USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > Town of Lynnfield, Essex County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, annual report 1921-1930 > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
It is noticeable that several who did not secure a place on the Honor Roll at the end of October did get on he Roll in December. The list is sure to change somewhat every ranking period and therefore should induce pupils to put forth every effort possible for a place on the same.
HOME READING WITH SCHOOL CREDIT
This topic was treated at length in my last year's report. Results have been even greater than anticipated. Pupils are provided with the best of fiction and non-fiction books through the public and school libraries. They become interested in the best of reading material while they are young. and without doubt will retain the desire for good reading as they become more mature. As a result of the interest shown by pupils and teachers it is not an uncommon occurrence to hear a pupil give a book re- port and carry on an interesting discussion on the same which would be the equal of one given by an adult.
A start on having a school library at each of the buildings has been made in order to supplement the children's departments at the town libraries. Thereby it will always be possible for a pupil to secure a book at the public or school library and receive credit for report on reading the same. A complete list of those having received "Reading Certificates" last June is appended to this report.
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT
School systems are rated as good or poor according to the professional fitness of the teachers in charge to do the required work. A teacher may be well trained and have had several years successful teaching experience, but unless professional study is carried on under able instructors said teachers soon find that they have not kept pace with the trend of modern education. They find that their work is the same from year to year with a result that they lose interest in their work from a professional standpoint. The pupils also lose interest because of the deadening instruction and long for the day to come when they may leave school.
Several of our teachers have taken either correspondence, extension or
46
summer school courses during the last year. Without exception there has been an effort on the part of the teacher to use her class as a laboratory and thereby the pupils have been benefitted by the instruction received.
EDUCATION WEEK
This week in November of every year has become a great National event. The observance of this week is looked forward to by parents, teachers and pupils. Except through the assemblies on the day observed in our schools teachers are expected to carry on the regular program of work with the exception of emphasizing one of the major subjects in order that the parents and others may become acquainted with the requirements in the several classes.
Because of the fact that Education Week comes early in the year, be- foro pupils have accumulated much written work, parents were invited to the schools in the late spring that they might observe classroom work but more especially the written and art work.
FIRE PREVENTION
Not a single month passes that we do not read in the daily press of a disastrous fire where a school building has been consumed in flames. If there is no loss of life and the property is insured there is immediate relief otherwise the public generally gives considerable thought to the occur- rence.
Thought after the loss of life or property is valueless unless it has to do with prevention of similar occurrences. There is considerable printed material available for instruction in fire prevention and other types of safety education. Much of this material has been placed in the hands of the teachers that they may instruct the pupils as to the unnecessary waste and suffering due to fires and thereby teach the pupils that they have a civic responsibility in preventing the loss of life and property. The value of this instruction will be most difficult to measure, however, the great annual loss of life and property within our Commonwealth impels me to feel that our children should not be allowed to go through our schools without the necessary instruction.
COURSE OF STUDY English
Teachers in the grades have been provided with a course of study in Language and Composition in which both oral, written and technical work is emphasized. Definite instruction for teaching is included with the out- line for each grade. In the fifth grade but little technical grammar is in- cluded but the requirements are increased in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. At the end of the eighth grade we expect pupils to have a very
47
definite understanding of oral and written English as well as a complete mastery of technical grammar.
Geography
During the past year your superintendent has devoted considerable time, with other educators, reviewing materials for a state course of study in geography for grades three to six inclusive. This course has already been typed for distribution in grades three and four and will be for grades five and six as soon as the same comes from the Committee.
In order to put this course into operation that pupils may be benefitted by the same it will be necessary to build up a library of reference books on geography. Much of the work outlined will not be found in a single textbook and therefore the need of a reference library. This library will correct a long standing deficiency at the school.
STANDARD TESTS
During the year the classroom teaching results have been checked up by giving of several standard tests. The Boston University State Wide English Test and the Wilson Language Test in three parts were given throughout the schools. Several tests prepared by your superintendent and teachers were also given in Arithmetic and Spelling.
In the State Wide English Test eighty-seven towns in this Common- wealth participated. The rank for this Superintendency Union was forty- sixth in the list of eighty-seven with a median of 19.28. The highest median score was 24.76. The lowest was 13.77. The median of town medians was 19.32 which shows that our schools were .04 below the state median. This test brought our several weaknesses in our type of instruc- tion which were emphasized from day to day in preparation for the later Wilson Language Error Test. Almost invariably the results of each test have showed marked improvement over previous tests.
In December grades five, six and seven participated in a State Wide Arithmetic Test based upon addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions and business problems. The state results are not yet available, however, the results in the Lynnfield schools were found to compare very favorably with results compiled for this Superintendency Union.
HIGH SCHOOL REPORTS
Parents having pupils in attendance at high schools and other institu- tions out of town are aware of the fact that I have been greatly interested in the progress of these pupils and have therefore followed up their educational records very carefully. At this time it is gratifying to report that whereas there were fifty of our pupils enrolled at Wakefield High School during September-December in 1924 with fifteen per cent failures that for the same period in 1925 there were fifty-four enrolled with but ten per cent
48
failures. Without doubt this improvement in scholarship is due to the fact that we have raised our standards for promotion throughout the grades; that the faculty at Wakefield High School is requiring a higher standard of work and that parents of the pupils are giving their support to raise the standard of scholarship. We should not cease our efforts along these lines until the number of failures has been cut down to the minimum which has not yet been reached.
Three of our pupils, Maybelle Nute, Florence McManus and Harry Maynard have won places on the honor roll at the Wakefield High School which is an honor every pupil should endeavor to attain.
PROMOTIONS
If all pupils were sure of receiving a promotion at the close of schools in June they would be most happy throughout the entire school year. Such is not the case with many pupils. Their rank cards received five times yearly are a reminder to parents and pupils that the grade of work is either below the passing grade or just on the border line. In some cases parents interview the teachers and co-operate in everyway possible to have the child do satisfactory work. At other times the danger signal is not heeded in which cases the pupils fail of promotion in June. This failure is justifiable if the teacher, parent and pupil have co-operated to the fullest degree possible and the pupil is not able to do the work. If they have not and the pupil fails of promotion there is the feeling on the part of parent and child that the teacher is "no good" and that the child has been unjustly treated by an unsatisfactory and unsympathetic teacher. The work of these same pupils with other teachers proves that the cases of unjust treatment are very rare. Promotions are made solely on the basis of what is best for the child from an educational standpoint. In the first three grades the greater emphasis is spent upon reading and language while in the following grades it is placed upon Arithmetic and English. If a pupil cannot do the work of these subjects satisfactorily it is for his advantage to repeat the year's work. He thereby masters his subject mat- ter and has a good foundation for doing the next year's work.
In certain cases it is advisable that pupils be promoted on "condition" which means that he is given an examination at the opening of schools in September or given a month's trial in the next grade. The "conditioned" pupils are the ones the teachers and superintendent feel can do the work if they make the proper application. After being conditioned too few put forth the necessary effort to remove the condition and therefore find it necessary to repeat the full year's work.
At the close of schools in June it was found that six per cent of the pupils in grades one to eight inclusive had failed of promotion. This per cent is not large, however, if there is a possibility of reducing this number we should not feel that our work is satisfactory until the smallest per cent possible has been reached.
49
APPRECIATION
The assistance, received from all individuals and organizations, which has been given for the benefit of the pupils and several schools is hereby acknowledged. All such have a tendency to broaden the field of service of the contributor and without exception have much influence in shaping the lives of the recipients.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That bonuses be given teachers who pursue courses of professional study approved by the superintendent.
That steps be taken to have courses in Industrial Arts given for both the girls and boys of grades seven and eight.
That the grounds of the South School be graded and planted with shrubbery to make them more attractive.
That the financial assistance of interested citizens be solicited for establishing scholarships or other prizes.
CONCLUSION
My appreciation is hereby expressed to the several teachers and super- visors for their professional attitude toward the work and to the members of the school committee for the thoroughly business-like and genuinely sympathetic manner in which they grasp the needs of the school system in relation to the money appropriated by the taxpayers.
Respectfully submitted, John D. Whittier, Superintendent of Schools
PUPILS ATTENDING SCHOOL OUT OF TOWN
Wakefield High School
First Year
Harry Baldwin
Maybelle Nute
Joseph Cole
Horace Pratt
Gertrude Dewing
Janus Ridley
Milton Doremus
Henry Smith
James Fletcher
Caroline Stokes
Mary Harnden
Florence Tuttle
Mary F. Kelliher
John Ward Elizabeth Swain
Winifred Killorin
50
Second Year
Nishen Berberian Sanborn Caldwell Emily Chadbourne
Milledge Crouse 1 Robert DeMasellis Grace Hayward Lois Lane
Dorothy Flannigan Alice Fletcher Emily Gray Victor McDavitt Ruth Ober
Lowell Looke Harry Maynard Florence McManus
Florence O'Brien Rachel Olmstead
Roger Page Edna Sayers
Third Year
Walter Ober
Ruth Russell
Esther Sayers
Hazel Schefisch Oscar Swain
Jessie Wilkinson
Fourth Year
Constance DeMasellis
Elmer Flannigan Mary Cilbo Leonard Joll (P. G.) Helen Milligan Robert Moulton
Franklin Neat
Elva Richards
Edna Smith
Wesley C. Tuttle
Ellen Whittemore Isabel Winchester
Philip Nute
Pupils attending Lynn Classical High School
Douglass Pelton Daniel Killoran
Katherine Walsh Phillip Lane
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
The following pupils were perfect in their attendance during the school year 1924-25.
South School
Caroline Stokes Robert Sparks
Richard Mansfield James Stokes William Welch
51
Graduates of Lynnfield Center Grammar School
Florence Lillian Tuttle
John Bernard Ward
Maybelle Hannay Nute
Mary Frances Kelleher
Clara Leslie Hodsdon
Mary Emerson Harnden
Graduates of Lynnfield Grammar School
Winifred Julia Killoran
Caroline Frances Stokes
Janus Eugene Ridley
James Coleman Fletcher
Gertrude Margaret Dewing May Olive Griffith
Henry Donald Gordon Baldwin
Joseph Christopher Cole
Graduates of Wakefield High School
Elery Dewing Ralph Flannigan
Leonard Joll Violet Savage
Christine Smith
HONOR ROLL
The following pupils were on the Honor Roll from September to December inclusive :
South School
Janice Ridley, James Dalton, Margaret Leichner, Marcia Carter, Anna Sparkes, Elizabeth Kallenberg, Freda Winchester.
Center School
Helen Richards, Gladys Woodbury.
The following pupils were on the Honor Roll for September and October only.
South School
Ruth Kallenberg, Elizabeth Cole, Virginia Pelley, Richard Mans- field.
The following pupils were on the Honor Roll for November and December only.
Center School
Mildred Tuttle, Ruth Doremus, Robert Caldwell.
South School
Clifford Mansfield.
HOME READING WITH SCHOOL CREDIT Public Library and Public Schools Co-operating The following pupils received Reading Certificates for having read ten or more books from the approved list.
Center School
Maybelle Tornberg
Grade IV Dorothy Lambert
52
Grade V
Pearl Savage Leonard Smith Ruth Griffin
South School Grades III and IV
Eleanor McManus Beatrice King Eleanor Sargent
*Roger Mansfield Florence Harvey Catherine Ross
Roscoe Delamater Robert Shaw
Francis Dalton
Charles Lane
Russell Hampe
*Thomas Pyburn Lois Hayward
*John Griffith Orrin Kenney Barbara Studley
Ruth Pelley
Grades V and VI
Eunice Pelley
Andrew Mansfield
*Geraldine Gilbo Byron Stokes
*Grace Griffith William Sparkes
Richard Pyburn
*Doris Hayward
Marjorie Messer Warren Falls
Edna Hayward Pearl Griffith
Gordon Kallenberg Raymond Hayward
*Thomas Dalton Molly Duntley
*Janice Ridley
Elizabeth Cole
** Ruth Kallenberg Clifford Mansfield
** James Dalton Joseph Sutherland
** Anna Dalton
Grades VII and VIII
*Winifred Killoran
John Gilbo
*Gertrude Dewing
** May Griffith Harry Baldwin Janus Ridley
*Joseph Cole James Fletcher
*Anna Sparkes
** Elizabeth Kallenberg
*Marcia Carter Thomas Whelan Arthur Dewing
*Lillian Sayers
*Freda Winchester Marie Morse
James Stokes
* Received one gold star for having read five additional books.
** Received two gold stars for having read ten additional books.
** Received three gold stars for having read fifteen additional books.
53
Carl Ollson Gordon Tuttle Roger Gerry
SPELLING
The following pupils represented their grade in the Town Spelling Contest held in May, 1925.
South School
Grade 111 Francis Dalton, Barbara Studley.
Grade IV Catharine Ross, Lois Hayward.
Grade V Eunice Pelley, Geraldine Cilbo.
Grade VI
*James Dalton, Elizabeth Cole.
Grade VII ** Virginia Pelly, Elizabeth Kallenberg.
Grade VI11 Caroline Stokes, Winifred Killoran.
Center School
Grade 1IJ Julius Rombolt, Leighton Tuck.
Grade IV Maybelle Tornberg, Jeanette Griffin.
Grade V Pearl Savage, Florence Pratt.
Grade VI
Mary Gaston. Lillian Sellon.
Grade VII Hawley Russell.
* Represented town in Union Contest.
Won town cup and represented town in Union Contest.
REPORT OF DRAWING SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir:
1 herewith submit my report of the work in drawing since I assumed my duties in September.
My aim is not only to teach the child how to draw, but to teach him to use drawing as a means of expression, to appreciate color and shapes and to plan, construct and decorate useful things.
It gives me pleasure to review the work covered in the lower grades. At the beginning of the year the children learned to recognize the different colors and shapes, to fold and to cut properly. To help remem- ber the different colors they made little color booklets, pasting in squares of color and drawing some object for each color. This project covered folding, cutting, coloring, drawing, pasting, lettering and simple design in decorating the cover. At Thanksgiving time the children cut baskets of fruit and drew pictures of turkeys. At Christmas they made decorations and stockings of toys. We are now correlating our work with the study of the Eskimos in making pictures for an Eskimo booklet.
Among the middle grades, from the third to the sixth grade, color has been studied by making color scales and wheels and mixing water color. In the Fall the fifth and sixth grades sketched and colored flowers and fruits. From time to time laws or order and color are reviewed. At Thanksgiving Pilgrim scenes and other simple little scenes were made. Christmas began our construction work in the making of calendar stands.
54
They are now making simple folders to hold their drawings. We have planned to correlate our drawing with the music appreciation work in making covers for notes on that work.
In the upper grades the year's work was started with nature drawing and color study. A careful study of the shapes. sizes and colors found in our specimens was made before any attempt of painting with water color. Color wheels of the six standard colors were made and color harmonies discussed. Construction work in these grades was taken up by making books to hold their drawings. Mechanical drawing and drawing to a scale was touched upon in making a plan for the books. In making the books a little about bookbinding and appreciation of bookbinding is learned. Let- tering, designing and represntation will have its turn in this project in making a title page for each book and by drawing pictures of the finished book in various positions.
I take this opportunity to thank the Superintendent and teachers for their co-operation and help.
Respectfully submitted, Abbie U. Cragg. Supervisor of Drawing.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir:
1 herewith submit the annual report of the School Nurse for the Town of Lynnfield.
The following is the report of the School Nurse, Miss Helen E. Purdy, from January 1, 1925 to June 26, 1925 for the Town of Lynnfield:
"Defective vision 12
Defective teeth 12
Defective tonsils
3
Pediculosis
12
Excluded for contagion
8
Urging proper treatment
46
Number children taken to dentist 19
Following the examination of teeth given by Dr. Potter of Wakefield, twelve children were given assistance by the Red Cross so that their teeth might be given proper treatment."
My work from October 5, 1925 to January 1, 1926 in furthering the program of improving the health of the children in the community with the co-operation of the school physician, superintendent, school committee, teachers, parents and the children themselves has been very successful al- though more complete co-operation from the parents is needed.
55
VACCINATION
The importance of vaccination of children of school age cannot be too strongly brought to the attention of parents. It is the only safeguard to protect the community from smallpox. Children who have not been vaccinated are more susceptible to this disease. Pupils should be vaccina- ted in early summer, before entering the first grade in September, in order that they may enter on the first of the year without a sore arm which might be injured in play.
DENTAL CLINIC
With the financial aid of the Lynnfield Branch of the Red Cross many of the children in the South and Center schools were taken care of in regard to their teeth. We hope, with the co-operation of this same organization, we will be able to continue this work this year.
DAILY HEALTH PROGRAM
A daily health program is carried on in each grade throughout the school year. This program consists of checking up daily on every pupil, the following points are emphasized: the amount of sleep; the amount of fresh air required by each; their personal habits in cleanliness, which in- cludes the number of baths taken each week; the care given their finger- nails, teeth, hair, etc. At the end of each month an average is taken in each grade. The grade having obtained the highest average is given a health banner which is kept in view of everyone until some other grade has proven its ability to obtain the banner. We find by this simple method of instruction and follow up work cleanliness soon becomes a habit among the children, therefore, fitting them to become an asset to the community in which they live.
STRIPPED TO THE WAIST EXAMINATION
We urge and request that a stripped to the waist examination should be given to all the pupils in the schools as only in this way can a bene- ficial examination be made. We can in this way discover defects in the initial stage and take. due precaution by referring them to the family physician.
. A physical examination by Dr. C. E. Montague of Wakefield was given each pupil at the beginning of the present school year.
The following shows the result of the examinations:
Notices
Defects
Corrected
Defective Tonsils
28
28
0
Defective Teeth
54
54
Defective Eyes
5
5
Defective Ears
0
56
Weighed and Measured
183
Underweight
29
29
Pediculosis
5
5
5
Pupils excluded
4
Rough sound to heart
10
10
Posture defects
34
Total number of pupils examined 183.
There are a great many children throughout the grades with poor posture. We hope many of them will profit by the posture charts and the lectures given them on posture by the teachers and nurse.
In closing I wish to thank the Superintendent, School Committee, Parents, Teachers and all who have co-operated in maintaining the school health program.
Respectfully submitted, Florence L. Stobbart, R. N., School Nurse.
REPORT OF MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit my third annual report.
Although the beneficient influence of music study reaches out in num- berless directions, it is generally agreed that the primary aim of music in- struction in the public schools should be the development of a lasting love for the best in music and an intelligent appreciation of it. To achieve these desirable results, four closely related lines of study must be considered namely: Music Appreciation, Voice Culture, Sight Reading and Interpre- tation.
Rote singing and elimination of monotones are the two important factors in the first grade. Folk dancing and singing games are used in the grades starting with the first year.
Rote singing is carried on in the second grade along with the first steps in Music Reading, finding of "do" in the sharp and the flat keys. Rote singing decreases in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades giving way to more difficult and advanced note reading and sight singing.
The poem of each song is analyzed and compared with the melody, thereby helping the child to form a picture also bringing out as to whether or not the melody or tune reflects the mood or color of the poem. This is but one method of developing Music Appreciation in the grades. Through this method we are correlating our music with literature, and art, often times with history and geography, this of course depending on the text ot the poem.
A Music Appreciation Course has been established this year primarily for the seventh and eighth grades but is being carried over into some of
57
the lower grades. This is being done by exchanging of records with other towns. Plans are under way to have a Music Memory Contest between the towns of Essex, Hamilton, Lynnfield, Manchester, Topsfield and Wenham sometime in May.
The pupils at Lynnfield Center are indebted to the Parent-Teacher As- sociation for having provided them with several books of reference on Mu- sic Appreciation.
"Music : O how faint how weak, language fades before thy spell! Why should feeling ever speak; when thou canst breathe her soul so well?" -- Moore
I wish to take this opportunity to thank the teachers, Superintendent and School Committee for their hearty support.
Respectfully submitted, Maude L. Thomas, Supervisor of Music.
58
59
SOUTH LYNNFIELD SCHOOL
Transfers to
Bal. to credit
Deposits
Withdrawals
Pupils' Accts.
of school
New Accts.
March 1924 to July 1924
$ 318.56
Cf = 2.85
$ 263.08
$52.63
68
July 1924 to July 1925
742.31
89.22
603.71
102.01
29
July 1925 to Jan. 1926
236.45
37.21
211.86
89.39
7
Total
$1,297.32
$129.28
$1,078.65
$89.39
104
LYNNFIELD CENTER SCHOOL
March 1924 to July 1924
$106.02
None
78.01
$28.01
29
July 1925 to Jan. 1926
32.83
8.50
86.73
59.65
12
July 1924 to July 1925
120.57
2.20
25.95
58.03
3
Total
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.