USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1891-1898 > Part 17
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77
State is soon to establish four Normal Schools in addition to the three now in operation. Hereafter stu- dents admitted to the State Normal Schools must be graduates of high schools whose courses of studies have been approved by the State Board of Education. A plan has recently been adopted permitting persons to take State examinations and receive State certificates to teach. Teaching is thus to be made in truth a pro- fession, and schools are to be, ere long, supplied with professional teachers.
All this effort on the part of individuals, educational associations and the State, to provide better methods, better means, higher standards, and abler teachers, indicates a better appreciation of the value of school training as a preparation for life's work, and a deeper sense of our duty to those who must soon be entrusted with the social and national welfare; and it means a degree of educational progress not hitherto attained in our country's history.
This progress requires of the teacher better prepar- ation and effort, of the town better school equipments and accommodations. Are we keeping pace with this progress ? It is not perhaps to be expected that we should produce as good results as the best organized and equipped schools in the Commonwealth. But are our schools doing, or in condition to do, as good work as the average schools in the State ? This ought to be the lowest standard of requirement.
WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
A glance at the work of the individual schools will show their progress, and reveal also their condition and needs.
78
The South Schools have been in the charge of able teachers; they are as well graded and classified as their numbers will permit; they have done good work and have made steady improvement.
The North School has always worked under serious disadvantages, being wholly ungraded and located in an isolated part of the town where it is difficult to retain a good teacher for any considerable length of time. In order to give the pupils of this school advan- tages more nearly equal to those of children in other parts of the town, they were transported to the Center during the winter and spring terms. They made very noticeable improvement in that school, although their presence there, under the existing conditions, was an undoubted hindrance to the work of the school.
As the town made no permanent provision for the accommodation of these pupils at the Center, the North School was reopened in the fall. The pupils did much better work under the instruction of the present earnest teacher there than during the corresponding period of last year.
While the pupils of the North School have thus made more improvement this year than last, they have worked under such difficulties that the result has not been satisfactory, nor can it be while the school remains where it is. And the fact that it is now in charge of a successful teacher is not a valid reason why the school should be continued as it is. A good teacher has had charge of this school before, but she could not be retained. How long the present one will remain is uncertain.
The Center School, which ought to do as good work as any school in town-and it is no fault of the teach-
79
ers that it does not-is so handicapped by its present arrangement, that despite the best efforts of efficient teachers it is impossible to do very satisfactory work.
This school numbers, exclusive of the North children, between fifty and sixty pupils, all seated in one room, under the general direction and discipline of one teacher, but divided into two sections, one including the four lower, or primary grades, the other the four upper, or grammar grades, and therefore necessarily taught in two rooms. Owing to the differences in the ages, and in the studies of the pupils of these two sections, it is impossible for both teachers to make their recitation periods of the same length, consequently the teacher in the main room must often stop in the midst of a recitation to allow a class to enter from the small room, and another to go out. This interruption is annoying to the teacher, distracting to the pupils, and wasteful of valuable time. On the other hand, the primary teacher must be in the recitation room with her classes, and can give little attention to the seat- work of her pupils. Thus both teachers are seriously hampered and hindered in their work, and the teaching of both sections of the school suffers in consequence.
This arrangement, so unfavorable to the best results, ought to be remedied. It can be done by providing two suitable school rooms, and placing one section in each room as a separate school, thus making two dis- tinct schools at the Center below the High School, as we have at the South.
When this is done, we have solved the problem of the North School; for the pupils of that school can then be transferred to the Center, with great advantage to themselves and no disadvantage to the other pupils.
80
This plan would give the Centre Schools about the same number of pupils as there is in the South Schools, and would place all the pupils of the town in condition to do equally good work.
I recommended this change in the arrangement of the Centre School in my report last year, and renew it in the belief that it is not less called for now than then, and in the hope also that it may receive the town's approval and early attention.
MUSIC.
Another important improvement that ought to be made in our schools, is the teaching of music by a special teacher.
The importance of music as a part of school work has been shown in numerous articles that recently appeared in the Boston Herald, from one of which the following is quoted:
" Aside from the fact that musical exercise rightly conducted is a powerful means of training to attention and accuracy, singing is a source of relief and renova- tion, which tends to create a larger interest in school life, and thus to make work in all departments more hearty and vigorous."
Music cannot be successfully taught in our schools by the regular teachers alone, in their already over- crowded time. It has been taught by special teacher in Billerica during the past five years with most grati- fying results.
The services of a good musical instructor can be secured to teach one day a week-an hour in each school-in Lincoln, for $200 a year, and it would be money well expended. A few years ago money was
81
appropriated for manual training, but it was found to be impracticable to use it for that purpose. Had it not been, the money would be much more profitably ex- pended in musical, than in manual, training in our schools.
I hope that an appropriation for this purpose will be recommended by the Committee, and that it will be made by the town at the next town meeting.
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The Public Library is an important factor for culture in the community. It can be made no more potent for this purpose than in its proper use by the children, and the teacher is essentially the one to encourage and direct this use. Indeed, it is as much the duty of the teacher to teach her pupils what to read, as to teach them how to read. And she can render no more valu- able service in teaching any, or all, the subjects of the school curriculum, than in cultivating in her pupils a taste for good reading. In doing this she has opened to them an ever widening field of profitable industry and enjoyment. And we can in no way so well direct aright the reading taste of the masses of the people as by wisely guiding the children to books that are good and true before they have begun the use of poor and evil literature.
Arrangements are being made, with the willing assistance of the Librarian of the Public Library, to provide books suitable to each grade, with special privileges for the teachers to use them in their schools, that they may, even in the primary grades, acquaint their pupils with the best authors and create in them a love for good books. For " what we make children
82
love and desire is more important than what we make them learn."
UNITED STATES HISTORY.
A new plan was adopted last fall in the study of United States history. The pupils are to take it up as a regular study in the sixth grade. The subject for study in September is the period of exploration and discovery, the pupils using as text-books, Eggleston's First Book in United States History, or Montgomery's Beginner's American History. Every pupil is required to read the account in at least one book besides the regular text-book. Such other books are to be used for reference as are accessible to the teachers and pupils. The teacher will guide the pupils in their reading and study with recitation work upon properly prepared topics. At the end of the month the pupils write a paper on the subject matter of the month's study, and each pupil's papers are to be bound together and preserved. The subject for October is coloniza- tion; for November, the French and Indian wars ; December, causes of the Revolution; January, the Revolution, and so on. The class will in this way cover a definite period of the history each month, pursuing the same plan as the first month, and thus go over the whole historical story during the first year's study of the subject, learning a few of the leading facts and most important events.
The next year the class take a larger book, Mont- gomery's Leading Facts of American History, or Fisk's History of the United States, and go over the history again in much the same manner as the previous year, but going deeper into the study and learning more
83
about the leading men, and fixing in mind more of the important events.
In the eighth grade the class will go over the history for the third time, following the same general plan as before; now making a thorough study of details as far as given in our school histories, and going somewhat into the philosophy of the history. More use of refer- ence books and more outside reading will be required each year.
The advantages of this plan are :
First. Before any pupil leaves the public schools he will be likely to have completed the sixth year's work, and instead of leaving school with no knowledge of his country's history, or at best, with only some knowl- edge of a part of it, and wholly ignorant of the rest, he will know something of the whole history. And the large majority of children, who complete the gram- mar school course and do not enter the high school, will have a pretty thorough and comprehensive knowl- edge of the whole history.
Second. By reading the history through each year the pupil will have the connected story, and will under- stand better the relations of its facts, instead of pos- sessing only vague ideas of disconnected portions, as was too often the case under the plan formerly pursued of studying part of the history one year, and another part the next.
Third. This plan teaches pupils to read to a purpose, cultivates a habit of research, and furnishes excellent material for language and composition work.
This plan combines reading, language and history, and aside from its excellent disciplinary effect, will give the pupils a good knowledge of history itself. It is
84
not being fully carried out this year, owing to the fact that it was entered upon late in the fall term and was tried somewhat as an experiment.
The result of the plan, as far as tried in the schools under my supervision, is sufficiently satisfactory to jus- tify its being followed very nearly as here outlined in the study of history next year.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The only change in teachers during the year has occurred in the High School. Besides dispensing with the services of an assistant at the close of the spring term, a change of principals was necessitated at an unfortunate time by the resignation of Mr. Arnold.
Although a most estimable gentleman, studious, faith- ful, and zealous for the improvement of his school, Mr. Arnold, like most young teachers who have had neither experience nor professional training, had to learn the important difference between teaching and hearing recitations, before his work could be very efficient. Mr. Arnold improved in his work, but when his services were becoming valuable he left us, and a change had to be made.
It is unfortunate that the town must pay a teacher to learn his profession, to the detriment of the High School, and when experience has been acquired that secures profitable results, lose him, and then repeat the same unprofitable process. There is, however, no law to prevent a teacher from resigning whenever inclination, or the offer of a better position, prompts him to do so. The only remedy, when a vacancy occurs in the High School principalship, is to fill the position either with a man who has had some experi-
85
ence, or with a bright graduate from the four years' course of one of the State Normal Schools, and thus keep the school in charge of experienced or profession- ally trained teachers.
Notwithstanding the disadvantages above referred to, some very creditable work has been done in the High School, as evinced by the high standing taken by some of this year's graduates in their final examinations for Radcliffe and Harvard. It ought in justice to be said that the good results secured in the graduating class, as well as in some of the other work, was due, in no small degree, to the excellent services of the assistant, Miss Bertha Scripture.
ATTENDANCE.
It is encouraging to note the improvement in attend- ance this year. It is better than in any previous year since I have had charge of the schools. Reference to the table of statistics will show that, with an enrolment about the same as last year, the average membership has increased from 149 to 168, the average daily attendance from 132 to 152, and the per cent. of daily attendance, based on average membership, from about 87 per cent. to nearly 91 per cent .; while the instances of tardiness have decreased from 387 to 237-an im- provement of more than one- third.
The State now requires a record of time lost by reason of tardiness and dismissal. While the num- ber of instances of tardiness and dismissal have been kept, only about half of the time lost by this cause has been returned, from which it appears that 21} days have been lost. The complete record would probably show a loss in school attendance by this cause alone,
86
equivalent to two months for one pupil. Thus tardi- ness and dismissal are detrimental in actual loss of time to the children, as well as in other ways.
The importance of regular school attendance has been emphasized in previous reports, and perhaps needs no further mention now. It is proper, however, to call parents' attention to the change in the law on this subject, made in the legislation of last winter.
Chap. 498, Sect. 1. Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school, in the city or town in which he resides, and such attendance shall continue for at least thirty weeks of the school year, if the schools are kept open for that length of time, with an allowance of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the superintendent of schools or the school com- mittee. Such period of attendance shall begin within the first month of the fall term of school, and for each five days' absence of any such child thereafter, in ex- cess of the above allowance, before the completion of the required annual attendance of thirty weeks, the person having such child under his control shall, upon the complaint of the school committee or truant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding twenty dollars.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion I wish to say that the work of the year has been characterized by the earnest efforts of faithful teachers, and has, in many ways, been an improvement on past results. But the disadvantages already pointed
87
out do not place our schools on an equal footing with those of sister towns, and prevent the degree of pro- gress that might otherwise be reasonably expected. Should the recommendations herein made be carried into operation, our schools would be placed in condi- tion to compare not unfavorably with others elsewhere, and would produce results enough better to more than justify whatever expense may be necessary to make the proposed changes.
Before closing this report, I desire at the end of another year to express my hearty thanks for the con- tinued courtesy and good-will of people, teachers, and Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS T. McKENNEY, Superintendent of Schools.
88
STATISTICS.
Number of children enumerated in town, May 1, 1894, between the ages of five and fifteen years, as returned by the Assessors, . 153 Number of children enrolled in the public schools, 200 Number of children enrolled under five years of
age, 0
Number of children enrolled over fifteen years of age, 21
Number of children enrolled between five and fif- teen years of age, ·
179
Number of children enrolled between eight and fourteen years of age, . 100
Number of school-houses occupied, 3 .
Number of school-rooms occupied, · .
5 . Number of teachers employed, .
. .
6
89
ROLL OF HONOR.
PUPILS NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY DURING THE YEAR.
DURING TWO TERMS.
John P. Boyce, Jennie B. Bent,
Mary E. Cook,
Ida B. Farnsworth, Charles Rooney, Louis L. Whitney.
DURING ONE TERM.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Jennie B. Bent,
Ida B. Farnsworth,
Edwin S. Bent,
Alfred P. Jackson,
Ida Browning,
Jennie McHugh,
Mary E. Cook,
Kate McHugh,
Mary A Dee,
Rachel W. Washburn,
Annie G. Dempsey,
Irene A. S. Ehlert,
Edith F. Whitney, Louis L. Whitney,
Clifford B. Whitney.
CENTRE SCHOOL.
Frank Leon Baldwin,
Alice Flynn,
Lyman T. Baldwin,
Alice Jones,
Kate Dempsey,
Nora Lennon,
Helena Dempsey,
James Lennon.
SOUTH GRAMMAR.
Lalia Bent, Mary Downey, John P. Boyce,
Rose Farnsworth, Caroline Ehlert, Mary Ehlert.
SOUTH PRIMARY.
Bertha Bent, Lily Boyce,
Mary Downey, Charles Kenney,
Emmons Cook,
Annie Ryan,
George Cook,
Charles Rooney,
Andrew Dougherty,
Chester Sherman.
NORTH SCHOOL.
Julia H. McLeod.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
SCHOOLS.
Terms.
Teachers.
Enrollment.
Average
membership.
Average daily
Per cent. of
daily attend-
Visits of Su-
perintendent.
Visits of Com-
Visits of citi-
Tardiness.
Dismissals.
Time in days
and dismis'l.
Teacher's sal-
Length of
term in
winter.
High,
Spring,
Arthur D. Arnold, Prin. Bertha Scripture, Ass't. Arthur D. Arnold, Prin. Bertha Scripture, Ass't. Arthur D. Arnold, Prin. 26
31
26.80
23.93
89.29
6
5
5
7
*
*
84.20
10
[Fall,
Ansel S. Richards, Prin.
67
56.84
52.09
91.64
4
7
10
22
5
1.77
48.00
12
Center,
Spring,
Carrie B. Chapin.
72
64.24
57.24
89.10
6
4
5
30
11
3.70
48.00
10
[Fall,
Carrie B. Chapin.
53
49.68
46.01
92.81
9
G
9
29
18
4.85
48.00
16
Harriet F. Sawin.
28
26.65
23.93
89.79
3
5
13
26
22
*
44.00
12
S. Grammar,
Winter, Spring, Fall,
Lizzie A. Brown.
28
24.99
23.00
92.00
4
3
6
17
15
*
44.00
10
Lizzie A. Brown.
36
33.05
29.98
90.71
7
5
11
26
31
6.91
48.00
15
Winter,
Kate W. Grose.
34
32.58
28.34
86.98
3
4
8
14
9
*
44.00
12
S. Primary,
Spring,
Kate W. Grose.
43
41.58
38.09
91.12
4
2
7
22
4
*
44.00
10
Kate W. Grose.
38
35.09
30 83
87.88
7
7
17
14
8
.90
48.00
15
North,
Elizabeth A. Snow.
19
18.92
17.64
93.23
7
3
13
16
15
3.41
36.00
16
SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR.
High, .
·
Changed during year. Carrie B. Chapin. Harriet F. Sawin.
35 79
27.53 56.92
24.87 51.78
90.41 91.18
20 19
31 17
24
21 81
34
10.32
-
38
Center, .
·
-
Lizzie A. Brown.
32
28.23
25.64
90.83
14
13
30
69
78
6.91
37
S. Primary, ·
.
Kate W. Grose.
51
36.42
32.42
88.66
14
13
32
50
21
.90
37
North, .
Elizabeth A. Snow.
+3
18.92
17.64
93.26
7
3
13
16
15
3.41
16
Total 1894, ·
200
168
152
74
77
124
237
148
21.54
-
-
Total 1893,
·
·
.
197
149
132
-
-
387
-
-
-
-
* No record.
t The other pupils of North School enrolled at Centre.
06
*
*
-
38
S. Grammar, .
·
·
·
.
34
33.27
30.14
90.70
5
13
12
8
*
$84.20
12
Winter,
( Winter,
Carrie B. Chapin.
Harriet F. Sawin.
44.00
44.00
Harriet F. Sawin.
22.52
20.55
91.25
9
13
8
6
9
*
89.47
16
84 20
44.00
Lizzie A. Brown.
(Fall, Fall,
-
-
90.87 87.08
attendance.
ance.
mittee.
zens.
lost by tard's
ary per mo.
25
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS
OF THE
Town of Lincoln
From Feb. 1, 1895, to Feb. 1, 1896.
ALSO, THE
Report of the School Committee
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1895-96.
BOSTON: "WASHINGTON PRESS : " GEO. E. CROSBY & CO., PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET, 1896.
REPORT OF THE OFFICERS
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
From Feb. 1, 1895, to Feb. 1, 1896.
ALSO, THE
Report of the School Committee
FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1895-96.
BOSTON: "WASHINGTON PRESS : " GEO. E. CROSBY & CO., PRINTERS, 383 WASHINGTON STREET,
1896.
TOWN OFFICERS, 1895-6.
Moderator at Town Meetings. CHARLES S. WHEELER.
Town Clerk. JAMES L. CHAPIN. Selectmen.
SAMUEL HARTWELL,
JOHN F. FARRAR, ARTHUR W. KIDDER.
Overseers of Poor.
JOHN F. FARRAR,
SAMUEL HARTWELL,
ARTHUR W. KIDDER.
Board of Health.
MOSES W. KIDDER,
Term expires 1896
JOSEPH S. HART,
.
.
.
1896
SAMUEL H. PIERCE, . . .
66 1898
Assessors.
CHARLES S. SMITH,
GEORGE ROPES,
GEORGE M. BAKER.
Road Commissioners.
DANIEL H. SHERMAN,
Term expires 1896
ROGER SHERMAN,
.
66 1897
LORENZO E. BROOKS,
66 1898
Treasurer and Collector of Taxes. CHARLES S. WHEELER.
Auditor. WM. L. G. PEIRCE. Constables.
L. E. BROOKS, FRANK M. DEMPSEY, MASON P. HUNTER,
EDWARD BANNON, JOHN F. FARRAR, JAMES T. LAIRD,
DENNIS W. DOHERTY.
4
School Committee.
MOSES W. KIDDER, GEORGE FLINT,
Term expires 1896 66
1897
EDWARD R. FARRAR,
66 1898
School Superintendent. L. T. MCKENNEY. Water Commissioners.
GEORGE L. CHAPIN,
Term expires 1896
JOHN F. FARRAR, .
·
66
1897
LEONARD W. WESTON,
66 1898
SAMUEL HARTWELL, Chairman of Selectmen, ex-officio.
CHARLES S. WHEELER, Town Treasurer, ex-officio.
Field Drivers.
HENRY F. BARNES, SAMUEL FARRAR.
Fence Viewers.
SAMUEL FARRAR,
GEORGE L. CHAPIN.
Surveyors of Lumber.
N. F. COUSINS,
GEO. F. HARRINGTON,
EDWARD R. FARRAR. Measurers of Wood and Bark.
EDWARD R. FARRAR,
WALTER F. BAKER, H. W. PRATT,
FRANCIS J. KIDDER, T. WILBER SMITH, THOMAS L. GILES.
Cemetery Committee.
JOHN TASKER,
Term expires 1896
H. C. CHAPIN, M. D.,
.
60
66 1898
JAMES L. CHAPIN,
66
1899
CHARLES S. SMITH,
66
66 1900
Commissioners of Trust Funds.
JULIUS E. EVELETH,
Term expires 1896
SAMUEL H. PIERCE,
1897
GEORGE ROPES,
1898
Registrars.
SAMUEL HARTWELL, ARTHUR W. KIDDER,
JOHN F. FARRAR, JAMES L. CHAPIN.
1897
HERBERT E. BARNES,
.
5
Trustees of Lincoln Public Library. GEORGE G. TARBELL, M. D., President, SAMUEL H. PIERCE, JOHN F. FARRAR,
SAMUEL HARTWELL, Chairmen Selectmen, ex-officio.
GEORGE FLINT, Chairman of School Committee, ex-officio.
Trustees of Bemis Fund for Free Public Lectures.
JULIUS E. EVELETH,
Term expires 1896
GEORGE FLINT,
1897
GEORGE ROPES,
66 66 1898
Trustees of Grammar School Fund.
CHARLES S. WHEELER, HERBERT E. BARNES, ALBERT A. COOK.
Public Improvement Committee.
CHARLES F. ADAMS, GEORGE ROPES,
SAMUEL H. PIERCE.
Committee to Purchase Coal.
SAMUEL HARTWELL, JOHN F. FARRAR,
ARTHUR W. KIDDER.
Sexton. HERBERT E. BARNES.
APPOINTED BY SELECTMEN. Sealer of Weights and Measures. JAMES L. CHAPIN. Janitor of Town House. GEORGE L. CHAPIN. Fire and Forest Fire Wardens.
CLARENCE A. BROOKS, CHARLES S. SMITH, JOHN F. FARRAR. Inspector of Provisions and Animals. CHARLES S. SMITH.
WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX SS.
To Lorenzo E. Brooks, or either of the Constables of the Town of Lincoln, in said county :
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabi- tants of the Town of Lincoln, duly qualified to vote in Town affairs, to assemble at the Town Hall, on Monday, March second, next, at one o'clock P. M., to act on the following articles, viz. :
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To hear, consider and act upon Reports of Town Officers, Committees, Commissioners and Trus- tees, in any manner the town shall think proper.
ART. 3. To choose all necessary Town Officers, Com- mittees, Commissioners and Trustees.
ART. 4. To enact anything in relation to the jury list presented by the Selectmen.
ART. 5. To appropriate money for all necessary and expedient purposes of the town, and enact anything in relation thereto.
7
ART. 6. To give in their votes by ballot in answer to the question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?" The check list shall be used, as provided by Section 5, Chapter 100, of the Public Statutes.
ART. 7. To determine the manner of collecting taxes. Also the compensation of the Collector for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Com- mittee chosen by the Town at a former meeting to con- tract for and build a mile of State road, to contract with the State Highway Commissioners to build the remain- der of the State highway in this town, or any part of the same.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will authorize its Treas- urer, under the direction of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of taxes of the current year, and to be paid therefrom.
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