USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > Annual report of the city of Rochester, New Hampshire : for the year ending 1922 > Part 10
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ANNUAL REPORT
dollar back as well as to receive the instruction which they desire; and no earnest student has been excluded by so small a fee.
It is noteworthy that many in the elementary de- partment have attended our evening school every year since it started. This shows that the school is really meeting a need and many who could not formerly use the English language are now able to do so.
Most of those who are studying typewriting and shorthand have made sufficient progress to enable them to use their skill in business.
A special citizenship class has been maintained for about twenty lessons for the benefit of those who expect to take out their naturalization papers. The men were assisted in filling out all required blanks and the superintendent carried on any necessary corre- spondence with the Bureau of Naturalization at Wash- ington. This service was very much appreciated by the men who are not familiar with official forms and records.
At the closing exercises of the evening school last year 47 certificates were given to pupils who attended regularly and made satisfactory progress. An enjoy- able musical program was furnished by the music department of the Women's Club under the direction of Mrs. Wilder B. Neal of the Mary Torr Chapter of the D. A. R.
HIGH SCHOOL
Half of the assistant teachers in the High School are not only new to this school but are new to the pro- fession. These teachers are proving satisfactory but it is not good for any school to attempt to assimilate
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
so many new teachers in one year. Such a change interrupts the continuity of the work. Pupils have to get accustomed to new methods and the whole or- ganization has to be readjusted. Fortunately our efficient headmaster remained long enough to get the school running smoothly. Under less fortunate cir- cumstances progress might have been impossible.
The most serious losses in the corps of teachers were due to the inadequacy of the salaries offered. A full realization of this caused the School Board finally to abolish the high school salary schedule and authorize the Committee on Teachers and Salaries to pay as much as $1,400. It was found that college graduates with no teaching experience command $1,200 at least. On the schedule just abolished our maximum for experienced teachers was $1,250. This was mani- festly too low. You cannot go into any market and purchase goods of high quality at less than market prices. Our maximum salary for high school teach- ers will have to go still higher in order to secure the kind of teacher we want our boys and girls to have. I realize that the total amount required for teachers' salaries seems large but the individual salaries are not large when you take into consideration the training the teachers have received, the trying character of their work, and the important service they perform in the community.
The resignation of Headmaster Bernard Ross means a serious loss to the school. During the three and one- half years he has been here the standard of the school has been raised in every way. The discipline is excellent, teachers and pupils work well together, the standards of scholarship are high, absence and tardi- ness have been greatly reduced-in short, the condi-
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tion of the school is so good that the school authorities of a large city, competent to judge such matters, have taken from us the man who has served Rochester so well.
PROGRESS IN OUR PROGRAM
In my report last year I named six lines of work which constitute our educational program. I am glad to be able to report gratifying progress on the first four.
1. There is not the slightest question but that the physical condition of the pupils in general has been improved. This is due in large measure to the excel- lent follow-up work done by the school nurse, Miss Eastman. She not only assists in the examination of the children by the school physician but she visits the homes and explains to the parents the reports of the examination. She is thus able to secure treatment for many cases which might otherwise be neglected, for unless a child is actually sick many defects which he succeeds in enduring are overlooked. Many pa- rents have expressed gratitude for having their atten- tion called to defects in their children which they did not notice. The report of the medical inspector and nurse is an interesting and striking account of the good accomplished in looking after the pupils' health.
The medical inspector for the parochial schools, Dr. J. J. Morin, also reports remarkable improvement over last year. The teeth especially are receiving care, eye cases have been corrected, and ear cases are under treatment. He did not find a single case of skin trouble or any heart or pulmonary defects. As an example of the improvement found he mentioned one
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class of 36 pupils. Last year 32 of these had bad teeth, 6 enlarged tonsils and adenoids, 3 anaemia, and 4 eczema. These same pupils this year (1921-22) have 22 with bad teeth, 1 case of enlarged tonsils, and no skin disease.
2. We are continuing the drill on the fundamental subjects as mentioned in previous reports. Special emphasis is being given this year to reading in the middle grades. The aim is to teach the children bet- ter reading habits and increase their vocabulary. The methods used in thus training the pupils to read with greater comprehension are based upon the scientific studies which have been made in the subject of read- ing.
I have examined compositions written by pupils in grades 4 to 8 (inclusive), judging them on the basis of sentence structure, form, punctuation, spelling, and handwriting. These were discussed with the teachers concerned and definite suggestions made.
The subject of spelling has been discussed in a gen- eral teachers' meeting and methods considered for improving the results of our teaching. Our aim is the automatic ability to spell ordinary words correctly when the attention is on the thought rather than on the spelling.
3. The improvement in buildings and equipment I have already noted.
4. Our pupils are being trained in good manners, school spirit, and real work. When a visitor, for example, enters a room, a pupil provides, without prompting, a chair and a copy of the book which is being used at that moment. There is friendly compe- tition, as in a spelling match, between rooms. Pupils
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are held to a satisfactory performance of their tasks before being ranked passable.
SUBJECTS STUDIED IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The work of the elementary grades has been defined and outlined more definitely and clearly in order that each teacher may know just what ground she is ex- pected to cover. Disputed points have been frankly discussed in teachers' meetings and policies agreed upon. The following outline contains the studies of each grade. They are divided into two groups. The basal subjects require systematic instruction and daily drill. They are the fundamental subjects. The sup- plementary subjects require less drill; they are largely for information and involve much reading. They do not necessarily come every day. This schedule, with two exceptions, is the same one that is used through- out the state, as recommended by the Commissioner of Education. We extend geography into the seventh grade, instead of completing it in grade 6. Grammar is studied in the four upper grades, instead of ending in grade 6. The bulk of the work in grammar is done in grades 7 and 8.
SUBJECTS STUDIED IN THE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS
GRADE I
Basal Subjects : Reading, arithmetic, writing. Supplementary subjects :
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
Singing, drawing, history stories, hygiene, nature, organized plays and games.
GRADE II
Basal subjects :
Reading, arithmetic, writing, spelling. Supplementary subjects :
Singing, drawing, history stories, hygiene, nature, plays and games, thrift, humane treatment of ani- mals.
GRADE III
Basal subjects :
Reading, arithmetic, writing, spelling, language. Supplementary subjects :
Singing, drawing, history stories, hygiene, nature, current events, plays and games, thrift, humane treatment of animals.
GRADE IV
Basal subjects :
Reading, arithmetic, writing, spelling, language, geography.
Supplementary subjects :
Singing, drawing, history stories (from United States history), hygiene (good health), nature, current events, plays and games, thrift, humane treatment of animals.
GRADE V
Basal subjects :
Arithmetic, writing, grammar, spelling, geography
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(general study of the earth), music, history (Greek and Roman stories), hygiene (emergencies.) Supplementary subjects :
Drawing, thrift, current events, plays and games, gardening, literature.
GRADE VI
Basal subjects :
Arithmetic, writing, spelling, geography (North America), music, civic health, history (stories from English history), grammar.
Supplementary subjects :
Drawing, thrift, current events, plays and games, gardening, literature.
GRADE VII
Basal subjects :
Arithmetic (with some geometrical drawing), spell- ing, geography (South America, Europe, Asia, Africa), U. S. history (through Revolution), ele- mentary science (meteorology, astronomy, elec- tricity, heat, light), English (literature, grammar composition), physiology (the body at work.) Supplementary subjects :
Drawing, thrift, current events, civil government, gardening, music.
GRADE VIII
Basal subjects :
Arithmetic (with simple algebra), spelling, history (Revolution to present), physiology (control of body and mind), elementary science (mechanics,
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
sound, chemistry, biology), English (literature, grammar, composition.) Supplementary subjects :
Drawing, thrift, current events, civil government, gardening, music.
In conclusion I wish to reaffirm my great appreci- ation of the cordial co-operation which I have con- stantly experienced in my relations with the School Board, city officials, and the citizens of Rochester.
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED W. SMITH.
Report of Headmaster of High School
To the Superintendent of Schools:
It is with pleasure that I submit this brief report to the citizens of Rochester.
The school opened last September with several new teachers on the faculty but in spite of this fact by extra effort on the part of all the teachers the high standard of the school has been maintained. The total enroll- ment for the present year is 315 which is 15 more than the total registration last year. The pupils are di- vided as follows: one post graduate, 48 seniors, 55 juniors, 95 sophomores, and 116 freshmen. Accord- ing to past reports the enrollment this year is the largest in the history of the school. In fact the high school enrollment this year is one-fourth of the total enrollment of the public schools of Rochester. On account of the large enrollment it was necessary to have either more divisions or larger divisions than last year. Since it is universally accepted that a class of 25 pupils is large enough for any teacher to handle efficiently or economically it was wise to have more divisions. Consequently another teacher was added to the faculty to take care of the extra divisions. Last year there were 57 classes per day. This year there are 63 classes per day. They are distributed as follows: the headmaster has two classes; the athletic coach, by action of the School Board, has four classes in addition to his coaching; five teachers have six classes; and six teachers have five classes. Those
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
who have five periods per day spend the sixth period in each case as supervisor of the library. By having a teacher for the library each period it is possible to meet the State requirements in reference work in the various subjects. Furthermore it is essential for all pupils to learn how to use a library and the school is a fine place in which to do it.
The divisions in the various subjects this year are about the right size for efficiency and economy. Large divisions mean inefficiency and waste of time and energy. There are a few small divisions, however, in such subjects as German, Domestic Science, and senior Latin. Such classes are naturally small by the nature of the subjects. German and Latin have to be taught to meet the demands of those going to college. The size of the various divisions in Domestic Science is increasing each year since more freshmen elect that curriculum. The freshmen division in Domestic Sci- ence this year is of sufficient size for the present equip- ment.
The various musical clubs have their regular re- hearsals every week. They are doing excellent work. A musical entertainment was given last spring and it afforded a very pleasurable evening for both pupils and friends of the school.
It is an interesting fact to report that a large per cent. of the graduates from the grades are entering the high school. Last September 82.7% of the graduates from the grammar schools entered the high school.
The Student Activity Association has been an im- portant factor in developing the strong, fine spirit of school loyalty that has manifested itself in a remark- able degree throughout the student body. By means of the Student Activity Association the extra curricula
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ANNUAL REPORT
activities of the school have been well financed. Con- sequently they have been more beneficial to the stu- dents. The sum of ten cents per week is collected from each pupil, three of which are paid into the class treasury, thus eliminating class dues which are often unsatisfactory and hard to collect. The remaining seven cents go into the Student Activity Fund to help finance the various activities. The following, is a short financial report of the Association.
Balance on hand June 30, 1920, $218 54
Balance on hand June 30, 1921, 354 30
Balance on hand June 30, 1922, 588 35
Balance on hand January 15, 1923,
807 54
REPORT FOR CURRENT YEAR
RECEIPTS
September, 1922 to January 15, 1923
Dues from Student Activity Fund,
$287 73
Lunch counter,
549 18
Athletics,
96 32
Red and White,
252 50
Total,
$1,185 73
DISBURSEMENTS
Sept., 1922 to Jan. 15, 1923
Lunch counter,
$453 07
Athletics,
282 08
Red and White,
175 95
Miscellaneous,
55 44
Total,
$966 54
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
Profit for the period from Sept., 1922 to
Jan. 15, 1923, $219 19
Regular weekly meetings of teachers have been held. The topics of discussion have been some of the present problems in education. Each teacher has subscribed for one or more educational magazines this year. These magazines are left in the headmaster's office so that each teacher has access to at least sixteen educa- tional magazines. The various articles in these maga- zines have made it possible for us to discuss more in- telligently some of the educational problems. Fur- thermore since all the teachers of the high school fac- ulty are members of the National Education Associa- tion they receive the Journal of the National Educa- tion Association which has been a great help in keep- ing them informed of the progress in the educational world. The teachers are to be highly commended for their assistance in making the meetings of value and interest.
I am glad to report that tardiness has been steadily decreasing for the past three years. During this last year there were only 121 cases of tardinesses as com- pared with 205 in the year 1920-21.
The Springfield Scholarship was awarded to Miss Esther N. Hale now a freshman at Boston University. The Dartmouth Medal for excellence in scholarship was awarded to Miss Phyllis Wilson of the class of 1923. Large scholarship R's were awarded to Esther N. Hale, Louise Richardson, and Clara Warburton. The pupils who attained an average rank of 90 or above and received small scholarship R's were :
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ANNUAL REPORT
SENIORS
Esther Hale
Louise Richardson
Elfreida Emery
Mildred Sanborn
Clara Warburton
Phyllis Wilson
SOPHOMORES
Zilpha Capron
Alma Capron
Dorothy Davis
Nora Daggett
Ralph Howard
Ruth Feineman
Alice Meader
Laura Marcotte
Pearl Roberts
Helen Sanders
Alfred Young
Winnifred Sanders
The graduates of the class of 1921 are engaged in the following occupations :
Name Present Occupation
Allen, Ouelma Britomarte
With Candyland.
Blaisdell, Roger /Stanton
With N. B. Thayer & Co.
Burnham, Ruth N.
Office of Champlin's Box Shop.
Casey, Rosamond Ann
Keene Normal School.
Colman, Charles David
Post Graduate.
Dostie, Charles Aime
Moved to Sanford, Maine.
Estes, Florence Virginia
Fennerty, Leon Kenneth
With E. G. & E. Wallace Shoe Co.
Office of Grinnell's Shoe Co.
Office of Grinnell's Shoe Co.
Boston University.
New Hampshire State College.
Houle, Edmond James
Hussey, Frank Wentw'th
With Linscott-Tyler-Wilson Co. New Hampshire State College. Keene Normal School.
Working in Lynn, Mass.
Office of Linscott-Tyler-Wilson Co. Conwall-on-the-Hudson.
Assistant Teacher in Allen School.
Palmer, Helen May
City Clerk's Office.
Boston University.
Office of Phillips' Garage.
Parsons, E. Milton Phillips, Daisy M.
Burdett College
Geddis, Reta B.
Gray, Florence Haden Hale, Esther Nathalie
Healy, John James
Lowe, Mildred Sarah Marquis, Raymond E. McAllister, Gladys McDuffee, Richard Otis, Wilma May
JUNIORS
Marion Boyce
Lillian Roberts
FRESHMEN
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
Richardson, Louise M. Boston University.
Rioux, Normandie Marie
Keene Normal School.
Ross, Helen Augusta
At Home.
Sanborn, Mildred Amy
Married to Rolfe Richardson.
Shedd, Christine
Keene Normal School.
Stevens, Mahlon Vaughn
Stevens' Studio.
Tibbetts, Bernice Gladys
Teaching.
Turmelle, Alcide George
Dover Business College.
Varney, Isabelle Mae
Lasell Seminary.
Wallace, Kathryn
Abbott Academy.
Walsh, Agnes Smith
Office of N. B. Thayer Shoe Co.
Warburton, Clara Esther Office of Champlin's Box Shop.
Wentworth, Ralph H. Davenport, Iowa.
In conclusion I wish to express my appreciation of the friendly advice of the superintendent and the loyal support of the school committee and the citizens of Rochester. I also wish to thank the teachers for their earnest co-operation and to express my gratitude for the faithful services rendered by the janitor.
Respectfully submitted,
BERNARD ROSS, Headmaster.
Report of the Supervisor of Music
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I take pleasure in submitting this report.
It is hoped that all may be convinced that music in the public schools is a growing need.
In the music period, as in no other, the children forget themselves in the songs that they sing. There is no self consciousness present, yet each child is doing his part. The readiness with which the pupils com- plied to the request to sing at the 200th Anniversary exercises, shows their genuine pleasure in their school music.
The Memorial Day celebrations in all the schools were very extensive, combining both patriotic and May Day exercises.
Extra time was devoted to the singing of carols and hymns, that the children might realize more fully the reason for singing these songs at Christmas time.
In March the High School Glee Club and the boys' chorus with the orchestra, presented the operetta, "Little Almond Eyes." Part of the proceeds was used for music and for the purchasing of a set of drums for the High School. These same musical or- ganizations furnished the commencement music.
I wish to thank the teachers, for all have co-oper- ated with me throughout the year. Without this good results would be impossible.
"Music washes away from the soul the dust of every day life."-Berthold Auerbach.
Respectfully submitted,
LOIS C. RICKETTS.
1
Report of the Medical Inspector and School Nurse for the School Year 1921-1922
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Number of pupils examined, 1,044; pupils not ex- amined at parents' written request, 10; absent, 5; found defective, 582. The chief difficulties were de- fective teeth, 514; hypertrophied tonsils, 181; defec- tive vision, 50; 10% underweight, 142; defective hear- ing, 2; anaemia, 2; cardiac disease, 18; skin disease, 3; pediculosis, 3; orthopedic defects, 8; unvaccinated without proper excuse, 28; scabies, 2.
Number of children treated and improved since last physical examination, 447, as follows: [teeth, 185; hypertrophied tonsils, 170; breathing, 2; vision, 25; anaemia, 5; cardiac, 79; pulmonary, 4; orthopedic, 4.
The report states that of 1,044 children examined 582 were found to have physical defects, chiefly teeth and hypertrophied tonsils. The records of the year previous show 806 with physical defects. As the re- sult of this year's physical examination and follow-up work the records show a marked improvement. There were 710 recorded visits made to the children in their homes, with instructions to the parents in the value of preventive work. What a boon it is to the future health of the child to have the necessary adjustments made in early childhood. It takes from twenty min- utes to one hour for this kind of a visit.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Of the 181 pupils reported as having hypertrophied tonsils 33 have been operated on during the year through arrangements made by the school nurse. There are many more who have received surgical treatment but we have not the exact number, as they were private cases. We will be able to give this data after medical inspection this coming school year.
The school buldings have been equipped with scales and nutrition work has been started in the grades. The children are weighed and measured the first Mon- day of each month and the records are made on the classroom weight chart. A small card is sent home to the parents showing the child's weight and height; also the average child's weight for height, as given in the tables suggested by the National Child Welfare Organization. This is one of the most valuable cor- rective and preventive measures in any school health program. If the child is expected to do the educa- tional work as planned in the grades, he must be physically up to the standards, and one of the import- ant factors is that of weight.
We have demonstrated during this year that a child 10% underweight can be brought up to normal. One of the cases I have in mind is a child eight years old. She was more than 10% underweight, anemic, and not in good physical condition. Her tonsils were very bad and her teeth were beyond repair. This child was getting considerable absorption. Upon visiting the family we found that the parents fully realized the child's condition and needed very little urging. We then took the child to her family physician for exam- ination. Owing to her anemic condition it was neces- sary to have her under treatment two weeks before it seemed advisable to remove the tonsils. In three
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CITY OF ROCHESTER
months time, following the operation, this child had gained five pounds-and in eight months she had reached her normal weight. There are many similar cases on our records.
The classroom weight cards show that the majority of gains in weight are from June to January. From January to June there is frequently a decided loss of weight, or, at best, a failure to gain proportionately to the gain of the first half of the school year. The great- est loss occurs during the months of March and April. These are the months when children suffer more from respiratory troubles. A child has a cold and loses from one to three pounds. He has tonsilitis and loses from two to five or six pounds, or perhaps he has an ear ache and loses flesh from that.
As we come in contact with the parents we find they are interested in the monthly weight cards and anxious to have their children gain. In nearly every home parents talk intelligently about this work and realize its importance.
School nursing has proved itself not only of great value to the general health of the communities where nurses are employed but it has assisted the educational boards by lessening the irregularity of attendance. In past years when a child was thought to be ill, he was sent home by the teacher, who detected the illness, but no further effort was made to see whether the child was properly cared for. This resulted in many chil- dren staying out of school practically for no reason at all. There were others whose illness covered a much longer period than necessary.
One notable case is a striking example of the good work which has been accomplished this year. In mak- ing a home visit on a school child we found a little girl
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ANNUAL REPORT
eight years old, who was an invalid. In early infancy she had infantile paralysis affecting both legs so that she was absolutely dependent upon some member of the family. She was taken to an orthopedic clinic, and it was found that by having a slight operation fol- lowed by the use of braces and crutches, she would be able to walk. The necessary work was done and the child is now going to school.
The nursing profession, like others, has its ambi- tions and its aspirations. It is our desire to increase the work in the school, to benefit to the utmost the coming generation. We wish to express our appre- ciation of the co-operation and loyal support given us by the members of the School Board, Superintend- ent and teachers of our public schools, and all others who help to make this work a success.
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