USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1937-1941 > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
231
87
373
Boys
46
260
89
395
-
-
101
491
176
768
-
-
-
-
-
-
..
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1939
Years Of
School
Teachers
Where Educated Service
WM. E. FROST Clifford M. Hunt (Principal)
Eastern State Normal, Boston University ..
1
Ruth P. Tuttle
.Lowell Normal
23
Mary E. Healy, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College
3
Claire LeDuc, B. S. E. .. .Lowell State Teachers College 1
Kathleen R. Hammersley, A. B.
.D'Youville College
1
SARGENT SCHOOL .... Chester V. Sweatt, B. S. (Prin.) .. Univ. of Main, West'n Reserve Univ. 8
Lillian G. Wright
Lowell Normal 24
Lottie D. Blodgett (Mrs.) .Farmington State Normal 20
Jean Bell
.Fitchburg Normal
9
Ann Harrington .Lowell State Teachers College
12
Mary L. Meehan, B. S. E. .Lowell Normal
1
Margaret S. Curley, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College
Muriel Thornton, B. S.
.State Teachers College, Salem
CAMERON SCHOOL .. Peter F. Perry, B. S., (Prin.) Hyannis Normal, Boston Univ. 15
Josephine R. Mardas, A. B. .Boston University 5
Madeline E. Stone .Keene Normal 9 Olga A. Remis .Lowell Normal 11
Marion E. Carroll, B. S. E. Lowell Normal, B. U., Lowell State Teachers Col. 2
Letitia W. O'Clair (Mrs.) Hyannis Normal ..
28
..
17
Ruth A. Walker .Lowell Normal
Louise E. Thompson, B. S.
Lowell Normal, Boston University 17
NABNASSETT
.Gertrude F. Donahoe (Prin.)
.Lowell Normal, Lowell State Teachers College 12 ....
Mary M. Reynolds .. Lowell Normal, Boston College 17
ACADEMY
.Julius H. Mueller, Jr., B. S. Ed. M (Prin.) .. Bates, Boston University ...
2
Frederick Delaney, A. B.
.Boston College, Boston University 4
Walter T. Pulsifer, A. B. .N. H. Univ., Harvard 2
Mary L. Robinson (Mrs.) Ph. B. .University of Chicago, Bates 12
Ethel N. Caldwell, A. B., M. A.
.Boston University, Harvard
8
Anna M. Sughrue, B. S.
Regis College
..
Ethel T. Tewksbury
Chandler Normal, Simmons
3
..
George O. Charron, A. B., M. A.
New Hampshire University
2
MUSIC SUPERVISOR .. Lilley Mae Moran
4
12 SCHOOL NURSE ........ C. Veronica Meagher, R. N. (Mrs.) St. John's Hospital
SUPT. OF SCHOOLS .... Roger K. Poole, B. S., Ed. M.
Tufts College, Boston University
116
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATES June, 1939
WILLIAM E. FROST SCHOOL
Eleanore Brenda Antonelli
Dorothy Louise Caless
Paul Sousa Carvalho
Arthur John Courtney
Teresa Frances Ditmar
David Chelvik Scott
Albert John Downing
Margaret Claudina Scott
Maurice Stillman Flagg
Gertrude Constance Smith
Walter Whidden Fletcher
James Thomas Waugh
John Edward White, Jr.
CAMERON SCHOOL
Alexander Alec Bobryk
James Joseph Brown
Marguerite Mary Brule Raymond Prescott Collins
Robert Connell Wilfred Cooney
Jacqueline Mary Cote
Catherine Marie Delaney
Vera Ann Halko
John Joseph Harrigan James Joseph Holmes Florence Yvette Labby
Beatrice Claire Lamy Dolores Virginia Milot John Young, Jr.
Margaret Genevieve Young
Joseph Michael Thompson James Walsh
SARGENT SCHOOL
Therese Lillian Boisvert Andrew Jacob Britko
Doris Rita Connell Marie Lillian Cote Rena Flora Mary Cote Roland Joseph Cote Francis Floyd Counter Alan Newell Crocker Nicholas Denisevitch Leopoldo Di Monda. Fernand Roger Gelinas
Rene Martin Hanson
Thomas Alfred Huges Leo Joseph Langley John Edgar LeCourt
Josephine Mary Lewkowicz William Quarters MacQuarrie Michael Joseph Makarewicz Lewis Philip Palmer
Arthur Thomas Perkins Eugene Joseph Rioux Mary Sygla Helen Mary Tandus
Ruth Eleanor McDonald
John Vincent McLean
Ruth Evelyn Moore
Isabel Rita Popolizio Virginia Schill
117
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF WESTFORD ACADEMY For the Year Ending December 31, 1939
January 1, 1940
Mr. Roger K. Poole, Superintendent of Schools,
Westford, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I am pleased, herewith, to submit my third annual report as principal of Westford Academy.
1. ENROLLMENT
The Academy had an enrollment on November 24, 1939 of 192 pupils, distributed among the four classes as follows:
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
1940
11
22
33
1941
15
28
43
1942
27
37
64
1943
29
23
52
82
110
192
Note: We require that a pupil have 15 credits to be a Sophomore, 35 credits to be a Junior, 55 credits to be a Senior, and 80 credits to graduate. This means that a pupil may have fewer credits than his class and still catch up.
The enrollment on the opening day of school in September 1939 was some 30 pupils less than the expected enrollment of 235. While this condition may be accounted for in part through pupil-transfers to other schools and through pupils leaving to work (especially the boys) the fact remains that many of these pupils, having reached the age limit compulsory for school attendance, just left school. If this is the case, then it would seem that our present curricular offerings are failing to serve the needs and interests of these boys and girls. Is this, perhaps, an indication that there should be some form of curriculum
118
revision in the not too distant future, along lines which will make the curriculum better adapted to the educational and vocational in- terests of this group?
2. SCHOLARSHIP
Improving the general scholarship level of the school continues to be one of our most important aims. We are attempting to stimulate better scholastic achievement on the part of our students in some of the following ways:
Honor Roll: At the end of each of our five marking periods an Honor Roll of all pupils attaining a rank of "B" or better in all subjects is published. Figures kept for the past two years as to the number of pupils attaining this distinction, reveal that there has been a slight, but none the less, steady increase in the size of our Honor Roll with each succeeding term. Approximately 16 per cent. of the school's total enrollment were on the Honor Roll for the school year 1938-1939, a slight increase over the 13 per cent. of the preceding year. This seems to indicate that the usual high standard of scholarship of the Academy is being maintained.
Further research in connection with students' marks reveals that an average of approximately 20 pupils each marking period miss the Honor Roll by just one subject, indicating an obvious need for still greater effort on the part of these pupils.
Ranks: The report card, issued bi-monthly, continues as our chief periodic contact between the home and the school. Parents are strongly urged to study this report carefully to note the progress their boy or girl is making. If the report does not come up to the expectancy of the parents, they are cordially invited to confer with the principal and with the teachers. Personal conferences between parents and teachers usually result in a better and clearer understanding between the home and the school. An increase in the number of parent-teacher conferences would greatly aid the teachers in their efforts to better understand the individual student and help them act more intelligently in dealing with the problems and difficulties of the individual.
Prizes: The awarding of individual prizes for successful scholas- tic accomplishment at the close of the school year is being continued. Through the generosity of the Board of Trustees of Westford Academy a sum of $35 is set aside annually to be used for this purpose. A de- scription of the various prize awards may be found in the Graduation Program of the Class of 1939 at the conclusion of this report.
Habits of Study: Failures and habits of study of the individual student are closely related. Poor study habits often result in much waste of time and energy on the part of the pupil and are responsible
119
in some degree for his failure to achieve successfully. This year infor- mal meetings of the Freshmen have been held for the purpose of in- structing them in correct study habit procedures. Some hints on "How to Study" were developed and a printed copy distributed to each member of the class. These meetings have also been instrumental in helping the first year student to adjust himself more quickly to his new environment. With the cooperation of the home in seeing that these study procedures are carried out, and with the continuance of such instruction by the school, it is hoped that better and more abiding habits of study will be acquired by all students, and thus lead to more successful pupil accomplishment.
III. CURRICULUM
Significant Trends - A report recently issued by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, dealing with the high school curriculum as it exists today, reveals the startling fact that " ... each succeeding decade from 1890 to 1930 has witnessed the doubling of the number of youth previously enrolled in high schools, and that today approximately two-thirds of America's youth of second- ary school age is enrolled in school." This same report further states that, "evidence today available points toward the secondary school of the future carrying all of the youth of high school age to the com- pletion of the twelfth grade or beyond."
This significant trend towards universal secondary education in- evitably means a school population with a range of interests, special abilities and aptitudes, vocational purposes, and life plans represent- ative of the entire population. What is meant more specifically, to quote the report, is "that a secondary school program must be provided in which the curriculum content and the methods of instruction are differentiated and developed to meet the capacities and needs of all types of youth."
In this same connection a recent nation-wide inquiry among school executives brings out the general realization on their part of the existence of a large group of students in high school today for whom the conventional program is poorly adapted. In fact, to again quote the report, "the general consensus of opinion is that the present program fails so signally to meet the needs of these students that they may be well thought of as educationally neglected."
The following statements taken from this same report are signi- ficant :
1. " ... the work of the world demands the fullest development of all types of aptitudes and abilities."
2. ' ... since society does need all types of abilities, and since
120
individuals very widely in these, it is absurd for an education- al institution which attempts to serve all youth to base its entire system of values upon a given type of academic apt- itude and then attempt to mould every pupil to this pattern in so far as possible:"
3. "As the American secondary school faces the future, the greatest problem of its organization and administration, as well as of its instructional program, is concerned with pro- viding adequate and appropriate education for all the children of all the people, and its supreme test will be met in the degree to which it succeeds in providing functional positive education for all youth."
Our Program-The program at the Academy makes provision for College and Commercial curriculums. Into these two categories fall many of our students. The remainder, however, either because of a non-interest in languages, or because of a disinclination to follow the straight Commercial curriculum are classified as General Students. As such, the subject offerings from which they can make up a program are limited, and to a large extent are ill adapted to their needs. The introduction of courses of greater social utility into our curriculum would be of real value in preparing these boys and girls for more successful and useful life after graduation from school. At least their introduction would give increased opportunity for these students to experience successful accomplishment, while at the same time effect a modernization of our curriculum in accord with current trends in this phase of secondary education.
IV. ADMINISTRATION
Faculty - Except for the resignation of Miss Mary I. Bohenko, who accepted a teaching position in the Braintree High School, the personnel of the faculty remains unchanged. Miss Anne M. Sughrue was elected in August to fill this vacancy in the Commercial Depart- ment. The fact that the teaching personnel of the Academy has re- mained the same for the past few years is an advantage to the pupils, in that they have not had to adjust themselves so frequently to new personalities and to different methods of instruction.
Provision for Make-up Work- To facilitate make-up work in the afternoon for those pupils absent on account of illness, or for other good reasons behind in their studies and justified in asking special help of the teachers, a schedule of make-up sessions adopted two years ago continues in operation. This affords an excellent opportunity for pupil-teacher conferences, and to remove misunderstandings of all sorts which may have arisen in connection with regular classroom
121
work. While pupils are expected to do make-up work during these sessions, this does not exclude the well-intentioned pupil from making up back work, or from obtaining extra help, during school time. In this case arrangements are made with the teacher personally.
Schedule for Make-up
Monday
Miss Sughrue, Miss Caldwell
Tuesday
Mr. Delaney, Miss Tewksbury
Wednesday Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Pulsifer
Thursday
Mr. Mueller, Mr. Charron
Friday
.. Open for Appointment
Fire Drills-Realizing the necessity for adequate preparedness for the quick and safe evacuation of the building in the event of such a calamity overtaking us, our regulations for fire drills were revised and put into effect soon after the opening of school in the fall. Four suc- cessful drills have been held since September. Emphasis is placed on the orderly and prompt exit of all pupils from the building, rather than on excessive speed. Class groups leave the building in the company of the classroom teacher, and once outside remain with the teacher while the attendance of the group is checked. Posters, made by one of the students, giving brief but clear directions for exit, have been posted in a conspicuous place in each of the rooms.
Library-The school continues to work in close association with Miss Day, librarian of the J .V. Fletcher Library. At three week inter- vals throughout the school year, Miss Day brings the "library" to the school and sets up shop in one end of the laboratory. Here pupils are allowed to come to select books, either for reference in connection with regular classroom work, or for outside reading reports. The fine ser- vice which Miss Day is rendering the students and the school is to be commended.
A thirty volume set of the Americana Encyclopedia has recently been added to the reference materials of the Academy. This reference work, of latest edition, replaces an older much used one, and so as to be more easily accessible to the students has been placed on open shelves in the English room. In addition to the Encyclopedia, three new Web- ster Standard Unabridged Dictionaries, of 1939 edition, were added at the same time as replacements for some, which through long service and constant use, were in extremely poor condition. These reference works are most valuable additions to the instructional facilities of the school.
122
V. VISUAL EDUCATION
A real effort during the past year has been made to expand our program in Visual Instruction. The increased use of auditory and visual aids to vitalize the subject matter in many of our courses has not only served to increase pupils' interest in their work, but has helped them to obtain a more thorough understanding of the subject itself. While the setting up and the administering of this expanded program in visual instruction has taken considerable time, it is felt that the educational values accruing to the students are of sufficient importance to justify the time and the emphasis which has been ac- corded this phase of our work. Some idea of the scope of the program we are endeavoring to develop may be gained from the following pa- ragraphs.
Micro-projection-Micro-projection, which may be defined as "pro- jecting on a screen, objects seen under a single microscope by one skilled in its operation", is a relatively new innovation in the field of visual instruction. Through the recent aquisition of such a projector for use in the biology classes, the instructional facilities of the Aca- demy have been considerably augmented. Now, by means of this pro- jector and a single microscope we can project the actual specimen many times magnified before the entire class; whereas before, we depended upon a single microscope used individually to serve the needs of all the pupils in two large sections of biology. A used microscope, in good condition, was acquired at the same time to replace our old one which was not adaptable for use with the new projector.
One of the many advantages of micro-projection is the certainty that all pupils, regardless of their ability to use a microscope, will see the specimen under discussion, and, moreover, will see it in exactly the same way. This, in itself, is a marked improvement over the pro- cedure formerly in use, of having each individual pupil learn the tech- nique of operating the microscope, in spite of the fact that only one instrument was available for this purpose.
The projection of live specimens upon the screen for the whole class to see and to enjoy is one of the many interesting possibilities of the micro-projector. Now the tiny amoeba, the parameciam, etc., can be projected upon the screen and the life processes of the living organism, such as: cell division, feeding, propulsion, circulation, and reproduction, (to mention only a few) can be observed and studied as they actually take place. Another use of the micro-projector will be in the study of the structure and formation of crystals, and thus become a real aid to the Chemistry classes as well. Truly then, these sciences are on their way to becoming extremely vital and interesting courses in our curriculum.
Motion Pictures-The sound motion picture projector, presented last year to the school by the Trustees, has become an integral part
123
of classroom instruction at the Academy. Educational pictures, both silent and sound, have been used with success in classes in History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and General Science. Hardly a day passes without some use being made of the projector to supplement regular classroom instruction. In addition to its use in the classroom, and its occasional use in a few of the school clubs, the motion picture pro- jector is being used in our weekly assemblies. In this case pictures of both, educational and entertainment value, and which will be of in- terest to all pupils, are shown.
The projection qualities of the pictures shown in the auditorium have been greatly improved by dark curtains for the windows and skylights, made entirely possible through the voluntary contributions of the students and by the addition of a large size auditorium screen. This now makes it possible for pupils to enjoy movies from any part of the auditorium without undue eyestrain. The securing of light- tight curtains for both the laboratory and the biology room is one of our immediate future needs, if the quality of the pictures projected in these two rooms is to be improved.
Films for classroom use are being obtained through the Film Ser- vice of Boston University, while those for general assembly use are being obtained through the Y. M. C. A. Motion Picture Bureau. Films for classroom use are selected on the basis of their close correlation with the given subject; our aim being to instruct, rather than to give "just another show". That our aim may be reasonably achieved, ex- hibiting teachers are required to preview all films before showing them to their classes.
This year our schedule of films includes the following titles, cover- ing a wide range of subjects:
Story of a Storage Battery
Construction that Endures Control of Plant Diseases
The Hit and Run Driver
News in the Air
Where Mileage Begins Rain on the Earth
Exploring the Coffee Continent Science Saves the Surface
Modern Coal Mining
They Discovered America
Everybody's Business Saving Seconds Seeds
Man Against the Microbe Rambles in Gaspesia
Niagara, the Glorious
Sulphur Making an Automobile Body
Amik, the Beaver
Canada's Metropolis
Diesel, the Modern Power Heedless Hurry
Canada's Queen City Yellowstone National Park
Mexico and Its West Coast
Land of Cotton
Making of Safety Glass
Beyond the Microscope Golfing with the Masters Foot Health
Shock Troops of Disaster
124
Inland Waterways First Aid, Live and Learn Story of Transportation The Story of Asbestos
First Century 01 baseball Petroleum, the Liquid Mineral Salmon, Alaska's Silver Millions Horse Sense in Horse Power
Washington, the World's Greatest Capitol Zion National Park, The Rainbow of the Desert Carbon Monoxide, the Unseen Danger Synthetic Dye Manufacturing and Uses Tuberculosis, How it Can Be Avoided
With such splendid facilities for visual instruction it can be safely said that Westford Academy, in this respect, is on a par with many of the larger high schools, who can boast no finer equipment in this field. We are grateful to the members of the School Committee for their interest and cooperation and for their material aid in providing much of our newer equipment.
VI. EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Clubs-A Drivers' Training course was added to our club progranı this year. Made possible through the cooperation of Mr. Frank A. Goodwin, Registrar of Motor Vehicles for the Commonwealth, the course has a threefold purpose:
1. To give students training that will be of value to them both as drivers and as citizens.
2. To help students attain the ability to drive a car more skillfully.
3. To give the students the attitudes that will make them be good drivers and good citizens.
Under the leadership of Mr. Delaney, about fifteen students are receiving this instruction. A student who successfully passes the ex- amination, set by the Registrar, with an average of 85% or over, will be given a certificate, which upon presentation at one of the examining points, will automatically excuse him from taking the oral part of the examination for a driver's license.
A French Club and a Typing Club were also added to the club program in an effort to better serve the varied interests of the students. The former club under the direction of Mr. Charron, and the latter under the leadership of Miss Sughrue are proving to be most worth- while additions to our list of Clubs. Other active clubs and their sponsors are: Camera, Miss Caldwell; Newspaper, Mrs. Robinson; Commercial, Miss Tewksbury; History, Mr. Pulsifer; and Glee Club, Miss Moran.
Athletics-Basketball for both boys and girls, and baseball for the boys, continue to be our only ventures into the field of sports. Mr.
125
Delaney coaches the boys' basketball and baseball teams, and Miss Sughrue assumes the coaching duty for the girls in basketball.
For the protection of the athletes of the school, this year the Academy, with the consent and approval of the School Committee, has joined the Athletes Accident Benefit Fund sponsored by the Council of New England Secondary School Principals Association. The pur- pose of the plan is to reimburse the student for serious injuries that might arise from the student's participation in any of the sports con- ducted under the supervision of the school. It is now the rule at the Academy that any boy or girl taking part in school athletics must either join the benefit fund, or else, present a written statement from parent or guardian releasing the School Department from all re- sponsibility for medical attention and expenses resulting from athletic injuries. Thus far, all boys and girls of our basketball squads have taken advantage of the opportunity which has been offered them to participate in this benefit fund.
Athletic Association - Our Athletic Association comprising ap- proximately 92% of the student body, continues as the only organiza- tion for the entire student body. Through the efforts of this organiza- tion, the necessary funds for the support of our athletic program are raised. The students have actively participated in each of the various drives, such as: membership, season tickets, and play tickets, which have been conducted.
The Association Play, "One in a Million", was presented on De- cember 15, 1939, in the Academy Auditorium, before an appreciative audience. The success of the venture is due largely to the hard work of the several student committees in charge of the production. Our only regret was that a larger audience was not in attendance to lend their support and encouragement to the players, students, and coach who had worked so hard to make the evening's entertainment the en- joyable one that is was.
The officers and advisers of the Association for the year 1939-1940, on whom rests the responsibility for directing the activities of the Association, are:
President
John T. McKniff
Vice President Roger Tuttle
Secretary Grace Robinson
Treasurer Inez Burnham
Advisers Mr. Charron, Mr. Delaney and Miss Sughrue
VII. MISCELLANEOUS
The honorary members of the Tadmuck Club from the Class of 1940 are Dorothea Nixon and Harriett Mann.
126
The Seniors, Class of 1939, following the annual custom, pre- sented the three act comedy "Change Partners" in the Academy Au- ditorium on the Evening of May 5, 1939. The play, coached by Mr. Charron, was exceptionally well performed before an appreciative audience of parents and friends of the school.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.