One is an intelligence and the other is an achievement test.
I am well pleased with the excellent space and furni- ture which have been obtained for the guidance office, se- cured when the rationing board was closed. I have all the necessary college bulletins and occupational informa- tion needed to help students who plan to continue their education or wish to know about a specific occupation. I also have some excellent filing cabinets, and eventually, I hope to have a folder containing selected information about each student in our school.
The guidance office has been instituted to assist stu- dents and parents. Due to the lack of time I am unable to interview all of the high school students, but I do see any person who requests helpful information. I will be more than pleased to talk with any parent. I want them to know that I am available to assist them, as well as the students, in making the right decisions.
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