Fourth Week - Monday's “Medfield Historical Minute”

A Medfield Historical Minute...

This "Medfield Historical Minute" is brought to you by town historian Richard DeSorgher.
A little something to read and learn to give you a little break during this time of boredom during isolation due to the Coronavirus Crisis. A different "Medfield Historical Minute" will appear each day during the Crisis.

"In 1928 Superintendent of Schools A. Howard Williamson reported that attendance was one of the most pressing problems facing the Medfield Schools. “A study of the causes of absence shows the following reasons frequently given why students were not in school. “No rubbers for my shoes when it is raining,” “Went to Boston,” “My mother did not get up in time,” Such excuses are made all the way from grade 1 to the senior class at Medfield High School. Poor attendance meant less money to Medfield from State Aid Funds. At the high school the length of the school day was increased by one-half hour. Each period was 52 minutes in length, which gave the teacher a greater chance to supervise study and help the slower pupils during class time.

Instruction by radio began at Medfield High School in cooperation with the Edison Broadcasting Station, which was located in Millis (now Dover Road). School lessons were given over the radio twice a week. The lessons were arranged by a committee of teachers and individuals well-versed in the subject matter of the lesson. The senior class gave a sum of money as their graduation gift to help purchase a radio receiving set. Lessons in French. Science, history and English were given over the radio during the year."