USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1910-1915 > Part 31
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Pupils and teachers are working together harmoniously, and a good degree of progress is being made. · Yet I hope it will be a long time before we shall again have such a wholesale change in teachers. We should be able to pay a sufficient salary to retain our best teachers, and not be obliged to run the risk of making so many changes.
Teachers' Retirement and Pension Law
The teachers' retirement and pension law goes into effect next Summer. By the terms of this law each new teacher must pay to the State a percentage of her salary, varying in its yearly amount from $35 to $100. Then teachers, retiring between the age limits of sixty to seventy years, will receive from the State an annuity and a pension. The teachers now in service may make these yearly payments and be eligible to draw an annuity and pension. Many teachers feel that this drain on their meagre resources is greater than they can afford. Some towns and cities are seriously consider- ing whether it will be advisable to pay this premium for the teachers. A few towns have already decided to do so.
Intensive Work Along Certain Lines
While trying to keep all the school work up to a high standard, we believe it an excellent plan, each year, to pay special attention to one or two subjects in order to place them on a better basis. This year we have been working on penmanship and spelling, and as a result of this extra attention we are making improve- ment along these lines. No matter how well the schools may be doing, there is always room for much improve- ment, and every effort should be made to keep moving forward.
There are times when every child, be he ever so forward, needs to be guided towards the best way of
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doing his work, so that he will get into the habits which will make him more efficient. This is especially neces- sary in the formation of the right habits of study; and to teach pupils to study efficiently is one of the most important tasks of the school. In all our schools we lay great stress on this point, but to insure its accom- plishment the pupils often need individual attention.
The special teacher in the Lincoln School is doing this work well, and many children are receiving great benefit from this extra help. Children from the differ- ent classes go to her, singly or in groups, to receive aid in the particular subject which the regular teacher feels such pupils lack the power to study efficiently. For a few minutes their attention is held closely to the work in hand, they are taught how to pick out the most essential points in the lesson, anything not under- stood is explained, and when necessary they are drilled on the rudiments of the subject.
Special Studies
The boys in the manual training classes continue to enjoy this work and have made, during the year, many things which are useful in their homes. Some of the older boys undertake difficult work which they do exceedingly well. They have made sand boards and other things for use in our schools.
The girls have become so proficient in cooking and sewing, that they are very helpful at home. An eighth grade girl kept house and did all the cooking for a family of seven for a week during her parents' absence from home. A girl from grade six made such good bread that her father said he had not eaten such good bread for years. Several girls make dresses for their younger sisters.
As in the past two years we exhibited, last September, the products from our manual training, cooking, and
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sewing departments and also vegetables, raised by the children in home gardens, at the county fair in Fram- ingham. The Lincoln schools received a good number of premiums. Our pupils made an especially good record in Class IV (Manual Training, ) the five leading Towns making the following number of points :--- Hudson, 330; Natick, 190; Framingham, 185; Lincoln, 155; and Marlboro, 115.
When we consider that our exhibits compete with those from towns which have many times the number of children in our schools, it is greatly to the credit of our pupils that such a good record was made. Our boys and girls have worked earnestly and thoughtfully, and the products of this work show care and skill.
Under the guidance of the Massachusetts Agri- cultural College at Amherst many boys and girls throughout the State have joined corn, potato and market garden clubs and have produced a variety of vegetables of excellent quality. Each year a good pro- portion of our children have belonged to these clubs and some of our boys and girls have been very successful with their gardens. This year the State was divided into districts in each of which the children competed for prizes. There were four districts where boys and girls were to compete in planting, caring and account- ing for one eighth of an acre of potatoes. Lincoln was in the Eastern district, and William C. Pierce, Jr., scored the highest number of points, 92; producing 43} bushels of potatoes at a profit of $20.35. In fact, William made the best record in the State, the boy, who came nearest to him, produced 42 bushels and scored 88 points. The first prize consisted of a ten days' trip to Amherst and Washington, D. C., with all expenses paid. William was one of seven children in the State who enjoyed this trip under the guidance of Professor Morton of the Agricultural College. For
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several years William has had an excellent garden, and his industry and skill have been recognized and rewarded. He is now taking the agricultural course at the Concord High School. I wish more of our boys would take this practical course under the able instruc- tion of Mr. Doolittle, who at stated intervals visits the boys to examine their work on the home farm.
Increase in School Membership
The first year that I took charge of the Lincoln schools the average membership was 103, while during the past year it was 157, a gain of 54 or more than 50 %. The next report will show a still larger membership. Some of our school rooms are now too full. Last Summer extra seats and desks were placed in two rooms. If this increase continues, it will be necessary to open the fifth room in the Lincoln school in the near future. This will mean the addition of another teacher to our force.
The number of pupils attending high schools from Lincoln has doubled in the past six years. This in- crease in the number of pupils, both in the grades and in high schools, has increased the school expenditures.
Respectfully submitted,
C. S. LYMAN,
Superintendent of Schools.
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ROLL OF HONOR
The following pupils have been neither absent nor tardy for the time designated :-
For Three Years
Alice Robus.
Emily Robus.
For Two Years
Richard Corrigan. Raymond Bowles. Lyman Cousins.
For One Year
Redman Hartwell Sara Clark
Harriet Pierce Robert Weir Mary Sherman.
For Two Terms
Roy Sims. William Bowles.
Gladys Hamilton. Elizabeth Giles.
Joseph Eaton.
Helen Pierce.
Robert Donaldson. Marion Rocks. Raymond Bates.
Mildred Bates.
Stansby Bamforth.
Malcolm Donaldson.
Richard Nelson.
Marie Connors.
Minnie Benedict. Gladys Wetherbee.
Lilliam Rocks.
Chester Bates.
Emily Chamberlain.
Chedomille Chamberlain. Harold Rocks.
Donald Donaldson. Waldo Langille. Edward Rocks.
George Flint.
Lester Pearson.
William Robus. Royden Berger.
Bernice Cousins.
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For One Term
Harry Deming.
Marjorie Saddler.
Blanche Cousins.
Albert Brooks.
Howard Bamforth.
Rosa Martin.
Evelyn Cousins.
Louis Cook.
Malcolm Reed.
Carl Nelson.
Ralph Bamforth.
Melvin Lyon.
James Wilson.
Elizabeth Connors.
Bertha Bowles.
Mary Diamond.
Esther Cousins.
Margaret Kenna.
Francis Corrigan.
Edward Flint.
Andrew Weir.
Edna Wetherbee.
Kenneth Hamilton.
William Weir.
Bertha Chapin.
Catherine Diamond.
Doris Lyon.
Arthur Regan.
Hazel Brooks.
Rothwell MacRae.
Louisa Monella.
Charles Clark.
Belva Gallent.
Grace Farquhar.
Alice Connors.
Annie Sherman.
Mary Bradstreet.
Ethel MacRae.
Marion Snelling.
Edgar Browning.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term begins January 5, 1914, ends March 27; twleve weeks.
Spring Term begins April 6, ends June 12; ten weeks.
Fall Term begins September 8 ends December 18; fifteen weeks.
Winter Term begins January 4, 1915, ends March 26; twelve weeks.
Spring Term begins April 5, ends June 18; eleven weeks.
Recess from Wednesday before Thanksgiving to Monday following.
Holidays: Washington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day.
Length of school year, thirty-eight weeks.
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STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1912-1913 1
Number of children in Town, September, 1913, between the ages of 5 and 15: boys, 109: girls, 98; total, . 207
Number of children in Town, September, 1912,
between the ages of 5 and 15 185
Number of children in Town, September, 1913, between the ages of 7 and 14: boys, 73; girls, 72; total 145
Enrollment for the year, ending June, 1913 . 164
Enrollment between 5 and 15 years of age 164
Enrollment over 15 years of age .
0
Enrollment between 7 and 14 years of age
137
Number attending Concord High School .
. 23
Number attending Waltham High School . 12
Number of regular teachers employed
6
Number of special teachers employed . 3
Number of teachers who have graduated from Normal School 5
Number of teachers who have graduated from Training School 1
Illiterate minors in Town over 14 years of age . 0
Total numbered registered in Lincoln schools during the year, ending June, 1913 . 175
Number of pupils sent to High Schools from Lincoln 35
Total number receiving instruction at Town .
expense 210
Number of pupils sent to High Schools from Lincoln during the Fall of 1913 .
39
ATTENDANCE TABLE FOR SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1913.
Schools Grades
Teachers.
Supplementary List
of Pupils
Enrollment for
State Report.
Enrollment-Boys.
Enrollment-Girls.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Percent. of
Attendance.
Pupils between
5 and 15 years of age.
Pupils between
7 and 14 years of age.
Pupils over
15 years of age.
Lincoln VII-VIII
Marion H. Cook
2
32
14
18
34.1
32.495.2
32
27
0
Lincoln V-VI
Dorothy H. Haviland
1
38
21
17
33.2
31.092.9
38
37
0
Lincoln III-IV
Jean Allan
4
40
18
22
37.7
35.193.0
40
40
0
Lincoln I-II
Hattie B. Heath
4
32
17
15
31.9
29.492.0
32
22
0
South I-III
Gertrude E. Brooks
0
22
13
9
20.0
18.592.3
22
11
0
Totals
11
164
83
81
156.9 146.493.3 164
137
0
164
·
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Town Meeting for election of official ballot, Monday, March 2, 1914.
Polls open from twelve till six. All other business on Monday, March 9, 1914, at one o'clock in the afternoon.
WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MIDDLESEX, SS.
To 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 the legal voters of said Town of Lincoln, qualified to vote at Town Meeting for the transaction of Town affairs, to meet in Bemis Hall in said Lincoln, on Monday the second day of March next, at 11.30 o'clock A. M. by posting a copy of this Warrant by you attested, in each of the Post Offices and in some other public place in said Town, seven days at least before the said second day of March, then and there to act upon the following Articles:
.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
ART. 2. To bring in their votes for the following Town Officers, and any other officers required by law to be elected by ballot or otherwise, also any committees, commissioners and trustees.
Three Selectmen for one year.
One member of the Board of Assessors to be elected each year for three years.
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One member of the Board of Health to be elected each year for three years.
One Treasurer for one year.
One Collector for one year.
One Auditor for one year.
Two Constables for one year.
One Tree Warden for one year.
One member of the School Committee to be elected each year for three years.
One member of the Board of Water Commissioners to be elected each year for three years.
One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners to be elected each year for three years.
Also to vote upon the following question:
"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?"
The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon and may be closed at six o'clock P. M.
ART. 3. To hear and act upon the reports of Town Officers, Committees, Commissioners and Trustees.
ART. 4. To appropriate money for necessary and expedient purposes of the Town and enact anything in relation to the same.
ART. 5. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 6. To determine the compensation of the Col- lector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will authorize the Treas- urer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the municipal year, beginning February 1, 1914, in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current
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expenses of the Town, but not exceeding the total tax levy for the said year, giving the notes of the Town in payment therefor payable in one year from the date thereof. All debts incurred under authority of this vote shall be paid from taxes of the present municipal year.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will choose a Committee on Claims under the provisions of Section 3, Article 6 of the By-Laws.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will vote to petition the Bureau of Statistics for an Auditor in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 598 of the Acts of 1910 and Amendments thereto.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will issue water bonds pursuant to the Acts of 1907, Chapter 476, and reimburse the treasury on account of money paid from the treasury pending an issue of bonds on account of payment for water construction purposes; also, issue bonds, as afore- said on account of payment for water construction pur- poses, which have been made from current income of the water works or take any other action with reference. to the matter.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will authorize the Fire Engineers to purchase an auto fire truck and appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Dollars for the purchase of same.
ART. 12. To see what instruction the Town will give the Committee on Claims with reference to the settle- ment of the controversy in regard to the Common between the Lincoln First Parish and the Town; also, to see what action the Town will take with reference to the schoolhouse located in the center of the Town on
168
land, the title to which is to be registered in the Town by the Land Court, or take any action with reference to the matter that the Town may see fit.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to install an electric pump at the Pump- ing Station and make provision for the payment of same.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will extend the electric lights from the house of C. Edgar Wheeler to the Weston line and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will install one electric light at the bend of the road between the residences of R. D. Donaldson and I. N. MacRae.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will extend the electric street lighting system from the house of E. F. Flint to the Lexington line and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 17. To see if the Town will accept the pro- visions of Section 5, Chapter 536, of the Acts of 1909, or any other acts in relation to same.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will appropriate money to reimburse the First Parish and Mr. George L. Chapin or either of them for the expenses incurred in connection with the registering of title to schoolhouse lot, or take any action in relation to the matter.
ART. 19. To see if the Town will take measures to revise of amend or abolish the By-Laws, or take any other action with reference to the matter.
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ART. 20. To see if the Town will accept the pro- visions of any act or acts them thereto enabling to pro- vide by By-Laws or otherwise for issuing local licenses to junk dealers, or take any action with reference to the matter.
HEREOF FAIL NOT.
And make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk at or before the time for the meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
CHARLES S. SMITH, ROBERT D. DONALDSON, JOHN F. FARRAR. Selectmen of Lincoln.
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By- Laws of the Town of Lincoln.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
MIDDLESEX, SS.
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 be- fore 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 attested 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 meeting; provided that in such cases the selectmen shall certify that, in their opinion, the interests of the town re- quire that a town meeting be called upon a notice of less than seven days, which certificate shall be made upon, or at- tached to, the original warrant, and shall be served as a part thereof.
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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 ac- count 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.
Sect. 3. The water commissioners and all other boards, committees and officers shall, on the first day of each month. ·pay to the town treasurer all sums collected by them th month previous to the custody of which the treasurer is entitled.
Sect. 4. A majority of the water commissioners, school committee, or of any board, or committee, and any officer having charge of the expenditure of an appropriation, shall approve in writing all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls properly chargeable to such appropriation, and shall trans- mit the same with his or their approval to the selectmen. All other accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls shall be ex- amined by the selectmen and, if proper, shall be approved by them. The selectmen shall label all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls which have been approved either by themselves or by the other officers before mentioned, and shall keep a record thereof in a book kept for the purpose, stating the persons to whom payable, the amounts and dates thereof, and the funds, or appropriations, from which the same are payable.
Sect. 5. Drafts signed by a majority of the selectmen, stating the accounts to which the same are chargeable,
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shall be drawn upon the treasurer for the payment of all sums by law payable from the treasury to the common- wealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, notes. and scrip of the town and interest thereon and money pay- able to the commissioners of the sinking fund and to the trustees of the public library; and also for the payment of all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls which have been approved in the manner provided in the previous section Such drafts shall not be negotiated, but shall be trans nitted by the selectmen directly to the treasurer accom- panied by the approved bills or other documents for the settlement of which the drafts are drawn.
Sect. 6. The treasurer shall file and safely keep all ap- proved and receipted accounts, claims, bills, and pay-rolls, and all vouchers, cancelled bonds, notes scrip, and other evidences of indebtedness of the town which have been paid from the treasury.
Sect. 7. No draft shall be drawn by the selectmen un- less there is sufficient appropriation to pay the same, except for sums by law payable to the commonwealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, notes and scrip of the town and interest thereon, and money payable to the com missioners of the sinking fund.
Sect. 8. The selectmen and treasurer respectively shal' make a record, in a book kept for the purpose, of each ap propriation, with a list of the drafts drawn against such appropriation, and shall make a record of all bonds, notes, scrip or other evidence of indebtedness of the town, signed countersigned by them.
Sect. 9. When the bills contracted or approved by any board, committee, or officer have exhausted the entire ap- propriation for such board, committee or officer, they shall incur no further expenditure, except in cases where such expenditure may be required by law; and it shall be the duty of each board, committee or officer before the close of the financial year to approve all accounts, claims, bills and pay-rolls chargeable to their appropriation. During the in-
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terval between the thirty-first day of January in each year and the time of making the next annual appropriations, the selectmen, school committee and water commissioners, in order to meet the liabilities of their several dpartments, incurred in the carrying on of the work entrusted to them, shall have authority to make expenditures and payments from the treasury from any available funds therein, and the same shall be charged against the next annual appropria- tion. Such expenditure and liability incurred for any pur- pose shall not exceed one-fourth the entire amount appro- priated for that purpose in the previous year.
Sect. 10. Unless the town shall expressly otherwise vote, no extension of water pipes shall be made unless be- fore the work of construction is begun one or more of the persons whom it is proposed to supply with water by means of such extension, shall file with the town clerk a bond with sureties satisfactory to the water commissioners, condi- tioned to pay to the town for five years next following the completion of such extension and the letting of water into the same, a sum sufficient, together with the net annual in- come from such extension, to amount annually to five per centum of the total cost thereof.
ARTICLE III.
TOWN SEAL.
Section 1. The design of the town seal shall be: a circle, in the border the words "Lincoln. Incorporated in 1746 as a precinct : in 1754 as a Town;" in the center, a shield, in the chief or upper part of which on a cross, gules, a fleur -- de-lis, gold, from the old seal of Lincoln, England, and in the base of the shield a view of the present town hall; crest, the old chestnut tree standing upon the common in Lincoln; in saltire two shepherd's crooks; the device thereof being as follows:
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Sect. 2. All deeds and other legal documents made, given or entered into by the town requiring a seal shall be sealed with the town seal, and signed in behalf of the town by a majority of the selectmen.
Sect. 3. The town clerk shall have the custody of the town seal.
ARTICLE IV.
RECORDS.
Section 1. The town clerk shall record in full in a boo] kept for the purpose all written contracts, deeds and other instruments to which the town is a party except such in- struments as may by law be recorded in the Registry of Deeds; and it shall be the duty of any board or officer exe- cuting or receiving such written contract, or other instru- ment, to deliver the same forthwith to the town clerk for the purpose of record. It shall be the duty of the town clerk to see that all conveyances of real estate to the town are properly recorded in the Registry of Deeds.
Sect. 2. The town clerk shall keep a file of ___ town re- ports, reports of all committees chosen by the town, and all original documents relating to the affairs of the tow. which may come into his possession.
ARTICLE V.
BOOKS.
Section 1. Books, records and laws received by the town from the commonwealth shall be deposited in the public library building.
Sect. 2. It shall be the duty of the town officer by whom any book mentioned in the preceding section is received, to cause the same to be at once deposited in the public library building.
Sect. 3. Such books may be used by the inhabitants of the town within such building, and may be taken therefrom upon written receipt to the librarian for a period not ex- ceeding one day at any one time for use in any town meet- ing, or by or before any committee or official of the town.
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ARTICLE VI.
SUITS AND CONTROVERSIES.
Section 1. The selectmen may compromise claims und suits to which the town is a party, provided that they shall act upon the advice of counsel when the amount claimed by or against the town exceeds $200.00.
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