USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1959 > Part 19
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U. S. Civil Service and Private Industry 425
RECAPITULATION
Investigations 1,362
Selectmen's Office
303
Town Manager's Office
3
U. S. Civil Service and Private Industry
425
TOTAL 2,093
3
217
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
RADIO AND PATROL CARS
Messages Broadcast
9,826
9,298
Calls directed to specified Arlington Patrol Cars
4,551
4,568
Arrests made by patrol car operators
Car # 4-A
45
128
Car #5-A
39
1
Car #6-A
110
101
Car #7-A
121
102
Car #8-A
171
131
Car #9-A
113
103
Total arrests by Arlington patrol cars
599
571
POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM
1958
1959
Duty Calls
169,825
161,988
Telephone Calls
2
5
Wagon Calls
4
5
Ambulance Calls
261
2.55
Officers in Court
945
1,212
Bank Alarms
34
2.2
Burglar Alarms
2
8
Teletype
286
332
CRIME REPORT TO FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION TOTAL OF MONTHLY CRIMES - YEAR 1959 OFFENSES KNOWN TO THE POLICE - TOWN OF ARLINGTON
Reported or Known
Unfounded
Actual Offenses
Offenses Cleared by Arrest
Criminal Homicide (Man-
slaughter by Negligence)
1
0
1
1
Robbery
2
0
2
2
Burglary-Breaking & Entering
104
39
65
9
Larceny (Over $50.00)
53
16
37
4
Larceny (Under $50.00)
287
115
172
23
Auto Thefts
43
12
31
12
TOTAL 490
182
308
51
Note: Attempts to Commit Above Crimes are Included in All Totals
1958
1959
218
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
CLASSIFICATION OF PROPERTY STOLEN AND RECOVERED AS PER THE ABOVE REPORT
Number
Value of Property Stolen
Breaking and Entering
(A) Residence (Dwelling)
(1) Committed during Day
26
$ 779.50
(2) Committed during Night
7
959.50
(B) Non-Residence (Store, Office, Etc. )
(1) Committed during Day
0
(2) Committed during Night
3.2
2,239.45
Robbery
2
8,000.00
* Larceny
Over $50.00
37
10,911.59
$5.00 to $50.00
156
3,361.29
Under $5.00
16
25.30
Auto Thefts
31
36,650.00
TOTAL
307
$62,926.63
* Attempts to commit the Above Crimes are included in this Total.
** Forty-seven stolen outside Arlington and Recovered here, not included in this total.
Nature of Larcenies
Number
Value of Property Stolen
(a) Pocket Picking
1
$
75.00
(b) Shoplifting
15
304.97
(c) Thefts from Autos 101
7,475.96
(d) Bicycles 33
1,015.95
(e) All Others
59
5,426.30
TOTAL 209
$14,298.18
AUTOMOBILES RECOVERED
(a) Number Stolen Locally and Recovered Locally 8
(b) Number Stolen Locally and Recovered by Other Jurisdictions
22
(c) Total Locally Stolen Automobiles Recovered 30
(d) Number Stolen Out of Town and Recovered Locally 47
VALUE OF PROPERTY STOLEN AND PROPERTY RECOVERED DURING THE YEAR:
Value of Property Stolen
Value of Property Recovered
(a) Currency, notes etc. 6,953.09
$ 1,327.64
(c) Clothing 159.00
(d) Locally Stolen Automobiles 36,650.00
35,350.00
(e) Miscellaneous 8,762.09
1,240.60
TOTAL $62,926.63
$44,988.24
(b) Jewelry & Precious Metals 10,402.45
7,070.00
219
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC SIGNAL DEPARTMENT 1959
The Traffic Signal Department is responsible for the proper installation and maintenance of all aids to the regulation and con- trol of automobile traffic on the public ways throughout the Town for the safety of the general public, such as the planning, erection and maintenance of all traffic signs of every description and the painting of all traffic lanes, curb markings, etc.
Measures adopted for the further convenience and safety of the public during 1959 were as follows:
Pleasant Street was widened between Massachusetts Avenue and Peabody Road.
Isolated Stop signs were installed at the intersection of Florence Avenue and Rhinecliff Street. Also, at the inter- section of Overlook Road and Washington Street.
An off-street metered parking area was constructed on the Russell Common. Another off-street parking area was installed on school property in front of the Senior High School.
Heavy trucking was prohibited on Park Avenue Exten- sion, Newland Road and Sunset Road, between Summer Street and Forest Street.
Modern street lighting was installed on Massachusetts Avenue from Franklin Street to the Cambridge line.
TRAFFIC SIGNS
REMOVED RENEWED INSTALLED 1959
Type of Sign
Removed Renewed Installed
Total In- ventory
Concord Turnpike
1
5
Do Not Enter
1
1
6
19
Isolated Stop
2
29
5
36
Keep to the Right
4
24
No Parking Anytime
6
33
1
201
No Parking Bus Stop
1
7
No Parking Here to Corner
4
8
1
68
No Parking 4 P.M. to 6 P.M.
1
1
1
No Right Turn
34
One Hour Parallel Parking
12
297
One Hour Parallel
1
4
77
One Way Sign
1
2
Pedestrians cross on Red & Yellow
1
7
Single Line
5
2
2
36
Slow Danger
Slow Playground
1
22
3
Dead End Street
31
Heavy Trucking Prohibited
5
No Passing
1
No U Turn
Parking 30°
8
One Way Arrow
11
Rail Road Warnings
8
220
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Slow School
6
6 35
Stop Sign Ahead
1
1
Taxi Stand
1
16
Through Way Ends Here
1
0
Through Way Stop
4
10
4
206
Traffic Signal Ahead
30
2 Hr. Parking Library Patrons Only
2
15 M.P.H.
1
3 Hour Parking
4
20 M.P.H.
5
TOTALS
25
113
29
1,203
ROAD AND CURB MARKINGS 1959
Type of Marking
New Markings
Renewed
Total Inventory
Bus Stops
38
38
Crossroads
4
4
Crosswalks
3.59
158
Directional Arrows
2:2
34
56
Do Not Enter
2
'2
Enter Only
2
2
In
3
3
Island Curbs
15
15
Left Turn Only
8
8
Look
718
316
No Parking
16
16
Out
1
1
Parking Area Stalls
65
100
165
Parking Meter Stalls
169
260
429
Railroad Warnings
4
4
Right Turn Only
14
14
Slow
14
170
184
Slow Danger
8
8
Slow School
8/2
41
Stop
235
103
Stop Lines
235
103
Taxi Cab Stands
8
8
TOTALS
294
2,292
1,678
OTHER MAINTENANCE
Type
Installed
Replaced Removed
1
1
Parking Meters
169
3
3
429
Parking Meter
85
3
3
345
345
Spotlights
9
Traffic Light Heads ..
18
21
125
Traffic Light Posts & Bases
7
8
74
Traffic Sign Posts
17
25
14
1025
1089
TOTALS
271
56
20
1400
2072
Re- Total In- painted ventory
Flashes
Posts
221
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
CURBS - LINES - STREET MARKINGS
Footage
Bus Stops (Yellow Curbs)
2,860
Bus Stops (Yellow Lines)
3,486
Center Vertical Lines
51,310
No Parking (Red Curb)
2,104
Parallel Parking
1,900
Parking Meter Stalls
9,438
Parking Stalls (30° On Park Avenue)
956
Parking Areas
3,630
Stop Lines
1,510
Taxi Cab Stands
452
Crosswalks
12,290
TOTAL
89,936
PARKING METERS
There are at the present time 429 Parking Meters in operation throughout the Town. Mechanical failures and other causes neces- sitated certain repairs to the parking meters as follows:
Meters repaired because of jamming 903
New parts used
428
New timers
53
Glass replaced
39
Parking meters installed
169
Parking meters in operation
429
AUXILIARY POLICE
The activities of this outstanding group of citizens will be found in the report of the Director of Civil Defense. However, on behalf of all of our citizens and the regular police department, I wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for a job well done.
CONCLUSION
My sincere appreciation is extended to our Honorable Board of Selectmen, esteemed Town Manager, members of the Police Department, Auxiliary Police, Federal, State, Town agencies, and to all of the citizens of Arlington for their continued cooperation and assistance.
Respectfully submitted
ALBERT E. RYAN Chief of Police
2.212
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1959
To the Citizens of Arlington:
This year was marked by major changes in the personnel of the School Committee and School Administration.
M. Norcross Stratton, after thirty-three years of devoted ser- vice, retired from the Committee. The citizens of Arlington have been most fortunate to have had the benefit of his wisdom, counsel and knowledge over these years. It must be most gratifying to him to realize the lasting impact he has made on public education, not only in Arlington, but in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Mr. Stratton has our heartfelt wishes for a long and well-deserved retirement
Mrs. Mary K. Boyd also retired from the Committee and is now located in California. She was a most faithful member and served the schools well for nine years.
Mrs. Velma Brown and Dr. James Daily were elected to the Committee to fill these vacancies.
Mr. Clifford R. Hall, our Superintendent for seventeen years, retired September 1. The contributions which he made in the development of the elementary, secondary and adult education pro- grams will be of lasting value. He was responsible largely, along with Mr. Stratton, for the creation of the Vocational High School in Arlington. During his administration he was instrumental in the planning and completion of the Bishop, Dallin and Thompson Schools as well as additions to the Bishop, Crosby, Hardy, Par- menter, Junior High West and Senior High Schools. It was with regret that we accepted his resignation and our best wishes go to him for a long, happy future.
The paramount duty of a School Committee is the selection of a competent Superintendent. This Committee spent many hours reviewing the qualifications of innumerable applicants. Representa- tives from local universities were called in for advice and counsel. After this most thorough investigation, the Committee reached a unanimous decision that our Assistant Superintendent seemed better qualified than any of the candidates to fulfill our require- ments and Dr. Roens was requested to accept this position.
Extensive investigation also was conducted to find a successor for the position of Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Lawrence H. Anderson, who was elected to this position, received his doctorate degree at Harvard and was associated with the Newton Public Schools and with the teacher training program at Michigan State University.
223
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
This Committee is justly proud of the total school program and feels that this is due largely to the fact that the Committee has functioned as purely a policy-making body. In addition, the Committee has spent a great deal of time this year discussing and examining the problems existing in the major subject areas which might require policy changes. The Committee also initiated a new procedure for annual evaluation of all school personnel.
It was with regret that Mr. Harry J. Patterson, Director of the Vocational School, retired after nine years of service. Mr. Edmund J. Lewis, of the Vocational School staff, was appointed as new Director on October 20.
Mr. Walter J. Sullivan, Principal of the Junior High School East, retired after thirty-eight years of faithful service. Mr. Otis R. Jason, former junior high school principal in Norwalk, Connec- ticut, was appointed to succeed Mr. Sullivan on June 18.
Upon their retirement this year the Committee extended deep appreciation to Miss Mary A. Chater, Mrs. Francese S. Curtis and William T. "Doc" McCarty, all of whom served faithfully thirty- eight years or more and whose instruction and influence benefited thousands of Arlington school children through the years.
It is with a great deal of sadness that we mention here the passing of Miss May E. Campbell last summer. Miss Campbell, Supervisor of Home Economics and Cafeterias, served the Arlington schools since 1924.
Miss Florence E. Forsyth, member of the Home Economics staff, was appointed as successor to Miss Campbell.
The Committee appreciates the cooperation and assistance given by the entire staff of the Arlington Public Schools who so conscientiously help to carry out our responsibilities to the children in our schools.
We thank the Town Manager and other Town Officials for their active cooperation in all school matters in which they were involved.
Respectfully submitted,
Carl F. Allen, Chairman Mary E. Porteus, Vice Chairman Richard W. Baker Velma Brown Arthur F. Coughlin Jr.
James W. Daily Bernard A. Forest Charles R. Kent John P. Morine
224
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FOR THE YEAR 1959
To the School Committee of Arlington
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Is is my privilege to submit for your consideration the follow- ing report of the schools for the calendar year 1959. Limitations of space make it impossible to include a report on every phase of our school operation; therefore I am taking the liberty of presenting those aspects of our program which are new or in which there is a good deal of public interest.
FEDERAL FUNDS AND THE NATIONAL DEFENSE EDUCATION ACT
Since 1958 the School Committee has received a total of $82,741.31 under Public Law 874. As described in the previous annual report, $24,540.08 was expended for such items as an eleventh grade humanities course, natural science instruction for all fifth grades conducted by the Audubon Society, experimental creative writing programs, instructional apparatus for the Voca- tional School, science equipment for elementary schools and cer- tain equipment for the new addition to the High School which had been omitted from the original list submitted to the High School Building Committee.
For the school year 1959-1960 a total of $35,150. was com- mitted for instructional materials for academically talented pupils, for continuation of the natural science, creative writing, develop- mental reading and group therapy programs; for language labora- tory equipment in the High School and for publication of a "History of Arlington" to be used in all fourth grades. In addi- tion, $20,000 will be returned to the Town to be expended for adjustments in teachers' salaries for 1960-1961. The balance of uncommitted Federal Funds is now $3,051.23.
Under the National Defense Education Act the School Com- mittee applied for and received $8,102.95 for the remodelling of the chemistry laboratory in the High School and $3,528. for setting up a comprehensive guidance program in our junior high schools as well as a guidance library in the High School.
As has been stated from time to time, these Federal Funds serve to reduce the total amount of the School Budget because the programs undertaken with this money are very necessary if our public schools are going to progress with the times.
225
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The most serious problem which will be facing us shortly is the housing of elementary school pupils in several critical areas of the Town. The proposed Pheasant Avenue School, if voted at the next Town Meeting, will alleviate the pressure on the Bishop, Dallin, Peirce and Cutter Schools. The building activity in the Dallin area has progressed so rapidly that there are as of Decem- ber 31, 1959, 413 pupils in a school built for 360 pupils. In the Bishop School the assembly hall and clinic rooms once again are being used as classroom areas. At the Cutter School, basement rooms are being remodeled for kindergarten and library rooms. This now creates another problem because two precincts use these rooms for voting purposes. The academic program in the Peirce School involving visual aids, testing and group projects has been curtailed because of lack of space.
Another area of considerable concern is the Parmenter district where pupil population is increasing beyond all expectation. The playroom was converted into two primary classrooms with the result that the physical education program had to be discontinued because of lack of space. The auditorium on the top floor which is used for French classes, instrumental programs, visual aids, etc. is most unsatisfactory because of location, lighting, acoustics and lack of blackboard space. With the change of boundary lines which the Pheasant Avenue School could effect, it is believed that enough of the pressure could be removed from the Parmenter School so that a normal program could operate there once again.
Reading, the first of the traditional three R's, still continues to be the first concern of our elementary schools in establishing a firm educational program.
However, reading in school now cuts across all subject matter and is no longer an isolated school subject. Content subjects in- volve many new mental concepts to be gathered from the text each day. Our classroom teachers are constantly alert to see that children are learning to read with meaning. With the rapid changes in our current life, and as understanding and interpreta- tion become increasingly important, schools must train children to become critical readers.
Reading research is constantly endeavoring to discover better ways of teaching reading and our school system is always interested in trying new techniques that will aid in our developmental pro- gram. In connection with this policy of keeping abreast with new ideas, we are carrying on two experiments in the reading field.
The first is in grade one. Learning to read is the major task which confronts the first grade child. The more that we can learn about the early processes of reading, the better start we can give the child. Recent research at Boston University has shown that a knowledge of the names of letters and sounds provides the greatest assurance of learning to read. Results indicated that knowledge of letter sounds does not necessarily assure high reading achieve- ment, but lack of knowledge is usually associated with low reading
226
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
achievement. Experiments showed that early instruction in letter names and sounds produces a higher June reading achievement than does this type of instruction given incidentally throughout the year. We are conducting this experiment in six of our first grade classes and we will be most interested to see if our other first grades can show the same improvement in their June achieve- ment.
The second experiment being conducted is in connection with Independent applied word analysis. This is being tried in one third grade class and three fourth grade classes. Phonics is one of the important phases of our reading program but phonics is never an end in itself. It is only a means to future interpretive reading. Irregularities in English phonetics make an inductive approach (learning through application of phonics) more effective than a "rules and exceptions" method. The experiment consists in the use of 30 word classification cards with pupil pairs, thus increasing accuracy of word perception and analysis in reading and spelling. Each card lists three categories, since this trains the child to use context clues in recognizing a word from phonetic analysis. Every word is analyzed, pronounced, classified by meaning, written, read and spelled. Meaning is restored after analysis. This is assured by the task of writing the word under the proper classification. By the use of the applied word analysis cards it is hoped that improve- ment in reading and spelling will be noticed. Preliminary reading tests have been administered to all classes using the cards and at the end of the experiment a second test will be administered in order to determine whether any noticeable gain has been made.
A testing program is another phase of our elementary reading program. It is through the use of tests that we are able to evaluate our reading program and to gain an overall picture of the com- munity. However, the main emphasis on the teacher's part is placed upon the capabilities of each child's own unique characteris- tics. It is when these unique characteristics are seriously retarded that individual diagnostic testing is provided by the reading con- sultant for the classroom teacher. The results are analyzed and used as an aid in setting up a corrective program for such children.
The evaluation testing this year was administered in all second and third grades. Standardized reading tests were used in order to compare Arlington with other communities. Following are the results of these tests:
Grade II
1. Word Recognition Test
National Median 2.8
Arlington Median 3.95
This median placed us 1.1 (one year and one month) above the national median. This result indicated the strong phonetic background that has been developed in our system.
227
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
2. Paragraph Meaning Test
National Median 2.8 Arlington Median 3.6
This median placed us .8 (eight months) above the Na- tional median. This result was encouraging indeed as reading without comprehension is not reading but simply "word-calling."
Grade III
1. Survey Test
This test included three parts; speed, vocabulary, com- prehension.
National Median 3.8 Arlington Median 4.45 This median placed us .6 (six months) above the national median.
2. Reading to Understand Precise Directions
National Median 3.8 Arlington Median 4.1
This median placed us only .3 (three months) above the national median. The test was an entirely new type of test for the children but results not as high as we might wish. However, it pointed out to us a technique that we needed to develop further as following directions is most certainly a very important and necessary skill to be developed.
Another step in strengthening our reading program, which stresses prevention of reading failures, is the existence of our summer reading classes for elementary pupils. Pupils attend on a voluntary basis after they have been recommended by their class- room teachers as satisfactory candidates for an additional six weeks of concentrated effort on the basic reading skills. The pro- gram aims at developing in each child independence in reading, not only in school but as a leisure time activity.
The further extension this year of the school library program within the elementary schools is greatly appreciated by the class- room teachers, since it serves as an excellent supplement to the classroom instruction. It also provides additional teaching by trained librarians in the proper use of library facilities so that children become capable of doing independent research in con- nection with the various content subjects.
After one year of exploratory study by a committee of our own school staff, French has been introduced as an integral part of the elementary school program. There is now a special teacher for selected pupils in grades five and six and TV instruction for all fourth grade pupils. The selection of pupils in grades five and six was made largely on the basis of their reading ability and their instruction in French for the most part is given in a separate room
228
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
during the time the remainder of their class is being given reading instruction. Until some adjustments are made in time allotment of subjects for grades five and six, it did not seem advisable to make French available to all pupils in those grades. French for all fourth grade pupils is being tried as an experiment this year to determine whether their achievement warrants continuing with such a TV program.
A joint experimental project with Boston University in the French instruction is being conducted in some of our fourth grade classes where all pupils are exposed to French through TV.
On the whole, our participation in the TV program, "The 21 inch Classroom" operated through Channel 2, seems to be effective as we continue to subject the program to critical analysis. Follow- ing is a list of the grades and subjects being viewed this year:
Grade 2 Music
Grade 3 Literature
Grade 4 French
Grade 5 Exploring Nature
Grade 6
Science
This year in conjunction with the revised report card, teachers in grades one through six have been giving a written report of the pupil's progress at the time of the scheduled individual parent- teacher conference. Parents seem to feel that this additional written report makes the conference much more meaningful.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
Several new programs have been instituted in the Junior High East. For the purpose of affecting greater cooperation and under- standing between the home and the school, a P.T.A. has been organized. An active student council is now in operation to provide opportunities among the pupils for the development of leadership, initiative and responsibility. In order to stimulate independent study and research, especially by the more able pupils, a library orientation program is in the process of being organized by the English teachers and the Town librarians. This will become much more effective when the junior high schools will have their own libraries. A new innovation has been the establishment by using the "wave system" during the lunch period. Formerly some pupils at the end of the line were forced to wait for the major part of the lunch period before being served. There also was the problem of a place for the pupils to leave their textbooks because they had to juggle the tray of food and books at the same time. This problem plagued the Junior High East for some time. Under the "wave system" two classes move to the cafeteria every five minutes which insures short lines and no waiting. In addition, since all pupils return to the same classroom which they left for the lunch period, the book problem is solved.
229
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
The Junior High School West has done some notable work in the development of educational assembly programs involving a good deal of pupil participation and pupil interest. The extra- ordinary production of the operetta "Oklahoma" was the high- light of the year. It was presented by two separate casts with about 300 pupils participating. "The West" according to the copyright owners of Oklahoma has been the only junior high school ever to have undertaken the production of this difficult operetta.
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