USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1922 > Part 14
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It has been a source of great encouragement and satisfaction that one of our leading business institutions has recognized the importance of this all around development of personality and power of construc- tive action. The Directors of the First National Bank of Reading have offered a first prize of fifty dollars and a second prize of twenty-five dollars to the pupils of the High School who have made the greatest im-
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provement during the school year. The award will not be based on scholarship alone but on the functioning of the whole personality, phy- sical, mental, and moral in all relationships of daily living.
The work of the Attendance Officer
Changes of residence to another town caused the resignation of our attendance officer during the summer. The occasion seemed opportune for making a careful survey of the local situation in respect to the kind and amount of service that should be expected of this officer. Accord- ingly, since the opening of schools in September, I have given consider- able personal attention to the cases referred to the attendance officer for adjustment. The conception that an attendance officer with brass buttons chasing a boy around the block into a back alley and over the fence may be suitable for the "movies" but is useless in real life. The attendance officer should be a liaison officer to maintain proper co-opera- tion between the home and the school especially in securing regularity of attendance and a proper observance of governing the behavior of children. It is safe to say that in ninety-nine cases out of every hun- dred where pupils play truant or are guilty of serious infractions of discipline, there is something wrong in the pupil's home situation and discipline. Sometimes the wrong attitude is in the pupil, sometimes in the parent, sometimes in both. Often the difficulty is magnified by an- tagonism towards the school or the teacher on account of some real or mistaken grievance. It is the business of the attendance officer to find some satisfactory adjustment for all these difficulties and if par- ents and pupils prove refractory to invoke the aid of the law to enforce a proper co-operation with the school. Some parents resent what they regard as the unwarranted interference of the attendance officer. The law however imposes some very definite duties and responsibilities upon this officer. It requires the pupils from the ages of seven to fourteen and if unemployed until sixteen to attend school during the entire time school is in session unless excused by the superintendent of schools or teachers acting under his authority. The enforcement of this law de- volves upon the attendance officer who visits the parents and often finds it necessary to enlighten them in regard to their duties and the rights of the child to receive an education. Sometimes a contagious disease or other illness causes absence from school. In such cases the aid of the School Nurse is invoked. Sometimes irregularity in attendance is caused by loss of interest through failure to make satisfactory progress in the School studies. In that event the Director of Standards and Guidance is consulted. If symptoms of malnutrition, general ill health, chronic heart affection or tubercular tendencies are present the School Physi- cian is called to make a thorough examination and diagnosis. The find- ings are reported to parents and remedial measures are recommended. In case of poverty the aid of charitable organizations is enlisted to sup- ply funds for treatment. The various agencies are thus working to- gether, each contributing its particular service for the welfare of the
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children. Further details may be found in the reports of the Principals and in the respective reports of the Attendance Officer, School Nurse, and Director of Standards and Guidance.
The health program as outlined in last year's report has been car- ried on with increasing efficiency. The joint health committee of wom- en has maintained a Pre-school Clinic at the Health Center at the Grou- ard House. A Schick-Test Clinic at the Grouard House for the preven- tion of diphtheria is in process of organization under the joint man- agement of the Reading Board of Health and the School Physician. More attention is being paid to behavior problems and the formation of correct physical and mental habits by the children. The School Nurse, the Director of Standards and Guidance and the Attendance Officer who is also Dean of Girls in the Senior High School-all make careful ob- servations of emotional attitudes, behavior reactions, and other symp- toms of the state of the child's mental health and so far as possible arrive at a sympathetic understanding of the motives underlying his actions. Suitable corrective measures are taken whenever it seems possible.
The Agricultural Department
In September 1921 a few ex-service men applied for agricultural instruction under the direction of the United States Veterans Bureau. During the past year a class of ex-service men averaging about fifteen members has been in daily attendance. The regular class of high school pupils in agriculture including two girls has maintained the high stand- ards set by previous pupils in this department. On account of the ex- service men a half-time teacher additional has been employed. Your attention is called to the report of the Instructor in Agriculture, Mr. Sussmann. It shows that the department is in excellent condition. In addition to the reports already referred to your attention is invited to the reports of the principals of the Senior High School and of the Junior High School and to that of the Supervisor of Drawing.
The work of the principals of the Elementary schools, of the Super- visor of Music, and of the special teachers of Manual Training, Cooking, Sewing, and Physical Training and Athletics have been conducted on a comprehensive scale and in a very successful manner. If space permit- ted I should be glad to speak of each one in particular. I also wish to con.mend the success attendant upon the management of the extensive lunches at the High School and Highland School, the mid-morning milk lunches in the several schools, and the hot, noon lunch at the Center School. A great deal of valuable special service is rendered in connec- tion with these lunches by the teachers, without extra compensation. They deserve the appreciation of the School Committee and the parents.
It is said that "trifles make perfection but perfection is no trifle". I feel that a large amount of carefully and scientifically executed work has been done by the teaching staff of the Reading Schools during the
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past year and that results of an unusually high order have been secured in many instances. A large number of our teachers are taking special late-afternoon or evening courses and many studied in the summer schools.
The standards of Reading Schools are steadily advancing as a re- sult. I wish to thank the School Committee and all of the employees of the department for the valuable contribution each one has made to our common success.
Respectfully submitted, ADELBERT L. SAFFORD,
Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
To Mr. Adelbert L. Safford, Superintendent.
Sir :- I have the honor to submit to you the report of The Senior High School for the year 1922.
At the close of the school in June, 1922, the enrollment of the school was approximately 420. At the opening in September, 1922, the enroll- ment was 442. This shows a decided increase in attendance. It is ex- pected that at the opening of the school in September, 1923, the enroll- ment will be about 460. This estimate is based on the expected number of pupils who will enter the Senior High School from the Junior High School, together with such pupils as will enter from North Reading, Tewksbury, and Wilmington. The attendance figures of 442 do not include the service men who are taking the work in the agricultural course, under Mr. Sussmann.
Much attention has been given this year to backward pupils, in the hope of aiding such pupils to be successful in their school work. A teacher coach is being employed and assists such pupils as need special help. This work has proved to be very successful and has saved many a pupil from failure and discouragement. This work should be carried still farther, and I feel that it would be both a financial and scholastic piece of administrative economy if a special teacher coach could be added to the school staff. Much attention has also been paid to the adjustment of the programs of the pupils so that they may be given a course suited to their physical and mental capabilities. -
A new system of marking has been put into operation and after in- vestigation and a careful survey of results it seems to justify its use. The mid-year examinations have been discontinued. The pupils are given bi-monthly examinations, and once a month, approximately, are given a review examination. These examinations each count one-third of the scholastic rating, and the other one-third is obtained from the daily work of the pupil. Together with this the teacher takes into account the inter- est and attitudes of the pupils in determining the final rankings. Under this system the daily work of the pupil is stressed.
In determining the possibilities of the pupils much use is made of the intelligence tests as given by Miss Whittemore. It is to be regretted that no such tests can be obtained from pupils who attend the high school from the outlying towns. Such intelligence tests are a great help in the adjusting of the pupil programs, as well as a considerable factor in determining the possible achievements of pupils.
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The co-operation between the home and the school this year has had a very marked impetus. The administrative office is in almost constant touch with the parents in the matter of school work adjustments, and in almost all cases where the co-operation of the parent has been asked it has been willingly given. It is hoped that several parent-teacher meetings may be held soon.
The activities of the school are best expressed by saying that they are booming. The athletic debts have been removed and at present there seems to be no reason why any further debt should accumulate. The stimulation of this condition is pronounced. The boys' athletics are under the supervision of Mr. Taylor, and the girls' athletics under the supervision of Miss Bean. These new teachers are very successful in their duties.
The boys and girls participated in a series of class basketball games preliminary to the carrying out of the regular school schedule. Both girls and boys are represented by inter-scholastic basketball teams. The boys' team has become a member of The Middle-Essex Basketball League, and bids fair to contest successfully for top honors. The girls' team is engaging in a series of games with nearby high schools. The baseball team is once more entered in the Middlesex League.
The school newspaper, The Round-Up, is having a very successful year. The paper has been increased in size and at present there seems to be no reason why it should not complete the year without debt.
A new spirit seems to have arisen in the matter of inter-scholastic debating. Mr. Belmore and Mr. Halpin are acting as coaches for the boys' team, and Miss Kershaw and Miss Bean are the girls' helpers. The boys have entered an inter-scholastic debating league, and it is ex- pected that the girls will have several debates with other nearby high schools.
The operetta, under the able direction of Mr. Sussmann and Mr. Wilson, was a splendid success, and the senior play, under the direction of Miss Abbott and Miss Kershaw is being planned.
The work of the student council has been very valuable this year. The members of the council have taken over many of the responsiblities of the student activities and have carried such activities and responsibili- ties very successfully. They have organized fire and traffic squads which have proved to be very efficient bodies. In one of the fire drills the building was cleared of pupils in a few seconds more than one minute. This is an indication of the efficiency of these student squads.
A class in office training has been formed. This class is made up of pupils from the commercial department who show marked ability in studies and the carrying of responsibilities. These pupils are under the direction of Miss Quimby and Miss Greenhalgh. These pupils carry on the listing and filing of stock room supplies, take care of records, etc., and in this way obtain actual business experience of a very practical sort. To -
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some pupils are also delegated the responsibility of caring for study rooms, and some use is made of post-graduate students for purposes of tutoring slow pupils in various subjects.
The manual training department has proved to be of very great help in the repairing of school furniture. Under the direction of Mr. Boehm this department has given splendid aid in the making of scenery for the plays and operettas. The boys are thus enabled to obtain very valuable training.
One of the very valuable features of the school is the lunch room. This department is being managed very successfully by Mrs. Mingo. It is to be hoped that in time every pupil in the school may find a way of having a warm lunch at noon-time, as I believe this will aid their health, and thereby their scholastic efficiency.
In making a survey of the Senior and Junior Classes I find that about sixty pupils are preparing for college, and about fourteen for normal school.
There seems to be an opinion among a few parents that the organiza- tion of the high school should be directed toward preparing for college, at the expense of all other educational factors. It can readily be seen that when only about 14% of the total student body prepares for college that such an organization would not meet the needs of the other 86% of the pupils.
Despite the fact that no attempt is made to organize the school particularly for college preparation, there are many adjustments made in the organization with the view of aiding such pupils as wish to attend college. This together with the scholastic standards of the school makes it possible, apparently, to satisfy the needs of those who are entering college.
Sixteen pupils offered themselves for college entrance this fall (1922), and none failed to be admitted. At the last reports none of these pupils were in danger of being failed in college. This seems to prove that the training in the high school is adequate, provided the pupil takes full advantage of its possibilities. The school, of course, should not be held responsible for the unwillingness of a pupil to prepare himself properly for college.
It seems, in surveying the situation that the high school is moving along successfully.
One of the fundamental reasons for the success of the school can be traced to the very loyal co-operation of the teaching staff. I believe that the loyalty and the thoroughness which the teachers of the Reading High School bring to their work might easily be a source of envy for other school administrators. The spirit of the teaching force would be hard to improve upon.
It seems to me that the things which should be considered for the future are-an increase of the teaching staff to take care of the in-
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creased enrollment; the hiring of a teacher coach; an increase in the seating capacity of the school; an arrangement for at least one more recitation room; a girls' rest room under the supervision of the school nurse or girls' advisor; and an increase in the seating capacity of the gymnasium which, at present, is woefully inadequate.
Thanking you for your very sympathetic and helpful co-operation, I respectfully submit the above report.
E. V. ATWOOD,
Principal, Reading High School.
Reading, Mass., Dec. 31, 1922.
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REPORT OF INSTRUCTOR OF AGRICULTURE
Mr. A. L. Safford, Superintendent of Schools of Reading, Mass.
Dear Sir: -- T herewith submit for your consideration and approval . my annual report of the work of the Agricultural Department for the year ending December 31, 1922.
That the year has been a highly successful one is reflected in the achievements and results as shown in the statistical report to the State Board of Education. This report has been transmitted to the Federal Board as required by the Smith Hughes Bill and the department has re- ceived hearty commendation. I do not believe that it is generally . known that the department besides being under the supervision of State agents is under the supervision of Federal agents, chiefly because all but a small share of the expenses of the department are paid through reimbursements by the State and Federal governments from the Smith Hughes appropriations.
Each year we are getting a better group of students; better from the standpoint that they are farm minded and that they think seriously of Agriculture as a life's work. One reason for this is the splendid pre- vocational training that our Reading boys get in the science classes of the Junior High School, also because agriculture is now recognized as a great industry and a worthy vocation for posterity to consider.
I believe we are developing a fine type of citizen through our course, for while we are training the student for a specific purpose we are also giving him time for certain regular high school work which will give him such an educational balance as will develop in him a power to function socially to the best advantage. The diagram herewith submitted, which was drawn by Rufus W. Stimson of the Massachusetts Department of Education and printed in the September number of the "Vocational Edu- cation" Magazine, illustrates our plan of instruction.
Professor R. Graves of Boston University recently said, "Herd sug- gestion was never more powerful or more menacing than now. The ever- increasing drift of the people to the cities provides the ideal herding conditions which more than anything else, may endanger our convales- cent civilization." The rural mind in conjunction with the better urban mind must keep the balance and not allow the herd to sweep the national life in the wrong direction.
All this is aside from the ever-increasing demand for food, good food at reasonable prices. Better training means better farmers, more and better production per unit, and lower prices. If for no other reason
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than self national preservation the urban dwellers must co-operate and understand the rural conditions and aims. They must send some of their best minds back to the land.
We aim to teach our students in such a manner that when they graduate they will not simply graduate into a whirlpool of bewilderment, not knowing where to turn, but will be prepared to take up their share of the work of the world by putting themselves in the way of more train- ing or actual production.
The class work of the year was carried on as usual in two divisions, the Freshmen and Sophomores being in the division studying gardening and soils, while the Juniors and Seniors studied farm management and dairying.
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The project work was I believe vastly improved through the use of a diary. Each student was given a small pocket-sized note book in which he recorded daily. So that his records would be complete and useful he was asked to group his chief records under the following heads: 1st, "What have I done today?"; 2nd, "What new thing did I learn today?"; 3rd, "What did I notice today?"; 4th, "What did I learn today?" By means of this little record book the instructor and student were kept in touch throughout the project period. It is surprising how much this form of summer instruction sharpens the powers of observation in the student and how well it teaches him to think while he works.
The financial records kept by the students on their projects were highly, satisfactory. The total earnings of the twenty students com-
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pleting their projects were $10,892.45. This of course includes all farm work under supervision. In many cases the parents were surprised to find that the farm labor of their boys amounted to so much.
Give a child a chance to do something and then give him credit for what he does.
The world war veterans who first came to us from the Veteran Bu- reau in October, 1921, are at this writing in number 15. A few have left or have been dropped. Those that left of their own accord were sorry to go. Those that remain show great interest and desire to make the most of their opportunity. Several of the men are well established on small farms and we hope to teach them how to make a living from some agricultural enterprise. About the school the men are courteous, quiet and studious and on their projects they are industrious. We will do all we can, to compensate, in a small measure, these men for what they have sacrificed.
It was found necessary because of the pressure of the work this fall to enlist the services of another agricultural assistant for part time work. Mr. Batchelder was selected for the place and devotes a part of his school day to instruction in agriculture. Being also a teacher of science in the high school the correlation of his subjects is ideal. Mr. Batchelder is an ideal teacher and his work with the agricultural students has been very successful. This arrangement also gives more time for individual work which is so necessary in vocational training of the project type.
The work for this year includes Poultry for the younger division and Fruit Growing for the upper classes. In Poultry there is exceptionally keen interest, many of the boys having excellent flocks of birds which are producing well.
We are still the largest department in the State and being near Boston, the State Department uses us as a study field for visitors from other states and countries.
It is a very comfortable feeling to know that you are ever ready to advise and guide us and help us make the most of our efforts. All educa- tion must be built on kindness and understanding not only toward the subject but also to the great human family.
Yours truly, RUDOLPH SUSSMANN,
Agricultural Instructor.
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REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. A. L. Safford, Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :- I am forwarding to you, at your request, the annual report of our Junior High School.
Visitors who enter the Highland Building this year step at once into a very busy atmosphere. They find here little of the scholastic noiselessness of academic halls, or the imposing quiet of our old-fashioned grammar school. This is in part due to the nature of the work done in an up-to-date school of today, and in part to the fact that we are so large in numbers that we completely overflow our building.
Our first floor is supposed to contain our Junior High department, This year this department numbers about three hundred, and they are crowded into six class rooms, and a small room on the second floor, never intended for a recitation room. We find it impossible to handle such large classes economically, and so the three hundred are broken up into. line smaller groups, who have their recitations wherever we can crowd them in. Some mornings, when you visit us, you will find a class of thirty-five children reciting in the west corridor upstairs. Miss Whitte- more, whose coach work with retarded children is so valuable to us, may be found every morning in the east corridor, with a small group of stu- dents whom she is helping, gathered around a small table. We have no room to offer her. Our physical training teacher meets all her classes, seven every day, in our assembly hall for their setting-up drill. During many periods of the week you will find another class reciting at the same time in one corner of this hall, shut off a little from the noise of the exercises by screens. Even these make-shifts are not sufficient, for dur- ing the noon hour, when the fifth and sixth classes, who sit in rooms on the second floor, are at home for dinner, we send Junior High classes to their vacated rooms for recitations.
In spite of this congested condition, the work of the school is going smoothly and well. Our teachers are working hard, but with enthus- iasm, and with great gains showing all along the line. We are all par- ticularly pleased with our junior class. It is large, about one hundred fifty, and the way in which they have settled into harness, and assumed the new responsibilities which come with the varied work of the Jun- ior High program, is a delight to us all.
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