USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1926-1932 > Part 5
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Miss Catherine Graham and Mrs. Sarah Loupret, each of whom had done satisfactory work, resigned to teach in Lowell.
Miss Pauline Angier who had taught successfully in Dracut was selected by the Principal of Lowell Normal School to fill the vacancy at the North, and Miss Anna Sullivan, a recent graduate of the Lowell Normal School, and a Tewksbury girl, was selected for the West School. Each of these new teachers is starting the year's work with promise of success.
I am very glad that no other change among our teaching staff oc- curred. It is of untold benefit to our schools to keep efficient teachers for a tenure of several years at least.
Miss Lena Coburn who has taught sewing in the Foster School for several years is absent this year with the consent of the School Board. We expect that Miss Coburn will resume her work in September. Her place is filled by a substitute.
North. Last year I called to your attention the situation at the North School. The situation is unchanged. There are more children in the primary room than can be properly cared for, you will remember that this room was never intended for a school room, but simply for a reci- tation room for the training teachers.
The committee selected a year ago has prepared plans for en- larging this building. If the town cares to adopt these plans and build and addition to this school money may later be saved by keeping the pupils of the eighth grade at the North instead of transporting them to the Foster School.
Spaulding. The Spaulding School has been closed this year and all grades placed under one roof at the Foster School. From this fact it may be argued that the addition to the Foster was not needed. How- ever, this is not the case, the fact is that only six rooms were need at
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the New Foster when it was completed less that two years ago. These six rooms with the two rooms at the Spaulding housed the pupils at the Center. We consider it much more economical to place all eight rooms in one building as long as we are able to do so. The Spaulding School will be retained to be used in an emergency, it may be re- opened soon.
Shawsheen. I am pleased to report that this school has been wired for electric lighting. The primary room is the darkest of any room in town, and on cloudy days it was impossible for the pupils to work with their eyes. The lights will be found most useful.
The heating plant here which has always been unsatisfactory has been remodeled and renewed. There has been no opportunity to prove the worth of these changes as yet this season, but it is hoped that it will be possible to heat the building, and to equalize the heat between the rooms. This school has hitherto lost many days each winter on account of failure to heat the building.
Change in Committee. The sudden death of the Chairman of the School Board in the latter part of March was a great blow to the pu- pils of the Foster School. All knew Mr. Jackson and respected him as Chairman of the Board, admired him for his war record, and per- sonally liked him for his kindly, genial nature. The graduating class presented a large picture of Mr. Jackson to the school last June. And the present eighth grade has named their new school city, recently formed, Jackson City.
The School Board felt the loss of its chairman keenly but con- sidered it fortunate that Mr. H. L. Trull, formerly a member and chairman of the Board, consented to return and again act in that capacity.
Census. There is no marked change in the enrollment in the schools this year. The report on the school census which has just been taken in accordance with a revision of the state law follows:
Number of boys 5 to 7 48
Number of girls 5 to 7 47 total 95
Number of boys 7 to 14 175
Number of girls 7 to 14 180 total 355
Number boys 14 to 16 48
Number of girls 14 to 16 33 total 81
Total 531
of these minors under 16 years of age 46 are in high school, one in vocational school, and 17 in private schools.
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Institute. On Feb. 10, 1926 was held at the Parker Avenue School our second annual institute for the teachers of Dracut and Tewksbury In spite of one of the worst blizzards of the winter the day was a marked success.
There were sectional divisions in the forenoon in which the teachers with their classes took part. After a good lunch served by the ladies of the Hillside Church all met in the assembly room for a half hour of music under the direction of Miss Gregory. Two valuable and inspiring addresses were given by Supt. Bernard Sheridan of Lawrence and Rev. Percy E. Thomas of Lowell. Mrs. Larrabee who was present spoke in behalf of the Tewksbury committee and invited us to hold the institute in the New Foster School this winter.
Curriculum Activities. Since the change mentioned a year ago to departmental work in the seventh and eighth grades great interest has been shown among the teachers in developing the subjects which "they are daily teaching. In order to encourage this interest, and also to take advantage of the special study on the part of the teachers, I have invited teacher co-operation in working out new courses in Eng- lish, History and Georgraphy. Miss Howard and Miss Newbegin have prepared for me an outline in English which is now being tried. The same is true of Geography as prepared by Miss Spaulding and Miss Griswold, and of History by Miss Bragdon and Miss Bolton. I hope to enlist others in similar undertakings.
Banking. You will observe that Interest is kept up in the school banking. The sum of $1596.18 which your pupils have deposited within the year is a very considerable one. Often the deposits have been at the rate of $75 per week. In addition to the actual savings the habit of thrift is inculcated which it is hoped may reach over into the pupil's mature life. The dealings which the schools have with the Mechanics Savings Bank of Lowell have from the first been most pleasant.
Lunch Hour. About two hundred pupils at the Foster School carry their lunches, and must of necessity eat a cold lunch. The build- ing committee of the New Foster School prepared facilities for a very good kitchen in the basement, with plenty of room for tables in the girls' "playroom". Tables have been built, dishes and utensils se- cured, arrangements have been made with Mrs. Maclaren to teach the girls and supervise the entire luncheon hour.
Simple, nourishing foods, soups, hot meat sandwiches, etc., to- gether with hot cocoa are served at a minimum expense during the cold months of the year. Look in at 12-15 any school day and you will find some two hundred pupils with their teachers taking advantage of
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the hot lunch. The school physician and the nurse working under his direction are doing all that is possible for the health of your pu- pils.
Transportation. It is always an important and unsatisfactory task to transport children. About ninety pupils come to the Foster from Wamesit, and about twenty from Shawsheen. Both of these groups by trolley, we pay the Eastern Massachusetts Street Ry. Co. approximately $300 per month for carrying these pupils. There are ninety-two pupils from Tewksbury in the Lowell High School who must be transported. The school bus owned by the town and driven by James Manley carries forty. The barge from the West driven by Asahel Jewell carries twenty, more or less. There is also a small car from the North with five pupils. The total cost for transportation at the Foster and to the High is from $8500 to $9000.
Besides the cost the fact is evident that there is considerable dis- satisfaction with the trolley service. Many complaints come to the committee of the conduct of pupils on these cars. This is always the case where large numbers of pupils are transported by public con- veyance, it is no more true of Tewksbury than of other communities, perhaps less, but the complaints constantly reach us.
Many towns are transporting all their pupils by motor trucks. I believe that the time is ripe to consider this matter very carefully. Two trucks could do the work. Take the high school pupils from the Town to the city in the morning, returning with the Wamesit pu- pils to the Foster. After which one truck would drive down the boule- vard for the Shawsheen pupils, the other get the children from the West. I think that the scheme can be worked out successfullly.
Water at the Foster. It is a constant source of trouble and ex- pense when the water system fails. Such a good school plant as the New Foster should have a good water supply. I mentioned last year an experiment that the town of Dracut was about to make with a well in which the water had been condemned. The experiment was car- ried out this past summer at the Kenwood School. The well was re- driven, re-inforced, and is in constant use. Good water can be located in Tewksbury as well as in Dracut. I believe that this should be cared for by a special appropriation.
Parent Teachers Association. Tewksbury has had a Parent Teachers Association for five years. Every year the association does some especial thing for the schools of the town. This is at it should be; The mission of such an organization is two fold, to become more sympathetically acquainted with the teacher and the school, and to do some specific thing for the pupils which otherwise would not be done.
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I quote directly from a letter written by Mrs. Mahoney, President of the P. T. A. of this town. "During the past year the association has given pictures to the new rooms in the Foster School, prizes to pupils in the different schools for perfect attendance, and pins to child- ren in the seventh and eighth grades having 100 percent in a music test. The true significance of the Parent Teacher movement is to make our children happier and healthier, our homes better places in which to live, to help and encourage our childrens' teachers. If from every meeting of our association each member goes home with the conviction that he has an individual responsibility for the creation of better conditions for the children in the homes, the school and the community, then and then only are we performing the tasks with which we have been entrusted."
Playground. I can add nothing on this subject to what I reported last year. There are each day at the Foster School some 360 children. A playground is necessary. For about ten years we have hired the Lynch lot at the Northwest side of the school yard. The price of rental has increased. Besides this there are several places where a small amount of grading, such as dumping the ashes from the building would add to the value of the lot as a playground. I am firmly con- vinced that the town should own this land.
Manual Training and Sewing. No exhibit was held in wood work- ing this past June on account of the protracted absence of the instruc- tor, Mr. George Robeson who was the victim of a serious accident. The work is progressing this fall, and we hope for an excellent show- ing in June.
In sewing we are handicapped because of the absence of the teacher, Miss Lena Coburn. Miss Coburn has always done such ex- cellent work that we did not try to fill her place permanently.
Miss Alice Hearn, a graduate from Lowell Normal School who possessed certain qualifications in sewing was selected to serve as a substitute. After some twelve weeks, Miss Hearn received a per- manent position and gave up the work with us. At the present time Miss Gertrude Whelton, also a graduate of the "Normal School" is carrying on the sewing.
Graduation. On Friday, June 25, 1926 at the Town Hall the grad- uation of the eighth Grade from the Foster School was held.
After suitable exercises Mr. Herbert L. Trull, Chairman of the School Committee presented diplomas to the following pupils:
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Florence Banville, Carolyn Blanchard, Alice Crosby, Thetis Darby, Dorothy Foster, Alice Garside, Dorothy Galucia, Adella Greene, Ver- onica Kazetta, Elsie King, Harriet King, Edith Marion, Irene Meister, Gladys Penney, Katherine Stevenson, Ella Sutherland, Wesley Barron, George Blair, John Blaisdell, Angus Cameron, Frank Flaherty, Fred Flaherty, Vincent Gelinas, Efraim Hedstrom, Donald Johnson, Joe Jordan, Antonio Lambert, Ernest Livingston, Collin McKillop, Louis Marion, Paul McCoy, Richard Morgan, William Pupkis, Eugene Saw- itzky, Arthur Sparkes, David Sutherland, Francis Vogt, Emile Lambert.
Of these thirty-eight graduates, 25 entered high school, 1 attended vocational school, 7 remained at home, 4 left town, and 1 is taking a graduate course at Foster School.
High School. In September 1926 the following pupils were en- tered from Tewksbury at Lowell High School: Max Abrams, Helen Amiot, Wesley Barron, Mary Barousky, William Barousky, Francis Battles, Doris Blake, George Blair, John Blaisdell, Beatrice Bolton, Mildred Bolton, Julia Botos, Joseph Byron, Eileen Carmody, Nellie Chase, Alice Clancy, Gertrude Colby, Annette Cote, Thetis Darby, Dor- othy Davies, George Davies, Janice Farmer, Robert Farmer, Ethel Fletcher, Ruth Fletcher, Bertha Flint, Alfred Forget, Dorothy Foster, Marion Foster, Evelyn Fuller, Mary Furtado, John Gale, Emma Gal- encia, Ruth Garland, Anna Gelinas, Vincent Gelinas, Adella Greene, Marion Guyer, Anna Haas, Olive Haines, Efram Hedstrom, Donald Johnson, Dorcas Johnson, Joseph Jordan, Ruth Jordan, Gertrude Kane, James Katsirebas, Louise Kelley, Ruth Kelley, Elsie King, Harriet King, Herbert Larrabee, Wilbur Livingston, John Mahoney, Viola Marr, Edith Marion, Louis Marion, Paul McCoy, Collin McKillop, Irene Meister, Nicholas Metaxas, Louise O'Connell, William O'Neil, Ray- mond Palmer, Herbert Parker, Marie Parsons, Gladys Penney, George Peterson, Edward Pineau, Alexander Pinkos, William Pupkis, Amy Rambotham, Marion Rambotham, Harold Roberts, James Roberts, Churchill Rood, Bernice Roper, Grace Roper, Eugene Sawitzky, Robert Sawyer, Ruth Sawyer, Carrie Scarlett, Dorothy Small, Thelma Small, Arthur Sparkes, Katherine Sullivan, David Sutherland, James Tooth- aker, Arthur Trull, Velma Trull, Mary Watson, Edward Wener, Er- nest Livingston.
Conclusion. In conclusion I call to your attention the special reports which immediately follow and form a part of this report, and again do I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the loyal co-operation of teachers and supervisors, and the cordial support of the School Board.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES L. RANDALL, Supt. of Schools.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
To the Superintendent and School Board of Tewksbury:
As a part of one's education it is worth while to learn to read music and sing in a chorus or glee club; to learn to play an instru- ment and sing to amuse one's self; to learn to read music and acquire a knowledge that can be used to advantage if one wshes to consider music seriously. The routine work of the school room includes in- dividual and group singing, theory drill, music appreciation, and in the seventh and eighth grades a music memory contest.
The past year the teachers and pupils have given entertainments and in other ways helped earn money so that we now have new vic- trolas, where they were needed, also records for one of the greatest projects for music education ever put forth, that of music appreciation.
The entire plan of this course is based on the great educational principle "Proceed from, the Known to the Unknown". The first re- cords used contain songs which have become familiar to the class thro singing. Songs from their music readers are played by different orchestral instruments, both in solo form and in combination. The songs are the known factor in this experience, the unknown, the medium of expression. These form the first arch of the bridge over which the child passes with interest to the unknown field of instru- mental music. Familiar songs characterized by strong rhythmic ac- cents, are grouped as rhythmic songs and form the second arch over which the pupils pass to instrumental music which is unfamiliar. Thru familiar music the medium of expression become familiar, and so every step establishes the pupils in definite habits of discrimina- tive listening, with cultural effects.
In the annual Music Memory contest the pupils made a very good average, but the banner went to Kenwood, whose average was the highest. The 100 percent pupils were presented with perfect score pins by the Parent-Teachers Association. Money earned at the last entertainment of the Foster School was used for records and play- ground necessities. The West School is buying a new victrola and have a complete set of records. The money was raised by a concert and social, given by the teacher and parents of West Tewksbury. The pupils entertained at one Parent-Teachers meeting during the year.
At this time I wish to thank our Superintendent, Mr. Randall, for his help and co-operation, and the teachers for their splendid co- operation, also the Parent-Teachers Association for their gift of score pins.
Respectfully submitted, ISABEL M. GREGORY, Supervisor of Music.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the School Committee of the Town of Tewksbury: Gentlemen:
The past year has shown progress in improving the physical wel- fare of our school children. Warm lunches have been provided under the supervision of the nurse, at cost to the child, during the cold months and a fresh milk supply of excellent quality is delivered daily for those particularly, who are underweight. I commend the school committee for their interest and results obtained in this improvement of nutrition endeavor.
Our school nurse has been proving her value to the school sys- tem this past year in superlative way. She has supervised lunch hours and the quality and preparation of these lunches. Her attendance at the different clinics, driving the children in her own car and re- turning them to their homes has been constant and very helpful. Within a few weeks she has worked unceasingly with the school phy- sician and the State physican and nurses, loaned us in our emergency, to stamp out scarlet fever. A good nurse has become an absolutely in- dispensable part of our system.
I want to express here my appreciation of the assistance, freely given me, by the State Infirmary physicians and nurses, through the consent of their superintendent in our recent daily examination of the 300 children in the Foster school. One more question is before me, which is made more pertinent each time we have an outbreak of disease in the Foster School. The water supply. I believe that an- other year we should have a driven well supply which would be ac- ceptable to the Health Dept. If new land is acquired as anticipated I believe that we could find water there that would give us a perma- nent supply. This water supply problem must come sometime, why not next year. Let us keep it in mind as a near necessity.
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT M. LARRABEE, M. D.,
School Physician.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent and the School Committee of Tewksbury: As school nurse I submit the following report for the year 1926:
I have made two hundred and ninety six visits to the school. Every child in school has been weighed and measured every two months and a record sent home. In September more than seventy one percent of our children were underweight and almost twenty per- cent were in the dangerously underweight class. In December most of the children had made substantial gains. I believe this is due to the establishment of regular habits that come with the opening of school but I do wish these good habits would carry through the sum- mer months.
I have made one hundred and twenty seven visits to the homes. Most of the parents have been willing to co-operate with me to obtain corrections and control contagious diseases. I have taken one hun- dred and nineteen children to Dental clinics and thirteen to the hos- pital for the removal of tonsils and adenoids. I have obtained cor- rections in vision for four children.
Dr. Larrabee has vaccinated twenty eight children in school and thoroughly examined fifty children. I tabulated the defects found and will try to have them corrected. I have done eighty seven simple dressings in school.
During November and December the children of the Foster School were exposed to Scarlet Fever. Dr. Larrabee and I have done everything possible to prevent the spread of the disease. All children were ex- amined at frequent intervals. All children with suspicious looking throats were segregated and their temperatures taken. Children with elevate temperatures were sent or taken home and told to remain at home until I called and found them normal. During the time children in five families have had the disease.
Last winter I borrowed slides from the State Dept. of Public Health and gave illustrated talks on Health subjects.
During January, February and March I served hot lunches to the children of the Foster School. I think the venture has been a suc- cess and is a decided benefit to the children. The first of December I began to serve hot lunches again and more than a hundred children are benefiting by them.
Respectfully submitted,
January 7, 1927.
EMMA P. MACLAREN, School Nurse.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
To the Superintendent and School Board of Tewksbury:
What a wonderful word-Art and how much it brings to our minds when mentioned. We immediately think of the beautiful. The child certainly appreciates the beautiful just as well as an older person. That is one reason why Drawing is taught in the grades.
In the first grade the young child learns the colors-next they trace around patterns and color.
This is all very slow at first but by the end of December the children are quite capable of drawing vegetables, fruits, flowers, and simple landscapes.
Lets step into a second grade room for just a minute, we find the drawing lessons practically the same as grade one, with the exception that grade two can carry the problems further along and their work is neater.
The drawing in grades three and four show a big change over the work in grades one and two.
In September they study carefully the wild flowers and berries. We find them noticing the way the leaves grow from the stem also the buds and flowers. This is a big step over the way their flowers were drawn in grades one and two.
In October the study of the ruler is taken up.
November finds the third and fourth grade child printing the alphabet on squared paper and by the end of December their little Xmas problems with measuring and lettering appearing on them, show us they have accomplished quite a bit in four months time.
In grade five I feel that it is safe to place Water Colors The child by this time has learned to be careful and economical. Paints are very expensive to buy, therefore children must be taught to use the paints sparingly and carefully.
Grade five also shows us another step in drawing. The teaching cf "Perspective, or Appearance Drawing."
In grade six the color work we notice is of a better quality-this being because of practice in handling the brush and colors.
The problems given are practically the same as in grade five.
Into grade seven and eight and we find the class as a whole going into more detail. We especially notice this in Nature Work. The care- ful drawing of the way the buds and flowers grow from the stem, showing us the beautiful curves and twists that appear in nature, it is often times unnoticed unless studied.
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The students choose units and motives suggested by their nature work and create very beautiful designs, which are used in their next problem an all-over pattern, which is painted in two colors and black.
In December, grade seven and eight review the upper and lower case letters and numerals.
Their lettering is worked up into attractive Xmas problems such as calendars and Xmas Greeting Cards.
The Aim of the course is to increase manual skill, develop crea- tive ability and form habits of accuracy and neatness.
Respectfully submitted,
MILDRED D. SMITH, Supervisor of Drawing.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term, 8 weeks; January 3, 1927 to February 25, 1927. Early Spring Term, 8 weeks; March 7, 1927 to April 29, 1927. Late Spring Term, 8 weeks; May 9, 1927 to June 30, 1927. Fall Term, 16 weeks; Sept. 6, 1927 to Dec. 23, 1927.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL
Time. 7.45 A. M. Given by Whistle at State Institution.
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School
Teacher
Preparation
Length of Service
Length of Service in
Town prior Sept 1926
Total Enrollment
Membership
Average
Percent of
No. of Boys
No. of Girls
No. of Boys
No. of Girls
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
No. of Pupils
in Grade VII
in Grade VIII No. of Pupils
ach. Bank year Jan. 1.
1926, to Jan. 1, 1927
Foster,
Gr. VIII ..... Ethelyn Howard .... Salem Normal
15
4
48
46
44
95
13
15
20
Foster,
Gr. VII . .. .. M. Marguerite BensonGorham Normal
6
1
47
45
42
94
22
20
5
47
29
Foster,
. Ruth Piper ..
. Plymouth Normal
5
3
32
31
30
95
11
20
32
136.85
Foster, Gr. IV ...... Marion Piper
.... Plymouth Normal
3
2
36
34
33
96
17
19
36
114.98
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