USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Town of Eastham Annual Report 1952-1956 > Part 21
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ability to arouse enthusiasm among the students make her a valuable addition to our school personnel. On December 1st, Dr. Lysander Kemp resigned from active practice and submitted his resignation as school physician. Dr. Kemp has served the school faithfully and well and it is with deep regret that we accepted his resignation.
Although having the third and fourth grades in one room and seating of the fifth grade in the basement is not an ideal arrangement, the school work progressed smoothly and well. The school enrollment from January to June was 111 students in Eastham with an additional 71 attending Orleans High School, making a total enrollment for the first half-year 182 students. In May, the committee applied to the Commissioner of Education for permission to send grades 7 and 8 to Orleans for the 1954-55 school year. This permission was granted on the basis that a regional com- mittee was actively at work on a regional program.
In May, the bus bids for the north and south routes were received and awarded to Nathan E. Clark and Alonzo Gill. In June, bids were opened for the re-shingling of the original school building and Mr. Robert J. Erickson was awarded the low bid. In August bids were opened for the milk contract for Eastham School. The contract was award- ed for the 1954-55 school year to Ollie Lund, dairyman of Brewster.
The addition to the school is well toward completion and with the opening of the new building which includes a 40' x 60' multipurpose room, Eastham now has a recrea- tional center. This "multipurpose room" was designed and built for the exact purpose the name implies. It is intended first for use of the school children during each day. Second- ly, it is the express desire of the School Committee that you, the people of Eastham, feel that it is YOUR multipurpose room to be used by you freely for all recreational activities for which it was designed and built. It is the belief of the School Committee that this room, built with your tax dol-
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lars should be used rent free with charges made only for the extra janitorial services required for necessary super- vision of the use of this room.
The Orleans School Committee has voted to accept Eastham's 7th and 8th grades for the 1955-1956 school year. This of course, has to have the approval of the Commis- sioner of Education. However, we are assured that if the town of Eastham appoints a regional committee and that committee is actively at work with another town or towns on a regional plan, the commissioner of education will grant his permission also.
There will be an article in the town warrant asking for the appointment of a regional committee and it is the recommendation of the school committee that this com- mittee be comprised of one member of the school committee and two members at large from the town.
Our appreciation to all who have given of themselves for the school this past year. It sounds rather trite to an- nually include in the school committee report thanks to paid servants of the town, but it is the only way the committee has of expressing gratitude to those directly connected with the school, who work all year for the best interests of the youth of this community, and we feel that it is our duty to publicly acknowledge faithful service.
At the opening of school in September there were 116 children in the Eastham School and 78 in Orleans, a total of 194 children. As our school population grows we all must work together, a little longer, a little harder for the educa- tion of the youth of the community.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. SCHOFIELD, Chairman ELIZABETH F. COLLINS, Secretary ALTON C. CROSBY
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Expended 1954
Needed 1955
General Control :
School Committee :
Salary and Expenses
$ 256.81
Superintendent of Schools: Enforcement of Law-
Salaries and Travel
1,305.50
Office Expenses
115.05
1,677.36
$ 2,063.00
Instruction :
Supervisors
$2 331,30
Principal and Teachers
16,186.60
Textbooks
366.00
Supplies
462.06
19,345.96
22,472.00
Operation :
Custodian
3,000.00
Fuel
1,163.14
Electricity
349.14
Miscellaneous
257.14
4,769.42
6,350.00
.
Maintenance :
Repairs, Replacement and Upkeep
657.78
1,200.00
Auxiliary Agencies :
Library
192.40
Health : Nurse
516.58
Supplies
5.46
Transportation
11,500.40
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Tuition Miscellaneous
17,954.11 685.22
Outlay : New Equipment
945.16
$58,249.85
$67,385.00
$59,115.00
Appropriated for 1954 Expended 1954 Unexpended
58,249.85
865.15
$58,249.85
NET COST OF SCHOOL-1954
Total Expenditure
$58,249.85
Accounts Receivable :
School Funds and State Aid
for Public Schools Chapter 70 $4,381.41
Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
Division of Child Guardianship :
Tuition
$634.64
Trans. 130.90
765.54
Reimbursements for :
Account of Superintendent of Schools 432.28
Chapter 71 -- All School
Transportation
9,627.15
Receipts from Dental Clinic
20.00
15,226.38
Net Cost of School-1954 $43,023.47
SCHOOL LUNCH DEPARTMENT
Receipts
Expenses
(1) Appropriation-1954
$
500.00
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30,854.17
34,800.00 500.00
Sales of School Lunches
2,673.35
Federal Subsidies 1,303.81
(2) Salaries Equipment Supplies
$1,340.00 74.41 2,712.86
$4,477.16
$4,127.27
(1) Since we receive Federal Subsidy checks several months after the date of the claims these figures will not agree with the Town Accountant.
(2) Since the remainder of the 1954 appropriation is returned to the General Fund we are asking for a 1955 appropriation of $800.00.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Appropriation-1954
$500.00
Expended
392.20
$107.80
Requested for 1955-$500
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Herbert E. Hoyt.
To the School Committee and Citizens of Eastham :
I take pleasure in submitting my eighth annual report as your Superintendent of Schools.
Each of the school reports of the last several years has pointed up the school problems stemming from our growth in population-the need for more space, increased school costs, and the shortage of teachers to staff the new classrooms. Eastham can be proud that this town has faced this problem for its first six grades with the school addition now under construction. With the opening of this new wing, the present fifth grade will be removed from the base- ment and each grade can be housed in a separate room.
At the time of this writing, the situation at the junior high level is somewhat confused. With the defeat of the five-town regional plan, it would seem that we have two alternatives. The State Department of Education has ruled that we must either provide for our own elementary grades, defined as grades 1 - 8, or we must regionalize. Our alterna- tives, then are to explore the possibilities of a three-town regional plan or to enlarge our present school to house grades 7 and 8.
FINANCE
Each year the school report has included the following table comparing school operating costs over a five-year period.
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1950
1951
1952
1953
1954 (1)
Total Cost of Schools
$35,304.17
$38,665.98
$42,275.90
$48,402.26
$58,115.00
. Reimburse ment
8,941.85
10,838.97
10,592.64
12,322.08
14,940.00
Net Cost
to Town
25,362.32
27,827.01
31,683.26
36,080.18
43,175.00
Valuation of Town
2,622,250.00
3,095,060.00 3,316,310.00
3,573,190.00
3,700,000.00
Tax for
Schools
9.67
9.00
9.55
10.09
11.66
No. of Pupils, Oct. 1
147
153
165
182
191
Gross Cost per pupil
240.16
252.72
256.21
265.94
304.26
Net Cost
per pupil
172.53
181.87
192.87
198.24
226.02
(1) Since this report is written before the close of the fiscal year, these figures are estimates.
A study of this table will show that school costs have increased as have all other costs. However, it will also show that Eastham's valuation has increased so rapidly that school costs have added only $2.00 to the tax rate during the last five years.
REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
Our efficient custodian, Mr. Weber, has kept our ex- penditures for maintenance at a low figure by doing much of the repair work himself or by calling in expert help to solve small problems before they develop into major repair items. Our only major repair item this year was for the new roof and that was outside of our regular budget. Dur- ing the summer, floors, desks, and walls were cleaned, the floors were re-finished as well as many of the desks. Ex- penditures for new equipment include a compressor, a wet- dry vacuum cleaner, and the Massachusetts vision-testing equipment. In the past, we have borrowed a vacuum cleaner from the Town Hall, but with the new addition. Mr. Weber will need a machine in the building at all times. In the past, too, we have borrowed vision-testing equipment from Orleans or from the County, but this was not a satisfactory arrangement since it was not always possible to obtain it
110
at convenient times. Another purchase was an electrically cooled water fountain. We have felt the need of such a fountain for some time because the pipes come up through the boiler room and it has been nearly impossible to get a drink of cold water. We have also followed our plan of purchasing one or more musical instruments each year.
HOT LUNCH
It is doubtful whether many people realize that our hot lunch program has now developed into a very efficiently conducted $3000.00 business. The children receive a bal- anced meal which meets the needs of 1/3 to 1/2 the daily nutriment requirements for the normal child for the nom- inal fee of 25c per meal. Mrs. Prentice with the assistance of Mr. Weber has been able to keep this program almost self-supporting-only $500.00 is appropriated for this pro- gram. This would be impossible, of course, except for the fact that the Federal Government subsidizes the program at the rate of 9c per meal and also gives the schools large amounts of surplus commodities. Each year we have add- ed certain pieces of equipment until we now have a well- equipped lunch room. This year a separate water line was run from the furnace to the dishwasher thus assuring a con- stant supply of sufficiently hot water to sterilize the dishes without sending dangerously hot water to the children's wash bowls.
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
Average
Membership
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
Elementary
93
104
115
124
103
High School
30
33
36
39
64
Total
123
137
151
163
167
Percentage of
attendance
94.05
93.55
94.78
93.55
93.20
These figures are taken from the School Returns to the Department of Education. Detailed information by grades may be found at the end of this report.
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PERSONNEL
Four of our teachers returned this fall, but Mrs. Plumer who resigned was replaced by Miss Lorraine Hayes, a grad- uate of the Perry Kindergarten Normal School.
At the Union level, several additions have been made to the staff of supervisors. Since 1947, the total pupil enroll- ment in this Union has grown from 1139 to 1742 and the number of teachers has increased from 59 to 81 with a cor- responding increase in the number of classrooms to be visited. Last year Mr. Salvatore Piccolo was employed as instrumental music supervisor. His name does not appear in our list of teachers because his work is confined to the three high schools. This fall, Dr. Harriet Chace was em- ployed as elementary supervisor for the Union to improve and coordinate the work done in our elementary schools. Dr. Chace holds a B.A. and an M.A. degree from Hyannis State Teachers College and her Ph.D. from Columbia Uni- versity. She taught for several years in the Barnstable schools and served most recently as principal of the Center- ville School. Dr. Chace's report, will explain lier duties and progress being made. Mrs. Rita Winship, a graduate of Sar- gent College, has been conducting our Physical Education classes this fall.
Mr. David Lynch, Director of Guidance, resigned in the spring to accept a position in the Department of Guid- ance at Northeastern University, and his work has been divided between two men. Mr. Moncrieff Cochran, a teacher at the Orleans High School, has been freed from part of his classroom duties and assigned to part-time Guidance work for the towns of Orleans and Eastham.
The four towns of the Union have voted to employ a second teacher of art, but no appointment, has been made at this date. The Union Committee also voted to employ a second secretary and Mrs. Christine Wood of Harwich has been employed.
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CONCLUSION
I sincerely hope that all of the reports and statistics included in the general school report will be read carefully. Schools all over the United States are facing many prob- lems, but there are no problems which cannot be surmount- ed in those communities where there is cooperation between parents, interested citizens, school committees, and teachers. I feel most fortunate in being in a system where this spirit of cooperation prevails, and I extend my sincere apprecia- tion to all my associates for help in maintaining high stand- ards for our school.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT E. HOYT, Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF THE EASTHAM SCHOOL Otto E. Nickerson, Principal
1954 has seemed a more or less uneventful year at school, and yet: Miss Hayes has replaced Mrs. Plumer in Grade 2, and is doing a marvelous job. Mrs. Winship, who substituted for Mrs. Macomber in Grade 5 during October, is now enthusiastically overseeing our Physical Education each Wednesday.
Mrs. Edith Adler of Chatham is temporarily filling the vacancy left by the resignation of our popular school nurse, Mrs. Jean Putnam. Why can't some of "the powers that be" get together and hire a nurse who could assume the respon- sibility of town nurse as well as daily visiting our school?
The new addition (or is it the new school with the old addition ?) is rapidly advancing toward completion under the capable management of Messrs. Anderson and Spinney of Hyannis. Two new rooms will be ready for occupancy in the spring and our much-missed assembly hall will be a welcome reality. Our temporary playground across the street is enjoyed by Grades 3 and 6 and gives the workmen full freedom around the construction areas.
Mr. Moncrieff Cochran has assumed the Guidance Pro- gram instituted by Mr. Lynch, who is now in similar work at Northeastern University. Dr. Harriett Chace visits us weekly in her capacity as Elementary Supervisor. All pa- rents are urged to consult with one or both of these splen- did leaders whenever perplexing children's problems con- front them.
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
Harriett Chace
Because of the accelerated growth of population and subsequent increased enrollment in the schools of Union No. 17, the school committees of the towns of Eastham, Orleans, Chatham, and Harwich decided to appoint an elementary supervisor of education. I was very happy to be elected to carry on the work of this position and have found it very satisfying and pleasant. Since this position is a new one this year, it seems expedient to explain here how the work fits into and adds to the educational system.
The titles by which elementary supervisors are known vary : helping teachers; director of curriculum, guidance, and testing ; assistant superintendent; or elementary school coordinator. Regardless of the title, the supervision is con- cerned with the children of the first six grades, with their teachers, and with all persons and agencies that help these teachers and children to grow.
As a coordinator I have found very pleasant relations in working with Mr. Hoyt, the superintendent, with the Eastham principal, Mr. Nickerson, and with the fine staff of the Eastham Elementary School.
During the month of October I had opportunities to visit all the classrooms in Eastham to observe the teaching of reading, to study the children who are having reading problems, and to help with child growth in the direction of improved reading habits, abilities, and attitudes. I find ex- cellent progress being made in the reading field and that at- tention is being given at all times to the individual pupil's needs, abilities, and interests.
During November, I have been carrying on a diagnostic testing program to determine ability and achievement levels
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of various children and to find ways to adjust the curriculum to meet the needs of the children tested.
I should like to list here some of the ways in which I believe I can be of help to the schools as the year continues :
1.) By being available to talk over school problems with parents, teachers, and children, to study these problems and to advise or help as my knowledge and experience give me the ability.
2.) By cooperating with the school principal and teachers in any requested help on educational pro- jects.
3.) By surveying the various subjects of the curricu- lum and working with the principal and teachers to improve the subject matter, materials, and meth- ods of teaching.
4.) By being available to groups outside the school to explain or discuss educational theories, policies, methods, and materials connected with the elem- entary grades.
5.) By carrying on demonstrations, workshops, or courses for the teachers that they may grow pro- fessionally.
6.) By becoming more and more acquainted with re- source materials in order to help the teachers to find materials more easily. These resources include community resources, educational materials, films, filmstrips, books, periodicals, exhibits, and pic- tures.
7.) By working closely with the guidance director es- tablishing in the lower grades a foundation on which he can build his program for the upper grades.
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These are the ways in which I shall spend my time. In summing up, I might state that anything that concerns the well-being or growth of any child in the elementary grades concerns me.
I should like to thank the school committee of Eastham for their confidence in appointing me to this position and to express my appreciation for the cooperation and assistance of the principal and teachers of the Eastham Elementary School.
REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR Moncrieff M. Cochran, Jr.
This year is of necessity primarily an exploratory one for the new Guidance Director. Thus we could not at this point, even if we wished to, point with pride to past accom- plishments, or give statistics on the number of students we have helped to get jobs or make a better adjustment to school.
There are, however, a few facts which we feel that the citizens of Eastham might be interested in at this time. Among these are (1) The guidance situation as we found it this fall. (2) Steps we propose to take to improve this situ- ation. (3) The main problems facing the Guidance Director.
(1) The guidance situation as we found it this fall can best be described under four headings: (a) Records; (b) Counseling ; (c) Testing ; (d) Placement.
(a) Records. The Guidance records were in very good order, especially when one considers that the Guidance Di- rector last year spent on the average only one day each week at Orleans. The folders containing test information, marks, and vital statistics for each student were in good order and
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fairly complete. A good start had been made on a file of college and school catalogues. Occupational information was as complete as the space provided allowed. There were no records on follow-up of graduates, nor was there much information on local employment opportunities.
(b) Counseling. Comments on the personal record fold- ers indicated that counseling had been limited to a single interview per year in many cases, though students in the upper classes, particularly those headed for college, were counseled more often.
(c) Testing. Tests had been given regularly, and the re- sults faithfully recorded in most cases. Types of tests used were the scholastic aptitude (sometimes incorrectly called "intelligence") tests, special aptitude tests, such as mech- anical and clerical aptitude, preference tests given to find out in which field a student's interests lie, (technically these are known as "interest inventories), personality tests to help uncover personal or social problems, and achievement tests to find out whether school achievement has been norm- al.
(d) Placement. As far as we could discover, little had been done in this area, undoubtedly because of time limita- tions.
(2) Steps we propose to take to improve this situation :
(a) An attempt has already been made to make the Guidance Program a more integral part of the school as a whole than it has been in the past. Report forms have been distributed to the teachers by the Guidance Director, which the teachers use to comment on student behavior which is unusual in any way. Their reports tell of outstanding ex- amples of good cooperation on the part of students as well as of uncooperative behavior. The Director considers that an important part of his job is the handling of cases of dif- ficult behavior, and even the administration of discipline on occasion ; so far he has no reason to feel that this has under- mined his usefulness as a counselor.
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(b) More frequent counseling on a regular schedule has been set up. In the future, the director hopes to counsel students in approximately this order :
First : New students at the high school.
Second : Seniors, to help them make plans for job placement or further education.
Third : Juniors, for the administration of interest tests and aptitude tests, to help them crystal- lize their ideas of what they want to do after high school.
Fourth : Lower classes, primarily to catch cases of maladjustment to school or society.
(c) Inauguration of a job placement bureau at the school. So far, this has consisted of the planning of a com- munity occupational survey which is to be carried out by the senior class this year, and which will form the bases for placement in the future.
(d) In the future, a system of follow-up which will help to determine what is happening to the school graduates in Orleans and Eastham, as well as the school leavers or drop- outs.
(3) Problems facing the Guidance Director :
(a) Lack of sufficient time to cover with any de- gree of completeness the three schools which are his respon- sibility. So far this year, in spite of ambitions to the con- trary, he has been able to do little or nothing at the elemen- tary schools. He still hopes that ,with increasing efficiency in the future, he will be able to spend more time away from the high school.
(b) Inability to leave his teaching in order to visit colleges and technical schools. In order to do a thorough job of educational placement, a Guidance Director should be personally acquainted with as many colleges and techni-
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cal schools as possible. Under the present system of part- time guidance, it is virtually impossible for the Director to leave his regular chemistry and science classes and still do an acceptable teaching job.
In conclusion, may we state our very strong feeling that Guidance is a necessary part, and should be an integral part, of all education today. In these days of increasing stress and uncertainty there continue to be many unhappy homes, insecure children, poorly adjusted students. If we can help these, as well as the "normal" children, to live more happy and useful lives in their school and in their community, and to realize more of their potential, we shall feel that our job has been well-done.
REPORT OF ART SUPERVISOR
C. Leo Ferris
Before a game is played the participant must know the rules and regulations governing the activity. Many may know the rudiments of a certain sport, but constant practice and hard work produce champions. I believe they are made, not born.
There are, I believe "rules and regulations" in art. Good drawing, light and shade and perspective are all im- portant to the student. They must be shown how to use the tools of the trade. Demonstrations and participation in the various media are most important. To show some one how does not kill the creative urge we find in all children. If we go back to the old masters we will find that they were well trained in the tools of their professions before their works were recognized as being great.
The appreciation of art is not neglected. A basic know- ledge of color and design in relation to pictures, clothing, furniture, interiors, and architecture goes along with the instruction in drawing and painting. During the present
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school year several Eastham children attending Orleans High School were able to see an exhibit of paintings at the Cape Cod Art Association Galleries in Hyannis.
Students participate in several exhibits and poster con- tests each year. In my estimation the following are the most beneficial. Scholastic Art Awards give recognition to stu- dents on the state and national level. Massachusetts Art Teachers Association Exhibits are on loan throughout the country. During the coming year I hope to have shows from other states exhibited here. The safety poster contest for schools in this union sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Chatham and the Orlean's Womans Club Exhibit both at- tracted many favorable comments.
In the month of May until the closing of school field trips supplement class room work. Familar scenes to all turn into wonderful sketches.
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