USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1941-1945 > Part 10
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
32
traditional subjects, our teachers are now asked to devote considerable time to other activities in school and out. I want to pay tribute to the uncomplaining, willing, and loyal co- operation which they have given to the various programs of rationing, war savings stamps campaign, salvage, and Junior Red Cross.
Because of the radical changes made in the opening and closing times of the Springfield junior and senior high schools, there arose the problem of when sessions in our schools should begin. To have continued on our regular time would have meant the hiring of additional buses. Two plans were con- sidered: (1) open at 8 A. M., (2) open at 10 A. M. 8 A. M. War Time is 7 A. M. Sun Time or Eastern Standard Time. To open at the earlier hour would mean that many of our pupils would have to be ready to board a school bus at 6:30 A. M. Sun Time or earlier. Under the plan adopted children leave school at 4 P. M. when there is just as much daylight remaining as there used to be under the 3 P. M. dismissal.
Repairs and Improvements
Major repairs this year included the painting of the exterior of the North Wilbraham school building, the installation of new front steps, the washing of all the ceilings and the painting of the ceiling in the fifth and sixth grade room.
At the Springfield Street School new front steps have re- placed the old ones, the playground equipment has been re- painted, and some ceilings have been washed.
At The Pines School steps have been repaired, the concrete aprons at both the boys' and girls' entrances have been en- larged. In the rooms of Mrs. Simmington and Miss Holland the slate blackboards have been refinished and defective slates replaced.
Enrolment
The total enrolment in the schools remains about the same as last year when there were 299 pupils in our schools. This year there are 292 which means that the average number of pupils per teacher is slightly under twenty-five.
Elimination of the No-School Signal
Following the practice which is being adopted in many towns and cities, the "no school" signal has been abolished. Schools will be open on each school day regardless of the wea- ther conditions. When the weather is extremely severe, the matter of the advisability of sending children to school is left solely to the judgment of the parents. In bad weather there
33
are many children who live near the school or who are trans- ported by bus who will suffer little inconvenience in reaching school. The attendance contests are eliminated and with them also the stigma which formerly was sometimes attached to a pupil whose absence spoiled a one hundred per cent record of his room. There is little doubt that occasionally a pupil who should have remained at home because of illness, has pleaded successfully to be permitted to go to school in order that he might not be the individual scornfully pointed out as the one who spoiled an attendance record. Good health records are more important than one hundred per cent attendance records.
Visual Education
Our motion picture program is being provided this year through the Visual Aids Department of the State Department of Education from the office of University Extension. We are showing a total of thirty reels in groups of two reels each for fifteen showings. Since the reels are also used in East Long- meadow and Hampden, the cost per reel is very low. It amounts to forty-two cents per reel, one-tenth of one per cent per pupil. The subjects are as follows: five reels on the Symphony Or- chestra including the String, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion Groups, and the Full Orchestra, Beach and Sea Animals, Farm Animals, Animals in Modern Life, How Nature Protects Animals, Animals of the Zoo, Agrentina, Brazil, Butterflies, Colonial Children, Our Earth, Flowers at Work, The House Fly, The Frog, Leaves, Metal Craft, Arts and Crafts of Mexico, Mountain Building, Conservation of Natural Resources, Navajo Indians, New England Fishermen, Pottery Making, Poultry on the Farm, Shelter, Thrushes and Relatives, and the Develop- ment of Transportation. These films are all the work of the Erpi Film Company and were made especially for school child- ren.
Honor Pupils in High and Trade Schools
Wilbraham is proud of the high rating obtained by so many of its secondary school pupils. There has been little change in the per cent of honor pupils attending high and trade schools.
Total Pupils
Honor Pupils
Per Cent
1937
178
50
28
1938
193
76
39
1939
191
73
38
1940
174
77
44
1941
164
69
42
1942
152
66
43
Year
34
Following the custom established three years ago, three pupils were awarded special commendation certificates at the local graduation exercises for having been on the honor rolls for several successive years.
Textbooks
The only major change in textbooks was in the field of spelling. In grades two through six the Newlon-Hanna Text-book- Note-book Speller was introduced and gives promise of improv- ing spelling achievement. It is based on the results of recent scientific research and makes possible the presentation of spelling words to the pupils at the time when they are interested in the words and when they need to write them. Each lesson, a weekly unit, is integrated around a theme which was care- fully chosen and graded on the basis of original investigations by the authors, of 7,000 units of work or course-of-study topics and a survey of the interests of 5,000 children in a wide sampling of schools. The words grouped under the various weekly themes are selected from a new spelling vocabulary which the authors based on an analysis of the best recent word lists and spelling textbooks. Therefore this book gives unusual assur- ance that the word list is in accord with pupils' needs, interests, and abilities.
This speller also offers a study method that is supported by the best modern research and practice. By utilizing a unique distribution of a variety of spelling activities, which includes meanings, special problems, and reviews, it provides for the most effective learning. Emphasis is laid on building individual spelling vocabularies, not only from words that are in the text, but from words outside the text, which individual usage brings in for study. A special feature of the study method is the consistent and thorough follow-up system which pro- vides for continuous study and practice on each recorded miss- spelled word until it is removed from the record by being correctly spelled.
The annual achievement testing was done again as in past years in April and the results in most grades indicated achieve- ment equal to or above the test norms. The results for the Wilhameadow Union are as follows:
1942
Grade
1941 Average
Average
Norm
3
3.5
3.5
3.8
4
5.3
4.9
4.8
5
6.0
6.1
5.8
6.9
7.1
6.8
678 6 7
8.3
7.9
7.8
8.7
8.9
8.8
1
35
In explanation of this table, attention is called to the fact that 8.7, for instance, means the seventh month of school in the eighth grade; 5.2 means the second month of school in the fifth grade and so on. Since these tests were given in April, the norm of achievement for any grade is indicated by the decimal .8. It will be noted that in all grades except the third the 1942 average was above the test norm. In the third grade the aver- age lacked three months.
Wilhameadow Teachers' Association
Again this year all our teachers and supervisors are mem- bers of the Wilhameadow Teachers' Association and it is to be noted with a bit of pride that this one hundred per cent member- ship was the first to be reported to the Massachusetts Teachers' Federation. Eighty-three per cent of our teachers are members of the National Education Association; seventy-five per cent of the East Longmeadow teachers and one hundred per cent of the Hampden teachers are enrolled in the organization. This large number in the three towns of School Union No. 17 is worthy of mention. The Massachusetts Teachers' Federation and the National Education Association have done a great deal to improve education, teaching conditions, and profes- sional ethics.
Americanization
Due to the fact that many of our potential members of Americanization classes are engaged in war work, there has been a diminishing of the enrolment to such an extent that only one teacher is required at the present time. Mrs. Kerr who has served so efficiently and faithfully for a number of years as teacher and supervisor found it necessary to terminate her work this year. Mrs. Goggin was not available because she is employed as a field supervisor in the National Citizenship Education Project. We were fortunate in obtaining the services of Miss Teresa Boylan of North Wilbraham to take over the teaching of Americanization class at The Pines this year. She is well qualified for this work and is certified for it by the Mass- achusetts Department of Education. About twenty adults are enrolled.
Junior Red Cross
Mrs. Marion E. Hibert, Director of the Junior Red Cross in the Springfield area, came to the schools at the beginning of the membership drive and explained to the pupils and teachers the aim and objects. Junior Red Cross is the Red Cross in the schools, public, private, and parochial. Children may join only in the school rooms. Any school room may enroll by the payment of fifty cents for the group. No accounting of indi-
36
vidual contributions is necessary. For this fifty cents the class receives one copy each month of the Junior Red Cross News published in Washington, D. C., a membership roll and a poster for the room. Each pupil receives a Junior Red Cross button. This year, in order to conserve tin, forty-three tons of which would be necessary for the entire country, cardboard tags have been substituted. Pupils who belong to the Junior Red Cross think of "school work for service." Many of the regular school activities fit in perfectly with this program. Pictures drawn and stories written may be sent to sick per- sons, veterans in hospitals, and men in the army and navy. Letters may be exhangeed with children in distant parts of our country and other countries.
The response to this call for Junior Red Cross enrolment has been enthusiastic and one hundred per cent membership has been achieved in all the schools of East Longmeadow, Hampden, and Wilbraham.
Supervisors
The work of Mrs. Seymour in music and Mrs. Tower in art continues on a very high plane. We are exceedingly fortu- nate in having these ladies in charge of these subjects which are essential in the education of children.
The supervision in handwriting has been expanded to the original plan of several years ago and calls for a visit each month to each room by one of Mr. Rinehart's carefully trained super- visors. Greater improvement in handwriting has already been noted and enthusiastic, unsolicited comments from many parents are frequently being received.
Our school nurse, Miss Polson, and our new school phys- ician, Dr. Saunders, are keeping careful watch over the health of our children. Miss Polson also handles the planning of the dental work which is done by the school dentist, Dr. Dinneen.
It is requested that your careful attention be directed to the special reports of the art, handwriting and music super- visors and also to the annual report of the school nurse.
In an attempt to reduce printing costs, this report has intentionally been made as short as possible.
Please bear in mind that your superintendent of schools is ready at all times to meet parents, teachers and pupils to discuss mutual problems. To save time it is best to make an appointment. Also, please bear in mind that teachers are anxious to confer with parents at any time which does not interfere with their teaching duties. The schools are open to parents who wish to visit, and it is hoped that more will re- spond to this invitation. Come in the morning once in a while even if it means disrupting the household routine. Many of the most important subjects are taught during the morning session.
37
My sincere appreciation is extended to the school com- mittee for its unselfish devotion to the cause of good schools for all the children of Wilbraham.
"Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently main- tained."
-James A. Garfield.
Respectfully submitted, EDMUND R. SAWYER
Report of the Supervisor of Art
To Mr. Edmund R. Sawyer,
Superintendent of Schools:
It's grand to be an American, working in the public schools. Working with children today is a challenge and a privilege. We must all think less of ourselves and more of them, what they need and are going to need to cope with situations as they will find them. We must give them the right attitudes, train them for better health, courage, ability.
Where does Art come into this? It comes into every part of school work. Art is character building. It isn't the picture you paint or the article you make; it's the skill you acquire, the right attitude, the confidence, and ability. By actual doing, one gains appreciation of the work of others, constructive thinking and doing.
The children in our schools have been working for the Junior Red Cross making gifts and posters. The children have designed room decorations, made bulletin boards for sale of Defense Stamps, promoting Victory Gardens, health posters, and Christmas Gifts.
During the past year through the State Department of Forestry there were purchased and distributed to pupils in the towns of East Longmeadow, Hampden, and Wilbraham 7,600 trees. Aside from the beauty these trees will create in the years to come, the mere acquiring and caring for them builds character.
In closing, I want to thank all connected with the schools for their wonderful co-operation; it is a pleasure to work with them. Let us all resolve to have more appreciation of the goodness of others and the beauty around us, for goodness and beauty are not rationed.
Respectfully submitted, HELEN B. TOWER
38
Report of Handwriting Supervisor
To Mr. Edmund R. Sawyer,
Superintendent of Schools :
I am pleased to submit the following report on the opera- tion of the handwriting program in your Wilbraham schools.
In the initial handwriting test administered in September of 1938, 11.9 per cent of the pupils scored "A" (Excellent); 22.1 per cent made "B" (Good); and 65.8 per cent received grades below "B". In the tests administered in June, 1942, 77.6 per cent of the pupils scored "A" (Excellent); 3.4 per cent made "B" (Good); and 18.9 per cent were graded below "B". This indicates excellent improvement and achievement. I wish to congratulate the pupils and teachers of Wilbraham for the splendid work they have done.
During the past year, approximately 3,000 formal-test handwriting papers were graded. A monthly analysis of the handwriting achievement and needs was sent to each teacher. This diagnosis was made the basis for remedial instruction.
We furnished the following materials for your teachers and pupils : monthly teacher outlines, pupil outline folders, room- motivation certificates, individual handwriting certificates, for the eighth grade pupils who qualified, term testing paper, monthly and term envelopes, seals, etc.
I am pleased to know that our room visitation plan of supervision has been extended to your schools this year. This will provide an opportunity to give personal help to the pupils who are having difficulty with their handwriting.
I should like to thank you, your teachers, and pupils for the excellent effort and fine cooperation.
W. L. RINEHART
Report of the Supervisor of Music
To Mr. Edmund R. Sawyer,
Superintendent of Schools :
During the past year not only have the educational ob- jectives of music been upheld, but music has been, and is being, used more and more as a morale builder and strengthener of patriotic ideals. Only one small example of this is shown in the quotation below-a stanza to "America" written by Long- fellow. It reads as follows:
39
"Lord, let war's tempests cease, Fold the whole world in peace Under Thy wings.
Make all the nations one, All hearts beneath the sun, Till Thou shalt reign alone, Great King of Kings!"
The above stanza was taught to the children in September and is used frequently for opening exercises.
Graduations last June were built around the principles of good citizenship, love of country, and liberty and what they mean in a world at war. The songs in melody and content exemplified these concepts.
This fall the unit idea was offered the teachers as a means of working from a center of interest-resulting in a more meaningful choice of song material. The units lasted from six to eight weeks and were based upon a variety of subjects. The following are illustrative: Mother Goose, Good Health, Good Citizenship, Origins of American Music, European Back- grounds, Home, Family and School, Community Life, Gems of Literature.
During American Education Week some units were com- pleted and presented as programs.
Occasional opportunity has been given for creative music, the class making up an original melody and words based on a subject of their choosing. An original poem by Mrs. Simming- ton, dedicated to the boys in service in Wilbraham, was set to music by eighth grade pupils at The Pines.
At Thanksgiving time the Pines Glee Club, organized in September, gave its first program for the school. The club numbers seventy pupils and rehearses once a week.
An attempt is being made to bring instrumental work into the schools. This has not materialized as yet, but hope is held out that it may in the future.
Music Appreciation has been given added impetus this year by the splendid musical movies shown under the direction of Mr. Sawyer. These have created a great deal of interest in the symphony orchestra, its personnel, and instrumentation. The work is greatly supplemented by regular appreciation lessons. These take the form of preparation for the movies shown, rhythmic development, program music, and cpera.
Since the best time for mastering a technique is that mo- ment of acute need for it, the mastery of music fundamentals in sight reading is presented with that point in view. The
40
alacrity with which many of the teachers adapt various methods of presentation of subject matter is to be commended.
In observance of the Christmas season, two of the schools of Wilbraham presented operettas. At The Pines the story of the Nativity was protrayed in pantomime and narrative with suitable Christmas music.
Respectfully submitted, CECILIA C. SEYMOUR
Report of the School Nurse
To Mr. Edmund R. Sawyer, Superintendent of Schools:
Being physically and mentally well is very essential for us all in these days. The schools are doing their part by in- struction in hygiene and physical education and by having defects corrected following physical examinations.
Many times children are given the best of food and bal- anced diets, but, because of defects which should be removed, the food is not properly assimilated. Some of these defects are defective teeth which prevent proper mastication, defective- especially diseased-tonsils which mean, in many instances, absorption of poison which, in turn, affects digestion. Medi- cation and food cannot be one hundred per cent effective under such conditions. We must not forget that another essential requirement is a sufficient number of hours of sleep.
The work of the school nurse was somewhat hindered by the loss of our faithful Dr. Damon. Dr. Rohr of East Long- meadow filled the vacancy until Dr. Saunders came in Decem- ber.
I have assisted the doctors with vaccinating, immunizing, Schicking, and at physical examinations.
With an Audiometer loaned us by the State Department of Public Health I tested the ears of 207 children; 24 were retested, but there were not any children with a hearing loss.
The spring and winter months have brought us some of the contagious diseases such as mumps, whooping cough, measels, chicken-pox, and a few scarlet fever cases. The co-operation of parents is desired in this matter by reporting to the school department when a child has a contagious disease and seeing that the child, after staying out the required length of time, has a signed note from family doctor or school doctor for his return to school.
41
There have been exclusions from school following inspec- tions by the doctor or nurse because of colds, sore throat, impetigo, scabies, or temperature. A child with a temperature of ninety-nine degrees or over is sent home. That is the best place for him.
There were five children who spent a part of the vacation at Camp Frederic Edwards, making a gain of from one half to six and three-quarters pounds. Hawley Booth was given a blanket because of his six and three-quarters pound gain.
During the time that surplus commodities were available, Mrs. Logan spent many extra hours preparing nourishing lunches for the children at her school.
Through the co-operation of the Well-Child Conference committee there were many pre-school children immunized.
I have also assisted the dentist with examinations and in the clinic, have tested the children's eyes, and made home visits when necessary. I have taken children home and to the eye specialist in this city.
For the co-operation of teachers and others, thank you.
Respectfully submitted, SIGNE L. POLSON, R. N.
Dental Clinic Report
Clinic sessions
48
Prophylaxis
102
Fillings
342
Extractions
17
Permanent teeth 5
Temporary teeth 12
Silver Nitrate treatments
169
Respectfully submitted,
DR. IRVING P. DINNEEN'
SIGNE L. POLSON, R. N.
42
1942 REPORT OF THE Trustees for County Aid To Agriculture AND THE
HAMPDEN COUNTY IMPROVEMENT LEAGUE
Town of Wilbraham
AGRICULTURAL WORK
During the year practically the same projects were con- tinued that were started in 1941. Due to the War effort how- ever many new activities required the attention of the County Agent. As secretary of numerous War Action Committees he was in a position to advise and assist many in connection with carrying out the various recommendations and regulations of the Federal Agencies.
HOME BUREAU WORK
During the past year there were eight separate and distinct Home Bureau projects carried on in Wilbraham under the direction of twenty-three local volunteer leaders. There were two hundred nineteen different women participating in these projects and thirty-six meetings and demonstrations were held. Outstanding among the various projects was the one in coat making in which both Wilbraham and North Wilbraham ladies participated with much credit. Several of the Wilbraham .wo- men also took part in the "Trial By Jury" at the June Summary Day and the chair seating project was very popular and was lead by a leader from Monson who did a credible piece of work. The largest enrollment of all was in coat making, christmas gift kit and nutrition and food preservation.
4-H CLUB WORK
There were eight different 4-H Club projects carried on by one hundred three boys and girls during the year. There were nine different 4-H organized clubs under the direction of thir- teen local volunteer leaders. Miss June Roberts was selected as a State delegate at Amherst and Richard Reid did outstand- ing work in poultry.
43
Fire Chief's Report
Fire Loss :
Buildings $2,267.25 Assessed valuations $7,800.00
Contents 1,435.00
One claim pending
Department responded to 47 alarms
Chimneys
13 Grass and Brush 19
Buildings
10 Plane Crash 1
Dump
1 Busses 1
ยท Drowning
1 Inhalator for new born baby 1
51 Permits for storage of range and fuel oil 18 Extinguishers recharged
Attendance at Fires Maxim 23 Alarms
Present
Absent
Lewis Banta
15
8
William J. Brackinisky
9
14
John Brackinisky (appointed April 1st)
14
4
Clifton F. King
15
8
Thomas Lopata (appointed Nov. 15th)
5
2
Ralph E. Tupper
23
0
John B. Tupper
12
11
William E. Tupper (Resigned June 1st)
7
7
Reo 6 Alarms
Ralph W. Bennett
3
3
Harold W. Brown
5
1
Ernest M. Hayn
3
3
Carl Heiden
3
3
George G. Herter
3
3
Maxim and Reo 18 Alarms
Lewis E. Banta
16
2
Ralph W. Bennett
15
3
William J. Brackinisky
2
16
John Brackinisky (appointed April 1)
7
5
Harold Brown
9
9
Ernest M. Hayn
8
10
Carl Heiden
9
9
George Herter
11
7
Clifton F. King
10
8
Thomas Lopata (Appointed Nov. 15th)
4
1
Ralph E. Tupper
18
0
John B. Tupper
10
8
William E. Tupper (Resigned June 1st)
3
3
44
Attendance at Weekly Meetings
Present
Absent
Lewis E. Banta
46
6
William J. Brackinisky
22
30
John Brackinisky
30
10
Ralph W. Bennett
48
4
Harold W. Brown
35
17
Ernest M. Hayn
20
32
Carl Heiden
40
12
George Herter
42
10
Clifton King
52
0
Thomas Lopata
6
0
Ralph E. Tupper
52
0
John B. Tupper
15
37
William E. Tupper
21
5
Fire Department Payroll, 1942
Harold J. Murphy
$335.00
Ralph E. Tupper
144.75
Lewis E. Banta
99.50
William J. Brackinisky
72.25
John Brackinisy (appointed April 1st)
64.50
John P. Campsie
26.25
Clifton F. King
93.50
Thomas Lopata (appointed November 15th)
16.50
John B. Tupper
94.00
William E. Tupper (Resigned June 1st)
42.00
George G. Herter
131.25
Ralph W. Bennett
92.50
Harold W. Brown
87.25
Ernest M. Hayn
79.75
Carl Heiden
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.