USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1920-1926 > Part 29
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Nearly a year ago a request was made by your Superintendent for an office, so that regular hours could be advertised for the benefit of those who might wish to meet him about school problems. Should a new building be erected, provision should be made for an office and general supply room in it.
For many reasons the attendance could be improved. It is a perfectly feasible plan for a group of towns, as Chelmsford, Westford and Ayer, to have the services of a full time attendance officer. This officer could be either a man or a woman, who, in addition, could distribute supplies and could perform such other duties as might be agreed upon. The fact that such an officer were available would act as a stimulus for better attendance.
In closing this report, which is my fourth and the thirty-second annual report of Superintendents of your schools, I will call your attention to the report of the principal of the Academy. The attendance this year is the largest in recent years, and the tendency will be for it to be larger still as the years go by. This will mean a housing problem, which can be solved either by adding rooms to the Academy as a senior high school, or by pro- viding accommodations for the seventh, eighth and ninth years under the organization known as junior high school. Towns that have accepted this type of organization as a means of solving the housing problem are Andover, Billerica, Dudley, Easton, Longmeadow, Marblehead and Spencer.
The report of Mr. Fitzgibbons, of the Sargent School, gives the reader an idea of the interest the people have in the evening school which he is teaching. The reports of Miss Ott, who has the commercial work, as well as those of the drawing and music supervisors, are of interest. Mrs. Wright's report covers the work done by her as nurse during the short time she has been with us. A report from the school physician was requested but not received.
Respectfully submitted,
H. C. KNIGHT,
Superintendent.
Jan. 17, 1924.
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Report of Westford Academy
January 1, 1924.
To MR. H. C. KNIGHT,
Superintendent of Schools.
The following is my twelfth annual report as Principal of Westford Academy :
ENROLLMENT
The total enrollment by classes at the opening of the school year, Sept. 5, 1923, was :
Boys
Girls
Total
Post-graduate
1
0
1
Seniors
7
7
14
Juniors
1
10
11
Sophomores
9
9
18
Freshmen
19
17
36
-
37
43
SO
Two students have moved from town, two others are attending school out of town, and one has left to go to work, making the present enrollment 75.
FACULTY
The faculty consists of Prin. W. C. Roudenbush, Latin and French.
Miss Katherine L. Ott, Commercial subjects ; Miss Daisy V. Bashford, Science and Mathematics; Miss Laura C. Gothberg, English and History ; Miss A. Pamelia Precious. Music, and Mr. Arthur G. Silver, Drawing. Miss Dorothy Latham, of the English and History department, resigned last June to take up work in China.
CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM
There are three courses of study known as the Academic, Commercial and General. The Academic course is designed to prepare students for College and Normal School; the Commercial to prepare for business, while the General course combines features of both the Academic and Commercial. School hours are from 8.35 to 2.30, with an intermission of 35 minutes at noon. Recitation periods are 40 minutes in length, except on Wednesday, when they are 30 minutes, and the recitations close at 1.30 P. M. During the hour remaining the School Orchestra and Glee Club receive instructions from the music teacher, while others study. The Orchestra practices in the Town Hall.
SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarship records are kept in four grades indicated by the letters A, B, C, D. "A" indicates work of decided excellence (90-100 per cent.) ; "B" work of certificate grade (80-89 per cent.) ; "C" passing (65-79 per cent. ) ; "D" failure (below 65 per cent.). Seventy-six credits are required for graduation. English and United States History are required subjects for the diploma.
Credits are reckoned by recitation hours. A report card, showing rank in each subject and in deportment and effort, is given to the student at the end of every month.
10
To represent the Academy as a member of any athletic team a student must maintain at least a C grade in all subjects.
PRIZES
Since 1916 the Trustees of Westford Academy have placed each year with the Principal the sum of $25 to be given as prizes. There being no restriction in the use of this money, the Principal may appropriate it for any school attainments he thinks best.
Besides the prize awarded by the Trustees, the Alumni of the Academy offer prizes of $10 and $5 for excellence in public speaking.
The plan adopted for the present year in awarding the $25 granted by the Trustees is as follows: The whole amount will be given to that class which shall have attained the highest credit during the year in the follow- ing particulars :
1. Highest percentage of daily attendance. 25 credits
2. Lowest percentage of tardiness. 25 credits
3. Highest percentage of scholarship 25 credits
4. Conduct, effort, and attitude towards work .. 25 credits
Each 25 credits is divided into four parts, represented by the numbers 12, 8, 4, 1. For example, a class might score 12 on attendance, 4 on tardi- ness, 8 on scholarship, 4 on conduct and effort, making a total score of 25. The class making the highest total score for the entire year wins the $25. We hope that this method of awarding the prize money will instill a certain class spirit and co-operative effort, since it is the general average of the group which determines the winner.
ATHLETICS
There are two separate Athletic Associations in the School, one for the boys, the other for the girls, with their own special officers. The associ- ations combine the income from monthly dues (25 cents per member) to pay the general running expenses.
Mr. J. H. Fitzgibbons, Principal of the Sargent School, is engaged by the Association as coach, and under his leadership the basket ball team is just now receiving excellent training. The Academy has played only one game to date, which they won from the Lowell Vocational School in Lowell, Dec. 11, 1923, by a score of 19 to 11.
The School again took part in the "All Student Track Meet" last May, both boys and girls competing as per rules laid down by the State. West- ford Academy was the winning school for boys with a total score of 25 points. Twenty-one high schools competed. Raymond Shea made the fourth highest individual record among all the schools. The girls stood fifth in the total scores made by the different schools.
As reward for the rank attained in this contest we received a plaque with the inscription "Interscholastic All Student Track Meet." "To this High School for the rank of honor it achieved."
Also a silver cup marked : "Massachusetts High School Athletic Asso- ciation, All Student Track Meet 1923." On Nov. 22 Dr. Carl Schrader, Supervisor of Physical Education for the State of Massachusetts, gave an address in the Town Hall and presented the above trophies to the Academy. This took place in connection with special exercises held in observance of "Education Week."
Saturday, Nov. 17, twenty-one girls went on a 15-mile hike with their teachers, Miss Bashford, Miss Ott, and Miss Gothberg. Two of the Senior girls entered the 50 and 100 yard dash events held at the Groton fair in the High School Athletic Meet.
The baseball season of 1923 was a successful one. Out of twelve games played the Academy team won seven.
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DRAMATICS
On May 4 the class of 1923 presented the "Importance of Being Earnest." Coached by Miss Latham, a very creditable performance was given. In the months of November and December two plays have been given, one by the class of 1924 entitled "A Perplexing Situation," the other "Renting Jimmy," presented by the class of 1925. Both of these plays were well rendered under the direction of Miss Gothberg.
A Christmas pageant, "The Spirit of Christmas," was staged on the same evening as the Junior class play, under the supervision of Miss Precious.
PRO MERITO AND TADMUCK CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Four members of the graduating class of 1923, viz., Alice V. Swenson, Persis Ormsby, Raymond Prescott, and Herbert Shea, obtained the neces- sary scholarship rank to admit them to the Pro Merito Society ; those of the present senior class winning honorary membership in the Tadmuck Club are Dorothy Anderson and Veronica Payne.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Academy students subscribed a sum of $10 towards the restoration of the Library of Louvain, Belgium, and lately have given to the Harding Memorial Fund. A canvass for subscriptions to the Ladies' Home Journal netted the School $40, which was paid to the Athletic Association.
Two representatives of the Bentley School of Finance were here in April and spoke to the boys about a course of study in that institution. Two boys of the class of 1923 are now attending Bentley School. Five other members of the class are pursuing their education in higher institutions.
At the Memorial Day exercises held in the Town Hall, Nathaniel Phillips, class of 1924, read a paper on the topic "Talks With An Old Veteran." The Girls' Glee Club helped furnish the music on this occasion.
Persis Ormsby, class of 1923, won the Washington and Franklin Bronze Medal given by the Massachusetts Society of Sons of the American Revolu- tion for excellence in United States History.
The senior class had their outing June 8, taking an automobile trip over the Mohawk Trail to North Adams and returning by way of Spring- field.
The Academy received recognition for "high professional spirit" by an enrollment of 100 per cent. of its teaching force in the National Education Association. We are recognized as a Class A School by the State Depart- ment of Education, and have the college certificate privilege from the New England College Certificate Board.
September 20, Mr. Frank Morse, State Agent for Secondary Schools of Massachusetts, visited the Academy and addressed the school. In the even- ing Mr. Morse gave an address in the Town Hall on "Moral Values in Education."
During the past year has occurred the death of two former Academy students, one Mabel Dane, who graduated in 1921, the other Anna Shaddick, who attended schoo! here during the year 1920-1921.
The Principal took one of the courses in education given at the Harvard Summer School in July and August this year, and he is also pursuing a professional reading course under direction of the Division of University Extension of the State Department of Education. Supervised examinations conclude each book read in this course, for which a certificate is issued.
The program of the gradnation exercises for June 20, 1923, will be found on the pages following this report.
Respectfully submitted,
W. C. ROUDENBUSH,
Principal of Westford Academy.
12
Graduation Exercises, Westford Academy Westford, Mass.
AT THE TOWN HALL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1923, AT 10 O'CLOCK, A. M.
PROGRAM
March with Overture
AMPIIION TRIO
Invocation
REV. F. E. WEBSTER
Salutatory
HERBERT JOSEPH SHEA
Chorus-"Morning Invitation" SCHOOL Veazie Salutatory Essay-Ancient Mexico HERBERT JOSEPHI SHEA
Class Will
CHARLOTTE PERRY
"Dry Yo' Eyes"
Land. burg
GIRLS' GLEE CLUB
Class Prophecy ALFRED RAYMOND PRESCOTT
Presentation of Class Gift
EDWARD CLARENCE HUNT
Acceptance of Class Gift
ADA EATON, Class of 1924
Schubert's "Serenade"
GIRLS' GLEE CLUB
Address
REV. F. E. WEBSTER, Waltham, Mass.
Chorus-"Hiawatha's Journey"
SCHOOL Wilson
Essay with Valedictory-Voices of the Field ALICE VIOLA SWENSON
Presentation of Prizes
HON. H. E. FLETCHER
Presentation of Diplomas
PRIN. W. C. ROUDENBUSH
Selection
AMPHION TRIO
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Class Motto-Keep Climbing Class Colors-Blue and Silver Class Flower-Arbutus GRADUATES Fisher Buckshorn Genevieve Anastasia Healy Edward Clarence Hunt ** Persis Ormsby ¡Charlotte Perry ¿Alfred Raymond Prescott #Herbert Joseph Shea Walter Raymond Shea ** Alice Viola Swenson
WINNERS OF PRIZES PUBLIC SPEAKING (Given by Alumni)
First Prize : Regina McLenna, '26. Ten Dollars.
Second Prize : Frank Jarvis, '24. Five Dollars.
Honorable Mention : Roger Hildreth, '26.
SCHOLARSHIPS (Given by Trustees)
Highest General Average for second, third, and fourth year students : Veronica Payne, '24. Five Dollars.
Highest General Average for first year students : Alice Remis, '26. Five Dollars.
Second Rank in General Average : Roger Hildreth, '26. Three Dollars. Third Rank in General Average: Alice Swenson, '23. Two Dollars.
Highest Percentage of Improvement over year 1922. First and Second
Prizes divided evenly between : Alice Socorelis, '24. Four Dollars.
Mary Wall, '25. Four Dollars. Third Prize : Olive Hanson, '24. Two Dollars.
* Academic Course.
¿Elected to "Pro Merito" Society of Secondary Schools. ¡Three Years' Certificate.
14
Report of the Commercial Department of Westford Academy
Mr. H. C. Knight,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir:
This year there are fifty pupils, each taking from one to three subjects in the Commercial Course.
The following change has been made in the course: Three years of bookkeeping have previously been offered. One year has now been elimi- nated, and in its place one-half year each of Commercial Geography and Commercial Law are given. The plan is to offer Commercial Geography during the first half of the Sophomore year, bookkeeping for the next two years-which will be until the middle of the Senior year-and Commercial Law the last half of the Senior year. This year, since the Seniors have already had two years of bookkeeping, there are both Sophomore and Senior classes of Commercial Geography. The same will be true next year. After that, the work can be given according to the above schedule.
J. Russell Smith's "Commerce and Industry" and Gano's "Commercial Law" are the text books for the new subjects.
A change has been made in the bookkeeping text from Miner's "Book- keeping" to the "New Modern Illustrative Bookkeeping" by Charles F. Rittenhouse.
Respectfully submitted,
KATHERINE L. OTT.
Report of Music Supervisor
Mr. Herman C. Knight,
.Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
My report as supervisor of music is as follows :
Last year Cameron school gave an operetta entitled, "Heart's-Ease and Rue," for Memorial Day. For graduation they presnted another operetta, "A Merry Company." Due to the excellent training given them by Mrs. O'Clair, all parts were exceptionally well done.
In Westford and Graniteville at the graduation exercises two- and three-part songs were sung by the graduating classes.
In the lower grades this year a great deal of our time has been spent with the monotones, or in other words, with the children who are unable to sing or carry a tune. With the teacher's co-operation the number of these children has decreased rapidly until there are only a few children in each school who are not quite up to pitch.
At the IIigh school graduation exercises the school sang the following choruses : "Hiawatha's Journey" and "Morning Invitation," with Charlotte Perry as soloist. The Glee Club sang two numbers, "Serenade" by Schubert, and "To a Wild Rose," by MacDowell.
The Glee Club has been organized again this year with an increase in membership. We now have thirty-three girls in the club. An orchestra
15
has been formed in the High school this year with about twelve members. Under the direction of the Principal. Mr. Roudenbush, the High school has devoted a few minutes' time each morning to community singing.
It seems to me that these things just mentioned are surely worth while, and with music now universally recognized as a study fully as important as any other subject taught. that more time should be given to this work. On account of the full program of the High school and that of the supervisor, the Glee Club and Orchestra meet but twice a month.
In closing I would like to thank all the teachers, principals and superintendent for their helpful co-operation.
Respectfully submitted.
A. PAMELIA PRECIOUS.
Report of the Drawing Supervisor
Mr. Herman C. Knight.
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
I submit my first annual report as supervisor of Drawing.
Aiming as it does. at the appreciation of beauty in art and nature. the practice of Drawing also brings to the school work. and later to the life work of the student a keener observation. and a cultivation of a broad view of things; for one is forced to select essentials and to learn what details to omit. It requires and develops memory. and most of all. judgment. The old idea that the ability to draw was a gift given only to a few and denied to the many. is not the one found today in the small public schools. It is now believed that anybody who can learn to write, can learn to draw well enough for it to play a useful part in the life and education of that person.
In the primary grades the drawing is of a simple story telling sort. as most children in those grades have unhampered imagination. and add to their ever-growing knowledge of things by trying to picture them crudely. If they are helped to observe and draw these things better. drawing will come to be used by them all through their lives as a language, or as another means of expressing their ideas.
From the third grade on. this illustrative and object drawing continues along with the study of design, which helps observation, orderly thinking and general neatness in all the school work. For example: First. the different directions of lines are studied. then simple shapes such as the square. oblong, triangle. circle, etc .. then the shapes and spacing of letters. the making of accurate margins, and the appreciation of the laws of design. repetition, growth, balance, etc.
Color is studied, and the work continues till at the eighth grade the student is familiar with representation (drawing in the realistic manner) and also with design, and has as well, a general appreciation of order and beauty in art and nature. This is the general outline of work in the grades, and the work is well started. I have co-operated with the teachers as much as possible. and deeply appreciate their help to me.
In the Academy, the study is along the lines of picture-making. learning
16
the laws of perspective, the training of the hand and eye to co-ordinate with the brain, by drawing from objects, and from the imagination, also gaining a better knowledge of color and design, and applying it to the making of borders, patterns, posters, cartoons and designs of all kinds, also to interior decoration, and to a general knowledge of good taste and an appreciation of beauty. Work along these lines has been started and progress is being made.
The time, forty minutes per week, is very short. I hope that later the time given to drawing will be increased and that it will be accessible to the three upper classes, as at present it is confined to the freshman class.
ARTHUR G. SILVER, Supervisor of Drawing.
Report of Night School
Mr. Herman C. Knight,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
December 19, 1923, completes the sixth week of the Graniteville Night School and in this time I have had an opportunity to really prove the value of this work.
School opened November 19, 1923, with one teacher in charge. The ages of the pupils range from sixteen to twenty-three.
Although twenty-five states in our Union and over fifty cities and towns in Massachusetts have had night schools, this is the first time that this community has realized the full purposes and function of this form of education.
Statistics have proven in the past that the average youth that leaves the regular schools at this age did so, because of a dislike of work or some particular phase of that work. It is true to some extent that some young people are forced out of school, because of economic reasons, but they are few compared with those first mentioned.
With this knowledge I was at first confronted with the problem of presenting to them something that will make them realize their needs of education. Although they are here only four hours a week, I give them that work which will help them to improve upon their respective jobs, and make them better citizens.
SCHOOL WORK
The classes consist of arithmetic, English, civics, history, spelling, penmanship and hygiene. Thirty-five minutes is allotted arithmetic. In this class I have two divisions, one, those who have had work below the seventh grade, the other, those who have had work above the seventh.
It is not my purpose to get the class to solve type problems from the book, but to solve those kind which have to do with their shop work.
All my arithmetic, civics, hygiene, and English composition have been based upon the work that is carried on in the shop wherever possible. For example, in English composition, the class responds to a lesson on "How
17
Wool is Manufactured into Cloth." Numerous other examples could be given if space allowed.
Great emphasis has been placed on training for better citizenship. They are taught that they have a part in civic affairs of the community. Their duties as future citizens are shown them by concrete examples, such as acting elections in the class room and appointing committees on affairs, etc.
DATA FOR YEAR ENDING DEC. 19, 1923
Men
Women
Total
Whole number of pupils
14
19
33
Enrolled first night.
13
14
27
Attendance
85%
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES H. FITZGIBBONS,
Dec. 20, 1923. Principal.
Report of School Nurse
To Mr. H. C. Knight,
Superintendent of Schools.
The following is a report of work done by School Nurse, November 1st to December 28th :
School visits
41
Visits to absentees 48
Home visits 41
Observation and advice 52
To physician, vaccinated
2
Taken to dentist
5
Dressings
3
Sent home for illness
2
To Lowell General Hospital for X-ray 1
Children of Frost and Cameron Schools examined by School Physician. One day spent by Nurse at a health conference held at Lowell State Normal School.
One day given to Agents of State Department of Health.
Children of Frost, Cameron, Sargent, Brookside and Parkerville Schools have been weighed and measured.
Steps have been taken to further the nutrition work that has been done among the children.
Whooping Cough, number of cases reported for the year, children of school age 14
Chicken Pox
9 Measles
Impetigo
2
Respectfully submitted,
ELVA L. WRIGHT, R. N.
18
Registration of Minors Ages as of April 1, 1923
Boys
Girls
Total
Persons 5 yrs, of age or over and under 7.
79
94
173
Persons 7 yrs. of age or over and under 14.
261
244
505
Persons 14 yrs. of age or over and under 16
48
56
104
388
394
782
MEMBERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY GRADES AS OF APRIL 1, 1923
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Grade 1
111
Grade 2
93
Grade 3
86
Grade 4
92
Grade 5
74
Grade 6
72
Grade 7
54
Grade 8
37
619
HIGH SCHOOL
First year
24
Second year
15
Third year
14
Fourth year
9
Fifth year
1
63
Total in Elementary and High schools.
682
Honor List
Pupils who were neither absent nor tardy during school year, 1922-23.
CAMERON SCHOOL
Grade IV- Lucien Milot Sophie Woroby
Grade V- Francis Delaney
Grade VI- Herbert Hunt Regina Smith
Grade VII- John Delaney Tony Smith
19 WM. E. FROST SCHOOL
Grade II-
John Whitney
Grade III-
Earl Stoddard
Grade IV-
Leo Stoddard
Harold E. Wright
Susan Whitney
Grade V- Herbert Ingalls Harold O'Connell
Grade VI- Edmand Belville Waller Belville Freda Wilson Grade VII- Elmer K. Bridgford Helen M. Gallagher Linwood Nesmith Ruth Nesmith
PARKERVILLE SCHOOL
Grade III- Norman Nesmith
SARGENT SCHOOL
Grade V-
Henry Stepenski
Grade VIII- Josephine Mardas Edward Stepenski
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
J. V. FLETCHER LIBRARY
OF THE
TOWN OF WESTFORD, MASS.
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1923
C
J.V. F
ARY,
1895
Lowell, Mass. COURIER-CITIZEN COMPANY, PRINTERS
1924
3
LIBRARY REPORT
January 1, 1924,
The Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library respectfully submit their annual report for 1923, including the report of the Librarian and the List of Books added in 1923.
The Trustees ask for the following appropriations, viz :
1. The sum of twenty-two hundred dollars ($2,200) to meet the current expenses of the main library and its branches.
2. The receipts from the dog licenses in 1923.
Notification has been received of the bequest to the Town of the sum of two thousand ($2,000) dollars, to be known as the Emily F. Fletcher Lecture Fund, the income of which to be administered by the Trustees and Librarian of the J. V. Fletcher Library and the Principal of Westford Academy for lectures to be given in the Town Hall upon natural history, forestry and travel.
JULIAN A, CAMERON, Chairman. ALICE M. HOWARD CHARLES O. PRESCOTT
4
7
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
January 1, 1924.
To the Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher Library :
The report of the Library for the year ending December 31, 1923, is herewith presented.
This year an unusually large number of books has been presented to the Library. Besides the 85 volumes, mostly fiction, given by Mr. Julian A. Cameron, seven have been received from Mrs. Gertrude Skidmore, fifteen on birds and flowers from Miss Emily F. Fletcher and a valuable collection on various subjects from Mr. Charles O. Prescott.
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