Town of Westford annual report 1937-1941, Part 41

Author: Westford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1937
Publisher: Westford (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 812


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1937-1941 > Part 41


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Personnel


1941 has seen a number of changes in the teaching staff of the Westford Schools. The large turnover is a result, basically, of our low salary schedule. In the long run it is the children who pay the price every time we are forced to replace a successful experi- enced teacher with a beginner. It is only rarely that we are able to secure the services of an experienced teachr to fill a vacancy.


Miss Anne M. Shugrue left us in the spring to take a position with the War Department in Boston. Mr. Walter T. Pulsifer was called to the colors by the United States Army last summer. Miss Muriel A. Thornton resigned during the summer to accept a position with the Haverhill schools. Miss Gertrude Donahue left us in order to take a position in the Arlington school department. Just recently Mr. Clifford M. Hunt accepted a position as elementary principal in Dighton.


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Miss Mildred J. Caram was elected to fill the vacancy in the commercial department in the Academy. Mr. Ernest Dalton replaced Mr. Pulsifer in the Academy and will teach the social studies. Mrs. Alice Cullen was transferred to the principalship of the Nabnassett school. Miss Marian K. Kelly was transferred from the Cameron school to the High School. Miss Anna MacPartlin comes to us from a year's teaching in Winchester and has been assigned to the Cam- eron School. Miss Helen Trainor, after a half year's work with us as a substitute, was elected to the faculty of the Sargent School. Mr. K. Merton Bozoian, for the past six years principal of the Center School in Belchertown, comes to us as the new principal of the Frost School. The resignation of Frank Haley as janitor of the Sargent School was recently accepted and Mr. John Spinner was elected in his place. We send our best wishes for future success to the teachers who have left us, and we feel confident that the new teachers who are replacing them will prove a valuable addition to our teaching staff as the years go by.


Thanks


To the Abbot Worsted Company and the C. G. Sargent's Sons Corporation, we send thanks on behalf of the school children for the generous Christmas checks.


A Trend


There is a trend of cooperation and "pulling together" becoming increasingly evident in the entire school department. There is ample evidence of a growing feeling of mutual confidence between the School Board and the teaching staff. This is entirely healthy and cannot but benefit the town directly. The School Board has been operating with a degree of harmony and accomplishment which is truly commendable. For the above trend and the combined loyalty of the teachers and principals, the Superintendent is duly grateful.


Respectfully submitted,


ROGER K. POOLE,


Superintendent.


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REGISTRATION-WESTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS October 1, 1941


SCHOOL


GRADES


1


2


3


4


5


6


7


8


9


10


11


12


Total


Academy


57


48


38


28


171


Wm. E. Frost


14


15


19


25


23


22


27


18


163


Sargent


29


18


16


26


25


16


11


21


162


Cameron


28


26


27


30


29


23


35


23


221


Nabnassett


5


8


10


7


30


Totals


76


67


62


81


87


68


73


62


57


48


38


28


747


Registration of Minors October 1, 1941


MINORS BY AGE GROUPS


5-7


7-16


Totals


Girls


69


317


386


Boys


..


49


316


365


118


633


751


.


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


CORPS OF TEACHERS, DECEMBER 31 1941


School


Teachers


Training at


Date of Appointment


CAMERON SCHOOL .... Peter F. Perry, B. S., Ed. M. (Prin.) .... .Hyannis Normal, Boston University Sept. 1921


Marion E. Carroll, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College Sept. 1937


Barbara M. Gray, A. B. .Emmanuel College Sept. 1941


Anna MacPartlin, B S. E. Lowell State Teachers College


Sept.


1941


Eleanor Murphy, B. S. E. .Bridgewater State Teachers College .... Sept. 1940


Letitia W. O'Clair (Mrs.) Hyannis Normal School


Sept. 1908


Louise E. Thompson, B. S., Ed. M. .Lowell Normal School, Boston University Sept. 1922


Ruth A Walker .Lowell Normal School Sept. 1922


WM. E. FROST


.. K. Merton Bozoian, B. S. E. (Prin.) .Bridgewater State Teachers College Sept. 1941


Shirley M. Coughlin, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College Dec. 1940


Rita H. Edwards, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College Sept. 1939


Mary E. Healy, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College


Sept. 1936


Kathleen R. Hammersley, A. B.


.D'Youville College


Oct. 1938


Ruth P. Tuttle Lowell Normal School


Sept. 1903 Sept. 1922


NABNASSETT


Alice M. Cullen, (Mrs.), (Prin.)


.Lowell Normal School


Dec.


1940


Mary M. Reynolds


Lowell Normal School


Sept. 1922


SARGENT SCHOOL .... Chester V. Sweatt, B. S. Ed. M. (Prin.) .... Univ. of Maine, Western Res. Univ.


Sept. 1931


Jean E. Bell .Fitchburg Normal School Apr. 1930


Lottie D. Blodgett (Mrs.) Farmington State Normal Sept. 1921


Ann Harrington .Lowell Normal School Sept. 1926


Mary L. Meehan, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College Sept. 1938


Pauline R. Shugrue, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College Sept. 1940


Helen Trainor, B. S. E. .Lowell State Teachers College Sept. 1941


Lillian G. Wright .Lowell Normal School Sept. 1914


WESTFORD ACAD. ..... Julius H. Mueller, Jr., B.S., Ed.M. (Prin.) .. Bates College, Boston University Sept. 1937


Ethel N. Caldwell, A.B., M.A. .Boston University, Harvard University .... Sept. 1930


Mildred J. Caram, B.S.E. .Salem State Teachers College Sept. 1941


George O. Charron, A. B., M. A. .New Hampshire University Sept. 1937


Ernest R. Dalton, B. S., A. M. .Bowdoin College, Harvard University Sept. 1941


Frederick Delaney, A. B. Boston College, Boston University Sept. 1935


Marian K. Kelly, A. B., A. M. Hunter College, Columbia University Sept. 1940


Mary L. Robinson (Mrs.) Ph.B. University of Chicago Sept. 1927


Ethel T. Tewksbury .Chandler Normal Jan. 1936


MUSIC SUPERVISOR . Lilley Mae Moran


Nov.


1935


SCHOOL NURSE .......... C. Veronica Meagher, R. N. (Mrs.)


.. St. Jolin's Hospital


Sept. 1927


SUPT. OF SCHOOLS . Roger K. Poole, B. S., Ed. M.


Tufts College. Boston University Aug. 1939


ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADUATES June 1941


CAMERON SCHOOL


Arthur William Brisson


Leo James Kelly


Rita Ann Brisson


Margaret Virginia Lahme


Theresa Bertha Brule


Frances Louise Lord


Richard Connell


Charles Edward Milot


Winifred Ann Connell Edward John Costello


Doris Marea Milot Lorandi Claire Panneton


Mary Virginia Crickett


Peter Sedach


Barbara Marie Haley


Walter Sechovich


Barbara Rose Harrigan


Rita Frances Shackleton


Gertrude Eileen Hird


Lucien Joseph Menard


David Robert Smith


WILLIAM E. FROST SCHOOL


Edith Mae Anderson


Shirley Mae Knutson


Charles Antonelli


Marilyn Elaine MacArthur


Louis Antonelli


Willard Franklin Moore, Jr.


Robert Francis Davenport


Frances Louise Moreno


Leonard James Colwell, Jr.


Varnum Elbridge Nickles


Glenna Feeney Pauline Edna Ferguson Lucy Adams Flagg


Frederick Schill, Jr.


Marion Estella Selfridge


Harold Arthur Fletcher


Betty Mae Stone


William Richard Hughes


John Gregory Phillip St. Onge


Phillips Sanborn Heathcote


Hazel Mae Smith


Edward Book Knutson


Alfred Charles Wyman


SARGENT SCHOOL


Helen Belida Henry Belida


Germaine Milot Sophie Andokia Minko


Clement Bellemore


Jean Evelyn Nold


Cecile Marie Boisvert


Walter Nyder


Barbara Jean Palmer Anne Elizabeth Remis


Charlotte Theresa Rioux


Rita Florence Rioux


Marjorie Anne Smith Emile Valcourt


Walter Kiver Eleanor Louise MacQuarrie


Thaddeus Stanley Wilk


Mary Agnes Wood


123


Shirlene Mary Cantin Shirley Agnes Cantin John Laurence Connell Philip Everett Graham Lucille Alice Grenier


Marion Doris Reynolds


REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF WESTFORD ACADEMY


January 1, 1942.


Mr. Roger K. Poole, Superintendent of Schools, Westford, Mssachusetts.


Dear Sir:


I am pleased to submit herewith my fifth annual report as Prin- cipal of Westford Academy.


1. CURRICULUM


The change-over from the traditional curriculum to the new Core Curriculum has been nearly completed. With the addition of a Senior course in Science and a course in the Problems of Democracy this change-over will have been completed by the Fall of 1942. The problems encountered in administering this change have not been easy. The task of arranging the daily schedule of classes so that all pupils could be given the subjects best suited to their individual needs without conflict, was one which required a considerable amount of time and planning. The system of counselling pupils in the proper selection of subjects in keeping with their future educa- tional and vocational plans has likewise taken considerable time to administer.


The addition of newer courses of instruction and the change in the name of the curriculum does not of itself spell success for this new venture. On the contrary, the success of this new curri- culum depends largely on the ability of the teachers to grasp the philosophy upon which it is predicated. But once having grasped it. the continued success of this new curriculum will depend on the extent to which they are willing to exert themselves in an honest effort to readjust their teaching methods and materials in their several subjects in conformity with its basic concepts.


Though this adjustment has not become general as yet, a begin- ning is being made in the core subjects. The teaching of English has undergone a significant change in the non-college preparatory sec- tions. A definite effort is being made to make this subject of prac- tical value and usefulness to the student. Lengthy written com-


124


positions on prescribed topics have been replaced by the writing of short paragraphs aimed directly at improving the individual's ability to express himself correctly in the Mother tongue. The literature phase of the adjusted program in English has been built around the reading of the best in present-day writings in an effort to foster a real appreciation of good reading as a worthwhile leisure time activity. Remedial work is also being done to improve the reading habits of these pupils.


An effort is being made in the civics classes to give more time and attention to the study of the local community and its problems. The effectiveness and practical value of such study to the student will depend in large measure on the number of opportunities that are created for him to observe at first hand the inner workings of town government. One step in this direction has already been made. Through the courtesy of the town officials, students in our civic classes have been accorded the privilege of "sitting in" on the Annual Town Meetings. Because of this practical lesson in town government the pupils return to the classroom to participate in more lively and intelligent discussions of community affairs. I am hopeful that during the coming year other departments of the town will endeavor to help us in our efforts to make civics a more practcial and meaningful subject by extending an invitation to our civics classes to attend one of their regular sessions.


In my first annual report I spoke of the need for an adequate program in physical and health education. Thus far nothing has been done to remedy this condition. To attempt any large scale program in physical and health education such as is found in high schools of the larger cities and towns, is of course out of the ques- tion; yet I believe we can and should do more along this line than we have been doing.


Thus far only the members of our boys' and girls' basketball teams are deriving the benefits which result from this form of supervised, organized play. With a small amount of additional equip- ment, a program of intra-mural sports can be worked out which will extend the benefits of this type of supervised play activity to all students. Such a program should, of course, be a part of our regular curriculum, and, like other curriculum subjects, should carry credit towards graduation. Along with this program of intra-mural sports a regular course in health instruction should be given. Such a course would be most valuable in helping our students to acquire better health habits and health attitudes. This course likewise should carry some credit towards graduation. In this period of National Emergency, which is bound to make new demands upon our courage,


125


vitality, and endurance, we should make every effort to build a sound program in health education so that our students, as the citizens of tomorrow, will have the courage and stamina to build a better social order.


A statewide study of the School Health Program is being made at the present time by a joint committee from the State Department of Education and the State Department of Public Health. The object of this study is to determine what the health education needs of the schools of the state are and to develop a program to meet these needs. Westford Academy has been chosen as one of the twenty-five selected high schools in the State to be part of this study. Later on in the year tests will be given to the pupils in grades 10 through 12, in an attempt to discover the health knowledge, health practices, health attitudes. and health interests of high school pupils. The tests will be given under the direct supervision of the Research Consultant employed by the joint committee. We are glad to cooperate in this study and are hopeful that, from the results of this State-wide Survey, may come definite indications as to the type of program in health educa- tion best fitted to serve the needs of the smaller secondary schools.


II. ADMINISTRATION


Faculty-Several changes have occurred in the teaching per- sonnel of the Academy during the past year. Mr. Walter T. Pulsifer who held a Captain's commission in the Officers' Reserve Corps was called to active duty at the close of school in June. He was granted a leave of absence for the duration of the emergency and Mr. Ernest R. Dalton was appointed to fill the vacancy thus created. Miss Mil- dred J. Caram was appointed a teacher in the Commercial Depart- ment, replacing Miss Anne M. Shugrue who resigned during the year to accept a more remunerative position with the War Department in Boston. Miss Marian K. Kelly was promoted from the Cameron School to the Academy to teach English and History, beginning her duties with the opening of school in September.


Besides their regular teaching duties, all teachers assume respon- sibility for one or more of the extra-curricular activities of the school. Their loyal co-operation in the carrying on of this part of our work is most commendable. Though the present national all out effort for total war portends disturbing and trying days ahead, I am convinced that the teachers may be relied upon to perform their duties as thoroughly and with the same willingness of spirit that they have in the past.


126


New Improvements-Several new improvements made to the building during the past year have done much to improve our physical surroundings. Among these are:


1. The construction of a new office for the Principal. Located on the second floor of the building, in space formerly used for the storage of laboratory supplies and equipment, the new office is of modern design, correctly planned for school use. Unlike the old office which could only be reached by going through a classroom, the new office opens directly on to the second floor landing. Well lighted, easily ventilated and adequately heated, it is a great improvement over the former office which boasted none of these conveniences. The old office has been converted into a supply room for the science laboratory and increases the utility of this room by providing a much more compact arrangement of the science equipment. The master clock which operates the program bells has been moved from the Superintendent's office to the new office, thus increasing its usefulness to the Principal.


2. The installation of new lights in the classrooms. The old style light fixtures have been replaced by modern fixtures of the fluorescent type. Inadequate lighting has always been a problem, but now under the new lights the darkest corner of the building on the darkest day is most adequately illum- inated. The value of this one improvement in eliminating cause for pupil and teacher eyestrain cannot be over-em- phasized. One of the best features of the new lighting is that the increased illumination has been obtained without any increase in the monthly electric light bill, thanks to the greater efficiency of fluorescent lighting.


3. The remodeling of the building fire escape. The new arrange- ment provides a five foot wide stairway on the South side of the building in place of the former narrow stairway which has been removed to the North side of the building. The effectiveness of our new system of fire drills, which makes use of student runners and alternate runners, has been greatly increased under the new arrangement. It is now pos- sible to evacuate all the pupils of the building via the fire escape in a much shorter period of time with complete safety and without any overcrowding.


4. The renovating of the showers in both the girls' basement and in the boys' basement. Each shower has been repainted and equipped with new oil-silk shower curtains. The floor


127


of each shower and that of each shower room has been covered with a slatted wood platform, and a fungicidal foot- bath has been installed in each. This latter improvement is a health measure designed primarily to protect our athletes against "athlete's foot."


We recognize and appreciate the value of these new improve- ments. May they be the fore-runners of a more extensive program of repair and renovating which will eventually result in a complete re-decorating of the interior of the building.


New Schedule-Beginning with the opening of school in Sep- tember a revised time schedule was put into operation. By scheduling all of the class recitations in six forty-five minute periods instead of seven, it was possible to make the old seventh period into an "X" or activities period. To lend variety to the daily schedule this "X" period comes at a different time each day. The chief advantage of the plan is that such activities as Class Meetings, Assemblies, Clubs. etc., can be scheduled for this period without interrupting the regular schedule of class recitations. Thus far this arrangement, which lends greater flexibility to the daily schedule, has been most successful in its operation. The changed time-schedule has also made possible a longer lunch period which was much to be desired.


Library-While the school does not have a separate room which can be used as a library, an effort is being made to catalogue our various books and reference materials. Miss Caldwell of the faculty has assumed responsibility for directing and carrying out this im- portant piece of work. Present plans call for a card index system somewhat similar to that used in most public libraries. In the absence of facilities needed for a separate library room, our new plan will distribute our reference materials in a systematic way among the various classrooms. It is our hope when this work is finally completed that the greater accessability of these materials will result in their being more widely used by students and teachers alike.


Miss Day continues to render valuable service by bringing books from the town library to the school at regularly scheduled intervals.


Handwriting System-The Rinehart Functional Handwriting System adopted last year for the elementary schools of the town has this year been extended to the Academy. The need for improvement in handwriting has been apparent for some time, especially as the handwriting of our students seemed to grow worse as they progressed through school. Mr. Rinehart has taken a great deal of personal interest in this new venture at the Academy, and contrary to his usual procedure. has personally visited the school each month to


128


instruct and to supervise. Reports of our progress are furnished the school each month. It is most gratifying to note that each successive report has shown a slight yet steady increase in the percentage of excellent papers. Parents should consider their children fortunate in having this opportunity, which many high school children do not have, to learn handwriting from a well qualified and duly recognized expert in the field of handwriting and should be insistent that they make the most of this instruction while they have the opportunity. Handwriting is not something with which one is born, but can be acquired only by diligent and constant practice on the part of the one who would like to write well. It is the general opinion of the faculty that the extension of this system to the Academy constitutes one of the major instructional improvements of the year.


The Class of 1941-A recent survey of the post-graduation activ- ities of the members of the Class of 1941 indicates that work oppor- tunities for our graduates have improved. The following table sum- marizes briefly these activities :


Attending College 1


Attending Junior College


2


Attending Special Schools 2


Attending Commercial Schools 5


In the Navy 2


Working 23


At Home


3


III. MISCELLANEOUS


A new policy has been adopted in connection with the Class Trip activity. A new ruling by the School Committee requires that this event be held before graduation under the direct supervision of the faculty, and that all plans for it must be approved by the Principal. Accordingly. on June 3rd, members of the graduating class accompanied by Mrs. Robinson and Mr. Mueller, journeyed to Boston for a day's outing. Activities of the day included a most interesting visit to the East Boston Airport in the morning, movies and a big league ball game in the afternoon, dinner at the University Club followed by the theatre in the evening. The outing was declared a huge success by all members of the class who attended.


A new electric basketball scoreboard and timer, purchased with funds from the Athletic Association, has recently been installed in the gymnasium. The new scoreboard, completely automatic, is most attractive in appearance and will add much to our home games.


129


The boys of the Academy have been taking an active part in the community's defense program. In groups of two they are assuming responsibility for manning the Observation Post at the Town Hall each school day between the hours of 8 A. M. and 4 P. M. A schedule of two-hour shifts has been drawn up and so planned that the majority need give to this duty but one two-hour period every other week. The fine spirit which they have displayed and the promptness with which they have carried out their individual assignments is most commendable.


The honorary members of the Tadmuck club from the Class of 1942 are Rena Shea and Sophie Kovalcheck.


Two gifts have been made to the Academy during the year. Through the generosity of the Trustees of Westford Academy five additional monographs in the Careers Research Series have been added to our collection.


From the Westford Canning Club, the school has received the sum of $26.85, representing half of the prize money which the group won at the Fruit Show in Boston in the Fall of 1925. The amount received has been used to purchase a microphone to add to our projection equipment. We are grateful to the members of this club for their most timely gift.


In conclusion, I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to teachers, students, and all others who have helped to make this year the successful one it has been.


Respectfully submitted,


JULIUS H. MUELLER, Jr.,


Principal, Westford Academy.


.


130


WESTFORD ACADEMY


LIST OF GRADUATES, CLASS OF 1941


College Course


Barbara Louise Anderson


Andrew Vasilios Basinas Alma Louise Beebe *Simone Lillian Bellemore Mildred Blanchard Willis Edward Buckingham Mary Milicent Carbo Marjorie Ellsworth Chandler Charlotte Anne Cooney Charles Ripley Fletcher Adrienne Mary Alice Gervais Richard Paul Healy Isabelle Alice Hunter Monica Ellen Kelly Lawrence Mansfield Nixon Lionel Joseph Panneton *Shirley Irene Perkins


*Edmund Dix Rogers, Jr. *Jacob Tereshko Roger Niles Tuttle *Pro Merito


Commercial Course


Ida Lucy Barretto


Anastacia Beskalo


Vivian Agnes Charlton


Margaret Mary Cosgrove


Rita May Costello Margaret Elizabeth Flanagan Nellie Kovalchek


Marjorie Katherine McDonald Rita Mary Thompson


General Course


Bernice Adeline Andrews Naomi Elizabeth Ditmar Lucy Eleanor Dudevoir Phyllis Evelyn Gilson Emile Joseph LeDuc Thomas Joseph McKniff Jean Elinore Peterson


Donald Arthur Whitney Walter Joseph Wilk


GRADUATION HONORS


Valedictorian-Edmund Dix Rogers, Jr. Salutatorian-Shirley Irene Perkins.


Third Essayist-Simone Lillian Bellemore.


Winners of Prizes (Given By Trustees) Awarded at Graduation Exercises


Member of Senior Class for Excellence in English during the Senior Year:


Five Dollars-Jean Elinore Peterson, '41


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Member of Senior Class for Excellence in Senior Stenography :


Two and one-half Dollars-Rita Mary Thompson, '41


Member of Senior Class for Excellence in Senior Typewriting:


Two and one-half Dollars-Margaret Elizabeth Flanagan


Washington and Franklin Medal for Excellence in United States History (Given by Massachusetts Society of Sons of the American Revolution ) : Charles Ripley Fletcher, '41


Awarded at Class Day Exercises


Member of the Junior Class who, in the estimation of classmates and members of the Faculty, has done the most for the Class and for Westford Academy:




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