USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1951 > Part 11
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I cannot close this survey of the staff without mentioning appreciative- ly the industry, conscientiousness and loyalty that our janitors, Mr. Bernard Cullen and Mr. Hovey Humphrey have shown in the care of their buildings. The example of a clean, neat, well-cared-for school building is of definite educational value and most pleasant for those who attend it.
Curriculum
Two changes in the high school curriculum are recommended to start in September. First in the foreign language department, three years of both Latin and French and one year of Spanish are now offered. One year of Spanish gives no credit toward college entrance and so few students have elected the course this year, it should be discontinued until such time as there is more demand for it, or it can be followed by a second year's study to yield college entrance credit. The three language credits required by most colleges can be obtained by completing of either three years of one language or two years of each of two languages. Our present courses in Latin and French permit the college preparatory student ample opportunity to earn his required language credits.
The course designated Modern European History has also been elected by so few that its deletion must be considered. All students are required to complete courses in Civics and United States History. "Problems of Democracy" and "World History" are elective, the latter including the salient points of recent European history. The elimination of this history unit would not weaken the overall program.
I suggest serious consideration be given the introduction of a course in Driver Education. It would involve classroom instruction as well as behind-the-wheel training. The lead article of The Massachusetts Teacher for January explains and discusses the value derived from such courses and has thought-provoking statistics to prove the case. If I may quote at random from Mr. Pepyne's article-"248 of the 257 public high schools in Massachusetts offer classroom instruction in driver education and 151 of these schools have dual-control driver-training cars." A representative
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group of 1500 students was chosen for a 10 year research study. "Inspec- tor Martin E. Morrill, who is conducting this survey, reports that the present trend indicates that drivers in the untrained group have nine times as many reportable violations and accidents as those who have had class- room instruction and more than ten times as many as those who have had the complete program . . . Three out of four boys and girls will be driving before reaching their twenty-fifth birthday . . . Driver education, then aims to teach boys and girls to do better that which they eventually will have to do anyway." If these statistics should be in error by 100%, a course in driver education would still deserve serious consideration. Think of the change in character of the driver population over a period of years if the new drivers added each year were all properly educated and trained.
The school library is being expanded and furnished with current books and periodicals whenever it is financially possible. One of the more im- portant additions was the 1951 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia which has recently been added to the reference shelf. We are indebted to Miss Ruth Austen for the time and effort she gives to the library both during and after school hours. The students also receive invaluable en- couragement and help in their reading problems from the local librarians, Mrs. Lydia Haraden and Mrs. Alvin Perley. We are fortunate to have two such interested and cooperative librarians in the public library.
The school cafeteria continues to be self-supporting. With increased food and labor costs and fewer government surplus items the present low cost of twenty cents for the meal and five cents for milk is possible only because of the large percentage of pupils who participate in the program. As the cafeteria operates with a very small surplus for emergency expenses, its continued support by the pupils will be necessary to maintain the present price level in the year to come.
Guidance
We continue to find the Boston University Guidance and Testing Serv- ice a valuable help to class advisors. I refer you to the report of the high school Principal, Mrs. Hazel Ramer, for a more detailed account of the testing program. Miss Priscilla Mckay deserves special mention for her efforts in advising and directing the seniors to the schools and colleges for which they are best adapted.
From last year's twenty-seven graduates, six are in liberal arts colleges, four, in business colleges, two in nurses training schools, three in the Armed Forces, and twelve are employed in a variety of business establish- ments. Percentage wise, about 40% have continued to study beyond high school, a really impressive figure. It is noteworthy that of the number of graduates who have returned to visit the school, all, with seeming sincerity, expressed regret that they had not studied more in high school.
The vocational courses, insofar as possible, are given practical goals. The desired manual dexterity can be attained just as well when producing a useful object. Whenever a pupil shows the interest, inclination, and ability that mark the future artisan, he is encouraged to realize his poten-
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tialities. As well as making tables, cupboards and other articles for their homes, the boys have painted the offices and built in faculty mailboxes. The standing shelves they built for the South Hamilton Branch of the Public Library meet the standards of professional workmanship and may be considered a part of the school's contribution to the community.
The adult vocational courses at ,Beverly still attract Hamilton resi- dents. This year twelve adults are enrolled in evening school courses in dressmaking. hooked rugs and landscape sketching.
Student Activities
The educational value of the athletic teams is not shown in the columns of games won and lost. It comes from the spirit of fair play, team work and good sportsmanship with which the game is played and it will remain long after playing days are over. Our girls' teams, capably coached by Mrs. Jeanette Houle, and the boys' basketball and baseball teams under the able direction of Mr. Carl Martini and Mr. Wilton Moyer, respectively, won the majority of their games last season. The football team with Mr. Moyer as mentor made a phenomenal scoring record this fall. However I consider that the team would have well deserved the banquet it was tendered for the fine team spirit, loyalty and fair play that was exhibited whatever the scores might have been. The donation of a tackling dummy and the holding of a banquet for the football team mean much more than the money such gifts represent. It is evidence of the interest of the community in the schools, an invaluable adjunct of a good school system.
The High School Athletic Association is still struggling to make both ends meet, the year's end balance showing $62.20. The removal of the federal tax from admissions to school games will give a welcome boost to the receipts. The Magazine Drive, under the direction of Miss Libby Volk, realized $207.86 profit, which, together with a $100 contribution by the Varsity Club has been turned over to the Athletic Association for the pay- ment of new athletic equipment. The financial reports of the several classes follow :
Class
Advisor
Balance
1952 Miss Priscilla McKay
$162.16
1953 Mr. Wilton Moyer
109.18
1954
Mr. Wilbur Armstrong
105.28
1955
Mr. Luther Johnson
49.72
1956
Mr. Marshall Gero
34.83
1957
Miss Edith Anderson
26.45
It is intended that the classes by paying dues and otherwise raising money throughout their school years will accumulate enough by their junior and senior years to at least partially pay the assessments for class rings, proms and the like that are traditional with the upper classes. The com- plete financial records of all the school organizations are on file in the superintendent's office.
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The collections for worthy causes which are taken up from the student body from time to time amount to a considerable total in a year. Rather than the sum of money, it is the training of future citizens that is import- ant. If the school can graduate to the community young people who are aware of the social problems and ready to share with those who are less fortunate. it will be fulfilling a part of its duty no less important than the teaching of Latin and mathematics. The students have given generously to the Junior Red Cross, Tuberculosis Drive, March of Dimes, and Crusade for Freedom. To the March of Dimes alone the Jonathan Lamson School contributed $132.78 and the High School, $71.30. Miss Marian Joseph and Mrs. Hazel Ramer are to be congratulated for the development of social consciences in their young citizens.
The New Schools
Both school construction projects are underway and we are waiting eagerly the day they will be completed. The most gratifying part of the whole program was the unanimity of opinion in the community that the schools should be built and built well. The people of Hamilton have spent a large amount of money to give their children a better education. They may be assured that the staff will be able to function at the highest peak of efficiency in the fine new quarters.
The new school facilities will no doubt be used by community groups to an even greater extent than heretofore. They belong to the town and should be readily available to its citizens for numerous non-school uses. However may I direct the taxpayer's attention to an item in the budget labeled "reimbursements." All the costs of operation of the school plant must be paid from the school budget. Payments received for the use of any of the school facilities must be returned to the town treasury instead of being used to reduce the operational costs of the school department. The same procedure must be used with amounts paid for materials used in the vocational courses. These items make a comparatively small total but a study of the whole list of reimbursements including tuitions and the like shows that the school budget that must be voted by the town is con- siderably higher than the net cost of operating the school. As the number of pupils increases the school budget will be larger. I can but pledge my- self to the most efficient operation of the school system as is consistent with good education.
In conclusion. I wish to express my appreciation to the members of the School Committee for their cooperation and consideration of my prob- lems; To the teachers, pupils and custodians for their cheerful acceptance of conditions arising from the construction of the new addition; and to Mrs. Elizabeth Edmondson, School Secretary, for her invaluable assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
MILTON C. BLANCHARD, Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR :
I am happy to submit my first annual report as Principal of Hamilton High School.
Preliminary steps were taken to lay the foundation for an improved Guidance Program during March, 1951 when Boston University Educa- tional Diagnostic Tests were administered to grades 8 and 11. The pur- pose of this battery as applied to grade 8 is to aid a pupil to discover his natural aptitudes in order that he may be guided to choose, with his par- ents' approval, the proper curriculum subjects which will begin his train- ing for a future career. Incidentally the need for remedial correction is often uncovered so that special attention can be given wherever possible. The object of testing grade 11 is to determine the vocational aptitudes of pupils through a survey of verbal and non-verbal learning areas. Thus, before the Senior year, it is possible to analyze a student's strength and weaknesses, especially in English and mathematics, and provide corrective courses where there is marked deficiency or to allow enrichment pursuits for especially gifted pupils.
Conferences were held with individual parents of the Junior Class dur- ing AApril in order to recommend these remedial needs for the Senior year and to encourage plans for further education beyond graduation. Time and opportunity did not permit these individual parent-conferences con- cerning grade 8, which indicates the need for at least a part-time Guidance Counselor which the State Department of Education has insistently recom- mended for Hamilton schools. Our enrollment and A-classification justi- fied such an appointment as the general run of classroom teacher lacks the desirable skill for such counseling. Our home room teachers have done a valiant job at guidance the past year especially in assisting their pupils to choose Club Activities last September. Some of these extra-curriculum areas are intended to be for exploratory purposes and others for corrective reasons : for instance, Nature Club for creating interests in science lines, and "How to Study" for reading and comprehension.
A series of assemblies for vocational information have also been arranged to aid both commercial and college preparatory pupils, with out- side speakers from Beverly Hospital, Academic Modern, Essex Agricultural School, Burdett College, Massachusetts School of Physiotherapy, etc.
The "Guidance Movement" is a result of social change in our country and is affected by various educational influences. Progressive high schools will continue to expand this program as "time marches on" and greater needs are felt due to environmental changes and variations in behavior patterns.
For several years both teachers and parents have been conscious of the
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difficulty of adjustment experienced by pupils of seventh grade level. For this reason I would like to recommend a policy which might help to ease the strain of this situation and prevent so many upsets and frustrations. A mild form of "core curriculum" could be adopted with more coordination between English and Social subjects, also between mathematics and science. This would necessitate the reservation of at least three full-time junior high academic teachers in order not to interfere with the adopted schedule. Then if these four subjects in grade ? could be handled by two members of the faculty and those of grade 8 by three teachers there would ensue a shorter period of adjustment to high school methods and customs.
This year upon the opening in September we had but one faculty change. Charles Sakey resigned from the Foreign Language Department and was replaced by Luther Johnson, a young teacher with unusual preparation in that he speaks five languages fluently and reads several more readily. His Master's Degree was taken at Clark University but he has had con- siderable further education abroad. Because our teaching force has now become nearly stable, evidence of marked academic progress should result. When eighteen percent or more of the student body continue to be listed as Honor Roll students-being college certification rank-it appears that our school is showing a remarkable average since standard test averages are expectant of around 10%. This means, not that Hamilton High has an unusual number of brillant pupils but that its students are taking their academic work seriously and that the faculty is efficient and hardworking also.
There are numerous rewards and challenges offered our pupils here at Hamilton High School. The Daughters of the American Revolution annually invite the faculty to choose a Senior girl outstanding academical- ly, socially, and patriotically to represent our school at a convention and banquet held in Boston each spring. The 1951 participant was Laura Tate; for 1952 Ruth Crowell has been chosen. The local American Legion each year sponsors the attendance of two boys to "Boys State" held the middle of June at Massachusetts State Agricultural College in Amherst. In 1951 Roger Washburn and Richard Smith were selected as outstand- ing Juniors-best demonstrating leadership, speaking ability, scholarship, and dependability. This is a nine day affair and good civic education. The Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion also choses the "girl of the year" from the Junior class, having similar qualifications, to attend "Girls' State" at Bridgewater State Teachers' College. Janice Blenkhorn enjoyed this privilege in June 1951. The 1952 candidates will be chosen shortly by the faculty. Hamilton High appreciates the interest shown by these organizations, in civic education and the pupils strive to attain this annual privilege.
Another social studies activity is the annual election of a representa- tive to attend Good Government Day at the State House during March,. the date being set by Governor's Proclamation. The student body elects these representatives by ballot, which teaches voting techniques and allows for more or less campaigning previous to voting day. Small high schools now have as much representation as city high schools and attendants may
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be elected governor-for-a-day or even be appointed to serve on some import- ant committee. Leonard Desautelle was our chosen Representative for 1951. The "Problems of Democracy" class conduct this annual election most efficiently.
Early in 1951, the Senior High Glee Club was invited to broadcast at WLAW on the annual "March of Dimes" program. This same invitation has been extended by Mr. Daniel Harrington of the Essex County "March of Dimes" drive several times previously. Their performance last Jan- uary was most commendable and received widespread favorable comment. It is indeed an honor to have our local Glee Club singled out from those of larger schools in the County as best fitted to entertain on this broadcast and we are justly proud of the finished performance due to the able train- ing of the music instructor, Miss Ruth Austen.
Late in the spring of 1951 the annual operetta was staged in the Maxwell Norman auditorium. "Jeanie" was a delightful production with melodious solo numbers and catchy choruses. Young people who partici- pate in such an undertaking grow in poise and reap a harvest of satisfaction in an experience that will be treasured in adult recollection.
Hamilton High had an exceedingly successful football season in 1951. Our team capably coached by Wilton J. Moyerm was undefeated so they were awarded the annual trophy of the Eastern Massachusetts Six-man Football League. This adorns a prominent place in the trophy-cabinet in our main hall-a cabinet donated last spring by Mrs. B. Preston Cutler.
No less successful was the 1951 Basketball season for both boys and girls. I would refer you to the Athletic report for more details about last season. Our coaches, Carl Martini and Jeannette Houle, do concentrated training and emphasize good sportsmanship and consideration for oppon- ents. From a principal's point of view, this is most gratifying because it helps to maintain school morale and builds a reputation of fair play and good citizenship which reaches out to other communities that we contact.
Last winter the social studies department participated in a District Oratorical History contest at Boston with Janice Blenkhorn representing Hamilton High. Although our school did not attain highest honors, still the effort toward attainment was most valuable to all who entered the pre- liminary contest as well as to the winner and the results were quite satis- factory to Mr. Moyer.
More time has been given this school year to audio-visual education especially in science, shop, and social studies. Mr. Armstrong, as co- ordinator, has obtained many free films which were used to supplement or enrich these courses. Our Bell-Howell movie-machine has been used in a competent manner under the instruction of a capable Freshman, Donald Lincoln, and his staff of assistants.
An educational journal quotes the story of a harassed parent who was sort of exasperated by the amount of homework he had to supervise and explain to his son of high school age so that he wrote the teacher suggesting that they reverse roles, he do the teaching and she tend to the homework. Probably many Hamilton parents have felt just that way at times and wondered if homework is just a relic or a past era which has
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seen its day and should now be abolished as an unnecessary bother. It seems that parents are uniquely equipped to oversee much of the drill work that it entailed in getting an education : they can advise and regulate this home study to fit physical and family demands; they understand the emo- tional reactions of their own children; they know the weaknesses as well as the abilities of their offspring and how to exploit them; they possess a patient tolerance of shortcomings; and finally they are nearly always capable of academic coaching. Due to the pressure of required courses and the necessity for creating proper study and work habits while young, homework looks like a "must" for many years to come. It seems to be a permanent policy in American education.
May I, in closing, thank the parents of our young people for their valuable cooperation during the past year and the faculty for its loyalty and eagerness to see a job well done.
Respectfully submitted,
HAZEL E. RAMER, Principal.
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REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL Jonathan Lamson School
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR :
I herewith submit my yearly report of the Jonathan Lamson School.
School opened in September with the large registration, kindergarten through grade six, of three hundred thirty-seven pupils; fifty-eight over the record of 1950. Up to date twenty pupils have been transferred to other schools and eight have been admitted making our total enrollment at present three hundred twenty-five. This enrollment tops that of 1950 by thirty-seven pupils.
The kindergarten, which is still being held at the Town Hall, because of its large registration, was divided and morning and afternoon sessions are being conducted.
This September the fourth grade was divided and Miss Margaret Batchelder, formerly teacher of the fifth grade, is teaching one of these classes.
In order to make room for this extra class the first grade, consisting of forty-nine pupils, is using one large class room and a small office room. Mrs. Bette Chittick is teaching all of the reading groups in the smaller room while Miss Mary Lucey teaches the other subjects to the remainder of the children in the main class room.
At the beginning of the term Mrs. Chittick administered Gates Read- ing Readiness Tests to each first grade pupil. These tests aided in more accurate group placements.
Mr. Walter S. Perkins, a local young man, and a graduate of North- eastern University was appointed in September to teach the fifth grade ..
Mr. Perkins has been active in organizing and supervising several after school activities such as hikes, fishing trips, and bicycle rides. These. trips were open to pupils of grades three through six. He is planning to have a baseball team in the spring.
The Safety Patrol is again being conducted by pupils of the fifth grade. On October 26th, Chief Frederick was invited to talk to this group. He outlined the duties of a Safety Patrol and pointed out to them the importance of the work they were doing. Their goal is to help every child obey the safety rules and be safe.
The fifth grade, with their teacher, visited the New Science Building in Boston on December 13th. This visit promoted greater interest in science among members of this group.
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The sixth grade class is still being held at the High School. We are all looking forward to the completion of the new Elementary School when all of the classes will again be under one roof.
In conclusion I would like to express to you, the school committee, parents and teachers my appreciation of their loyalty and support.
Respectfully submitted,
MARIAN S. JOSEPH, Principal, Jonathan Lamson School.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Elsewhere in the Town Report the School Nurse has given statistics bearing on the health of the school children. School health has been good thanks to the cooperation of the School Nurse, teachers, and parents.
The objectives outlined in last year's report are being pursued. An important innovation this year is the Wetzel Grid record card, introduced in the lower grades. The grid portrays graphically the growth and develop- ment of the child. Inasmuch as retardation of growth and development may be the first signs of impending disease, such a record will indicate which children need more careful observation throughout the school year. The grid card will gradually replace the old cards throughout the Hamilton school system.
Respectfully submitted, DANIEL L. ROGERS, M.D., School Physician.
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REPORT OF THE FACULTY MANAGER OF ATHLETICS
To the Superintendent of Schools,
DEAR SIR :
I herewith submit my first annual report of the Hamilton High School Athletic Association. This is a partial report of the year, covering the period of my appointment as faculty manager. The football team enjoyed outstanding success by winning all the games of the entire season. With reference to equipment new pieces have been added, such as basketballs, but it is hoped that the baseball team will be furnished with new uniforms for the next season.
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