USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1915-1919 > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
In the South Primary School there has been no change of teachers.
The question of transportation by barges to and from the schools has been the cause of much vexation as usual. The total number attending the Lincoln School is 157. The total number attending the South Primary is 36. The seating capacity of the South barge is 25, of the East barge 18, of the North barge 18. It is obvious that these three barges even when crowded as far as practicable fall far short of transporting all the children. Some assistance has come from the use of Mr. Doherty's automobiles in the South, but there is still a lack of transportation for a great many pupils. This is the same situation which has prevailed for many years, fluctuating from time to time. The Committee have done the best they could from time to time to get the most out of the various conveyances, but at best many pupils could not be transported in this way. The expense of transportation is very heavy and would be very greatly increased if additional barges were put on. Wholly aside from this additional expense there is the practical difficulty of finding satisfactory persons to take charge of more barges and a very practical difficulty in arranging routes economically and advantageously.
The subject is a most troublesome one, and in a town covering so large an area as Lincoln, and with so many pupils coming from separate and more or less isolated homes, it is probably wholly impracticable to attempt
157
to transport all of them. It may well be that the best solution will be to utilize the existing conveyances, as far as they will go, to carry the children who live at the greatest distance, or who by reason of age or delicate condition are most in need of transportation, and to make no attempt to transport the others, and the Com- mittee has under consideration the adoption of such a plan. We do not say that this plan is satisfactory or that it is not open to criticism. We only suggest that it is perhaps the most practical way to deal with a practical matter.
The report of the Superintendent and the usual statistics are submitted herewith.
HENRY E. WARNER, ELIZABETH W. BLODGETT, ANTHONY J. DOHERTY. Committee.
158
SUMMARY OF SCHOOL EXPENSES
Salaries of Superintendent and Teachers
$4,942.00
High School Tuition, 4,251.45
High School Transportation,
869.19
Transportation of Children (Local),
2,597.00
Janitor Service,
623.70
School Physician,
200.00
Fuel,
382.75
Barges, Repairs, etc.,
120.15
Repairs on School Buildings,
270.29
Water Service,
111.75
Supplies,
515.39
Miscellaneous,
136.26
Total,
$15,019.93
159
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of the Town of Lincoln :-
My ninth annual report will be brief, as the work has continued along the same lines as in recent years. As usual we have tried to keep all the work up and strengthen some few lines. We strive to make our school system better each year, and while progress may be slow it should be sure and lasting. Our teachers are faithful and earnest, the spirit and discipline good, therefore the school work is running smoothly. The great majority of the pupils are quick to respond and show much interest in the work. Occasionally children come in from out- side, especially those sent by the state or city of Boston, whom we are obliged to discipline, but this is only one of the necessary incidents of school life. We impress it upon the children that they must all learn to live in harmony and form such social habits that they will naturally take their place as good members of the com- munity.
We have no patience with those who believe in a soft and easy education. From the very beginning our children are taught to be industrious, to work hard and so be able to overcome difficulties. While we try our best to make the work interesting and school life pleasant and succeed so well that most of our children enjoy school, yet we impress upon each pupil that there are tasks, often disagreeable, difficult tasks, which must be done. By persistent effort, day by day the children are forming habits which will spell success later in life. There are some things, like the multiplication tables and certain
160
correct English forms, which must be learned by con- stant drill. Some other lessons must be reasoned out after deep thinking. This demands a high grade of teaching. As the pupils respond to this kind of instruc- tion they grow in will power as well as in knowledge.
The New School Room
In last year's report I told of the increase in the number of pupils and the crowding of some school rooms. To improve conditions the fifth room at the Lincoln school was finished and furnished last spring. The fourth grade, numbering 27 pupils, has been placed in this room, and the third grade transferred from the South school to the third grade room in the Lincoln school. This has relieved the congestion in all our school rooms, except that occupied by grades five and six. The teachers are working easier and with less nervous strain. The children in the primary grades are receiving more individual attention than last year.
Those who have studied educational problems care- fully and who know most about the public schools believe that one of the greatest drawbacks to their success is the large number of pupils per teacher and too much mass teaching. Under these conditions many pupils do not receive the individual attention which they need to help them over hard places, to arouse their interest and ambition or to teach them to study efficiently. Such children are lost in the mass and do not develop as they should. We strive to keep Lincoln schools free from this error.
The Teachers' Salaries and Work
In times past other towns have called our teachers away by the offer of larger salaries. This has neces- sitated the securing and training of a new set of teachers,
161
which means the lowering of our efficiency, until the new teachers become acquainted with our pupils, our community and peculiar conditions.
There are too many tramp teachers. There is too little stability in the teaching profession. Few strong teachers remain in one school long enough to become a power in the community. This fault can often be remedied by the payment of larger salaries.
Our committee has taken the stand that our teachers are worth as much to Lincoln as to other towns and has raised salaries. As a result we did not lose a teacher the past year. On account of home conditions Mrs. Smith gave up her cooking classes, but retained her sewing classes. Miss Bertha A. Wilson was engaged to teach cooking and is doing well with this department.
All the girls from the fifth grade up take sewing and besides learning the various stitches they run the sewing machine. By the end of their course they have cut and made a variety of underwear, aprons and dresses. In this way some of the girls do much towards clothing themselves.
The three upper classes take cooking and have made bread, cake, puddings, pastry, cooked breakfast foods, fish and meats, and done some preserving. Theory is worked along with each lesson in classifying the foods. They learn the nutritive values of these various foods and how to prepare a well balanced meal.
As the town of Stoneham wished Mr. Brackett to give its schools four days a week instead of three as formally, he dropped the drawing work in Lincoln last September, but still devotes one day to our manual training. In his report to me he says :-
"The work in Manual Training has been on the same general lines as usual. The outgoing eighth grade boys were noticeable for their work, from the time they entered in the sixth grade. Their ability and ambition
162
were clearly shown in their last year. One boy made a portable hen coop, two others made morris chairs, costumers, stools both with cane and upholstered seats, and a large variety of useful articles. This year as a new subject I intend to give the eighth grade a short course in electricity and apply it in light wiring, bell wiring and making and installing an efficient wireless receiving set. It seems to me that the age and size of the boys have gradually lessened in the past few years, I miss the strong boys we had a few years ago. The larger project will offer greater resistance to the smaller boys."
The principal, Miss Crawford, reports that, "The teachers have been making a special effort to improve the language work. More time has been devoted this year to the writing, and I think many of the children have made a marked improvement in both composition and penmanship.
In each grade we are correlating the drawing with other subjects with good results.
The girls are showing much interest in the cooking lessons this year."
An excellent series of lessons in physiology and health habits is given each week, which we believe will result in more careful attention to hygienic surroundings and habits. The appearance of some pupils plainly in- dicates that their home conditions need to be greatly improved. Some children evidently are not sufficiently nourished. Until their home conditions are changed they will not make much progress in school. The parents should do all in their power to send the children to school in such a good physical condition that they can profit by the instruction.
The epidemic of scarlet fever and grip caused much loss of time during the fall term. Not only were the schools closed for nearly two weeks, but many pupils
163
were absent, some of them for weeks. One month the percent of attendance in a primary room fell below sixty. This of course has retarded our work, but we must make the best of it, and accomplish as much as possible during the remainder of the school year.
Conveyance of School Children
The regulation of the business of conveying children to and from the public schools often causes the school officials considerable perplexity and at times arouses dissatisfaction among the parents and pupils. It is well for all to know where we stand on this important question. While the state law requires the town to furnish suitable school accommodations, it does not demand that we convey the pupils to school.
The laws on this subject are as follows :-
Chapter 42, Section 1, Revised Laws: "Every city and town SHALL maintain for at least thirty-two weeks in each year, a sufficient number of schools for the in- struction of all the children who may legally attend a public school therein,- (Subjects of study given here.)"
Chapter 42, Section 22: "Towns SHALL raise by taxation money necessary for the support of public schools."
Chapter 25, Section 15, Revised Laws, provides that a town MAY at legal meetings appropriate money "For conveying pupils to and from the public schools, or, if it maintains no high school or public school of corres- ponding grade but affords high school instruction by sending pupils to other towns, for the necessary trans- portation expenses of such pupils, the same to be ex- pended by the school committee in its discretion."
The towns and cities in Massachusetts and many other states have wisely and cheerfully voted money to
164
convey pupils who live at a long distance from school, so it has finally become an established custom. But there are parents who think the towns are compelled to transport their children, and they often complain bitterly if the barge does not call at the door. This is unreasonable. State and town authorities who have studied this question believe that the transportation of children has already been carried too far, and that there is danger of people becoming too dependent.
From my own experience as a child and from obser- vation of many children, I believe that a walk of a mile to school is good for most pupils, and that strong, healthy boys and girls greatly benefit by walking two miles. Vigorous exercise in the fresh air before and after school tends to develop strong, active bodies and minds which are in better condition to profit by school work than those which are pampered or aneamic. Walking is one of the best health stimulating exercises.
If all concerned would be reasonable on this subject, the conveyance problem could be solved without friction.
In closing I wish to express to the committee my hearty thanks for your support and encouragement, and to assure the teachers that I fully appreciate their earnest endeavors to improve the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
C. S. LYMAN,
Superintendent of Schools.
165
ROLL OF HONOR
The following pupils have been neither absent nor tardy for the time designated :-
For Five Years Emily Robus
For Two Years
Malcolm Donaldson Harold Rocks William Robus
For One Year
Edward W. Flint. Pauline A. Chamberlain. Alice E. Robus.
Forrest Nelson. Wilbert MacRea. Rothwell MacRea.
For Two Terms
Andrew B. Weir
Wilmot Smith.
Robert D. Donaldson.
Nancy McCormick Myrtle Sherman.
Bertha L. Chapin. Marjorie J. Doherty.
Mary Piantedose.
Marion E. O'Hearn.
Alden G. Farrar.
Edward Rocks. Edith Rowe.
Mary P. Lennon.
166
For One Term
James F. Farrar.
Edith L. Banforth.
Marion Rocks. Joseph Eaton.
Stanley Smith.
Helen H. Pierce.
Margaret MacRae.
Chester Bates.
Marie Connors. Lillian Rocks.
Wilbur Doten.
Richard Nelson.
Eveleth Todd.
Alice Ambrose.
Grace Farquhar. Ethel MacRae. Bernice Cousins. Lester Pearson. Edgar Browning.
George Flint.
Emily Chamberlain. Alice Connors. Annie Sherman. David Farquhar.
Dominick Piantedose.
W. Everett Chutt. Jack Corrigan. Florence Sherman.
167
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term begins January 3, 1916, ends March 24; twelve weeks.
Spring Term begins April 3, ends June 16; eleven weeks.
Fall Term begins September 5, ends December 15; fifteen weeks.
Winter Term begins January 1, 1917, ends March 23; twelve weeks.
Spring Term begins April 2, ends June 15; 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.
168
STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1914-1915.
Number of children in Town, September, 1915, between the ages of 5 and 16: boys, 131, girls, 114; total 245
Number of children in Town, September, 1915, between the ages of 7 and 14: boys, 90 girls, 77; total 167
Number of children in Town, September, 1915, between the ages of 5 and 7: boys, 22, girls, 16; total . 38
Number of children in Town, September, 1915, between the ages of 14 and 16: boys, 19, girls, 21; total . 40
Enrollment for the year, ending June, 1915 ยท
193
Enrollment between 5 and 16 years of age 192
Enrollment between 7 and 14 years of age .157
Number attending Concord High School .25
Number attending Concord High Agricultural School . 5
Number attending Waltham High School 14 .
Number of regular teachers employed 6
Number of special teachers employed 3
Number of teachers who have graduated from Normal School 2
Number of teachers who have graduated from Training School 2
Total number registered in Lincoln Schools during the year, ending June, 1915 . 201
Number of pupils sent to High Schools from Lincoln 44
Number of pupils receiving instruction at town expense 245
Number completing Grammar School, June 1915: boys 7, girls, 4, total 11
Number of pupils entering High Schools: boys, 6, girls, 4 10
ATTENDANCE TABLE FOR SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1915.
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 7 years of age.
Pupils between
7 and 14 years of age.
Pupils between
5 and 16 years of age.
Lincoln VII-VIII
Marion H. Crawford
0
32
16
16
31.4
29.7 94.6
0
26
31
Lincoln V-VI
Katharine E. Works
2
41
22
19
37.1
35.094.3
0
40
41
Lincoln III-IV
Helen M. Bowker
4
50
20
30
43.9
41.293.6
0
50
50
Lincoln I-II
Hattie B. Heath
1
34
25
9
26.9
25.093.0
16
18
34
South I-II-III
Helen P. Jones
1
36
19
17
32.4
29.189.9
13
23
36
Totals
8
193
102
91
171.7 160.093.1
29
157
192
I
169
171
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 the Town Hall, in said Lincoln, on Monday, the sixth 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 sixth day of March, then and there to act upon the following Articles:
The polls for voting the Australian ballot will be open at 12 o'clock noon and may be closed at 6.30 o'clock P. M.
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 for three years.
172
One member of the Board of Health 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 Trust Fund Commissioners for three years.
One member of Trustees for Free Public Lectures for three years.
One member of the School Committee for three years.
One member of the Board of Water Commissioners for three years.
One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners for three years.
Also to vote "Yes" or "No" upon the following ques- tion :
"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this Town?"
ART. 3. To hear and act upon the reports of Town Officers, Committee, 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 Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the municipal year, beginning February 1, 1916,
173
in anticipation of the collection of taxes for the said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current 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 authorize and direct the Commissioners of Sinking and Trust Funds to deliver to the Town Treasurer all of the Schoolhouse Bonds which they have purchased, together with any accumulated cash, and direct the Town Treasurer to cancel said Bonds or take any action in connection with the purchase and cancellation of Schoolhouse Bonds.
ART. 10. To hear the report of the Selectmen in regard to changes in the By-Laws and enact anything in relation to the same.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will provide any money towards the Washington Memorial to be erected at Washington, D. C.
ART. 12. To see if the Town will extend the electric lights, street and commercial, from Mr. Charles S. Wheeler's Lane to the State road opposite the beginning of the Virginia Road.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to install a pump and make pro- vision for payment of the same.
174
ART. 14. To see if the Town will remove the hy- drant now standing in the path or sidewalk adjacent to Saint Joseph's Church in South Lincoln, or take any action in reference to the matter.
ART. 15. To see if the Town will extend the elec- tric lights from Story's Corner to Waltham Line via Andrew J. Dougherty's.
ART. 16. To see if the Town will extend the water pipe from I. N. MacRae's to a point opposite the house of Miss Carrie B. Chapin.
ART. 17. To see if the Town out of regard and respect for Mr. George G. Tarbell, George F. Bemis and Charles Francis Adams, men who have been of great service to the Town, will have terra cotta busts of them executed and placed either in the Town Hall or Library.
ART. 18. To see if the Town will vote to have Mr. Crook, a Lincoln artist, do the work at a cost not to exceed $1,200.
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 twenty-fourth day of February in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and sixteen.
CHARLES S. SMITH, JOHN F. FARRAR, ROBERT D. DONALDSON, Selectmen of Lincoln.
175
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.
176
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,
177
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 mitted 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.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.