USA > Maine > Penobscot County > Webster > Annual report of the municipal officers of the Town of Webster, Maine, for the year ending 1952 > Part 4
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In this decision there should be no equivocation. The present level of educational opportunity cannot be justified, nor should it be condoned. Sabattus children are as deserving of their fair chance to prepare for the future as any students in Maine. In the opinion of the investigating group, they are not enjoying their Constitutional right of "suitable provision" at present. It is a problem which needs to be faced squarely and judiciously with the benchmark of student welfare as a base of reference. Financial aspects cannot be overlooked but the principal purpose in the consideration is the growth and development of young men and women.
4. closely allied with the foregoing issue is planning for the elementary schools of the future. The data which I have assembled indicates pupil-teacher ratios which are too high for promising achieve- ment. . I have not traced the history of the several classes over the years, but I suspect that some of the problems of the high school group now have their origin in over-loaded classes five or ten years ago. Twenty-five pupils is considered a maximum load for positive educational results. In Maine where the resources of our people are limited, a tolerance of five or even more might be defensible, but when numbers increase into the forties, the results inevitably fall off sharply. Teaching must be done largely as a group of the whole. A few children
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will come through virtually unscathed but those who need help do not get it and drop further and further behind as the grade sequence progresses. Finally, in discouragement they leave school, and potentials for the individual and common welfare are lost forever.
5. The determination of the secondary program for young citizens of Sabattus in the future rests solely with the voters of the town. The direction of this effort should be decided during this school year, it seems to me, in order that essential expenditures may be made wisely in terms of the end view sought. However, I have no wish to impose our views on the people of the community. In this I will pledge the office to assisting in every way possible but only by way of providing information, technical skills, etc.
For emphasis, I repeat the principal issue cited in Section 2 --- Should sabattus provide, maintain and operate a quality secondary school of its own or arrange opportunities for its students elsewhere? With this question solved, the problem can be attacked vigorously and functionally.
Conclusion:
The school situation in the town of Webster represents perhaps the most important problem which the citizens will face during the next quarter of a century. The lives of people are the core of the considerations. The achievement of personal aspirations for good education cannot be effected by patchwork measures. I hope that the citizens will recognize that major steps are necessary in the immediate future and that they will tackle them without prejudice, and with calm deliberation. Their conclusion, I am confident, will be right and proper.
L/t
Signed, Harland A. Ladd Commissioner of Education
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State of Maine Inter-Departmental Memorandum
TO:
Mr. Harland A. Ladd, Commissioner
From: Mr. Philip A. Annas, Associate Deputy Commissioner, Secondary Education
Subject: Report on Sabattus High School in webster, Maine
On September 26, Mr. Bailey, Mr. cass and I performed a part of the inspec tion function of Sabattus High School in Webster as requested in a petition to you signed by three citizens of that town. Those of us who made the inspection agreed to submit separate reports on our findings and recommendations to you for informa- tion for your use in making the required report to the chairman of the school committee.
The course of study:
The course of study being offered in Sabattus High School has been hastily prepared. The freshman and sophomore classes and the junior and senior classes are combined whenever practical. This, as you know, is common procedure in our small Maine secondary schools. To get a picture of the progressive course of study one needs to know what was taught last year and what is planned for next year. The college and general courses apparently have been designed with this sequence in mind, but the commercial program for the current year has been planned without regard for what was taught last year and with little considera- tion of what should be taught next year.
The commercial program offers English, social studies, science, bookkeeping I and shorthand I to sophomores, juniors and seniors, and typewriting I to juniors and seniors. A school is considered to have an occupational course in business education when it offers four units in English, one in American History, one in typewriting, two units in shorthand, one unit in bookkeeping in grades eleven or twelve, one half unit in business arithmetic and six and one half elective units. In addition to the required subjects, the school is expected to furnish suitable facilities and instruction given by a teacher holding a commercial certificate.
The business education program in Sabattus High School is in its second year and since (a) only first year work is now being offered, (b) the teacher does not hold a commercial certificate, (c) business arithmetic is not offered, and (d) the facilities are not suitable for this type of instruction, I feel that this course should not be recognized as an occupational course in business education. I would recommend that a committee make a careful study of the needs of the young people in that community and build the best possible program of study that the limited facilities and faculty will permit.
Teachers:
The principal of the school is Mr. Richard Mayo. Mr Mayo holds & certificate for the teaching of agriculture, endorsed for biology, mathematics (secondary) and general science. Mr. Mayo is now teaching biology; arithmetic, grade VIII, (out of license); algebra II (the algebra II class consists of one student in algebra I, two in algebra II and one in trigonometry I) and physics (out of license). The state sanctions one "out of license" course but not two.
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Miss Susan Murphy holds a secondary professional certificate and is teaching English, grade VIII (out of license); freshman, sophomore, junior and senior English; French II and spelling and reading, grade VIII (out of license).
Mr. Alton Curtis does not hold a certificate and has not applied for one at this date as he feels he is not qualified to receive any. He expects the superin- tendent to obtain a permit. The certification division reported on September 26 that no application had been received from the superintendent. Mr. curtis teaches typewriting I; problems of democracy; junior business training; bookkeeping I; history; social studies, grade VIII, and shorthand I.
Records :
An examination of the records of the present student body revealed a complete record of the subjects and grades for the school year 1950-51. Previous to September, 1950, only subjects are listed without noting the ranks received .: "The principal stated that the records of the graduates of the school were fairly com- plete to 1944, but from 1944 to 1950 there were no records.
Teaching aids:
The school possesses a 16 mm movie projector and a strip film projector -- maps, charts and similar aids are practically non-existent.
Science laboratory:
The science laboratory is on the first floor and has ample natural light. The equipment consists of one standard laboratory bench with sink and four stools. This one bench may be construed as sufficient in that there were only six in the chemistry class last year and five in the present physics class. The detailed listing of the laboratory equipment, and supplies revealed a limited amount of equipment for general science and biology. The school is in need of demonstration equipment for general science. There is an insufficient supply for either physics or chemistry. There is also need for the purchase of considerable electrical equipment for light experiments, a good vacuum pump, chemicals and glassware, barometers and bunsen burners with a gas supply.
In addition to the science benches, there is in the laboratory, one table with six typewriters and a second table with two typewriters and a liquid dupli- cating machine. There are two chairs and one long bench that would probably seat six persons. In this room, during each rotation of the schedule, the following classes meet: typewriting I, two divisions, eleven students; problems of democracy, thirteen students; junior business training, eleven students; freshman English, eleven students; and physics, five students. It is difficult to see how a problems of democracy class with thirteen students can successfully meet in a room where the furniture consists of one long bench, four stools, two chairs, two tables covered with typewriters and a duplicating machine, and one science laboratory table designed for four students.
Library:
The school library is part of the main study hall. There are book shelves in the back of the room. We found there were two encyclopedias with copyright dates within the last ten years; the World Book, 1944; and the Book of Knowledge, 1949. The Lincoln Library ( single volume) was purchased in 1950. The school subscribes to "News Week," "National Geographic," "Scholastic Magazine," "Popular Mechanics"
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and "Seventeen." There are one large dictionary and two dozen small dictionaries. There are approximately two hundred volumes of general works, about fifty per cent of which are fiction.
Student Activities:
There are no records of student funds available and the principal does not know if the school possesses any. The principal has organized a student council, which at present has general supervision of the social activities. The principal plans to organize a basketball team, commercial club, a dramatic club, a glee club, and either an orchestra or band. This is a rather ambitious program under the circumstances and I feel the principal should be commended for his interest and effort in getting a desirable student activity program started.
Esprit de corps :
The general atmosphere of the school is under the circumstances one of tension and discipline is difficult to maintain. In fact, on Mr. cass' second visit to com- plete the test he reported that the principal found it necessary to apply corporal punishment in the case of two students in grade eight. The faculty is anxious to develop as good a school as possible but all are lacking in experience and, in some instances, in training.
Recommendation:
Considering that (a) the facilities are not suitable, (b) the students' records make it impossible to properly evaluate Carnegie units of credit, (c) the general morale of the school is low, and (d) the teaching factors leave much to be desired, I would recommend that the school be placed on the tentatively approved list for one year, being understood that should the school improve to meet reasonable standards it be returned to full approval in September 1952. If, however, it is still found to be deficient, then at that time the school be dropped from the approved list. I would suggest that its standing be determined on the basis of the reports for the school year 1951-52 and another inspectinn by a group from this department.
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State of Maine Inter-Departmental Memorandum
TO :
Mr. Harland A. Ladd, Commissioner
From: Mr. William 0. Bailey, Deputy Commissioner, Planning and Research
Subject: Report on sabattus High School, Webster, Maine
This old, two-story frame construction building evidently was designed originally as a four-classroom unit. It appears that over the years adaptations have been made because of increasing enrollments so that now three of the original classrooms are being occupied by grade pupils. The one original classroom on the second floor, which now serves as the main room for the high school, has been supplemented by a small room in the end of the corridor on the second floor and a similar space on the first floor. These rooms are approximately 15 x 18 feet and can hardly be considered adequate for classroom purposes.
The four original classrooms are adequate in size and reasonably satisfactory for ordinary school use.
Although the building shows evidence of having been equipped with a venti- . lating system at one time, it has been inactivated and now there is no provision for ventilation in any of the instructional space.
Artificial lighting consists of two direct fixtures in each of the four classrooma and a single, similar unit in each of the two small corridor spaces. It isn't possible for this type of an installation to produce an even distribu- tion of well-diffused light over the classroom.
Safety:
Typical of buildings of its age, there is, in effect, only one exit from the building and that is located in the center of the front. stairways to the second floor are two in number but they are so located that if a fire were to block one of them, it would make use of the other practically impossible. A satisfactory fire escape has been installed from the small room on the second floor, in order to provide a second means of egress from that area; but on the first floor all children must leave by the front door or jump out of a window.
The heating boiler is located in the basement where there has evidently been no consideration given to fire safety. Above the boiler are exposed floor timbers and wood flooring. Pine edgings for fuel are piled near the boiler.
Several years ago the building caught fire in the vicinity of the boiler but it was extinguished before a great deal of damage had occurred. There is no evidence that when the building was repaired any effort was made to remove the fire hazard. The location of the boiler in this unfinished basement area, without concern for fire resistance, constitutes a serious hazard which should be corrected at once.
The Site:
The high school building is located on a small and. inadequate site, bounded on the front by the main highway and on the rear by a high embankment. Both boundaries not only constitute hazards but also make it difficult to improve or expand the site satisfactorily.
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Toilet Facilities:
Toilet rooms in this building are located in the basement where it is impossible to provide suitable ventilation, heat and light.
Both toilet rooms are dark, gloomy and damp. The glass in the two half windows intended to light these areas has been painted to make it opaque. When inspected, both of the toilet rooms were found to be in reasonably clean con- dition, but the concrete floors were wet and the odor of disinfectant was evi- dent indicating that they had been cleaned recently, and were drying out very slowly.
Space Used by the High School.
The main room is quite satisfactory as a classroom. It is reasonably well lighted but should be equipped with a satisfactory means of ventilation.
The upstairs corridor classroom is small, rather poorly lighted, and suitable for very small classes only. The downstairs corridor room, which is being used as a combined laboratory and typewriting room, can in no way be considered satisfactory to house these two teaching activities. The laboratory bench is designed to accomodate four pupils only. In this space, there is no hood which is necessary to remove the chemical laboratory odors. There was no evidence of any installation of gas for laboratory purposes.
When not in use as a laboratory, this room doubles as a typewriting room. Several typewriters have been placed on a table of standard height. Pupils seated on ordinary backless stools are expected to learn to type under con- ditions which are far from conducive to satisfactory achievement.
The Elementary School Classrooms:
Enrollments in the three classrooms which are being used for elementary school purposes were reported to be 45, 40 and 44 pupils. The generally accepted maximum enrollment of one classroom or teacher is 30 pupils. It follows, then, that each of these three rooms is badly over-crowded and that immediate consideration should be given to providing additional space. This condition is further aggravated by the fact that 56 pupils in the sub- primary and first grades are now being housed in the Green Street School. One teacher can not hope to obtain anything like satisfactory results with this number of pupils. The situation is serious. The school officials, in attempting to relieve the crowding, have placed these grades on a half-day session basis with grade I attending school in the morning and the sub- primary in the afternoon. This can only have one result and that is to penalize first grade pupils by giving them only one-half of the time in school to which they are entitled.
Conclusions and Recommendations:
It is obvious that the public school pupils of webster are inadequately houses. Increased enrollments over the years have required the local school officials to make adjustments to the end that space which was never intended for instructional purposes has had to be adapted to that use. The time has arrived when it is no longer possible to operate an efficient educational pro- gram in the buildings that are available. Therefore, it is & logical conclusion that some major decisions must be made by the citizens of Webster.
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If the high school is to be continued in operation, it probably should be organized on a 6-year unit to include grades 7 and 8. Renovation of the present building and a broadening of the curriculum could be so planned that this unit could be used for the youth of Webster far mor successfully than at present. This would mean that all grades below the 7th would have to be housed elsewhere and require the construction of a new 5 or 6 classroom building for the purpose.
If the high school is to be discontinued, the old high school building could, with adjustments, be continued in use for a period of years to house all but the lower grades of the elementary school system. Probably under these conditions, the building of a new primary unit, first consisting of two classrooms which can later be enlarged, would be necessary if teaching loads are to be kept below the reasonable maximum of 30 pupils per teacher. B/t
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State of Maine Inter-Departmental Memorandum
To : Mr. Harland A. Ladd, Commissioner
From: Mr. John C. Cass, Director of Guidance
Subject: Report on Sabattus High School, Webster, Maine
The School Climate:
The conflicts within the community -- especially concern- ing the school -- seem to be reflected in the high school stu- dents. They seemed restless and several were disciplinary pro- blems during the examination. Eight of a total of 33 students did not take all or part of the examinations. Because this group of 8 was about the average of the whole group, according to their teachers, lack of their scores should not upset the averages very considerably.
This lack of school spirit, respect for the school, lack of morale, seems to stem from feelings of uncertainty or lack of security in the youngsters. The whole constitutes a poor learning situation. I believe that this community climate is responsible more than any single factor for this school situa- tion.
These factors also combine to cause a poor testing situa- tion. I believe the scores quoted herewith to be only valid in the broad sense that they outline the picture and that in a few individual cases they are not valid at all.
Tests :
The tests used were the Otis quick Scoring (Beta) C.M. and the Essential High School Content Battery recently stand- ardized in Maine Schools by the World Book Company.
"Book Learning" Ability:
According to the Otis test, which indicates that -- oth- er things being equal -- there is no good college prospect here. Yet the college preparatory curriculum is taught to many of them. It indicates, if valid, that a curriculum should be built around the needs of these individuals. This if my first and most seriousrecommendation. If this cannot be done, the children will probably do better in a larger school situation where they can take a greater variety of work more closely suit- ed to their capacities.
Achievement :
The group as a whole ranks 35th on an achievement scale of 100 as compared with other Maine students. This means that 35 percent of Maine students at these grade levels do worse scholas- tically and 65 percent do better. To me this seems an unusually
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high performance for this group. They must have been taught rather well, especially in view of the fact that 10 of the number were above the Maine average. Considering what these youngsters have in the way of learning capacity, I find that more than half of them seem to be working and learning.
Age :
The ages of these students are about average for their grade levels. Grade 9 has an unusual range or spread or ages covering three years and two months. The other grades have close age groups. Apparently these students have not been held back because of lack of scholastic achievement and this, I think, is good. They are largely in their proper develop- mental and social groups.
Special Group:
The average ages of Maine students in the same grade at the same time of year is :
Range
Maine 9
Sabattus
Range
10 Yr. 15
Sabattus
Range
11
Sabattus
Range
12
Yr. Mo.
Yr. Mo.
Yr. Mo.
MO
Yr. Mo .
Yr. Mo.
Yr. Mo.
Yr. Mo.
3 -- 3
14 -- 6
14-8
11
5
15-5
1 -- 3
16 -- 5
16-9
1 -- 4
17 -- 4
17-4.5
Sabattus
About 8 of this group might benefit from being placed in a special class where they could receive remedial work aimed at teaching them to make the most of what they have.
Reading:
The whole group would probably benefit by remedial read- ing instruction, while the group stands at the 39th percentile in overall accomplishment their English percentile is 31. The spread here is unusual. While 7 of the students are above the Maine average in English, several seem hardly able to read at all. Those who have a good command of English generally seem to be doing well scholastically and vice verse. Probably over half of the students are unable to read well enough to under- stand the material they are supposed to study. These students need study materials at their various vocabulary levels. The School does not have such materials on hand. The study mater- ials on hand assume that these students are all at the same learning level. Specialized reading instruction would prob- ably raise the group level of scholastic aptitude.
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REPORT OF ROAD COMMISSIONER
To the Citizens of the Town of Webster:
As soon as the roads were settled in the Spring, gravel was hauled and the roads were smoothed with the road machine. Sev- eral culverts were re-laid and fourteen new ones installed on Town ways .
The Town Road Improvement Fund was spent on the Dube Road, Pleasant Ridge Road and No Name Pond Road. Nineteen hundred feet of State Aid Road was built and tarred on State Aid No. 5. On state Aid No. 2 about three thousand feet was graded and twenty-five hundred feet based.
I would recommend that three hundred dollars be raised for Green Street side walk and spent on the same, that would include a catch basin by the residence of Mrs. Russell.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK WOOD, Road Commissioner.
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REPORT OF PARK COMMISSION
To the Citizens of Town of Webster:
We herewith submit our annual report, as members of the Park Commission.
We had a very good attendance at the park this year. Your Com- mission is very thankful for your cooperation in helping to keep the park clean.
Barrels and containers have been placed in different sections of the park, and we feel that most of the patrons have cooperated in response to our request in keeping the park clean. In our re- quest last year in regards to planting trees in the park was with out success, we hope this year we may be able to plant some trees to replace those which have been destroyed. If any organization wished to cooperate along this line please inform the Park Com- missioner.
This year most of our appropriation was spent for grading and fill along the shore line. This was necessary on account of the high water in the lake which the last three years has maintained its high water level. High water and heavy winds have caused con- siderable damage to the shore line. We wish to thank all those who have given their time for improving the park. We wish to es- pecially thank the Road Commissioner for his cooperation through his own personal effort. We have accomplished work far beyond the limits of our appropriation.
We as members of the Park Commission would welcome any sugges- tions that you may have to improve the park. We have many ideas in regards to making a fine park but these cost money. It. has been the practice of the commission not to exceed its limits of its appropriations .
GEORGE EARLEY, LAWRENCE ASHTON, GEORGE K. SCOTT, Members of Park Commission.
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REPORT OF HEALTH OFFICER
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen and Citizens of Webster:
Health Officer's annual report for year ending February 21, 1952.
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