USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1943 > Part 11
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Supt. and Teachers
$193,738.71
2,457.50
Substitutes
2,457.50
22,340.60
Janitors
22,340.60
2,199.77
Compulsory Attendance
2,199.77
2,637.32
Nurse and Clerk
2,637.32
929.38
Medical Inspection
929.38
$225,619.00
TOTAL SALARIES
$224,303.28
MAINTENANCE:
General Control:
$
678.12
Supt's Office Supplies
$ 678.12
167.03
Research and Professional Study
167.03
358.58
Travel
358.58
86.80
Printing
86.80
377.33
Other Expenses
377.33
260.36
Grouard House-Operation
260.36
106.78
Grouard House-Maintenance
106.78
206.34
Grouard House-Capital Outlay
206.34 .
$ 2,241.34
Total General Control
$ 2,241.34
Instruction:
$ 402.68
Supervision
$ 402.68
308.06
Principal's Office Expense
308.06
2,211.77
Textbooks
2,211.77
1,812.14
Supplementary Books
1,812.14
450.34
Library
450.34
272.30
Commencement
272.30
884.91
Other Expenses
884.91
$ 14,832.77
Total Instruction Expense
$ 14,832.77
Operation of Plant:
$ 2,166.51
Janitors' Supplies
$ 2,166.51
8,474.95
Fuel
8,184.07
1,033.38
Water and Sewer
1,033.38
2,739.65
Electricity
2,739.65
301.48
Gas
301.48
613.57
Telephone
613.57
292.60
Other Expenses
292.60
10.00
Freight and Express
10.00
$ 15,632.14
Total Operation of Plant $ 15,341.26
137
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET-1943
Maintenance of Plant:
$ 1,164.57
Grounds
$ 1,164.57
794.58
Buildings
794.58
2,903.74
Service Systems 1,403.74
283.26
Plumbing
283.26
697.22
Instructional Apparatus
697.22
5.10
Furniture
5.10
47.92
Other Expenses
47.92
$ 5,896.39
Total Maintenance of Plant
$ 4,396.39
Capital Outlay :
$ 504.71
Alterations and Additions
$ 504.71
357.22
Furniture
357.22
1,859.00
Instructional Apparatus
1,859.00
130.21
Other Outlay
130.21
$ 2,851.14
Total Capital Outlay $ 2,851.14
Coordinate Account:
$ 137.50
Compulsory Attendance
$ 137.50
30.30
Medical Service 30.30
378.42
Nurse Service
378.42
$ 546.22
Total Coordinate Account $ 546.22
$ 42,000.00
TOTAL GENERAL MAINTENANCE .. $ 40,209.12
$ 9,500.00
TRANSPORTATION $ 6,701.94
$277,119.00
GRAND TOTAL $271,214.34
$ 1,500.00
INDUSTRIAL TUITION $ 889.95
$ 14,500.00
SCHOOL LUNCHES
$ 13,614.45
CHANGE IN PERSONNEL-1943
Left:
*Russell P. Taylor Florence Nigro
*L. Reginald A. Kibbe Charles L. Cummings
High School-Janitor April
School Physician April
Barbara Carleton
High School -English June
Evelyn Heal
Home Teacher June
Thomas S. Heal
High School-Physical Education June
Grace N. Heffron
High School-English Jan.
Pearl St. School-Grade 3 Feb.
Supervisor of Art March
Dr. Charles R. Henderson Carmen Burridge
High School-French June
Jr. High School-English June
138
.
Change in Personnel-1943 (continued)
Ruth S. Lauder
Pearl Street School-Grades 1 & 2 June
Jean Mckenzie
High School-Social Studies June Chestnut Hill School-Grades 3 & 4 June
Arlena Strong (sub)
Highland School-Grade 4 June
Hartwell W. Blanchard
High School-Science July
Olive S. Perry
Pearl St. School-Grade 4
July
Lois R. Markey
High School-Librarian Aug.
Walter L. Mirey, Jr.
High School-Coach, History Aug.
Dorothy Burgess
Highland School-Grade 3
Oct.
Lillian B. Davies
High School-Secretary Oct.
Mary M. DeSalvo
J.r. High School-Bus. Training Oct.
Ellen B. Miseveth
Jr. High School-Dom. Science
Nov.
Evelyn R. Shaw
Pearl St. School-Secretary Nov.
Albert R. Studer
Jr. High School-Shop
Nov.
*For the duration of the war 'emergency
Appointed :
Marion Brink
High School-French, English March
Ida Johnson
High School-Cafeteria March
Inez Woodberry
Supervisor of Art
March
Percy Curtis
High School-Janitor
April
Dr. Thomas F. Halpin
School Physician
April
Royal S. Adams
High School-Science
Sept.
Ruth Carey
Pearl St. School-Grade 1 Sept.
Beatrice Coleman
High School-History Sept.
Cecilia P. Fitzgerald
Pearl St. School-Grade 4 Sept.
Sept.
Elizabeth Hussey
Pearl St. School-Grade 3
Sept.
Albert W. Kent
High School-Coach, Phys. Ed.
Sept.
Edna Lambert
Jr. High School-English
Sept.
Beth MacGregor
Pearl St. School- Special Class High School-English
Sept.
Eleanor Skahill
Highland School-Grade 4
Sept.
Elizabeth Wood
Jr. High School-Bus. Training
Oct.
Andronike M. Houpis
Jr. High School-Music Oct.
Attendance Officer Nov.
Highland School-Grade 3 Nov.
High School-Librarian Dec.
Lois Collemer
Jr. High School-Dom. Science
Dec.
Beulah E. Ellis
High School-Secretary Dec.
Dorothy Walsh
Pearl St. School-Secretary
Dec.
139
Sept.
Mary E. Shay
Chestnut Hill School-Grades 3 & 4 Sept.
Elinor Erickson
Warburton J. Murray
Grace L. Gifford Elsie Bishop
Frances Haskins
Pearl St. School-Grade 3
Esther P. Smith
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Class of Service
Men Women
Total
Total Number of School Dept. Employees
34
87
121
A. Administration
.Total
4
5
9
Superintendent
1
1
Attendance
1
1
Visiting Teacher
1
1
Librarian
1
1
Directors and Supervisors
2
3
5
B. Supervising Principals
.Total
2
2 4
High School
1
1
Junior High School
1
1
Elementary Schools
2
2
C. Teachers
Total
16
64
80
1. Regular
Total
15
59
74
High School (Grades 10-12)
Total
8.3
11.4
19.7
Junior High School (Grades 7-9)
Total
6.7
12.6
19.3
Elementary (Grades 1-6)
Total
35
35
Highland
12
12
Pearl
13
13
Prospect
4
4
Lowell
4
4
Chestnut Hill
2
2
2. Special
Total
1 5
6
Art
1.5
1.5
Physical Education
1
1.5
2.5
Special Class
2
2
140
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES (continued)
Sum of A, B, and C
22 71 93
D. School Secretaries and Health Dept ..... Total
Superintendent's Office
3
3
High School
2
2
Junior High School
1
1
Highland
1
1
Pearl Street
1
1
E. Health Department
Total 1
1 2
Physician
1
1
Nurse
1
1
F. Janitors and Matrons
Total
11
3
14
High School
2
1
3
Junior High School
3
1
4
Highland
2
1
3
Pearl
1
2
2
Lowell
1
1
Prospect
,5
.5
Chestnut Hill
,5
.5
.
G. Cafeteria Service
Total
4
4
High School
2
2
Junior High School
2
2
8
8
141
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1943, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June, 1943 and Enrollment for October 1. 1943
School
Name of Teacher
Appointed Year
Grade or Subjects Taught
Educational Preparation
Total
Membership
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1,1943
E. C. Grover.
1939
Superintendent of Schools
Harvard, B.S .; Teachers' College; Columbia Univ., M.A .; N. Y. Univ., Ph.D .; La Sorbonne, Paris . .
2,340
2,109.70 1,915.12
93.66 2,166
Ruth C. Roberts.
1935
Secretary to Superintendent
Boston University, B.A ..
Helen M. Pratt.
1936
School Committee Clerk .
Reading High School .
Marjorie B. Batchelder.
1942
Clerk
Chandler Secretarial School .
Margaret B. Clewley .
1939
School Nurse
Newton Hosp., R.N .; Simmons, Cert. Public Health Nursing; Boston Univ .; Harvard.
Evelyn M. Giles
1939
Boston University, Mus.B ..
Thomas Halpin, M.D.
1943
Supervisor of Music, Elementary School Physician.
Boston Col., B.A .; Tufts Medical Sch., M.D.
Albert W. Kent.
1943
Dir. Phys. Ed. and Athletics.
Bowdoin Col., B.S .; Boston Univ., Univ. of Maine Suffolk Law School .
Warburton J. Murray
1943
Attendance Officer .
Samuel A. W. Peck.
1931
Director of Music.
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.
Jean F. Ramsay .
1941
Visiting Teacher .
Inez Woodberry .
1943
Art Supervisor
572
502.77
455.48
90.14
497
High .
Rudolf Sussmann .
1917
Supervising Principal
Luke Halpin.
1922
Myrtle W. Tilton
1926
Beulah E. Ellis .
1943
Clerk. ..
Reading High School.
Royal S. Adams
1943 1916
Science, Math.
Bates Col., B.S .; Harvard, Boston Univ ..
Elizabeth A. Batchelder.
Com'I Eng., Guidance.
Salem Normal; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard
Elsie Bishop .
1943
Colby College, B.A .; Simmons, B.L.S ..
Marion Brink .
1943
Radcliffe College, B.A., M.A.
Smith Col., B.A .; Boston Univ., M.A.
.
Alberta F. Drury .
1917 1942 Bookkeeping, Bus. Law, Arith. 1929 Math., Aeronautics, Science. Mathematics. . 1942 Latin, English.
Boston College, B.A., M.A .; Boston Univ. Mt. Holyoke Col., B.A.
Svea W. Kling
1940
Shorthand, Typewriting, Bus. Eng .. .
Burdett Col., Boston Univ., B.B.A. Sargent School; Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; M.I.T.
Florence G. Nichols
1929
Victor E. Pitkin.
1933
Clark Univ., B.A., M.A .; Harvard; Boston Univ ..
Frederick J. Pope
1922
Chemistry, Physics .
Colby, B.S .; Harvard, M.Ed .. Smith Col., B.A .; Boston Univ., M.A.
Jeannette B. Reed.
1941
English, German.
Mary E. Shay . ..
1943
English . .
Regis College, B.A .; Harvard.
Helen B. Stanwood
1937
Shorthand, Typewriting.
Occup., World Geography
Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Boston Univ., M.C.S .; Harvard. .. Mass. State College, B.S .; Harvard.
Hermon T. Wheeler 1924
Librarian. . French, English.
Cathleen Burns. Beatrice Coleman
1943
Radcliffe College, B.A .; Univ. of Vt ...
Posse Normal, Salem Normal, Boston Univ.
Irving P. Erickson
Clark Univ., B.A., M.A .. .
Joseph F. Fitzgerald
Mildred Holden
1942
Eng., Span., Dramatics History . .
Mass. School of Art, B.S.
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard
Asst. Prin., Math., Guidance Secretary .
Bowdoin, B.A .; Boston Univ., M.A .; Harvard Reading High School.
Phys. Ed .- High and Elem. Social Studies .
Y
.
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1943, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED-Continued Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June, 1943 and Enrollment for October 1, 1943
School
Name of Teacher
Appointed
Grade or Subjects Taught
Educational Preparation
Total
Membership
Average
Average
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 1943
High . Jr. High .
Helen R. Zimmermann.
1937 1935
Supervising Principal .
Wellesley, B.A .; Purdue Univ., M.S., Ph.D .. U. S. Naval Academy, B.S .; N. H. Univ .; Columbia Univ.
542
505.90
459.62
90.81
516
William A. Rich .
1928
Asst. Prin. Mathematics
Natalie Cate.
1935
Secretary .
Reading High School.
Beverly Alexander .
1942
English .
Radcliffe Col., B.A .; Univ. of Vt .; Hyannis T. C ...
Dorothy A. Allard .
1927
English
Salem Normal, Boston Univ., B.S. Ed ..
Helen B. Bean.
1931
English
Wellesley, B.A .; Columbia U .; C.C.N.Y .; B. U ..
Harriet S. Beattie .
1936
Art. .
Mass. School of Art., B.S. Ed ..
Lois Collemer.
1943
Home Economics
Framingham T. C., B.S. Ed ...
Marian D. Day .
1925
Science.
Mass. State Col., B.S .; Clark Univ., M.A ..
Grace M. Harriman
1928
Social Studies
Radcliffe, B.A .; Harvard, M.Ed .; Stanford U
Walter E. Hawkes.
1933
Physical Education, Hygiene
Univ. of Vermont, B.A .; Radcliffe, M.A.
Andronike M. Houpis.
1943
Music .
Lowell T. C., B.S .; A. I. N. M ..
Louise B. Jenkins .
1920
Social Studies.
Bridgewater Normal, Boston Univ., B.S. Ed .; Harvard .
Wallace Knowlton, Jr.
1942
Social Studies.
Springfield Col., B.S .; Columbia Univ., M. A ..
Edna Lambert.
1943
English .
Lowell T. C., B.S.E .; Boston Univ., Tufts Col ..
Inez H. Lewis .
1923
Mathematics
Gorham Normal; Boston Univ ..
Roderick E. Macdonald.
1937
Shop .
Fitchburg Teachers' College, B.S. Ed.
Clifford R. Nelson
1937
General Science
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 .
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 .
Framingham Teachers' College, B.S. Ed.
Albert H. Woodward
1941
Mathematics, Social Studies
Amherst Col., B.A .; Boston Univ. M.Ed.
Elizabeth Graham.
1941
Supervising Principal .
Framingham Normal, Boston Univ., B.S. Ed., M.Ed .; Harvard Univ ..
386
360.04
326.96
90.75
358
Alice L. Arsenault.
1933
Secretary
Reading High School.
26
24.07
22.04
91.57
20
Lillian F. Brann.
1930
Grade 5.
Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.E .; Boston Univ
33
31.35
29.01
92.54
29
Jean M. Butters.
1936
Grade 5.
Lowell Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Boston Univ
34
32.20
28.61
88.85 29
Dorothy L. Cronin
1933
Grade 2.
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ...
34
32.14
29.69
92.37 36
R. Hilda Gaffney .
1941
Grade 6.
Woburn High School, Boston Univ.
37
32.92
30.55
92.82
30
Matilda J. Gamble
1920
Grade 5.
Grace Gifford .
1943
Grade 3
Wheelock School Boston Univ.
30
25.94
23.12
89.13
29
Springfield Col., B.S ..
Genevieve P. Hook
1931
Latin, English, French .
Beverly High School, Bates Col., M.I.T., Harv.
Business Tr.
Elinor Erickson
1943
Biology
Robert F. Perry .
Salem Normal; Boston Univ., B.S. Ed., M.A.
Membership
Year
Highland.
Farmington Normal, Boston Univ
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1943, WHERE EDUCATED, YEAR APPOINTED-Concluded Showing Attendance and Enrollment for Year Ending June, 1943 and Enrollment for October 1, 1943
School
Name of Teacher
Year
Grade cr Subjects Taught
Educational Preparation
Membership Total
Average
Membership
Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Enrollment
Oct. 1, 1943
Highiand
Olive L. Joney
1933
Grade 6
Worcester Teachers' Col. B.S.Ed .; Univ. of Colo .;
26
24.86
21.93
88.23
22
Edythe M. McQuaide
1940
Grade 6.
Lowell Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed .; Tufts Col.
34
32.98
30.77
93.31
.37
Eleanor A. Miller .
1942
Grade 1.
Vassar College, B.A .; Boston Univ., M.Ed.
34
30.99
27.39
88.41
40
Florence A. Potter
1926
Grade 5.
Plymouth Normal, Boston Univ.
36
32.51
29.91
91.99
29
Eleanor Skahill.
1943
Grade 4.
Bridgewater Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed.
33
31.81
27.95
87.88
27
Florence V. Thackleberry
1931
Grade 6.
Plymouth Normal, Boston Univ ..
29
28.27
25.99
91.93
30
Pearl Street ....
Maud E. Adlington.
1936
Supervising Principal.
Simmons, Boston Univ., Harvard
498
424.86
384.23
90.30
454
Dorothy Walsh .
1943
Secretary .
Reading High School. .
Elsa Anderson ..
1942
Grade 6.
Hyannis Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed ..
30
25.89
24.31
93.90
26
Marjorie H. Buckle.
1927
Grade 4.
38
36.42
33.11
91.24
38
Ruth Carey .
1943
Grade 1.
16
12.88
11.62
90.23
24
Gienna A. Dow.
1919
Grade 2.
Hyannis Normal, Emerson Col., Columbia Univ., Boston Univ ..
40
30.92
28.79
92.98
37
Marian Z. Drew.
1941
Grade 6.
Aroostook State Normal, Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard .
38
33.64
31.28
92.98
37
Cecilia P. Fitzgerald.
1943
Grade 4.
Lowell Normal, Boston Univ ..
33
32.54
29.68
92.98
34
Carolyn C. Grace
1919
Grade 5 ..
26
22.70
20.70
89.35
27
Frances Haskins.
1943
Grade 3.
44
39.59
35.65
90.05
38
Velma E. Herrick ..
1927
Grade 1.
42
34.06
29.81
87.40
32
Elizabeth Hussey .
1943
Grade 3.
Framingham Normal, Harvard Col., Columbia Univ., Boston Univ ..
36
30.99
27.93
90.28
32
Beth MacGregor
1943
Special Class
Salem Teachers' Col., B.S.Ed.
35
25.58
22.56
88.19
28
Mary W. Moore.
1941
Grade 5.
37
34.34
31.59
91.97
34
Helen Newhall ..
1940
Grade 1.
Boston Univ., B.S.Ed .; Harvard, Tufts Col.
45
33.24
29.06
87.46
33
Helen D. Stockwell.
1930
Special Class .
Salem Normal, Boston Univ ...
23
18.36
16.12
87.83
17
Lowell Street ..
Nellie P. Beaton ..
1920
Grade 4, Principal.
Danvers High School, Hyannis Teachers' Col .; Boston Univ.
33
31.27
28.47
91.06
32
Isabel W. Carley .
1928
Grade 3 ..
Salem Normal, Penn. State Col ..
33
32.10
29.47
91.63
34
Jessie L. Goddard.
1926
Grade 2.
Bridgewater Normal, Boston Univ.
23
22.37
20.90
93.45
31
Elois Godfrey. .
1937
Grade 1.
Bridgewater Teachers' College, B.S.Ed.
34
33.38
30.16
90.36
34
Prospect St .. ..
Ada E. Dow ..
1909
Grade 3, Principal
Lowell Normal, Emerson Col., Boston Univ.
35
30.65
28.44
92.69
28
Alice D. Berry .
1927
Grade 1 ..
Bridgewater Normal, Boston Univ ...
43
37.61
32.93
87.49
45
Doris R. Cleary.
1927
Grade 2.
Salem Normal, Univ. of Maine, Hyannis Teachers' College, Mass. Univ. Ext ...
36
31.90
28.70
90.04
34
Framingham Normal; Boston Univ.
36
31.64
29.25
92.47
31
Irene Royea .
1928
Grades 1 and 2, Principal.
Aroostook State Normal, Boston Univ.
29
27.33
25.60
91.96
35
Elizabeth Wood.
1943
Grades 3 and 4.
Bridgewater Teachers' College, B.S.Ed ..
40
37.88
34.91
92.32
37
Helena Markham.
1934
Grade 4. .
Chestnut Hill. .
Alberta R. Mathieson.
1924
Grade 2.
Salem Normal, Boston Univ ..
Provincial Normal, Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ..
North Adams Normal, Boston Univ., Hyannis T. C.
Aroostook State Normal.
Perry Kindergarten Sch., Boston Univ., Tufts Col.
17
Posse-Nissen, Hyannis T. C., B.S.Ed .; Boston Univ. Boston Univ., B.S.Ed ..
Clark Univ .; Boston Univ., M.Ed.
Appointed
Average
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, 1943
To the School Committee,
Reading, Massachusetts
Miss Canty, Mrs. Holcomb, and Gentlemen :
Herewith please find my fifth annual report as Superintendent of Schools, which is the fifty-first of a series of annual reports relative to the work of the Public Schools of Reading.
At no time in the last twenty-five years has the school system struggled with so many problems.
THE SCHOOLS IN TIME OF WAR
In spite of 'extra requirements due to the war, the teaching staff has preserved the high standards of the past while at the same time enriching the pupils' background by the materials incident to the war effort. The High School, in particular, has recognized that for many students their present program contains the only general education they may ever receive. The faculty has, therefore, placed considerable emphasis upon fundamental knowledge and basic skills.
War Effort Added to High School Program
Following information and advice from the Office of Education and suggestions from leaders in the armed forces, the High School has given emphasis to the following objectives :
1. The understanding of the purposes for which we are fighting this war.
2. Knowledge concerning organization of the armed forces, and the opportunities various branches offer boys of special ability and skills.
3. Becoming proficient in the use of those fundamental skills upon which advancement in the armed forces is basically dependent. This means extra stress upon effective thinking, clear and accurate compo- sition, intelligent, rapid, and accurate reading, ability to observe ac- curately, and to understand directions to meet a given objective.
4. Learning technical skills which the Army suggests and which the High School has been able to offer. These skills include a thor- ough and complete course in mathematics, basic sciences including physics and chemistry, elementary aeronautics, radio work as found in the Signal Corps, drafting, machine shop work, and auto and air- plane engine repair.
5. Becoming physically fit by means of specialized physical train- ing courses for the development of body strength and rapid bodily action.
145
The Social Studies Department offered for the first time a course in world history which covered South American affairs, a modern view of the place of China and India in the world perspective, and an ap- preciation of the underlying causes of the conflict between the Allied and Axis countries. A course in world geography was also developed to help the High School students understand the significance of the global inter-relations of people in the rapidly developing air-age world.
Modern language courses have emphasized oral language, and in- terest in foreign tongues has been increased by the use of periodicals and papers printed in the foreign language.
High School Students In The War
By the end of the year, 325 former Reading students had joined the armed forces. Of these eight have made the supreme sacrifice by giving their lives for their Country.
During the year three of the High School teachers joined the armed forces. Mr. Russell P. Taylor was commissioned in the Signal Corps, Mr. L. Reginald Kibbee joined the Seabees, and Mr. Thomas Heal was inducted into the Army.
The name of Henry G. Ingersoll, Jr., a former teacher and coach in the High School who lost his life heroically in the Aleutian Island campaign, should be added as a tribute to his inspirational leadership of our High School youth in the classroom and upon the athletic field.
Due to the reduction in the enrollment of the High School because of students joining the armed forces and working in defense industries, the number of faculty members was reduced by two. This reduction was accomplished by appointing five teachers to the seven vacancies that occurred during the year.
The High School has continued selling war stamps and bonds. Throughout the year the purchase of war stamps and bonds amounted to $4248.10. During the fall a special drive was organized resulting in the purchase of an Army ambulance. The total sale of war stamps and bonds for this purpose amounted to $1750 which was $260 in excess of the objective.
Examinations for V-12 to admit students to the Army and Navy on special ratings were held in the High School. Fifteen pupils took these examinations. The report of the examining officers rated the Reading students very high in the results of these tests.
The value of the Raymond Memorial Library is increasing each year. During 1943, five hundred volumes were added to the Library.
Junior High School Education
The Junior High School 'enrollment has remained the same as last year. The number of pupils enrolled December 1. 1943 was 518 as against
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516 a year ago. Business training, Latin, and shop continue to be the most popular elective subjects in the eighth grade. Of the 160 pupils in the eight grade, 46 have elected Latin, 64 business training, and 51 shop; only 18 French, and 8 home economics. Among the ninth grade courses business training continues to be the most popular, with an en- rollment of 68 students; 55 take general science; 48 music; 43 home economics; 41 art; 36 Latin; 35 shop. In the ninth grade, not enough students wanted to take French to make it possible to organize a class.
During the fall the services of an additional teacher was secured to offer music to the same extent as it is offered in many other out- standing junior high school organizations. This move seemed desirable for the following reasons :
1. The growing interest in vocal and instrumental music in the elementary grades.
2. The desirability of extending the program of music in the High School.
3. To put music on a parity with other experiences on the junior high school level.
The Junior High School has carried out a thorough checking of the achievement of pupils by using standardized tests. These tests have shown that our Junior High School pupils have more than average general ability and that they exceeded the test standards, particularly in their reading ability, language use, arithmetical computation, liter- ature, social studies, and science. The grade averages in arithmetical reasoning and spelling fell a little short of the published standards of the tests.
The faculty of the school worked out a plan to meet these two weaknesses. During the year remedial classes were formed to meet between 2:30 and 3:30 to give individual help to pupils who were not doing work up to grade. The arithmetic teachers met with the sixth grade teachers in a committee, under the leadership of the Assistant Principal, to study the content of the arithmetic work, to eliminate duplicate and unnecessary subjects so that additional time and effort might be placed on the fundamental processes.
The student council is the heart of any well regulated school. In cu" Junior High School it serves an important place in the school ad- ministration. Among its various activities the most important are as f llows :
1. Sponsoring a successful bond and stamp selling campaign in connection with the Treasury Department's plans, which raised suf- ficient funds to purchase three "Jeeps."
2. Sponsoring and managing all social activities of the school sch as parties, dances, special activities, and the like.
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3. Organizing and managing a series of penny movie programs which are run during the lunch periods during the winter months.
4. Initiating a school organization to take care of the cleanliness of the school grounds.
5. Organizing a rubber and overshoe pool.
6. Assisting in improving conditions on the school bus.
7. Conducting an excellent school election for the selection of all school and grade officers.
The English teachers made a thorough study of textbooks last year in order to improve teaching and to bring to the students more modern material. As a result the Daily Life Language series replaced the older Tressler texts.
The Junior High School has felt an increasing need for specialized work in guidance beyond its well organized homeroom guidance ac- tivities: The need was felt especially with relation to the ninth grade boys and girls who may have to participate in the war effort. The plan of such guidance was worked out this fall and part of one teacher's time was assigned for this purpose.
During the year the Junior High School had opportunity to hear about and participate in various school projects. Among these were lectures given by the Extension Service of the Museum of Fine Arts and the viewing of exhibits sent out by the Museum; a series of talks and demonstrations on popular science by a science teacher ; assistance given to the Head of the Shop Department in building the World War II Memorial Honor Roll; and staging of a successful Minstrel Show, Variety Show, and Christmas Music Festival.
Increasing interest has been developed in the fall program of physi- cal education for boys. This has included instruction in football and participation in intra-mural games. The High School is now definitely feeling the advantages of the increased emphasis on physical education a few years ago in the Junior High School.
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