USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1949 > Part 19
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2. To develop physical fitness through big-muscle activity.
3. To provide activities that will meet the needs, interests and capacity of the pupils.
b. Social Objectives :
1. To provide opportunities to develop wholesome social attitudes, cooper- ation, leadership, followership.
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2. To promote for the worthy use of leisure time through recreation ac- tivities.
c. Intellectual Objectives : . .
1. To provide the pupil with instruction and development of knowledges, concepts, education activities.
The next procedure was the construction of a course of study through the cooperative efforts of the entire Physical Education staff. Seasonal activities were selected and adapted to meet the needs, capacities and interests of the pupils, so that desirable outcomes may be achieved. This was accomplished through the assignment of teaching units to individual members of the staff. For example, one member constructed a unit on basketball, another on tumbling and apparatus, another on individual and combative sports, etc.
The Department of Health and Physical Ed- ucation plans to offer a program for remedial or restricted work. The counsel and guidance in this work will be augmented by the advice of school and family physicians.
The director visited many high schools in the State to view program organization and admin- istration. Monthly conferences were held with the physical education staff of Boston University.
We hope to expand the program to more fully meet the needs of the pupils of Arlington. The new gymnasium at Junior High School West will aid considerably in conducting a better program in the future.
Further accomplishments in the school department follow in the reports of principals and supervisors which are printed in toto or in excerpts.
Report of the Principal of the High School:
The September enrollment was 1461, of which only two were veterans, seventeen post graduates, and eighty-eight in the Vocational School. Although this represents a sub- stantial decrease from the 1559 of September, 1948, there are indications that the annual decrease which has occurred since 1940 will not continue. We think that we have nearly
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reached the low point, but that there will not be a sub- stantial increase for the next two or three years. There is a large increase in the enrollment of the first grade this year which leads us to predict that there will be a large increase in high school enrollment in the years 1957 to 1960.
Although the enrollment has dropped, the rooms in the building are in use nearly all of the time. Classes which were formerly too large by national standards have been reduced to enable teachers to do more effective work, and in line with policies in nearby comparable schools.
In the two years of 1937 and 1938 when enrollment was approaching its peak, eighteen percent of the graduates had spent four years in the senior high school; in 1948 and 1949, less than five percent had required the extra year to earn a diploma. The difference is about sixty pupils. The saving in school costs is obvious. While we know that the decrease is due in large part to the effective work of the Guidance Department, it is also one result of the decrease in size of classes which enables the teachers to do more effective work with individuals and so reduce the number of failures.
Education for Life Adjustment is the name given to a phase of education currently under discussion as a function of the secondary school, especially as it applies to the group of pupils who are neither preparing for college nor for vocational competency. A school attempts to meet this function in one way by maintaining a continuous study of the subjects which are or should be taught, and of the material presented therein. The department heads are concerned with subject matter. The following changes in courses are in progress :
Consumer education has been added as a half-year course and the year course in salesmanship has been condensed to a half year. Pupils who elect salesmanship will usually continue with consumer education, although either course may be taken separately. Consumer education is one of the courses recently recommended by National and State Departments of Education.
Driver Training is to be an after-school activity for this year. The Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Education, police departments and other agencies are urging high schools to introduce this work as part of a program to reduce automobile accidents. Statistics show that the proportion of accidents among young drivers who
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have had the course in school is much lower than the general average for their age group. We have taught the academic or theoretical part of the course for several years, but not practice in actual driving. Through the courtesy of the Charles B. Perham Company, the school will have a car equipped with dual controls and driving classes will start soon. The complete course requires fifteen hours of class- room instruction and twenty hours in the automobile, of which about five are actual driving and the rest observation as one of a group of four with the instructor.
Progressive teachers are increasing their use of motion pictures, film strips, slides, records, recorders, and other mechanical devices as aids to effective teaching. Mr. Perley H. Thompson has been appointed coordinator of this type of instruction in the high school in addition to his duties as social studies teacher. We are gradually increasing the equipment needed and the number of rooms that can be darkened for this work. We have held a college-level course for teachers in Arlington in the "Use of Audio- Visual Aids in Teaching." Plans for completing the build- ing should include a room that would seat several classes and be available for audio-visual work at any time.
The Guidance Department:
The activities of the Guidance Department extend throughout the entire school system. In the elementary schools the department is concerned with indvidual ad- justment problems referred by the Elementary School Supervisor and the principals. For the fourth year, the annual cumulative records prepared for the Guidance Department by each of the elementary school teachers on each of her pupils are of inestimable value in carrying on the work of the department.
Within the junior high schools there is a group guidance program in cach of the three grades. The ninth grade program is directly under the supervision of the Guidance Department and the seventh and eight grade programs are supervised by the principals of the respective schools. In the so-called "self-appraisal" ninth grade program, a number of achievement, aptitude, and interest tests are administered to pupils by the junior high school guidance teachers. The pupils plot their own test results on a chart which is interpreted to them by their guidance teachers. In addition, special evening meetings are conducted in each of the junior high schools to which parents are invited.
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At that time they are given a copy of their child's self- appraisal chart which is interpreted to them by the Director. The high school program of studies is explained and the self-appraisal charts, along with school grades, are pointed out as the basis upon which course selection for high school may be made. This is the third year of the ninth grade self-appraisal guidance program and, despite minor difficulties which are being ironed out, it is proving to be one of the most valuable services the department has to offer to the pupils.
The guidance program in the high school is primarily concerned with individual counseling. Each pupil is inter- viewed by a counselor several times during the course of the year at which time the pupil's academic program and progress are discussed, and plans for the future are for- mulated. As may be expected, some pupils may be taken care of adequately in three or four interviews during the year, whereas others must be interviewed once or twice a week throughout the school year. Since parents are vitally concerned with these problems and discussions, a great deal of time is spent by the counselors in interviewing parents. Every effort is made by the counselors to become acquainted with as many of their counselees' parents as pos- sible.
A study has just been completed of the class of 1949 and it is most gratifying to find that for the most part these graduates are following through on plans previously formulated with their counselors. A one hundred percent follow-up of the 461 graduates indicates that almost fifty- four percent. of the class are attending schools and colleges, and of these, thirty-one percent. of the class are attending four year, degree granting colleges and universities. The other twenty-three percent. of this group are full-time stu- dents at junior colleges, business, preparatory, hospital training, art, and technical schools. Colleges represented by this graduating class include most of the New England institutions as well as University of Michigan, Barnard, University of Indiana, Otterbein, Tulane, University of Idaho, and University of Miami.
It is to be noted that in addition to the $11,000. awarded to Arlington High School graduates this year from the Thompson Fund, a total of $13,875. was awarded in college scholarships to the graduates of the class of 1949. This department was directly responsible for bringing scholar- ship information to the attention of these pupils and for following through with the colleges concerned.
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Those who have gone into full-time employment make up forty-one percent. of the entire class. Of this group more than half were placed through the Guidance Department prior to their graduation, with the placement activity con- tinuing through the summer months. At the time of the survey all but six boys and two girls among those seeking work were employed.
General office workers, office machine operators, store clerks, typists, stenographers, messengers, and stock clerks account for three-fifths of those employed. These people were definitely trained in the high school for the jobs in which they are now engaged.
A few boys have been placed in building construction as carpenters' helpers, and apprentices in masonry, brick- laying, plumbing and drafting. However, the number of boys for whom openings could be found as apprentices in trades this year is the smallest of any year since 1939. For example, in previous years the Guidance Department was able to place six or eight boys as apprentice electricians. This year a number of excellent candidates for electrical work were available but not one could be placed in such apprenticeship work.
It is interesting to note that of those in full-time em- ployment, thirteen percent. have been encouraged by their counselors to take night courses of one kind or another.
A survey of the class of 1949 will be made again in 1955 in accordance with the policy of the Guidance Department of surveying each graduating class one year after grad- uation and again six years after graduation . In this way the work of the Guidance Department can be evaluated and assistance provided to those graduates who need or desire it.
A survey of the class of 1943 made during this year resulted in replies from eighty-six and four-tenths percent. of the graduates. Of the 477 members of the class, seven are deceased and sixty-six could not be located through post office directories or through former school friends. Although this class graduated during the war years its members seem, at this time, to have made a satisfactory adjustment as a group. Because the follow-up of this class has revealed pertinent data on how war affects the plans and future of pupils who graduate from high school into the armed forces, the Guidance Department is preparing an analysis for publication.
Another active project during this year has been assisting pupils to obtain part-time work after school hours.
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About thirty percent. of our high school pupils are so em- ployed and more than half of these have obtained their employment directly through the Guidance Office. Part- time job opportunities have been more plentiful for girls than for boys. During the month of November, for example, fifty-five girls as compared to eight boys were placed by the department. These part-time workers average sixteen and seven-tenths hours of work per week and their average pay is $9.85 per week. For a number of pupils these jobs serve as invaluable tryout experiences.
A project which has been in the planning stage for several years will finally get under way during the summer of 1950. A need has been felt for some time for providing superior pupils in high school with more opportunity in creative writing, art and music than is now available to them in the present course of study. The Guidance Depart- ment, in cooperation with the Arlington Youth Council, has organized the Arlington Summer Institute whose function will be to provide a group of college preparatory pupils opportunities in the Arts beyond those which are available in a high school curriculum. Funds for this project are being provided by a friend and former graduate of the Arl- ington Public Schools, Mrs. Chester Noyes Greenough, whose mother, Mrs. Henry Hornblower, served on the Arlington School Committee for a number of years.
The manuscript of the Harvard-Arlington Guidance Study which had its inception in 1938 is now in the process of being published by the Harvard University Press and will be ready for distribution in the spring of 1950. Its title will be "Guidance of American Youth" and it will contain an introduction by James B. Conant, President of Harvard University.
The Junior High Schools:
The Junior High School principals of Arlington deem it an honor to present herewith the annual report for the year of 1949. The reorganization of the physical education course for the boys and the introduction of an intramural game program under the direction of teachers indicates real progress. The appointment of Mr. Russell E. Peterson to head this program has brought effective leadership and a wide experience to help all of us in the planning of this program. Already the number of individuals taking part has increased and the enrichment of the program has attracted many who otherwise would have ignored this activity.
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Single session has been adopted throughout the junior high schools in Arlington. This has led to a re-scheduling of the school day. It makes added facilities imperative. Already at the Junior High School West, a hot lunch pro- gram is functioning daily. This school serves as many as 250 warm, complete meals each school day. In addition, it serves sandwiches and milk. Both the Junior High School East and the Junior High School Center need facilities. Careful study of these buildings is essential to plan adequate lunchroom facilities to take care of not only the present population but also the future growth.
The principals of the Junior High Schools are grateful to the department heads from Senior High School who have visited and cooperated in the improvement of instruction.
Report of the Supervisor of Elementary Education:
In accordance with my report of last year the in-service professional improvement of teachers has been definitely encouraged. At the present time nearly fifty of our ele- mentary teachers and principals are attending a stimulating and practical course, "The Teaching of the Social Studies," which is being given in Arlington by Dr. Elizabeth Foster of Worcester State Teachers' College. The course, which deals with modern teaching methods-emphasizing unit activity, is built around the tentative course of study which is under preparation by an enthusiastic and efficient Social Studies Committee.
Curriculum revision in all subject areas has been con- tinued. I wish to pay tribute to the principals, who have acted as chairmen, and to all the teachers who have worked so faithfully and given so freely of their time to the com- mittee assignments.
A new Pupil Progress Record has been introduced which is an attempt to record the achievement of each child in relation to his ability, his health, his attitude toward work, and his cooperation with his group.
The aim of the school is to have every child work dili- gently up to his capacity. An arbitrary standard cannot be set and every child expected to attain it or else be con- sidered a failure. Each pupil must be accepted at the point where the teacher finds him and challenged to reach a goal commensurate with his ability. If he does the best work of which he is capable, his efforts should be considered satisfactory. It is not fair to compare one child's progress with that of other children. An enrichment program is planned for children who work rapidly and accurately.
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These pupils not only benefit personally but also give en- joyable and valuable information, when they report on their research, to the pupils who are unable to achieve the maximum program.
Of equal importance to growth in scholarship is growth in citizenship which has been given a prominent place on the new Progress Record. Children must be given oppor- tunities to develop attitudes, understandings, appreciations and ideals which will enable them to live cooperatively and graciously in a democratic society.
The new Pupil Progress Record was issued for the first time on December sixteenth and gives indication that it has been well accepted by parents and children as a step forward in reporting the progress of pupils to their parents. How- ever, no form of report is entirely adequate for all cases. Whenever it becomes evident that there is insecurity in the mind of the child or when parents lack understanding of the intention of the teacher, the Progress Record should be supplemented by personal conferences. Parents are urged to visit the school and confer with the teacher that a better understanding may be attained. The education of a child is a cooperative endeavor of the home and the school and the best results can be accomplished only when there is complete harmony between the partnership.
The Vocational High School:
The Vocational High School, because of its increased enrollment during the last four years, was faced with some challenging problems during 1949. To meet the require- ments of our pupils and parents, more floor space is needed immediately. The congestion in our machine shop has become more acute this year because of the acquisition of new machines to keep us abreast with the industrial and technical advancements. The Massachusetts Department of Education has recently sent us two grinding machines valued at over $6,000. Distribution of Army and Navy surplus equipment from the same source was a great factor in the improvement of our radio and television work during 1949.
One of the important influences contributing to the de- velopment of the Vocational High School is the cooperation of vocational guidance and general education. Increasingly we have found that vocational training involves a combi- nation of the mental and manual and that these two aspects of the educational program are supplemental to, and support each other.
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Vocational education in Arlington not only furnishes training bearing on the performance of an individual in an occupation, but also training in his general education through science and mathematics which is related to his chosen field, and through social studies and English. The realistic instruction which we give is a great help to the pupil in realizing the role that industrial processes play in a democratic society and what is more, the part that he will occupy when he enters the industrial and technical field.
Music Education:
In an effort to stimulate more interest in string instru- ments we have tried an experiment this fall in one of the elementary schools. After giving a musical aptitude test in both fifth grades we made available to all pupils with a high rating an opportunity to use a string instrument free of charge for the rest of the present school year. Fourteen pupils took advantage of this opportunity. If more string instruments can be procured, we should like to make instru- ments available in the other elementary schools.
This fall the Cutter Parent-Teacher Association, in con- junction with the music department, launched an intensive campaign to organize a band and a drum and bugle corps in the Cutter School. The results are very encouraging because at the present time about seventy-five students are enrolled.
The high school band is greatly in need of new uniforms. At the present time there are not enough uniforms and the ones we do have available are in very poor condition. An adequate supply of uniforms would improve the appearance of the band and attract more students to it.
Attendance and Adjustment Work:
That good school attendance is basic and underlies all scholastic attainment is self-evident. It is a responsibility shared by home and school, including teacher, principal, and supervisor of attendance, who makes daily visits in order to solve problems relating to attendance. The average daily attendance has been held at ninety-five percent. except during the war period just passed when it dropped con- siderably. It is gratifying to be able to report that during this fall the pupil attendance has returned to normal.
By a yearly school census every pupil is located, par- ticularly the pupils having special education or in need of special education. This varies all the way from those
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attending private schools, in institutions or hospitals, to those who have some physical disability for whom in- struction at home must be arranged. This instruction is carefully planned under recommendations from the phy- sician or hospital so that the plan of instruction will in no way interfere with the rapid recovery of the child's health.
This year another group has been included for special education. Because of crowded conditions in our State schools, a thorough study of the situation was made by this department and a plan to use day classes at the nearest State school was decided upon by the School Committee, since it not only offered the best opportunities for these handicapped children, but also involved the least expense for the town. This study necessitated a complete inves- tigation including visits to homes and to special schools, as well as a clinical study of the children themselves.
This department exists not only for the improvement of pupil attendance and the protection of young workers, through the issuance of work permits, but also to help in the removal of individual handicaps through trained service. Its contribution is supplementary to other depart- ments in bringing about a closer cooperation between the home and the school by means of home visits; it also brings additional help from sources outside the school, in com- munity and State, or wherever they can be found, to meet the special need of any particular child. The term "excep- tional children" has been widely used in education to include all those differing in mental, physical, social or emotional characteristics-for whom special educational provisions or adjustments need to be made in order that there may be equality of opportunity for all.
Girls' Athletic Program:
The girls' hockey field at Spy Pond Field has now been remade, seeded and fenced so that a good playing field cen- trally located, adjacent to the girls' locker house, will again be available to our high school girls. For the past two years they have had to go to Robbins Farm and use a base- ment room at the Brackett School for their dressing room.
Interest in field hockey is very strong in Arlington and the girls have always been reluctant to have their hockey playing days end with graduation, so this fall an energetic group of graduates formed an Arlington Town Team which practiced and played games on Sundays at the Robbins
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Playground. This team, called the Arlington Field Hockey Club, joined the Boston Field Hockey Association and the members have the privilege of playing games with several All-Boston players and a few All-American players. This team also played our high school team, acquainting our girls with Sunday club hockey and giving them a definite carry- over value to their high school instruction. Arlington is the only town that has a team in the Boston Association. The other teams are made up mostly of students and grad- uates of colleges and physical education schools.
Another benefit our high school girls received from our Town Team's joining the Boston Association was the bring- ing of the exhibition match of the two top ranking All- Boston players to the Warren A. Peirce Field on Saturday, Oct. 1, 1949. The sixty high schools that belong to the Boston Field Hockey Association as allied members were invited to send their coaches and players to see this game. It was a privilege to have this match here in Arlington and especially to have our girls hear the running com- mentary on the game by Miss May Fogg-coach of the All- Boston teams.
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