USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1932-1940 > Part 42
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The Wilbraham schools are now well equipped to take advantage of the educational films now available and the many that are rapidly becoming available. There can be little doubt that this type of instruction is of fast growing importance and, when properly used by teachers and pupils, serves to vitalize and enrich the school experience of children.
(2) Elementary Science.
To assist in the further development of our elementary science program the following committee of teachers has been appointed: Elizabeth A. Rhoades, chairman, Anna E. Berte, Ruth E. Fowler, Dorothy F. Gilman, and Millicent G. Green.
The committee is developing an outline that will serve as a guide for teaching. It has also studied the types of ex- perimental and illustrative material needed for instructing
75
children in the elements of science so as to relate the work very definitely to the everyday lives of children. A limited amount of such material has recently been purchased and made avail- able to the teachers and pupils in each school. This equipment will not only increase the interest in the work, but will initiate the pupils in the use of materials and methods that will come to be used more and more extensively as they go forward into the secondary schools.
(3) Physical Education at The Pines.
All the upper-grade children in town now have the benefit of training in physical education and supervised play under the direction of young men from Springfield College. Two of these young men spend two days each week at The Pines School. Under their direction the boys and girls engage in outdoor and indoor games involving vigorous physical exercises, training in rhythm, muscular development, posture exercises, a variety of manual skills, and practice in good sportsmanship and social cooperation. These young men receive no reimbursement from the town except that of the teaching experience.
(4) Concerts by the Massachusetts Music Project of the Works Progress Administration.
The pupils in our schools have greatly enjoyed concerts provided by the Massachusetts Music Project of the Works Progress Administration. The North Wilbraham and Spring- field Street schools were invited to attend the concert at Wil- braham Academy. Bus transportation was provided by the school committee. Other concerts were given by the band and orchestra at The Pines school assembly hall. Appreciation of good music and an understanding of the functions of the various orchestral instruments as well as of different types of instrumental music were the main objectives of these concerts.
(5) New Reference Materials.
Progress and change take place so rapidly in this period of history that our reference works soon become obsolete in many of their important chapters. Bearing this fact in mind a new set of Compton's Pictured Encyclopedia was purchased for The Pines school last year and a set of the World Book for each of the other schools this year. The knowledge of how to use reference materials and the habit of doing so are important objectives of elementary education.
76
Home Reading
School instruction in reading can not be considered wholly successful unless it helps the child to develop good reading habits and helps to create within him an appetite for reading good books outside of school hours. This should be a very con- scious purpose of the schools. With this objective in mind our public library is continuing the practice of sending consign- ments of children's books to the schools as fast as called for. The pupils at the Springfield Street school receive from this source about 120 books each year, and the pupils at The Pines a similar number.
The teachers at The Pines report that their boys and girls have read the following number of books during the past year: Grades 3 and 4, 137; Grades 5 and 6, 80; Grade 7, 59; Grade 8, 60. With the close of the school year in June the seventh grade received 17 certificates, each representing the completion of 5 books on the approved reading list issued by the State, and 3 honor certificates, each representing the completion of 20 books from the same list. At the same time the pupils who graduated from the eighth grade received 36 5-book certificates and 4 honor certificates.
The pupils at the North Wilbraham school are so situated that they can obtain direct from the town library the books desired for home reading.
The Parent-Teacher Association at Springfield Street school has begun to assist in this program for developing good reading habits by starting a children's library in that school.
Achievement in the Tool Subjects of the Curriculum
The annual tests of pupil achievement in reading, arith- metic, language, and spelling in grades 3 to 8 inclusive have been given again this year with very satisfactory results. The tests indicate that exceptionally good work is being done in fourth and fifth grade reading, in seventh and eighth grade arithmetic, and in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade language. The tests also brought out the fact that some study should be made of our work in spelling in grades 3 to 7 inclusive. Considering the total results, and taking into account the ages of Wilbraham pupils in the several grades, it is very gratifying to report that the average achievement in the four subjects equaled the test standard in two of the six grades and exceeded the test standard
77
in four grades. It is also encouraging to be able to report that while the average results in 1940 equaled our average results in 1939 in two grades, the 1940 results were superior to those of 1939 in four of the six grades tested.
The results being accomplished in handwriting are set forth in the appended report of Mr. William L. Rinehart, handwriting supervisor.
Honor Pupils in High and Trade School
In addition to the results of the standardized tests, there is other concrete evidence that Wilbraham pupils are doing school work of good quality. I refer to the very substantial number of our pupils who achieve honor standing in the Spring- field high and trade schools. I am glad to report that during the past five years both the number and the percent of Wil- braham pupils on the honor rolls of these secondary schools has increased. In 1936 when the December enrolment in high and trade school was 177, there were 39 pupils whose names ap- peared on the honor rolls of these schools during the calendar year. In 1940, when our December enrolment was 174 pupils, the names of 77 appeared one or more times on the honor rolls.
At graduation, 1939, two Wilbraham pupils were signally , honored by having achieved the three-year honor roll, and at the 1940 graduation four of our pupils won this distinction. The school committee of Wilbraham invited these highest- honor pupils to be present at the local graduation, when each was given a certificate of special commendation by the school committee.
Americanization
The interest in the citizenship classes has been so great that the work is being continued with Mrs. Kerr and Mrs. Goggin as teachers. The two classes meet for two hours on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for a total of forty sessions during the year. Of about 250 non-citizens in Wilbraham, 49 men and women are now enrolled in these classes. Seventeen members now have their first papers, and fifteen members have their second papers. Eight others are eligible for second papers and two members have now achieved the status of citizens. In view of the fact that a growing number of important priv- ileges and responsibilities of citizens are denied to non-citizens,
78
it seems clear that these classes are rendering a distinctive service both to our non-citizens and to our larger common interests.
Repairs to Buildings and Improvements in School Property .
In addition to numerous minor repairs that were given attention, a number of improvements that have been made during the past year are worthy of note.
At The Pines school all the windows in the assembly hall and corridor were weatherstripped as well as the windows in the classrooms on the south side of the building, twenty-four windows in all. This completes the weatherstripping of all . windows in classrooms and corridors of this building and will undoubtedly be a worthwhile investment over a period of years through the saving of heat and the prevention of dust from entering the classrooms around loose window casings.
The floors throughout this building were re-sealed and waxed during the summer vacation. A floor machine has been provided to enable the janitor to clean and buff the floors in the most economical manner. This machine will be useful in the other school buildings as well as at The Pines.
One of the most important improvements at The Pines was the hardening of the road from the street to and around the building. This will help keep the gravel in place and the road will better withstand the wear by school buses as well as by the snow plow in winter. Further attention will need to be given to this road before the improvement is wholly com- pleted. A new cement walk was constructed, leading from the road to the front steps of the building. A partial rearrangement of shrubbery has added to the general appearance of the grounds. A power lawn mower has been procured as the most economical means of conditioning the spacious lawn in front of the building.
The most extensive repairs made during the past year were at North Wilbraham and Springfield Street schools where new maple floors were laid throughout, this work being under the direction of Mr. Charles Lapine, who was in charge of repairs in all buildings. The old floors were badly worn and con- stituted something of a physical hazard to pupils and teachers. The new floors have been sealed and treated with wax and lend much to the general appearance of the interior of these buildings.
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At Springfield Street school the lighting in the primary classroom has been modernized through the replacement of the old windows by new Austral windows of the type recently installed at the North Wilbraham school. It is anticipated that the middle-grade room will be similarly improved before the close of the year. By means of this alteration the pupils in these two rooms will receive adequate light from the proper direction.
It is a pleasure to report also that the Springfield Street school has received the gift of a fine piano from Mrs. Clarence P. Bolles. This has been placed in the middle-grade room and will be a decided asset to the school.
High School Tuition Rates
As a result of the successful appeal to the Springfield school authorities presented by Mr. Rice on behalf of the joint school committee for a lowering of the high school tuition rates, such reductions became effective on January 29, 1940. The town of Wilbraham thereby saved $1,796 in the fiscal year just closed.
Soon after the action of the Springfield authorities on this matter, the Palmer school authorities voluntarily reduced the tuition rates in Palmer High School from $150 to $100 per year. Wilbraham thereby effected a saving of $390 in 1940 by this welcome move of our neighboring community on the east.
These decreases in expenditures for high school tuition and the slight falling off in the numbers attending high school are chiefly responsible for the recent reduction in the annual budget of the school department from $65,800 in 1939 to $62,200 in 1941.
In concluding this report I wish on behalf of the school officials of Wilbraham to express our gratitude to principals, supervisors, health officers, and other employees of the school department for their cooperative efforts to provide in the Wilbraham schools opportunities for children to develop effectively those knowledges, skills, and attitudes that are a necessary foundation for happy and useful living. May I also express to the members of the school committee my personal satisfaction in continuing my work with you in the pursuance of these important aims.
Respectfully submitted,
BURR F. JONES.
80
Report of Handwriting Supervisor
To: Burr F. Jones, Superintendent of Schools:
I am pleased to submit the following report of the objec- tives and achievement in handwriting in the Wilbraham schools for the school year of 1940.
The major objectives in our program are: - 1. To secure consistently excellent handwriting throughout the school system in both formal and informal writing. 2. To develop an appreciation of neat, legible handwriting along with the writing consciousness that will create a desire on the part of pupils to want to write well.
In order to achieve these objectives a carefully planned program is operated. We supply teachers and pupils with the necessary instructional materials. These materials include Pupil Folder Outlines, Teacher Certificates, Pupil Certificates, Motivation Seals, Term Specimen Paper, Monthly and Term Envelopes, etc.
The instructional material is organized into monthly as- signments. Teachers are provided with printed copies of the assignments. A set of formal test papers is diagnosed each month and a report is sent to the teacher. Charts are provided on which a pupil records his achievement.
The following statistics will give you an idea of the im- provement in handwriting in your schools.
We administered our first formal handwriting test in your schools in September, 1938. We found that 11.9 percent of the pupils in grades 1 to 8 made a grade of "A" (Excellent). In June of 1940, we found that 87.9 percent of the pupils in grades 1 to 8 made a score of "A" (Excellent).
During the past school year we graded approximately 2,750 samples of formal handwriting for your pupils.
In general, I have found the results to be excellent. I wish to express my appreciation for the fine cooperation we have received.
Signed,
W. L. RINEHART.
81
Report of School Physician
To the School Committee, Superintendent, and Parents of Wilbraham:
I wish to make the following report of work accomplished during 1940:
Physical examinations 322
Vaccinations (small pox) 34
Immunizations (diphtheria) 49
Schick tests (diphtheria)
48
Special calls at schools
4
Examination for working certificate
1
I wish to express appreciation to all for their cooperation.
ARTHUR L. DAMON, M. D.
Report of School Nurse
During the year I have assisted the school physician in the following health work:
Physical examinations
322
Vaccinations
34
Immunizations
49
(24 of these cases were pre-school children)
Schick tests
48
Defects were discovered as follows:
Nutrition
38
Posture
21
Teeth
143
Tonsils
51
Enlarged glands
17
Nasal obstruction
7
Heart
1
Flat feet
9
Improvements in pupils having defects were as follows:
Defective posture 16
Nutrition 12
82
Defective tonsils (removed)
17
Flat feet 4
Number of pupil inspections (scarlet fever, mumps, skin
infection, whooping cough) 916
Exclusions .29
At the weighing of children in May only two were found who had lost weight. In September nine were found to have lost weight and five showed no gain since the previous weighing in May. The greater loss of weight in September is a common occurrence and in most cases is due to strenuous play and lack of rest during summer vacation.
The fall examination of eyes was confined to new pupils entering the several schools and to those pupils who had shown eye defects in the previous examination. Notices of needed attention to eyes were sent to parents in the case of ninety- six pupils. In thirteen cases eye defects would not have been discovered except for the new method of eye testing recently introduced into the schools. Several of the pupils reported defective have already been fitted with glasses and others are doing corrective exercises.
I have taken fourteen children to the oculist for exam- ination.
Six children spent from twenty-one to fifty-five days at Camp Frederic Edwards and made a total gain of fourteen pounds, due to rest, regularity of meals, and sunshine.
At the pre-school clinic in May, 30 children were examined and 22 were found to have physical defects as follows: De- fective teeth, 19: defective tonsils, 6; flat feet, 1. For the benefit of those children who were found to have defective teeth at the pre-school clinic in May, I offer the suggestion that the dental clinic be continued into July.
I am glad to report that 82 parents were in attendance at the annual physical examinations.
I have had 232 consultations with parents, teachers, oculists, and doctors, and have made 274 visits to homes, schools, physicians, and others.
I wish to thank all for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
SIGNE L. POLSON, R. N.
83
School Calendar 1940-1941
Fall Term: Wednesday, September 4, to Friday, December 20. Winter Term: Thursday, January 2, to Friday, February 21. Spring Term: Monday, March 3, to Friday, April 25. Summer Term: Monday, May 5, to Friday, June 20.
The schools are closed on Monday, September 16, Child- ren's Day at the Eastern States Exposition; Friday, October 25, annual meeting of the Hampden County Teachers' Asso- ciation; on Wednesday noon, November 27, for the rest of the week, Thanksgiving recess; On Friday, April 11, Good Friday; and on all other legal holidays.
TABLE I
Data Bearing Upon School Membership for the Period 1925-40
(As of December in each year)
Year
Births Recorded
1st grade
8th grade
Elementary Schools
High and Trade Schools
1925
55
148
30
516
80
1926
57
120
43
466
85
1927
51
112
30
460
107
1928
27
97
48
440
122
1929
24
93
25
429
131
1930
19
74
41
449
128
1931
25
68
50
458
151
1932
29
71
59
460
153
1933
21
61
46
439
158
1934
37
50
54
413
163
1935
32
54
47
370
183
1936
27
37
47
324
177
1937
29
50
44
313
178
1938
43
37
33
278
193
1939
51
40
44
279
191
1940
45
43
32
285
174
84
TABLE II Children in the School Census and Their Distribution October 1, 1940
5 to 7 7 to 14 14 to 16
years
years
years
Total
Boys
38
154
41
233
Girls
44
151
46
241
Total
82
305
87
474
Distribution :
In public school
60
240
64
364
In Trade school
0
0
16
16
In private school
14
63
6
83
Not enrolled in any school
8
2
1
11
Total
82
305
87
474
Total on October 1, 1939
61
317
107
485
TABLE III
Number of Pupils in Elementary Schools by Grades Five-Year Period 1935-1940
(As of December in each year)
Grade I
II
III
IV
V VI
VII VIII Spec. Total
1935
54
33
42
43
35
55
46
47
15 370
1936
37
33
35
36
39
37
51
47
9 324
1937
50
31
26
38
38
47
39
44
313
1938
37
30
33
28
32
33
52
33
278
1939
40
24
37
33
32
35
34
44
279*
1940
43
34
27
38
34
35
42
32
285*
*Does not include two pupils for whom Wilbraham pays tuition in Ludlow.
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Number of Pupils in the Several High and Trade Schools Five-Year Period 1935-1940
(As of December in each year)
Junior Classical High Technical Ludlow Palmer High High School High High High Trade School School Commerce School School School School Total
1935
48
14
22
40
7
52
183
1936
52
14
23
39
2
7
40
177
1937
53
13
28
29
2
9
44
178
1938
51
15
30
30
3
10
54
193
1939
38
16
36
35
3
8
55
191
1940
44
11
28
21
1
7
62
174
Elementary School Graduates, June, 1940
Lewis E. Banta, Jr.
Helen Lopata
Ray Everett Beane, Jr.
Jacquelyn Ann McDonald Rose Marie Mantoni
James A. Bennett
Jennie J. Brut
Andon Meregian
Malcolm Stewart Buffum
Frank Moskal
Anna E. Burrows
Jean Phyllis Murphy
Herbert L. Butler
John D. Murphy
Pauline Doris Campsie
Chandler W. Newell
Victor Kenneth Carman
Jean A. Opalinski
Mitchell M. Chrzanowski
Walter H. Piavowski
Arthur A. Cote Doris E. Crafts
John C. Preston Isabel N. Riddle Annette Iola Rivers
Helen Estelle Cwieka
John Dabrowski William H. Dennis John Feranzoviz Dorothy Mildred Frost
Frank B. Skorupski Helen R. Skorupski Andrew J. Stokosa
Josephine M. Szczebak
Marion J. Gendron Wesley H. Holdridge Harry D. James
Doris Eleanor Thorstenson Alice Trybus Edward Trybus
Walter J. Kowalczyk Cecilia M. Logan
Bernard James Tupper Joseph Victor
86
High and Trade School Honor Roll 1940
George Backus Walter Bak Sophie Boryczka *Gordon Brady Eliot Buffum
Helen Bulat
John Calkins
Pauline Campsie Victor Carman
Chester Cebula
Mitchell Chmura
Stanley Chmura Helen Ciesla
Thaddeus Ciesla Leslie Collins
Valeta Cutting
Stanley Soja
Kazmiera Czerniak
Nicholas DePinto
Lillian Diotalevi
Robert Doolittle
Janet Emerson
Dorothy Frost Helen Galas Marjorie Goodnow
** Mary-Lou Strasburg Helen Swiatek Josephine Szczebak *Genevieve Szczygiel Roger Tiffany Alice Trybus Jennie Tupek James Van Wart
Evelyn Harrington
Doris Herter
Joseph Victor
Longin Jachym
Mitchell Walch Theodore Wallace Lucille Whiting
Malcolm Johnson
Frank Karwoski
George King
Genevieve Witowska
Stella Kret
Helen Witowska
Jacqueline McDonald
Irene Witowska
Irene Misiaszek
Genevieve Wozniak
Julian Misiaszek
Mitchell Wozniak
Anna Misterka Joseph Motyl Jean Murphy Nancy Newell *Three-year honor students, Technical High School.
Walter Wyzik Josephine Zabawa John Ziemba
** Three-year honor student, Classical High School.
Helen Obrzut Anna Olszewska Henry Opalinski Mitchell Opalinski Helen Orszulak Sophie Pasierb *Donald Phillips Julia Porteri Richard Preston Thelma Rivers Alfred Rodrigues Janet Rogers Lynford Samble Frank Skrzyniarz Mary J. Smola
Jocelyn Stedman Marylis Stedman
Terry Griffin
87
School Directory, January 1, 1941
Superintendent of Schools
Burr F. Jones, Residence, North Main Street, East Longmeadow. Office, Town Hall, East Longmeadow.
Superintendent's Secretary
Emily O. Cormier, White Avenue, Fast Longmeadow.
Teachers
The Pines School:
Mrs. Agnes I. Simmington, Principal, North Wilbraham
Grades 7-8
Marion E. Kelley, North Wilbraham Grades 7-8 Helen S. Kochanek, 39 Ludlow Ave., Indian Orchard Grades 7-8 Judith V. Carlson, 165 Massachusetts Ave., Springfield
Grades 5-8
Mrs. Liane S. Fontaine, 19 Knox St., Palmer Grades 3-4
Marion L. Holland, 218 Pearl St., Springfield Grades 1-2
Springfield Street School:
Mrs. Millicent G. Green, Principal, Wilbraham Grades 5-6
Mrs. Mildred P. Daniels, 125 Magazine St., Springfield Grades 3-4
Katherine A. Hart, 66 Rochelle St., Springfield Grades 1-2
North Wilbraham School:
Mrs. Mary G. Logan, Principal, North Wilbraham Grades 5-6 Mrs. Clara W. Strasburg, 19 Warner St., Springfield Grades 3-4 Mrs. Minnie M. Sanderson, North Wilbraham Grades 1-2
Janitors
The Pines School:
Charles Lapine, 98 Stony Hill Rd., Wilbraham, (P. O. Ad- ress, Ludlow)
Springfield Street and North Wilbraham Schools: Henry Hyde, Wilbraham
88
Supervisor of Art
Mrs. Helen B. Tower, Allen St., Hampden, (P. O. Address, East Longmeadow)
Supervisor of Music
Mrs. Ethel C. Iverson, 44 Blue Hills Ave., Hartford, Conn.
School Physician
Dr. A. L. Damon, North Wilbraham.
School Nurse Signe L. Polson, 36 Summit St., Springfield.
School Dentist
Dr. Irving P. Dinneen, 162 Main St., Indian Orchard.
Supervisor of Attendance
Charles Lapine, 98 Stony Hill Rd., Wilbraham, (P. O. Address, Ludlow).
89
Town Collector's Report
Taxes 1937 :
Committment
$287.45
Abatements
14.58
Payments to Treasurer
172.56
Cash on hand
20.12
Uncollected Dec. 31, 1940
83.30
290.56
Overpayment to be refunded
3.11
Taxes 1938:
Commitment
$9,783.35
Abatements
$14.07
Payments to treasurer
2,301.40
Cash on hand
20.02
Transfers to tax titles
6,192.49
Uncollected Dec. 31, 1940
1,255.37
Taxes 1939:
Commitment
$38,386.44
Refunded
2.51
Adjusted
.06
Error reporting tax title
.05
$38,389.06
Abatements
$29.04
Payments to treasurer
20.092.93
Cash on hand
25.57
Transfers to tax titles
10,884.27
Uncollected Dec. 31, 1940
7,357.25
$38,389.06
Taxes 1940:
Commitment
$100,073.71
Abatement after commitment
2.00
100,075.71
Payments to treasurer
69,508.34
Abatements
451.56
Transfers to tax titles
106.01
$287.45
$9,783.35
90
Cash on hand
Uncollected Dec. 31, 1940
$133.59 29,876.21
100,075.71
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes 1938:
Outstanding Jan. 1. 1940
$61.94
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1940
61.94
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes 1939:
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1940
$537.25
Additional commitment
104.13
Error in commitment
8.00
Abatement after payment
13.72
663.10
Abatements
21.74
Payments to treasurer
316.92
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1940
324.44
663.10
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes 1940:
Commitments
8,127.45
Abatements after payments
183.61
To be refunded
19.72
$8,330.78
Abatements
$391.05
Abatements after payment
17.20
Error in commitment
9.28
Payments to treasurer
6,988.20
Cash on hand
2.00
Outstanding Dec. 31, 1940
923.05
$8,330.78
Interest on all taxes :
$653.74
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1940
3.56
$657.30
Payments to treasurer
$647.03
Cash on hand
10.27
$657.30
Collector's fees on all taxes
$106.13
Cash on hand Jan. 1, 1940
.70
$106.83
91
Payments to treasurer
Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1940
$105.08 1.75
106.83
Collections of miscellaneous accounts :
Water Dept.
$9,043.43
Old Age Assistance
6,724.75
Licenses
2,832.50
Public Welfare
2,317.30
School Dept.
29.62
Forest fires
3.00
Dental Clinic
98.20
Aid to Dependent Children
172.63
Highway Dept.
10.00
21,231.43
Payments to treasurer
$20,562.30
Cash on hand Dec. 31, 1940
669.13
$21,231.43
Respectfully submitted, FRANK B. DOBEK, Town Collector.
Town Collector's Expense
1 Appropriation
$400.00
Check returned
48.96
Frank B. Dobek, reimbursement for cash paid for strong box, books, stamps, envelopes, advertising, etc.
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