USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Norwell > Town of Norwell annual report 1920-1929 > Part 35
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Article 4. Will the town raise and appropriate the sum of forty-seven hundred dollars to be expended on highways under the provisions of Section 26 of Chapter 81 of the General Laws as amended.
(Approved by Advisory Board.)
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SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Article 5. Will the town appropriate $1000. to reshape and tarvia Cedar St., from Summer St., to the Scituate line ?
(Request of Mr. Percy Litchfield. )
(Not approved by Advisory Board.)
Article 6. Will the town vote to instruct the Selectmen to establish the bounds of the town landings on North River ?
Article 7. Will the town appropriate $1500 to purchase or acquire by eminent domain for a public park, land near the town landing at Chittenden, now owned by Mr. George Van Voorhis ?
(Request of Mr. George R. Farrar.)
(Not approved by Advisory Board.)
Article 8. Will the town vote to accept as a town way, Mill Lane, as at present bounded ?
(Request of Henry McHugh.)
Article 9. Will the town vote to rescind its vote of last year to sell the District No. 2 School House by Auction ?
Article 10. Will the town vote to give the use of Dis- trict No. 2 School House to the local post of the American Legion for their headquarters ?
Article 11. Will the town vote to instruct the Selectmen to take up the subject of rate reduction on electricity for the inhabitants of the Town of Norwell?
(Request of Mr. Louis H. Ogden.)
97
TOWN OF NORWELL
Article 12. Will the town act with the town of Hanover to maintain electric lights at the junction of River Street, Norwell, and Broadway, Hanover, at Assinippi and at North Hanover ?
Article 13. Will the town vote to install an electric light on Main Street, near Sparrell's Garage?
(Request of Mr. John H. Sparrell.)
(Not approved by Advisory Board.)
Article 14. Will the town vote to appropriate the unex- rended balance of last year's School appropriation, $549.15 for the purchase of furniture for the Central School?
(Request of School Committee.)
(Not approved by Advisory Board.)
Article 15. Will the town vote to appropriate $850 as the first of three annual payments for a pumping engine and truck ?
(Request of Fire Department. )
(Not approved by Advisory Board.)
Article 16. Will the town vote to appropriate $1000 for the purchase of 2 1-2 inch hose for pumper ?
(Request of Fire Department. )
(Not approved by Advisory Board. )
Article 17. To make allowances to town creditors.
Article 18. Will the town re-appropriate the Bonus re- fund received from the State, for the improvement and grading of a play ground for the Central School, under the direction of the School Committee?
(Request of School Committee. )
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SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Article 19. Will the town vote to purchase a tractor for snow removal and appropriate money for that purpose?
Article 20. Will the town choose a director for the Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture ?
Article 21. What action, if any, will the town take in connection with the legacy set forth in the will of Leaffie B. Curtis Miller for the erection of a new High School build- ing in Norwell.
Article 22. Will the town give any instructions to town officers ?
Article 23. Will the town authorize the treasurer with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money on and af- ter January 1, 1928, in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1928, and to issue note or notes therefor, payable within one year. Any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of the financial year, beginning January 1, 1928.
Article 24. What salary and compensation will the town vote to pay all its elected officers. To conform with Sec- tion 108, Chapter 41, General Laws.
Article 25. To bring in their votes for a Town Clerk, for one year; one Selectman, one Assessor, and one Over- seer of the Poor for three years; a Treasurer, a Collector of Taxes, an Auditor, a Surveyor of Highways, five Constables and a Tree Warden for one year; one member of the School Committee for three years; one member of the Board of Health for three years; one Trustee for the Ridge Hill Li- brary for three years.
School Directory
School Committee BENJAMIN LORING, Chairman MRS. AMY W. SYLVESTER MRS. NELLIE L. SPARRELL, Secretary and Treasurer
Superintendent of Schools LEON M. FARRIN
School Physician WILLIAM P. GROVESTEIN, M. D.
School Nurse CATHERINE A. ROE, R. N.
School Dentist ARTHUR B. ELDRIDGE, D. M. D.
Attendance Officers
JOHN T. OSBORN CATHERINE A. ROE
Janitors
GEORGE A. GOODENOUGH GEORGE H. TURNER MARY A. BRUCE
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SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
1927 CALENDAR FOR NORWELL SCHOOLS
Schools open January 3, 1927.
Schools close February 25,-eight weeks.
Schools open March 7.
Schools close April 29,-eight weeks.
Schools open May 9.
Schools close June 17,-six weeks.
Schools open September 7.
Schools close December 22,-sixteen weeks.
Length of school year-thirty-eight weeks. .
Schools open January 3, 1928.
HOLIDAYS
February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, Thanksgiv- ing and the day following.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULATIONS
Children who become five years of age on July first may enter school the following September. The only exception to this rule is that under-age children may be admitted to school on the basis of intelligence tests.
No child under seven years of age will be admitted to school for the first time after October first of any year.
A child entering school for the first time is required to present to the teacher a birth certificate and a vaccination or exemption from vaccination certificate.
101
TOWN OF NORWELL
SCHOOL CENSUS
October 1, 1926
.
Persons five and under seven years of age 50
Persons seven and under fourteen years of age 180
Persons fourteen and under sixteen years of age 31
Illiterate minors sixteen and under twenty-one years
of age 1
Total 262
School Committee
THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HEREWITH SUBMITS ITS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1926
The time has come when the function of the public schools is to fit a child for Life-physically and morally as well as mentally. Gradually the three R's have seen the addition of the sciences, languages, the arts, and physical training in its many phases to the course of study. Realizing the bearing good health has upon the school work, a careful physical examination of each child is made, his defects if any, noted and a systematic course of correction at- tempted. To round out his training, the wise teacher adds the precepts of right living and the school has done its best to prepare him for Life. We feel the Norwell schools stand well toward the top in this preparation.
Our teaching force is conscientious, and our pupils for the most part appreciative of the efforts made in their be- half.
Early in the year Mr. Albert Sylvester purchased the land surrounding the school building together with the adjoining woods all of which he sold the town for $500 the amount raised to buy the playground. It cost him much more than this amount. Thus through the generos- ity of Mr. Sylvester a perplexing problem of several years standing has found solution.
The grading has not been completed. The grass seed will be sown and shrubs planted as soon as the condition
103
TOWN OF NORWELL
of the ground will permit. An auto parking space is to be provided on the east side of the building which we re- spectfully ask all to use who have occasion to leave cars on the grounds. The driveways must be kept clear for the safety of the pupils when entering or leaving the school busses.
The regular examinations by the school dentist and phy- sician have been made and the follow up work done by Miss Roe. The Red Cross and Visiting Nurse Associa- tion have added weighing and measuring scales, steel and glass cabinet for surgical supplies and a sterilizer for dental instruments all in white enamel also a couch for use of children who are ill, to the equipment of Miss Roe's of- fice. The Woman's Community Service has given $50 with which to purchase a rug and other materials for the teach- er's room at the Central School.
Some two years ago the State Board of Health offered to all towns through the local Boards of Health and School Committees the services of the "Clinic For Underweight Children" then starting a survey of the state. Norwell accepted the offer and in due time our turn arrived to hold our clinic. The staff of three doctors, two nurses, two dietitians and stenographers arrived and the clinic began. Each child accompanied by his parent passed from one doctor to another, each of whom made a careful ex- amination and entered his findings on the pupils record sheet. Parent and child then passed on to the dietitians, who instructed the parent, in regard to the best diet for that particular child to regain his weight. The test for tuber- culosis was given and all who reacted to this test were re- examined by X-ray two weeks later. Forty eight children were examined, eight were given the X-ray test and but one was found to be tubercular.
104
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Dr. Martin of the staff, told the committee that the clinic had taken over 12,000 X-ray pictures in its two years of existence and he felt confident Norwell had estab- lished the lowest percentage of tuberculosis of any locality examined. He also considered it one of the best planned clinics in the state, a direct compliment to the ability of Miss Roe, who was solely responsible for that part of the work.
This clinic will return in two years when it is hoped our percentage will be as low as this year.
The teaching staff met with a great loss in the resigna- tion of Miss Maria Tolman, a wonderful influence for good in our schools for forty years. Miss Tolman leaves us to conserve her strength putting duty to her family and herself before the love for her profession. Her wish was to be allowed to "drop out quietly" which wish was respect- ed but she retires to private life with the heartfelt grati- tude of all who are acquainted with the excellence of her work.
We would like to ask the voters to take into serious consideration the placing of insurance on District No. 1, at Ridge Hill and District No. 5 at Norwell Center. These are old buildings and are more liable to loss by fire than the Central building. To replace either would entail an ex- penditure of not less than $15,000. We feel the policy of "carrying our own insurance" a poor one and conse- quently refer the matter to the voters for their advice.
No provision has been made in the budget this year for this however.
A few items in our budget may very appropriately find mention and explanation here. We are obliged to have
105
TOWN OF NORWELL
a second teacher at Ridge Hill because of the very large entering class in September 1927. This calls for $1000. A new ceiling is necessary at District No. 5, and a great deal of grading around the building. At present the pu- pils cannot walk around the building to the out buildings without wetting their feet.
There is a crying need for new furniture at the High School, but your committee has refrained again this year from requesting an appropriation in the budget for this purpose as we fully realize the burden we are obliged to place on the taxpayers. When the Central School was built we furnished all rooms with old furniture and we have not bought any new furniture until the gift of $250 from Mr. and Mrs. Gutterson made it possible to refurn- ish one room. May we look forward to an appropriation for this item next year.
We are sorry to announce the resignation of Mrs. Amy Sylvester from the School Committee, due to the fact she is to travel a greater part of the year and her absence from the locality for even longer. She has given long faithful service to her town and at least has the satisfaction of doing her bit, an expression used by Mrs. Sylvester very often.
In closing the committee wishes to thank all who have helped to make the year successful.
BENJ. LORING, Chairman. AMY W. SYLVESTER NELLIE L. SPARRELL, Sec. and Treas.
TEACHING STAFF STATISTICS
TEACHERS
GRADES OR SUBJECTS
HOME ADDRESS
PREPARED AT
Years Experience
SALARY
High School Edwin Phillips, Prin
Math., Science History
Rockland
Stetson Univ. Fla.
5
$2250
Hollis E. Clow
English, Chemis- try Latin, French History Commercial Physical Training Music
Haverhill
Bowdoin
1
1600
Myrtle Graves
Norwell Norwell
Radcliffe
1
1450
Bridgewater Normal
7
1450
Lois C. Turner. Dorothy M. Kanrich
Dorchester
Radcliffe
0
1200
Grammar
Florence B. Pinson
VIII, VII VII, VI V, IV
Norwell
Salem Normal
17
1150
Florence M. Mortimer
Danvers
Salem Normal
1
1100
Sarah V. Hatch
Rockland
Middlebury College
14
1200
Center Primary
Maria W. Tolman
IV, III
Norwell
Hanover Academy Bridgewater Normal
40
1150
Marion G. Merritt
II, I
Norwell
37
1150
Ridge Hill
Millie F. Jones
III, II, I
Norwell
Norwell High
9
1150
Superintendent
Leon M. Farrin
Rockland
Harvard Univ.
11
1133
·
106
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
School Superintendent
To the School Committee of the Town of Norwell :
I take pleasure in presenting to you my third annual re- port as superintendent of the schools of the town of Nor- well.
THE TEACHING STAFF
Changes in the teaching staff have fortunately been few during the past year. Miss Shirley W. Hare resigned to accept a more attractive position in Rockland. Her position was filled by the election of Mrs. Sara V. Hatch of Rockland, a graduate of Middlebury College, of long experience, who had been teaching in the schools of May- nard. Miss Jessie Ferguson resigned to accept a position in the schools of Brockton and her place was filled by Miss Florence M. Mortimer, a graduate of Salem Normal School who had been teaching in Connecticut.
A change was made in the teaching of the special subjects music and physical training. A plan was evolved whereby a full time teacher might be employed in place of the spec- ial teachers at a saving financially. This full time teacher became available for other work such as taking charge of the lunch room thereby relieving the high school teacher who had previously been joverburdened. For this new position, Miss Dorothy M. Kanrich of Dorchester, a grad- uate of Radcliffe, who had had considerable training in music and gymnastics was selected.
108
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
We were saddened at the close of the year by the re- tirement of one of our best teachers, Miss Maria W. Tol- man, who had served the town of Norwell faithfully and efficiently for forty years. Her place has since been filled by Mrs. Ella Osborn, a former Norwell teacher.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the teachers of Hanover, Hanson, and Norwell have been held jointly throughout the year. At each meeting the superintendent of schools has occupied part of the time, a teacher in the superintendency union or an outside speaker has filled a portion of the time with a talk, and a part of the time has been taken by a meeting of the Teachers' Club which has been affiliated with the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers' Clubs. We have the distinction of being the first superintendency union to so affiliate.
One of the chief aims of the teachers' meetings has been to have the teachers participate to the fullest possible extent. Many of the teachers have prepared talks on educational subjects of interest and profit to the group. The purpose of the club has been to add professional spirit and to weld the members into one harmonious whole in which local sectional lines might be obliterated for mutual benefit. The superintendent's part in the meetings has been occupied with routine matters, announcements, and discussion of supervis- ory and administrative problems. A question box has been prepared by means of which problems of common interest may be discussed.
ENROLMENT
The enrolment this year shows a gain of 21 over last year, a gain of 30 over the year before.
109
TOWN OF NORWELL
The enrolment in detail as of October 1, 1926, is as fol- lows :
High School
58
Seniors
14
Juniors
14
Sophomores
11
Freshmen
19
Norwell Grammar
112
Grade VIII
16
Grade VII
36
Grade VI
24
Grade V
24
Grade IV
12
Norwell Center Primary
73
Grade IV
15
Grade III
14
Grade II
17
Grade I
27
Ridge Hlil
39
Grade III
9
Grade II
12
Grade I
18
Total
282
enth grade into two sections because of the unusual size of this grade compared with the other grades. Condi-
On the whole the distribution of the children in the build- ings of the town during the past year has not been the ser- ious problem it is in many other places. The situation in
DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDREN
Grade 5
6
7
00
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 00
18
Total
1
18 21
4
1
1
29
2
11
12
6
23
3
5
00
7
2
1
4
1
7
16
1
2
27
5
1
9
10
2
1
1
24
6
4
9
7
2
2
24
7
=
12
10
1
1
1
36
8
1
00
7
1
1
16
9
1
3
7
4
1
2
1
19
10
1
3
3
4
11
11
1
8
2
3
14
12
2
co
co
14
Total
18
32 22 22 32
18
28
30
28
12
19
11
9
1 282
110
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
AGE
7
AGE AND GRADE DATA AS OF OCTOBER 1, 1926
the high school was comfortable as was the case last year. In the grammar school it was necessary to divide the sev-
45
111
TOWN OF NORWELL
tions are very crowded in the small room occupied by grade six and a portion of grade seven. This room, intended I believe as a library, is not large enough for regular class- room purposes.
At the Center Primary School, the upper room had a comfortable number of pupils, the number in the lower room, forty-four, being a large number for one teacher. The number at Ridge Hill was greatly increased, from only twenty-one last year to thirty-nine this year.
Our pupils in general are comfortably distributed al- though in two or three spots conditions are rather crowded.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The high and grammar school building has been greatly improved by the painting of this building and the town hall. The work being done on the grounds is well worthy of comment as is the addition of the playground space in the rear of the building. Aside from the fact that attractive surroundings contribute their share in the moulding of character even though the child may not be conscious of the influence, I believe we owe it to ourselves as a matter of civic pride to have the appearance of our school build- ings and grounds the best.
I am looking forward hopefully to the time when the people of Norwell will feel that they can thoroughly mod- ernize the Center Primary and Ridge Hill schools. If school is to lead the way and not trail behind, the impres- sion our children receive from their physical surroundings educationally should be of a high order, aside from the comforts and hygienic measures involved.
112
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Good school buildings are a good investment. We have all seen good schools advertised as an attraction for peo- ple to live in a town.
SIGHT AND HEARING TESTS
The usual tests were given in accordance with the state law requiring that the sight and hearing of all pupils be examined early in the school year and that the results be reported to the superintendent of schools.
A summary of the reports follow :
Number of pupils enrolled (Sept. 1926) 282
Number found defective in eyesight 34
Number found defective in hearing 3
Number of parents or guardians notified 34
HEALTH
Considerable attention has been paid this year as usual to the health of the school children of Norwell by the Board of Health, the school physician, school nurse, and the teach- ers. Careful attention has been given by all to contagious cases. The school nurse and physician as usual have de- voted much care to every detail of their work. £ The cus- tomary careful attention has been given to the children's teeth. Teachers have stressed personal cleanliness, sleep, food values, and various other hygienic matters.
Of outstanding importance has been the adoption thru the efforts of our school nurse of the ten year program for the prevention of tuberculosis. The idea of this pro- gram is to examine particularly the children who are under- weight and to nip in the bud any tendencies toward the dreaded disease, that has caused so much havoc every- where.
113
TOWN OF NORWELL
REPORT OF UNDER WEIGHT CLINIC
The returns from the state department of public health in connection with the underweight clinic gave the follow- ing figures :
Children examined 48
Number of contacts
4
Given tuberlin test
48
Reacted to the test
7
Percentage of reactors
.15
Number X-rayed
8
Classified as suspects
1
Classified as negative
7
With enlarged tonsils and adenoids
13
In need of dentistry
29
Cases of heart disease
1
Cases of malnutrition
3
I should like to call attention to the excellent showing Norwell has make in the above figures and to place a large amount of credit to the school nurse whose excellent work has had a strong effect on the health of the school children of Norwell.
THE TESTING OF RESULTS
.
Measuring our educational product is a difficult but im- portant matter. In respects like the development of char- acter, the measurement of results is complex. As to health the measurement of results ought soon to be accomplished. Insurance companies have lately been giving us facts about mankind in general. All of our educational objectives are gradually being measured as to results with more or less reliability. That we are making progress in measuring cannot be denied.
114
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Rapid strides are being made in the measurement of na- tive ability and in the acquisition of knowledge. We have given sufficient tests of native ability in Norwell to know our children individually and to assure ourselves that as a group they are not superior or inferior but that they meas- ure up to the average.
We are now devoting our attention to the measurement of knowledge acquired. Several such tests have been giv- en during the past year. We have recently given our child- ren in the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades a test in arithme- tic under the auspices of Boston University. When the results in Norwell and other places have been compiled we shall be able to see how our results in arithmetic compare with those in other places. By continuing to give one or two extensive tests of subject matter each year we can build up a testing program which will determine and in- crease our efficiency.
HIGH SCHOOL
I feel that our high school has been managed with unus- ual efficiency this past year. Our principal has shown himself to be an able administrator. Our faculty in gener- al has functioned effectively and enthusiastically.
Much interest has been exhibited by faculty and students in the extra-curricular activities. Physical training has been participated in by all students. Stress has been plac- ed on athletics, but the chief emphasis has been on the regu- lar academic studies.
We have been fortunate in retaining the teaching staff intact during the year in contrast to the numerous changes of the preceding year. A stable teaching force is of the utmost importance.
115
TOWN OF NORWELL
A step has been made toward refurnishing the high school by the installation of new furniture in one room. The other rooms are equally in need of adequate furniture.
The report of the high school principal gives in detail the activities of the past year so I shall limit further com- ment to the general statement that I am well pleased with the manner in which affairs have been conducted in the Norwell High School during the past year.
MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN
In accordance with the requirements of state law a sur- vey of mentally retarded children was undertaken under the direction of the Taunton State Hospital in which jur- isdiction Norwell is placed. Eight children were reported by the teachers as three or more years mentally retarded. These children were given preliminary tests as to general practical knowledge and school subject matter by the Nor- well School Department. They were then examined by a physician, a psychiatrist, and a social worker from Taun- ton. I regret that returns have not yet been received from Taunton so that I might state here the number actually found to be three or more years mentally retarded. The state law requires that in a town where there are found to be ten or more children three years mentally retarded a special class must be arranged for the instruction of these children.
SUPERVISION OF SPECIAL SUBJECTS
Reports written by the supervisor of special subjects and other school officials follow in this school report. Each describes in detail his or her special work. It is therefore unnecessary for me to make much further comment than to state that the work of the special teachers and officials
116
SEVENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
has been carried on effectively as it has been in past years. It is a matter of common knowledge that the supervisor of music and physical training, the school nurse, school phy- sician, and school dentist are all intensely interested in their work and in the welfare of the school children of Norwell.
REORGANIZATION OF THE CURRICULUM
I should like to see the abandonment in Norwell of the eight year elementary and four year secondary program for the newer and more progressive although well tested and established six year elementary, three year junior high, and three year senior high program. The presence in the main building of the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades makes the adoption of a junior-senior high school system difficult, if not impossible. Departmental work has been tried without success because of the immaturity of intermediate grade pupils. I feel that we have the best thing possible now with the central consolidated building and primary grades at each end of the town. Perhaps the future may bring forth some way by which we may take the step of reorganizing our system in line with that of the most pro- gressive communities in the respect of having a junior- senior high school system.
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