Town of Tewksbury annual report 1956-1962, Part 39

Author: Tewksbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Tewksbury (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1502

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Tewksbury > Town of Tewksbury annual report 1956-1962 > Part 39

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Knowing the difficulties and handicaps of our children during these past years, our teachers have put forth much extra effort to com- pensate for these deficiencies. Without the dedicated efforts of these teachers many of our pupils would have been lost in an educational morass not of their own making. The Town owes a great debt to these teachers for their unstinting efforts in the past. Continued added help and extra endeavor are necessary on the part of pupil, parent and teacher if we are to mitigate the damage which has been done.

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School-wide provisions have been undertaken with reference to our educational problems. General standards have been raised, par- ticularly at the secondary level. We have tried to create a climate in the schools which would improve the learning situation. We have tried to encourage pupils to look upon education as an opportunity and as an obligation to themselves rather than as a distasteful thing forced upon them by the law of the land. Efforts have been made to adjust the teaching-learning situation to the capacities of the pupils. This has resulted in grouping by subjects at the secondary level. In the inter- mediate grades we are conducting an experiment in grouping on the basis of achievement in Reading and Arithmetic. At the first grade level teachers are trying a co-basal reading series with their fast moving groups. We are trying to break away from the established pattern to permit our better readers to accelerate and broaden their reading. We feel that our pupils can assimilate the material much faster than it has been presented in the past. Our attempts in many areas are under continued study and review so that necessary adjustments can be made to improve the program of education.

In anticipation of the opening of the new high school in September 1959, the program of studies at the secondary level is being recon- sidered. A new program of studies with a change in the subjects offered at various grade levels is to be presented to the School Committee in the spring. Our thinking in this area is guided by the eventual organiza- tion into three years each of junior high school and high school as well as the present and future needs of our pupils and in light of the recommendations being made nationally. A logical extension of the revised program of studies will be a multiple diploma showing the accomplishments of our graduates in the programs they have carried through school. We will attempt to have our diplomas reflect the difference between the pupil who has done a good job with a hard program and the pupil who has met the minimum requirements for graduation.

During the past year major renovations were carried on at the present high school building. The gymnasium has been converted to six classrooms. These classrooms have been designed as permanent struc- tures. The ceiling has been lowered and new lighting and heating have been installed. When this school plant is expanded only slight changes will be necessary to improve the means of access. The Town owes much to the cooperation of Paul A. Fredette of the State Department of Public Safety in helping lay out the gymnasium alterations and to S. W. Haynes Associates for their expeditious architectural services.

Added classroom space in this building was obtained by making two regular classrooms in the shop. The shop and art room were moved into the lunchroom. A major improvement in this area was the installa- tion of cold cathode fluorescent lighting. Our own personnel have been of invaluable assistance in completing this and other alterations.

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Parents should note that the entrance age for admission to school has been lowered. The policy now requires that a child must be five years of age on or before January First of the year in which he is to enter school. We also urge that parents have their children undergo thorough physical examinations prior to entering school. This should be done carly enough to allow time for corrective measures where necessary. The requirements and responsibilities of beginning school are such as to make good health essential. We cannot place too much stress on the need for regular and adequate sleep and rest. Most first graders need to be in bed at 7:00 to 7:30 each evening. Parents who permit these children to be up after 8:00 P.M. regularly are injuring the health of the children as well as placing them under an unnecessary handicap in their school work.

The work authorized by the Town at the last Annual Town Meet- ing relative to fire escapes at the Foster School has been accomplished. We have had a survey made of our schools and the School Committee has authorized the construction of a fire escape at the Old Shawsheen School. Present plans call for the installation of automatic fire de- tectors and fire alarms. This would prepare the schools for direct tie-in with the Central Fire Station when the Fire Department fire alarm wires have been installed.

During the past year the liaison among schools has been improved through the formation of an Administrative Council. Members of this council are the Principals of the Schools and the Director of Guidance meeting with the Superintendent of Schools. From time to time other personnel are invited to participate in special projects or activities. The monthly meetings of this group are given over to discussion and planning of system-wide activities. These are also briefing sessions on policy and regulations. The meetings also serve as sounding boards bringing to bear the thinking of a number of individuals on a problem of concern to only one school. They also present the opportunity to evaluate sug- gestions from the field. The Town of Tewksbury is most fortnuate in having a group of the caliber of this Administrative Council. Many, many favorable comments have been made by those who deal with the members of this group. It is my sincere hope that the efforts of this group will not go unnoticed and unrewarded by the people of Tewks- bury.

Our approach to organization and planning for September 1959 is based on the assumption that the new high school will be complete and that St. William's School will absorb one or two classes at the elementary level. Plans call for housing grades 1-6 in the regular class- rooms of the present elementary schools together with two in the play- room at Shawsheen. The use of these 64 rooms would leave us short space for eight classes of grade six which will be placed in one wing of the new high school. The anticipated enrollment of 625 pupils in grades seven and eight would be housed in the present high school. The new

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high school would house the 645 pupils in grades 9-12 plus eight sections of grade six. The governing reason for proposing this plan of organization is the desire to continue grades seven and eight as a unit. Through the past five years of housing shortages, grades seven and eight have been shifted from school to school as full or partial housing was available. During much of this period, these classes have been on half- day sessions and in temporary classrooms. During the past two years much progress has been made in creating the climate of a junior high "school." There have been developed the beginnings of standards and traditions as well as pride in being part of the organization. A great deal of progress has been made in over-coming a feeling that everything is "temporary." To split these grades in the coming year would be cast- ing aside the progress which has resulted from much hard work.

A brief look at the financial picture of the operation of the schools should be of interest. Here is a comparison of the Appropriation Re- quest for 1959 as compared to the Expenditures for 1958.

For Instruction

1958

1959

$527,880.86

$649,676.00

Difference +$121,795.14

Instruction, always the major portion of any school appropriation, is involved with such items as salaries for teachers, principals, supervisors, substitutes, school clerks, general instructional supplies and textbooks, and expenditures for various departments such as physical education, industrial arts, summer playground and aca- demic programs.

For Operation

1958

$83,577.87

$114,116.00

1959 Difference +$30,538.13

Operation includes the expenses for the day-to-day operating of the schools with items of custodial salaries, coal, oil, water, gas, electricity, telephone, and custodial supplies.

For Maintenance

1958

$12,019.60

$15,050.00

1959 Difference +$3,030.40

Under Maintenance are included normal repair of buildings and equipment, upkeep of grounds, cost of labor and materials incident to these items.

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For Auxiliary Agencies

1958

1959

$29,454.00

Difference +$6,520.87

Auxiliary Agencies involve such items as libraries, health services, school lunch and other items including transportation. (Because of its size Transportation has been set aside.)

For Transportation

1958

$67,310.16

1959 $89,000.00

Difference +$21,689.84

For General Control

1958

1959

$20,402.08

$22,000.00

Difference +$1,597.92

General Control includes items such as School Committee ex- penses, Superintendent's salary and travel expenses, central office clerical help, school census, attendance officer, office expenses.

For Capital Outlay

1958

1959

$26,392.87

$22,150.00

Difference -$4,242.87

Capital Outlay includes the cost of major expenditures for new equipment, improvements to buildings and grounds, and various major items for various department needs.

The percentage of taxes charged to school expenditures is a gross amount and does not represent net expenditures. The gross amount is raised by taxation because the reimbursements do not accrue to the Town in time for the setting of the tax rate in that calendar year. These reimbursements are returned to the general treasury and may be used for such purposes as the Town may see fit. The Public Schools do not have the use of these funds.

These funds do, however, represent sizable earnings. A business which earns a "profit" of $224,000 on an investment of $942,321 is a very good business. The estimated reimbursement represents 24% of the gross appropriation request. You are actually paying much less for public school education than you think you are.

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$22,933.13

ESTIMATED REIMBURSEMENTS APPLICABLE TO 1959 APPROPRIATION REQUEST

Public Schools Appropriation

1959 Appropriation Request.

$942,321.00

Earnings:

Ungraded Classes. $ 8,300.00

Tuition and Transportation - Wards 5,000.00

Transportation - Chapter 71 43,125.00

School Aid - Chapter 70 167,675.27

Total $224,100.27

Net Cost of Day Schools from Local Taxation

$718,220.73

Public and Vocational Schools Appropriation

1959 Appropriation Request. $ 9,470.00

Earnings:

Tuition

$2,950.00

Transportation

610.00

Total $ 3,560.00

Net Cost from Local Taxation $ 5,910.00

On the following pages are further details of the operation of the schools. They are excerpts from the reports submitted to the Superin- tendent. Each of these will help to complete the picture of our activities.

DR. EVERETT G. THISTLE Superintendent of Schools

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HIGH SCHOOL (Lawrence R. McGowan)

The underlying philosophy of Tewksbury High School is to pre- pare pupils for participation in life's activities. This includes three broad fields of training :

1. Social - Civic (To be a good citizen)

2. Economic - Vocational (To be an efficient worker and pro- ducer)

3. Individualistic - Avocational (To make worthy use of spare or leisure time )

To attain these goals, we are constantly adjusting and enriching our curriculum and taking into consideration at all times the integrating and differentiating needs of our pupils. In order that pupils may as adults contribute to the maximum of their ability and receive the greatest benefit, we believe it necessary to educate the whole child. He needs a sound body and a sound mind as a foundation.

Specific Aims

1. To provide experiences to make a pupil a responsible and active member of his school, home, and community.

2. To furnish the terminal student with the basic tools of learning.

3. To prepare the student who plans to continue his education beyond the secondary level.

4. To promote the ability to think, analyze situations, and to adequately express ideas.

5. To develop a code of moral and spiritual ideals.

6. To build a sound mind and body.

The Spirit of the School

It is our aim to develop a type of discipline which will result in good conduct on the part of pupils whether or not teachers are present. We strive to establish in the minds of pupils a set of standards and a sense of values that will influence their conduct long after they have graduated. Tewksbury pupils are much above the average as a group in respect to their accustomed behavior.

Graduation 1958

On June 13, 1958, following remarks by Mr. Francis X. Kelley, Chairman of the School Committee, 89 students received diplomas from Mr. James A. Johnson, Vice-Chairman of the Committee. Presi- dents of the various organizations presented their respective awards,

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and Reverend William Lantagne, O.M.I., and Reverend Carroll Word participated in the program. The two students having the highest marks in the class also had important speaking parts during the exercises. They were Miss Miriam Anderson and Joseph Wells. Awards were made as follows: P.T.A. - Dorothy Dixon, Stasia Kohanski, and Alfred Larsen; D.A.R. Good Citizenship Certificate - Judy Palmer; B.P.O. Elks - Joseph Wells; Larabee Scholarship Medals - Miriam Anderson and Joseph Wells; Melvin Rogers - James Johnson and Robert Brooks; and the Balfour Award for Scholarship, Achievement and Loyalty to Joseph Wells.

For many years, some of our graduates have received financial aid from colleges they attended; others have been helped by the Tewksbury P.T.A., the Tewksbury Towne Players and other organizations, but it is worth noting that last June ten scholarships with a total value of $1275 were presented to certain graduates. In addition, and of special note, twelve of the students furthering their education competed with graduates of other high schools to earn themselves scholarships totaling $7300 at various colleges and universities. Local scholarships were awarded as follows: The North Street P.T.A. - Eileen Deming and Judy Palmer; Tewksbury Teachers Association - Stasia Kohanski; Heath Brook P.T.A. - David Sharpe and William Corcoran; Am-Vets - Joseph Wells; Year Book - David Sherwood; Tewksbury Towne Players - Judy Palmer; Class of 1958 - Miriam Anderson, Margery Palmer, and Margery Brown.

Academic Inventory

Guided by criteria recommended as a result of a recent study of fifty comprehensive high schools in twenty different states by Dr. James Conant, former president of Harvard University, an academic inventory of the 1958 graduating class was made during the summer.

Results of this inventory reveal that:

1. Five out of ten students have taken four years of college pre- paratory mathematics; the national average is four out of ten.

2. In the sciences, we are doing better than the national average which is six out of every ten students.

3. Only in our physics courses do we find ourselves slightly lower than the national average.

4. Our "academically talented" students are selecting the more difficult subjects and are not taking the easy way out.

5. 47.3% of our graduates are furthering their education beyond high school.

6. The overwhelming majority of students have been successfully placed either in a higher institution of learning or are placed in a vocation commensurate with their educational training.

7. Only two out of ten are taking a straight General Course.

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8. More of our students are taking the college preparatory course than heretofore.

Enrollment

The school's enrollment continues to grow. 189 Freshmen entered the building this fall to replace the 89 who graduated in June. By converting the gymnasium into six permanent classrooms and finding space in the building for three other classrooms, we were able to cope with this unprecedented figure. The new 1000 pupil building, expected to be ready for occupancy next September, should handle the anti- cipated 650 enrollment in grades 9-12. The space not needed for high school pupils will be filled with the overflow from the elementary schools.

Curriculum Changes

The conversions in the building, the increased enrollment, and the double session factor have resulted in certain curriculum changes. Our physical education, choral music, public speaking, dramatics, and club activities have been curtailed. Health and Review Mathematics have been eliminated. Due to the relatively small number who signed up for Home Economics, that course was not offered for the current school ycar. Spanish I and Psychology are now being offered again. Of special note is the addition of an Organic Chemistry Course to a group of high ranking students. This is a challenge to those participating and places the school in a position of joining other schools which are involved in the Advanced Placement Program.

By the elimination of our study halls, all students are required to take five periods of work daily. As each period is of a 53 minute dura- tion, our pupils are actually experiencing more actual class time than in either of the two preceding double session years.

Personnel

To staff the high school next fall, additional personnel will be needed to adequately and efficiently operate the new plant. The present administrative and teaching staff will have to be supplemented; extra clerical, custodial, and cafeteria help will also be needed. To be more specific, plans for 1959 should include the following:

1. A Vice Principal

2. A Dean of Girls

3. Two Guidance Counselors

4. One Clerk

5. Four Custodians

6. One Remedial Reading Teacher

7. One part time Audio Visual Coordinator

8. One full time Nurse

9. One full time Librarian

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10. Ten Teachers

a. English 2 e. Modern Foreign Language .... 1

b. Math and Science. 1 f. Physical Education (Woman) 1

c. Social Studies 1 g. Home Economics. 1

d. Commercial 1

h. Industrial Arts. 1

i. Music (Vocal) 1

A teacher-coach in any two of the above categories would aid materially and greatly assist in our present coaching or physical edu- cation staff.

Conclusion

I wish to express my appreciation of the opportunity given me to attend the convention of the National Association of Secondary Prin- cipals held at Indianapolis last March. It was inspiring and it provided means of getting help on particular problems from principals whom I met there. Permission granted me to serve on the Evaluation Com- mittee of the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools which evaluated Brockton High School during the spring is acknowledged with the deepest gratitude.

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Ralph W. Brown)

Possibly many people new to our community are not aware of the fact that this is only the third year that the Tewksbury Junior High School has been in existence in its present form. During these three years, the school has been on double sessions in a building inadequate in size and facilities for a Junior High program. Despite these limita- tions, the school has grown in size and its objectives and identity have come more clearly into focus. We have been continuously building a solid foundation for our school which will enable us to expand our curricular and co-curricular activities with a minimum of difficulty as more adequate space and a lengthened school day become available. In the meantime, we are providing an excellent Junior High program with high standards, free of frills and wasted time. This past year sound progress has been made in several categories.

Program

The length of our school day was extended from four hours to four and one-half hours plus one-half hour for extra help and makeup. Study periods have been virtually eliminated. We have continued to concentrate on the essential subjects of Science, Math, History, Geog- raphy and English supplemented by one period per week for all classes

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of Group Guidance, Home Economics for girls and Woodworking for boys. In recognition of the urgent need for Science today, Science in Grade Eight has been increased from three to five times per week while Science in Grade Seven has been increased from three to four periods per week. An additional period of History for both grades has been added. Our Group Guidance courses have been reorganized and through exceptional efforts by the two teachers concerned have become very meaningful and profitable. For the first time, Shop has been added to our program. It is proving a most popular and valuable addition to our curriculum.

The reading problem, common throughout America, has not gone unrecognized. For the first time we have a teacher who devotes two- thirds of her time working with small reading groups in an effort to help correct their various problems. Results after four months have proven most gratifying. In some instances, there have been two years of reading progress in four months time. It is my hope that next year we may be able to have a person devoted full time to this pursuit. S.R.A. Reading Laboratories continue to be used in the regular English classes to further improve boys and girls in this most important area. Time has also been provided in the program for three periods of Remedial Math per week. This has proven helpful to many of those needing extra help in this area.

An extensive reorganization of our Audio-visual facilities has been achieved through the efforts of Mr. Kenneth Young. This has done much to aid and supplement our instructional program. In-service train- ing in the use of this equipment has been provided for both teachers and a limited number of students.

Organization

A second area of progress centers around our school organization. Students have been arranged in homerooms in such a way that they are now more school-conscious. A new and simpler Permanent Record system has been devised and adopted so that the maintenance and recording of mark records would be more efficient. In conjunction with this system, a new simplified Report Card has been introduced, after considerable study. It is felt that this card more clearly and concisely reports the children's progress. New methods of control of school text- books and school property have been devised. Written and oral standards for work in all classes have been firmly established in an effort to maintain our standards as high as possible. Our library has grown and is now adequately organized as the results of the efforts of two teachers.

Our method of grouping has remained unchanged as we feel that our young people are provided the best possible educational oppor- tunities by grouping them with people of somewhat similar level of ability. We accomplish this grouping by testing, by past scholastic achievement and by teacher and guidance evaluation. We realize that

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no one can be infallible in making such decisions, so provisions have been made to more easily move a pupil from one group to another should a valid need be apparent. Such a method of grouping tends to help all pupils move along at their level of ability and tends to reduce frustration for those who can learn but cannot absorb as quickly as some others. This year much time, care and effort were devoted to this area with outstandingly gratifying results at the time of this writing.

Activities

A third area of progress has been in the extra-curricular field. Extra-curricular activities are necessary since every school must have cohesive influence other than the continuous routine of classes. Lack of a Gymnasium or Auditorium inhibits such a program considerably. Despite this handicap, eighty or more boys participated in Junior High football with continued unbounded enthusiasm. Seven games were played with other schools resulting in three wins, two ties and two losses. Twelve cheerleaders, who provided their own uniforms, cheered them on with similar boundless enthusiasm. About fifteen girls are participating in Baton Twirling. This year, too, a Junior High Drill Team and Color Guard have been organized through the efforts of Mr. Thomas McGuire and Mr. Theodore Michell, respectively.

Almost one hundred boys and girls continue to participate in choral work with excellent results. Band continues to grow and be an important extra-curricular feature for a number of students. Since the initiation of our Banking Program one year ago, our students have saved approximately $6000. Quite an achievement! Limited as this extra-curricular program is, it does at least provide some opportunity for interests other than classroom work.

Housing

Looking ahead, we see a continuing growth in enrollment. Next year, there will be approximately 640 students in grades 7 and 8. Our facilities are becoming increasingly inadequate to provide the rounded program we look forward to. The opening of the new High School will eliminate double sessions but will not eliminate continued crowded inadequate facilities. With each passing year, this problem becomes more acute, so it is keenly urged that some relief be provided the Junior High School as soon as possible so that the very best of opportunities may be offered to your children.

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Town of Tewksbury annual report 1956-1962, Part 39

Author: Tewksbury (Mass.) Publication date: 1956 Publisher: Tewksbury (Mass.) Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Tewksbury (Mass.)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: Tewksbury (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 1502