USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1943-1944 > Part 13
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Kendall Street
1300
75.00
King Street
1200 "
350.00
Marion Street
900 '
500.00
Massachusetts
Avenue
800 "
150.00
Miles Street
400
100.00
Miller Road
640
50.00
North Street
1070
100.00
Pine Street
400 "
100.00
Winchell Road
200 "
50.00
15,210 Ft.
$2,950.00
Hereof fail not and make due return of this Warrant, or a certified copy thereof, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk as soon as may be and before said meeting.
Given under our hands and Seal of said Town this 19th Day of February, A. D., One Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-five.
CHARLES H. BLACK, Chairman FRANK W. DAYTON JOHN D. COOKE
Board of Selectmen
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Annual Report
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF
WILMINGTON, MASS.
GTO
SS.
730 .:
THE
WHITEFIELD ELM
TOGETHER WITH THE REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
1944
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. August Macleod, Chairman
North Wilminton
1944-1947
Mrs. Vilma Bedell, Secretary
Wilmington
1944-1947
Mr. Burt Tilley
Wilmington
1943-1946
Mr. Adam Galko (on leave)
Wilmington
1943-1946
Mr. Stanley Cady (military sub.)
Wilmington
Mr. Charles Baldwin
Wilmington 1942-1945
Mr. Ernest Crispo
Wilmington
1942-1945
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Mr. Stephen G. Bean
Wilmington Tel. 343 or 2052
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. Ernest C. MacDougall
Wilmington Tel. 432
SCHOOL NURSE
Mrs. Esther Nichols
Wilmington Tel. 744
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mr. Ernest Cail
Wilmington Tel. 571
123
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1945
January 2 to February 17
Winter Vacation February 26 to April 14
Spring Vacation April 23 to June 23
Summer Vacation September 4 to December 22
Christmas Vacation Winter term commences January 2, 1946
HOLIDAYS
January 1 February 22 Good Friday April 19
May 30
.
October 12 November November 22 and 23
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL 22-22-22
Twenty-two blown three times on fire alarm signal
at 7:15 and 7:30 A. M.
Radio announcements will also be made over WLLH and WEEI between 7:00 and 7:30 A. M.
124
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 1, 1945.
To the Citizens of Wilmington:
We herewith submit for your information a report of the Public Schools of Wilmington. Appended are reports which explain in sonie detail the manner in which the school activities have been conducted during the past year.
In February, Mr. Stanley Cady was appointed to serve as a mili- tary substitute on the Committee to fill the vacancy caused by the absence of Mr. Adam Galka, a member of the armed services.
An outline survey and topographical plan has been made of eighteen and one-half acres of the approximate twenty-two acres of land purchased by the town about two years ago from the Roman Estate. This survey was made as the first step in planning for the eventual development of the property, and it is hoped that it will be decided to continue the preparations by engaging the services of an architect to submit a drawing of a proposed new school and athletic field, at the same time envisaging the possibility of other town build- ings on the same property. The continuance of our efforts in this behalf is, of course, predicated on the assumption that the great majority of Wilmington taxpayers recognize the importance of the construction of a modern High School at the earliest possible moment.
We are aware that the carrying through of these plans will be a costly investment for the town and of necessity must await the time when essential building materials and labor are obtainable. The matter has been given much thought by the School Committee and it is our firm opinion that the present limited school facilities have been responsible for retarding the healthy growth of our town. An at- tractive High School building and a High School athletic field in the center of the town should do much to entice new taxpayers to our community and, all things taken into consideration, should prove to be a sound investment.
Various repairs were supervised in our school buildings during the year, although it was necessary particularly in the High School to postpone sonie necessary work due to our inability to procure materials and labor. The major portion of the expenditures involving repairs in the elementary schools was connected with the Whitefield
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School. This school had not been painted for several years and in- vestigation showed the clapboards to be in very poor condition. All the windows, and there are many, required putty, and repairing in some cases. With the future in mind, asbestos shingles were applied over the clapboards on the entire surface and two coats of paint applied to the trimming. The total cost of the renovation amounted to approximately $1,900.00. The appearance of the building has been improved and from the practical viewpoint our concentration on this building seems to have been justified.
The closing of schools, due to inclement weather, will be an- nounced over Radio Stations WLLH in Lowell and WEEI in Boston between 7:00 A. M. and 7:30 A. M., for the benefit of those unable to hear the Wilmington whistle which is to be sounded at 7:15 A. M. and 7:30 A. M.
At our February meeting, it was voted to accept the band instru- ments from the Wilmington Community Band and shortly thereafter, a band instructor was engaged. Many of the children demonstrated much interest in the band and we have had reason to feel pleased with the developments to date.
Similar problems and difficulties confronting all other enterprises during World War II are encountered in the administration of edu- cation. So many distractions prevail in the average home that the importance of the education of our students is perhaps not stressed as in normal times. We must not lose sight of the fact that present day students will, in a comparatively short time, have a voice in the affairs of our nation, and the basic education now being received by them will motivate their principles and practices in forthcoming years.
Respectfully submitted,
AUGUST G. MacLEOD, Chairman VILMA B. BEDELL, Secretary CHARLES A. BALDWIN
ERNEST M. CRISPO
STANLEY CADY BURT TILLEY
Wilmington School Committee.
126
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Coniniittee,
Wilmington, Massachusetts.
Madam and Gentlemen:
This is the twenty-first in the series of reports of the Superin- tendent of Schools that I have prepared during my incumbency in that office.
In these days of necessity for conservation of paper and shortage of labor, it seems advisable to keep this presentation to the minimum.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
Taking into consideration the many difficulties which are en- countered, in times like these, in the procurement of both materials and personnel, the past year has been one of very satisfactory ac- complishment.
The most marked improvement in conditions has to do with the upkeep of the various buildings in use for school purposes. Only one project involved what might be called a major expenditure, but there were many improvements made which are not as obvious as the one at the Whitefield School.
Not the least important of the minor projects is one started near the close of the calendar year in the High School. This is concerned with the refinishing of desk tops in all of the original classrooms in the building. On these desk tops were found the record of the passing through the school of at least twenty-five classes, as evidenced by the industrious scratching and carving of initials, and even whole names, of members of each yearly group. This same type of defacement of school property can be found in all of the older buildings in the town. It will all be removed as time and labor permits. There are many desks which are so old and decrepit that I suggest a program of gradual replacement of seating units, perhaps one complete room setup each year, for a period of years. This probably cannot be started until after the war, hence the importance of the refinishing.
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The process of refinishing should also be started on all the old natural slate blackboards in the various school rooms. These are now so dull and grey, because of years of washing and resultant clogging of pores with chalk paste, that it is a source of severe strain on the eyes to try to read matter written thereon. There is no con- trast of black and white such as is shown on newly finished slate surfaces. For this purpose, a new surfacing machine is now available. It is light enough to be easily handled by a high school boy and has a type of operation which makes it almost impossible to ruin the surface by gouging.
A clean up and paint up campaign has been carried on, as funds would allow, in places where most needed. The result is a much more hygienic condition in a number of school rooms. Some of this work was necessitated by our enforced use of soft coal in hot air furnaces during the first two months of this fiscal year.
PERSONNEL
Changes in personnel in the roster of school employees during the year was unexpectedly small compared to that of the preceding year. This was an unexpected streak of good fortune in these days when so many wealthier communities are bidding for the services of teachers, and the national services and highly subsidized industry are enticing them away from the profession.
In the High School the turnover was about half as great as in 1943, when we lost half of that faculty. This year there were but three changes-Mr. Copeland of the Latin Department, Miss Roberts of the French Department and Mrs. Casey, who was an assistant in English and in charge of Dramatics. These were all replaced by residents of Lawrence, Mass. Miss Rosemary Daly succeeded Mr. Copeland, Miss Geraldyne Lynch took over in place of Miss Roberts and Miss Margaret Hart followed Mrs. Casey. All of these new teachers are fitting into the staff very satisfactorily.
In September, there were but four new names on the list of elementary teachers as it stood in June. One was Mrs. Virginia Hill Erickson, who replaced Miss Alma Abramson in the eighth grade of the Buzzell School. Mrs. Erickson's name was not new because she had been a full time substitute in the Center School after Miss Cryan resigned. Mrs. Dale Ganyard replaced Mrs. Erickson in the Center School, Grade VI. Mrs. Mary Patterson of the Walker School staff was succeeded by Miss Patricia Higgins of Lowell. Miss Theresa
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McLay of the Whitefield group left us to be married and was replaced by Miss Mary Boutilier of Lowell. Early in the fall term a vacancy was created in the Whitefield School when Miss Littlehale, teacher of the fourth grade, was transferred to the position as Head of the Music Department. The vacancy was filled by Miss Marion Brenton of Somerville, a graduate of Lowell Teachers College, who had a year of experience in Northampton, Mass.
In every case, we were able to secure a replacement who had more or less experience before coming to us, so that there was slight loss in efficiency, if any. At this writing, which is since the close of the fiscal year, two other resignations have been received and one replacement made.
Miss Barbara Purbeck, teacher of the first grade in the Mildred H. Rogers School, left us to serve in the WAVES. She has been re- placed by Mrs. Pauline Ryan of Lowell.
The staff of Supervisors is wholly new this year, as of October. All of these positions became vacant at various times during the year.
The present list is as follows:
Supervisor of Art-Mrs. Evelyn Andersen of Wilmington.
Supervisor of Music-Miss Olive Littlehale of Tyngsboro.
Supervisor of Physical Education-Miss Rosemary Boyle of Fram- ingham.
Mrs. Andersen, nee Evelyn Ross, was one of our local graduates who later studied at Massachusetts School of Art and at Boston University.
Miss Littlehale taught the fourth grade at Whitefield School for a number of years and was finally persuaded to take over the work she had prepared for at Lowell Teachers College.
Miss Boyle, a graduate of Posse School, had been teaching to some extent in a Beverly, Mass. school and at a summer camp in New Hampshire.
The most difficult personnel problem of the year was that of providing every school with a competent janitor. Six of the nine school buildings in the town have each had one or more changes in this service during the year. Maple Meadow School liad four different
12
janitors during the calendar year. This may seem unimportant but it is really a vital element in the successful functioning of the schools since each building presents different problems, especially in the elements of heating and ventilation. We have every type of heater from the jacketed stove to a two-unit steam plant. Ventilation or circulation of air is as varied in system as the heaters. Because of circumstances, most of the new janitors had to start from scratch and learn how to keep the systems running effectively and efficiently. In the field of sanitation, each building differed from the others and each presents a different problem, especially in these days when replacement or even repair of plumbing is so difficult to accomplish because of shortages of materials.
While considering this question of building custodians, there comes to mind the passing of the dean of the staff, Mr. Charles F. Perry.
When I first became acquainted with the local schools, over twenty years ago, one of the most familiar sights was that of Mr. Perry in his usual hurry from High School to Center School to Grange Hall or the Congregational Church. He was always busy and I often wondered when he found time to sleep, especially in the cold winter months when he must have been up in the extremely early hours of the morning to get two school buildings ready for use in below zero weather. This he seldom failed to accomplish even in the severest winters.
During most of the years that I knew him, he was also serving as a moving spirit in the Grange; as either member or chairman of the Board of Selectmen; or again as one of the Town Finance Committee. There were times even when the town clock on the Congregational Church and Old Glory's appearance on the Liberty Pole were con- trolled by his hand. That is what I call useful and successful citizen- ship.
Requiescat in Pace.
ENROLLMENT
Contrary to expectations there has been no very great change in the enrollment in our schools since our country entered the war. It was to be expected, that since we are not near any of the larger industries, there would be an exodus of families moving nearer to these employment centers. This, together with the enlistment and drafting of the older school boys, was expected to produce a sharp
130
reduction in the school population. As a matter of fact, the only notice- able effect is a slight reduction in the overcrowded conditions in some of our school rooms. There is still scarcely a room in the schools of this town, however, in which the number of pupils is not from two to eighteen percent greater than is conducive to successful class work. One room, where the enrollment should be thirty-five, is housing forty-six pupils. In another room of two grades-one of them the first-where the conditions prohibit a membership greater than thirty-the enrollment is forty-one. These facts must be considered by those parents who feel that their children are not receiving suf- ficient individual attention.
The only solution to this problem is, as suggested by a member of the School Committee, the addition of perhaps two primary build- ings in two of the more recently developed sections of the town and the abandonment of the portable building off Lowell Street, known as Maple Meadow School. The portable at Silver Lake would also be replaced by an addition to the newer building.
Two important goals would be reached by such a procedure. In the first place it would be possible to keep the number of pupils per teacher nearer the efficient limits, and at the same time would remove the necessity of pushing on from grade to grade pupils who would profit by repeating a year's work which they had failed to grasp. This would be specially helpful in the intermediate grades. A third ad- vantage would be a reduction in transportation.
Eventually, when a new high school building is available, the old Center School could be abandoned and all of the fifth and sixth grades in town be placed in the Buzzell School.
AFTER THE WAR-WHAT?
This is the greatest problem facing American educational admin- istrators today. Committees and commissions made up of the high ranking men of the Profession of Education are studying and planning for this post war era. It is coming to be universally recognized that upon education rests the future of this nation. The problem springs from the question as to what type of education is needed to meet this test.
A brief summation of the conclusions of one important group which has studied and still is working on this problem is the following
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quotation from a pamphlet, "Planning for American Youth," which has been published by the National Association of Secondary-School Principals.
"All Youth Have Certain Educational Needs in Common"
Youth have specific needs they recognize; society makes certain requirements of all youth; together these form a pattern of common educational needs, which may be expressed as follows:
1. All youth need to develop saleable skills.
2. All youth need to develop and maintain good health and physical fitness.
3. All youth need to understand the rights and duties of the citizen of a democratic society.
4. All youth need to understand the significance of the family for the individual and society.
5. All youth need to know how to purchase and use goods and services intelligently.
6. All youth need to understand the influence of science. on human life.
7. All youth need an appreciation of literature, art, music and nature.
8. All youth need to be able to use their leisure time well and to budget it wisely.
9. All youth need to develop respect for other persons.
10. All youth need to grow in their ability to think rationally.
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We shall have difficulty meeting these needs because of:
a. The wide range of social problems.
Industrial reconversion
International cooperation and peace Inter-racial understanding Jobs for all Relations between capital and labor
Crime and delinquency
Poverty and disease
Protection of natural resources
Government regulation of free enterprise
Breaking down world trade barriers
b. Parents do not agree on the kind of education they want for their children.
c. Communities have such unequal abilities to pay for what they need.
d. The public, as yet, fails to recognize the importance of edu- cation as its investment in good citizenship, health, personal living and occupational competence.
In spite of all difficulties, we must, if we trust the judgment of those best qualified to know, get ready for this very trying period which will follow the cessation of war.
A quotation from a publication of The Educational Policies Com- mission of The National Educational Association entitled, "Education for All American Youth," is offered for serious consideration.
"Educational Change is bound to come, and come swiftly. Only the nature and direction of change may be controlled."
No one can surely foretell the future of American education, for no one knows what American educators, boards of education and legislatures will do during this critical period. We can, however, foresee the alternatives. And, by a study of our past experience, we can predict the general consequences of each of the lines of action- or inaction-which the public schools may pursue.
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The alternative possibilities, very briefly stated, are these:
1. A federalized system of secondary education may be created, at first to compete with and ultimately to replace the traditional American system of state and local control of education.
2. A wisely planned and vigorously implemented program for the improvement, adaption, and extension of educational services to youth may be developed by the local and state educational authorities.
The Commission strongly and unanimously favors the second alternative and rejects the first.
Nevertheless, the Commission firmly believes that if local and state planning and action are lacking, a federal system of secondary education is scarcely less certain to occur than the succession of the seasons."
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORTS
In connection with this report will be found supplementary reports of some of my associates. Three of the Supervisors have been with us for such a short period that I have allowed them to omit writing a report at this time. I can report for them that the departments of Art, Music and Physical Education are now functioning completely.
CONCLUSION
Grateful appreciation is offered to all of those of my associates who have given their best to maintain our standards in these trying times.
To the School Committee, I offer thanks for cooperation and understanding.
Respectfully submitted.
STEPHEN G. BEAN,
Superintendent of Schools.
January 31, 1945.
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
January 17, 1945
Mr. S. G. Bean, Supt. of Schools, Wilmington, Mass.
Dear Sir:
It is my pleasure to submit herewith my annual report as Prin- cipal of the Wilmington High School.
While many high schools have reported large decreases in enroll- ments during the past three years, Wilmington has passed through this period with a reasonably small reduction in numbers. Our en- rollment of three hundred pupils on October first compares very favorably with the three hundred and thirty-one enrolled on October first three years ago.
Two of our former teachers, Miss Myra Roberts and Mrs. Rita Casey, are teaching in other communities while a third teacher, Mr. Robert Copeland, is working in a war plant. Fortunately, we were able to fill two of the above vacancies with the election of Miss Rosemary Daly and Miss Geraldyne Lynch, both experienced teachers who wanted to live at home in Lawrence. Miss Margaret Hart, also of Lawrence, was employed to fill the third vacancy.
War conditions have obliged us to put less emphasis upon inter- scholastic athletics in the last few years and for more thought and interest into improving the physical condition of the older boys preparatory to their entrance in the armed forces. We regret that athletic competition with our neighboring schools could not have been retained upon a normal basis, and we are working toward the time when we can again have full schedules in all sports.
Education, in the past, was concerned exclusively with imparting information, but today we plan to improve the pupils' physical con- dition, teach him to live harmoniously with his associates, help him to acquire some of the social graces, and at the same time encourage
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him to make the most of his mental endowment. Most modern high school buildings provide suitable space for social activities, and since our building does not, the School Committee has voted to engage the Grange Hall for eight evenings during the school year and make it available to the pupils for their social events.
War time conditions have raised two troublesome problems relative to awarding diplomas to boys either in, or about to enter, the armed services. First, a senior boy becoming eighteen years of age before graduation is faced with two alternatives :- first, to remain in school and face the possibility of being taken by the draft, or, second, to leave school just prior to his eighteenth birthday and enlist in the service of his choice. In either case the boy is anxious to receive his diploma with his class in June. So far, we have been able to solve this problem to the satisfaction of every deserving boy by considering each case on its merits.
In addition to the above we have a number of boys in service who left school without receiving diplomas, and who are now anxious to complete the necessary work to qualify for one. Many of these boys are given special schooling in the various branches of the service to train them for specific duties and, in addition, it is possible for them to take correspondence courses with the United States Armed Forces Institute.
In the past, we, as other high schools, have been at a loss as to how to evaluate this education in terms of regular high school credits. To bring order out of this confusion the National Association of Secondary School Principals together with the American Council on Education have worked out a plan, which has received the approval of our State Department of Education, whereby we can give proper school credit where due. This solution comes at a fortunate time, for we are receiving many inquiries from the boys in service. As a matter of fact, we expect to be able to award a diploma to one of these boys at our graduation in June and hope that more and more of them will be encouraged to work for a diploma and put themselves in a position to qualify for the educational benefits under the so-called G. I. Bill.
The first world war had a tremendous effect upon secondary education in this country both on the number of pupils enrolled and on the subjects taught. Figures recently released by the army show that in the first world war only twenty percent of the men had had more than an eighth grade education; today sixty-seven percent
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