USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1920 > Part 6
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A glance at the above figures I think will explain why Franklin had so many teachers resign the past year and why it is necessary to pay more than we now are if we wish to retain our share of good teachers for the education of our children.
Outside Study by Teachers
Several teachers during the past year have taken out- side study in order to be better prepared to teach our chi !- dren. They have brought to their work fresh enthusiasm and inspiration which is very beneficial to the schools and
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helpful to the whole teaching staff. The following teachers have taken or are taking work as indicated below.
Miss Cole, Junior High School Course, Hyannis Summer School.
Miss Granger, Teaching Elementary Subjects, Hyannis Summer School.
Miss Etta McCabe, Diseases of eye, ear, nose and throat,
Dr. Kennedy.
Miss Meserve, Junior High School Course, Hyannis Sum- mer School.
Miss Mullane, Vocationaal Guidance, Harvard Summer School.
Miss Tower, Teaching Elementary Subjects, Harvard Summer School.
Miss Wiggin, English Literature, Boston University.
Special Reports
On subsequent pages are to be found reports on special activities by principals and other members of the school staff the report of the Attendance Officer and the School Physi .. cian, and tables and statistics in regard to the schools which deserve careful consideration.
Recommendations
1. The adoption of a salary schedule which shall ena. ble Franklin to retain and obtain good teachers.
2. That adequate provision be made for repairs, books and supplies as previously suggested.
3. The employment of one additional teacher for a class of mentally retarded children as required by General Acts Chapter 277.
In closing I wish to express my sincere thanks for the helpful co-operation of parents, teachers, pupils and mem- bers of the School Committee during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, ARTHUR W. HALE, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
The High School opened in September with 196 pu- pils, an increase of 28 over last year. It was gratifying to
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know that of all the pupils enrolled last June who were still living in Franklin in September only three failed to return to school.
The principal change in the school has been in the daily sessions. We now have a session from 8:15 A. M. to 1 P. M. each day for all High School pupils and another from 2:00 to 4:00, four days a week for those who need extra heln. Those who have failed to do satisfactory work for a month in one subject are required to return for help two afternoons a week for the next month and those who have failed in more than one subject are required to return four after- moons a week for one month. This plan has proved success ful in other high schools and seems to be working well here. It has been noticeable that a majority of those who have been attending afternoon sessions for one month do not fail in the same subject that month. One possible weakness in our present plan is that there is no teacher in charge of the building between one and two o'clock in the afternon
Every high school has to guard against giving its pupils the impression that they will need to learn nothing more aft-' er leaving school. In fact some manufacturers say that ore of their difficulties in dealing with young employees is the attitude of mind which many of them have which seems to say, 'I cannot remember when I was not attending school and learning. Now I do not intend to learn anything more." An indication of how successful a school has been in avoid. ing this difficulty is the number of its graduates who not only are still willing to learn but who are so anxious to learn that they go further to school. Eighty percent of our grad- uates of 1919 were in school last year and 62 percent of our last year's graduates are now attending school. Of our pres- ent senior class only three have expressed any doubt about attending some school next year.
For the past six years our school has had the privilege of certifying pupils to the colleges that belong to the New England College Entrance Certificate Board, but for the last three years no graduates of our school have chosen to go to any of these colleges. Those who have entered college have chosen Harvard, Radcliffe, Simmons and other colleges not affiliated with this board. As one of the conditions of certification is that a school must certify one pupil in three years, I assume that we shall not be allowed this privilege next June.
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Last May we again won the Singleton Cup, a trophy presented by Mr. Singleton for excellence in public speak- ing. This gives us the privilege of holding the cup for anoth- er year. If we can win it once more during the next three years we shall have it for a permanent possession. The- greatest benefit that has come to the school from these con- tests has been an increased interest in developing skill in oral expression and it would be desirable if we could have- more regular instruction in this subject.
The Alden Club has given a year's free membership to three senior girls for excellence of work during their junior year and I understand they intend again to give cash prizes. for essays.
We had two interclass field days in October and a field day in competition with North Attleboro in November. There was much interest shown and one of the benefits de- rived was that the boys are in better physical condition to- commence the basketball season than they have ever been before.
The price of books still remains so high that very little has been done in replacing badly worn sets with new ones, but I believe many sets should be replaced as soon as prices: are lower.
Although it has been impossible to offer manual train- ing or domestic science to the pupils in the high school this- year, I believe it will be wise at some future time to estab- lish more extended courses in both these subjects for high. school pupils.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES B. LAMB, Principal
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL WORK IN THE FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
The plan of the physical work in the Franklin High School for the year now closing has been of the same nature as that of the past two years with the following exception; -the one session plan in effect since the opening of school in September has not afforded time for the weekly talks to selected groups upon the theory material.
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At the present time about sixteen minutes per day are. given to the physical exercises. I have the past term taken different groups of pupils at this period for talks about health, and athletics in general as related to field day events and basketball. Time for the posture tests and physical ex . aminations has to be taken from this period.
The longer I teach physical work the more convinced I am that it is a good thing for the school. I have taught a long time now and never have I seen so little absence for sickness as at present (the last two years). One trouble among pupils of High School age is an abnormal curvature of the spine. This is a dangerous thing if not corrected and I am glad to report that we have done wonders in helping pupils to correct this fault. Individual suggestions for home exercises are given and special exercises are given at the school. Pictures of the results to one if the abnormal curva- ture is not corrected are shown, and in due time an improve- ment follows. We have cured some slight cases and helped every bad case. The next hardest thing to work upon is the round shouldered group but I am glad to say that this is responding to the treatment. I am sorry to note that the improvement is not so pronounced as I think that it should be. The posture tests show that the physical work extended over a period of years is of great benefit. Never before have there been in the High School so many pupils standing in perfect posture as at the present time. In December 1918 eight percent of the school could stand in perfect posture ; in December 1919 fourteen percent while in December 1920 twenty-seven percent. This is a gradual and I think a reason- able improvement. The 'round shouldered group made up sixty-seven percent of the school in 1919 and now the tests show it to be forty-eight percent, (In this are included those who are in the students' stoop class-not all being round shouldered but having tendencies that way).
I am seriously thinking of taking one of the physical exercise periods each week to continue the theory work be- cause at the age of the High School pupils I think that it has much weight in correcting bad postures and is an aid in training one to care for one's' health.
I suppose that it is useless to suggest the idea of a gym- nasium but that is what is now wanted to perfect the work in the High School. Chin exercises, vaulting games, jumping
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contests and athletic dancing would bring into play the mus- cles that need strengthening for perfect posture and normal circulation of the blood and would create new interest, and interest is everything in obtaining results. If a gymnasium could be procured for two days or more each week, or the town hall used for athletic dancing much good would be accomplished.
I feel that attention should be given to the posture of pupils while in sitting positions. All of the good of perfect standing positions can be ruined by habitually poor sitting positions. I intend to make this more pronounced in the course than in the past. This is no easy task for it should mean the adjustment of both chair and desk to the size of the pupil.
There is one more thing I think is worth while mentioz- ing and I do so because many friends of the school have re- marked to me about it. It is this. Our boys and girls in the basketball squads are in the best physical condition and have the best wind of any squads in the history of the school at this time of the basketball season. We feel that this may be attributed to two causes; one, the effect of physical exer. cises and two, the splendid interest shown by the pupils m the three field days held during the past fall.
In closing I would acknowledge the untiring support of the principal and teachers of the High School and the kind- ly interest of the superintendent, not forgetting the co-oper. ation of the pupils of the Franklin High School, all of which have made possible what success has been attained. .
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. FRAZER,
Director of Physical Work.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC TO THE . SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
Our aim in music, from the first to the ninth grade, is to gain ability to produce purity in tone quality, read not .: s at sight, understand time values, sense rhythm, gain some knowledge of the history of music and musical instruments, the care of the voice and last, but not least, the apprecia- tion of the best in music.
.
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Owing to the fact that our work was greatly hindered last year by unavoidable conditions of weather and changes in teachers, we have made a stronger pull so far this year, and I now feel that we are about up to standard. We could use a new "Recreation Book of Songs" in our sixth and seventh grades to great advantage and benefit. I hope we can have one. Each child in all grades where books are useu, should have a book to himself.
Our Junior High School is in good condition and have a Glee Club and Ocrhestra under the direction of Miss Mul- lane, the Principal .. Altogether considered, I can truly say our work is progressing.
Our High School singing is very satisfactory. We have more tenors than ever. The boys all sing, and our tone vol- ume is firm and of good quality. While there are not many stars, an even healthy condition exists. The Glee Club num- bers over one hundred. An Operetta. "Sylvia" is being pre- pared to be given February 5th, 1921, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase a Victrola for the High School. We are in an imperative need of a new song book. A new bock will give us a new incentive to work.
Our Orchestra is small in numbers, but doing very good work. Five of our young men are known as the High School Jazz Orchestra, and play for dances when requested.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLA G. MOORE,
Supervisor of Music
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
Conditions in drawing at the beginning of the school year were very satisfactory. The grades had had so many thorough lessons in construction work during the school year 1919-1920 that I deemed it more advisable to spend most of the year 1920-1921 on other lines of drawing, such as free hand drawing and color.
The power to draw freehand and illustrate clearly may be gradually developed in a child going through the grades, after a succession of steps and a number of lessons are giv- en on representation, proportion and design.
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The power to recognize, define, and appreciate refine- ment in color seems to have developed in only one-tenth of the children on reaching high school age. I think, therefore, more time, more stress, and more thought should be put on this one subject.
ANNA E. McCUSKER, Supervisor of Drawing
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TO SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :
Conditions in the Junior High School were more fa- vorable for the opening of school in September than they were a year ago, owing to the fact that the building had been entirely completed and there had been only two changes in the teaching staff.
Shortly after the opening of school, the classes were organized for student participation in school control. Each home room section of thirty-five pupils is the unit of self- government. All home room sections are merged into the "school community" with community officers who exercise control over the entire student body. The home room teach- er acts as counselor and director for each pupil in her home room. Not only does she help the class officers in matters of discipline but she consults with her pupils as to their dif- ficulties, and through constant counseling becomes more familiar with them, and is able to help them more success- fully. As much responsibility is delegated to as many dif- ferent pupils as possible ; it develops so many more students who can contribute to the class record and success.
We have a number of student activities outside of school hours ; a glee club, school orchestra, athletic club, arts and craft club, hiking club, literary club and a fancy work club. Every pupil in the Junior High School is interested and takes active part in at least one of these school activities. We feel it is developing in our boys and girls co-operative work, and the spirit of fair play, which makes for successful living.
Every Friday morning, we have a period set aside known as the assembly. The community president has charge
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of the assembly, introducing speakers and pupils who take part in the assembly. We are trying, in our assemblies, to bring such information before the children that it will de- velop in them independent thinking along occupational lines and also to develop traits of character useful in occu- pational and civic life. This aim is being more fully carried out in the occupations class where the pupils in conjunction with the teacher, analyze a few occupations, study the value of school work and the preparation and qualities of a good worker, so that when the time comes for the pupil to leave ·school to enter industry, he may be better prepared for his work, whether it be in shop, factory, office or home.
With the proceeds realized from the Junior High play, we have purchased an Edison machine, which we use occa- sionally during the music period in developing an appreci- ation lesson in music; teaching the pupils to recognize the different kinds of instruments played, and to recognize the different compositions.
I would recommend promotion by subject in the Junior High School, that is, a child should be promoted with his class at the end of the year, in those subjects which he has successfully completed, but should have his program so ?" ranged for him that it would be possible for him to make up work he had lost or had not successfully completed.
The manual training and domestic science is developing finely but I wish it were possible to increase opportunities in these lines. The addition of printing would be a most val- uable asset to the manual training department. Try-out courses in these lines tend to help the boy or girl who is strongly hand-minded and does not care so much for books, to find in the school the opportunity to learn what he most desires and feels will be most beneficial to him after his school-days are over.
If the home and the school could be more closely united in the interest of the children, I believe our Junior High School would be meeting more fully the needs and desires of the boys and girls of this community.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN J. MULLANE, Principal
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REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL TRAINING IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
In the Junior High School, the physical work is divided into three parts, namely : recess work, class work and ath- letic club work.
The recess work during fair weather is conducted on the playground, and consists of warming-up exercises and' games, which are used to throw off sluggishness acquired during class periods. During inclement weather, the exer- cises are conducted in the home rooms with student leaders. Recess work is conducted out of doors as much as possible ..
The regular class period is used especially for correc- tive work, strengthening the parts of the body and for men- tal training as well. It is during this period that we practice for the badge tests. The badge tests are standards of effi- ciency which every normal girl and boy should be able to attain. Posture is corrected during this period. Shower baths were taken by the boys after the physical lesson during the fall months.
Pupils are measured and weighed every month. If the pupils are under or over weight for their height or age, they are advised as to how to try to remedy their condition. The pupils watch their charts very carefully to see if they im- prove. We have no weighing machine of our own, so that no -- vessitates the weighing of pupils after school time. We hope, however, to own one very soon.
A girls' athletic club and a boys' athletic club has been formed. The clubs are held after school time. Soccer and field hockey are played during the fall months, ice hockey, skiing and chariot races during the winter months, baseball and track events during the spring months.
Respectfully submitted,
J. ETTA MCCABE.
Director of Physical Training-Junior High School
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF MANUAL TRAINING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir:
It is hardly necessary today, as it was some years ago, in the report of the manual training teacher to go into a
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discussion of the value of manual training. This department of education has become such a well established part of the modern school course that such a discussion seems superflu- ous, but if anyone is not thoroughly convinced of the value of such training, he should visit a class at work and see from twenty to thirty boys ranging in ages from eleven to fifteen years working steadily for two or more solid hours and then wanting to stay in at recess and do more work.
We are trying in the Manual training department of the Junior High School not to teach the boys of grades sev- en and eight to become carpenters or mechanics in any sense, but to be able to use tools in an intelligent and careful matt- ner and to work to a line and get a finished model, square, straight and true.
It has been argued that manual training was especially necessary for town or city bred boys and that country boys, brought up on farms, did not need such training nearly as much. To be sure the country boy does get a certain amount of rough and ready slipshod work with tools about the farnı, but he fails to see much difference between a quarter or a half an inch, almost never has a line, and his motto is gen- erally "good enough" or "near enough." This we try to remedy by holding him down to the use of the rule and square, showing him the difference between good and poor work.
While in the seventh grade we are making a series of models which will teach the proper use of different tools in a progressive manner, in the eighth grade we plan, for the remainder of the year, to give the boys a choice of several useful articles and thus develop as much individuality as pos- sible, and make them try to have something that is worth while and that they will take pride in.
Besides our regular work we try to do anything in the way of repairs that comes in our way, or make anything that is needed about the school.
One day each week is given to mechanical drawing which is carried on in conjunction with the manual training and gives the pupils very excellent training in accuracy and the use of instruments.
The Junior High School has a very good supply of ex- cellent tools and with the installation of the new motor the boys will be able to use the lathe, saw and most important
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of all they will be able to learn how to sharpen their own tools on the emery wheel. .
The only improvement I would suggest in the equip- ment is a set of individual benches equipped with wooden vises, and also a number of lockers so each boy could have a place of his own to keep his work.
Respectfully submitted,
J. M. NOWLAND, Instructor in Manual Training.
REPORT OF INSTRUCTOR IN DOMESTIC SCIENCE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
At the present time with the high cost of ready-made garments, and many people out of work it is of great advan- tage to young girls to learn how to make their own garments
Fundamentals are always necessary as a basis for fu- ture work, so in the sixth grade, the first year of sewing, all the fundamental stitches of sewing are taught. These stitches if merely practiced would not come directly home to the pupils, so they are applied to small, inexpensive, yet useful articles.
As the pupils pass from one grade to the next their work changes and grows more difficult. In the Junior High School the girls learn how to use a pattern, how to put different parts of garments to-gether with the various kinds of seams, how to set in sleeves, and all the more advanced processes in sewing.
Our cooking classes have just been organized. In the seventh grade we take up some of the simple dishes under cach type of cookery, while in the eighth the work will con- sist of more advanced cookery.
In the sewing as well as the cookery we are trying to give work that is common, useful, and helpful to all, not something that is out of the ordinary and very seldom used.
In closing I would like to say that the girls have taken a great interest and pride in their work.
Respectfully submitted, DOROTHY K. WALDO,
Instructor of Domestic Science.
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REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL SAY- INGS BANK TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Dear Sir :-
Our School Savings Bank has for its main purpose --- the teaching of thrift to the children of our schools.
It is a system carried on by the pupils of the eighth grade of the Junior High School, under the supervision of the teacher of mathematics.
Groups of four children each are sent to the various schools to transact the business. Each group comprises a cashier, one who takes charge of the ledger, another to take charge of the journal, and a fourth to act as clerk. A card index system is used. When the work at each school is com- pleted, the results are returned to the Junior High school and tabulated by a treasurer and assistant treasurer. The balance is deposited in the Benjamin Franklin Savings Band as a School account.
When a child has deposited three dollars or more he may, through the school group, transfer the amount and receive an individual Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank book and thereby obtain interest on his money. Each depos- it, thereafter, amounting to one dollar or more may be trans- ferred to his individual account. These practical business ideas appeal considerably to the children.
The following results show the idea of thrift and sav- ing are fast becoming a part of the children's education.
Total deposits made at the various buildings from Jan- uary 1st to. December 1st are as follows :-
School
1919
1920
Metcalf
$178.30
$366.65
Ray
119.72
137.36
Thayer
165.11
478.26
Nason Street
265.99
490.12
Arlington Street
255.27
695.07
Four Corners
184.56
256.76
Totals
$1,168.95
$2,124.22
Amounts transferred to individual accounts from Janu- ary Ist to December 1st :- 1919, $635.76; 1920, $1,335.09.
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Number of new accounts opened January 1st to Decem- ber 1st :- 1919, 190; 1920, 260.
Respectfully submitted, M. HELEN SULLIVAN
THRIFT AND WAR SAVINGS STAMPS
School
1919
1920
High
$ 25.25
$ 69 50.
Metcalf
56.00
45.25
Ray
192.25
377.75
Thayer
15.00
Nason Street
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