USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Hamilton > Town of Hamilton Annual Report 1957 > Part 9
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James E. Hall, Rock Maple Avenue, Hamilton 1960
Donald L. Miller, 351 Bay Road, South Hamilton 1959
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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE Hamilton High School Building
Mail Address
South Hamilton, Massachusetts
Telephone: Hamilton 1250
John H. Lawson Superintendent of Schools
Elizabeth P. Edmondson Secretary
Anne R. Burton ....... Clerk
Madeline Ricker Census Enumerator
Florence L. Stobbart Truant Officer
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SCHOOL CALENDAR (Subject to Change)
1958
January 2
Schools open
February 21
March 3
April 4
April 25
May 5
May 30 June 20
Schools close for February Recess Schools open Good Friday Schools close for Spring Recess Schools open Memorial Day All schools close
Summer Vacation
September 3
October 13
Schools open Columbus Day
October 24
Essex County Teachers' Convention Veterans' Day
November 11
November 26 Schools close at noon for Thanksgiving Recess
December 1
Schools open
December 23 Schools close at noon for Christmas Recess 1959
January 5
Schools open
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REPORT OF THE HAMILTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Voters of Hamilton:
The School Committee herewith accepts the report of the Superin- tendent of Schools and transmits it to the Town as a report of happen- ings during 1957.
The Committee is pleased to report that the Town can well deem itself fortunate to have made up the loss of such a fine man and able Superintendent as Douglas Chandler, who resigned late in August to accept the Superintendency of the larger public school system of North Andover, Massachusetts, by the gain of a man with the experience and abilities of Mr. John H. Lawson. Mr. Lawson was elected from a large field of candidates, and it is apparent that the Town has a Superinten- dent who will continue, in an outstanding way, the program of progress that is desired by all citizens interested in our young people and their education. Mr. Lawson came to us from Salisbury, Massachusetts where he served as Superintendent of the Newbury-Salisbury Public Schools. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Magna Cum Laude, and holds both the bachelor of science and the master of educa- tion degrees. He is currently working on his doctorate degree at Boston University and hopes to complete the necessary requirements in 1958. Mr. Lawson's experience in the educational field includes that of a teacher, coach, teaching principal and supervising principal and Super- intendent. He served in the United States Navy for a three year period and has been a member of the Air Force Reserve.
As will be seen in Mr. Lawson's report this has been an eventful year for our public schools. The Committee has been constantly striving to improve the system and to keep pace with the rapidly increasing size of the school enrollment and the accompanying problems of schoolhousing, acquiring of teachers and curriculum improvements.
An important vital project which the Committee asks you to solidly support is the construction of a twelve room elementary school building which it is hoped will be presented to the Town for its consideration at a special town meeting to be held in April. It is obvious that this is the only solution to our present acute classroom shortage.
Our 1958 budget will again show an increase over 1957. This in- crease is due to the constant increase in the cost of instruction, supplies and equipment to provide for the ever increasing enrollment of pupils in our school system.
The Committee wishes to express its gratitude to Mrs. Alfred Edmon- son, Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools, for the expert adminis- tration of her work and splendid cooperation, which was invaluable, during the period the Town was without a Superintendent.
The Committee also compliments the faculty and staff for its earnest efforts and excellent cooperation throughout the school year. It wishes to express its appreciation also to the various organizations, town of- ficials and departments, and the private citizens who have been so help- ful during the past year.
Respectfully submitted, ALLAN MacCURRACH, Chairman FREDERICK J. CALDWELL RICHARD M. EMERY JAMES E. HALL DONALD L. MILLER Hamilton School Committee
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee:
It is with pleasure that I submit this, my first report as Superinten- dent of the Hamilton Public Schools. In order to give as compre- hensive a picture as possible of the total school operation I shall include reports prepared by the principals and other members of the staff, as well as brief comments on several important areas of the school system.
The Staff
The success of any school system is based on the calibre of teaching and the subsequent learning which goes on in the classroom. Hamilton has been more than fortunate in this respect. Despite the nationwide shortage of trained classroom teachers we have been able to staff our schools with competent and professional personnel. It must be mentioned, however, that the future teacher needs of the town must be met in com- petition with other communities. Hamilton has a fast-growing school population which will require the addition of teachers each year for the next six years at least. Obtaining good teachers will be particularly dif- ficult in the areas of mathematics, science and industrial arts. What can be done in order that Hamilton can keep its qualified teachers and at- tract new teachers to our town ? One answer is a salary schedule which will enable your Superintendent to seek out and secure the services of the best available people in the profession. Another is to give our teachers professional recognition in the community. Still a third is to support our staff members with the realization that they are working for the best interest of all of our children.
In addition to the duties involved with their teaching many of our staff are taking advanced courses at nearby colleges and universities. Some are matriculating for their master's degree and four are studying for their doctorate in education.
Physical Limitations
The school population in Hamilton continues to increase with no immediate end in sight. One year ago the enrollment in the public schools was 978, while it was 1054 this past September. This compares with an enrollment of 408 in 1947 which represents an increase of 140% in ten years. Projections of present births indicate that by 1961 the total number of Hamilton students will be 1530 and that it will be 1800 by 1963. This would represent an increase of 341% in sixteen years. One might well ask the question, Where will these children attend school ? At present we have some elementary pupils housed in two local churches while our sixth grade youngsters are located temporarily in the high school. What is the solution ? Certainly the first step is in the construc- tion of a second elementary school to house grades four, five and six.
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The second step is not clear at this time. Perhaps Hamilton should ex- pand its present high school or build a new junior or senior high school. There is also the possibility of entering into a regional school program, thus avoiding building a local high school. Our Regional and Building Needs Committees are working towards solving the present and future housing problems. Whatever the solution may be it is obvious that the school population will continue to grow and so too, will the need for ad- ditional facilities.
The school year 1958 will present your school administrators with problems of inadequate space to house the junior and senior high school pupils. Only 27 seniors will graduate and leave the high school in June while the sixth grade, which is temporarily housed in the high school, will enroll approximately 102 children in September. This will increase the number of children to be housed in the high school by some 75. Already the Cutler School is overcrowded. We have three sections of some grades in this school whereas there should be four sections and four teachers. Next year we should have 26 regular classrooms to handle our kindergarten through grade six enrollment. Actually we will use 23 rooms (18 at the Cutler School, 3 at the high school and 2 at the local churches ).
The expanding junior-senior high school enrollment will require twelve regular rooms next September while there will be only ten avail- able. Under existing facilities at the high school it is obvious that con- ditions will become more crowded with each new school year as large numbers move up from the elementary grades and replace much smaller graduating classes. If facilities are not provided for the high school level very soon two-platooning is inevitable. Present enrollments and pro- jections indicate that we will have over 500 children of junior-senior elementary or high school level, no provisions for special education at secondary level. These include a lack of library facilities at either the be corrected only by additional facilities at both the elementary and sixth grade pupils, can accommodate slightly over half of this number.
Under present facilities in Hamilton there are limitations which can high school age by 1960, while our high school facilities, after losing the the elementary level, no facilities for guidance services, limited storage at the high school for athletic equipment and poor locker and shower facilities for physical education and athletic participants.
Cost of Operation
In 1957 the Town met all of its educational needs. The professional salary schedule adopted did much to stabilize the faculty. The equip- ment purchased helped to improve the curriculum and the repairs made enhanced the physical conditions of the two buildings.
The average cost per pupil during the last school year for Hamilton was $233.28 while the average throughout the state in towns in Hamilton's group was $261.00 or $27.72 more per pupil. The appropriation of $288,175.00 was reduced by school reimbursements totaling $55,388.32 thus bring the net cost down to $232,786.68. Despite the fact that
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Hamilton spent less than an average amount per pupil the calibre of in- struction was much above the average.
It would be fortunate if this report could say that future expendi- tures would be less but this is, as in all economic areas, not the case. Un- fortunately the future calls for still further efforts. The 1958 budget will total $333,996.00. The net cost after reimbursements will be lowered by some $52,000.00. What is the cause of this increase ? More pupils! While the 1957 enrollment totals 1054 the 1958 total will be 1170. This means more teachers, books, supplies and other scholar essentials. Actually the per pupil cost in 1958 may be less than the 1957 per pupil cost.
Whatever sacrifices the Town of Hamilton may make in supporting its schools they must be looked upon as an investment rather than an expense. Good schools build citizens who are law abiding, self-supporting, competent and honest. This type of citizen demands good government and becomes the leader of tomorrow. The right kind of people make the right kind of community and country. Schools help make the right kind of people. Good little people today make good big people tomorrow.
Future Educational Developments
It is difficult, if not impossible, to tell what the future in our public schools will be like. The recent announcement of Sputnik I and II whirl- ing around in space has brought a wave of questions and criticisms con- cerning our public school product. Is it justified? There is no doubt that some phases of our public school system are in need of re-evaluation and possible revision. In too many systems tradition is the determining factor in making decisions. We must take a page from our scientific brethren and collect the facts before we begin to make changes. It would be a very easy matter to recommend that every child study more science and mathematics but it must not be forgotten that every child cannot and should not be a scientist. We also need writers, carpenters, plumbers, secretaries, barbers, etc., if our American way of living is to endure.
There will be several changes in education, however. Without doubt there will be an emphasis in the area of science and mathematics. Also we can look forward to revisions in our high school curriculum with more planning being made to help those children who are gifted in particular areas. Greater attention should also be placed on scholarship and children should be encouraged to greater study efforts. Parents should encourage their children to take many courses in different subject areas. Much thought should also be given to the junior high school grades. A return to the one-teacher program such as that offered in the elementary school has been made in many junior high schools throughout the land. The purpose of this is to help children adjust gradually to high school, rather than making a big adjustment in one year. Other changes may include the use of educational television on a broad scale and the lengthening of the school day and the school year in order to incorporate many new subject matter areas into the daily program.
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Conclusions
All indications point to a successful year in our schools. The citizens of Hamilton have continued to work, either directly or indirectly, for the betterment of the education in the community. It is obvious that the very real interest and efforts of the townspeople have become a major force in advancing educational growth. Not only are the formerly constituted committees performing valuable and significant services but numerous individuals have also contributed during the past year to the educational welfare of the community schools.
The full cooperation of the staff and the student body has been evident in working to make our schools better.
The five-member School Committee has worked hard and has spent unlimited time in its attempts to provide excellent educational oppor- tunities for the use of Hamilton. Your Superintendent is extremely grateful for the help, wisdom and cooperation extended by each member of the Committee.
With the continued attitudes and cooperation of all mentioned and the continuing support of the Parent-Teacher Association and other com- munity organizations we look forward to even greater progress and ex- pansion of our program and facilities for the children of Hamilton.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. LAWSON, Superintendent of Schools
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REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
DEAR SIR :
It is with pleasure that I submit my third annual report as principal of Hamilton High School. This report will confine itself chiefly to the improvement of instruction in grades 7 to 12.
PART I Improvement of Instruction through the Development of New Courses of Study.
In all areas of the high school curriculum this year the major em- phasis has been placed on the self-evaluation process which the high school staff is currently undergoing in preparation for a visiting team of eval- uators from the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. This process of evaluation is the first step that must be taken before any curriculum guides can be set up. Upon completion of the self- evaluation the actual work on the development of the curriculum guides will commence. The English department has already held one meeting relative to consideration of the curriculum and plans for monthly meet- ings through the rest of the year have been made.
In this year of concern for the college-bound youth and his prepara- tion Hamilton High has extended every effort to make its college prep- aratory program an outstanding one. At the same time real strides have been made in developing curriculums and units which will better prepare our non-college going graduates to assume a more responsible and re- warding place in society. Our general English courses have been looked at closely in this light and some significant changes have been made. In general English I practically the entire first semester was spent in the use of the SRA Reading Laboratory. Here students were tested for their reading level and assigned reading to be done at their level. As their rate and comprehension improved their progress was recorded on graphs and they were assigned more advanced reading. This program was en- thusiastically accepted by the students and some real progress in reading has been made. It is our aim in this general English curriculum to pro- vide the tools and the understanding necessary for the normal com- munication of ideas both to the individual through reading, writing and speaking. This program has operated at an intensified rate for the first ten weeks of the school year and will continue to a lesser degree for the rest of the year.
The college preparatory math course has been the object of a step-up program this year. The goals of the course have been increased to include a strong background in calculus by the end of the fourth year. With the increase in the number of students taking Algebra I and Plane Geometry it has been possible to establish two sections in each of these subjects. This sectioning has made it feasible to try to move ahead as fast as pos-
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sible with the section of more apt math students and to move along at a normal rate with the more average group. To date this program has worked out well. The advanced group will start more advanced level work before the end of the year and the regular group will have completed the normal amount of work by the end of the year. This same program has been set up in the junior high school. In this way the students who are "natural" mathematicians will have a chance to reach farther than might otherwise be the case.
After a year under a new program the industrial arts area is begin- ning to bear fruit. A systematic course of study has been adopted which leads the students through a normal progression of shop skills and at the same time allows the more able student to express himself freely in any kind of work that he might wish to do. In addition mechanical drawing has been made compulsory for grade 8 and is elective in grade 12.
An additional homemaking course has been added in the high school. This follows the outline of the plan described last year aiming at four years of homemaking. This second year program includes nutrition, types of meat and meat cookery, interior decorating, choosing a place to live, and budgeting. Enrollments in the homemaking courses have in- creased considerably in the past two years. In addition to this students have requested an activity in home arts which is very well attended.
Part II Improvement of Instruction through the Adoption of New Textbooks and Purchase of New Testing Materials, Reference Books and Furniture.
New workbooks entitled "How to Study" were purchased for the ninth grade English classes. These books become the property of each student and contain suggestions on budgeting time, learning vocabulary, preparing for tests, etc. The first two weeks of the school year were de- voted almost exclusively to the use of these materials in order that the ninth grade students get the best start possible on their high school careers. A continuing use of these books will be made throughout the year.
Two new texts were selected and purchased for use in United States History. These two texts are of equal level in all respects except reading level and total amount of content. Students are encouraged to use that book which is most suitable for them but they often use both. This plan has been quite successful so far as the poorer reader no longer gets as dis- couraged as formerly and the good reader has plenty of material to sink his teeth into.
New texts were also purchased in Problems of Democracy, Arithmetic 7 and 8, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, General Science and Social Studies 8.
In the business department "Typewriting Office Practice, " a budget of model forms is being used for the first time with considerable success.
New furniture has been placed in both of the old kindergarten rooms and this area is now being used by the language and mathematics depart- ments of the high school. Two new shop benches with capacity for four pupils each have been added to the shop as well as a new lathe. These
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additions have greatly increased the efficiency of the shop although the crowded conditions still remain a serious hindrance.
A very great improvement has been made in the testing program through the addition of the SRA Achievement tests in grades 7 and 8, the SRA Primary Mental Abilities test in grades 7, 9 and 11, and the Colorado Basic Skills in Arithmetic test in grade 7. The addition of these tests has increased our knowledge of our individual pupils to a marked extent thus enabling us to help and advise him more properly. At the same time the additional information gathered from these tests makes the consideration of curriculum changes much more accurate in their foundation on pertinent information.
Part III Summary
There is no question but what the overall picture of improvement of instruction in the high school is better each year. It never progresses at the rate that we would like to see it, but the evidence of progress is there. No member of the Class of 1957 was refused acceptance at a college to which he applied. Our graduates were in demand by several companies in the area including the New England Telephone and Telegraph Com- pany and the United Shoe Machinery Corporation. No member of the Class of 1957 failed to secure a position upon graduation if he so desired.
Statistics are of questionable value and meaning in many cases but at times they do graphically illustrate a rather intangible situation. Based on the scores of our students on the Iowa Test of Educational Develop- ment for the past five years we have increased in our national ranking by eleven percentiles during that span of time.
School Year
Test Date
Percentile Rank Nationally
1952-1953
October 1953
52.5
1953-1954
October 1954 56
1954-1955
October 1955
51.5
1955-1956
October 1956
60.5
1956-1957
October 1957
63.5
Respectfully submitted,
PETER N. COFFIN Principal
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REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
DEAR SIR :
I herewith submit my yearly report of the Manasseh Cutler School.
School opened in September with the largest enrollment in the his- tory of the town. Seven hundred forty-three children were registered in kindergarten through grade six. Since then sixteen pupils have been transferred to other schools and twenty-four have been admitted, making our present total enrollment seven hundred and fifty-one.
A few changes were made in our teaching staff this year. Mrs. Laura Clark was appointed to teach one section of grade two. This grade formerly consisted of four classes but in order to make room for an ad- ditional class in grade four, three classes are carrying the load. Mrs. Pauline Wilson was elected to teach this additional class in grade four. Mrs. Martha Lewis, who taught one section of grade five the last half of the past year, was transferred to a sixth grade class, formerly taught by Mrs . Mildred Scanlon. Mrs. Elizabeth Pauling, who did some substitute work in elementary grades last year, was appointed to teach the extra sixth grade class made necessary by the increased number of pupils. Mrs. Carolyn McGarvey was elected to teach the kindergarten class formerly taught by Mrs. Loretta Cantwell.
The three sixth grades are being held in the high school while the kindergarten groups are being housed in the Sunday School rooms of the Methodist and Congregational Churches. Both of these groups are still maintaining the two platoon system.
The steadily increasing number of children creates a constant prob- lem as to how rooms can be provided for them. At present it would seem that another fifth grade class will be needed in September 1958. It may be necessary to combine grades three in three sections in order to make room for this additional class.
The Dental Clinic is continuing to operate two mornings a week, treating the pupils of grades one through three. There is a definite need for more time allotment for this clinic in order that all children of the first six grades may have the opportunity to share its benefits.
Our hot lunch program is still operating very successfully. We are serving an average of three hundred eighty lunches every day. It is our aim to have every child take part in this program.
The ever increasing school population creates a greater concern for the safety of these children. Our School Safety Patrol, composed of boys and girls from the fifth grades, is doing its best to help us control this situation.
The blanket accident insurance plan was again offered to all boys and girls. Several have derived benefits from this insurance.
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During Education Week we again invited parents and interested friends to visit our classes and see the pupils at their daily work. Many accepted our invitation and spent the day getting acquainted with our program.
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