USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1937 > Part 12
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School Committee Office
Grouard House, 25 School Street Telephone Reading 0180
Open daily, 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. Saturday, 9:00 a. m. to 12 m. Vacations, 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m.
Superintendent of Schools
Arthur E. Pierce, 76 Vine Street Tel. Res. 0243; office 0180
Secretary to Superintendent
Ruth C. Roberts, 228 Woburn Street Tel. Res. 1083-M ; office 0180
School Committee Clerk
Hope R. Williamson, 90 Vine Street Tel. Res. 1338; office 0180
Supervisor of Attendance
Josephine L. Fowler, 65 Temple Street Tel. Res. 0488-J ; office 0180
School Physician
Dr. Charles R. Henderson, 220 Woburn Street Telephone 0580
School Nurse
Mabel M. Brown, 94 Maple Street, Malden Tel. Res. 0048-M ; office 1475
166
NO SCHOOL SIGNALS
Fire alarm 2-2 repeated three times Street lights turned on for five minutes. Radio announcement when possible over WNAC and WEEI between 7:00 and 7:45 a. m.
7:15 a. m. for Senior High School; 7:30 a. m. for Junior High School, grades 5 and 6, and Opportunity School.
8:15 a. m. for Grades 1-4 inclusive, morning session.
12:45 p. m. for Grades 1-4 inclusive, afternoon session.
EVEN WHEN THERE HAS BEEN NO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING FOR THE FIRST FOUR GRADES, THERE WILL BE SCHOOL IN THE AFTERNOON UNLESS THE NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL IS GIVEN.
High School sessions will be called off only in cases of extremely severe weather or other emergencies. None of the schools will be closed except in severe weather, but it is hoped that parents will at all times use discretion as to whether their children should attend, even when the schools are in session.
SCHOOL CLINICS
Dental, Wednesday and Friday at the Grouard House, 9-12 and 1-4. Habit, every Tuesday at 2:30 in Nurse's office at High School.
Pre-School, at the Town Building, Room 19, every Tuesday, 2-4 p. m. Tuberculosis Prevention, by special appointment.
Diphtheria Prevention, by special appointment.
SCHOOL JANITORS
High School :
John Maguire, 21 Fairview Ave.
Telephone: 0581-W
Charles Cummings, 22 Haven St.
Mary L. Kennedy, 89 Washington St.
0294
Junior High School :
Henry W. Bryden, 64 Village St.
1567-W
Walter Smith, 36 Temple St.
1445-M
Fred Reissle, 10 King St.
1199-M
Agnes Hurley, 14 Hartshorn St.
Highland School :
James L. Healey, 201 West St.
0047-M
Arthur H. Cook, 194 High St.
Emma Tibbetts, 25 School St.
0460-M
Center and Union Street Schools : Edward McBrien, 213 Forest St. 0228 Prospect St. School: J. Fred Richardson, 21 Prospect St. 0161-J Lowell St. School: Sylvanus L. Thompson, 14 Intervale Ter. 0827 Chestnut Hill School: Leander Smith, 193 High St. 1325
167
SCHOOL SCHEDULE January, 1938 to June, 1939, Inclusive
Schools open
January 3, 1938
Winter Vacation week of
February 21, 1938
Spring Vacation week of
April 18, 1938
No Sessions :
Memorial Day
May 30, 1938
Bunker Hill Day
June 17, 1938
Schools close for summer
June 24, 1938
Schools open
September 7, 1938
No Sessions :
Columbus Day
October 12, 1938
Teachers' Convention
About October 28, 1938
Armistice Day
November 11, 1938
Thanksgiving Recess from noon Nov. 23, 1938 to Nov. 28, 1938.
Christmas Vacation from close of regular session on Friday, December 23, 1938 to January 3, 1939.
Winter Vacation week of February 20, 1939
Spring Vacation week of
April 17, 1939
No Sessions :
Memorial Day
May 30, 1939
Schools close for summer
June 21, 1939
168
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the citizens of the Town of Reading the School Committee submits its annual report as follows :
The School Committee has operated within its budget during the past year and at the end of the year turned back to the Town $771.00.
During the past few years it has been necessary for the School Department to forego requesting any appropriations beyond the bare operating cost of the school system.
In another year sufficient money must be appropriated and spent for much needed equipment, furniture and teaching apparatus.
The School Committee urges the citizens of the Town to study the splendid detailed report of the Superintendent of Schools on the state of our school system.
Arthur W. Coolidge, Esquire, resigned from the committee during the past year, after serving ten years. His help and guidance as a member and chairman of the School Committee was wise and beneficial. The townspeople are greatly indebted to him for his long and honorable service.
The terms of Irving C. Austin and Frank D. Tanner expire this year.
Respectfully submitted,
IRVING C. AUSTIN MARGARET S. CANTY
HOWARD T. CLINCH FRANK D. TANNER, Chairman ESTHER D. TWOMBLY CHARLES R. WAKELING
169
RECEIPTS NOT FROM TAX LEVY-SHOWING NET COST TO TOWN
1937
General Account:
Estimate 1938
Total Expenditure $232,879.00
Receipts :
$ 17,122.00
State Reimbursement on teachers $ 17,310.00
15,684.47
Tuition
11,522.10
190.30
Sundry
200.00
32,996.77
(4,392.60) *
Due but not paid 12/31/37
4,392.60
33,424.70
1
$198,680.67
NET COST TO TOWN
$199,454.30
$ 3,466.79
W. P. A. Cost to Town
$ 4,595.00
Industrial Tuition :
$ 1,600.00
Total Expenditure
1,525.97
$
$231,677.44
Receipts :
372.04
730.78 $ 1,153.93
State Reimbursement
NET COST TO TOWN $ 869.22
Agricultural Department:
Total Expenditure
Receipts :
1,630.48
Balance due from previous years
$ 1,630.48
NET GAIN TO TOWN
*Not included in total.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET - 1938
Est. Appro. 1938
Expended 1937
$167,819.00
Supt. and Teachers
$162,477.41
1,600.00
Substitutes
1,270.20
17,731.00
Janitors
17,568.40
500.00
Attendance Officer
512.50
2,500.00
Nurse
2,487.50
1,000.00
Medical Inspection
1,000.00
350.00
Lip-reading
160.00
$191,500.00
TOTAL SALARIES
$185,476.01
MAINTENANCE:
$
350.00
Supt.'s Office Supplies
$ 363.25
480.00
Research and Professional Study
495.85
32.00
Research-Office Expense
500.00
Travel Expense
534.23
175.00
Printing
221.30
100.00
Census
90.00
400.00
Other Expenses
356.05
305.00
Grouard House-Operation
319.32
· 233.00
Grouard House-Maintenance
132.41
Grouard House-Capital Outlay
112.90
. .
. .
$ 2,575.00
Total General Control
$ 2,625.31
Instruction:
Supervision Expense
$ 587.50
389.00
Principal's Office Expense
161.91
2,755.00
Textbooks
2,958.62
5,324.00
Supplies
6,088.76
595.00
Supplementary Books
261.30
311.00
Commencement
269.75
589.00
Other Expenses
820.47
$ 10,683.00
Total Instruction
$ 11,148.31
Operation of Plant:
Janitors' Supplies
$ 2,344.56
5,872.00
Fuel
4,763.62
Water and Sewer
1,009.43
172
$ 2,349.00
1,221.00
Detail SALARIES:
$ 720.00
General Control:
1,925.00
Electricity
1,922.52
449.00
Gas
433.15
496.00
Telephone
485.36
300.00
Other Expenses
298.30
190.00
Freight and Drayage
114.63
$ 12,802.00
Total Operation of Plant
$ 11,371.47
Maintenance of Plant:
Grounds
$ 1,932.28
1,331.00
Buildings
2,250.11
510.00
Service Systems
861.59
327.00
Plumbing
276.37
321.00
Instructional Apparatus
1,235.44
62.00
Furniture
72.42
108.00
Other Expenses
110.73
$ 4,751.00
Total Maintenance of Plant $ 6,738.94
Capital Outlay :
Alterations and Additions
$ 511.50
626.00
Furniture
3,797.00
450.00
Instructional Apparatus
1,552.23
85.00
Other
3.80
$ 1,299.00
Total Capital Outlay
$ 5,864.53
Auxiliary Agencies:
$ 8,515.00
Transportation
$ 7,876.32
Tuition
124.33
$ 8,827.00
Total Auxiliary Agencies
$ 8,000.65
Coordinate Activities:
$ 125.00
Compulsory Attendance
$ 100.00
34.00
Medical Service
33.60
280.00
Nurse Service
318.62
$ 439.00
Total Coordinate Activities
$ 452.22
$ 41,379.00
TOTAL GENERAL MAINTENANCE
$ 46,201.43
$232,879.00
TOTAL REGULAR BUDGET W. P. A.
3,466.79
$237,474.00 $ 1,600.00
GRAND TOTAL
INDUSTRIAL TUITION
$231,677.44
4,595.00
$235.144.23 $ 1,477.35
173
$ 2,092.00
$ 138.00
312.00
CHANGE IN PERSONNEL-1937
Left :
Ruth Froburg
Clerk-Health Dept.
Feb.
Louise Borden
Highland School June
Clarissa Brown
High School-English June
Winnifred Cochrane
Union Street School
June
Blanche Dufault
High School-Commercial
June
Pauline D. Farrell
Opportunity School
June
Hildergard Goranson
Jr. High-Business Practice June
Esther M. Hallington
Center School
June
Lillian H. Jenkins
High School-Biol., Pract. Science June
Norma E. Perkins
Jr. High-Grades 3 and 4 June
Helen E. Randolph
Center School June
Mary M. Walsh
Highland School June
Edward P. Bonner
Jr. High-Business Practice Aug.
Doris Skinner
Secretary-Jr. High Oct.
Miriam Tilden
Tr. High-General Science Oct.
Appointed :
Doris Thomas
Lip Reading
March
Edward P. Bonner
Jr. High-Business Practice
June
Marjorie Brier
Jr. High-Household Arts
Sept.
Arline C. Burnham
Highland School
Sept.
Mary Devaney
High School-English
Sept.
Cecilia Dunlop
Union Street School
Sept.
Elois Godfrey
Lowell Street School
Sept.
Harriet Hall
Highland School
Sept.
Ellen Harney
Center School
Sept.
Roderick Macdonald
Jr. High-Shop
Sept.
Ruth L. Montgomery
Center School
Sept.
Helen B. Stanwood
High School-Commercial
Sept.
Helen R. Zimmerman
High School-Biol., Pract. Science
Sept.
Mary Mercadante
Jr. High-Business Practice Oct.
Clifford R. Nelson
Jr. High-General Science Dec.
Phoebe Mercer
Clerk-Jr. High Dec.
174
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1937, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED
Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June 18, 1937 and Enrollment for October 1, 1937
School
Name of Teacher
Grade or Subjects Taught
Graduate of
Total
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 1937
Arthur E. Pierce.
1934
Superintendent of Schools
*Dartmouth; Mass. State, B.S .; Harvard, Ed.M.
2,489
2,283
2,121
92.14
2,298
Ruth C. Roberts.
1935
Sec'y to Superintendent.
Hope R. Williamson
1931
School Committee Clerk.
Helen M. Pratt. .
1936
Clerk.
Josephine L. Fowler
1935
Supervisor of Attendance.
Verna L. Wadleigh
1927
Dir. Research, Elem. Super ..
L. Reginald A. Kibbe.
1936
Art Supervisor . .
Philip W. Althoff
1927
Dir. Phys. Ed. and Athletics.
Mabel M. Brown.
1921
Director Health.
Charles R. Henderson, M.D
1918
School Physician .
+Margaret B. Clewley.
1937
School Nurse.
Doris J. Thomas.
1937
Lip-reading.
High.
Rudolf Sussmann.
1917
Principal .
*Conn. State College; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .. Reading High School
570 527.28
496.15
93.45
568
Myrtle W. Tilton.
1926
Secretary
Edward P. Batchelder
1935
Coach, History
Tufts, B.S., M.Ed ..
Elizabeth A. Batchelder.
1916
Com. Eng., Of. Train. and Law
Elva A. Buckley .
1924
Shorthand and Type ..
Mary E. Devaney
1937
Engish .
*Radcliffe, A.B .; Boston Univ., A.M .. Ohio Wesleyan, A.B .; Harvard, M.A.
A. Imrie Dixon
1930
History
Posse Normal; Salem Normal.
Helen M. England
1929
Helene M. Ernst .
1931
German, History
Joseph F. Fitzgerald
1929
History, Geometry
Luke Halpin.
1922
Mathematics.
*Boston Univ., B.S ..
Florence G. Nichols
1929
Physical Ed .-- High and Elem
Samuel A. W. Peck.
1931
Frederick J. Pope
1922
Marian T. Pratt.
1919
French.
Wellesley, A.B.
Chester G. Seamans.
1936
Latin . French, English
Amherst, B.A. Boston Univ., A.B., A.M.
Helen B. Stanwood
1937
*Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed
Hermon T. Wheeler
1924
*Mass. State College, B.S .. .
Jean M. Wiens. .
1935
Helen R. Zimmerman
1937
Shorthand, Type., Com'l Geog .. Occup., Orientation, Com'l Geog. English and Public Speaking. . . Biology, Practical Science.
*U. of Wisc., B.A .; Emerson Col., B.L.I. Wellesley, B.A .; Purdue Univ., M.S., Ph.D.
Carmen Simon.
1928
*Boston College, A.B., M.A .. Bowdoin, A.B .; Boston Univ., A.M.
Elizabeth J. MacIver
1935
Shorthand, Type., Com'l Geog ..
*Sargent School; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed.
Music -- High and Jr. High Chemistry and Physics
*Boston Univ., A.B., A.M. Colby, B.S .; Harvard, Ed.M.
Alberta F. Drury.
1917
Bookkeeping and Penmanship English.
*Radcliffe, A.B., A.M. *Radcliffe, A.B. .
+ Appointed by State Dept. of Health under Federal Funds.
* Have taken courses for professional advancement in 1937.
Membership
Year
Appointed
Boston Univ., A.B ... B. U., Sec. Cert.
*Reading High School . Buffalo Normal School.
B. U., 3 yrs .; Harvard Grad. School.
*Mass. School of Art, B.S.E ... Springfield College, B.P.E., M.Ed.
*Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Mass. Memor. Hosp ..
Newton Hospital Training School; Simmons. . . Mt. Holyoke, B.A., M.A .; N. E. Sch. Speech Read., Cert .. .
*Salem Nor .; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ..
Bay Path Inst .; Boston Univ., B.B.A.
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1937, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June 18, 1937 and Enrollment for October 1, 1937
School
Name of Teacher
Year
Appointed
Grade or Subjects Taught
Graduate of
Total
Membership
Average
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 193 7
Jr. High
Robert F. Perry.
1935
Princpal
*U. S. Naval Academy, B.S .. .
626
590.88
551.86
92.30
623
George D. Anderson
1926
Asst. Princ., Math.
*Boston Univ., B.S., A.M .; Harvard Grad. Sch., Ed.M.
Natalie Cate
1935
Clerk
*Reading High School. Reading High School.
Phoebe Mercer
1937
Clerk.
Helen B. Bean .
1931
English.
Wellesley, A.B ..
Harriet S. Beattie
1936
Art. .
*Mass. School of Art, B.S.Ed
Marjorie Brier .
1937
Household Arts
Framingham Nor., B.S.Ed.
Marian D. Day .
1925
Science.
Lyman E. Fancy.
1918
Shop ..
Mass. Normal Art.
Grace M. Harriman
1928
Social Studies, Matlı.
Radcliffe, A.B .; Harvard Grad. Sch., Ed.M .. Springfield College, B.S.
Walter E. Hawkes.
1933
Phys. Ed., Hygiene.
Grace N. Heffron.
1930
English ..
Tufts, A.B ..
Genevieve P. Hook.
1931
French, Latin.
Louise B. Jenkins.
1920
Social Studies.
Inez H. Lewis
1923
Mathematics.
Fitchburg Normal, B.S.Ed ..
Mary Mercadante.
1937
Business Training
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ...
Claudia Perry.
1928
English. .
Radcliffe, A.B .. .
Victor E. Pitkin. .
1933
Soc. Studies, Bus. Training
*Clark Univ., A.B., A.M.
Dorothy W. Randall.
1929
English, Math ..
*Bridgewater Normal; Radcliffe, A.B
Anna M. Reck.
1928
Math., Eng., Soc. Stud.
*Radcliffe, A.B ..
William A. Rich.
1928
Math., Soc. Studies ..
*Salem Normal; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed., M.A .. *Mass. State College, B.S ..
Neil C. Robinson.
1936
Soc. Studies.
Harvard Summer School .
Margaret E. Tyacke
1926
Phys. Ed., Hygiene.
Simmons, B.S ..
35
32.29 794.35
30.17 732.95
93.48
28
Highland ..
M. Grace Wakefield .
1890
Prin., Hld., Center, Union.
Salem Normal. .
886
Alice L. Arsenault.
1933
Secretary.
Reading High School.
Maud E. Adlington.
1936
Grade 6.
*Salem Normal.
35
31.00
28.58
92.18
36
Lillian F. Brann. .
1930
Grade 5.
*Farmington Normal, 1 year ..
31
26.69
25.01
93.69
32
Marjorie H. Buckle.
1927
Physical Education.
*Posse-Nissen. .
38
35.43
32.25
91.00
24
Arline C. Burnham .
1937
Grade 6
1936
Grade 5.
*Salem Teachers' College, B.S.Ed
34
31.48
28.83
91.58
36
Jean M. Butters
1936
Household Arts.
Helena Markham ..
1934
Grades 3 and 4.
Framingham Normal.
*Simmons .
41
37.29
34.92
93.84
31
Dorothy A. Allard
1927
Grade 5.
Univ. of Vermont, A.B .; Radcliffe, A.M.
Bridgewater Normal; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .. Gorham Normal.
Roderick E. Macdonald
1937
Shop. . .
Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed.
Clifford R. Nelson.
1937
Gen. Science.
Ruth E. Wetmore
92.28
733
Beverly High School. .
*Bridgewater Normal.
Membership
School
Name of Teacher
Year
Appointed
Grade or Subjects Taught
Graduate of
Total
Membership
Average
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1. 1937
Matilda J. Gamble.
1920
Grade 5
*Woburn High School.
33
32.25
29.81
92.42
36
Carolyn C. Grace.
1919
Grade 6.
*North Adams Normal. ..
39
37.83
35.28
93.25
31
Harriet Hall .
1937
Grades 3 and 4
Bridgewater Normal; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .. ..
31
27.98
25.98
92.70
24
Mary T. Macken.
1935
Grade 5.
*Emmanuel College, A.B .; Boston Univ., M.Ed.
31
25.83
24.20
93.67
30
Florence A. Potter.
1926
Grade 5.
*Plymouth Normal.
34
30.62
28.69
93.69
37
Annie W. Quillen.
1916
Grade 6. .
40
37.39
35.14
94.56
28
Margaret A. Scullane.
1934
Grade 6.
Lowell Normal.
40
36.99
34.45
93.25
33
Florence V. Thackleberry
1931
Grade 6.
*Plymouth Normal; Boston University
39
35.08
32.91
93.82
24
Margaret E. Whittier
1916
Music-Grades 1-6
*Salem Normal.
34
29.22
26.43
90.24
14
Opp .. .. Center.
Dorothy L. Burgess.
1926
Grade 1
33
27.53
24.08
88.43
26
Dorothy L. Cronin
1933
Grade 2.
39
32.62
29.42
90.19
27
Ellen Harney .
1937
Grade 4.
36
32.46
30.33
93.44
34
Edna M. Lounsbury.
1930
Grade 3.
41
37
34.21
92.44
38
Ruth L. Montgomery.
1937
Grade 3
42
37.88
34.67
91.52
31
Olive S. Perry. .
1916
Grade 4.
46
35.82
33.23
92.77
38
Glenna A. Dow
1919
Grade 2
36
33.42
30.97
92.64
28
Cecilia A. Dunlop.
1937
Grade 1.
37
33.43
30.20
90.35
31
Velma E. Herrick.
1927
Grade 1.
32
30.40
27.31
89.80
32
Alberta R. Mathieson
1924
Grade 2.
44
38.71
36.05
93.44
32
Lowell
Nellie P. Beaton.
*Danvers High School
36
32.94
31.19
94.69
34
Jessie L. Goddard .
1926
Grade 2.
42
37.28
34.50
92.66
36
Elois Godfrey
1937
Grade 1.
36
33.52
30.91
91.90
39
Isabel L. Winchester
1928
Grade 3.
*Salem Normal ..
31
29.35
27.53
93.77
35
Prospect . .
Ada E. Dow.
1909
Grade 3, Principal.
Lowell Normal; Emerson College.
38
32.62
29.83
91.44
33
Alice D. Berry .
1927
Grade 1.
*Bridgewater Normal.
40
37.44
32.57
86.27
38
Doris R. Cleary .
1927
Grade 2.
*Salem Normal.
38
33.30
29.25
87.83
33
Marjorie V. Smith
1936
Grade 4.
Lowell Normal, B.S.Ed.
39
35.15
32.65
92.89
34
Ch. Hill.
Irene Royea ..
1928
Grades 1 and 2, Principal
Aroostook State Normal.
33
31.31
28.17
89.81
29
Esther P. Smith
1936
Grades 3 and 4.
Lyndon State Normal; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ...
39
35.38
32.91
93.61
35
*Salem Normal.
Helen D. Stockwell
1930
Opportunity
*Salem Normal
*Lesley Normal.
*Lowell Teachers' College, B.S.Ed ..
Wellesley, A.B .; Boston Univ., M.Ed.
*Salem Normal.
Fitchburg Normal, B.S.
*Wheelock Kindergarten School.
Union. .
*Hyannis Normal; Emerson College
Perry Kindergarten Sch .; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed.
*Perry Kindergarten School.
*Salem Normal.
1920
Grade 4, Principal
*Bridgewater Normal. Bridgewater Normal, B.S.Ed.
Membership
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, 1937
To the School Committee,
Reading, Massachusetts.
Dear Sirs :
I present herewith my fourth annual report, it being the forty-fifth of the series of annual reports made by the Superintendent of the Pub- lic Schools of this town.
During the year we members of the school staff have continued to try to view our work objectively; to see our strengths and our weak- nesses ; or to fortify the former and to take steps toward the correction of the latter. We feel sure that forward steps have been made.
In this report, I shall attempt to set forth what I believe to be the state of the schools. In doing so, I shall incorporate the essential elements of the reports to me of the other supervisory and department officers.
THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
On the basis of standard test results, it is evident that Reading children are being brought to a satisfactory plane of achievement in the tool subjects.
Reading
Standard reading tests given in February, 1937, to grades one through four showed the following results :
Our Median Score
Standard Median Score
Our position in relation to the Standard Median
Grade I
11
7
4 points above
Grade II
15
10
5 points above
Grade III
20
13
7 points above
Grade IV
11
9
2 points above
In other words, our primary grades obtained a median score on the' tests that is superior to the standard median; that is, our children obtained scores that are above those that, on the basis of national re- sults, are to be expected at a given time in a given grade.
In June, a different form of the same test showed our first grade median to be ten points above the standard norm.
178
In April, the Stanford Achievement Test in reading was given. The results were as follows :
Our Median Grade Level of Achieve-
Standard Grade Level of Achieve- ment in April
11 Our
Grade ment
Position*
II
3 years, 1 month
2 years, 7 months
4 months ahead
III
4 years, 2 months
3 years, 7 months
5 months ahead
IV
5 years, 1 month
4 years, 7 months 4 months ahead
V
5 years, 8 months
5 years, 7 months
1 month ahead
VI
6 years, 8 months
6 years, 7 months
1 month ahead
* The results are computed on the basis of a ten-month school year.
These results show need for added strength in grades five and six. Though we are slightly above standard, we feel that better results can be obtained. The New Elson Reading series adopted a year or so ago for grades one through four has proved to be an invaluable aid. We hope to put the same series in grades five and six during 1938.
In December, a test given in grade four gave us a median that in- dicated a reading level equivalent to that of the first half of grade five.
Probably too little attention has been given throughout the country to the mechanics of reading in the grades above the fourth. We now have studies under way that we hope will result in improvement right up through the high school.
Arithmetic
The Stanford Arithmetic tests given in April showed the following results. (Note-6.7, for instance, indicates achievement at the level expected during the seventh month of the sixth year, etc.) :
Grade
Our Median
III
4.0
IV
4.8
V
5.8
VI
7.0
It is significant to recall, in connection with all of our test results, that our median child is five to six months younger than the standard median, due to our early entrance age.
Textbooks
Two particular adoptions of textbooks have been made this year. The Wilson social studies books, "Ways of Living Series", were put
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into grades three through six. We have, for a long time, been using the experimental, mimeographed copies of this series. Many of our teachers have contributed to it, and Miss Verna L. Wadleigh, Ele- mentary Supervisor, was a collaborator with the authors. She reports on the series as follows :
"It is designed to teach directly certain study skills and reading abilities commonly taught in reading classes only. It provides the mo- tivation and basis for much English composition work, both oral and written, as well as much library work and use of reference material. It is the core curriculum in grades three through six and serves as the 'so- cial cement' that binds together the customary courses in history, geo- graphy and citizenship. Most of the creative activities of all grades are outcomes of or suggested by this social studies material.
"We are already observing improvement in the reading and study habits, and the wider interests of our pupils. The teachers report that children use the public library for independent reading more than they ever did before.
"The nature of the material is such as to awaken pupil interests and develop understanding and appreciation of group living in the world today. It places emphasis on ideas instead of facts. It interprets and explains the social significance of the events of the past in relation to present living. It is designed to help the boys and girls understand their own little world in its relation to the world as a whole.
"Nothing has been lost of traditional historical subject matter. The teachers are entirely confident that our pupils will be better informed than ever before in this field, and, better still, they will have mastered the skills for acquiring more information and the motivation for doing so."
A much-needed new health series has been put into grades three and four. A committee of teachers working with Miss Mabel Brown, Director of Health, and the Superintendent chose the "Health and Growth" series after a thorough-going study.
The most pressing need for elementary textbooks now is for new reading books for grades five and six and for science books for all grades. It is hoped that these needs can be filled during 1938.
Visitors
In March, the Massachusetts Elementary Supervisors of Instruc- tion held their meeting in Reading and observed our work. Some time previous to that, the Merrimac Valley Superintendents' Associa- tion held its meeting here. Since those meetings, we have had many teachers visit us to observe the work in our grades. From two to
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forty-two teachers have come from each of twenty-six different com- munities or teachers' colleges.
We hope that they have seen some good work in the fundamentals. We hope that they have also seen abundant effort to build and bring out character and personality, and to meet the individual child.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Articulation with Sixth Grade
In an attempt to bring about an even better articulation of the work of the seventh grade with that of the sixth, each seventh grade teacher spent a day or more in the Highland School previous to June. She was thus able to learn more about the sixth grade program and to get some knowledge of the pupils. In addition, the Elementary Super- visor has taken part in Junior High School meetings and conferences. Each year she gives to the Junior High School a rather complete picture of the achievement of each child going on from the sixth grade. It is hoped that through these and other means, there can be an assurance of continuity of work for each child, and that his particular weaknesses, strengths, and interests will receive due attention.
The Home Room Program
The program of home-room guidance mentioned at some length in my last year's report has been carried on with increased efficiency. The teachers have taken greater interest and assumed further respon- sibility in this part of the program. A better program of character, civic, study and educational guidance is the result.
Activities
The opportunity for children to toim hobbies and worth-while leisure interests is being presented in the Junior High School. I quote from Mr. Perry's report to me : "The usual excellent program of activities, including the so-called club work, continues to be carried on in a very satisfactory manner. The school provides an adequate after- school program in intra-mural athletics. No inter-scholastic contests have any place in our program at present. Through the various activi- ties the pupils have a wide choice of opportunities to spend one extra period a week on such work as art, music, craft clubs, dramatics, speech work, and physical training. Boys are allowed to participate in the home economics work through the organization of a Camp Cooking
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