USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1932 > Part 12
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2 The school's effort to study the child as an individual.
3 The school's effort to adjust problem pupils.
B Agencies used :
1 Practice varies in different schools.
2 A good set-up for guidance in a school of five hundred pupils.
a Every teacher must be guidance-minded to recognize spe- cial interests and abilities in his subject field.
b Home-room teachers must be guidance-minded especially with respect to pupil's social-moral-civic adjustments.
c Specially trained person or persons to co-ordinate informa- tion for all and make "case studies" of problem pupils.
d Practice in Reading Junior High School; partially con- forms to the above plan. Department is in process of re- organization.
C Conclusions-does it work in Reading?
1 There is evidence showing strong probability of success for pupils in the tenth grade whose choice of subjects was ap- proved by the Junior High School.
2 There is evidence showing strong probability of failure for pupils in the tenth grade whose choice of subjects was not approved by the Junior High School.
3 There is a high percentage of success on the part of pupils placed in trade schools through Junior High School advice.
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IV
and
DIFFERENTIATION-follows logically exploration
guidance.
A What is it? It is the beginning of specialization supposedly in accordance with pupils' interests and abilities if exploration and guidance is well done. It is a suitable preparation for the more pronounced differentiation in the Senior High School which of- fers such differentiated courses of study as the College, Normal, Commercial, Agricultural, Fine Arts, and Practical Arts Curri- cula.
B Extent in Junior High School.
1 Elective, exploratory courses in the eighth grade (Latin and Business Training) are beginning of differentiation.
2 Practical Arts courses in eighth and ninth grades are rather definite differentiations on a pre-vocational level.
3 Business Training, Algebra, Latin and French in the ninth grade are definite differentiation courses.
C Conclusions
1 Successful differentiation is dependent upon the explora- tory and guidance function.
2 Exploration, guidance, and differentiation is part of junior high school procedure in making an adequate transition to the senior high school as contrasted with the abrupt change of the 8-4 organization.
V PROVIDING A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT BEST SUITED TO THE ADOLESCENT PUPILS BY :
A Providing for individual differences both as to
1 Interests-through enrichment and elective courses.
2 Abilities-by means of (a) homogeneous grouping and (b) elective courses.
B Departmentalization of work-permits more expert teaching.
C Better teachers with more men-essential in achieving junior high school functions.
D Supervised study-pupils work as well as recite under supervision of subject teacher.
E Pupil participation in school management-promotes initiative, civic-mindedness, responsibility, co-operation, etc.
F Development of interests through clubs, extra-curricular activi- ties, as sports, largely for leisure time purposes.
G Socializing and moralizing benefits of home-room periods and assemblies.
VI DEMOCRATIZATION OF SCHOOL SYSTEM-consistent with our ideal of government.
A Why?
1 Caters to pupils of all types and interests not only in ac-
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cordance with their own individual needs, but also the needs of society.
ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS
1 Bringing pupils together in large groups as contrasted with seventh and eighth grades in isolated elementary schools.
2 Adequate plant and equipment.
3 Carefully selected and well trained teaching staff who thoroughly understand functions of the Junior High School.
4 A program of studies consistent with Junior High School ob- jectives.
5 An informed public.
6 Financial and moral support.
The "Fundamentals"
It is but natural that there should be some controversy as to whether the junior high school has gained time for other things at the expense of the so-called fundamentals. Scientific investigation re- cently completed by Professor Bancroft Beatley of the Harvard School of Education gives definite evidence that the "fundamentals" have not suffered in the junior high school organization.
Professor Beatley's procedure was to pair off junior high schools with non-junior high schools, so that all factors entering into the ex- periment were controlled as far as possible. For example, the junior and non-junior communities were the same size and type; the selected pupils in the paired schools included an equal number of boys and girls, and corresponded as to intelligence and potential ability.
The one outstanding difference was the much greater amount of time spent by the non-junior high schools upon the fundamentals. The pupils were given the same battery of tests in the 7th grade and again in the 9th grade. A comparison of results showed that, by and large, the junior high schools measured just as high in their achievement of fundamentals as the non-junior high pupils. Professor Beatley rightly concluded that the extra time utilized by the non-junior schools in teaching the so-called fundamentals was wasted time that the junior high school should use to much better purpose in achieving its func- tions.
A comparison of our own school with the schools used in the survey disclosed that we are devoting more time than the junior high schools to the so-called fundamentals, but somewhat less than the non-junior high schools. For example, we carry penmanship instruction for all through the eighth grade, while in most junior high schools it is limited to those electing the commercial course. Furthermore, a study of standardized test results covering a period of two years show that our 7th and 8th grades, as grades, have achieved more than a normal year's progress as measured by the norms of the tests.
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Economies
Consistent with the needs of the time, substantial economies are being made this year in the cost of the Junior High School. The loss of approximately thirty pupils from North Reading will cut our average membership somewhat below that of last year. In spite of that fact, the per pupil cost of instruction (teachers, books, supplies) this school year will be approximately 10 per cent under that of last year. This figure does not include money returned to the town by school employ- ees as a contribution to welfare work or the cut in salaries effective January 1, 1933. This saving has been made possible through the re- organization of guidance work, increase in the size of classes and in- crease in the teacher load.
An effort is being made to reduce the operating cost of the Jun- ior High School by curtailing in every feasible way. Corridor lights are used only at times when pupils are privileged to go to their lockers. The use of water in the shower rooms is more closely supervised. The amount of supplies has been cut in half.
With 150 pupils going to the Senior High School from the 9th grade and 181 pupils entering the Junior High School from the sixth grade, I would conservatively estimate next year's enrollment to be , in excess of 575 pupils as compared with the present enrollment of 547 pupils. This increase would normally require the addition of one teach- er to the staff. I have recommended that this additional teacher should not be hired and that the teaching load be absorbed by the present teaching staff. This saving together with other curtailments, that are being made this year will effect a further substantial reduction in per pupil cost.
Conclusions
An important survey has just been completed by the State Depart- ment of Education. It shows that the total per pupil cost of education in towns and cities with the 6-3-3 system (six year elementary-3 year junior high-3 year senior high) is no higher than in school systems still organized on the 8-4 plan (eight year elementary-four year second- ary). This is just another way of saying that in the 8-4 systems, the work of the upper grades has been changed and enriched to better meet the needs of modern life. Practically all school systems have changed during the past twenty years. It is wholly a question of de- gree-some have changed more rapidly than others in an effort to keep pace with the needs of our civilization. The public, at times, have called the more progressive schools experimental, because they are aware of the increased cost and do not always understand the changes in school procedure that have partly necessitated the increased cost.
In our efforts to get back to fundamentals in education, we must think straight. Our social and economic structure has changed great- ly. To quite an extent, the fundamentals that should be taught in our
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public schools have changed to keep pace-or perhaps it would be more correct to say that they should have changed. Reading, writing, spell- ing, penmanship, and arithmetic are still fundamentals. To them, how- ever, must be added such fundamentals as our changed social and econ- omic status require and which are not adequately provided for by other community agencies outside the public school.
Is it not fundamental to teach boys and girls to think, and to base conclusions and generalizations upon fact and not inference ? How else can voters learn to evaluate the ever increasing barrage of words that come from the magazines, press and radio? Some will say that we have always tried to teach pupils how to think especially in the study of such subjects as Latin and Algebra. This is true to some extent, but the effort has not been applied sufficiently to the actual problems of present day living. Recently in our ninth grade Social Science class, pupils were asked to give examples of conclusions based upon inference, and also those founded upon a solid base of facts. This exercise of course, was preceded by suitable teaching. Our Junior High School Social Science course deals in part with the story of the industrial revolution and the tremendous changes both economic and social that it has brought about. Some people are disturbed because this material is different from that taught when they went to school.
All girls will sooner or later be connected with the management of a home. Is it not fundamental that the public school supplement the home training to the end that "better home membership" which is an accepted cardinal principle of secondary education may be more than a mere name? In the Household Arts course this training means more than sewing and cooking for many people can cook with a good recipe. It means training relative to food values, balanced diet, fabrics, home furnishings and home care.
Some people would like to eliminate Elementary Business Training in the Junior High School and yet it has practical life values to all. We are all consumers of business services. The intelligent citizen should know what they are and how to use them wisely. Is it not fundamental to get some conception of a budget and the proper re- lation of income to the necessary expenses of the home? Few people will deny that the lack of such training has a definite relation to family and social disorders that end in divorce and crime.
There are people in Reading who feel that the town cannot af- ford a Junior High School. That is not true. The real and legitimate question is how good a Junior High School can the town afford. The cost of instruction (principal, supervisors, teachers, books and sup- plies) in the Junior High School for the past two years has been higher than that of the first six grades and lower than the Senior High School. It more nearly approximates the cost of instruction in the Senior High School which is as it should be in view of the fact that
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it is a unit in the secondary school. I have tried to set forth briefly, the work of the Junior High School as at present organized. As sug- gested above, the Junior High School is being curtailed somewhat in activities and very definitely in instruction cost.
The morale of the teaching force is high. The teachers deserve credit for their efforts to learn more about their jobs and to do it more effectively. With understanding and support from the public, I believe that the school will do an increasingly good piece of work.
Respectfully submitted,
R. W. BLAISDELL
Principal
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGHLAND, CENTER, AND UNION STREET SCHOOLS, 1932 -
Mr. Adelbert L. Safford,
Superintendent of Schools,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Safford ;
I herewith submit this report of the Highland, Center and Union Street Schools, noting especially the new things introduced during the year which have helped to improve the work.
Special stress has been made on reading in the first six grades. The revised Bolenius method was introduced in the first three grades. The results have been very gratifying and a marked improvement has been shown especially in the first and second grades. Much silent reading has been done in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. The special aim in the fifth and sixth grades has been to get the cen- tral thought. In this way we hope to aid the pupils to form good habits of study which will help them in the learning of all subjects.
The courses of study and time allotments which were made and adopted last year are a great help. Each teacher has the require- ments for her grade so the work is uniform. The fifth and sixth grade teachers who arranged their subjects on a unitary plan last year under Dr. Wilson's guidance are finding that plan very satisfac- tory. We hope the others will be completed this year so that all sub- jects will be taught by this plan in the future.
Two fourth grade classes at the Center School are using Dr. Wilson's Social Science Stories. The pupils are getting much enjoyment from them and at the same time are learning many geographical and historical facts in a very interesting way.
The activities which are a part of the social studies program in the first three grades are very satisfactory. By these activities the pupils learn about home, community and pioneer life and transportation. At the drawing exhibition held at the Highland School in June many in-
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teresting exhibits were displayed. These included houses made and furnished by pupils in the first grade, and Indian villages and covered wagons made by pupils in the second and third grades. These activi- ties are a link between the child's knowledge which he gets from books and his experience outside of school.
It was necessary to make some retrenchments in the elementary grades so in September, several changes were made. The age of en- trance to the first grade was raised so it was possible to close one room at the Center School. The first grade pupils in the Highland School district were sent to the Lowell St. and Union St. Schools and the fourth grade pupils were sent to the Lowell Street and Center Schools. This left a vacant room at the Highland School and Miss Brann was transferred to that room from the Grouard House. Now all the fifth grades are together which is a better arrangement. Miss Winchester was transferred from the Center School to the Highland School for the second and third grade class and Mrs. Harding was transferred from the Highland School to the Center School for a third and fourth grade class.
The Union Street School now has two first grades and two sec- ond grades which make a better unit than before when two of the second grades were at the Center School. The first grade teachers are able to do better work this year as the pupils, being older, fol- low directions better and can progress faster than pupils who were six or eight months younger when they entered.
The Center School has third and fourth grades which makes a nice unit although some of the classes are larger than they should be. This is unfortunate as many of these pupils need individual help which the teacher cannot give with a large class and we have no student teachers from Salem and Lowell Normal Schools, as in former years.
In the spring one of the special classes at the Channel House was given up. The older pupils were sent to the Junior High School special class or back to the grades at the Center and Highland Schools. Now the class is made up of pupils doing work of the first five grades. These pupils are doing good work and several will probably be able to return to the regular grade classes next year.
In spite of the fact that we have had many absentees on account of illness and lack of proper clothing, the work is progressing well. I feel that better work is being done in the elementary grades now than has ever been done during the time they have been under my supervision.
In closing, I wish to express my appreciation to you, Mr. Safford, for your advice and kindly assistance at all times.
Respectfully submitted,
M. GRACE WAKEFIELD
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REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen ; Gentlemen ;
The annual report of the Fire Department is herewith submitted giving the record of fires that have occurred during the year ending December 31, 1932 together with such information as I think may be of interest to the town.
Finances
My financial transactions are all embodied in the report of the Town Accountant to which I would respectfully refer you for any in- formation you may desire in that line.
Manual Force
The Department consists of nine (9) permanent men (including the Chief) and twenty-one (21) call men.
Apparatus and Equipment
The Department has five pieces of motor apparatus and a sedan for the use of the Chief. The Chief's car and four pieces of apparatus are at the Central Fire Station as follows : one Knox triple combina- tion of 600 gallons per minute capacity which was purchased in 1913. One Seagrave combination, equipped with a booster tank, of 600 gal- lons per minute capacity which was purchased in 1928. One Robinson combination service ladder truck in which a White motor was installed in 1920 this machine was purchased in 1916. And a Chevrolet hose truck which was purchased this year to replace the Simplex truck for which were unable to obtain replacement parts. This machine is equip- ped for grass and brush fires.
At Engine No. 2 station on Woburn St. there is a Seagrave com- bination of 400 gallons per minute capacity equipped with a booster tank. This machine was purchased in 1926.
Engines 2 and 3, the ladder truck and the Chevrolet truck are in good condition and are giving very satisfactory service. Combination A (the Knox combination) is not dependable and on a number of occa- sions there has been a long delay in starting this machine. It also has failed to respond to five alarms this year because the operators could not get it started.
Although realizing the efforts of all town officials in lowering the tax rate this year I feel that an article should be inserted in the war- rant at the annual town meeting calling for the purchase of a truck to replace this machine. The matter may then be explained to the voters.
Recommendations
I would recommend the purchase of a triple combination pumping engine of 750 gallons per minute capacity and the purchase of 1000 feet
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of hose. As we have had 15 false alarms this year I would recommend that your board offer a reward of $25.00 for the information leading to the arrest of any person sounding a false alarm.
Fire Prevention
I have issued 735 permits for fires out of doors, 52 permits for the storage of oil, 5 permits for the sale of fireworks, 2 permits for the transportation of explosives and 4 permits to conduct blasting operations,
I have made regular inspections of all mercantile buildings.
Record of Alarms
Month
Bell
Still
Total
January
2
13
15
February
2
7
9
March
6
18
24
April
3
22
25
May
14
44
58
Tune
4
25
29
July
4
10
14
August
9
22
31
September
4
11
15
October
14
11
25
November
6
30
36
December
4
26
30
Total
239
72
311
Miles traveled, 1,554.8 ; number feet 21/2 inch hose laid, 19,400; num- ber feet 11/2 hose laid, 22,850; number feet chemical hose laid, 6,650; number feet ladders raised, 548; gallons of chemical used, 86; number times booster tank used, 41; gallons of gasoline used, 838; gallons of oil used, 40; value of property in danger. $134,900.91; insurance thereon, $139,250.00 ; loss thereto, $42,218.93; insurance paid, $41,670.93.
Conclusion
In concluding, I wish to extend to your Honorable Board, the Town Accountant, Treasurer and the Finance Committee, my thanks for the courtesies and co-operation I have received during the year. I wish to compliment the officers and members of the department on the prompt and efficient manner in which they have performed their duties. I also wish to express my thanks to the Chief of Police for the services ren- dered by his department at fires and to the employees of the New Eng- land Telephone and Telegraph Company for the prompt and efficient service rendered in receiving alarms by telephone.
Respectfully submitted,
ORVILLE O. ORDWAY,
Chief of Fire Department.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen,
Gentlemen :
The following is the report of the Superintendent of Fire Alarm for the year of 1932.
No new boxes have been installed. Box 231 on West street beyond Longwood has been changed to 292 and moved 400 feet north. Two boxes have been maliciously damaged. The boxes have been painted.
Changes have been made to new poles and one half mile of new wire added to the system. There have been two broken wires.
The model T Ford truck has been replaced with a 1928 Chevrolet Coupe.
Lightning arresters have been installed to give protection to the Fire alarm apparatus in the Engine 2 station, Woburn St.
Repairs are necessary to the repeater the coming year.
I wish to call your attention to the need of more fire alarm boxes as there are sections of the town that have no box within a reasonable distance.
I recommend that line wire be replaced on Salem st. east of Belmont, Village and John sts. from Village st. to the Boston Stove Foundry and on Haven st. from Linden to Chute. Also that a tower striker be installed to allow an alarm to be heard in the vicinity of the square in case the whistle should fail to sound an alarm.
I wish to thank all who have assisted this department and to the Reading Rubber Company for the use of steam for the whistle.
Respectfully submitted,
HUGH L. EAMES, Superintendent of Fire Alarm
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen ;
Gentlemen ;
I herewith submit the annual report of the Police Department of the Town of Reading for the year ending December 31, 1932.
Arrests for the year 1932-356
Males, 352; females, 4; residents, 111; non-residents, 245; adults, 313 ; minors, 43; American born, 328; foreign born, 28.
Causes of Arrests
Assault and battery, 5; drunkenness, 123; driving under the influ- ence of liquor, 32; non-support, 7; insane, 3; default, 2; warrant for out town officers, 3; railer and brawler, 1; town by-law, 3; break and en- tering, 8; keeping and exposing liquor for sale, 9; manslaughter, 1; automobile law violation, 149; larceny, 13; capias, 1; vagrancy, 2.
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Disposition of Cases in Court
Fined, 152; filed, 55; probation, 5; released, 63; discharged, 33; turned over to out town officers, 7; House of Correction suspended, 10; State Hospital Danvers, 3; State Hospital Tewksbury, 1; held for Grand Jury, 8; cases continued, 5; State Farm suspended, 1; dismissed, 2; ap- pealed, 6; Lyman School suspended, 2; Lyman School, 1; Concord Re- formatory, 2; State Prison, 1; fines suspended, 3.
Amount of Fines Imposed by the Courts
64 at $5.00 each, $320.00; 42 at $10.00 each, $420.00; 6 at $15.00 each, $90.00; 4 at $20.00 each, $80.00; 3 at $25.00 each, $75.00; 11 at $30.00 each, $330.00; 2 at $40.00 each, $80.00; 19 at $50.00 each, $950.00; 2 at $100.00 each, $200.00.
Miscellaneous
Cases investigated, 281; doors found open and secured, 342; win- dows found open and secured, 105; guarding mail, 51; guarding pay rolls, 61; automobile accidents, 200; accidents, other than autos, 10; wires down, 10; dogs killed by officers, 26; dogs killed by automobiles, 25; dogs reported lost, found and returned to the owners, 4; dogs re- straints served, 6; sling shots taken away from boys, 12; lost children found and turned over to parents, 11; dead bodies taken care of, 3; sum- mons served for out town officers, 89; fire discovered by officers, 3; guns taken away from boys, 5; street lights reported out, 26; defective streets reported by officers, 5; manhole cover reported broken, 1; search warrants served, 11; houses reported vacant and special atten- tion asked, 15; pigs found in the square and brought to the station by officers, 2; Police ambulance has made the following runs to hospitals, Danvers, 8; Tewksbury, 5; Middleton, 1; Winchester, 14; Psychopathic, 3; Melrose, 2; Mass. General, 5; Waltham, 1; Peter Bent Brigham, 1; Choate, Woburn, 1; ambulance used to take sick people home, 6; tele- phone emergency messages delivered by officers, 19; property reported lost and found by officers and turned over to owners, value, $160.00; pro- perty left outside stores and brought to the station, value, $250; pro- perty reported stolen, $9565.30; property recovered, $8880.90; property recovered for out town officers, $2200.00.
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