Punchard High School - Prism Yearbook (Andover, MA)

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REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF PUNCHARD SCHOOL To the Superintendent of Schools and the Trustees of the Punchard Free School. Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit my twenty-fifth annual report as principal of the Punchard High School. A new record of enrollment has become a regular feature of these reports. The number for the fall term of 1934 is 494. In September after the old budding had been razed, two sessions of the school were scheduled, one for the three upper grades from 8 untU 12 noon, and the other for the ninth grade from 12:30 to 4 :30 P. M. On the whole the arrangement has worked better than we had hoped. It is hardest on those teachers who have classes in both the morning and afternoon sessions with only a half-hour interval between. It must bring its difficulties to parents who have children in both sessions of the high school and others in the grades. Probably the greatest losers by the two session plan are the 9th grade pupils. They are so separated from the rest of the school that they have no opportunities for the contacts with the older pupils which should be a part of their education. The lack of any room for a school assembly or even a class meeting is keenly felt. A continuation of this condition would result in a very considerable loss of morale and school spirit. The good nature with which all concerned have accepted the situation deserves high praise. The situation is such temporarily that we are avoiding changes in our program of studies but are devoting a good deal of thought to the future when the reorganization possible with the new building shall take place. For the same reason we are keeping our requests for new teaching material as modest as possible. There is every indication that many vital questions concerning public secondary education must be settled in the near future. The bill for the extension of the compulsory school a ge two additional years, which has been introduced in several successive legislatures, now has the backing of the State Department of Education and of the American Federation of Labor and has been advocated by Governor Curley in his inaugural address. It seems sure to pass. This will not only increase the number of high school pupils but will inevitably bring in a group ill-equipped for the academic work of the secondary school. That we must eventually adapt our program of study to the needs of such pupils is a simple corollary of the proposition that every youth is en titled to secondary school education at public expense. There is, however, a serious question as to whether an individual may not forfeit the right by negligence, laziness or sheer indifference. Furthermore there seems to be a law of diminishing returns for many young people in formal education a point is reached where the best efforts of teacher and pupil alike seem to produce little farther development. Should such pupils be encouraged to stay in school? In trying to find answers to these and similar problems we shall undoubtedly revise our curriculums with the needs, of pupils and of the society in which they are soon to take their places as the measure of values. We must not shut our eyes to the tremendous changes that are taking place in the environment of every citizen. These necessardy involve careful revision of the subject matter of our educational offering from time to time. But in making changes in our menu it is imperative no substitute a soft mental pap for solid nourishment of proved value. No school training is of permanent worth which does not involve training of the will by the setting of tasks which require some work. It is discouraging to have parents ask that their children be transferred from one course to another because they don ' t like the subject very well or they find it rather hard. No one today is asking that school work be made disagreeable on the old theory that bitter medicine is better than that with a pleasant taste, but there is danger that in the attempt to secure an adaptation to individual needs and abilities we shall lose sight of the necessity for creating habits of application arid persistent work which are the foundation of successful living. Finally it should be remembered that to teach the subjects included in a modernized program requires instructors of broad sympathy, well-balanced learning and with a high degree of tact,

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teachers who must be capable of developing their own class room technique as new problems present themselves to meet the needs of constantly changing groups of pupils. Last June the 75th anniversary of the Punchard Free School Commencement was fittingly observed. The meeting held on Sunday afternoon, the 17th opened a week in which many of the older alumni visited the school to take a farewell of Punchard Hall. Even those whose association with, the old building was most cherished expressed real satisfaction that we were to have improved quarters: The booklet- published by the Alumni Association has already proved a valuable source of reference, containing, as it does the complete list of former pupils and teachers and the historical sketch by Miss Bessie Punchard Goldsmith, ' 99. A year ago I had to report an unfavorable balance in the Athletic Association treasury. It seemed as though we should have to give up having a school baseball team, but through the generosity of -friends on whom we never call in vain, enough money was raised to carry us through. As it was our year to entertain Methuen High School on the football field, the financial returns this fall were better than a year ago. Consequently the present year opens with all bills paid and a small balance. I have maintained for years that the athletics in our school were better managed, on a saner basis, and contained more of real value to the participants than those of most similar schools. With suitable quarters in view, we should be able to get nearer our goal of physical education for every pupil. There will always be an anomaly, however, in a situation which includes athletic sports as a part of our educational program and makes them depend for their support on the uncertain income from gate receipts or the charitable donations of friends. This series of reports began years ago. At first they were largely statistical. Such statistics have long been included in the superintendent ' s reports. The trustees originally made the report for the school but now for nearly fifty years they have been made by, the principal. In the meantime the relation of the Superintendent of Schools to the Punchard School has grown closer. With the daily meetings which come from having offices within a few feet of each other, it is hardly more than a formality for the principal to make an annual report to the superintendent. The present principal has long since exposed his educational ideals to a public which probably never reads his report. The proper communications to the trustees can be made orally. It seems then, a fitting time to suggest the termination of this series, in the interest of utility and economy, with, this twenty-fifth annual effort. Respectfully submitted, NATHAN C, HAMBLIN. [January 1, 1934 - January 1, 1935 Town of Andover Report of the School Committee 1934]