USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1950 > Part 11
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$ 490.14
$ 1,244.12
Net Cost to Town
TRANSPORTATION
$ 14,000.00
Transportation
$ 12,633.01
SCHOOL LUNCHES
Appropriation - Town
$ 50,000.00
W. F. A. Reimbursement
7,001.78
$ 57,001.78
Receipts:
Cash for lunches
$ 29,175.56
W. F. A. Reimbursement
7,001.78
Inventory
2,289.63
$ 38,466.97
Total Cost of Operation
$ 47,238.32
$ 2,000.00
755.88
SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUDGET - 1950
-
Appropriations, Transfers & Refunds 1950
Expended 1950
SALARIES:
$ 24,575.78
Supt., Clerks and Enf. of Law
$ 23,665.93
11,833.32
Supervisors
11,832.80
23,533.32
Principals
23,401.07
313,773.95
Teachers
309,864.57
41,918.00
Janitors and Matrons
41,492.08
5,168.00
Health
5,049.06
$420,802.37
MAINTENANCE:
$
900.00
Supt. Office Expenses
$ 1,113.80
300.00
Research and Professional Study
287.17
500.00
Printing
483.52
650.00
Travel Expense
657.93
800.00
Prin. Office Expenses
796.42
1,800.00
Telephone
2,027.17
100.00
Travel Expense - Enf. of Law
100.00
$ 5,050.00
Total General Control
$ 5,466.01
INSTRUCTION:
$ 750.00
Travel Expense of Supervisors
$ 340.40
7,250.00
Textbooks and Supplementary Books
7,054.77
9,000.00
Supplies - School
6.45
Refunds
9,006.45
8,844.79
1,000.00
Supplies - Shop
1,520.96
400.00
Supplies - Domestic Science
530.38
700.00
Film
812.28
1,000.00
Physical Ed. Equipment
955.99
1,000.00
Athletic Insurance
900.00
1,200.00
Tests
1,176.68
3,240.70
Instructional Apparatus
2,711.43
250.00
Express Charges
212.70
$ 25,797.15
Total Instruction
$ 25,060.38
OPERATION OF PLANT:
$ 14,500.00
Fuel
$ 14,491.43
1,350.00
Water and Sewer
1,701.73
5,700.00
Electricity
5,002.40
100.00
Gas
34.93
$415,305.51
120
650.00
Laundry and Summer Cleaning
392.90
300.00
Ash Removal
318.65
250.00
Exp. of Supr. of Bldgs. and Grounds
238.08
5,500.00
Janitors' Supplies
4,637.79
$ 28,350.00
Total Operation of Plant
$ 26,817.91
MAINTENANCE OF PLANT:
$ 2,885.00
Grounds
$
3,221.28
4,565.00
Buildings
5,276.79
660.00
Service System
524.71
1,285.00
Plumbing and Heating
2,601.97
349.00
Furniture Repair
347.15
$ 9,744.00
Total Maintenance of Plant
$ 11,971.90
AUXILIARY AGENCIES:
$ 700.00
Library
$ 607.18
400.00
Health Expenses
364.50
400.00
Commencement
438.23
$ 1,500.00
Total Auxiliary Agencies
$ 1,409.91
CAPITAL OUTLAY:
$ 1,575.00
New Equipment and Furniture
$ 1,279.17
$ 72,009.70
Total General Maintenance
$
6.45
Refunds
72,016.15
72,005.28
420,802.37
Total Salaries
415,305.51
492,818.52
Grand Total
487,310.79
14,000.00
Transportation
12,633.01
3,000.00
Vocational Tuition
1,152.90
814.62
Safety Equipment
542.80
50,000.00
School Lunches
40,236.54
7,001.78
W. F. A. Reimbursement
7,001.79
121
AGE-GRADE TABLE -- October 2, 1950
Age
5
6 7
8
9 10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19 20 and over
Total
Grade 1
87
158
83
149
11
243
,
3
106 140
9
1
256
"
4
81 150
8
239
.
"
5
65
115
18
6
"
6
66
113
23
6
208
",
7
1 49
116
32
8
1
207
"
8
6
50
92
24
7
2
181
50
87
31
11
1
180
-
10
54
114
38
9
215
11
56
93
36
12
197
"
12
1
44
93
16
3
157
SC
1
1 3
5
1
1
1
Total
87 242 266
232 224
192 189 200
181
174 210
189
139
28
3
2556
PAROCHIAL SCHOOL
.
Grade 1
11
28
1
40
2
13
27
40
3
9
29
5
43
Total
11
41 37
29
5
123
GRAND TOTAL
2679
11
256
2
204
9
13
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Reading, Massachusetts Mrs. Milton and Gentlemen:
Herewith please find my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools, which is the 58th in the series of annual reports describing the work of the Reading Public Schools. This report reviews the work of the year 1950 and outlines plans and recommendations for the coming year.
Staff
As usual, Reading last year lost many fine teachers for the usual reasons and in two cases because reservists were called into the service. Capt. Alton C. Bennett, of the U. S. Marine Corps, left Reading September 15th to report for duty, and John R. Copithorne left on August 31st to enter the United States Army. Dr. Albert A. Morris, School Physician, left September 15th to enter the Navy Medical Corps. We feel keenly the loss of these men from the service and eagerly await their return at the conclusion of the emergency. An examination of candidates available to succeed Mr. Arthur D. Simonds, Jr., as Principal of the Pearl Street School, revealed that Reading would profit by drawing on the services of a man already in the Reading system and Mr. Wellington A. Brewster, of the Junior High School faculty, was assigned to the Pearl Street School as Principal. Teachers who have left are as follows:
Mary S. Corby
Virginia Grady Jean Mahaney
James McLaughlin Florence R. Popp Violet E. Rockney Helen Sault Arthur D. Simonds, Jr.
Grade 5, Eaton School Grade 1, Highland School Household Art, Jr. High School Grade 6, Pearl Street School Grade 1, Pearl Street School English, Music. Jr. High School English, Latin, Jr. High School Principal, Pearl Street School
In spite of the fact that it is very difficult to secure competent teachers late in the year to fill unexpected vacancies, we have been fortunate in securing the services of some outstanding teachers. Those who have been employed to fill vacancies are as follows:
Edward W. Roewer Mary B. Bailey
Elizabeth Beckett Edward Carriger Louise Eldridge Alice Welch Lorraine Pulson Bernard Huntley Wellington A. Brewster Margaret Sawyer Elizabeth Kerrigan Edward Smith
Spanish, English, Coach, High School Mathematics, Jr. High School English, Music, Jr. High School Science, Jr. High School English, Latin, French, Jr. High School Household Arts, Jr. High School Grades 3 and 4, Eaton School Grade 5, Eaton School Principal, Pearl Street School Grade 2, Pearl Street School Grade 4, Pearl Street School Grade 5, Pearl Street School
123
Three of the teachers above are additional teachers needed to ac- commodate what was anticipated to be increased enrollment and to provide for the new distribution of pupils in the different classes in the elementary schools.
Maintenance
The schools continue to maintain a strong program for the main- tenance of a valuable school plant. Beside the routine work of repair- ing or replacing the worn-out building appurtenances, cleaning of drains, etc., the program of redecorating classrooms in the various schools has been continued. Last year the rooms of the Lowell Street School were completely refinished in pastels which have helped so much to make the new Eaton School attractive, and this year all class- rooms on the first floor of the Pearl Street School were in the same man- ner redecorated, as well as five classrooms at the Junior High School. Additional blacktop was provided at the Pearl Street School, primarily to provide a greater play area for the wet fall and spring months.
Integration
As was pointed out last year, it is the feeling of the administration that general studies and development of courses of study can be highly unproductive of actual change for integration. The specific program which is being developed to correlate instruction in the various grades in the schools centers around the standardization of textbooks, and good progress is being made. This year we have examined all of the various arithmetics of the different publishers and teacher-committees have decided upon one which has been purchased for grades I through VIII. At the present time there is a teacher-committee working to as- sist all teachers in making the most effective use of the new series.
There is also at this time a teacher-committee representing all schools in town which is studying all publications in the Social Studies field and provision is made in the budget for the coming year to pro- vide an integrated series of texts in Social Studies for all schools. Texts in reading and literature are already reasonably well integrated and at another time a review will be made in the field of the Sciences.
Remedial Instruction
The Remedial Program in the elementary schools is proving of great assistance in meeting the needs of approximately 80 of our young people by providing special assistance to those who can best profit by such help. Several teachers in the Junior and Senior High Schools are de- voting extra time to classes organized for the purpose of providing remedial instruction.
Pupils in the Special Class continue to profit tremendously by the individualized program which is established specifically to meet their particular needs. This fall Dr. Fiske, state psychiatrist, examined 38 children and has made a report and recommendations for their care. It will be seen that we are successfully meeting the needs of those children who need special help to progress satisfactorily through school,
124
but in Reading, as in so many other communities, we are not, as yet, providing the enriched program which is desirable for our brilliant pupils. Steps will be taken in the next year to give some special con- sideration to these people.
Phonics
About ten years ago the traditional program of instruction in word analysis and pronunciation - phonics - was generally discarded nationwide in our school systems. The error of this decision is quite apparent and last year in our elementary schools a special program for this instruction was introduced. Already in the lower grades the advisability of this study is apparent and beyond question the result will be that eventually Junior and Senior High School pupils will be greatly more proficient in Reading and Spelling.
Equipment
We have been cognizant of the need for supplementary aids to assist teachers in their instruction and pupils in their learning. A con- siderable sum has been allocated both for the building of classroom libraries and for instructional films. While we continue to rent moving pictures and some film strips, the policy has been established to allo- cate a larger portion of the film budget to the purchasing of film strips which, in the last analysis, will prove a greater economy in both time and money. Our very active PTAs, through their contributions, have been very helpful in developing this program.
School Thrift
With the fine cooperation of the Mechanics Savings Bank we have been able to introduce the program in school thrift. All children in the first nine grades are provided a particular day weekly to bank their money within the classroom and returns from the bank indicate that almost without exception the children are taking advantage of this op- portunity. The obvious instructional advantage to be derived from this is evident and it is the hope of the administration that at least Read- ing children will possess this fundamental virtue characteristically possessed by their forefathers.
Health
Reading is most fortunate in having the services of able people who have developed an outstanding program in health. Quietly, but effectively, our teachers are working to develop our young people physi- cally, and Mrs. Clewley, the School Nurse, tirelessly devotes her time to assisting children when defects are noted. Through her efforts sight and hearing are tested and her advice and counsel to parents in other matters relating to health is invaluable. With the loss of Dr. Morris, School Physician, it is significant that our already overworked doctors met the challenge and Dr. Anderson, Dr. Baisley and Dr. Halligan are now conducting the physical examinations. The dental clinic continues to provide essential services in a section of the country which has an appallingly poor record in dental health. The program for immuniza-
125
tion continues effective work in preventative medicine, but in the pro- gram for school health the nurse and the administration strongly be- lieve that there is real need for a community health council which would be composed not only of the professionals but also citizens of the town who have real interest in this area. In times as critical as these, it is obvious that all forces in the community should be brought to bear in the support of the health of our school children.
Of no little assistance is the program of physical education and competitive athletics. The competitive program provides stimulus to the principle of a sound mind in a sound body, and a challenge to all pupils to compete in the traditional American way. The competitive program, however, may sometimes overshadow some of the principles enumerated above, particularly as they refer to all pupils in our system. It is for this reason that the broad program of intra-mural athletics, competitive within the school, should be recognized and further de- veloped. Ideally, every pupil in the system would engage in some competitive sport that all might derive the benefits obviously received by those who participate in the exhibition games.
This year we were particularly fortunate in securing the services of Steve Sarotta and Hal Moffie to assist in the coaching of the football team, as well as the services of Mr. Edward Roewer, who, this fall, be- came a member of the High School teaching staff. We regret the loss of the assistance of Mr. Edward Kevorkian who, after eight years, found it necessary to retire for business reasons.
The above report summarizes in some degree the progress of the past year. Below are detailed some of the recommendations and plans which should, or must, be undertaken to maintain or improve the level of instruction in the public schools in the years ahead:
Establish a psychiatric clinic.
Provide for supervision of Art in the elementary schools.
Provide for supervision of Penmanship instruction.
Provide for more time for supervision of Music in the Junior High School.
Provide for more remedial work on Junior and Senior High School levels.
Provide for fulltime guidance service in the High School.
Modify High School curriculum to provide adequately for all of the pupils.
Meet the immediate needs of the national emergency, primarily through instruction and program reorganization.
Make a careful survey of the need for additional elementary school classrooms.
Build an adequate high school in the immediate future to provide for increased enrollment and to make possible the secondary school pro- gram now essential.
126
Psychiatric Clinic
Formerly the various towns of the Commonwealth turned to the state for assistance in dealing with psychiatric problems. The facili- ties and trained staffs are located at Boston, Waverly, Danvers, Lowell, etc., but the case load which has now piled up against the staffs is such that it is impossible for Reading to secure nearly the amount of service which our problems warrant. In an effort to face the situation ade- quately, your Superintendent has arranged with the State Department of Mental Health and the neighboring towns of Wakefield, Stoneham and Winchester for concerted action to establish a psychiatric clinic to be composed of a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a social worker and a clerk. A very moderate cutlay on the part of the four towns will qualify the clinic for state and federal assistance of an equal amount. The expenditure of this money will in effect be the premium payments on an insurance policy in that the boys and girls assisted through the clinic, in all probability, will not later be state charges at mental or penal institutions.
Art and Music Supervision in the Elementary Schools
The popularity of Art in the High School has been such that the teacher's full time is devoted to the instruction in that school, where previously some time had been available for supervision in the ele- mentary schools. The result is that there is now little coordination in the Art instruction and some teachers are seriously handicapped be- cause of their limited degree of ability in this area.
In Music, in the past we have been fortunate in having three or more teachers in the Junior High School well qualified to teach Music. Today only one is so trained, with the result that Mr. Willey and Mr. Oliver must take time from the work in the elementary schools to carry this extra load. As soon as possible, provision should be made to secure the services of a part-time supervisor for Art and replacements on the Junior High School faculty should be selected partly on the basis of their ability in Music; otherwise, we should secure the part-time assistance of an instructor in Music.
Penmanship Instruction
Traditionally, from generation to generation, there is criticism of the penmanship of school children. The fact remains, however, that general business, including department stores, have found that the penmanship is so inferior that they have had to train clerks and others in order to save the profits which would otherwise be lost because of poorly written sales slips and records. Mr. Rinehart, who conducts many of the courses for the stores and businesses, also provides super- vision in schools and his results are outstanding. Reading should retain his services if our children are to write with the degree of legi- bility demanded by business.
Remedial Work in the Junior and Senior High Schools
Eventually Reading should afford the services of remedial teachers for both Junior and Senior High Schools. Increasingly, boys and girls of
127
low mental ability are staying in school instead of going to work and provision for their progress in school is the responsibility of the town.
Fulltime Guidance, High School
Reading is falling behind other communities in its failure to main- tain an adequate guidance staff which can offer the comprehensive program of educational and vocational guidance now commonly found in other good school systems. Four instructors now devote part time to this work but a comprehensive job cannot be done on marginal time. It would seem, therefore, that with the building of a new high school adequate personnel for guidance should be added to the staff.
Modify High School Curriculum to Provide Adequately for All of the Pupils
As was pointed out last year, almost 52% of the Reading High School graduates go directly to work. The implication of this fact is that a meaningful program of education on the high school level must provide specific training which will assist our pupils "on the job". The pro- gram should not attempt to offer trade school training, but should pro- vide specific training in the business practices, salesmanship, job in- terview techniques, and a training in those qualities of dependability, enthusiasm, initiative, and poise which are characteristic of good work- ers in business. The program in Arithmetic should be extended, as well as that in Business English. Also, the program should more realistically face the needs of all of our boys and girls in developing greater com- petency for the boys in the use of their hands and the girls in home- making. Boys should receive some training in this latter area.
Meet the Immediate Needs of the National Emergency
It is safe to say that many competent leaders in the country today believe that the United States faces the most serious crisis in its his- tory. The balance of power in international affairs seems to be bearing away from the United States for various reasons, and we suddenly feel very much alone in a belligerent world. We are vulnerable to physical attack and may be drifting into dangerous economic straits. There is altogether too much political cynicism and too little of the strong dy- namic nationalistic feeling which permeated this country in its earlier days. The program of the schools, to meet this challenge, falls into two areas - steps which may be taken immediately, and a long range program.
The short term program must consist of courses in first aid instruc- tion for all pupils in the Junior and Senior High Schools. With increas- ing tempo the facts of life in the slave state must be presented to the pupils and the positive side of liberty under law, as in America, must be emphasized. Courses in the High School must be modified, and in some cases, new courses added to better prepare our boys for service in the Armed Forces particularly in such areas as Science and Mathe- matics. We must look forward to the automatic drafting of all boys when they turn 18 years of age, and depending upon the conditions of
128
their service, adjust our public school program to meet their needs, per- haps by discarding, wherever possible, the present requirement of a fixed number of years in school to qualify for the diploma.
The long range program should consist of many things including an analysis of the way History is taught and the outcomes of such teach- ing, with a view to stressing the glories of the American tradition and heritage by using the emotional appeals of music, art and literature, and if necessary to acquire these things, to place less stress upon the cold fact-finding and analysis of the mechanics of our government. We must make our children understand that the dictators who use the big lie, who refer to their governments as new and modern, and to the capi- talistic, democratic republics as reactionary, are hiding behind words to cover their return to the slavery of the feudal state, and that actually the American government is the oldest living existing form of govern- ment in the world, but is still the most modern and revolutionary in its great experiment of providing freedom for all men and a voice in its government. America has no need of propaganda, if only it will pre- sent the facts accurately and with enthusiasm in its public schools.
The long range program will also present to all pupils an under- standing of the fundamental economics which made possible the wealth and production of this country, and the course will present the principle of thrift as practised and encouraged by Ben Franklin, and others, as something desirable and not to be scorned. The whole sub- ject of political competency should be reviewed and the cynical thought that one man's vote is without value rejected. There should be a re- alignment of thinking to try to eliminate the modern concept that politi- cal craftiness is humorous and that we cannot expect to find high- principled men in government. The object lesson of "confidence men" of all parties in our government should be observed and the noteable exceptions of men of high principle concerned more with the state and national welfare than reelection should be lauded. The national wel- fare and our way of life are at stake and the great bulwark which can protect and preserve it is the American Public School System. Sure- ly this is worth 2% of the national cost of government.
Elementary Schools
In 1944, when initial plans were made for the construction of the Eaton School, it was estimated that the school would open 12 of its 18 classrooms in its first year; in fact, 16 of the 18 were opened in the first year, and this year the other two rooms were used. In planning for pupil distribution in September 1951, the administration estimates that all rooms at Pearl Street and Highland Schools will be in use; that all will be in use at the Eaton School and still will not accommodate one sixth grade class. If only this one class is not otherwise accommodated, the group will be transferred to the Junior High School; if more than one group is involved, it will become necessary to reopen the Prospect Street School, which has four rooms. Although it may be possible to extend the size of some of the elementary school classes (to the detriment of the pupils) it is obvious that present facilities will not long continue to
129
accommodate elementary pupils if there is any more intensive building in Reading. The parochial school, will, in some measure, alleviate the problem but not as much as perhaps might be expected in view of the fact that the 40 pupils of a parochial school class come from all over town and merely change the distribution of numbers within a school without necessarily eliminating a class. The action of the School Com- mittee in anticipating expenditure for a new elementary school in the north end of town is in keeping with the facts now at hand. This situa- tion must be observed carefully so that adequate plans can be made for construction when such a move is indicated.
Build an Adequate High School
In recent years the need for a new high school building has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of almost all of the people in Read- ing. A recapitulation of the basic facts, however, is in order at this time.
The Reading High School will not accommodate the pupil load al- ready evident in the elementary and Junior High Schools. Statistics tabulated below indicate the numbers of pupils now in the elementary schools and the Junior High School who may enter High School. No provision is made for dropouts, but the growth of the town in all prob- ability will offset those pupils who might drop out.
High School Enrollment
Year
Reading
North Reading
Total
1950-1951
415
154
569
1951-1952
592
182
774
1952-1953
576
187
763
1953-1954
568
187
755
1954-1955
596
201
797
1955-1956
619
209
82S
1956-1957
651
243
894
1957-1958
741
255
996
1958-1959
819
311
1130
1959-1960
874
325
1119
During the past year over 200 water connections have been made, which, in all probability, indicates the number of new houses. It is obvious that by reason of available rooms alone the present high school, built to accommodate 450 pupils, cannot serve adequately. A serious problem will also develop at the Junior High School in the immediate future if additional quarters are not provided by building a new high school. The administration plans, with the building of a new high school, to place the 9th grade in the high school building, thus utilizing some of the spare rooms to relieve overloading in the Junior High School until such time as the bulge created by the unusual birth rate has been passed.
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