1975-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 3 4 c !; The Samuel G. Davis School is overcrowded now! If the current increase of pupil personnel continues, and there is little reason to think otherwise, many difficult problems face the School Department before the Fall of 1977 when the e proposed new middle school becomes a reality. ° These are the facts: 1. Our present school building with eleven classrooms designed to accommodate two hundred and seventy-five pupils is at present `e{ housing three hundred and sixty-five boys and girls. k! 2. Modifications will have to be made to our educational program. As classes increase in number, less and less individualized instruc- t tion can be given to children who may need it most. r I � 3. Special subjects such as instrumental music, art, and physical education may have to be de-emphasized or eliminated until proper $ ' ¢ facilities can be found. 4. It is possible that for a period of time next year the cafeteria may become future classroom space, thus making a school lunch ., program nearly impossible. 5. Additional teaching personnel, increased costs due to additional 11 supplies and transportation will be imperative { '€ These are but a few of the problems we face, I am sure, however, with determination, and with foresight, our able School Committee, under your E guidance will find ways to continue our present high standards of academic 4 achievement and continue to update, innovate, and improve our existing curriculum, never neglecting the fundamental purpose of the school's exis- tence of continuing to emphasize the teaching of the traditional basic subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic throroughly--for, as you have emphasized many times, "Students must be taught to read with understanding and to write and to speak clearly and persuasively. It is also necessary to memorize facts, know concepts, and have the ability to solve problems". t COMMUNICATION: Communication between the school is very imprrtant. Schools are relying more and more on parent-teacher conferences to supplement report cards. Teachers realize that they cannot do the best possible job of educating each child without the help of the child's parent. The parent can supply infor- mation about the child that can be very helpful to the teacher and the teacher can offer suggestions to parents on how they can help at home. Due to the favorable response by parents and teachers, these conferences will be held at least twice a year. CETA: I For nearly a year, we were fortunate to obtain, at no cost to the Town, eight teacher aides from the CETA program (Civilians Emergency Training Act), a federal program. Carefully screened by the administration, these yound people have served as teacher, cafeteria, office and custodial aides. They have lessened to some degree the class load of each teacher. I am grate- ful to each of them for their services. If and when their services terminate, 4 they will be sorely missed. IT 132