USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1960 > Part 10
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1. Walter S. Parker Junior High School. Installation of a com- plete new lighting and electrical system. New cork board for bulletin and display purposes in nine classrooms. Installed new outside doors at King Street entrance, woodshop and the auditorium. Painted exterior of building, two stairwells, cafeteria kitchen and west gym walls. Bricked up three gym windows. Converted 18 fire extinguishers. Reanchored all seats in the auditorium. Thirty seat and floor boards replaced on the stands at the athletic field. New drywall built in room 304.
2. Senior High School. Purchased 800 additional bleacher seats for football field. Installed new demonstration tables and wall counters in two science laboratories. Hottop repaired driveway in front of the school. Grading and seeding of new baseball field.
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3. Joshua Eaton School. Installed rubber base coving and formica sink tops in four classrooms. Converted seven fire extinguishers. In- stalled new shelves for library.
4. Highland School. Installed cork bulletin boards in first floor hallway and two classrooms. Converted six fire extinguishers. In- stalled aluminum coat rack angles and hangers in clothing cabinets in corridors. Installed 30 new trap units in heating system. Extended hottop on driveway east side of building. Installed new post and chain fence for playground. Extensive repairs to roof to stop leaks.
5. Pearl Street School. Safety treads installed on ramps leading to auditorium. Interior painting of stairwells and two classrooms. New floors and bookcases for library. New counters, cabinets and sink for room 108.
6. Prospect Street School. New floor treads and risers at entrance to school. Rubber tile and cove base installed on three stair landings. New door for cellar. New floor and stool on rear indoor fire escape door.
7. Lowell Street School. Loamed and seeded areas of front lawn. Repaired shed of girls' entrance. Safety treads on basement ramp. New door to custodian's room. New chimney cleanout door. Built wall and installed sink for custodian.
Many times during the past year we have called on the Municipal Light Department and the Board of Public Works for help and assistance with many maintenance projects. Mr. Stanford and his staff have been most cooperative. The Board of Public Works repaired the front drive- way at the Senior High School, rebuilt the baseball diamonds at the Eaton and Pearl Street Schools, did the engineering work and provided the supervision for the new baseball field at Birch Meadow, and helped with the construction of a new drain for the boiler room at the Parker Junior High School. The School Department is indebted to Mr. Philip Welch and his staff for this cooperation and assistance. The Reading Fire Department and Chief Perry have also given us aid and assistance with many school projects and problems. Regular inspections are made by the Fire Department to provide conditions of maximum safety for the children in all of the schools.
The fact that Reading has an excellent school department is due in large part to the outstanding caliber of the School Commitee. They are repaid for their many hours of hard work and personal sacrifice by the support they receive from the citizens of Reading and the devoted and dedicated service of all the people on the staff - teachers, super- visors, administration, secretaries, nurses, doctors and custodians. Any success that your schools may have in the future will result from the continued support of all these groups, and particularly by the general support given by the citizens of Reading.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT F. PERRY Superintendent of Schools
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READING MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Annual Report for 1960
Perhaps the most significant event of the year was the formal evaluation of Reading Memorial High School by a visiting committee of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The NEACSS is one of the six regional associations in the nation whose main business is to maintain high educational standards in member secondary schools and colleges. Prior to 1954, mere membership in the NEACSS was tantamount to accreditation by that body. In December 1954 it was voted to initiate a program of evaluation that would lead eventually to a more formal accreditation procedure for the public sec- ondary schools of New England. All such schools which are members or seek to become members of the NEACSS must undergo evaluation by January of 1965. Under this procedure a school must first conduct a self- evaluation, and then invite a visiting committee to make a formal evaluation. The basic philosophy behind this procedure has been "to upgrade and improve the school program rather than to judge the pro- gram arbitrarily in terms of a minimum standard." In the light of this philosophy the visiting committee usually makes a large number of recommendations that might help "upgrade and improve" the existing school program. Some of the recommendations are highly pertinent and should be given serious consideration for immediate or early action. Several others might best be described as "nice to have - sometime." All schools that are evaluated are notified eventually that they have been approved for continued or new membership in the NEACSS. Each school is required, however, to file a progress report at the end of two years. This report will show which of the recommendations of the visit- ing committee have been carried out; which are in the process of being carried out, and which were not or will not be carried out because the school feels they are invalid. Reading Memorial High School was voted continued membership at the annual meeting of the NEACSS in De- cember 1960 and is considered accredited for the next ten years.
The formal evaluation was made on April 5, 6 and 7, 1959, by a committee of sixteen educators headed by Mr. Daniel Alvino, Principal of the Grafton (Massachusetts) High School. For the benefit of the statistically-minded reader, this committee found 120 reasons to com- mend this school for doing a good job and made a total of 158 recom- mendations to "upgrade and improve" the school program. Several recommendations fell in the "nice to have" category and concerned such matters as the addition of a partition above the sliding doors which separate the boys' and girls' gyms, the finishing of ceilings in various storage areas, the installation of light-tight curtains in at least one room in each subject area of the building so that audio-visual materials may be more easily used, etc.
Few, if any, of the important recommendations involved any ele- ment of surprise or novelty. In most instances the visiting committee only expressed the felt needs of the teachers and administrators. Most of the committee's recommendations involved greater budgetary allot- ments and a few called for the expenditure of substantial sums of money.
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In relation to the general program of studies the committee recom- mended in part more guidance counselors at both the junior high school and the high school, closer liaison and articulation between the two schools, a language laboratory to enhance the success of the modern foreign language program, a school-wide speech program, a develop- mental reading program to supplement the remedial program already in effect, and the making of Problems of Democrarcy a required subject for all seniors.
In relation to the Art program, the committee recommended in part larger budgetary allotments for art supplies and furnishings, improved lighting of exhibit areas, and the creation of additional exhibit areas.
In relation to the Business Education program the committee recom- mended in part a cooperative study by the guidance department and the business department designed to attract more pupils to business courses, the encouragement of more college seniors and juniors to take personal typing, the addition of half-year courses in business law and retail sell ing, the differentiation of English courses for business pupils, the re- placement of old furniture, equipment and textbooks, and local business surveys and follow-up studies of graduates.
In relation to the English program the committee recommended in part a reduction in the size of college English classes, the addition of elective courses in creative writing, speech and journalism, the creation of a library of films, the expansion of the remedial reading program, the expansion of supplementary readings in world literature.
In relation to the Foreign Language program the committee recom- mended in part a reduction in the size of language classes, the purchase of new aural-oral textbooks, the inclusion of German or Russian in the program, the purchase of more slides and film strips on the various foreign countries.
Recognizing that Reading Memorial High School does not offer spe- cific courses in health education and safety but includes topics or units on health and safety in General Science, Biology, Physical Education, Home Economics and Driver Education, the committee recommended that a planned program of sequential topics or units be included within a specific course or courses, or that a planned program of health and safety instruction integrated with all subject matter fields involved be developed. The addition of a full-time nurse for the school was also recommended.
The committee appeared more concerned with the physical aspects of the home economics suite than with the instructional program per se. Recommended in part were the provision of an adequate hot water supply and the proper ventilation of the kitchen area. Also recom- mended were combination blackboard and bulletin boards, the en- closure of exposed pipes and other measures to improve the decor of the department.
Greater use of films, film strips and field trips to acquaint pupils with working conditions in industry and the development of an Indus- trial Arts library were recommended.
In relation to the Mathematics program the committee recom- mended in part that the initiation of a vocational math course for In-
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dustrial Arts pupils be studied and that a Math Club be organized to implement and extend the present curriculum in math.
Chief among several recommendations relating to the Music pro- gram was the purchase of new pianos and up-to-date sound equipment for the exclusive use of the music department. Soundproofing of the doors within the music suite to permit maximum concurrent use of the five-room area was also recommended.
The adoption of regulation gym uniforms for both boys and girls, the adoption of a towel system, mandatory showers after vigorous ac- tivity, improved ventilation of lockerrooms, reduction of class sizes, the addition of another female instructor were the chief recommenda- tions related to the Physical Education program.
Proper ventilation in the chemistry laboratry, replacement of old furniture and equipment, enlarged storage areas, added chalkboard area, and enlarged budgetary allotments were the chief recommenda- tions related to the Science program. A science seminar for especially gifted students was also recommended.
Gradual elimination of obsolete textbooks, more coordinated use of audio-visual materials, wider offerings in the curriculum were some of the chief recommendations related to the Social Studies program.
In relation to the Pupil Activity Program the committee recommend- ed in part greater frequency of the publication of the Rocket Hi-Lites, more entire class meetings, more opportunity for pupils to serve on com- mittees and to assist and plan student activities.
Increasing the Library budget to $4000 for each of the succeeding four years was a strong recommendation of the visiting committee as was "an immediate and adequate appropriation for the development of the audio-visual services." The addition of a full-time clerical assist- ant and the establishment of an audio-visual department in charge of a teacher with adequate released time were also recommended.
The committee recommended strongly that the Guidance Depart- ment be improved in part in the following manner: (1) by "putting the two present part-time counselors on a full-time basis and adding another counselor in the future;" (2) by providing adequate space for a recep- tion area, sound-proof counselor's cubicles with telephones, an area for collection of guidance literature and materials, a testing room and stor- age facilities; (3) by providing a full-time secretary; (4) by providing a planned junior high school guidance program and coordinating it with the high school program; (5) by providing in-service training, seminars and workshops for the faculty in guidance areas as needed; (5) by mimeographing a teacher's handbook covering the philosophy, organization and services of the guidance department.
Chief among the recommendations for improving the school plant were the installation of safety treads on the balcony stairways and safety runners on the aisles of the auditorium, and some means of con- trolling the smoke and odors that come from the incinerator.
Major recommendations in relation to the school staff and adminis- tration were the employment of a full-time head of guidance in the high school, a fixed responsibility in the junior high school for counsel- ing, the assigning of a teacher to public relations work, bonding of the school treasurer for her own protection, the relieving of all department
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heads of some classes and homeroom and similar duties so that they have more time for supervisory duties providing greater opportunity for students in planning and carrying out school activities and in self-super- vision.
Not necessarily as a result of the evaluation, but influenced in part by it, several steps have been taken already to "upgrade and improve" our program. In the area of guidance Miss Hart and Mr. Pacino are now full-time counselors. There is a full-time counselor at the Walter Parker Junior High School, and plans call for another full-time counselor at the Arthur W. Coolidge Junior High School next fall. Mr. Walter G. Paskowsky, the Director of Guidance, will be in charge of coordinating the guidance program at the various schools. Mrs. Ethel Gallagher has also been assigned to the guidance department as a full-time clerk. Still on the topic of guidance, preliminary studies are underway to re- model and renovate the guidance area so as to provide adequate counsel- ing and other facilities.
Another girls' physical education teacher will be added to the staff next fall.
The Student Council has been encouraged to become more active in planning and carrying out student activities. A sub-committee in charge of lunchroom supervision and other lunchtime activities has been functioning effectively, and adequate pupil supervision of the cafeteria is almost a reality.
Honor pupils are now entitled to special privileges which force them to assume greater responsibility for decisions of a self-directing nature. This program also gives recognition to the high achiever and serves as an incentive for pupils to put forth conscientious and persever- ing effort over a period of time.
Preliminary studies are also underway to provide adequate ventila- tion to the chemistry laboratory and to provide adequate shelving, chalk- board space, bulletin space, electrical outlets, etc., wherever vitally needed.
Gradual replacement of old or obsolete furniture, equipment, and textbooks goes on regularly as it has in the past. Greater budgetary allotments are being requested for books and instructional apparatus which are deemed essential to the various programs. The desirability and feasibility of a language laboratory and perhaps equally desirable but considerably cheaper alternatives are under study.
Shortly after guiding RMHS through the evaluation process, Mr. William W. Rodgers resigned as principal to accept a similar post in Madison, New Jersey. He was accompanied in this move by Mr. Alton C. Bennett who had served as assistant principal for two-and-one-half years. Mr. Ara A. Karakashian, Guidance Director for Reading schools since 1954, and Mr. Ernest G. Spence, Principal of the Birch Meadow School since its opening in 1957, were appointed to replace Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Bennett, respectively. Mr. Paskowsky, Director of the Boston YMCA Counseling Service for several years, was appointed Guidance Director.
When school opened on September 8th fifty-one classroom teachers and seven administrators and counselors were on hand to greet the largest number of pupils ever to enter Reading Memorial High School -
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some 1145 strong. Notable by their absence were two master teachers who had reached mandatory retirement age on or before the closing of schools in June. Although it is very difficult, if not impossible, to re- place teachers of the calibre of Miss Elizabeth Batchelder (commercial subjects) and Mr. Frederick J. Pope (head of the science department), we were very fortunate to secure the services of teachers who, by virtue of training and/or experience and their sincere enthusiasm for teach- ing, will undoubtedly prove worthy replacements and additions to the RMHS faculty. There were six new teachers in all: Mr. John S. Drabik, in Chemistry; Mr. William F. Robinson in Physics and Chemistry; Mr. Paul J Sullivan in General Science and General Physics, are new to the science department which is now ably headed by Dr. Helen R. Zimmer- man Mr. Walter T. Cahill in English; Mr. John L. Adams in the metal- working phases of Industrial Arts, and Mr. Peter F. Carbone, Jr., in commercial subjects are the other competent newcomers to the staff.
The size of the student body dictated some organizational changes. In order to reduce the work load in the office so that one clerk might be assigned full-time to the guidance department, the keeping of the regis- ters (daily attendance) was decentralized and assigned to the 39 home- room teachers. It also became desirable to have three rather than two lunch periods. This in turn necessitated the elimination of the 8th or activity period at the close of the school day. Some important activities are now scheduled so that they dovetail with pupils' lunch periods while others are held after the close of school. Eliminated also is the practice of detention of pupils, and to date there has been no noticeable loss of control over pupils. For a variety of reasons we are now operating on a rotating schedule which is well-liked by a majority of pupils and teach- ers.
While these changes have been taking place the main work of the school has gone on apace. By and large the staff continues to do an out- standing job in providing a climate for learning and a large majority of the student body takes advantage of the educational opportunities that are open to them. Seventeen members of the staff, eight under Fed- eral grants, pursued progressional studies during the summer. Four others taught at our summer school where 89 pupils were enrolled in driver education, personal typing, remedial algebra and plane geometry courses.
In all probability the Class of 1961 will present a profile quite simi- lar to that of the Class of 1960 which showed 67% planning to continue their education beyond high school with 41% entering four-year col- leges. Members of the 1960 class also were awarded scholarships by colleges or other agencies outside of Reading in an amount in excess of $21,000.
To date the Class of 1961 has five National Merit semi-finalists and seven others who won letters of commendation. Several members of the Class of 1961 have already been accepted into institutions of higher learning for next fall.
Much thinking and planning concerns the reversion of Reading Memorial High School to a three-year status next fall. Reassignment of some teachers and closer coordinate of the instructional programs at the junior high schools and at the high school are problems that de-
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partment heads and administrators are occupied with. Some profitable inter-departmental meetings between high school and junior high school teachers have been held already, while others are scheduled. Meet- ings have also been held with various committees of the Reading Coun- cil for Better Schools.
A start has been made in the direction of team teaching and large group instruction by Messrs. Cahill, Bond, O'Orlando, Roth, Miss Roy and others. The first three men are cosponsoring an Advanced Read- ing and Writing Group as a once-a-week lunchtime activity. Mr. Cahill, Miss Roy and Mr. Roth have cooperated in presenting lectures on art and music at proper times to Mr. Cahill's combined college preparatory English classes meeting during lunchtimes to supplement regular class- room instruction. Mr. Wales and Mr. Adams have also been cooperating to provide selected metal shop experience to advanced mechanical draw- ing students. Formalization and expansion of these and similar projects are contemplated as well as further reorganization of the school day to permit greater flexibility for experimentation with newer and possibly better methods of instruction.
Respectfully submitted,
ARA A. KARAKASHIAN, Principal Reading Memorial High School
WALTER S. PARKER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Annual Report for 1960
Once again our enrollment shows an increase over the preceding year, as the incoming Grade 7 is larger than the outgoing Grade 8. Also we are accommodating a room of Grade 6 pupils for whom there is no room at the Joshua Eaton School. In these circumstances it was neces- sary to continue the overlapping type of scheduling for Grade 7, with half the grade attending school from 8:15 a.m. to 1:35 p.m., and the other half in school from 11:35 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. The opening of the new Arthur W. Coolidge Junior High School, before this report is pub- lished, will result in a return to normal scheduling for all of Grade 7.
The opening of the Coolidge Junior High School also will make it possible for Grade 9 to return to the Junior High Schools from which it was precluded in 1954 by lack of space, in September 1961. This will save the Senior High School from a situation in which its enrollment would have been well above its rated capacity.
Again we have been very fortunate in retaining our excellent staff of teachers, losing only one whose contract was not renewed. During the past summer a full-time Guidance Counselor was appointed in this school, making it possible to give greater individual attention to the various problems of our pupils. We are fortunate to have one of our teachers well suited to such work. In addition to several years of teaching, Mr. Forrest Troop has had wide experience working outside of school with young people. Besides securing a replacement for Mr. Troop it was necessary to hire an additional teacher because of the increased
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enrollment. Although some teachers from the Senior High School will be available to us in September 1961, additional staff members must be secured in most subject fields.
Department meetings this year are concerned primarily with the return of Grade 9 and the necessity for making proper preparations for this event. The various departments are meeting with the correspond- ing teachers at the Senior High School in order to go over the outlines and materials which will be used, and to insure between the schools the coordination essential to an integrated program. Other staff meetings are held at this school as in previous years, although with the overlap- ping sessions it is impossible to find a time between 8:15 and 4:35 p.m. when all teachers are free.
The installation during the summer of flourescent lighting in our classrooms and corridors has made a considerable difference. We now have abundant light, properly distributed, so that on dark days or when the school is in use in the evening it is possible to see clearly and with- out strain. Painting of stairwells, exterior trim, and some classrooms also was done, adding considerably to the general appearance. Various other repairs and replacements were effected to maintain or improve the building.
ALBERT H. WOODWARD Supervising Principal Walter S. Parker Junior High School
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1960
The elementary schools of Reading opened on September 8, 1960, following a two-day preschool workshop for the entire staff. This work- shop provides an opportunity for principals and teachers to review school policy and establish educational goals for the ensuing year. With the improvement of instruction always uppermost in the minds of the staff this workshop has proven to be of real value and has now become an integral part of the educational program.
The Reading elementary schools experienced their usual turnover in staff again this year. Thirteen new teachers were hired to replace those staff members who resigned for various reasons.
In September of 1960 Mr. Dennis Murphy was appointed Supervis- ing Prinicipal of the Birch Meadow School to replace Mr. Ernest Spence who was appointed Assistant Principal of the Reading Memorial High School.
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