USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1891-1898 > Part 38
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Pupils need much practice in speaking and writing simple English, especially in writing it. Oral recitations furnish abundant practice in spoken language, if pupils are carefully corrected. Written language should be required through the whole school course, from simple statements in the first
135
grade to accounts of whatever the child sees, learns or experiences as he advances to the upper grammar grades, and there, in addition to frequent written recitations, written tests, letters, compositions, and neat, accurate note-book work, pupils should be required to write all they can in ten- minute exercises every day on familiar subjects, giving careful attention to penmanship, spelling, punctuation, and capitals as well as to accuracy of expression. Teach to use the means of written expression to the end of clearness and accuracy in simple statement.
Reading. Children learn to read earlier under modern methods of instruction than they did under the old system. They undoubtedly read better also at the age of twelve or fourteen years than pupils did a generation ago, and there are fewer very poor readers now than then. But the best results are not yet secured.
Teaching reading is something more than teaching to read. It is not enough that pupils read fluently, not enough even, that they learn to like and appreciate good literature. They should get inspiration and ennobling influence from it.
The tendency of modern methods is to have pupils read a reading book through but once, to have the pupils of each grade read several books of the same number in different series, scarcely reading the same selection twice. In con- trast to this the old plan had pupils read the same book so much that they could read as well looking out of the window as on the book, and there was scarcely any reference to authors.
The old method had pupils read too few books, the moderu method has them read too many. The latter is the greater mistake. There is more danger that pupils read too many books than that they read a few books too much.
For the drill reading, readers should be provided contain- ing the best selections in our language. These books pupils may profitably read through several times, and some of the selections should be read many times until the language is fixed in memory, and the spirit of the piece has made a
136
lasting impression. Pupils should be drilled to read some fine selections in concert until they can render them with good expression. The language of these old pieces read over and over again at school will linger in memory in years to come, and their spirit and beanty will remain with a last- ing and ennobling influence. Thus may the grandest and best in prose and poetry make indelible impression and become a part of the woof and fibre of youth.
The reading, however, should not be confined to one book, as under the old regime. Suitable supplementary reading should be supplied and pupils should be led to a liberal and intelligent use of the public library.
Children should also be taught to know the author of everything they read-not simply the author's name, but something of his life, especially, his childhood and youth.
The aim should be that children read some of the best things thoroughly, that they read widely, understandingly, appreciatively, and that what they read exert an influ- ence in moulding character.
Arithmetic. Whether arithmetic is taught better now than formerly is a question that admits of some doubt. In the first few years numbers probably are, but numbers are not arithmetic. There is too much written drill in funda- mental operations ; too little drill in rapid combination ; too much mechanical, too little mental, work; too little abstract reasoning and analysis. Pupils often do not know whether to multiply or divide, because they have not been taught abstract reasoning. They are taught how rather than why, and they try to remember the method instead of reasoning out the process. Arithmetic is a matter of reason not of memory, and pupils should be taught to reason by analysis. They should use books with answers to the problems at least, so that they may know whether they get the right result, and if not, review their work for mistakes or reason the problem through to see whether the wrong method has been used. There is no danger in using answers. The test of the pupils work is not in his answer to the problem but
137
in his explanation of the process. The answer is for his benefit rather than the teacher's, why deprive him of it?
There should be much mental work, drill in rapid combi- nation, and, above all, careful analytical explanation should be required at the board through all the grades.
Space will not permit consideration of all the subjects taught, nor a very full consideration of those mentioned. I have endeavored to outline briefly how some of the more important should be taught, and earnest efforts are being made to teach them in our schools along the lines here indicated, with the hope that better results will be secured.
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
The transfer of the two upper grades from the South schools to the Centre, and the transportation of the pupils from the North to the Centre, have proved to be moves in the right direction.
This change has left three grades in each room at the South with thirty-one pupils in the grammar room and thirty-six in the primary. The work has materially improved in these schools since the change, especially during the fall term.
The condition of the pupils transferred from the North to the Centre has been much improved by their association with larger numbers, by having their work better classified and graded, and by better instruction than they could receive in the mixed school at the North.
At the Centre the schools are in better condition than before the transfer of the High School to the Town Hall. There are four grades in each room, with about fifty pupils in the primary, and forty-five in the grammar.
With two teachers in the primary school, the work of the four grades there can be fairly well conducted. But the work of four grades in the grammar room is absolutely more than one teacher can do. A class in language and one in arithmetic from that school have therefore recited daily to Miss Sawin in the lower room, during the fall term, as has
138
also a class in drawing twice a week. This takes an hour a day of Miss Sawin's time, all of which she very much needs for her own school. With this assistance given to the grammar school, the work is still too much for the teacher there. I would recommend that Miss Sherman, now employed for part time to assist in the High School, be employed for full time and teach the language and grammar to the four classes in the Centre grammar school. Miss Sherman would then teach all of the English from the fourth grade up to, and through, the High School. This would give opportunity for departmental work, and better teaching would be likely to result than would be the case if several teachers taught this subject, each for a part of the time. It would relieve the pressure of work in the grammar room, and at the same time obviate the necessity of Miss Sawin's taking a part of it, and thus allow her to devote her whole time to her own school.
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
During the spring term Miss Grace R. Farrar resigned as assistant in the Centre primary school, and Miss Chapin filled the position till the end of the term. Miss Nellie M. Newton was then transferred by request, from the South grammar school to this position, again made vacant by the resignation of Miss Chapin.
Miss Bessie F. Moore, of Gorham, N. H., a normal school graduate, and a teacher of considerable experience, was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the transfer of Miss Newton.
Miss Hattie B. Heath of Easton, Mass., was elected in the summer to fill the position caused by the resignation of Miss Morgan from the South primary school.
Under these changes the schools have been conducted very successfully, all the teachers doing excellent work. It is much to be regretted now that Miss Moore is about to leave us to accept a position in Quincy.
139
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School is doing good work, considering existing conditions, as evinced at the school exhibit, and in its graduating exercises.
Although a school be small it is impossible for one teacher to conduct all the work in a three-years' high school course in any such satisfactory manner as may be done in a large school with several teachers, each having but few subjects to teach ; it is number of subjects and number of classes taught that take time, and not number of pupils. More teaching force was needed in the school last year with these classes, and when those pupils who graduated in June asked the privilege of returning for another year's study, an assistant was absolutely necessary, if their request was granted, for this meant practically the addition of another year to the course of studies. Miss Anna Prescott Sherman was, there- fore, employed as assistant for half time, as was done a few years ago, when Miss Scripture was employed as assistant in the High School under similar circumstances. This arrange- ment, at small cost, enabled the Committee to grant the privilege of another year's study to deserving and ambitious pupils whose parents could ill afford to send them away to school. At the same time it materially improves the advantages of the other children in the school.
Four years in the high school is a privilege to which all pupils are justly entitled. It is provided in all cities and in most towns in the state, and in the near future will be uni- versally demanded by public statute.
DRAWING.
I wish to repeat my recommendation of last year that a drawing teacher be employed to direct the teaching in this subject in all the schools as the music teacher does music. And I desire to emphasize this recommendation as much as possible, without reiterating the reasons then given for it.
140
NEEDS OF THE SCHOOLS.
Referring again to the High School, I wish to direct atten- tion to the fact that it is temporarily lodged in the Town Hall with no laboratory accommodations, no recitation room -both highly essential to good work,- no conveniences of any kind, simply a place to assemble in, wholly inadequate to the needs and requirements of the school. The Town Hall is little better fitted for the accommodation of a school than for the residence of a family. It is also needed for other purposes, and I presume no one thought when the school was placed in it that it would have to remain there until now. The school should not be continued where it is longer than the time necessary to provide a permanent and suitable building for it. The welfare of the school demands this and there is probably a limit to the forbearance of those who permit this obstruction in the Town building.
I strongly recommend one of two plans with reference to the High School. Either that it maintain an English, and a classical course of studies, each of four years in length ; that it be suitably housed and equipped and that it be pro- vided with such teaching force as is needed to give instruc- tion that will prepare pupils for admission to state normal schools, or colleges ; or, if these provisions be not made, I recommend that the school be closed, and the pupils be sent, at the town's expense, to some high school where these advantages are provided.
These recommendations should receive early and careful consideration. They are likely to become legal require- ments before the adjournment of the present Legislature. The following is part of a bill that will be reported to the Legislature and is likely to receive enactment :
" Every city, and every town of five hundred families or householders according to the latest public census taken by the authority either of the Commonwealth or of the United States, shall, and any other town may, maintain a high school, adequately equipped, to be kept by a principal and
141
such assistants as may be needed, of competent ability and good morals, who shall give instruction in such subjects designated in section one as it may be deemed expedient to teach in the high school, and in such additional subjects as may be required for the general purpose of training and culture as well as for the special purpose of preparing pupils for admission to state normal schools, technical schools, or colleges. Such high school shall maintain one or more courses of study, at least four years in length, and shall be kept for the benefit of all the inhabitants of the town or city, forty weeks at least, exclusive of vacations, in each year. A town may, if it chooses, meet only a portion of the foregoing requirements in its own high school, provided, that it shall make adequate provisions for meeting the rest of said requirements in the high school of another town or city.
Any town of less than five hundred families or house- holders, in which a public high school or a public school of corresponding grade is not maintained, shall pay for the tuition of any child who resides in said town and who attends the high school of another town or city," etc.
The italics in the above are mine except the word "provided."
From the foregoing it will be seen that efforts are being made, wisely and justly as I believe, to provide, by legal enactment, as nearly as possible equal school advantages and privileges for all children in the state.
Much as the High School needs better building accommo- dations, it needs them no more than do the Centre primary and grammar schools. The former has filled the lower room with over fifty pupils, and the recitation room is so small that it has been hardly possible to crowd into it some of the classes that recite to the assistant. The latter has numbered more than the seating capacity of the upper room. Three rooms are greatly needed to accommodate these schools with their present numbers. But their numbers are increasing and more room must soon be provided.
142
There should be a course of studies of nine years below the High School instead of eight as at present. This is essential to a proper preparation of pupils to enter the High School here or elsewhere, and it is still more needful for those pupils who do not go to any high school. With this arrangement three rooms would easily accommodate three grades in each, as we now have at the South, with each school provided with its own teacher and entirely separated from the others.
In a word our school conditions are these : We have but eight years of schooling below the High School, while most towns have nine ; but three years in the High School, while most towns have four. We are thus expected to accomplish as much in eleven years of school work, even under the adverse conditions already mentioned, as other towns do in thirteen years under favorable circumstances ; and shortly this will not only be expected by Lincoln citizens, but will be required by legal statute. Shall this condition of affairs continue ? Does the town place so much higher value upon a dollar than upon a child that it will restrict its children to two years less schooling than is given elsewhere in the state, and furnish house-room wholly inadequate and insuf- ficient, while in the percentage of its valuation appropriated to public school purposes it ranks almost last in the list of towns and cities in Massachusetts, as shown in my last report ?
Fifty children were once demanded as hostages from the Spartans. They offered one hundred men of distinction instead, deeming fifty children of more value than one hundred honored men, and the wisdom of this act has been commended. The children are of greater moment to a state than its adults. The adults will become little better or worse. In the children are boundless possibilities of good or evil. The children of Lincoln are of more value than all its money or its men. Their training means prosperity or disaster. The kind of schools that are maintained will
143
determine largely the future condition of the community and of the country.
Why should the erection of a proper school building be postponed ? It is only a question of time when it must be built, and if there is any financial saving by delay, it is doubly lost in the loss to the children of their proper privi- leges.
School buildings should be more than house room for the schools. They should be substantial structures of architec- tural beauty,- monuments of pride in our free schools,- the safe-guard of a free state.
Before closing this report I wish to say that the commu- nity should be grateful to the teachers for the faithfulness and efficiency of their work under adverse, and often trying, conditions. I desire also to express my appreciation of the substantial assistance and encouragement the teachers and I have received from the Committee, who have done every- thing in their power to improve the condition, and advance the interests, of the schools. I am also mindful of the spirit of good-will that the community has shown towards the schools, and which has gone far to make pleasant and suc- cessful the efforts of all who have labored during the past year in the educational interests of Lincoln.
Respectfully submitted,
LEWIS T. McKENNEY,
Superintendent of Schools.
144
Report of the Supervisor of Music.
MR. L. T. McKENNEY,
Superintendent of Schools.
DEAR SIR :-
I am glad to report progress in the department of music during the year past. Although sickness prevented my personal supervision for eleven weeks during the fall term. I find by comparing my memorandums of last year with this that most of the schools are in advance of last year, especially is this the case with the primary and grammar schools at the centre. At these schools the teachers knew my plan of work and carried it on much the same as if I had been there.
At the South school, although the teachers were unacquainted with my way of teaching, the work was carried on, and today the South school is making good progress, and I hope by the end of the school year to have it ahead of last year's classes.
In the primary schools we are using the same material as last year, namely the first series of charts (New and im- proved normal), and first Readers.
In the grammar schools we have taken up the second Readers (New and improved normal), introducing two-part singing.
In the High School singing was at a standstill during my illness, but the work is being carried on now and the scholars are having regular practice in sight reading and song singing. Every time a lesson is given there, I feel the need of a piano to help with the songs. With such a small body of singers I find it very hard to prepare songs for school use without the aid of an instrument.
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I sincerely think that a piano in your high school would be a great help to the music there, adding more interest to the music period and stimulating the scholars to a study of the best music, which could not be done without one. I hope your committee will give this matter careful consideration.
I wish we might have more of the parents visit the schools on music day to see what the children are doing in their regular work, and to become acquainted with the methods taught. It would be an encouragement to both pupils and teacher. Last Decoration Day the scholars of the South, Centre, and High School united and sang very creditably several patriotic songs at the Grand Army exercises in Town Hall.
Miss Ann M. Barnes of Waltham, substituted for me during the last three weeks of my sickness, and did good work in directing the music.
I cannot close without thanking you and your committee for your support and kindness during the year especially at the time of my sickness. Also the teachers who have faith- fully carried out my plans.
Yours truly,
F. W. ARCHIBALD,
Supervisor of Music.
-
146
ROLL OF HONOR.
PUPILS NEITHER ABSENT NOR TARDY. DURING THREE YEARS. Lossie E. Laird.
DURING TWO TERMS.
Mary A. Dee,
Mary E. Ehlert,
Roderick E. Laird, Herbert E. Farrar, Sumner Smith.
DURING ONE TERM. CENTRE GRAMMAR.
Kate Dempsey,
George P. Cook,
Mary Dempsey,
Georgia V. Sherman,
Charlotte H. Stone, *George Grosvenor Tarbell,
Herman T. Wheeler.
CENTRE PRIMARY.
* Arthur F. Chapin, Mary Dougherty, John Lahey,
Daniel Lennon, Annie G. Smith, Olive R. Smith.
Harriett Boyce, *Lillian Boyce,
SOUTH GRAMMAR. Emmons Cook, Lizzie Moynihan,
Bessie Tyler.
*Robert Baker, * Minot Boyce,
SOUTH PRIMARY. Frank Moynihan, Jerry Moynihan,.
Grace Tyler.
29 names on the Roll of Honor. * Tardy once.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1898.
Winter term opened January 3, closes March 25; 12 weeks.
Spring term opens April 4, closes June 17; 11 weeks.
Fall term opens September 6, closes December 16; 15 weeks.
Recess from Wednesday before Thanksgiving to follow- ing Monday.
Winter term opens January 2, 1899.
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Number of children enumerated in town between
five and fifteen years of age May 1, 1897, 143
Number between eight and fourteen May 1, 1897, 120 Number of pupils enrolled in the public schools, 199 Number attending within the year under five years of age, 0
Number attending within the year over fifteen years of age, 29
Number attending within the year between eight and fourteen years of age, 111
Average membership of all the schools,
153
Average daily attendance, . 138
Per cent. of attendance based on average member- ship, 91
· Number of buildings occupied,
. 3
.
Number of school-rooms occupied, . . .
6
Number of teachers employed, . 7
TABULAR STATEMENT OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOLS.
Terms.
Teachers.
Enrollment.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent. of
Attendance.
Times Tardy.
Dismissals.
Visitors.
Teachers'
Length of
School in weeks.
High,
Winter, Spring, Fall,
Ernest W. Small.
17
16.92
15.74 14.22
93 03 92.22
8
9
2
84.20
11
J Anna Prescott Sherman, Assistant.
16
15.74
14.27
92.56
8
13
89.48
15
( Winter,
Carrie B. Chapin.
35
33.18
29.02
87.46
12
31
38
48.00
12
Centre Gram., .
Spring, (Fall,
Carrie B. Chapin.
35
30.10
26.78
88.98
4
14
5
48.00
11
16
41.07
37.71
91.82
11
22
4
48.00
15
( Winter,
Nellie M. Newton.
33
31.83
28.22
88.63
72
36
22
48.00
12
S. Grammar,
Spring,
Nellie M. Newton.
31
25.67
23.87
92.99
52
7
6
48.00
11
( Fall,
Bessie F. Moore.
31
29.19
27.80
95.24
30
18
30
48.00
15
( Grace R. Farrar, Assistant.
44
39.44
34.35
87.04
44
3
30
44.00
12
( Grace R. Farrar, Assistant.
51
39.44
34.86
88.39
45
3
14
44.00
11
j Nellie M. Newton, Assistant.
48
43.97
40.56
92.24
27
12
42
44.00
15
36
32.00
28.03
87.59
34
18
13
44.00
12
Marion H. Morgan.
36
33.44
29.25
87.47
55
35
7
44.00
11
Hattie B. Heath.
32
30.09
28.68
95.31
15
9
31
40.00
15
SUMMARY FOR THE YEAR.
High,
.
·
.
20
16.03 34.78
14.74 31.17
92.60 89.42 92.29 89.22
26 27
30 67
47
456
South Grammar,
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
42
31.84
28.65
90.12
104
62
51
403
Totals, 1897,
·
.
.
.
.
·
.
199
153
138
90.73
427
268
264
1896,
·
·
·
199
150
133
89 44
.
·
.
·
.
34
28.90
26.63
154
91
58
456
Centre Primary,
64
40.95
36.59
116
18
86
418
South Primary, .
·
.
.
.
·
Winter, Spring, (Fall,
Marion H. Morgan.
S. Primary,
·
Ernest W. Small.
17
15.42
9
13
$84.20
12
1.48
22
$820
Centre Grammar,
39
.
36 00
Centre Prim.,
Winter, Spring, Fall,
Harriette F. Sawin.
36.00
Harriette F. Sawin.
36.00
Harriette F. Sawin.
Carrie B. Chapin.
28.00
Ernest W. Small, Principal.
Salaries per
month.
· ·
.
By-Laws of the Town of Lincoln.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, S3.
At the Superior Court, within and for the County of Middlesex, Anno Domini, 1897,
The following By-Laws of the Town of Lincoln, in said County, are presented to this Court for approval, to wit :-
" ARTICLE I.
TOWN MEETINGS.
SECTION 1. The annual town meeting shall be held on the first Monday of March in each year.
SECT. 2. Notice of every town meeting shall be given by posting copies of the warrant calling the same, attested by the officer making service thereof, in each of the post-offices within the town, and in one of the churches, or one other public place, within the town, not less than seven days before the day appointed for such meeting. But when, in the judgment of the selectmen, the interests of the town require a meeting to be held without giving so long a notice, a meeting may be called by posting attest ed copies of the warrant in the places above mentioned, and by leaving a printed copy thereof at each dwelling-house within the town, at least three days before the time appointed for the meet- ing ; provided that in such cases the selectmen shall certify that, in their opinion, the interests of the town require that a town meeting be called upon a notice of less than seven days, which certificate shall be made upon, or attached to, the original warrant, and shall be served as a part thereof.
3
ARTICLE II.
FINANCES.
SECTION 1. The financial year shall commence with the first day of February and end with the thirty-first day of January annually.
SECT. 2. The town treasurer shall have the custody of all funds belonging to the town except sinking funds, trust funds and funds for which other provision is made by law ; and he shall pay no money from the treasury except upon a draft signed by a majority of the selectmen, stating the account to which the same is chargeable. Such draft shall be sufficient authority to the treasurer to pay the same, and the payment thereof shall discharge him from all liability on account of the money so paid.
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