USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Westhampton > Town of Westhampton annual report 1941 > Part 2
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Whole No. Average Enrolled Membership
Average
Attendance
Center School
Constance McKowen 6, 7,8
26
24.58
22.64
Elizabeth Hayden
3, 4, 5
25
23.35
21.93
Rachel Bridgman
1, 2
15
14.03
12.74
Totals
66
61.96
57.31
Individual Differences and Tests
We have emphasized again this year the teaching of the whole child, providing insofar as circumstances permit material for growth depending upon the differences of our pupils. To assist us in this program each child has had three additional standardized measurements of ability and achievement since my last report. We, therefore, have more objective and reliable measures of individual differences and accomplishment than a year ago.
That students do differ in ability and achievement is not to be questioned. It is well known that students in the same grade in the same school vary greatly in any of the abilities measured by school tests. Nor is there any question that these individual differences are important in dealing with growing boys and girls. For example, if Student X while in the seventh grade is able to write
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more correctly than the average senior in high school, that fact should be known and considered by his teacher of English in adapting his instruction to his ability and needs. If Student Y has developed a high degree of in- terest and unusual ability in the field of mathematics but does not show any aptitude for English or other langu- ages, that fact should be known and carefully considered in helping him select his future course in high school and in planning his entire life. Educational guidance either in the sense of long term planning or of immediate adap- tion of instructive material cannot possibly be effected unless such individual differences can be identified and their relation established. Parents are cordially invited to visit the classroom or teachers at any time to see the results of these objective measures of accomplishment of their boys and girls, and to plan with the teachers for the necessary educational and vocational guidance.
New report cards, similar to those used in our train- ing schools at our state teachers college, were introduced this year. They emphasize growth of pupils in citizen- . ship as well as Academic learning. They provide space for teachers to write in more detail any kind of need or accomplishment of the individual child. These will not be used more than one year if the majority of the parents prefer to have us use the older type of report card. Per- ents will be given an opportunity to vote on this matter late in the spring.
SUPERVISION
Supervision today means "the improvement of in- struction." Frequent staff meetings, an adequate supply of modern textbooks, better schoolrooms with better equipment, teacher plan books, stimulation for profession- al growth, a supply of professional literature and greater teacher participation in the organization of the school and the curriculum-these do improve instruction and are more important than classroom visitation alone. Our present program combines them all-and our success or failure should be measured by the school we keep.
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EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY.
Never before have schools faced a greater problem in education than we do this year. While all of us make sacrifices for the National Defense, we must not forget our boys and girls.
Calvin Coolidge said in 1920, "The chief defenses of democracy are not material; they are mental and spirit- ual. At the very foundation of the structure our democ- racy must be a sound system of public education."
The Educational Policies Commission reports : "In the schools as elsewhere, democracy is no easy path. It is a hard road and one which some members of the group may wish to reject in favor of the smooth, straight tunnel of autocracy where no man has worth in himself, where education is a process of learning to obey orders automati- cally, and where motivation is a simple matter of dodging a club and moving in the direction indicated by a whip- lash. The man who scorns to enter that tunnel, the man who is not easily frightened by difficult and dangerous jobs, has his way clear before him. He must feel with and for all his fellows, try to understand them, work to inform and inspire them, and seek to be informed and in- spired by them.
"The problem of making the democratic spirit pre- vail in these dark days of hostility and uncertainty falls chiefly to education. The reformer may cry that it is a social problem, the financier may hold that it is an eco- nomic problem, the politician may claim that it is a prob- lem of statecraft, and the escapist may fold his hands and murmur resignedly that it is a problem which can be solved only by the inexorable march of destiny. But the basic problem, underneath its social, economic, political masks is forever and always, simply and completely, the problem of modifying human behavior by the method of education. A would-be democracy which fails In time to grasp this principle and to act upon it intelligently and decisively is doomed. Its back is against the wall, the
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bandage of self-imposed ignorance is over its eyes, and the fingers of invited autocracy are tightened on the fin- gers of the firing squad."
CONCLUSION
In closing, I assure the committee that our teachers are doing excellent work, and that our schools are main- taining satisfactory standards of work.
I want to thank the members of the committee, the teachers, parents, and pupils for their cooperation in our common task. By working together we have made some improvements in our educational offering. If we cooper- ate with the same spirit, our boys and girls will have a still better education next year.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES A. MITCHELL Superintendent of Schools
December 31, 1941
REPORT OF THE School Nurse
Mr. Charles A. Mitchell
Superintendent of Schools
Easthampton, Massachusetts,
For the School of Westhampton, Massachusetts, I present the following report for 1941 :
The Winter and Spring terms were uneventful with very few cases of illness and those only minor.
In January Dr. Manwell gave the T. B. Test to 12 pupils and three teachers. All were negative.
Four nutrition classes completed the course begun in the fall.
Routine weighing and measuring were done in Febru- ary and June.
The audiometer test was given in April to 61 pupils. No case of defective hearing were found.
The Dental Clinic was held in May. The report follows :
Children treated at the clinic
25
Total operations
118
Permanent fillings
66
Permanent extractions
1
Cleaning
24
Temporary fillings
22
Temporary extractions
5
Amount collected from pupils
$48.50
Amount contributed by Hobby Club
22.00
Children receiving certificates 22
Children treated by family dentist
12
As is her custom, Dr. Manwell did the spring check- up, including children entering school since the fall Physi- cal Examinations. 14 children were examined then.
September 3 and 5, 1940. Annual Physical Examination. Children examined 55
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A summary of defects follows: (this does not include dental defects)
Posture defects
12
Skin
2
Eye defects
corrected by glasses
2
Nose and throat
17
Slightly enlarged glands
28
Heart defects (slight)
2
Lungs
0
Speech defects
2
Nutritional defects
5
Eye examinations were conducted in September and October.
In November Dr. Manwell examined 12 children not present in September. This month also marked the out- break of chicken-pox and whooping cough appeared in the early part of December.
During the year 25 home visits were made.
This coming September will complete my eighth year as School Nurse. Looking over those years I can see many causes for encouragement. The co-operation and interest in the health of the Pre-School and School Child has increased to a very remarkable degree. The interest and co-operation of the parents in the Diphtheria and vaccination Clinic is most heart-warming. In the school at the present time there are only 4 children who have not been immunized against diphtheria, representing only two families. In the report of the South Connecticut Valley District, Westhampton stands highest in the percentage of immunized children. Its total percentage is 49 per cent of the total population.
In war time epidemics are always imminent. Diph- theria is one disease no child needs to have. Failure to protect our children from this disease is something we may regret. If your child has not been immunized do
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take advantage of this public service, provided by the Board of Health.
I am truly gratified for the co-operation of the School Board, the Board of Health, the teachers, the parents, and the Superintendent of School.
MABEL C. BRIDGMAN, School Nurse.
WELL CHILD CONFERENCE
The Well Child Conference was held in the Church Parlors June 23 and 24, 1941. The Staff consisted of the following:
Dr. Claire Manwell, Medical and Dental Examiner.
Miss Margarette Pettee, Consultant in Nutrition
Miss Mary Lewis, Registrar
Local committee :
Mrs. Mabel C. Bridgman Mrs. Marion Hathaway
Mrs. Raymond Blakesley Mrs. Louise Parsons
Miss Rachel Bridgman
Thirty-six children and their parents attended the conference, classified as follows :
Old cases (Attending conference previous years) 21 New cases 15
of these cases 4 were infants 28 pre-school 4 entering school 6 needed medical care 17 needed dental care 18 needed Toxoids of Diptheria Immuniza- tion 18 needed vaccination
At the clinic for vaccination and immunization held June 27, July 25
15 children received toxoids 16 children received vaccination 4 children who did not receive toxoids at clinic are receiving them
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We commend to the Mother's Club again the Well Child Conference. Health is so important and especially in war time. Prevention of disease is more important now than ever. Let us set ourselves a goal for 1942.
1. Good Nutrition : For every child in Westhampton. This includes liberal use of the basic foods, such as: eggs, at least four a week milk, 1 quart daily for children vegetables daily, raw whenever possible fresh fruit daily whole grain cereals and dark bread daily meat four times a week fish one a week
2. Dental care for every child in Westhampton. Take your child to a dentist when he has 20 teeth. He will get acquainted with the dentist and probably the dentist will need to do very little the first visit. This will help the child to lose all fear of the dentist, and look upon him as a friend. Regular dental care is not expensive. The dental clinic is ready to help all mothers who need it.
3. Annual Medical Examination for every child in Westhampton. This can be done with no expendi- ture of money, first in the Well Child Conference and later in the School.
4. Vaccination against Small Pox and immunization against Diphtheria for all children as soon as pos- sible after 6 months. This also is a free service pro- vided by the taxpayers through the Board of Health.
I am greatly indebted to the local committee for their help and support. I know that two days given from a busy week mean a great deal. We are all indebted to our professional staff, Dr. Manwell, Miss Lewis, and to the Extension Service for loaning Miss Pettee to us.
MABEL CRAIG BRIDGMAN, R. N.
Articles of the Town Warrant
TOWN MEETING, MARCH 2, 1942 Ten A. M .- Prompt
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose a Town Clerk.
Article 3. To hear and act on all reports presented at said meeting.
Article 4. To choose all necessary officers to serve the ensuing year.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to leave the care of highways in charge of the Selectmen.
Article 6. To see if the Town will vote to authorize its Board of Selectmen to appoint one of its members to act as Superintendent of Streets, and fix the salary to com- ply with Section 4A Chapter 41, General Laws.
Article 7. To vote in compliance with Section 108, Chapter 41, General Laws, which requires that salaries of elected officers be fixed by vote of the Town.
Article 8. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray Town charges the ensuing year.
Article 9. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 10. To take action in regard to the collection of taxes.
Article 11. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen,
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to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1942, and to issue a note or notes therefore, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 12. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for Work Relief.
Article 13. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the purchase of a truck.
Article 14. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for the purchase of fire equipment.
Article 15. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate from available funds a sum of money for use by the assessors in fixing the tax rate of the current year or to take any action relative thereto.
Article 16. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate a sum of money for Civilian Defense.
(Other articles may appear in the posted warrant.)
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