USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1926 > Part 5
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Awards are made as follows: Monthly in school attendance, bi-monthly in general scholarship, annually in penmanship, spell- ing, music appreciation, posture, prize speaking, reading and at- tendance.
No pupil needs go through the schools without at some time receiving one or more awards.
A complete list of those receiving the several awards is made a part of this report.
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SCHOOL REPORT
RECOMMENDATIONS
That the pre-school medical examination of children to enter the first grade in September be held annually in May or June.
That the Dental Hygienist work be continued.
That a course in Citizenship through Character Development be adopted for use throughout the schools.
That a matron be employed for not over two hours daily to supervise the lunch rooms.
That a full-time teacher be employed for Domestic Science that her services may also be had for instruction in other sub- jects, thereby giving the Junior High teachers time for special classes with the backward children.
That substitute teachers be provided in order that our regu- lar teachers may be sent to visit other school systems and not necessitate the closing of schools.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion I thank the School Committee, the teachers and supervisors and patrons of the school for their support through- out the year.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN D. WHITTIER, Superintendent of Schools.
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
SCHOOL SAVINGS, SALEM SAVINGS BANK
Balance, January 1, 1926
$353 46
Deposits during 1926
374 49
Total
$727 95
Withdrawals and Transfers, 1926
$310 78
Balance, January 1, 1927
$417 17
Number of Depositors, January 1, 1927
255.
AGE OF ADMISSION
No child will be admitted to the first grade at the opening of school in September who will not be five years of age by the first day of October.
Pupils are admitted to this grade only during the first two weeks of school in September, unless they have attended school in some other town.
VACCINATION
Children who have not been vaccinated will not be admitted to school in September unless they present certificates from a regular practicing physician stating that they are not fit subjects for vaccination. Parents are requested to attend to this matter during the summer vacation, as certificates of exemption must be presented at the opening of school to entitle children to admission.
15,
SCHOOL REPORT
SCHOOL CENSUS AS OF OCTOBER, 1926
Boys
Girls:
Number between five and seven years of age
32
31
Number between seven and fourteen years of age
127
130
Number between fourteen and sixteen years of age
20
43
Totals Total Census
179
204
383:
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
The following pupils were neither absent nor tardy for the. entire school year of 1925-1926 :
EAST SCHOOL
Georgina Cracknell
Harold McDonald
Philip Caverly Edna Sprague
SOUTH SCHOOL
Edwina Alexander
Mary Walsh
Mary Bancroft
Gladys Farrel
Donald Stevens
Mary Donlon
Hugh Mullins
Lawrence Peterson
John Mullins
Joseph Morphew
Clayton Kirby
George Perkins Walter Buzzell
Edward Laski
Margaret Corcoran
Arthur Perkins
Alexander Koloski
Edith Pope
Mabel Saulnier
Charles Whipple
Marguerite Mason
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
PENMANSHIP
The following pupils received certificates for improvement in Penmanship during the school year 1925-26:
EAST SCHOOL
Raymond Barker Robert Hiller
Stashia Zigalo Eleanor Barker
SOUTH SCHOOL
Alice Stone
Mabel Saulnier
Esther Erickson
Roger Smerage
Muriel Gould
Sarah Katz
Muriel Pentz
Barbara Cullen
Marjorie Saulnier
Alice Dunn
Edwina Tremblay
HOME READING WITH SCHOOL CREDIT
Public Library and Public Schools Cooperating
The following pupils received Reading Certificates for having read ten or more books from the approved list :
GRADE 3
*Eileen Armstrong
Richard Grant
*Alfred McRae
Nellie Emeney
*Richard Greeley
Annie Maione
* Mary Bancroft
Mary Gildart
*Jeanne Hipson
*Madeline Campbell
*Edwina Alexander
*John Purington
Irene Tree
*Ruth Lougee
Cornelia MacGregor
* Alfred York
1%
SCHOOL REPORT
*Donald Stevens John Dunn Robert Smith Lura Bailey
Helen McCarthy Grace Cullity John Back Carmela De Luca
GRADE 4
***** ** Kenneth McRae Dorothy Greeley Chester Lander Harold Johnson
Helen Tuck John King
GRADE 5
Mary Walsh ** Nancy Knowlton Lawrence Lamson
Sarah Townsend Margaret Corcoran *Donald Greeley
Alice Dunn
GRADE 6
Elizabeth Crowell Frank Tree
Annie Gildart
James Miller
George Perkins
Howard Boyd
Gladys Farrel Muriel Gould
Margaret Sewell
Gladys Back
Everett Holland
Mary Donlon
Catharine Darcy
Gertrude Alexander
Edith Dolliver
GRADE 7
Arthur Perkins Thomas Walsh
**** Edward Laski * ** Milton Sanford *Robert Comeau Marjorie Dodge Charles Dolliver Elizabeth Tuttle
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
GRADE 8
* Thelma Bailey Beatrice Edmondson
*Marjorie Baker *Polly Feener
*Annabelle Foss Ethelene Gould
Sarah Guild *** Dorothy Hooper
*Eloise McRae *Kathleen Morphew *Rose Aimee Perron William Ruggles
* Edwin Sanford
EAST SCHOOL PRIMARY
*Margaret Sargeant Earl Faulkner
George McDonald
Robert Hiller Georgina Cracknell Georgette Lake
Roger Barron
GRAMMAR
*Dorothy Whipple *Edna Sprague
Harold Knowlton Eleanor Barker
*Stashia Zigalo
*Gordon Como *Harold McDonald
A gold star was given for having read five additional books. Number of stars beside each pupil's name signifies number of books read and stars received.
SPELLING
The following pupils represented their grade in the Town Spelling Contest held in April, 1926:
SOUTH SCHOOL
'Grade III
Madeline Campbell
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SCHOOL REPORT
Grade IV Chester Baker
Grade V
*Mary Walsh
Grade VI
Gladys Farrel
Grade VII
John Sewell
Grade VIII
** Marjorie Baker
*Winner to represent town in Union Contest.
** Winner to represent Town in Union Contest and winner of Town Cup.
EAST SCHOOL
Grade III Margaret Sargeant
Grade IV
Dorothy Whipple
Grade V
Stashia Zigalo
Grade VI
Gordon Como
HONOR ROLL
The following pupils were on the Honor Roll for the entire school year 1925-1926 :
Kathleen Morphew
Elizabeth Pfaff
Jack Spear
Marjorie Underhill
Sarah Ayers
Violet Mason
The following pupils were on the Honor Roll during Sep- tember and October, 1926:
Sarah Ayers
Elizabeth Crowell
Grace Melanson
Muriel Gould
William Allen
Esther Lee
Oonan Ryan
Catherine McGarry
Julia Buzzell
Harold McDonald
Irene Pope
Edith Dolliver
Violet Mason
Jack Spear
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
Orrin Lee
Paul Campbell
Barbara Porter
Thelma Bailey
Grant Crowell
Barbara Hobbs
Robert Fuller
Kathleen Morphew
Edith Pope
Eloise McRae
Helen Tuttle
The following pupils were on the Honor Roll during Novem- ber and December, 1926:
Grace Melanson
Elizabeth Crowell
Sarah Katz
Esther Lee
Evelyn Grant
Gladys Farrell
Kathryn Lamson
Gladys Back
Oonah Ryan
Barbara Porter
Josephine Laski
Catherine McGarry
Norman Peatfield
Lois Campbell
Wayne Hobbs
Elinor Pope
Julia Buzzell
Thelma Bailey
Irene Pope
Barbara Hobbs
Violet Mason
Beatrice Edmondson
Eloise McRae
21
SCHOOL REPORT
1
4
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR: I present herewith my first report as Principal of the Hamilton Junior-Senior High School.
Registration for the school year 1926-27 is 171, divided as follows :
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
Withdrawals
Junior I
22
18
40
Junior II
17
17
34
1
Junior III
12
18
30
1
Senior I
7
18
25
2
Senior II
4
19
23
Senior III
6
12
18
Post Graduate
1
1
68
103
171
4
As a whole the pupils have an interest in their work, and partly, at least, because of this, withdrawals have been few. Ex- cept for leaving town there has been but one withdrawal. It is earnestly hoped that the interest will still continue in the High School. We should set for an objective a high school of at least two hundred pupils.
Hamilton has a good High School. The teachers are well prepared for the work they are doing. The school spirit its good. Both teachers and pupils have a business-like attitude toward their work, and each seems anxious to do his task well. Except for crowded conditions in our classrooms and laboratories, our equip- ment and facilities are as good as those found in the average high school of the same size. If a student wishes to prepare for col-
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
lege, he may be sure that he has only himself to blame if he cannot pass his examinations at the end of four years. The State De- partment of Education has recognized the standard of excellence which we have tried to maintain, and has placed us in "Class A" rank (the highest), with the full certificate privilege to its normal schools. This kind of recognition speaks well for the school.
We have the certificate privilege to several other schools, and have applied to the New England College Entrance Board for its approval. If the pupils from this school now in college do well in their work this privilege will be extended to us.
The State Department of Education has long advocated the establishment of reference libraries in high schools to supply books which it is difficult or impossible to secure at public libraries. Behind the State Department's advocacy lies the fact that modern teaching methods have done away with the idea of assigning pages of a textbook to be memorized, and require instead the outside reading of various authorities and the comparison and class dis- cussion of their opinions, out of which the student may begin to formulate judgments for himself. For the past three years the high school has been enlarging the number of these reference books. These books are, however, still located in the Principal's office, and some provision must certainly be made for a suitable library. containing proper shelving, tables and chairs. Provision should also be made for cataloging our present library. This was called to your attention by your Principal last year.
A suitable place for pupils to eat their ncon lunches under proper supervision should be made. This is almost impossible at the present time, where class rooms must be used for this purpose, and teachers who should be allowed to go home for a hot dinner have to eat a cold lunch and remain on duty during the noon hour.
High school athletics are also suffering from the want of proper facilities to carry on these activities. During the fall months we were able to create quite an interest in a league for
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SCHOOL REPORT
baseball. The winter months have been full of disappointment, with no gymnasium (or other hall) at our command, we have been unable to have basketball. The recent war gave a tremendous im- pulse to public interest in athletics of all kinds, and it is more widely recognized now than ever that athletics both in high school and in college provide one of the best means of building up char- acter no less than bodies. It is highly important that students should have a physical training and athletic program. This enter- prise should have the enthusiastic support of high school pupils, the active backing of the public and a competent high-minded coach in charge of the work.
With the new ideals of education which have been coming to the front during the last two years, it seems unwise to limit pupils to a too-circumscribed course of study. As it is, because of our relatively small faculty, it is sometimes impossible for stu- dents to take certain studies, which they desire. On account of the already heavy burden on the present teaching staff, it has been impossible in many cases to make proper curriculum adjustments, especially in the Junior High. Special classes for backward pupils and additional work in domestic science would aid us materially, but would necessitate securing a full-time teacher to handle this department.
Some changes have been made in the high school during the past year. Physics is being taught for the first time in four years and much new apparatus has been added. The laboratory has been enlarged, closet space increased and a new ceiling put in place. Additional chairs have been purchased for the classroom in which we hold our junior high school assemblies. This will aid materially in relieving the prevailing seating difficulties.
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
In conclusion allow me to express my appreciation for the co-operation given by the members of the school board, teachers and townspeople, also for your own valuable aid. With the exist- ing spirit of co-operation and unfailing interest, education in Hamilton is bound to move ahead.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM E. COTTLE, Principal.
25
SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF DRAWING SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR: I herewith submit my second annual report of drawing as carried on in the Hamilton schools.
With pleasure I review the work of the first grade, especially this year. Besides learning how to use scissors, crayons, paste and recognize the six rainbow colors and simple shapes, a little has been done with design and lettering. They have mastered the art of cutting well enough to be able to cut letters for Christmas decorations and make simple cut-out scenes.
Following last year's plan I have connected my work with other subjects and things the children are interesting in whenever possible. In the second grade at Thanksgiving time an Indian border was made. In the spring we correlated our work with a study of the farm. The farmer and his family, farm implements, and animals were drawn. Lettering was studied by making an illustrated ABC book. They are now at work on an Eskimo sand- table.
In the third grade, geography has been correlated with draw- ing by making Dutch, Pilgrim and Eskimo sandtables. Color and design also were studied and design applied in making bor- ders for booklets. This grade finds much difficulty in using rulers for measuring, therefore several lessons were given to this kind of work.
In the spring the fourth grade had an African sandtable and designed and illustrated a notebook on Africa. Design and color were taken up in the fall and a simple scheme to choose colors that go well together was worked out. At Christmas simple cal- endars were made for Christmas gifts. We are now working on a Swiss sandtable.
This is the first year the fifth grade have had paints, so a good
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
deal of time has been given in using them. At Christmas time the story of Christmas was worked out in cut-out scenes for special work. Lettering has been studied by making notebook covers for history and geography.
The sixth grade drawing is correlated with their study of Ancient History as last year. This class has taken hold of the work even much better than last year's sixth grade and has taken up a little about the golden oblong and worked out a vase on Hambridge's method of dynamic symmetry, which is advanced work for this grade. Design was taken up through studying Greek designs, finding the laws of order used, finding examples of Greek designs and finally making original designs. To make the written work more attractive, we have made illuminated letters for each paper, thus studying lettering. We are in hopes of having an interesting. attractive and worthwhile history notebook at the end of the year.
The seventh and eighth grades have accomplished a good deal in the little time we have for drawing. In the fall nature draw- ing and painting was taken and a little work with color, making color wheels and scales of values. At Christmas time the seventh grade made combination calendar and memorandum pads and the eighth grade attractive desk sets. Both grades are now working on figure drawing.
This year it was possible to arrange for a high school class of freehand drawing and a number of pupils are taking it. Na- ture painting and drawing and color were studied in the fall and original pictures were worked out at Christmas time. They are now working on still-life drawings.
In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to the Super- intendent, Principal and teachers for their cooperation and interest.
Respectfully submitted,
ABBIE U. CRAGG, Supervisor of Drawing.
27
SCITOOL REPORT
REPORT OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR: During the past year the method of music teach- ing has been similar to that of previous years.
The teaching of rote songs, elimination of monotones, devel- oping a finer sense of rhythm through the use of singing games, folk dances, and primary toy orchestra. The last six months of the first year the children are taught to recognize phrase repeti- tion. The sol-fa syllables are also taught as a final verse to rote songs.
The second-grade work is carried on along similar lines. In this grade the books are put in the children's hands and note reading from the books is developed with less rote-song singing. Ear training is emphasized more during this year.
Less rote singing, more note reading and ear training is the main study of grades three and four. Two and three-part songs are introduced in the fifth and sixth grades.
In the seventh and eighth grades, one forty-minute period a week is devoted to singing. Two and three-part songs as well as unison songs are studied. These grades have been supplied with new books. The Twice Fifty-Five Green Book, which the boys and girls are greatly enjoying, contain some very fine music lit- erature. Their other set of books are being rebound and put in good condition for further use.
One forty-minute period a week is devoted to "Music Appre- ciation" and the results have been most gratifying.
Twenty-five compositions of the finest type and representing the best composers are studied and memorized during the school year. An elimination contest is held in each town of the Union at the end of the school year. The six pupils having the highest
28
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
per cents are eligible to take part in the final contest between the towns and Manchester.
The final contest took place in Hamilton this year. Hamil- ton Junior High won the banner with a score of 97.2 per cent and Manchester standing second at 89.9 per cent.
The Victory Club donated $15.00 for prizes, which were . awarded to the following :
Highest Per Cents in Contest
Estelle Melanson
Dorothy Hooper
Barbara Hobbs
Eloise McRae Flora Dodge Jack Spear
Music Scrapbooks
Jack Spear Orrin Lee
Barbara Porter Elinor Pope Edwin Sanford
Awarded Perfect Score Pins
Eloise McRae
Flora Dodge
Jack Spear Dorothy Hooper
Estelle Melanson
The compositions selected for the contest are :
Angelus Largo al factotum (Barber of Seville)
Humoresque
Largo (Xerxes) Erl King Intermezzo (Cavalleria Rusticana) Andante Cantabile
Massenet, French Rossini, Italian Dvorak, Bohemian Handel, German Schubert, Austrian Mascagni, Italian Tschaikowsky, Russian
29
SCHOOL REPORT
Kamennoi-Ostrow
Bell Song (Lakme) Minuet in G Major Praeludium Scarlet Sarafan, Souvenir de Moscow Polonaise (Mignon)
How Lovely Are the Messengers
Dance of the Hours (La Gioconda)
Prelude in C Sharp Minor Turkish March (Ruins of Athens) Danny Deever Toy Symphony Moonlight Sonata O Thou Sublime Sweet Evening Star Poet and Peasant, Overture
Valse Triste Adagietto (L'Arlesienne Suite) Mighty Lak' a Rose
Rubinstein, Russian Delibes, French Paderewski, Polish Jarnefelt, Finnish Wieniawski, Polish Thomas, French Mendelssohn, German Ponchielli, Italian Rachmaninoff, Russian Beethoven, German Damrosch, American Haydn, Austrian Beethoven, German Wagner, German Von Suppe, Italian Sibelius, Finnish Bizet, French Nevin, American
I sincerely hope a change can be made soon, whereby more time can be given to music in the High School. At present only a forty-minute period in two weeks is given over to this subject.
"It is hard to discover a better method of education than that which experience of so many ages has evolved; and this may be summed up as consisted in gymnastics for the body and music for the soul."-EDGAR ALLAN POE.
I take this opportunity to thank the Superintendent and teach- ers for their hearty cooperation.
Respectfully submitted.
MAUDE L. THOMAS,
Supervisor of Music.
30
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR: I herewith submit my second annual report as School Nurse for the Town of Hamilton.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
All children were examined by Dr. Corcoran the first of the school year. The result of the examination is as follows :
Number Examined Defects
Notices sent Corrections
Tonsils
310
*40
40
16
** 44
T.eth
*** 223
210
210
53
+389
229
389
1:1 cleaned
Heart
310
: possibly
Lungs
310
0
0
0
Ears
310
12
12
6
Posture
310
104
0
0
Pediculosis
310
1
4
1
Underweights
310
37
37
1
*40 enlarged and diseased.
** 44 moderately enlarged. * Examined by Dr. King. ¿Examined by Miss Haley.
PUPILS EXCLUDED FOR CHILDREN DISEASES
Admitted by Certificate from Physician
Measles
S
S
German Measles
19
19
Chicken Pox
45
45
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SCHOOL REPORT
Whooping Cough
22
22
Mumps
13
13
Admitted by test 11
Skin Diseases-Impetigo 11
Number of home visits made for defective cause 60
Simple dressings taken care of at school 45
DENTAL WORK
This year the Hamilton-Wenham Branch American Red Cross found it impossible to carry on the dental work for the schools. after June. Therefore, the school department secured the ser- vices of Miss Ethel Haley, Dental Hygienist, who examined the. teeth of all children and did the necessary cleanings for all chil- dren in grades one through eight.
Notices were sent all parents of pupils needing fillings or- extractions with the request that they co-operate with the schools by having the work done by their family dentist.
Number of children examined by Dr. King from January,. 1926, to May, 1926: Approximately 223, defects 210, corrections 52 by Clinic.
Number examined by Miss Haley 389, defects 229, 400 notices. sent, 171 had teeth cleaned.
PRE-SCHOOL EXAMINATION
In June a pre-school clinic was held for all children who. were to enter school in September with most satisfactory results, as most of those who attended the clinic had the necessary correc- tions made, which means it will not be necessary for them to lose- any school time for these corrections.
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HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
POSTURE
Considerable work was accomplished last year in encouraging the children to maintain good posture in sitting, standing and walking. Pins were given to pupils having the best posture and to a few who tried to correct their careless habits of sitting or standing. Pupils in Hamilton receiving pins last year were as follows :
Neil Moynihan
Margaret Corcoran
Robert Farrell
Virginia Hatt
Ralph Hursty
Nancy Knowlton
Blanche Davis
Dorothy Greeley
Verna Davis
June King
Louise Moulton
Barbara Cullen
Dorothy Alexander
Edward Lasky
Benjamin Robertson
Gladys Farrell
Walter Fowler
Catherine McGarry
Ralph Tuck
Frank Tree
Mary Bancroft
James Miller
Bradley Dolliver
Gordon Como
William King
Harold McDonald
Katherine Farrell
Louis Doucette
Roy Varnum
Harold Knowlton
Georgette Lake
Leonard Varnum
1
Gordon Thompson
HEALTH PROGRAM
The object of the Health Program in each grade is to work toward establishing habits of healthy living and to interest each child in his or her future welfare. We believe that a plan of daily inspection for personal cleanliness is the most effective method of stimulating interest. Some of the health habits we encourage are
33:
SCHOOL REPORT
as follows : Plenty of sleep, fresh air, exercise, cleanliness of body and clothes, and most of all the right kind of food. Many chil- dren are found to be underweight and it is very often hard to make them understand the danger of so being. For these children we encourage morning lunches of milk, cocoa, or soup and more- rest with moderate exercise.
A tentative course of study in health education is followed throughout the grades. This year we are taking up a simple course. in bedside nursing with the older girls, to interest them in the- value of knowing how to care for the sick.
The working day consists of general inspection, talks on health, clerical work on the physical health cards and home visits when necessary.
In closing I wish to thank the teachers, the School Committee, parents and Superintendent for their co-operation in maintaining the health work throughout the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
FLORENCE L. STOBBART, R.N.,
School Nurse ..
.
31
HAMILTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF INSTRUCTOR OF HOME ECONOMICS
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR: I herewith submit my report.
It is but a few years since Home Economics in our schools was in its infancy. The rapid strides that have been taken are due to the great need that has arisen for training of that type. It is doubtful if we realize that ninety percent of the women of our country are engaged in the occupation of homemaking, while but ten percent of the women are engaged in other occupations. Of the ten percent engaged in "other occupations" there is not one who has entered her work without training ; of the ninety per- cent engaged in homemaking there is a negligible number who have had even a minimum amount of training.
Those women making up the ten percent must keep books, use typewriters. manage tea-rooms or engage in numerous other occu- pations. The women making up the ninety percent must do some- thing vastly more important. They must buy food and clothes for their families, must prepare and serve balanced meals, and be ready to do the thousand and one other things that are de- manded of them.
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