USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1942 > Part 16
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$269,910.61
Total Expenditure
$269,035.62
Receipts :
State Reimbursement on Teachers . . . $ 18,045.00
Tuition
12,383.61
31,700.00
200.00
Sundry
149.54
30,578.15
$238,210.61
NET COST TO TOWN
$238,457.47
School Lunches:
$ 12,500.00
Receipts
11,472.35
Inventory
681.00
12,153.35
12,500.00
Expenditures
11,912.73
NET COST TO TOWN
$. . ...... .....
NET GAIN TO TOWN
$ 240.62
Industrial Tuition:
$ 1,500.00
Total Expenditure
$
1,408.97
Receipts :
478.00
State Reimbursement
469.89
$ 1,022.00
-1
NET COST TO TOWN
$ 939.08
ยท
General Account:
$ 17,500.00 14,000.00
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET-1942
Appro. & Transfers 1942
Expended 1942
SALARIES:
$187,442.93
Supt. and Teachers
$187,126.01
1,072.50
Substitutes
1,072.50
20,415.62
Janitors
20,415.62
1,992.75
Compulsory Attendance
1,992.75
2,665.40
Nurse and Clerk
2,665.40
910.80
Medical Inspection
910.80
$214,500.00
TOTAL SALARIES
$214,183.08
MAINTENANCE:
General Control:
$ 503.75
Supt's. Office Supplies
$ 503.75
154.44
Research and Professional Study 154.44
300.41
Travel
300.41
132.95
Printing
132.95
371.62
Other Expenses
371.62
271.49
Grouard House-Operation
271.49
260.95
Grouard House-Maintenance
260.95
930.21
Grouard House-Capital Outlay
930.21
100.00
Census
100.00
$ 3,025.82
Total General Control
$ 3,025.82
Instruction:
$ 471.75
Supervision
$ 471.75
355.26
Principal's Office Expense
355.26
2,302.97
Textbooks
2,302.97
8,914.29
Supplies
8,909.01
1,512.04
Supplementary Books
1,512.04
441.72
Library
441.72
303.49
Commencement
303.49
776.39
Other Expenses
776.39
$ 15,077.91
Total Instruction Expense $ 15,072.63
194
Operation of Plant:
$ 2,822.76
Janitors' Supplies
$ 2,822.76
9,037.03
Fuel
9,037.03
933.58
Water and Sewer
933.58
2,683.00
Electricity
2,683.00
334.37
Gas
334.37
610.02
Telephone
610.02
364.41
Other Expenses
364.41
7.35
Freight and Express
7.35
$ 16,792.52
Total Operation of Plant
$ 16,792.52
Maintenance of Plant:
$ 2,086.75
Grounds
$ 2,086.75
1,283.30
Buildings
1,283.30
782.57
Service Systems
782.57
139.87
Plumbing
139.87
1,132.16
Instructional Apparatus
1,132.16
163.00
Furniture
163.00
87.81
Other Expenses
87.81
$ 5,675.46
Total Maintenance of Plant
$ 5,675.46
Capital Outlay:
$ 308.55
Alterations and Additions
$ 308.55
828.75
Furniture
828.75
2,839.02
Instructional Apparatus
2,839.02
893.81
Other Outlay
893.81
$ 4,870.13
Total Capital Outlay
$ 4,870.13
Auxiliary Agencies :
Tuition
Coordinate Activities:
$ 153.32
Compulsory Attendance $ 153.32
29.66
Medical Service 29.66
285.79
Nurse Service
285.79
$ 468.77
Total Coordinate Activities $ 468.77
$ 45,910.61
TOTAL GENERAL MAINTENANCE .. $ 45,905.33
$ 9,500.00
TRANSPORTATION $ 8,947.21
$269,910.61
GRAND TOTAL $269,035.62
$ 1,500.00
INDUSTRIAL TUITION $ 1,408.97
$ 12,500.00
SCHOOL LUNCHES $ 11,912.73
195
In Memoriam
M. GRACE WAKEFIELD
TEACHER AND
PRINCIPAL IN READING
1890 - 1941
Her's was a service to youth and faith in her work that will last forever
CHANGE IN PERSONNEL-1942
Left:
*Arthur L. Spencer
High School-Latin Jan.
*Robert Bronner
High School-English Feb.
*Arthur M. Griffin
High School-Asst. Coach May
Barbara Bryant
Clerk, Supt's Office June
Henry W. Bryden
Janitor, Jr. High School June
A. Imrie Dixon
High School-Social Studies June
Helene M. Ernst
High School-German, Spanish June
Alice Gibbs
Jr. High School-English June
Barbara Tisdale
High School-Librarian June
Sr. & Jr. High School-Shop June
Robert M. Whiting Jean M. Wiens
High School-Eng., Dramatics June
*Philip W. Althoff
Dir., Physical Education July
Celia Maglioli Alice H. Hayden
High School-Science, English
Victor E. Pitkin
Jr. High School-Social Studies High School-Coach
Aug. Aug.
*Arthur E. Radvilas Barbara Carpenter
Clerk, High School
Sept.
Evelyn Shaw
Clerk, Supt's. Office Sept.
Grace E. Storti
Secretary, Pearl St. School Sept.
Phyllis Callard
Highland School-Grade 3 Nov.
Evelyn D. Rich
Pearl St. School-Grade 3 Dec.
*For the duration of the war emergency.
Appointed :
Kenneth L. Beverage
Janitor, Jr. High School June
Marjorie Batchelder
Clerk, Supt's. Office Sept.
Thomas S. Heal
Director, Athletics Sept.
Lillian Davies Clerk, High School Sept.
Barbara K. Carleton
High School-English
Sept.
Victor E. Pitkin High School-Social Studies
Sept.
Irving P. Erickson
High School-Aeronautics,
Math. Sept.
Walter L. Mirey, Jr.
High School-Coach Sept.
Hartwell W. Blanchard
High School-Science Sept.
Jean K. Mckenzie
High School-Social Studies
Sept.
H. Mildred Holden
High School-Latin Sept.
Lois R. Markey
High School-Librarian Sept.
Frederick C. Wales Cathleen Burns
Sr. & Jr. High School-Shop Sept.
Wallace H. Knowlton, Jr.
Jr. High School-Social Studies Jr. High School-English
Highland School-Grade 1 Sept.
Evelyn Shaw
Secretary, Pearl St. School Sept.
Elsa L. Anderson
Pearl St. School-Grade 6 Sept. Oct.
Home Teacher
Evelyn M. Heal
High School-English, Spanish Sept. Sept. Sept.
Beverly Alexander
Eleanor A. Miller
Pearl St. School-Grade 6 June
*Claudia Perry
Highland School-Grade 6 July Aug.
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1942, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June, 1942 and Enrollment for October 1, 1942
School
Name of Teacher
Year
Appointed
Grade or Subjects Taught
Educational Preparation
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 1942
E. C. Grover
1939
Superintendent of Schools
Harvard, B.S .; Teachers' College; Columbia Univ., M.A .; N. Y. Univ., Ph.D .; La Sorbonne, Paris .
2,399
2,169.13 2,031.29 90.90
2,199
Ruth C. Roberts.
1935
Secretary to Superintendent.
Helen M. Pratt.
1936
School Committee Clerk .
Marjorie B. Batchelder
1942
Clerk .
Chandler Secretarial School
Thomas S. Heal
1942
Dir. Phys. Ed. and Athletics.
Colby Col .; Springfield Col., B.P.E.
Margaret B. Clewley
1939
School Nurse .
Newton Hosp., R.N .; Simmons, Cert. Public Health Nursing; Boston Univ .; Harvard .. Boston University, Mus.B.
Evelyn M. Giles
1939
Supervisor of Music, Elementary School Physician .
L. Reginald A. Kibbe
1936
Art Supervisor .
Samuel A. W. Peck.
1931
Director of Music
Jean F. Ramsay
1941
Visiting Teacher, Att. Superv.
Evelyn M. Heal
1942
Home Teacher
Rudolf Sussmann
1917
Supervising Principal
614
565.91
528.04
92.97
559
Luke Halpin .
1922
Asst. Prin., Math., Guidance. Secretary .
Bowdoin. B.A .; Boston Univ., M.A., Harvard Reading High School
Lillian B. Davies.
1942
Reading High School, Boston Univ.
Elizabeth A. Batchelder
1916 1942
Cathleen Burns
1942
Smith Col., B.A .; Boston Univ., M.A.
Carmen S. Burridge
1928
Boston Univ., B.A., M.A .; Harvard
Barbara K. Carleton
1942
Wellesley College, B.A.
Alberta F. Drury. Irving P. Erickson .
1917 Bookkeeping, Business Law 1942 Math., Aeronautics, Science 1929 Mathematics .
Boston College, B.A., M.A .; Boston Univ. Mt. Holyoke Col., B.A.
Mildred Holden .
1942
Latin, English, Guidance
Svea W. Kling .
1940 Shorthand, Typewriting Librarian.
Burdett Col., Boston Univ., B.B.A. Simmons Col., B.S.
Lois R. Markey .
1942
Jean K. Mckenzie .
1942
Social Studies
Walter L. Mirey, Jr.
1942
Coach, Social Studies
Florence G. Nichols
1929 Phys. Ed .- High and Elem.
Victor E. Pitkin.
1933
Social Studies. . Chemistry and Physics.
Frederick J. Pope
1922
Jeannette B. Reed
1941
Helen B. Stanwood
1937
English, Dramatics . Shorthand, Typewriting
Radcliffe Col., B.A .; Bridgewater Teachers' Col., M.Ed .. Univ. of N. H., B.S. Sargent School; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; M.I.T. Clark Univ., B.A., M.A .; Harvard ; Boston Univ. Colby, B.S .; Harvard M.Ed. Smith Col., B.A .; Boston Univ., M.A. Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Boston Univ., M.C.S .; Harvard.
High.
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard
Myrtle W. Tilton
1926
Clerk . . Com'l Eng., Guidance
Salem Normal; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard Tufts Col., B.S .; Boston Univ ..
Hartwell W. Blanchard
Science ..
Eng., Span., Dramatics French, English . English, Dramatics
Posse Normal, Salem Normal, Boston Univ. Clark Univ., B.A., M.A.
Joseph F. Fitzgerald
Farmington Teachers' College
Mass. School of Art, B.S.E .; Col. U .; Boston U. Boston Univ., B.A., M.A .; N. E. Conserv .; East- man School; Mozarteum Academy, Austria. . Smith College, B.A .; Columbia Univ., M.A., Univ. Stockholm and Upsala.
Charles R. Henderson, M.D.
1918
Boston University, B.A. Reading High School.
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1942, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED-Continued
Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June, 1942 and Enrollment for October 1, 1942
School
Name of Teacher
Grade or Subjects Taught
Education Preparation
Total
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 1942
High, . . ..
Russell P. Taylor.
1938
English, Coach. .
Bates College, B.A .; Harvard
Hermon T. Wheeler
1924
Occup. Commercial Geography
Mass. State College, B.S .; Harvard. Wellesley, B.A .; Purdue Univ., M.S., Ph.D. ..
Jr. High .
Robert F. Perry
1935
Supervising Principal .
U. S. Naval Academy, B.S .; N. H. Univ .; Co- lumbia Univ ..
549
519.83
486.54
94.17
527
William A. Rich
1928
Asst. Prin., Mathematics
Natalie Cate
1935
Secretary
Beverly Alexander
1942
English
Dorothy A. Allard
1927
English
Helen B. Bean .
1931
English
Harriet S. Beattie
1936
Art ..
Ellen F. Brown .
1940
Household Arts
Marian D. Day .
1925
Science .
Beverly High School, Bates Col., M.I.T., Harv. Salem Teachers' College, B.S.Ed ...
Mary M. DeSalvo
1937
Business Tr., Social Studies.
Grace M. Harriman
1928
Social Studies. .
Radcliffe, B.A .; Harvard, M.Ed .; Stanford U .. . Springfield Col. B.S ..
Walter E. Hawkes.
1933
Physical Education, Hygiene
Grace N. Heffron .
1930
English
Tufts Col. B.A .; Harvard; Boston Univ ..
Genevieve P. Hook.
1931
Latin, English
Univ. of Vermont, B.A .; Radcliffe, M.A.
Louise B. Jenkins .
1920
Social Studies, Music
Bridgewater Normal, Boston Univ., B.S. Ed .; Harvard .
Wallace Knowlton, Jr.
1942
Social Studies
Inez H. Lewis
1923
Mathematics .
Gorham Normal; Boston Univ.
Roderick E. Macdonald
1937
Shop ..
Boston Univ., B.S. Ed .. .
Anna Reck
1928
Mathematics .
Radcliffe, B.A., Boston Univ.
Neil C. Robinson
1936
Social Studies
Mass. State Col., B.S .; Boston Univ., M.Ed .; Harvard .
Albert R. Studer ...
1939
Shop:
Fitchburg Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Mass. S.C.
Margaret E. Tyacke
1926
Physical Education, Hygiene.
Harvard Summer School, Boston Univ.
Frederick Wales.
1942
Shop.
Fitchburg Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed ...
Helen A. Walker .
1941
Household Arts, Social Studies.
Albert H. Woodward
1941
Mathematics, Social Studies
Amherst Col., B.A .; Boston Univ., M.Ed.
Elizabeth Graham.
1941
Supervising Principal.
400
358.10
335.42
86.48
354
Alice L. Arsenault
1933
Secretary
28
26.92
25.44
94.50
22
Lillian F. Brann
1930
Grade 5.
Lesley Normal, Boston Univ.
35
30.84
29.01
94.06
30
Dorothy L. Burgess
1926
Grade 3
Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.E .; Boston Univ.
30
29.90
28.46
95.16
30
Jean M. Butters .
1936
Grade 5.
Lowell Teachers' Col., B.S.E .; Boston Univ.
37
33.73
31.92
93.17
30
Phyllis Callard
1941
Grade 4.
Lowell Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Boston Univ ..
31
26.74
24.49
91.54
33
Dorothy L. Cronin .
1933
Grade 2.
R. Hilda Gaffney.
1941
Grade 6.
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ..
36
29.04
27.53
94.81
32
Helen R. Zimmermann.
1937
Biology .
Salem Normal; Boston Univ., B.S. Ed., M.A ... Reading High School.
Radcliffe Col., B.A .; Univ. of Vt .; Hyannis T. C. Salem Normal, Boston Univ., Mass. Univ. Ext. . Wellesley, B.A .; Columbia U .; C.C.N.Y .; B. U. Mass. School of Art, B.S. Ed ..
Framingham T. C., B.S.Ed .; Boston Univ ..
Springfield Col., B.S .; Columbia Univ., M.A ..
Fitchburg Teachers' College, B.S.Ed.
Clifford R. Nelson
1937
General Science
Framingham Teachers' College, B.S.Ed ..
Framingham Normal, Boston Univ., B.S.Ed., M.Ed .; Harvard Univ. Reading High School
Farmington Normal, Boston Univ
Highland. . ..
Year
Appointed
Membership
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1942, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED-Concluded Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June, 1942 and Enrollment for October 1, 1942
School
Name of Teacher
nnit Appointed Year.
Grade or Subjects Taught
Educational Preparation
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 1942
Highland . . ..
Matilda J. Gamble .
1920
Grade 5
Woburn High School, Boston Univ ..
35
31.75
30.04
94.63
29
Olive L. Joney
1933
Grade 6.
Worcester Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Univ. of Colo .; Clark Univ .; Boston Univ.,. M.Ed.
40
32.61
30.61
93.86
25
Edythe M. McQuaide
1940
Grade 6
Lowell Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Tufts Col.
32
31.05
29.64
95.46
33
Eleanor A. Miller
1942
Grade 1
Vassar College, B.A .; Boston Univ., M.Ed.
42
34.70
31.08
89.57
32
Florence A. Potter.
1926
Grade 5.
Plymouth Normal, Boston Univ
33
31.28
29.59
94.57
32
Florence V. Thackleberry
1931
Grade 6
Plymouth Normal, Boston Univ.
21
19.54
18.16
92.97
28
Maud E. Adlington
1936
Supervising Principal
Simmons, Boston Univ., Harvard
473
403.10
380.42
93.33
434
Evelyn Shaw.
1941
Secretary .
Reading High School .
38
30.29
29.01
95.78
24
Marjorie H. Buckle
1927
Grade 4
Posse-Nissen, Hyannis T. C., Boston Univ.
33
30.70
28.92
94.17
37
Glenna A. Dow .
1919
Grade 2.
Hyannis Normal, Emerson Col., Columbia U., Boston Univ ..
41
33.99
32.37
95.08
34
Marion E. Drew
1941
Grade 6
Aroostook State Normal, Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard . ..
44
37.23
35.77
96.08
32
Carolyn C. Grace
1919
Grade 5
North Adams Normal, Boston Univ., Hyannis Teachers' College
27
22.59
21.49
95.13
26
Velma E. Herrick
1927
Grade 1
Perry Kindergarten School, Boston Univ., Tufts College . .
30
23.69
21.58
90.72
37
Alberta R. Mathieson
1924
Grade 2 .
Salem Normal, Boston Univ.
35
31.62
29.97
94.71
28
Mary W. Moore
1941
Grade 5
39
33.11
31.43
94.91
32
Helen Newhall .
1940
Grade 1.
28
26.27
24.46
92.29
38
Florence P. Nigro
1938
Grade 3.
Bridgewater Teachers' College, B.S.Ed ..
40
34.97
32.89
93.84
38
Olive S. Perry
1916
Grade 4.
Wheelock Kindergarten Sch., Hyannis Normal, Boston Univ.
28
23.58
22.79
94.12
32
Evelyn D. Rich
1938
Grade 3
Lowell Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Harvard.
38
31.90
30.07
94.27
32
Ruth L. Shaw.
1941
Grades 1 and 2
Lowell Teachers Col., B.S.E .; R. I. Col. of Ed .; Univ. of N. H .; Boston Univ ..
28
25.71
23.98
93.28
25
Salem Normal, Boston Univ ..
24
17.45
16.29
93.35
18
Lowell St .. .. . .
Nellie P. Beaton .
1920
Grade 4, Principal
Danvers High School, Hyannis Teachers' Col .; Boston Univ. .
38
35.30
33.38
94.55
22
Jessie L. Goddard
1926
Grade 2.
Bridgewater Normal, Boston Unit
29
27.98
26.10
93.29
28
Elois Godfrey .
1937
Grade 1.
Bridgewater Teachers' College, B.S.Ed ..
40
31.49
28.71
91.16
36
Isabel W. Carley
1928
Grade 3.
Salem Norma!, Penn. State Col. .
25
22.35
20.61
92.20
30
Ada E. Dow . .
1909
Grade 3, Principal.
41
35.01
33.94
95.57
32
Alice D. Berry .
1927
Grade 1.
Bridgewater Normal, Boston Univ.
41
34.68
31.71
91.39
40
Doris R. Cleary
1927
Grade 2.
Salem Normal, Univ. of Maine, Hyannis
37
32.29
30.19
93.47
34
Helena Markham .
1934
Grade 4
Framingham Normal, Boston Univ
39
35.37
33.90
95.86
36
Irene Royea ..
1928
Grades 1 and 2, Principal.
34
30.61
29.00
94.83
29
Esther P. Smith
1936
Grades 3 and 4 .
Aroostook State Normal, Boston Univ Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ..
39
37.11
35.33
95.19
38
Pearl Street . .
Elsa Anderson .
1942
Grade 6.
Hyannis Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed.
Provincial Normal, Boston Univ., B.S.Ed.
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard, Tufts Col ..
Helen D. Stockwell
1930
Opportunity .
Prospect St .. .
Lowell Normal, Emerson Col .; Boston Univ
Teachers College, Mass. Univ .; Ext ..
Chestnut Hill .
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, 1942
To the School Committee,
Reading, Massachusetts
Miss Canty, Mrs Holcomb, and Gentlemen :
Herewith please find my fourth annual report as Superintendent of Schools, which is the fiftieth of a series of annual reports relative to the work of the Public Schools of Reading.
The year just passed has been crowded with many unusual prob- lems. Your wise counsel has been a great help in meeting the issues involved. During this first year of our participation in the second tragic world conflict, pupils and teachers, as well as parents, have had to meet a constant strain and continual interruption of their normal ways of life. Our teachers have given many hours to help ration gasoline, sugar, and fuel oil. They have also assisted in the Selective Draft reg- istrations. These contributions they made, willingly and cheerfully. Their only desire has been to help the community and Nation. Their loyalty and good sportsmanship has been a great asset.
THE SCHOOLS FACE THE WAR EMERGENCY
Schools, like other organizations during emergency periods, need a well defined plan to hold the personnel together and to lessen the confusion of the objectives for which to work.
Statement of Objectives
In order to help the teachers see the important problems of the war emergency more clearly, a committee representing each school worked out a statement of objectives to be guides to effective effort and unity in the whole school system and the building up of morale. These objectives included :
1. A rededication to a democratic way of life; a pledge to be tol- erant and to teach tolerance; an acceptance of responsibility and wise delegation of it to pupils; willingness to take social regulation with good grace in order to permit the war effort to become more effective; encouragement of opinion based on facts and to help stop it if found based on prejudice; and looking upon classroom teaching as an oppor- tunity to lead pupils to a better understanding of the vital issues at stake in the world conflict.
2. Sustaining and furthering physical and mental health was the second objective. This meant emphasizing nutrition, hygiene, first aid, and becoming more health conscious. These activities were to be looked upon as aids to develop both teacher and pupils to be more personally efficient and less subject to strain and lowering of morale.
201
3. The third objective required active participation in defense ac- tivities and becoming leaders on the home front where possible. To this end 42 teachers took first aid courses, 15 became air raid wardens,- 1 auxiliary police. Others took up Red Cross work, canteen work, and other phases of the defense program. Teachers and principals have wholeheartedly co-operated in the scrap drives and have encouraged the sale of War Savings Stamps and Bonds. During the year, teachers and pupils have contributed $9,002.80 through the purchase of these stamps and bonds.
4. The fourth objective aimed at training "to take the long view" of the war crisis and through steadfast application to work to meet immediate needs as well as possible in the hope that this would make minds alert to whatever should happen, and develop an ability to hold true to democratic principles, whatever occurs. In this way, the guid- ance of youth in our local community might best be carried forward in wartime.
Participating in Rationing, Selective Draft Registration, and Scrap Drive
During the school year the teaching corps participated in many Government projects. These projects were the following :
Selective Draft Registrations : February 15, 16; April 26, 27; June 29, 30.
Sugar Rationing : April 28, 29; May 4, 5, 6, 7.
Gasoline Rationing: May 12, 13, 14; July 9, 10, 11. .
Fuel Oil Rationing : November 17, 18, 19.
Scrap Drives: November 4; December 1.
Each rationing, and scrap drive, necessitated careful administra- tive organization and periods of teacher training which took consider- able time and effort. People of the Town also aided in many of these projects, namely members of the Woman's Club, League of Women Voters, and Parent-Teacher associations, Junior and High School students and selected fifth and sixth grade pupils. Their help was particularly useful in the sugar and gasoline rationing which came after the close of school. The citizens who helped during these ration per- iods should be especially commended.
Air Raid Procedure
Early in January, a definite procedure to follow in case of air raids was worked out for the entire school system. This program has been in force all this year and followed the general plan outlined last Spring and circulated in notices to teachers and parents and through the Reading Chronicle.
202
More Working Certificates Issued
Last year's report emphasized the fact that there was a large in- crease of working certificates issued in 1941 over 1940-an increase of 220, or 102%. In 1942, this number increased again-this time by 120, or 21%, over 1941, and 168% over 1940. The youths going to work this year were younger than those of last year. There were 284 young people between 16 and 18 years of age going to work this year against 180 last year. The older group, 18 to 21 years of age, held its own- 221 in 1941 and 214 in 1942. A total of 526 certificates were issued in 1942 against 416 in 1941 and 196 in 1940.
There was a decided shift to factory and office work in 1942-286 certificates were issued for factory jobs in 1942 against 202 in 1941. For office work, the figures were 59 in 1942 and 49 in 1941. On the other hand, certificates for store work dropped from 133 in 1941 to 97 in 1942. Ten certificates in 1942 were issued for soda fountain work and 5 for dairy and greenhouse work. No certificates for either of these jobs. were issued in 1941.
If these changes continue, they must influence our thinking con- cerning the curriculum offering in the High School program.
Schools Face Transportation Problem
In September, the School Committee received from the Institute on War and Education restrictions relative to the use of school busses to transport pupils. On November 16, 1942, the Director of the Office of Defense Transportation issued a notice to the effect that after Feb- ruary 1, 1943, mileage and gasoline allowances to the transportation companies will depend upon demonstration of their compliance with the recommendations of the O. D. T., which are the same as those is- sued in September. The recommendations which affect Reading are as follows :
1. The elimination of unnecessary mileage.
2. Transportation limited to those living two miles or more from the schools they attend-except those physically handicapped.
3. Use of common carriers-advise using regular public bus sys- tem where possible.
4. Reduction of number of stops.
5. Staggered schools hours when it is found possible to reduce the number of busses by this change.
6. Adjustment of existing contracts is made possible.
7. Cooperation of school to share busses with defense workers and the making of adjustments by the school to permit defense and military use of busses when necessary.
8. Altering existing bus routes for economy of operation.
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These regulations are in the recommendation stage, but they may be compulsory if the O. D. T. refuses to approve the Certificate of War Necessity for the bus company except upon compliance with these reg- ulations. The school transportation set-up is, therefore, definitely chal- lenged, particularly as it is now operating, and the restrictions noted above may be enforced on short notice in the immediate future. If this occurs, school plans may have to be changed abruptly.
Studying the Meaning and Significance of the War
Arrangements have been made throughout the whole school system to study the progress of the war. It was felt the pupils now in school should receive guidance in understanding the significance of world war events as they occur. This guidance included using a great deal of material concerning aviation; global geography; the working of demo -. cratic versus totalitarian governments; the study of various. peace plans; the understanding of war strategy; and a constructive and posi- tive appreciation of democratic. processes. The pupils now in the Read- ing schools may have to participate directly in the war effort, and upon the shoulders of many more must rest the working out the peace pro- gram. Whatever group it entails, the better understanding pupils have of the conflict in which we are engaged, the better able they will be to sustain an effective peace.
The Work of the Visiting Teacher
During the year, the Visiting Teacher has made 417 attendance calls. In the majority of cases illness was the reason for absence.
The work of the Visiting Teacher is not of a disciplinary nature. School discipline is left to the Principal. The Visiting Teacher's work is most effective when she is called in to take over the redirection of attitudes and behavior of pupils for whom the normal school discip- linary procedures have not been effective or where the roots of the difficulties have not been reached because of the limited time the school can give to individual cases. This work is time-consuming and can be done only by a person having skill in understanding personal relationships and able to diagnose the effect upon an individual child of fears, strains, and bad attitudes growing from misunderstandings in the school, in the home, and in the community. "A child in the throes of adjustment cannot be expected to handle school regulations until he can handle himself, and that process is as legitimate a learning exper- ience as any involved in a curriculum subject." (From the Visiting Teacher's Report.)
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