Town of Arlington annual report 1941, Part 21

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1941
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 486


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The report of the treasurer of the High School Ath- letic Association rendered December 15, 1941 shows all bills paid and bank balances totaling $3,144.22. Arlington High School maintains an efficient athletic department with organized teams in all sports. All expenses are met by ad- mission charges to the various games, football bringing in the largest revenue. During 1941 all sports, except football, were conducted at a loss. In some sports, such as track,


421


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


cross country, golf and tennis, no revenue whatever is re- ceived. The athletic association also bears the expenses for the girls' teams in field hockey, baseball, basketball, and tennis from which no revenue is derived. Besides the sports already mentioned, teams are maintained in baseball, bas- ket ball and hockey. We appropriate $2500. in our budget for coaches' salaries for the supervision of these teams. The townspeople should feel proud of the quantity and quality of the athletic teams representing the high school.


For further information regarding the operation of your school department, we respectfully refer you to the re- port of the Superintendent of Schools.


We regret to record the passing of two teachers who died in service during 1941 :


Agnes McCabe, who began service in Arlington in Sep- tember, 1926. At the time of her death in January, 1941, she was a teacher at the Peirce School.


Alice Treat, who began service in the high school in September, 1920. At the time of her death in March, 1941, she was Head of the English Department in the Senior High School.


3


Many of the townspeople can attest to the influence for good of these splendid teachers and the sorrow occasioned by their passing.


We pay tribute to seven of our teachers who retired in 1941:


Sara M. Henderson with thirty-nine years of service to the Arlington schools, and at the time of her retirement in June was a teacher of grade three at the Crosby School.


Sarah J. Bullock with thirty-eight years of service, and at the time of her retirement in June was Head of the Mathematics Department at the Senior High School.


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Alice W. King retired December 1, began service in Arlington in September, 1921. At the time.of her retire- ment she was teacher of the fifth grade in the Hardy School.


Alice A. Preston, Head of the Latin Department at the Senior High School, began service here in September, 1922, and retired in June.


Amy D. Young began service here in September, 1919, and at the time of her retirement in June was second grade teacher at the Locke School.


Mrs. May P. Browne began service here in September, 1924, and at the time of her retirement in June was second grade teacher at the Russell School.


Mary Elizabeth O'Connor, Supervisor of Elementary Education, began service in Arlington March, 1938 and re- tired September, 1941.


The Committee expresses its gratitude to all of them for their long period of faithful service, for their loyalty and for their valuable contributions to the educational sys- tem of Arlington. They have made a distinct contribution to the system and a lasting impression on many of our citi- zens who were their pupils.


1


We express our appreciation to the school officials, teachers, and employees for their loyal support. We thank the Town officials, members of boards and departments and the citizens of the Town for their cooperation.


Respectfully submitted,


(Signed) JOSEPH J. BEVINS, Chairman.


January, 1942.


423


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1941


To the School Committee of Arlington,


Ladies and Gentlemen :


I hereby submit my fifth annual report as Superin- tendent of Schools in the Town of Arlington. The report deals with some details of our school system which ought to be of public interest. There are many phases of school work which should be covered by a report of this kind. To this end I have asked the Senior and Junior High School Principals, the Elementary Supervisor, the Director of Guidance, and the Supervisor of Maintenance to submit re- ports of their work to me. I am, therefore, including por- tions of these reports as a part of my annual report.


The work of the schools has gone steadily forward dur- ing the past year. The plans for improvement which the Committee has approved from time to time have been put into operation. Progress has been made in various di- rections as the succeeding pages of this report will show. The best progress, however, which any school system can make is not found in the new projects which may be un- dertaken from time to time, but consist in the steady devel- opment of many minor improvements in school organiza- tion and classroom procedure of a non-spectacular nature. Indeed the best school achievement return is that which undertakes to solve its minor problems with as much enthu- siasm and interest as those which are more readily noted by the newspapers and the general public. Much of the best advancement that a school system can make is impossible to include in a school report. Much of your Superintend- ent's time is consumed with apparently small adjustments or adjustments of such a nature as to keep the school sys- tem growing in a progressive manner.


ENROLLMENT BY GRADES, DECEMBER, 1936-1937-1938-1939-1940-1941


Dec., 1936


Dec., 1937


Dec., 1938


Dec., 1939


Dec., 1940


Dec., 1941


High School


Post Graduates


39


31


39


42


33


12


Seniors


313


333


351


424


420


445


Juniors


...


544


537


637


590


634


617


Sophomores


692


729


724


764


768


693


Industrial Class


32


28


30


23


27


20


Total High School


1,620


1,658


1,781


1,843


1,882


1,787


Junior High


Grade 9


556


586


590


632


561


561


Grade 8


611


593


641


575


577


564


Grade 7


615


656


569


590


586


531


Total Junior High


1,782


1,835


1,800


1,797


1,724


1,656


Junior High Industrial Arts


73


76


75


72


57


57


-


.


.


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Elementary


Grade 6


646


580


596


602


530


506


Grade 5


587


593


599


558


505


533


Grade 4


597


597


551


516


518


502


Grade 3


592


554


530


519


500


470


Grade 2


584


542


525


492


477


466


Grade 1


508


507


476


482


485


497


Special Class


.......... ...


...


27


27


27


20


20


23


Total Elementary


3,541


3,400


3,304


3,189


3,035


2,997


Total of all grades.


7,016


6,969


6,960


6,901


6,698


6,497


..


...


....


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


425


426


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ENROLLMENT


You will note by the accompanying table of enrollment that, while there has been a decrease of two hundred one pupils in the enrollment during the past year, this decrease has not been entirely in the elementary schools, as has been the trend during the past few years. In fact, there has been a decrease of only thirty-eight pupils in the elemen- tary schools, while in the junior high schools there has been a decrease of sixty-eight pupils and in the Senior High School a decrease of ninety-five pupils. I mentioned in my report of last year that the Senior High School enrollment had reached its peak. The decrease in the junior and senior high schools will continue for three or four years at least, unless we have a material growth in population due to building in the Town.


SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL


Following are excerpts from the report of the princi- pal of the Senior High School :


"Because of the smaller enrollment, it was possible to organize the school this year with three teachers less than last year. After school opened in September, Mr. Ray L. Ellis was engaged to teach English and Mathematics. This was necessary because of very large classes in those two subjects and in Chemistry. We still find it necessary to use some rooms for home rooms which are poorly adapted to this purpose such as the library, science rooms, sewing and cooking rooms.


"At the close of the year last June, Mr. Douglass L. Eaton was appointed head of the mathematics department. Mr. Eaton, who came to the school in September 1929, has taught mathematics successfully for many years and has done considerable graduate study of the subject. Mr. Charles R. Campbell, who came to the school in September


427


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


1937, was appointed head of the English Department. He has had adequate experience in the study and the teaching of this subject. Both of these men have had administrative experience which will be of great value to them in their new positions.


"Because of the decrease in the number of pupils who elected to study Latin in the following year, no one was ap- pointed head of the Latin Department. Miss Dorothy Rounds, who has been teaching in this department since 1930, was given the more advanced Latin courses which Miss Preston had taught so many years.


"In former reports I have emphasized the need and value of the Guidance Department. During the past year this department under the excellent and skilful manage- ment of the director, Mr. Bert Roens, and his assistant, Miss Eleanor Collins, has increased its usefulness to the school to a great extent. Mr. Roens' report will deal specif- ically with the work of the department during the past year and will be, I feel sure, of great interest. The School Committee voted toward the end of last year to put this department under the direct administration of the school department. Up to that time it had been operated entirely as a project by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. To that institution we owe much, I believe, for initiating this guidance work in our school and for proving its great value to us."


JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS


Following is report of the junior high school principals for the past year :


"Courses of Study


Courses of study in Science and French were written by representative teachers of those subjects. The tentative courses of study previously outlined in Social Studies,


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


English and Mathematics, and used the past school year on an experimental basis, were found to be most satisfactory, and it is planned to continue their use. In Business Arith- metic a new text was adopted resulting in some adaptation to the present course of study for the coming year. Courses of study for Health and Guidance are being planned.


"Safety


A drive for safety on the streets was led in order to improve traffic conditions.


"Reading


Mr. Keating, in his meetings, reported an improvement in the elementary schools in the ability of the pupils to read. It now becomes the task for junior high schools to continue instruction in reading for those who need it. As a result, reading classes for the last-named group are in operation in each of the three junior high schools. As the program in the elementary schools improves, such in- struction will be less necessary in the upper grades.


"National Education Association


The Superintendent arranged to have Mr. Nixon, Sec- retary of the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation, speak to the teachers in regard to membership in their own organi- zation, the National Education Association. Afterward, a very successful drive was carried on in all the schools.


"Textbooks


At the November 12th meeting of the junior high school principals a definite improvement was noted in the textbook situation by all principals.


"Air Raid Drills


At the present time, each school is studying individual- ly the problem of proper air raid drills in order to main- tain the safety of pupils entrusted to us."


429


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS


Miss Gregory, our supervisor of elementary education, has been with us only a short time, but already has proven to us that she will give a high type of leadership to the teachers in the elementary grades. Below are excerpts from her report.


"Courses of Study


In planning my new work I found that committees had already been appointed to begin work on making a course of study in English and one in Safety. These committees were partially reorganized in order to have a representa- tive from each elementary school, thereby making it pos- sible for the principal and teachers of each building to get a first-hand report of the work being done. We have di- vided the work of each course of study into eight units, and the teachers have chosen a unit in which they are interested to give special study. Half of the teachers in each building are working intensively on English and half on Safety, but there is opportunity for general discussion in either subject as the need arises. The eight chairmen for each course, who serve as a steering committee, meet with the Supervis- or at stated times and plan the work to be accomplished. These joint meetings also serve as a clearing-house for dis- cussing problems which arise in regard to the courses and assure uniformity and continuity of subject matter. Each chairman in turn conducts as many meetings in her build- ing as she finds necessary to complete the work which has been outlined. We expect that both courses will be completed in June. Each teacher is working willingly and faithfully and appears eager to give this special service.


Principals' meetings are held at least once a month to discuss common problems and to unify the work of the ele- mentary grades.


"Testing program


Sixty-six pupils who needed special study were tested


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


by Dr. Lincoln in December. Dr. Lincoln's recommendations for each child have been carefully analyzed by the Super- visor, principals and teachers and constructive follow-up treatment is in process. I have had conferences with par- ents and have made several home visits in regard to pupils whom it seemed wise to transfer to special classes or to the Junior High Industrial Arts School, or to be given part time work at the Boston University Clinic for Remedial Reading. I wish to make special mention of these parents who have been so understanding and cooperative in follow- ing our recommendations and who have so generously ex- pressed appreciation of our efforts.


"First Grade Entrants


Of the cases tested by Dr. Lincoln, nineteen are first graders, and among that number are ten who are rated as immature for Grade I. That leads me to refer to last year's record of first grade repeaters which numbered forty-eight. Without doubt many of these pupils would have been defin- itely better off to have waited a year before entering school. Because some children mature more slowly than others, their readiness to do things comes at different ages. We do not expect children even in the same family to creep, walk, or to use their playthings at the same age. It seems reasonable to assume that all children are not able to achieve success in Grade I at the same chronological age. Learning to read is a complex process, and physical, social and emotional factors, as well as mental, affect the acqui- sition of this skill. Mental age is a better criterion of suc- cess in reading than is chronological age. Studies of chil- dren's progress in Grade 1 and later school work show that if we wait until children are at least six years, or bet- ter still, six and one-half years of age mentally, we shall be more certain that they are ready to read. It is important that a child experience successful achievement in his be- ginning school work, and in order to accomplish this, it is necessary for him to be mentally able to cope with the sit- uation. To force a child to do a particular type of activity


431


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


before he is able, accomplishes little so far as the desired activity is concerned and may result in discouragement and maladjustment."


SPEECH CORRECTION CLASSES


Last year the School Committee engaged Mrs. Zulma Simonds to start speech correction classes. Mrs. Simonds is a teacher of long experience and special training in this work. Previously, the Arlington School Department has done very little in this field, meeting the needs of only twelve or fifteen pupils through Boston schools of speech correction. This year Mrs. Simonds is giving three days a week in our various elementary schools and has had an en- rollment the past four months of one hundred and seventy- seven pupils, twenty-eight of whom have had their difficul- ties corrected and have been discharged. This is very val- uable work, and at the present time we are helping a large number of children.


PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT


As continued evidence of the professional spirit and growth of our teachers approximately fifty have pursued courses during the past year which were of cultural and professional value. There is a keen desire on the part of most of our teachers to make themselves more efficient and to grow in their ability to do better and more effective teaching. In a very real sense the names of the teachers who have taken these courses should be on an honor roll.


CHANGES IN THE TEACHING STAFF


Resignations:


Lois E. Parks-High School, Home Economics


Marjorie H. Burr-Junior High School Center, Home Economics


Rita Ring-Junior High School Center, Arithmetic and English


Mary J. Herlihy-Junior High School East, French


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Darrell Brown-Junior High School East, English Gertrude Bruns-Junior High School West, Physical Education


Marion L. Brine-Junior High School West, Social Studies


Marguerite Holland-Crosby School, Grade V Natalie E. Burke-Cutter School, Grade III Georgie A. Melia-Hardy School, Grade VI Margaret C. Ahern-Hardy School, Grade IV M. Elizabeth Shannon-Peirce School, Grade II Ruth E. Madden-Peirce School, Grade VI Mildred G. Kidder-Piano Classes


Retirements:


Sarah J. Bullock-High School, Head of Mathematics Department


Alice A. Preston-High School, Head of Latin Depart- ment


Sara M. Henderson-Crosby School, Grade III


Alice W. King-Hardy School, Grade V


Amy D. Young-Locke School, Grade II


May P. Browne-Russell School, Grade II


Mary Elizabeth O'Connor-Supervisor of Elementary Education


Deceased:


Alice Treat-High School, Head of English Depart- ment


Agnes M. McCabe-Peirce School, Grade VI


Leaves of Absence


John A.Geary-Junior High School West, printing


· Effie M. Pottle-Russell School, Grade IV


Appointments:


Dorothy E. Anderson-High School, Home Economics


433


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Ray L. Ellis, substitute-High School, Mathematics and Chemistry


Dorothy M. Valentine Junior High School Center, Home Economics


Arthur L. Tuohy-Junior High School East, English John E. Howard, substitute Junior High School West, Printing


Marjorie K. Ionta-Junior High School West, Physical Education


Mabel R. Locke-Crosby School, Grade IV


Marcella Tierney-Crosby School, Grade III


Edith M. Osterlund-Cutter School, Grade III


Janet C. Rutherford-Hardy School, Grade IV


Hazel R. Heath-Hardy School, Grade IV Rena E. Lilly-Hardy School, Grade V Helen D. Conley-Peirce School, Grade II Gertrude F. Donahoe-Peirce School, Grade VI Ruth Hickey, substitute-Peirce School, Grade I Cleone A. Cummings-Russell School, Grade II May M. Coffey, substitute-Russell School, Grade II Ruby M. Wilkins-Russell School, Grade VI


Katherine T. Gregory-Supervisor of Elementary Education


Americo Chaves-Piano Classes


Transfers:


Douglass L. Eaton-High School, from position as Mathematics teacher to position as head of Mathe- matics Department


Charles R. Campbell-High School, from position as teacher of French to position as head of English Department


James A. Smith-from Junior High School West to Junior High School Center, as Mathematics teach- er


Beryl K. Sullivan-from Russell School, Grade VI, to Junior High School West as Mathematics teacher


434


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Dorothy W. Byrne-from Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade at Hardy School


Of the changes in personnel in 1941, thirteen of our teachers resigned to be married, one entered another voca- tion, seven retired, two died and two took leaves of ab- sence. Due to reorganization, the number of teachers in the High School is two less and in the Elementary Schools one less.


·


MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT


Following is a list of some of the larger items of re- pair accomplished during the past year, under the direction of the Supervisor of Maintenance.


High School


Painting of the entire outside of both the old and new buildings.


Repointing of brickwork of exterior wall at rear of stage in old building and a section of third floor corridor wall.


Installation of a new center wall between two large steam boilers in old building.


Installation of new grate bars in boiler No. 2.


Repairs and replacements on all window shades in both buildings.


Replacement of refrigeration unit in large refrigerator.


Junior High School Center


Installation of asphalt tile flooring in rooms 6, 7 and 8.


435


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Installation of one hundred and four sets of new ped- estal type classroom furniture in rooms 6, 7 and 8.


Installation of Mason thresholds at front and rear entrance doors.


Junior High Schol East


Installation of new roof over the gymnasium and. auditorium.


Installation of forty-two sets of new pedestal type classroom furniture in music room.


Replacement of lock cylinders on all outside doors.


Repairs and replacements on all window shades.


Repairs to brickwork on boiler No. 2.


Painting of all outside doors.


Junior High School West


Repointing of brickwork on southeast wall and re- pointing of capstone.


Painting of cooking room, toilets, shower rooms, rooms, 28 and 29, and touching up in other rooms.


Removal of partition between rooms 26 and 27.


Repairs and replacements on all window shades in building.


Repair of front entrance steps by the W.P.A.


Installation of asphalt flooring in cooking room.


Damaged plaster around windows and walls in rooms. 4, 24 and 25 replaced and patched.


Painting of all outside doors.


436


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Junior High Industrial Arts School


Completion of new cooking room.


Brackett School


Cement curbing at front of building replaced by the W.P.A.


Cement capping placed on present stone wall around playground by the W.P.A.


Crosby School


Installation of new cement walks on the Winter and Oxford Streets sides of building by the W.P.A.


Repairs on brickwork of boiler No. 2.


Remodeling of electric wiring in parts of the building.


Outside gong replaced.


Wood floors patched throughout the building.


Installation and piping of a hot water system to cer- tain fixtures.


Repairs and replacements on all window shades.


Application of Gulf sani-soil to the playground.


Cutter School


Painting of all outside doors.


Repair of stairway plaster on Robbins Road side.


Installation of new grate bars in boiler No. 1.


Painting of classrooms 9, 10, 11, 12 and 16 and teach- ers' room.


437


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Repair of brick work in boilers No. 1 and No. 2.


Installation of Mason stair treads at the boys' entrance door.


Hardy School


Repairs and replacements on all window shades.


Painting of all outside doors.


Locke School


Six hundred square feet of new pine flooring laid in the lobby on the Paul Revere Road side of building.


Installation of a wash bowl with all connections in the clinic room.


Patching of loose plaster in first floor corridor ceiling and in classrooms.


Painting of boys' and girls' sanitaries on second floor and principal's office.


Painting all outside doors.


Parmenter School


Completion of new basement store room by the W. P. A.


Twenty pupils' desks stripped and refinished.


Peirce School


New linoleum laid in the principal's office.


Painting of all outside doors.


Painting of rail fence.


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Russell School


Removal of poor section of flag pole.


Erection of wooden fence between school and adjoin- ing property.


All Schools


Repair and painting of all flag poles.


In addition to the above there were many jobs accom- plished by our Maintenance Department, too numerous to be listed in this report.


ACCOMPLISHMENTS


Only two of the seven recommendations which your Superintendent made in his report last year can now be called accomplishments. One was the recommendation that guidance study be continued and made a permanent part of our school curriculum. Mr. Roens, whose report is ap- pended, has charge of this work at the present time. The other recommendation which was carried out was the painting of the exterior of the High School.


RECOMMENDATIONS


I repeat my recommendation which has been made for several years in regard to a vocational school. The need for this type of training is greater than ever before. We have a number of boys in our High School, and many who have left school, for whom there is a distinct need of vocational training. While there will be considerable cost to the intro- duction of this type of training, nevertheless, it is bound to result in a reduction in the enrollment in the academic High School, with a commensurate saving in teaching per- sonnel there eventually.


439


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


I wish again to urge you to install a telephone and sound system in the High School. While there has been a dire need of this service for a number of years, it is needed more than ever now, due to the defense situation. There are approximately 1800 pupils in this building and it is impos- sible to get a message to one of them without sending some one, as I called to your attention in my previous report. This necessitates pupils leaving their work to do errands. Every other school in the system has telephone service within the building, and there is more need for it in the High School than in any other building in the department. I would suggest that an Article be placed in the Warrant asking the Town to give consideration to this problem.




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