USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1925 > Part 11
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I wish to thank the superintendent and the entire teaching force for their loyal support without which it would be impossible to make a success of this work.
Respectfully submitted,
IDA C. LUCAS
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR:OF DRAWING
Mr. Adelbert L. Safford. Superintendent of Schools, Reading, Mass.
Dear Sir :- I herewith submit my fourth annual report for your approval.
The Art Department in the Reading High School is facing a broad and interesting future. Instead of two separate periods per week the boys and girls are able to get in from five to ten periods per week this year. This new arrangement, giving more time to our department, is most satisfactory and I believe that the successful work accomplished this fall proves that our students are using the extra time to good advantage.
A new manner of approach was tried out. The pupils could use charcoal or colored chalks as their medium and with it made a portrait, a bit of still life, a landscape, or a seascape. Drawing what they loved to do and using their own selected medium the work followed with perfect freedom. Individual criticism or suggestions were given only as they were necessary, such as color mixing or color blending, perspective, good values, subduing colors, relation of colors, and values to each other, the manner of handling the medium, etc.
For guidance we use beautiful reproductions from the old masters, good up-to-date artistic prints of refined color and excellent composi- tion, and pictures of prominent persons, as Lincoln, Chaliapin, Rocke- feller; also the foreign characters, and our American Indian. Pictures of poor color, uninteresting people, or of poor composition were discussed and eliminated, thereby raising the standard of taste in pictures.
Last spring a course was given in Dress Design and Dress Planning. A "color clinic" was conducted in class and the girls tested different colored materials in relation to their respective complexions or hair, and decided what colors were best. Principles were discussed which helped to solve the problem for the stout and the slender girl, for the short, and the tall girl. Hats, jewelry, and other accessories were also mentioned and sketches were made to prove our conclusions. Some of the following questions were discussed and settled: Are short skirts artistic? Should the bow-legged girl wear them? What kind of hat should be worn by a girl whose face is very broad and chin very pointed ? How can a girl who loves pink wear that color if it does not enhance her complexion ? Can a tall slender girl wear a small, tall hat? Why are horizontal lines bad on a short stout type? Beauty is not chance,
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accident, or sentimentality. It is the result of obedience to the law of principles.
The use of posters in commercial advertising has increased to such an extent that special attention is being given to this particular phase of art in the school work. Posters have been made in connection with school activities and outside activities in the town.
The general outline for the grades was followed as usual with slight changes. The work develops from lesson to lesson, from grade to grade. Each year one part of the drawing is given special attention; that is, one season we major in lettering, another year in creative design or representation. The work is divided into four parts,-observation, in- vention, representation, and construction. The children are taught to love order, to feel beauty, and are encouraged in every way to do fine workmanship. "To make ugly and complex things is easy; to make simple and beautiful things is the most difficult thing in the world."
The fifth international art congress met this year at Paris for the development of drawing and art teaching and their application to in- (lustries. A few of the adopted resolutions are as follows:
1. That drawing had an international value as a universal language ; understood by all peoples, and that the possibility of exchanging common ideas is the first step towards peace.
2. That the sign, symbol, and color in all indications of direction, for protection and safety be the same in all countries.
3. That in elementary education the study of drawing should awaken the child's sense of observation, so that he may learn to see, understand, and judge while learning to draw. That in order to get a right estimation of his work he shall seek to express himself with elearness and intelli- gence. That Art Teaching should assist Industry.
4. That drawing and handicrafts lend each other to joint action.
5. That the cinematograph be adapted for children providing that certain favorable conditions are fulfilled.
6. That the study of drawing be carried to the sciences for the drawing of figures, plans, diagrams, and apparatus.
7. That the teaching of drawing be no longer considered as an accessory outside the normal circle of studies, and still less as a polite accomplishment; that it should be obligatory in all classes and form an integral part in all syllabuses of each class under the same conditions as all other subjects.
May I thank the teachers and you, Mr. Safford, at this time, for the co-operation and assistance given me the past year ?
Respectfully submitted,
M. ADELINE LAHAISE, Supervisor of Drawing.
December 31, 1925.
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REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Adelbert L. Safford, Supt.,
Reading, Mass.
My dear Mr. Safford :- In submitting for your approval my third annual report of attendance, permit me to thank you and the Committee for your continued interest and helpfulness in my work.
School Attendance
School attendance all over Reading has been excellent for 1925. In another part of the school report will be found a table showing mem- bership and attendance for the months of September, October, November, and December, 1925, which speaks for itself. Despite the fact that Reading's school population is increasing all the time, this last year has seen a steady decline in truancy. In nearly every instance some other reason than disinclination on the part of the pupil has been back of absence from school.
Disregard of Law
One or two of our most irresponsible families have moved from town, thus adding to the burden of the attendance officers in neighboring towns, but improving conditions very much so far as Reading is con- cerned. It is almost hopeless to attempt any work with people who come to this country solely for financial reasons, not caring how they make money so long as they get it, and evading in every way the law regarding school attendance for their children, as well as other laws which they wish to disregard. Such a family lived here a short time, but long enough to receive aid from most of the agencies in the town; then moved to Wakefield. Without their knowing it, they were intro- duced to the Wakefield School Department by a letter which followed them, which probably made it difficult for them to succeed in keeping out of school a girl of the family whose education had stopped in the lower primary grades. When ordered to produce a birth certificate for this child the mother, who had insisted that the girl was 16, had to admit that she was not 14, and should have been in school all the time they lived in Reading. This shows that some of our work has to be done with the parents rather than with the children.
In another case of truancy a boy decided that because the other chil- dren in the family (all younger) were excluded on account of whooping cough, which he had had, he did not have to attend school either. He was found by the attendance officer and sent back to school where he stayed for a few days and then repeated his truancy for a time. After
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a very serious talk with him and a visit to the home, the boy began to see the light and has given no further trouble.
Behavior Problems
In a number of difficulties connected with behavior in school and out the attendance officer has been in touch with the homes and has worked with the children themselves. In this connection it would perhaps clarify things to quote the law which says: (Acts 1921-Chap. 77, Sect. 5) A child under sixteen persistently violating reasonable regulations of the school he attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaving therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, shall be deemed an habitual school offender, and, unless placed on probation as provided in section seven, may, on complaint of an attendance officer, be committed to a county training school.
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(Acts, 1921-Chap. 77, Sect. 4) A child between seven and sixteen found wandering about the streets or public places, having no lawful occupation, habitually absent from school and growing up in idleness and ignorance, shall be deemed an habitual absentee, and, unless placed on probation as provided in section seven, may, on complaint of an at- tendance officer or any other person, be committed to a county training school.
This should be a help to teachers who are troubled by behavior prob- lems which do not yield to persuasive measures and also should be a warning to those parents who feel that their children can do no wrong. One such instance has recently come to the attention of the attendance officer; the teacher was uncertain as to just how much she had to stand from the boy or the parent.
Subsequent History of Past Offenders
In following this line of thought the writer would like to call atten- tion to a number of past offenders, both in attendance and behavior, who are now making court records for themselves and are becoming just as fast as they can the criminals which parental indulgence or neglect has been fitting them for since their birth. The police officers of Read- ing could supply names and possibly other people in town know who are meant. In any case these boys either had no serious work required of them, made much of small physical ills, or otherwise failed to adjust themselves properly to life, with lamentable results. Several girls who were problems in the past have been mothers of illegitimate children or have married very young with no preparation whatever for the obligations and duties of life. This shows that preventive work is about the only work that really counts. We must catch these children while they are in the schools and do something for them if we possibly can. It also seems to indicate that being a parent is a man-size and woman-size job, requiring first of all intelligence combined with a good deal of moral back-bone.
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Assisting Agencies
We have had the assistance of the Children's Aid Association with one boy whose widowed mother is having a hard time in handling him. He is doing slightly better but it may yet mean placing him in another en- vironment with a possibility of psychiatric treatment. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has been of great help with another family, in which an older boy is a fugitive from justice and the younger ones have been connected with breaks and other offences. The older boy was a behavior and attendance problem when the present attendance officer took over this work, but was so near 16 that not much could be done with him. Through parental neglect (especially on the mother's part) the younger members of the family are growing up as the older ones did in idleness and filth. The father shows an interest in his children and wishes to improve matters. With help and encour- agement he may be able to maintain discipline, but he is in a hard place.
Cases of Need
The Town Visitor (Miss Helen Brown) has kindly furnished clothing for some of our needy ones and from our own small store we have been of material assistance occasionally. Our stock needs replenishing just now and donations would be welcome. At Christmas time, through the generosity of little James and Jeanne Glidden of Belmont, Philip Suss- mann of Lincoln, and the skill of Mr. Boehm and his manual training boys in the High School, the Attendance Officer and School Nurse were enabled to give to some of our Reading children (who would have re- ceived almost nothing in the way of toys), dolls, doll house, trains of cars, etc., etc., and to say these were appreciated is putting it very mildly indeed. We hope to make this an annual affair and realize that many Reading children are able to contribute and would probably like to do so. At Thanksgiving time one little girl on Linden Street was very glad to give to another little girl a warm coat, to which she added mittens, and, if she had not been stopped, would have contributed much more of her own wardrobe. Another family in which the school agencies have been interested has moved to Charlestown, where we hope the children will be fortunate enough to receive the help they need to become well and useful members of the community.
Re-adjustment of Older Boys and Girls
A few boys and girls in the Junior High and Senior High Schools have shown by the absence from school, poor behavior, poor ranks and in other ways that they were not properly adjusted in their home or school. In such cases a study is made of conditions, conferences held with pupils and parents, and re-adjustments made as seems best for individual pupils. One girl in High School desires to cook. We are capitalizing that desire and allowing her to be a sort of pupil-teacher in that sub- ject, with the aim for her to become a teacher eventually and to pre- pare herself for the four-year course at Framingham. Without this
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adjustment she would have undoubtedly left school in her freshman year. Several boys are now looking forward to Trade School next year and are behaving and doing better because of this incentive. Our girls in the Boston Trade School for Girls are a source of pride to us. On the whole we believe that our Reading boys and girls are a well-intentioned group. Occasionally a few give trouble but a little study and adjusting will often solve the problem.
Illiterates
We have in Reading comparatively few illiterates, but among the number under twenty-one years coming to us for certificates to work we find this year more than 25 who have not completed the sixth grade and thus are classed as illiterate. In nearly every case these people are immigrants from one section of Nova Scotia. Among the older ones of this racial group we know of a number who cannot read or write in any language and some who cannot talk English. The fact that Reading is to have an evening school is a hopeful sign for those under 21 who will be compelled to attend.
Census
For several years the school census has been taken by the Civics classes of the High School. Last year's census showed a school population of close to 1900 children with about one-fourth of them in High School. This is a good percentage and indicates that Reading parents appreciate the education which was denied to some of them. This fall our regis- tration everywhere is increased and we have already enrolled over 1900 in all schools. Reading is growing fast and every new house probably means more children, so the proposed new Junior High School and Senior High School will, we hope, be realities before many years.
Employment Certificates
In 1925 this office issued 236 certificates, many of them to boys and girls still in school but employed outside of school hours and in vacations. This is a good thing, for boys and girls who have a job and go to school too must be too busy to get into trouble. Not many of those who have left school to go to work have changed positions dur- ing the year, due partly, no doubt to business conditions and scarcity of good places. More boys than girls have had certificates issued to them.
Duty of Employers
Employers are required to employ only duly certificated minors and it is no trouble to them to do this. When, therefore, the State In- spector's visit to town results in an increased demand for certificates, it looks as if some of our Reading employers were lax in this respect. The attendance officer intends to visit in person some such establish- ments in Reading during 1926. Employers are reminded that certificates are to be returned immediately when the employee leaves them.
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Conclusion
In summing up, it seems that the truants have been the least of our troubles this year. Many cases reported to the attendance officer have been worked out in conjunction with the School Nurse, Miss Brown, the Supervisor of Standards and Guidance, Mrs. Lucas, the Town Visitor, and other outside agencies. We have a wonderful community spirit in Reading and in the main citizens are ready to help the schools. Occa- sionally there is an unkind criticism but usually when traced back there is misunderstanding behind it. Parents and others need to understand better than they do the high ideals of our Superintendent, Committee, and teaching corps. That we make mistakes we admit, but we do intend to give to every child in Reading the best possible chance for develop- ing into useful, happy, and intelligent citizenship. The part of your attendance officer is to have the children in school, so far as possible, every school session, so that none of them will miss this opportunity.
Respectfully submitted,
ABIGAIL H. MINGO, Attendance Officer.
Reading, Massachusetts. December 31, 1925.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. Adelbert L. Safford, Supt.,
Reading, Mass.
Dear Sir :- Please consider this as my report of the work of the School Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1925:
The present nation-wide enthusiasm for health is developing in educators and parents a broader understanding of the health problems in education. No longer is health considered a supplementary subject in the school program, but is an integral part of every school curriculum. If we consider health education in a restricted sense, we think of it only as that part of the school program which has to do with the formal teaching of health. The present-day use of the term in this sense is erroneous. Health education has come to embrace all phases of school health work and should have as its objective the development of "normal robust children free from defects and disease so far as humanly possi- ble with wholesome ideals built upon a groundwork of healthful habits developed in their early years." The realization of such an objective involves many phases of health work and, if it is to be of value, should carry over into later life. It is not enough to desire the maximum of health during school life. The fruition of the work should result in the general betterment of humanity at large.
With this broad objective in view the work of the medical depart- ment has gone on endeavoring to weave its work into the rest of the program of the school of today: a program which seems clearly to be that of developing sound bodies, sound minds, and a normal outlook on life on the part of its pupils.
As stated in last year's report, an increasing amount of time is required for routine work. The enlarged classes felt by individual teachers have meant an aggregate enlarged enrollment for the super- visors. This is noticeable in the amount of time required for making inspections, for weighing and measuring, and for the general follow-up work. I have continued to visit each school once a week; additional calls being made when necessary. The time spent in the school has been devoted to general supervision of the physical condition of the pupils, to supervision of the health instruction, and to personal inter- views with individual pupils.
Health work in the schools cannot be divorced from health work in the homes. To be fully successful school health work, particularly that which has to do with the correction of physical defects and with training in the practice of health habits, must be adjusted to meet home
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conditions and the needs of home life. The parents and citizens must be brought into close and responsible relationship with the educa- tional system, if the work is to be on a sound and enduring basis. This can be done most effectively through home visiting. Last year visits were made to the homes for various reasons, which I outlined in my report three years ago. The value of "home contacts" cannot be over-estimated. After a visit to a home, it is impossible for me to think of the child apart from that home. This not only is essential but insures a more intelligent handling of the case. Oftentimes deplor- able conditions are found in the home and the task thus becomes one of family case work. It is often possible, by referring the case to the right agency, to change conditions and thereby improve the quality of human living.
The purchase of a school car last year by the committee has been a great help in the follow-up work and is much appreciated.
"The committee appointed by the National Education Association to consider the reorganization of secondary education has taken the position that if subject matter is not useful in realizing a specific social ob- jective it should have no place in the curriculum. This point of view has been widely applied and experimental work carried out in various places has indicated the possibility of re-organizing the materials of instruction around health, as well as other social agencies." It is essential that health should not be regarded as an isolated subject, but should be correlated with the other school subjects. While I have attempted to give some suggestions for the correlation of health, the real task of health instruction has been left in the hands of the class room teacher. Each teacher in the elementary grades has been sup- plied with helpful textbooks and a list of minimum essentials of health instruction expected of the respective grades. Many of the teachers have shown splendid initiative and have done very fine work; all, I feel, realize the importance of permeating the whole school life and work with health motives and practices. If the duties of a school nurse were such that they permitted more time for the supervision of health teaching, as well as the actual teaching of more classes in hygiene, home nursing, etc., perhaps a more systematic arrangement might be effected.
The health work in the Junior High School and Senior High School has always presented a problem. The rigid school programs in the up- per grades do not permit of class room discussions and practices as in the lower grades. While hygiene and physiology are taught in the higher grades, there is danger of less integration of health than in the ele- mentary grades. Two achievements in the direction of more health teach- ing which were made last year are, I feel, worth mentioning. Through the kindness of Mr. Blaisdell, the chapel period in the Junior High School, was, on each third Wednesday, devoted to a health program. Speakers, slides, and films brought a message of health and disease prevention to the children. Also, each week (Monday) I met with a club
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group of the Junior High and discussed with them some topic along health lines.
In the Senior High School, the English Department, of which Miss Abbott was the head at that time, co-operated with the Massachusetts Tuberculosis League in a health play-writing contest. Prizes were of- fered by the National Tuberculosis League for the three best plays sub- mitted from the various states. Reading entered enthusiastically into the contest and while we were unable to compete with the plays sub- mitted to the National, we did gain recognition from the State League. Miss Helen Badger's play "Patent Medicine" was chosen as one of the three plays from the state to be produced at the Copley Theatre, Boston. The success of the contest in Reading was due very largely to the en- thusiasm of Miss Abbott.
An effort has been made both by Mrs. Lucas and myself to place before the teachers and pupils the need for further education along accident prevention and "safety first" lines. Miss Greenwood of the Massachusetts Safety Council has on several occasions spoken before the teachers and pupils on methods and means which are being employed throughout the country for the reduction and prevention of accidents. Many of our teachers are using safety slogans, songs, rhymes, and safety plays to get the idea across to the children. There is need, however, of a more adequate system of safety instruction throughout our schools and one which will call for the co-operation and assistance of every pupil, teacher, and supervisor, if it is to be effective.
The Dental Clinic has continued to render a very valuable service to the schools' health work. We have been fortunate in having Dr. Bates with us since the opening of the clinic in 1921. The number of children enrolled and the popularity of the clinic speak much in his favor. Miss Perkins has proved an excellent assistant and is, the committee feels, a valuable asset to the clinic. The increase in the number of days which the clinic operates has been used to good advantage but even yet is not sufficient to cover the demands of a school clinic. Five hundred seventy-four children are now enrolled, with an average of 19 children attending the clinic every Wednesday and Friday.
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