USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1950 > Part 26
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At the conclusion of the six-week period public performances of the plays produced by the summer theater were held over a two-day period and displays of all the other groups were exhibited. The interest of the community in these projects was demonstrated by the large attend- ance.
In the opinion of your Superintendent the value of the Institute is twofold. It has provided our pupils with an opportunity to do some- thing active and creative during the long summer vacation and it has afforded the School Department an opportunity to join other com- munity organizations to fulfill a demonstrated need for our young people.
Senior High School:
1950
1949
1948
1940
1932
Total September Enrollment
1387
1461
1559
1910
1390
(Includes Vocational School)
97
89
85
Number on the Faculty
67
74
73
73
61
The year 1940 had our largest enrollment. Of the sixty-seven members of the present faculty, seven are in the Vocational School of ninety- seven pupils. It appears that in the academic school our pupil-teacher ratio is about the same as in 1932, but the actual class size must be some- what larger because of the teacher time given to counseling in the Guidance Department.
In a period of increasing enrollments there is a tendency to increase the number of pupils per class before increasing the number of teachers. This results in a decrease in cost per pupil. As enrollment decreases there is a similar tendency to decrease the class size before reducing the number of teachers, with a resulting increase in cost per pupil, although as mentioned last year, the smaller classes that we now have enable the teachers to do more effective work and are in line with policies in neighboring schools of comparably high standing.
The average size of two hundred classes of prepared work is twenty- seven. Classes in domestic and manual arts are limited to twenty by the
351
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
size of the rooms. Such work requires individual attention from the teacher so classes are twenty or less. The Vocational School has a still smaller average per teacher. The fourteen typewriting classs average thirty-three.
A report on faculty changes will show progress in decrease in costs with the increase in enrollment. A part-time teacher in the English Department replaced a teacher who retired. Another teacher of English was transferred to the Junior High School East. A language teacher was transferred to the Junior High East, a mathematics teacher to the West and the music instructor to both junior high schools two periods daily. A household arts teacher was assigned to the East two days each week. The decrease in enrollment and the resulting decrease in the number of teachers has enabled us to make more efficient use of available space and to meet needs that of necessity were disregarded during the period of high enrollment. During the past few years the Industrial Arts class has been given a full-sized classroom; a second room has been equipped for Mechanical Drawing; a classroom was converted into a guidance office; a large room has been kept free for use by classes when they show slides, film strips, or educational movies. The Vocational School is meeting an important need in our educational program. It occupies space formerly used by the maintenance department, the supply room an indoor track, the print shop, and the equivalent of about one former classroom. The School properly requires much more space per pupil than academic classes both because of the machines that require space and because the classes are smaller. If additional subjects are added to the automotive, machine shop, and radio training as now given, more rooms will be required. Under present conditions the additional rooms could be taken from the academic classrooms and the maintenance department rooms, but if and when the enrollment increases, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find space to maintain the school program as it has developed.
The need for adequate facilities for both boys' and girls' physical education and for an adequate assembly hall is well-known and needs no elaboration here. The building problems are mentioned at this time to keep them before the public and to insure their being continued in the plans of the Committee on Advanced Programming and Budgeting. As much as possible of the unused land between Warren A. Peirce Field and Mill Street should be obtained now for development later.
Driver Training in a dual-control car was started as an afternoon activity in January. It has been on a full-time basis since September. The car, furnished by the Charles B. Perham Company, is in almost continuous use when weather permits. Pupils are trained to drive in groups of three. We find that it takes about eight weeks to train a group, meeting for one period a day. The Salesmanship and Consumer Educa- tion courses started last year are proving their worth. The decrease in enrollment left room in the typewriting classes so that we could offer it as an elective to college preparatory pupils. The demand for it has been heavy indicating that it meets a need, but it reduces the number of pupils who elect courses such as Art, Music, or Domestic Arts. The unit that we have taught for many years about the State Constitution and Government as part of the course in American History has been amplified to fully comply with the requirements of the recent Act of the Legislature requiring such teaching.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
The rules governing the Vocational School will not allow a pupil to take work in the shops unless he takes the complete course in the school. A fifth or more of our pupils need some type of manual work to supplement their academic classes. So far we have met this need by courses in Woodworking and Printing which currently have a total enrollment of one hundred eighty. If either Printing or Woodworking is made a part of the Vocational School, something should be given in its place in the academic school. A general shop would meet a need. It would give pupils a chance to work in a wide variety of projects in metal, plastic, wood or other materials. It would give instruction and practice in caring for a variety of home appliances and mechanical needs. It would be organized to take pupils for varying amounts of time, without formal courses of study, with requirements made to fit individual needs. Major problems would be to find the proper instructor, talented, able and enthusiastic, and to provide space, tools and materials for such a varied program. Its individual aims and a lack of a definite group program makes such a class difficult to administer, but properly handled it is believed that it would contribute a great deal to the de- velopment of many of our pupils.
As I write this report the events in Korea, the tension in World politics, and the increased mobilization create problems that will chal- lenge the school in the coming years. An increased emphasis on phys- ical fitness is necessary as mentioned elsewhere in this report. Special courses in preparation for military service may be needed such as Pre-Flight Aeronautics, Shop Mathematics, Blue Print Reading, Map Reading and First Aid. The increase in taxes and in the cost of living consumes the annual increment in many cases and causes acute finan- cial problems, especially among the married teachers with children. Teachers may be called into the service; time given by others to civil defense will cause them to curtail the time they otherwise would spend in preparation for teaching. We have overcome such problems in the past; we will do so again as they arise.
Junior High Schools:
The physical assets of the junior high schools have been drastically modified and modernized. After much study and many meetings, the Junior High School Center was closed and the pupils assigned to Junior High East and Junior High West. The teachers who had been at the Center were assigned to the East and West. Two teachers were assigned to the elementary schools. As a result of this reorganization no new teachers were hired in the junior high schools for the school year 1950-51.
Several changes have been made in the facilities at Junior High School East. By tearing out some partitions and moving others, space was provided for a kitchen and a sizeable cafeteria. Although not com- pletely equipped with permanent furniture, nondescript chairs and tables have been hurriedly brought in and seats are available for all. It is hoped that enough permanent tables may be added next year to complete the seating in permanent fashion. Both Junior East and Junior West operate under the Federal Lunch Program. Each day a hot meal is served, which makes the one-session plan more practical.
At the East the old type tile ceilings which had been installed in the auditorium and gymnasium were declared unsafe and were re-
353
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
placed by new ones. Both the auditorium and gymnasium were painted and a stage curtain and window draperies renewed.
At the Junior High West a very modern combination auditorium and gymnasium with showers and offices has been completed and turned over to the School Committee by the Building Committee. An assistant principal has been appointed to each junior high school, thus making the three secondary schools uniform.
Elementary Education:
The highlights of the year in the elementary schools were the opening of the new Bishop School in May and the opening of the Hardy School addition in September. These equally beautiful structures, with their splendid equipment, provide unusual atmosphere for excel- lent working conditions and every opportunity to carry on an up-to-date educational program. Pupils behave better, show more consideration for others, are more responsible for the proper care of public property and learn more effectively in such attractive surroundings. Parents, pupils, teachers and the entire school personnel connected with these outstanding buildings express keen appreciation for the privilege which is ours.
Due to the teacher shortage on the elementary school level and with the smaller number of graduates coming from the State Teachers' Colleges it has been exceedingly difficult to secure a sufficient number of adequately trained and experienced teachers to maintain a high quality of school experiences for our pupils. Because of the increased demand for teachers many towns, including Arlington, have been willing to temporarily forego any requirement of experience in teaching in elementary grades.
Early in January we interviewed students, who were in the upper quartile of their class and who were to be graduated from a teacher training college in June, with the result that in September several inexperienced teachers entered our elementary grades. These teachers are enthusiastic, cooperative, willing workers and all show promise of becoming strong additions to our teaching staff.
Curriculum construction and revision is a continuous process if our academic program is to be kept abreast of the recent trends and standards in education. During the year tentative courses of study in English and Social Studies were completed and were distributed to the teachers at the opening of school in September.
Considerable emphasis has been placed on the improvement of handwriting in the elementary grades. This study has included talks by experts in the field and a comparative analysis of several high ranking systems of penmanship. The educational publishing companies furnished complimentary sets of pupils' books and teachers' manuals for examination purposes. As this extensive study continued it be- came evident that it would be wise to place the Zaner-Bloser material on trial in Arlington. In May the company sent a consultant who gave an informational and inspirational talk before all of our elementary teachers. Early in December the company afforded us the services of another consultant for a two-day workshop in penmanship. She spent her entire time during the two days on a program set up to meet our needs which included teaching lessons in individual classrooms, an instructional period with the principals and the supervisor, an after-
.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
school demonstration with second grade pupils one afternoon and a general teachers' meeting on the second afternoon. Both consultants demonstrated innate individual ability complemented by a code of pro- fessional ethics and their services were highly beneficial as an aid in introducing the system in a scientific manner.
It is our earnest hope that the penmanship of our Arlington girls and boys will show evidence of the intensive study and of the effort expended on this important phase of their education program.
Report of the Director of Guidance:
The principal aims of the Guidance Department continue to be:
1. The provision of assistance to all pupils in order that they may recognize their limitations and potentialities, develop their abilities to the fullest possible extent, and utilize their school and post-school careers;
2. To coordinate the efforts of home, school, and community to assist pupils toward the goals named above.
During the past year each pupil in the high school was interviewed several times throughout the year with the purpose of helping him to evaluate his own assets, to provide him with assistance in the choice of high school subjects, and to provide information and assistance with post-high school plans. Whenever it was necessary, achievement, interest, and psychological tests were administered as a means of con- firming or providing additional information about individual pupils and their own problems.
In addition, a job placement bureau is provided throughout the twelve months of the year for pupils and graduates. During 1950, 404 pupils and graduates were placed on full-time and part-time jobs. In November 1950, 32.2% of high school pupils were gainfully employed after school hours. They averaged about ten dollars per week and the average working hours per week was about sixteen. As has been pointed out in annual reports of previous years, such part-time work provides valuable job tryout experiences for many pupils.
A 100% follow-up of the Class of 1950 revealed that 47.6% of the graduates are attending schools and colleges full-time, and 46.6% are employed full-time. About 4% entered the armed forces and about 1% were unemployed. At the time of the survey jobs were made avail- able to those who were unemployed, but bcause these graduates felt that the pay was insufficient, the jobs were refused.
A series of school assemblies have been arranged this year in which experts in their respective fields are invited to participate in panel discussions with provision made for pupils to ask questions. A good deal of the arrangement and planning for these asemblies is being done by the pupils themselves under the supervision of the counselors. Three assemblies which have already taken place were entitled "Why Plan For the Future?", "How to Choose a School or College," and "How Do I Decide What I Shall Do for a Living?". Subsequent assembly meetings which students may attend on a voluntary basis are:
Opportunities for Men in the Professions
Opportunities for Women in the Professions
355
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Opportunities for High School Graduates in Large Office
Opportunities for High School Graduates in Industry
Opportunities for High School Graduates in the Telephone Company Nursing
The Bookkeeping and Secretarial Field
The Engineering Profession
Agriculture and Forestry
Advertising and Merchandising
A Preview of the Employment Market for High School Graduates in June 1951
A Preview of Opportunities for Summer Work in 1951.
After experimenting with a number of different methods, we have come to the conclusion that this system of assemblies is the most effective means of imparting occupational information to pupils.
In May 1950, the Guidance Department, as it does each year, sent letters to the employers of the Class of 1949 to determine whether or not Arlington High School students were making satisfactory occu- pational adjustments. The comments of the employers are helpful in improving the quality of training given in our terminal courses. The response indicated that business men and women appreciate our interest in our graduates and these employers are most anxious to cooperate with the schools. A typical opinion is expressed by the Personnel Director of the Columbian National Life Insurance Company which we quote, "We are always glad to cooperate with you and your staff and feel very keenly that only by frank discussion of our mutual problems can we expect the school to send us those who have training in clerical skills and a desire to learn and perform their job well."
On the basis of the replies received, it may be assumed that Arlington High School students are satisfactory employees. The Supervisor of Employment for the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company states: "We find that the students from your school have worked out very satisfactorily in our organization and that Arlington does a good job of appraising the individuals whom they refer to us for placement."
Employers are in agreement on two major areas for improvement. They do not refer to Arlington students in particular, but rather to beginning workers in general. First, they urge more emphasis on spell- ing, grammar, punctuation, and basic arithmetic. Secondly, they stress training in punctuality and the importance of good attendance records. Many other suggestions have been made by employers and all of these are being given careful consideration by the High School administration with a view of improving our training of these pupils, particularly in the Commercial Department.
For several years, uniform courses of study for group guidance in grades 7 and 8 have been in the process of revision, and in September 1951, with the cooperation of the junior high school principals, these courses will become a regular part of the 7th and 8th grade curricula. The emphasis in these courses will be in human understanding and mental health.
In the opinion of the Director, pupils in our school system would be more efficiently served if all special services such as guidance, attend- ance, home visits, special classes, remedial work, testing, and . home
356
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
bound or physically handicapped pupil services were placed in one de- partment and under a single supervisor. Therefore, it is being recom- mended that a Division of Pupil Personnel Services be created to in- clude all the above-mentioned departments.
There has been a constant and ever growing need for the establish- ment of a part-time psychiatric clinic for pupils which would provide therapy for those who are unable to receive such treatment from any of the Greater Boston clinics because of their inadequate services and very long waiting lists. Time and again long postponements have re- sulted in the development of very serious mental problems among pupils when early treatment would probably have cleared up their difficulties. It is recommended that the services of a psychiatrist and psychiatric social worker be made available to the School Department on a part-time basis.
The Guidance Department has been called upon by the Office of Civil Defense to participate actively in the matter of personnel classi- fication and selection. The ground work in detail for this phase of the program has already been mapped out in the event of a national emergency.
Health and Physical Education:
The physical education program in the Arlington Public Schools during the past year has been one in which the pupil has been the focal point. Many activities of a varied nature have been offered which have contributed to the objectives set forth by the department. These included the physical, social and mental development of pupils and have been partially attained through a broad, well-rounded program.
In the intramural program the range of activities varied with the interests demonstrated by the pupils. The program was based largely upon the activities that were presented in the regular physical education program. In the organization of the intramural program, the physical education instructor of each school organized and directed the program. Junior and senior high school intramurals were held three or four after- noons a week. Elementary school intramurals were held on Saturday mornings. All junior and senior high school gymnasiums were used to the fullest extent.
The school health program in Arlington may be summarized as having three main divisions which include-
A. Healthful School Environment
1. This implies and provides an environment conducive to the growth, learning and health of its pupils
B. Health Instruction
1. In the teaching of health, emphasis is directed toward instruction which develops interests and stresses the development of good habits and attitudes as well as the acquisition of knowledge concepts.
C. Health Service
1. Our health services include and cover a broad area and represent a tremendously important part of the school health program.
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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
a. The purpose of this program is to provide for the child, and all other school personnel, the necessary environment to develop and maintain the maximum physical, mental, emotional and social health, so far as the individual is biologically capable.
Dr. Easter examined 2939 girls and Dr. Foye examined 3203 boys during the year 1949-1950. During the month of May, registration and physical examinations were held for pupils entering school for the first time, either in kindergarten or first grade. Special examinations were arranged during the school year for any pupil participating in strenuous physical activities. All pupils with poor posture were referred to the physical education department. On the basis of the physical health examinations, pupils with postural and functional abnormalities were classified into groups and assigned to small individual corrective physical education classes. Recommendations were made by the school physicians in determining the individual needs for general and specific activity. Evaluation of progress through observations, measurements and consultation will be made twice a year. These records will be avail- able to pupils and parents.
The department may take pride in what is now being done with the limited facilities at the Senior High School. The corrective work uses an athletic locker room with no place to install some needed apparatus. Thre gymnasium locker room is in the basement of the old building; the physical education classes use the unfinished Lowe Auditorium. The inconvenience and the time lost in travel are considerable. The number of showers and lockers is inadequate. The Lowe Auditorium cannot be well heated in cold weather so the program must be limited to active group exercises or transferred to the crowded athletic locker room. We are gradually obtaining some needed apparatus which helps, but we cannot have all that is considered necessary for a modern physical education program in the present housing arrangement. We know that you are quite familiar with these conditions but they are mentioned here in order to keep the need for improved facilities a matter of record.
Adult Education:
With the close of World War II, there came an ever-increasing demand for adult education. People began asking for courses of instruc- tion in the public schools during evening hours. The greatest demand came from home makers who wanted instruction in the practical arts and crafts-sewing, cookery, rug hooking, slip covers, draperies, up- holstery and a host of others. It was evident that there existed a great demand for further education at the adult level. In the fall of 1949 the School Committee, having received hundreds of requests, decided to establish an Adult Evening School, to commence in January, 1950. Sewing, rug hooking, leather craft and typewriting were offered. So great was the response that these classes were all filled to capacity the first hour after the doors opened for registration. No further proof was needed to show that there existed a genuine need and desire for adult education.
At the suggestion of the Director, the School Committee agreed to expand the program this fall, to the limit of the funds available and to the extent that proper facilities could be found. It must be noted
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
here that because of inadequate lighting conditions many of our class- rooms are not suitable for evening school use. We are now offering sixty hours of instruction in the following classes:
Subject
Number of Classes Number Enrolled
Sewing
10
186
Upholstery
2
36
Slip Covers and Draperies
2
42
Rug Hooking
3
46
Furniture Refinishing
2
34
Tray Painting
2
38
Leather Craft
1
20
Cookery
2
28
Starting & Operating Small Business
1
21
Home Mechanics
1
19
Typewriting
2
56
28
526
All of these, with the exception of Typewriting, have been approved by the State Department of Education, Division of Vocational Education and, therefore, the Town will be reimbursed fifty percent of the salaries of teachers from Federal funds (George-Barden Act) and such other reimbursements as are provided in Section 9, Chapter 74, of the General Laws as amended. In other words, Arlington receives as much money from the Federal Government and from the State funds as it is willing to spend from its own treasury for Adult Education. The per pupil cost to Arlington for an Adult Education program after reimbursements is about $5.00.
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