USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1942 > Part 17
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A review of the work of the Visiting Teacher is convincing evi- dence that she has been able to redirect many difficult behavior prob- lems which otherwise would have proved costly to the school and the
204
Town. In working on these problems, whether with the Principal, State or Trade School authorities, or with local police or Criminal Court, she has been motivated by the principle of doing everything possible which may be best for the individual boy or girl.
Home Teacher Appointed
During the year of 1941, a part-time teacher instructed three chil- dren confined to their homes because of physical disabilities. In 1942, this number grew to seven. Most of these children were afflicted with rheumatic fever and had to stay in bed for all or most of the year. Ac- cording to the General Laws of the Commonwealth, a teacher must be employed if this number is five or more. Consequently, a teacher was hired for full-time service to instruct these children, though the Committee approved home tutoring for bed-ridden children three years before there were enough of these children to make the law operative here. This is the only way in which pupils confined to their homes can procure instruction at a time when it means so much as a basis for future progress. Children receiving home instruction are getting along well in their studies, and it is hoped they may be able to continue with their classes when they return to school.
THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THE WAR EMERGENCY
The Senior High School has been affected most by the changed conditions due to the war. Its students, particularly the Senior and Junior boys, face induction into the armed forces. The Federal Gov- ernment, however, announced no definite plan for curriculum changes until after the start of the school year.
Emphasis on Aviation. In spite of the fact that electives had al- ready been chosen, the faculty offered three new courses, all of which have met with success. These were Mathematics for Pilot Trainees, Physics for Pilot Trainees, and Aeronautics. Expansion of these courses is being planned for the second half year.
High School Victory Corps. The teachers, with the Principal, studied the Government pamphlet on the High School Victory Corps and have already worked out many suggestions made by the Govern- ment. The Victory Corps program suggests that present courses in high schools be curtailed to permit the development of pre-induction activities or that these activities be added to the school program. These Victory Corps activities include guidance in the critical services and occupations with reference to the war effort, study of wartime citizen- ship, a physical fitness program, basic training in mathematics and science, preflight training in aeronautics, military drill, and participa- tion in as many community services as possible.
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The Reading High School has promoted many of these services. It has specifically done the following things since September :
1. Established a physical fitness program and military drill.
2. Stressed military and naval language objectives in English classes.
3. Presented through guidance counsellors the definite require- ments for entrance into the Army and Navy service, both for boys and girls, and specific preparation for civilian nurses.
4. The Commercial Department has stressed Army and Navy cor- respondence, typing and shorthand.
5. Stressed world events in the social studies classes.
6. Allowed pupils to help on farms and to replace workers who have gone into war work.
7. Organized a girls first aid division to roll and pack bandages.
8. Developed a permanent organization for selling war stamps.
9. Carried on scrap drives.
10. Made a survey of mechanical aptitudes on the basis of new tests, to prepare for the technical end of the war effort.
11. Developed the fundamental arithmetic skills required in the armed forces.
12. Studied the problem of poor readers and means of improving reading.
The High School faculty is at present working on other changes to be in force in the near future.
Students Help War Effort. During the Spring and Fall seasons, many of the High School students have helped overcome the loss of man-power in Reading. One hundred and thirty-four boys and girls have been employed on various jobs during the Fall, working a total of 20,866 hours. Much of the work they have done has been on Satur- days and Sundays though some pupils were excused from school to work full time when it seemed necessary. These arrangements were made in accordance with the Governor's Proclamation approving ab- sence from school during the labor emergency in the Fall. Below will be found a table indicating the number of High School students who have worked in the various occupations listed :
Farm work - 49 Students worked 6,577 hours Store work - 45 Students worked 8,441 hours Greenhouse - 18 Students worked 3,372 hours Post Office - 13 Students worked 1,374 hours
Factories - 9 Students worked 1,102 hours
Total 134 Students worked 20,866 hou: s
206
The Post Office has reported that the 13 students working there, chiefly during Christmas time, were paid $893.10.
School Aids Students in Selecting Place in War Service. The teachers and counsellors in the High School put on an intensive cam- paign to familiarize all boys of draft age and those approaching draft age with the requirements for all types of service in the armed forces. The interests and abilities of each individual boy were studied and recommendations of changes in his program made to help him meet the requirements for any given branch of the service. In this way, the school has made available to the 41 boys who are or will be eighteen years or older on June 25, 1943 all the help which the teachers can give them to meet their particular interests in the war effort.
Physical Fitness Course Developed. The High School has changed its emphasis in physical education from general gymnastics to the physical fitness program issued by the Federal Government. This pro- gram includes the building up of the large muscles, boxing, physical alertness, commando tactics, and the development of physical stamina and endurance. All Sophomore boys in the High School now take this physical fitness work two or three periods a week, and the Junior and Senior boys five periods a week. To accomplish this, and because of the meagre facilities in the High School building, the physical educa- tion program for girls has been reduced to a minimum.
Reading Habits Studied. During the year, the High School teach- ers inade a study of the reading habits of the High School students through the medium of the Ohio Psychological Test and used the re- sults to improve the reading in their classes.
Personnel Records of Seniors Developed. In order to help Senior students better to understand themselves and to present definite rec- ords to employers or Army personnel officers, the school collected cer- tain data about each student which would give a picture of his achieve- ments and his specific abilities. The records developed for each student included :
Outline of studies and achievements
Results of the following tests :
Ohio State Psychological Test Revised Minnesota Paper Farm Board Test Minnesota Vocational Test for Clerical Workers Thurstone Employment Tests Personality Rating Scale Letters of Application
Letters of Recommendation
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Folders containing forms with the above information have been submitted to a number of employment managers who have made very favorable comments about them. The material is being re-organized so that each boy or girl may have a complete record to present to au- thorities in the armed forces or defense plants.
Need for Expansion of Practical Courses. The work in academic courses has continued on the high standard of previous years. There has been little or no change in this program. Students, however, can- not get in the High School the training for many of the occupations vital to the war purposes. We are looking forward to courses in home nursing, metal machine work, the internal combustion engine, practical electrical work, and auto mechanics. These last three courses have al- ready been outlined by the Federal Government and should be included in the High School schedule as soon as is practical.
Greatest Need-Better High School Facilities. The greatest lim- itation to the development of more adequate secondary school training continues to be lack of space and instructional facilities. Reading is growing, and, from estimates made at various times, its population will probably increase to 25,000 by 1960. We should, therefore, look ahead and plan for an adequate High School immediately after the war. At that time it is estimated there will be available financial help in school construction.
THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
During the present year, the Junior High School has continued to meet the student problems which are typical of the intermediate school level. The social studies and mathematics teachers have organized the work of their departments to include much of the material developed in the war emergency. Global geography has been emphasized in the social studies classes, and the elementary mathematics of aviation in- corporated in the arithmetic work. The shop participated in the build- ing of 35 model airplanes, following directions from the State Depart- ment of Education and the Federal authorities. Twelve of these planes were shipped to the Government agencies to be used as models in study- ing airplane strategy. The English Department developed a guidebook for correction of errors in grammar and English composition. This guide was found very heipful in detecting and correcting poor English usage.
Study of Vocational Preference Made. In May of this year, the ninth grade students were given the Kuder Vocational Preference analysis. Each student's choice of studies for the Senior High School was largely based upon the record he made on this Kuder test. In the following diagram will be found what is called Vocational Preference Frofiles of two pupils in last year's ninth grade :
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VOCATIONAL PREFERENCE PROFILES
Mechanical
-
Computation
Scientific
Persuasive
Artistic
7
Literary
7
Musical
i
Social Serv.
7
Clerical
Percentile
-01
20-
30-
40-
-OS
-09
- 01
-08
-06
-001
= Girl
= = Boy
The scores which the pupils made on the test have been translated into percentiles. Each percentile represents ten percent of the normal distribution of scores on this test. The profile illustrating the interests or preferences of a pupil who would be exactly average in all nine traits would be a straight line on the 50 percentile line. Compared with this average profile is the line profile of a ninth grade boy and the broken- line profile of a ninth grade girl. The boy has shown very high ability to respond to mechanical and scientific material in the test. He also is at least average in the artistic area. There are favorable chances he will make a good architectural designer, perhaps of airplane engines.
It is interesting to note that though on the boys' profile the pref- erences for occupations termed mechanical and scientific were high, the response to computative occupations was low. The reverse was
209
true on the girls' profile. On the other hand, the girl's profile clearly indicates she has possibilities in teaching, social service work, coun- selling, or religious pursuits. The low score in the persuasion trait in- dicates that she may never be a director or executive in her chosen field. These two cases illustrate the study made of each ninth grade pupil this year. The results have been sent on to the High School for follow-up work and to form part of a more extended study of each student.
The school used the new forms of the Terman General Ability Test to check the rate of learning of each pupil. Knowing the pupil's learn- ing rate gave the teachers an index of how to adjust the school work to the pupil's interest, needs and understanding. In this way, thorough knowledge of the individual pupil permitted the teacher to have the opportunity to develop that pupil to make the most of his capacities.
The total enrollment this year is 527 which is 1 less than the Junior High School enrollment of 526 a year ago. The school per capita cost of $129.65 is $1.47 more than the school year of 1941-42. This cost re- flects some salary adjustments due to the increased cost of living, and the fact that the salary scale in the Junior High School is similar to that in the Senior High School. Other factors in the Junior High School per pupil cost are the relatively large number of men teachers and the separate school administration for the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. Transportation costs are particularly heavy for a Junior High School.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
During the year the total enrollment of all the Elementary Schools has increased, although this has not been true of each school. Below will be found a table comparing the number of children attending each school on December 1 of each year during the last four years :
School
1939
1940
1941
1942
Highland
403
357
367
365
Pearl Street
333*
398
400
436
Prospect Street
132
142
138
139
Lowell Street
99
115
123
120
Chestnut Hill
65
72
68
65
Total
1032
1084
1096
1125
*Center 192
Union 141
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This growth may be explained by increased home building in Read- ing and a larger number of families with small children coming here to live.
Throughout the Country, the circles of population growth are mov- ing farther and farther from the center of urban life. The intermediate area between the large cities and the towns 10 to 15 miles distant is now beginning to show the decline in elementary school enrollment which was noticed ten or fifteen years ago in the large cities. Conse- quently, the school population is growing in towns situated as Reading. As this tendency becomes more clearly marked, the people of Reading might well consider expanding elementary school facilities, particularly on the west side of the Town.
All of the Elementary Schools have emphasized social responsibil- ity in the classroom, outside the classroom, and in the home. Student councils have been organized in the Highland and Pearl Street schools. In these councils, pupils discuss various ways in which they can help in the school administration. These weekly meetings take up such sub- jects as keeping up the school grounds, assignment of work and re- sponsibility in the safety patrols, organizing War Stamp sales, devel- oping appreciation of courtesy, analyzing reports of behavior on busses, regulating conduct of pupils going to and from school, cooperation in the scrap drives, and other matters of concern to the school and the pupils, the discussion of which may give an opportunity to develop lead- ership, the sense of responsibility, and intelligent cooperation for the good of the school as a whole. When pupils actually participate in making their own regulations of conduct in the school, they meet the fundamental problems of society with more reality than when they merely read about the detached problems found in textbooks.
Club Work Expands. The Elementary pupils are enthusiastic about the various club activities which are held in the Elementary Schools once a week. Here is found opportunity for pupils to learn a great deal about the things in which they are intensely interested and to get the thrill from participating in the less formal aspects of education. The Handicraft Clubs have made Christmas cards, linoleum plates, and have designed table mats. The Sewing and Knitting Clubs have made aprons and scarfs, and during the winter have been knit- ting six-inch squares for a large afghan to be presented to the Red Cross. The Woodworking Club made toy animals for the Junior Red Cross, bird sticks for gardens, tree holders, feeding trays, bird houses, and many other articles. The Dramatic Clubs have helped in the audi- toriums by choosing scenery and costumes for plays, selecting plays for assemblies, and arranging for parts in productions.
211
Terto Show Continued Progress in Fundamental -. Last year the scores of tests were given showing the pupils of Reading were meeting and passing the standards in reading, arithmetic, and spelling. Tests giver. this year show about the same results and indicate that the pro- gram in the fundamental learnings of the Elementary Schools is steady and continually advancing.
The classes in the Reading Elementary Schools are, as a whole, do- ing better than the standards for their grades. Individual needs are emphasized, particularly in reading. During the year, many of our teachers have attended reading courses given by Boston University and at Stoncham and have been working continually in committees study- ing reading disabilities.
Reading is fortunate to have the services and advice of Dr. Mary Palmer, Psychologist of the Division of Mental Hygiene of the State Department of Public Health. Her report has indicated that cases of nervousness and slow learning are increasing in Reading. She sug- gests the need of more special class work. At present, our special class is crowded, and 16 additional children have already been recom- mended for admission. By next September, another teacher in the special class work may be necessary unless unforeseen changes occur.
Our schools are giving much more time to these fundamental learn- ings, particularly reading, mathematics, and the effective use of Eng- lish, both spoken and written. The schools this year have stressed an understanding of the war conflict as it affects the younger pupils. Much of the material along this line has given a great deal of interest to reading and composition work. We hope in this way to develop as well as possible an enthusiasm for the democratic way among the younger pupils.
SCHOOL NURSE'S REPORT
The School Nurse in her report has emphasized the need of in- creased support of the Dental Clinic situated in the Grouard House. This Clinic is run under the auspices of the Reading Good Health As- sociation and receives its financial support through the Reading Board of Health, Red Cross, and private contributions. Last year, the in- come of the Clinic was $1,297.48. The Clinic has been open two days a week and has had sufficient calls for three or four days a week. There is work enough to support a budget of $1500 to $2000. Most of the children pay something for this service. The School Nurse has ar- ranged for examinations by local dentists to survey the specific prob- lems which are facing dental care as carried on through the Clinic or- ganization.
212
During the State Clinic survey in February, 540 pupils, or 72%, of the 749 pupils in Grades 9 through 12 were given the tuberculin test. Only nineteen of these pupils were recorded as needing an annual check-up with X-ray and physical examinations.
Vaccinations have been checked for all children entering from other states.
Very careful study has been made of children coming to school with common colds, whooping cough, and other children's diseases. Prin- cipals have been advised to exclude all children having prolonged, an- noying coughs and to report these cases to the School Nurse for home visiting. In these ways, the School Nurse's Department has helped to reduce to a minimum absence due to disease.
A guide for observation of physical status of pupils has been issued and distributed to the teachers to help in their health work with their pupils. The School Nurse has followed up its use during the school year.
The Health Department faces possible restrictions of medical care and recommends that instead of a somewhat superficial examination of all pupils a thorough physical examination be given in certain grades each year and pupils needing further health service receive definite fol- low-up attention. In this way, about one-third of the pupils would re- ceive complete examinations each year. Examinations could be made in Grades 1, 3, and 6. Each year a new group of pupils would be en- tered in these grades and receive thorough examination at that time. The School Nurse is studying the possibilities of this plan for more definite recommendations.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN'S REPORT
Dr. Charles R. Henderson, the School Physician, has made the fol- lowing report of this work for the calendar year of 1942:
Physical Examinations at school 1908
Examinations for work at my office 17
Examinations for contagions at school 338
Visits on call at schools 146
Toxoid inoculations (diphtherian prevention) 595
Total 3004
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HELP FROM PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS
During the year, the Parent-Teacher associations have grown under the leadership of their local officers. The membership of these associa- tions has at all times been helpful to the school administration and has, in many ways, materially and financially aided school projects which in turn have permitted the school to do more things for pupils. The associations have contributed toward food for possible detention in air raid shelters. They have stimulated achievement of pupils by attend- ance at school functions and by contributing to the purchase of War Bonds and Stamps, and school flags.
The School Administration recognizes that schools belong to the community as a whole and appreciates the cooperation given in the development of the schools, particularly in the educational phases of school work.
The Superintendent wishes also to offer to the School Committee sincere appreciation of the freedom he has enjoyed to develop good schools for the young people of this Town. It has been a pleasure to work with a group of men and women anxious to make possible in the school organization conditions designed to bring about the best education for all the pupils concerned.
Respectfully submitted,
E. C. GROVER
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Age-Grade Table-October 1, 1942
Age Opportunity I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
P.G. Total
5 Years
79
79
6
109
61
170
7
1
15
89
54
2
161
8
1
2
29
92
52
176
9
7
5 22
86
49
169
10
3
6
26
93
40
168
11
"
1
5
6
20
94
49
2
177
12
2
3
5
28
88
39
165
1
9
26
87
47
170
13
"
1
2
14
28
89
66
200
15
3
2
1
2
6
33
103
64
3
217
16
"
1
10
25
62
94
1 193
17
"
5
20
76
2
103
18
"
1
5
16
2
24
19
"
2
2
20
"
1
1
21
" and over
Total
18
205
184
179
175
171
174
179
163
179
201
151
191
5 2175
"
"
14
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES READING HIGH SCHOOL Class of 1942 Outdoor Exercises, Junior High School Field WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE TEN Four O'clock Program RAISING OF FLAG and PLAYING OF COLORS Assisted by Scouts Roger Wheeler and George Arnold PROCESSIONAL MARCH High School Band
AMERICA Smith
Audience and Senior Class Led by Samuel A. W. Peck, Director of Music PRAYER-Rev. Myles J. McSwiney Salutatory "Challenge to Youth" Frances Lorraine Wheeler TORCH ORATION Ralph E. Herrick, Jr., Class President
ESSAY ESSAY "And This Too Shall Pass Away" "An Open Letter to My Parents" Earle Marshall Davis Georgiana Winnifred Poland Faculty Honors
Faculty Honors ESSAY
ESSAY "Use of Intelligence in Wartime" "America Is Worth Fighting For" David H. Littlefield Robert Nelson Crosby Class Honors
Class Honors
Valedictory "The Abundant Life" Marguerite Marstaller
CERTIFICATION OF CLASS ACCEPTANCE OF CERTIFICATION Dr. Elbridge C. Grover, Superintendent of Schools CONFERRING SCHOLASTIC HONORS Rudolf Sussmann, Headmaster CONFERRING DIPLOMAS Irving C. Austin, Chairman of School Board SALUTE TO FLAG-Led by Class President Ralph E. Herrick, Jr. STAR SPANGLED BANNER Smith
Audience and Senior Class Led by Samuel A. W. Peck, Director of Music BENEDICTION-Rev. Myles J. McSwiney RECESSIONAL MARCH
High School Band 216
GRADUATION CLASS READING HIGH SCHOOL 1942
Accounting Course
Robert Nelson Crosby
Robert Edwin Turner
Civic Preparatory Course
Francis Alfred Aglio
Juanita Alice Lewis
Dorothy Betty Arnold
George Daniel Marchetti
Howard Malcolm Bates
Warren David Martin
Richard Joseph Beaumont
Edward D. McIntire
Stephen S. Callan
Ruth Martha McMenamin
Walter A. Carder
Mary Josephine McNeil
John Joseph Carney
John Mentus
Charles Albert Carroll
Joseph F. Merrill
Virginia Harriett Chute
Robert Mathews Merrill
Natalie Helen Coker
Agnes Cecilia Meuse
Alfred Edward Colford
Christine Margaret Meuse
Charles William Collins
Gordon Philip Mills
Joseph Francis Collins
6
Edward Charles Noonan
William Harold Conron
Evelyn Bernardette Peters
John Harris Crooker
Florence Edith Pierce
Rudolph George DeRosa
Donald L. Plouff
Wilbur Vincent Doucette
Mary Phyllis Puzick
Arthur H. Foster Lorraine J. Fox
Thomas R. Ratchford
Ralph Arthur Frotten
Leonard E. Rose
Walter Charles Gallant, Jr.
Wesley F. Ryan, Jr.
Kenneth Allen Gray
Robert Saunders
John J. Griffin
Walter Edward Schofield
Kathleen M. Griffin
Bolis Felix Schultz
Jennie Victoria Gromyko
Lawrence C. Shaw
Ralph E. Herrick, Jr.
Herbert L. Sherman
Mary Elizabeth Higgins
Roy James Sherrod
Stanley Peter Hrynowsky
Martha Merrill Spaulding
Thomas Richard Hubbard
Michael Stephanian
William Henry Hudson, Jr.
Viola Stewart
Harry Rines Irons Paul Arnold Johnston
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