USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1920-1929 > Part 26
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118
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
who are cordially invited to be present at the examination. Following the examination a report will be sent home with suggestions for correction of the underweight.
The whole matter is optional with the parent but we trust will be taken advantage of by all.
In conclusion we wish to thank the parents for their hear- ty cooperation making the year in many ways a banner one. *Respectfully submitted,
NELLIE L. SPARREL, Sec. BENJAMIN LORING, Chairman AMY W. SYLVESTER
School Superintendent
To the School Committee of the Town of Norwell
I herewith submit my first annual report as superintend- ent of the public schools of the Town of Norwell.
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHERS
I think perhaps the biggest step forward this year has been a distinct advance made toward the professional im- provement of the teachers of the town. We have accom- plished something that many towns and cities with 200 teachers have been unable to do, namely to establish in this vicinity a university extension course for teachers. Forty teachers in this section have been meeting once a week for an hour and a half under the able leadership of Professor A. A. Douglas of Harvard University in a course called "Child Study and Adolescence with Practical Ap- plication to the School Problem." In the town where I was located last year a similar course had a lasting effect on the quality of the teaching in the town. Teachers are able to earn college credit by means of extension courses. It is noteworthy that more than half of the teachers enroll- ed are taking the course for credit. The spirit of the teachers in entering wholeheartedly into the course is to be highly commended. The co-operation of the school com- mittee of this town has also been noteworthy.
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SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
COURSE OF STUDY
A uniform course of study has been put into all the schools so that the work throughout the town might be systematized, and pupils passing from one grade to another might progress according to a uniform plan with no over- lapping of work among the grades. The course is min- imum in its requirements so that each teacher has plenty of opportunity to use her initiative.
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
An earnest effort has been made to provide teachers and pupils with the books and supplies needed. All will agree that each child should have a book, that pupils should not be expected to look on with each other.
Teachers cannot do good work without necessary supplies any more than a carpenter or a plumber can do good work without proper tools. It will probably cost more for a time to provide the needed books and supplies but I believe the townspeople are willing to make this expenditure.
THE TEACHING STAFF
Two changes took place in the High School teaching staff. The school department was fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Herbert D. Hoyt as assistant principal of the high school. Mr. Hoyt received his preparation at Dorchester High School and Norwich University. He has taken teacher training courses at Hyannis Summer Nor- mal School and Boston University. Mr. Hoyt has had three years' experience teaching in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Miss Doris P. Allen was engaged as teacher of languages at the high school. Miss Allen is a graduate of Peabody High School and Boston University. It is unfortunate that Mrs. Lois C. Turner has had to give up her work temporarily because of illness. Miss Lila S.
121
TOWN OF NORWELL
Perry has been engaged as substitute in Mrs. Turner's place. Miss Perry is a graduate of the two year course at Bur- dett College and has been teaching at Burdett this fall. Only one new teacher has been needed in the grades and this place has been filled by Miss Katherine Turner, a graduate of the three-year course at Bridgewater Normal School. It is a source of gratification that there have been so few changes in the teaching force, for the present staff of teachers in Norwell is very efficient.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Norwell is fortunate in having disposed of the building problem and the town is t obe congratulated on having a central grammar and high school adequate to the needs of the town. The needs of the primary grades are well taken care of by the buildings at Norwell Centre and Ridge Hill. During the past year, the Norwell Center building was painted and I understand that the School Committee plans this year to paint the Ridge Hill building.
HIGH SCHOOL
The report of the high school principal appears elsewhere so I will touch but briefly on this subject. The work in manuel training has been carried on successfully. Impor- tant improvements have been made in the school lunch room. The equipment for the teaching of chemistry has been considerably enlarged. Additional and much needed electric lights have been installed in the High School and grammar rooms. The work in athletics has been carried on especially well this year. New desks and chairs are need- ed in the high school but more important is the need for improvement of the schools grounds which the school com- mittee wishes to attend to this coming spring.
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SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
HEALTH
In the health work, children are taught the principles of health and sanitation, and are drilled in health habits that become fixed and permanent. Such an influence from our schools will be carried over in the generations that are to come. Our aim is a "sound mind in a sound body.''
Supervision of children's health is necessary for effici- ency in instruction in the schools. Health instruction in- cludes physical training, not simply the formal setting-up exercises but physical development through play. It in- cludes also hygiene and physiology. We are putting less stress now on a knowledge of the different bones and more on the value of different foods and a knowledge of health principles.
In accordance with state law, children are examined physically and parents notified concerning deficiencies. It is a well known fact that defective eyesight, hearing, or other physical ills are a handicap to a pupil in his school work.
DISTRIBUTION OF GRADES
I should like to comment favorably on the grading as I found it here. Only one teacher has as many as three grades and this is necessary because of the wise policy of keeping little children as near home as is consistent with efficient instruction. It seems to me that the Norwell schools are pretty well organized. It means that trans- portation costs must necessarily be high but no one can doubt that it is worth it.
OUR SCHOOLS.
We are not neglecting the "three R's" for fads and frills. The primary business of our schools is to teach the fundamental tools of learning. Increased responsibilit
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TOWN OF NORWELL
ies have been put upon us which we are able to assume be- cause methods have been evolved by which we are able to teach the fundamentals in less time than was formerly required. It is generally acknowledged that it is our duty to educate pupils physically as well as mentally. An elab- orate scheme of mental culture which proceeds without re- gard to the needs of the body is but a house built upon the sands. We are responsible for turning out good citizens. Something more than mere knowledge of our form of gov- ernment is necessary for good citizenship. The citizen must be imbued with a sense of duty and responsibility. We are responsible for turning out pupils with character. To educate a child in mind and not in morals is to edu- cate a menace to society. To develop character the schools aim to fix right standards and habits of conduct. Preach- ing at the child does little good. When the child finds that it is pleasant to be honest, to co-operate with his neighbors, and to reverence the things that are reverend, he devel- ops in character.
CONCLUSION
I feel that we are making progress in our schools and that the school system is operating smoothly and efficient- ly. We are trying to make the work in our schools prac- tical and to weed out that which has not demonstrated its utility. It is our aim to teach children to work in groups without discord. We wish to have pupils recite ideas rather than words. We mean to train them in power rather than in the acquisition merely of information. Our purpose is to inspire pupils to do their best in school or out.
I am pleased to say that there is the heartiest co-opera- tion between school committee, superintendent, teachers, parents, and pupils.
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SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
For the cordial welcome and support given me in my part of the work, I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation.
Respectfully submitted, LEON M. FARRIN
Superintendent
High School Principal
To the School Committee of the Town of Norwell :
I know you believe a school is much more than books and teachers and pupils; and with that idea I have worked this year towards a more complete school program intel- lectually, physically and socially. I should like to mention several parts of this program, new or old, which seem to me to contain promise for a better school each year. While these are picked for special mention I would point out that they are not added at the expense of the regular work, which, on the contrary, is made more interesting and better by them. I feel that it should be a source of pride to this community that parents who move from here wish to continue their children in this school and that new com- ers are pleased with the condition they find.
The program of the High School is now arranged so that each subject comes four times a week instead of five as before. This results in more study periods in school; the same ground has been covered in each subject, and there are fewer failures. Combine with this the idea of giving substitute subjects in alternate years (see program of studies published last fall) so that a pupil may, for example, take both United States History and Elementary Economics where he could formerly take only History and you will realize that the academic program of the school has been considerably enriched. At the same time new books in various subjects have been purchased replacing obsolete editions, and a start made on a school library. New and
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SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
adequate chemical laboratory apparatus has made that course popular and much more worth the pupils' while.
Our new course in shopwork has not been so successful as we could wish because of the loss of Mrs. Turner from our teaching staff, but a good beginning has been made and we have some good results to show. I trust another year will find this more flourishing.
The lunch room continues to make a modest profit which is regularly put back into better equipment so that in the course of a few years you will find in its equipment and service it is as good as any. I believe it now stands very high.
Formerly physical education was confined to interschool athletics. We still have the interschool games and have added soccer football and basket ball, but we also have sched- uled physical education under Mrs. Ilsley for all boys and girls, an educational advance whose signifiance will be bet- ter realized in the future.
I have heard many favorable comments about the dances given by the High School this year. The boys and girls have cheerfully co-operated with us in all the things we have asked of them, and have found that their parties are as pleasant under our rules as any they attend. They have not been largely profitable but the newly finished floor will probably attract larger attendance in the future.
In conclusion I wish to state that the present condition of the school is excellent because of hearty co-operaion and cheerful good will of the teachers who work in it and the pupils who attend it.
Below we print the plan of work from which a high school pupil chooses. It seems to me that parents should allow pupils to choose only after careful consultation, and that a course once chosen should be carefully adhered to.
127
TOWN OF NORWELL
In any case when a pupil chooses subjects which conflict it will be necessary for him to drop one.
The committee reserves the right to change this plan if it is found that too few pupils elect any subject.
Respectfully submitted,
LESTER E. WILLIAMS
PLAN OF COURSES OFFERED IN THE NORWELL HIGH SCHOOL IN 1924-5 AND AFTER
College Course
Comm. Course
Gen. Course
*English
A
*English
A
A AB
*Latin
A
*Intro. Bus.
A
*English
AB
* Algebra
A
Shop
A
*Science
A
History
AB
Science
Intro. Bus.
A
Gen. Science
AB
Any subject at left.
Any subject at left.
* English
B
*English
B
*English
B
* Latin
B
* Bookkeeping
B
*Science
*Geometry
B
*Typewriting
B
Shop
History
AB
Shop
B
Bookkeeping
B
*French
B
Any subject at left.
Any subject at left.
*English
C
* English
C
*English
C
* Latin
CD
*Stenog. Type.
C
Shop
Science
CD
Shop
C
Stenog. Type.
*French
C
Any subject at left.
*Mathematics
CD
Social Science
CD
*English
D
*English
D
*English
D
*Latin
CD
*Office Prac.
D
* Office Prac.
D
*Science
CD
Shop
D
Shop
*Mathematics
CD
Any subject at left.
Any subject at left.
French
D
Social Science
CD
128
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
AB
Shop
AB
B
C
Any subject at left.
D
High School Principal
I Subjects preceded by the (*) are required.
2 The capital letter which follows a subject shows the year in which it may be taken and no change from this will be allowed except by special arrangement. A. Freshmen, B. Sophomore, C. Juniors, D. Seniors. Where two letters follow, the subject may be taken in either of the years indicated. (It should be noted that the subject matter usually alternates in these courses : as, Social Sciene CD is U. S. History in 1924-5 and Economics in 25-6.)
3 Every pupil must take U. S. History before a diploma can be granted.
4 Where there is an alternative the studies are as fol- lows: General Science AB: General Science 1924-5, Physiography-Botany 1925-6.
History AB : Mediaeval-Modern 1924-5, Ancient 1925- 6.
Latin CD: Virgil 1924-5- Cicero 1925-6.
Science CD : Chemistry 1924-5, Physics 1925-6. Mathematics CD : Review mathematics every other year. (omitted 1924-5).
Social Science CD: U. S. History 1924-5, Economics 1925-6.
5 A pupil who fails General Science may not take Science CD.
130
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
6 Shop. Boys mechanical work in wood and metal. If boys wish to keep articles made, they must pay for material. Girls Household Management, Sewing, cook- ing. Girls must furnish own materials in sewing.
7 Typewriting (but not Shorthand-Typewriting) and Shop, being unprepared subjects, count 1-2 point a year towards graduation. All others count I point. 15 points required for graduation.
8 No pupil may take less than four courses, nor more than five in one year, but Shop, Physical Education and Singing, being unprepared, are not counters.
9 College pupils should note ( I) that they may take only Gen. Science and not Botany-Physigraphy, (2) Mathe- matics CD is required, (3) Either Physics or Chemistry is required.
School Nurse
January 29, 1925 To the Norwell School Committee
A short time ago I heard Dr. Mace Andres, physcolo- gist give the following description of a normal person. "A normal person is one who can face the every day affairs of life fairly and squarely and meet with a fair degree of success." It is the parent's ambition as well as the teach- ers aim to have every child reach this goal, but it is almost impossible for a child to be normal mentally if he is physic- ally unfit.
Every year the school physician makes a thorough phys- ical examination of each child and I might say that we would be pleased to have the parents present at this time. When the examinations are completed, the school nurse then makes her home calls explaining the defects and co-op- erating with the parents in having these corrected. I sometimes fear the parents feel that we are intruding into their private life, but this is not our intention. We are merely trying to aid them to the best of our ability, and to do our share in helping their children reach the normal mark.
If during the school year there developes a contagious disease either the school doctor or nurse examines daily every school child exposed to the disease until after the period of incubation.
The underweight children, those 10 percent or more, are weighed at frequent intervals, and a monthly weight
132
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
record is kept of each child in his class room. It is here that the success of the hot lunch served during the noon hour is evident, and the number of children taking advan- tage of the lunch room is sufficient proof of its popularity.
We have tried to impress upon the pupils the impor- tance of daily care of the teeth and the results have been most gratifying.
The health work in the schools can be a success only thru the co-operation of the parents in the home, if we suc- ceed in this, then we have made one great stride toward the advancement of better health in the school child of today and of future generations.
Respectfully,
CATHERINE A. ROE
January 1, 1924 to December 31, 1924 Mr. Leon Farrin
Superintendent of Schools
Number of Visits to Schools 252
Number of Inspections, (Teeth, hair, skin, etc.) 52
Number of Inspections (Sanitary) 68
Number of Visits made with School Physician 26
Number of Children Examined 340
Number of Visits to Dental Clinic 58
Number of Visits to Homes of School Children 195
Number of Children with Physical defects 64
Number of Children having defects corrected 23
133
TOWN OF NORWELL
Number of Children needing dental attention I35 Number of Children having dental work completed 84 Number of children excluded during year 69
(Excluded on account of whooping-cough, mumps, scar- let fever, measles, pediculosis.)
Respectfully submitted
CATHERINE A. ROE
Public Health Nurse
Director of Physical Education
Mr. L. M. Farrin, Superintendent of Schools :
I herewith submit my first annual report.
Physical training has been placed in the schools for both boys and girls in the year 1924. We should not feel that the law compelling physical training is a burden but rather that it is an opportunity to serve the children and the state.
The human mechanism is composed of several "sets" of muscles. Certain "sets" are concerned in the ordinary ex- ercises of every day life. The object of Physical Train- ing is to counteract the over-development of these "sets" by bringing into play the muscles which are more or less inactive. This is done by means of calisthenics or gym- nastic exercises, including exercises with Indian clubs and clumb-bells.
Posture is an important feature which can not be too strongly emphasized. Perfect health depends on good posture.
In the lower grades, action stories and rythmic plays take the place of formal gymnastics and the movements, which are imitative of well known activities, are done by suggestion.
Grades three to eight, inclusive, are given formal gym- nastics. This work, which is done to command, has two objects: (1) the educational effect of quick response to commands, (2) the training of muscular control and good postural habits. Lessons are so arranged that all parts
135
TOWN OF NORWELL
of the body receive a certain amount of exercise.
The same type of work is carried on in the high school.
For the improvement of the physical education depart- ment, allow me to suggest; first, that equipment such as a horse, box and boom be purchased to aid in the co-ordina- tion and agility of the child, second, that Director be allow- ed a full week in which to work so the pupils may derive the most benefit from their exercises, especially in cor- rective.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCES ILSLEY
School Dentist
Mr. L. M. Farrin, Sup. of Schools, -
Dear Sir :
The following is a summary of dental work completed by me in the Norwell Schools from Jan. Ist to Dec. 31, 1924.
Silver Filling
213
Porcelain Fillings 60
Cement Fillings 4
Treatments
23
Cleanings
86
Extractions
59
Gold Inlay
I
The result of the annual examination made during the first week of school in Sept., is as follows :
Pupils needing attention I35
Pupils having work done at clinic 84
Pupils going to family dentist 25
- 109
Pupils not having work done 26
The perecentage of pupils having all dental work done is 90 percent.
Respectfully submitted
ARTHUR B. ELDRIDGE, D. M. D.
Financial Statement
TEACHERS SALARIES
Lester E. Williams, High $ 2 080 00
Lois C. Turner, High I 140 00
Katherinne Ranney, High 660 00
Doris P. Allen, High 480 00
David Ford, High 600 00
H. Deane Hoyt, High 600 00
Lila Perry, High I20 00
Louise Whiting, Substitute, High 10 00
Ella F. Osborn, Grammar I 070 00
Florence B. Pinson, Grammar
I 070 00
Katherine Turner, Grammar
420 00
Gracia Soule Sub., Grammar 16 00
Marion G. Merritt, Primary I 070 00
Maria W. Tolman, Primary
I 070 00
Dorothy Litchfield, Primary 600 00
Minnie F. Jones, Primary I 020 00
Mary B. Arringdale, Primary 600 00
Ethel Sproul, Sub. Primary .
8 00
Geo. H. Woods, Supervisor Music
700 00
Mrs. A. G. Eldredge, Supervisor, of
Drawing
300 00
Frances Ilsley, Physical Training
188 33
$13 702 33
SUPERINTENDENT
Stephen G. Bean
$ 610 15
Leon M. Farrin
591 36
$ I 201 5I
138
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
FUEL AND FITTING
Walter T. Osborn, Wood $ 252 00
E. P. Joseph, Wood 1 20 00
Lyman Lincoln, Wood 28 00
Basil Simmons, Wood and Coal. ..
50 95
Stanley Briggs, Wood
14 00
Benjamin Loring, Wood
63 00
City Fuel Co.
340 00
G. A. Goodenough Fitting
II 70
James Clark 3 00
$ 882 65
TRANSPORTATION
J. H. Sparrell $ 2 641 50
C. O. Litchfield
I 128 00
M. F. Williamson I 209 00
-$ 4 979 00
JANITOR
C. A. Bruce, High $ 670 00
C. A. Bruce, Dist. No. 5
156 00
G. A. Goodenough, No. I
140 00
Donald Anthony, No. 7 46 00
-$ 1 012 00
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
Edward E. Babb $ 8 09 79
Old Corner Book Store
25 15
American Book Co. 218 90
Ginn and Co. 22 46
Allyn and Bacon
125 85
Silver Burdett
24 86
Houghton Mifflin
76 53
Regent Publishing Co.
4 35
139
TOWN OF NORWELL
John C. Winston
24 42
Gregg Publishing Co.
34 08
Benjamin Sanborn 41 60
Arlo Publishing Co.
II 75
Little Brown and Co.
9 16
D. C. Heath and Co.
40 65
G. P. Putnam
2 00
Iroquois Publishing Co.
3 96
A. N. Palmer
8 36
Charles Scribners Sons
27 62
Business Ability Institute
4 34
Rand McNally
2 50
C. C. Birchard
4 94
The MacMillan Co.
14 45
Educational Supply Co. 2 72
J. L. Hammett and Co. 50 64
Wright and Potter
2 59
Knott Apparatus Co.
9 93
Dowling School Supply Co.
46 23
Milton Bradley Co.
40 15
Ward's 8 75
$ 1 698 73
SUPPLIES AND INCIDENTALS
C. B. Dolge, Supplies
212 70
Stone and Forsyth, Supplies
405 00
Standard Oil Co., Supplies
17 37
Surgeons Supply Co., Supplies
33 25
Fred S. Delay 16 65
Milligan Hardware Co. 106 98
Underwood Typewriter Co. 242 70
Kenney Bros and Wolkins
38 85
J. W. Brine and Co. 18 75
T. F. McCann
13 70
Rome Bros. 15 07
140
SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT
Carrie M. Ford
40 35
C. S. West and Son
9 93
Hall and Torrey
20 81
Geo. F. Welch Co.,
9 60
H. N. Magoun
6 01
Royal Typewrighter Co.
I 50
Young Electric Co.
6 40
Phillip's Bates Co.
63 81
Remington Typewriter Co.
I 00
Houghton and Dutton
13 00
General Eclipse Co.
60
Office Appliance Co.
4 44
Burdett and Williams
16 00
A. W. Pinson
9 14
Cambridge Botanical Co.
45 00
American Child Health Associa- tion
2 30
Children's Foundation
3 00
Clarence Joseph, Labor
9 25
W. W. Wade
7 00
Arthur Turner, Labor
51 00
Warren Foster, Labor
3 00
WV. T. Osborn, Labor 21 IO
Charles Tilden, Labor
5 50
Walter Wagner, Labor
3 00
Donald Anthony, Labor
2 00
Harry Tilden, Express
53
W. H. Spencer, Postage
2 45
Herbert E. Robbins, Insurance
9 00
L. E. Williams, Cash pd.
7 16
Lois C. Turner, Cash pd.
3 19
J. H. Sparrell, Cash pd. 104 65
Warren Baker, Cash pd.
I 77
Grace Richmond, Cash pd. 95
Nellie L. Sparrell, Cash pd. 17 91
141
TOWN OF NORWELL
City of Boston, Tuition
15 38
Dr. Arthur Eldredge, Inspection 25 00
Benjamin Loring, Cash pd. and Labor
148 53
W. C. Soule, Labor and Material 421 IO
C. A. Bruce, Labor and Cash pd. ..
190 24
N. E. Telephone and Telegraph Co. 65 35
Electric Light Co.
84 68
$ 2 573 65
SUMMARY
Town Appropriation $18 000 00
Income Mass. School Fund
4 060 83
Tuition of State Wards
IOI 98
Superintendency Union
637 53
Tuition for High School
I 072 50
From Income Tax
I 930 00
Dog Tax
242. 29
Refund on Telephone calls
5 05
$26 050 18
EXPENDITURES
Teachers Salaries $13 702 33
Superintendent
I 201 51
Fuel and Fitting
882 65
Transportation
4 979 00
Janitor Service
I 012 00
Books and Supplies
I 698 73
Supplies and Incidentals
2 573 65
$26 049 87
Unexpended Balance
3I
Respectfully submitted, NELLIE L. SPARRELL, Treas.
NORWELL PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1639 00054 9483
NORWELL TOWN REPORT
For use only in library
36 SOUTH SO
E-1849 &
NO
w.
1925
SERVE
.
SEVENTY-SIXTH
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE Town Officers OF THE
Town of Norwell
SO
TH
S
S
E-1849 &
NORV
WIL
88
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1925
Rockland Standard Publishing Co., Printers Rockland, Mass.
Norwell Public Library
INDEX
Articles in Warrant 106
Assessors 5I
Auditor 98
Board of Health
60
Budget for 1926
104
Cemetery Trust Funds 55
Financial Statement I33
Highway Surveyor
Highways 62
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