USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1931 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
People are going to perceive that only those who are fitted in- tellectually for serious thinking can really benefit from four years of
134
college. This new attitude of the public toward college education and the abandonment of the idea that preparation for college should be the educational end and aim of all secondary school training has been evident to the Reading school authorities for some time. In previous reports the writer has mentioned this matter and on this perfectly sound basis the high school has been operated. The aim of the second- ary schools of Reading is to develop mentally the pupils in their teens in such a way as to encourage their talents and quicken their interests as they may require. The High School is attempting to break away from the "ready-to-wear" type of education and provide the "carefully tailored" education in its place. All schools must teach their pupils to think clearly and to consider the fact that the American free school should so educate its children that American ideals may be in safe hands.
Music
A report of the music director will be found elsewhere. How- ever, I wish to state that the progress made in music this year under the direction of Mr. Peck has been extremely pleasing, both in the quality of the work and in the number of new enterprises developed.
Distribution of the Class of 1931
College
14 Post Graduate 20
Normal School
3 Office
10
Prep. School
7 Working
18
Art School
2 Nurse
1
Commercial School
12 Married
1
At Home 17
The student enrollment in September 1930 and 1931 follows :
was as
Boys
Girls
Total
Sept. 1930
209
238
447
1931
223
270
493
This gives a slight indication of the increase in numbers in the high school. This calls for the use of more than one additional room, and while the high school is not yet uncomfortably crowded it is get- ting to the point where crowding may take place unless an additional room or two is provided. By removing the Superintendent's Office to some other building we will have available a large room which will accommodate about fifty pupils. How the use of this room can be made available soon is a matter upon which I understand the School Board is now working.
In general our school year has been very successful. The records of our college pupils have been gratifying. The general activities of the school have gone on as usual. We have introduced this year the three-platoon lunch system, and while it has disadvan- tages, it has, in our opinion, enough advantages to warrant its con-
135
tinuation. From the standpoint of health we have been unusually lucky, having had comparatively few absences on account of serious illness among either the pupils or teachers. Respectfully yours, RUDOLF SUSSMANN Principal of High School
READING HIGH SCHOOL Class of 1931 Shepardson Hall FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE TWELVE at 8 o'clock PROGRAM
FIELD OF GLORY ADAMS
High School Orchestra
PRAYER-Rev. Payson E. Pierce
Salutatory
NO VICTORY WITHOUT EFFORT Jean Marion Rossman CHORUS-MORNING INVITATION VEAZIE
TORCH ORATION
James Lyman Belknap
ESSAY-A HIGHER LEARNING
Barbara Jean Boardman, Faculty Honors
VIOLIN SOLO-LIEBESFREUD KRIESLER
Marion Amy Scott Accompanied by Emily Loretta Redfield
ESSAY-THE HUMAN SIDE OF IMMIGRATION Patricia Littlefield, Class Honors ESSAY-PADEREWSKI (CRACOVIENNE FANTASTIQUE) Irvin C. Brogan, Faculty Honors for Class Spirit PRESENTATION OF CLASS GIFT Edward Converse Hodson, Acceptance by Principal
CONFERRING SCHOLASTIC HONORS
CHORUS-ON THE ROAD TO MANDALAY SPEAKS
Valedictory
THE AMERICAN GIRL AND HER COLLEGE Katherine Spencer CONFERRING DIPLOMAS Carl M. Spencer, Chairman of School Board
BENEDICTION-Rev. William M. Crawford
EXIT MARCH-CLASS DAY ZAMECNIK
High School Orchestra
136
CANDIDATES FOR DIPLOMAS Accounting Course
Joseph P. Doherty
Richard Gill
Dorothy Ethel Johnson
Richard Kenneth Mansfield
Nelson Paul O'Brien
James Edward Robbins
Thelma Mary Riessle Willard M. Walsh
John Edward Wilkinson
Agricultural Course
Lewis Wellington Newhouse Arthur Smith Karl Vincent Struss
Classical Course
Ina Helen Bergquist
Barbara Jean Boardman
Irvin Cornelius Brogan
Lillian Elaine Comey
Mary Elizabeth Devaney
Patricia Littlefield
Barbara Marsh
Lewis Edward Pierce, Jr.
Jean Marion Rossman
Katherine Spencer
College Course
Harriett Parker Ellison
Dorothy Gascoigne
Jean Marshall
Lawrence Arthur Morrison
Raymond Foster Nelson
Ruth Smith Parker
Elizabeth Mary Shay
William Watson Stewart
Donald Martin Sullivan
Mary Darrah Sullivan
Virginia Temple
Laura Alvin Yuill
Eleanor Margaret Quigley
Annie Margaret Richards
Elizabeth Tyler Scott
Marion Amy Scott
Thomas M. St. Louis
Mabel Elizabeth Swain
Paul Carlton Swanson
George Lawrence Tebeau
Mary Margaret Weston
Gertrude Anna Wright
Gertrude Estella Yunghans .
Practical Arts Course
Bernard Clinton Bailey
Irene Evelyn Doucette
James Francis Galvin
Myrtle Thorpe Harris
John Ernest Hurd
Clifford R. Kilgore
Leon Rich, Jr.
Abbie Anna Richardson
Donald Bragdon Sias
Annie Olive Smith
Phyllis Trevor
Howard Wesley Weaver
Scientific Course
Harry R. Foster, Jr. Flora Hadassah Harriman Edward Converse Hodson Secretarial Course
Dorothy Claire Parkhurst
Ruth Louise Pitman
Emily Loretta Redfield
137
Special Course
Robert L. Lowell
Eleanor C. Noonan
Stacy Malcolm Merrill, Jr. John Richman
Dorothy Esthelda Sullivan
Commercial Course
Muriel Eaton Bell
Doris Lillian Birchall
Ruth Libby Chesley
Dorothy Elinore Day
Virginia Douglas
Stella Helen Florino
Alice Marie Gormlie
Barbara Rogers Kerr
Doris Pauline . Murphy
Hazel Eames Parker
Norma Ellsworth Perry
Ruth Stone
Fine Arts Course
Mildred Keith Davies
Clayton Eugene Downs
Roberta A. Hubbard William M. Ingalls
Anna Marion Reck
Normal Course
Rita Mary Ainsworth James Lyman Belknap
James Hamilton Burgess
Richard Holmes Burhoe
Helen Stewart Byram
Dorothy Elizabeth Chisholm
Margaret Ann Cummings
Alden Robinson Eaton
Jeanne Louise Else
Francis Talbot Emery
Florence Emilia Englund
Fred Farnum, Jr.
Frank E. Hodges
Harriet Louise Howe
Florence Louise Marchetti
George Frederick Marr
Charles Bennett Mathieson
Charles Palmer Meikle
Edward Nelson Morand
Merton E. Pomfret
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF SCHOOL, 1931
THE JUNIOR HIGH
Mr. A. L. Safford,
Superintendent of Schools,
Reading, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Safford :
I wish to discuss some matters pertaining to the Junior High School that seem to me especially worthy of mention at this time.
I am greatly pleased with the efforts of our teaching staff to improve themselves and their work through professional study. I find that, during the first half of this school year, two-thirds of the entire Junior High School Faculty are taking educational courses either to enrich their knowledge of subject matter or to improve their methods of instruction. Two of the remaining third attended summer school in 1931, as did three of those who are taking courses during the school
138
year. This is a very healthy condition. While granting that a pleasing, sympathetic personality which invites pupil confidence and emulation is the most important single asset that the teacher can bring to the class room, it will not suffice in itself.
A thorough background of training in the subject-field that enables the teacher to free herself from the narrow confines of a single text book is essential to a really good teacher. It is indispensable to some teachers, as for example, those engaged in the social-science field. Here the teacher cannot present facts in their true perspective, cannot aid pupils in arriving at satisfactory understandings, or in mak- ing adequate generalizations without a background of training that includes the basic principles of economics, sociology, and civics, as well as geography and history. To personality and command of sub- ject matter should be added an understanding of good teaching prin- ciples and sound class-room procedure. Teaching pupils to mem- orize economically involves a teaching technique quite different from that suitable in teaching pupils to solve problems, to make generaliza- tions, or to acquire desirable appreciations. Then again, the good teacher must recognize the problem of individual differences in abil- ity to learn and to adapt her teaching technique so that neither the slow learner nor the rapid learner is unnecessarily handicapped. Through a process of trial and error, the observant teacher learns a good deal about these matters from experience, but experience, valuable as it unquestionably is, should be coupled with sound theory and a know- ledge of proved school practice as found in the best educational books and more particularly in good schools of education. Teachers must know what is going on in the field of education, and be alert to adapt to class room use that which scientific research, judgment, and experience deem feasible. So I feel that the efforts of the teachers in the Junior High School to improve their professional preparations are worthy of commendation.
I think it can be clearly demonstrated that emphasis upon professional training is reflected in better teaching in the Junior High School, which, from the community's point of view, means a greater return on money invested.
Teachers are defining their teaching objectives more definitely and comprehensively, and then providing those class room activities that seem best adapted to the realization of those objectives. This is especially true in the Social Science classes where considerable progress is being made this year. In this department, especially well planned guide sheets have been placed in the hands of the pupil as a study aid. These guide sheets are consciously planned to assist the pupil in organizing learning into an integrated whole so that the pupil is left with insights or understandings that he can use in interpreting changing conditions in society rather than left with a
139
inass of isolated and unrelated facts.
I find some teachers making use of the pre-test before actually presenting a new piece of subject matter to discover the preparation of the class as a whole and as individuals to attack a new piece of work. This is more important than it at first appears. It has been said of an unusually successful teacher that she "never taught any- thing new without first preparing a hole to put it in". Every new bit of learning has its beginning in the past learnings or experience of the pupil. The ability of a pupil to grasp new material is de- pendent upon his possession of certain skills, concepts, appreciations, or understandings previously taught. The trained scientific teacher will take the time to analyze the new materials to be taught for those essential, dependent learnings and then to test her class for the purpose of discovering to what degree they are present. Good teach- ers have always used the principle of recall in presentation of new work, but often it has been hurriedly and unscientifically done. Teach- ers are too prone to justify this condition with the statement that "pupils are supposed to know those things."
I find too, that many teachers are using short quizzes at regu- lar intervals not so much for the purpose of awarding "marks" as to discover weaknesses in their teaching and those things that need re- teaching. A sound class room formula is "to test, teach, re-test and re- teach" until desired results are obtained. More of our teachers are following that procedure.
A battery of achievement tests given at mid-years last year to the 7th and 8th grades showed that both grades had made more than a year's progress in spite of many individual shortcomings. Those individual weaknesses are dealt with in the regular class periods or in the remedial periods in so far as facilities permit. The program provides two remedial periods per week in the 7th and 8th grades dur- ing which special help can be given in the basic subjects,-Mathematics, English, Social Science-by the regular subject teachers. Standardized tests were given the ninth grade last year both at mid-years and at the end of the year. The mid-year tests were especially helpful in determining teaching emphasis during the second half year. The Principal of the Senior High School, Mr. Sussmann, reported in the fall that last year's 9th grade was better prepared than previous 9th grades. His statement was borne out by the fact that a comparatively large number of the class were found on the "honor list" at the end of the first quarter.
The physical education department has made a good deal of progress during the year in perfecting a clearly defined program of class instruction and actively supplemented by tournament play in the afternoon. The regular class work stresses game skills preparing
140
for tournament play which stresses team play. It is the school's ob- jective to get every physically able boy and girl on one or more or- ganized teams during the year that plays a regular schedule of three to five games. In the fall tournaments 282 girls were organized into 35 teams each playing a schedule of five games and 169 boys were or- ganized into 14 teams each playing a schedule of four games. A more detailed statement of the physical education work may be found in the January 15, 1932 issue of the Reading Chronicle.
In closing this report I again wish to pay tribute to the teach- ing staff at the Junior High School. They have worked well together for common ends and have given unstintingly of their time and effort. I earnestly solicit for them the community's good will and co-operation.
Sincerely yours, R. W. BLAISDELL
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGHLAND, CENTER, AND UNION STREET SCHOOLS, 1931
Mr. Adelbert L. Safford, Superintendent of Schools, Reading, Mass.
Dear .Sir :
I hereby submit my annual report as Principal of the Union St., Center, and Highland Schools.
The organization of the Union St. School and the Center School is the same as last year. In September Miss Morgan from the Union St. School was transferred to the Highland School and Miss Cochrane from the Highland School was transferred to the Union St. School.
Owing to absence caused by whooping cough and measles and the immaturity of the pupils, twenty-five or thirty entering the first grade were not able to finish the minimum essentials of that grade the first year. However as the work is laid out in units, the pupils who have not finished the first grade requirements can go on with the next unit and not be obliged to repeat the whole year's work. Some will be able to finish the first grade work and complete the second grade work the second year, but the young immature pupils will need to stay two years in the second grade before they are able to do third grade work.
141
In spite of the large classes in some rooms at the Center School, the work is progressing well. The first and second grades are not overcrowded, but the third grade classes are too large so that the teachers are not able to give the individual help which the pupils of this grade need. This difficulty has been overcome partly by the assistance of cadet teachers from the Lowell Normal School. They are a great help, especially for remedial work with the retarded pupils.
Owing to a change in their course, there were no cadet teachers from Salem Normal School in the Center School as formerly, but several trained in the fifth and sixth grades in the Highland School.
In September the time allotments for the first six grades were given to the teachers and a course of study in citizenship and nature study and an activity program planned. For the activity work the Citizenship Readers are used in the first four grades. With these books the pupil not only learns to read but he has a chance for creative self-expression and by means of the activities and stories is given ideals of patriotism, truthfulness, and other traits of character which make for good citizenship. The fourth grades have formed a Good Citizen's Club.
The classes in the Highland School are large also and many pupils in the sixth grade needed remedial work so in January, Miss Florence Thackleberry was elected to have charge of the remedial classes. The results of this remedial work were very satisfactory. In September it was necessary to use part of the upper corridor for a class room so now Miss Thackleberry has charge of that and is assistant principal.
In September Miss Whittier was elected as teacher of music in the Highland School instead of the Junior High School. The Glee Club and orchestra, under her supervision, gave the operetta, "The In- dian Princess," one evening last spring and also furnished the enter- tainment for the Thanksgiving assembly.
In April under the direction of Miss Mabel Brown, director of health, a demonstration of the health work was given. The routine health procedures, as the morning inspection, monthly weighing and measuring, school nurse visit, also clinic demonstrations were shown. This was followed by an address on Parent Responsibility in School Health Program by Dr. Luise Diez, Director of Child Hygiene, State Dept. of Health.
142
In connection with the leader's club and an outgrowth from it, a Junior Betterment Club was formed; the object of the club being to create a better school spirit. Each member pledges to work for the best interests of his home room and to be loyal to the school, by obeying the rules and helping other pupils to obey them.
Another means used to aid the teaching of good citizenship is the use of Egan's Monthly Service in Character Training. These pamphlets come each month and a different topic like "reliability" or "obedience" is studied each day during the month. This teaching is in the form of stories and is part of the morning exercises.
The fifth and sixth grade teachers have been taking a course with Prof. Wilson from Harvard on the Principles of Teaching. They are making, in unitary form, a course of study of the subjects they teach. The work sheets which go with the courses of study will probably be ready in September and then we shall be able to carry out the Morrison idea of teaching.
The work done by the classes for special instruction has been most satisfactory. At their exhibition in June many useful articles, made in the workshop and in the sewing class, were shown, as well as the regular school work. Tea and small cakes, which the pupils had made, were served by the pupils.
The Keystone Visual Method of teaching reading has recently been introduced in the primary room. The lessons are presented by the use of objects, stereograph, and lantern slides. The stereograph is first used in a conversational period, during which the pupil's attention is focused upon the words to be taught. A lantern slide of the same picture is then projected upon the blackboard and upon it are written the names of those objects that are to be taught. In this way the ' child's first recognition of the word is in direct association with the object itself.
The pupils are very enthusiastic and many of them who have been to school for several years without learning to read are making great progress. I hope next year many more pupils who are retarded on account of reading disabilities may have an opportunity to join this class.
In reviewing the work of the year, I feel that in all the schools, much progress has been made.
In closing this report, I wish to thank you, Mr. Safford, for your kindly assistance and the teachers for their loyal support.
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE WAKEFIELD
.
143
REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
Mr. Rudolf Sussmann, Director,
Dear Sir :-
The following is a short report of the work of the Reading High School Agricultural Department for the past year :
The major subject for the older group (Seniors and Juniors) from January to June was Orcharding. The class was able to get a large amount of practical work in pruning and grafted 150 stubs in one or- chard alone, besides doing routine work on several estates where we have cared for the fruit trees for several years.
The younger group majored in Poultry Keeping. One 20x20 house was built by the class and several successful projects were con- ducted. Harold Lutz reported a profit of $598 on a flock of about three hundred layers.
Beginning in September the older group has studied dairying but because of the mild fall and open winter several of the boys have worked more than is usually possible. The younger group have made a study of vegetables and fertilizers, put a cement floor in a poultry house and are now at work on incubation brooding and poultry feeding, with gar- den planning to follow.
In the face of general unemployment and the difficulty of placing boys on summer jobs the total amount earned by the class for the year ending October 15, 1932 was $6191.39, $406.71 more than for the previous year. The total project hours worked was 14,677. Three boys were awarded diplomas October 15, at the end of the project year.
The boys took part in judging contests at Topsfield and Brockton winning second place in stock judging at Topsfield. H. A. Gibbons, Jr., ranking eleventh in a field of 80 at Amherst is slated for another con- test there this spring.
The total enrollment in September 1930 was twenty-five. In Sep- tember 1931 the enrollment was thirty-nine with thirty-two in the classes at the present time. The large classes this year make it difficult to get out on outside jobs or properly supervise such work as has been done in the past. We have not been able to properly prepare candidates for the various contests in judging fruit, vegetables, and stock ; prize speak- ing and essay writing which are state wide contests participated in by most of the other agricultural schools and departments in Massachu- setts.
For several years the agricultural students have had opportunity to do some automobile repair work in a local garage. While this is good as far as it goes it seems to me we should have a shop of our own
144
available at any time where repairs on any kind of farm machinery could be made, where the boys could build their own poultry equipment and where the rudiments of forging, welding and tool sharpening could be taught.
Then again we are without facilities for teaching plant propoga- tion. We need a small greenhouse where actual work can be done. The money spent for automobile instruction in five years would build and equip both shop and plant house if a suitable site could be found. These two things are what the department needs most.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMON T. WHEELER, Instructor.
Eleventh Annual Report
OF THE
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
For the Year Ended December 31 1931
146
To the Citizens of Reading :
The Board organized on March 13th, 1931 with Martin B. Hartshorn as Chairman and Frank M. Merrill as Secretary. On March 20th, Alexander Birnie was appointed Superintendent of the Board for the coming year.
Regular meetings have been held in the Municipal Building on Friday evening each week throughout the year; several special meet- ings being called when the Board deemed it necessary to the further- ance of the work of the several departments.
The policy adopted by the Board to do all work with Town labor was continued this year, with the exception of the erection of the building and installing the machinery at the new Water Sta- tion.
The outstanding project completed this year was the erection of the new Pumping Station, wells, etc., located in Hundred Acre Meadow which the Board believes will supply the Town with a good quality and generous quantity of water for many years, at a construction cost, well below the estimates of two engineering firms and the appropriation requested for this purpose. The operating cost of this station, as reported herewith by our Superintendent, is under the estimate of Weston & Sampson's treatise on this subject.
It is the opinion of the Board that, as conditions warrant, more permanent highways, should be constructed each year. Al- though the original investment is greater, the maintenance expense over a period of years more than offsets this first cost. The com- pletion of Salem St. and the widening and reconstruction of High St. from Middlesex Avenue to Lowell St. has met with public ap- proval. The Board has investigated thoroughly the question of re- building Reading Square, has had several reports from the Engineer- ing Dept. of the State of Mass., and as a result of their study have inserted an article in the warrant they believe will solve this prob- lem in a satisfactory manner.
As indicated in detail in the report of our Superintendent, a very substantial amount of granolithic sidewalk has been constructed during the year 1931. The Board has on file sufficient applications to duplicate the 1931 program. To accomplish more in this field an increase in this budget is necessary. The Town pays half of the cost of granolithic sidewalks, the other half of the expense is as- sessed to the abutters. The amounts paid by them on such assess- ments, however, go into the Excess and Deficiency Fund, the gen- eral reserve fund of the Town, and do not lower the tax rate for the year the sidewalk is built, but does automatically decrease the amount of our appropriation, which in turn cuts down our ability to render the citizens 100 per cent of our appropriation for this work.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.