USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1920-1924 > Part 22
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As has been the recommendation of the Committee for several years, an appropriation should be made to grade the Center School grounds and put the same in condition for proper use for the children of the school. A general plan for the use of the grounds as a town playground should not in any way interfere or postpone longer the putting of the grounds in
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proper condition for the use of the school children, and it is earnestly hoped that this matter will be attended to also during the coming Summer vacation.
It will be necessary to appropriate for the schools for the present year, 1924, the amount of $28,500.00 (twenty-eight thousand five hundred dollars). The Committee can see 110 reason for any extraordinary increase in any of the school departments for the coming year.
The Acting Superintendent's report is hereto annexed and all matters referring to the conduct of the schools and the administration thereof is included therein.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, GEORGE G TARBELL, EDITH B. FARRAR.
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SUMMARY OF EXPENSES FOR YEAR 1923
Salaries, Prin., Teachers and Janitor
$13,209.73
Supplies
362.72
Misc. Expenses of Operation
140.24
Books
227.27
High School Transportation
962.55
Miscellaneous
201.16
High School Tuition
4,016.99
Local Transportation
6,179.00
Physician and Nurse
603.03
New Equipment
35.50
Repairs on Building
108.21
Fuel
1,047.16
$27,093.56
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS
City of Boston Tuition of Pupils, 1922. $938.32
Com. of Mass. High School Trans., 1922.
883.43
Trustees Lincoln Grammar School Fund
59.36
Mary C. Wade, Salary Returned
82.73
Com. of Mass. Voc. and Ind. Schools
188.00
Com. of Mass. Tuition of Pupils
390.72
Com. of Mass. Tuition of Pupils
1,126.26
Com. of Mass. General School Fund
1,686.00
$5,354.82
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee:
I hereby submit the annual Superintendent's report.
There have been several changes in the teaching force dur- ing the past year. On February 1, 1923, Mrs. Mary Chace Wade resigned her position as teacher of the fifth grade on account of ill health. Mrs. Robinson completed the school year, in that grade. Miss Olive E. Case of Barkhamsted, Conn., was elected as fifth grade teacher for the year 1923-24.
Miss Dorothy M. Thorner of Marblehead, Mass., is teaching the third grade in place of Miss Wheaton, who resigned early in September because of ill health.
Miss Edelweiss Dyer of Newton Center, a graduate of Smith College, is teaching English and Latin in the Junior High School in place of Miss Caverno, who resigned in June.
Miss Ruth E. Ready of Somerville has just been engaged to'fill the vacancy made by the resignation of Miss Heath, who leaves for a position in the Waltham system at advanced salary. Miss Heath had been elected as fourth grade teacher after Miss Rich had resigned in June to be married.
Last year two teachers besides the principal were teaching all the subjects in the three grades of the Junior High School. As the principal could not give full time to teaching the task was rather difficult. It was not impossible, however, as there were but 48 pupils in the three grades.
At the opening of school in the Fall we found 67 pupils enrolled in the Junior High School. An increase of 19 pupils showed the absolute necessity of getting another teacher. The committee felt that they could more profitably procure a
121
teacher who could devote part time to Domestic Science and the balance in the Junior High. As a consequence Miss Ann G. Lethola, a graduate of Framingham Normal School, was elected to this position. The changes in the system made possible by an additional teacher are described below.
At the present time the school is at the peak of its economic situation in regard to teachers. Whereas in past years it has been possible in certain cases to have two grades in a room under one teacher, the number of pupils will no longer allow it. We now have a teacher for every grade-something which Lincoln has not had in the past. At the present time the average number of pupils in each grade is twenty-five, and while this number may be increased without additional teachers, it is impossible to combine any of the grades. To show the citizens how the school has grown in the past few years I submit the membership taken at the end of the fall term for each year.
1918-151 pupils 1919-185 1920-199 1921-207 66 1922-216 1923-224 6
The increase in the number of pupils in the Junior High School this Fall necessitated the change of some of the class- rooms. Grades 5 and 6 were put on the first floor in order that the entire Junior High might be together on the second floor. The small room on the second floor in the front of the building, originally intended for a cooking room, is now used as a regular class room.
The present administration realized last Spring that con- siderable individual work was needed with the slower pupils, especially in the upper grades. With the addition of another teacher last Fall, we found it possible to meet the above need
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in the Junior High by the reorganization of grades 7 and 8. The membership of these two grades has been divided into three divisions according to ability and achievement, and the course of study in each division has been modified to meet the ability and needs of the pupils in that particular division. In this way more attention can be given to the slower and re- tarded pupils, and at the same time allow those of superior ability to advance as rapidly as they are able. Our aim is to eliminate as far as possible the retarded pupils, which we believe are too numerous, as is shown by the age-grade table at the end of this report.
The Principal has also been giving special attention to backward pupils in the intermediate grades, whereas this was impossible last year. He has been successful in some cases in eliminating the causes of the pupils' poor work, thereby bringing them up to grade in a short time.
This Fall, cooking was again started for girls of the sixth and seventh grades, each grade being given two periods a week. This project has been very successful owing to the fact that the teacher has been especially trained in this field.
As the girls are having cooking, we believe the boys should be given a little Manual Training work-not to develop skilled carpenters or mechanics, but to teach how to properly handle the tools which most men have to use around the home. At the same time we could explore the pupils' ability in this field, and if some are found to be very efficient with tools their efforts can be guided along this line. To illustrate the fact that many pupils will eventually go into industrial work we need only to state that five pupils from Lincoln are now at- tending the Boston Trade School and one in the Somerville Vocational School.
In previous years part of the school appropriations has been used to purchase athletic equipment for the school. Such equipment was-of necessity-very inadequate. To save school
123
appropriations for other purposes and at the same time to make the pupils realize they ought to earn their own equipment, the writer had the pupils give a Play, "Mr. Bob," in the Town Hall on May 4, 1923. The entire proceeds of the play, over a hundred dollars, was used to purchase baseballs, bats, gloves, footballs and other athletic equipment for both boys and girls at the school. Thus while plenty of material for play is pro- vided for Fall and Spring months, the children are in great need of a playroom for stormy days.
Hot cocoa was served to the pupils in both schools from the first of January to the Spring vacation in April. The total cost was $175.86, of which $100.00 was given by the Grange, $10.00 by the American Legion, $10.00 by the Girl Scouts and the balance by individual pupils and parents. If there was some cocoa left over after being served at the luncheon period, certain underweight pupils were given a second cup with the result that the number of underweights had decreased greatly by the middle of April. This year the entire making and , serving of the cocoa is under the efficient direction and super- vision of the Domestic Science teacher, thereby assuring us of plenty of good, wholesome cocoa at the minimum cost. In the Fall $63 was raised for the Cocoa Fund by pupils in the Junior High School selling subscriptions to the Ladies' Home Journal. $100.00 from the proceeds of the Grange Play has been donated again this year.
Last Fall the North Lincoln barge was motorized, making the situation in that part of the town much better than before. As the barges from South Lincoln are crowded beyond their proper capacity, the transportation facilities in that part of the town will need improvement in the near future. The South Lincoln pupils are left at the Center School at eight o'clock and do not leave the school in the afternoon until almost three, thereby making a very long day for the pupils and a trouble- some problem for the teachers of proper supervision of the pupils before and after school.
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During the past year the school has had the services of two different nurses. Miss Lydia Mosher served until Summer and Miss Backman as appointed in September. Two epidemics of disease have spread through the schools-measles last Spring and mumps this Fall. In both cases the nurse handled the situation very efficiently. The following is the report of the work done by the nurse since October 1, 1923.
Eyes and ears of all pupils in South and Centre Schools examined. Eight pupils were found to have defective eyes, and notices of advice were sent to their parents.
October 1923-all pupils were weighed and measured. Thirty-three were found to be 10% or more underweight. These pupils have been weighed monthly, and all have gained satisfactorily.
January, 1924, all pupils again weighed and measured. Thirty were found to be 10% or more underweight. 149 pupils were seen privately at school, treated or advised. 7 , children were taken home from school because of illness. 158 home, or "follow-up" visits were made. 66 cases of mumps were reported.
Both schools were visited daily, each room visited separately, and the pupils carefully examined for unclean hands, finger- nails, impetigo and symptoms of mumps or any other contagious diseases.
A few "emergency" supplies were purchased for the schools. One telephone call for advice was received and 3. home calls of advice were made.
Middlesex County Dental Clinic cards have been distributed among the pupils. Sixty have already applied for treatment, but there are still cards which have not been returned to me, so the number of applicants may yet be increased. The work will be conducted here during the latter part of February. Fifteen days were spent in the Sudbury schools.
EDITH H. BACKMAN, School Nurse.
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I wish to take this opportunity to thank the School Commit- tee, teachers and parents for the co-operation and courtesy extended to me during the past year, and to remind the citi- zens that I am always willing and glad to receive suggestions for the betterment of the public schools.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES M. ROBINSON, Acting Superintendent of Schools.
Statistics for Year Ending June 30, 1923
Pupils enrolled,
225
Boys,
118
Girls, 107
Pupils for whom town paid tuition elsewhere,
40
Non-resident pupils attending school in Lincoln,
21
Average daily attendance,
188
Number of days schools were in session,
170
Average membership
208
Registration of minors, April 1, 1923:
5 years and under 7,
41
7 years and under 14,
165
14 years and under 16,
38
244
Membership by Age and Grade, June 30, 1923
Age
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Total
Grade I.
16
12
4
32
II.
9
4
6
2
0
1
22
III.
11
12
2
1
26
IV.
2
10
11
3
2
28
V.
1
9
10
7
5
1
2
35
2
11
9
1
2
2
27
VII.
1
4
5
6
5
1
22
2
4
8
3
2
VIII.
19
IX.
2
2
7
2
1
14
Total
16
21
21
29
26
26
25
17
19
19
5
1
225
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VI.
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NOTICE:
Business Meeting, Monday, March 3rd, at 1 P. M.
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 trans- action of Town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall in said Lincoln on Monday, the third day of March next at one o'clock P. M., then and there to act on all of the following Articles, except Article 2, and to meet in said Town Hall on Tuesday, the fourth day of March next at 12:30 o'clock P. M., then and there to act on the following Article 2, 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 third day of March next:
The polls for voting the Australian ballot on Tuesday, March 4th, will be open at 12:30 o'clock P. M. and may be closed at 6:30 o'clock P. M.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator.
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ART. 2. To bring in their votes for the following Town Officers and any other officers required by law to be elected by Australian ballot :
One Town Clerk for one year.
One member of the Board of Selectmen for three years. One member of the Board of Assessors for three years. 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.
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One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners for three years.
Also to vote "Yes" or "No" upon the following question :
"Shall licenses be granted for the sale of non-intoxicating beverages in this Town?"
ART. 3. To bring in their votes for any committees, com- missioners, trustees and officers required by law to be elected by ballot or otherwise.
ART. 4. To hear and act upon the reports of Town Offi- cers, Committees, Commissioners and Trustees.
ART. 5. To appropriate money for necessary and expe- dient purposes of the Town and enact anything in relation to the same.
ART. 6. To determine the manner of collecting taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. To determine the compensation of the Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 8. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the muni- cipal year, beginning January 1st, 1924, 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 the taxes of the present municipal year.
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ART. 9. To see if the Town will authorize and direct the Town Treasurer to pay to the Sinking Fund Coinmission the $5,000 received from an anonymous giver, the income to be used for recreation in the Town as per the letter of transmittal.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will authorize and direct the Selectmen to prepare and execute a deed to the First Parish in all respects like the deed given by the Town to the Parish and executed by a Committee elected for that purpose.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will authorize the Water Commissioners to extend the water main from its terminus near the estate of Thomas Coan to connection with existing water pipes on Sudbury Road (so-called), and provide funds for the cost of the same by an issue of bonds, notes or other- wise, or take any action with reference to the matter.
ART. 12. To see if the Town will authorize the employ- ment of a Visiting Nurse or take any action with reference to the matter.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $200, or some other amount, and elect a director, the money to be expended by and the director to serve in co-operation with the County Agricultural Trustees of the Middlesex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Eco- nomics, under the provisions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massachusetts.
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.
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Given under our hands this 18th day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-four.
CHARLES S. SMITH, JOHN F. FARRAR, ROBERT D. DONALDSON, Selectmen of Lincoln.
By-Laws of the Town of Lincoln
"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 ; pro- vided 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.
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ARTICLE II.
FINANCES.
Section 1. The financial year shall commence with the first day of January and end with the thirty-first day of December 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.
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 the 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 hav- ing 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 examined 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.
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Sect. 5. Drafts signed by a majority of the selectmen, stating the accounts to which the same are chargeable, shall be drawn upon the treasurer for the payment of all sums by law payable from the treasury to the commonwealth or county, final judgments of courts, bonds, notes, and scrip of the town and interest thereon and money payable 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 transmitted by the selectmen directly to the treas- urer accompanied 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 unless 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 commissioners of the sinking fund.
Sect. 8. The selectmen and treasurer respectively shall 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 or 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
134
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 interval between the thirty-first day of December 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 departments, 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 expenditures and liability incurred for any purpose shall not exceed one-fourth the entire amount appropriated 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 before 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, conditioned 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 anuual income 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
135
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 :
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 book 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. Except in cases of public calamity or extreme necessity, whenever any work is required to be done for the Town or any contract for labor or materials, or both is to be made in behalf of the Town, for an amount exceeding the sum of $500.00, the town officer, having the matter in charge, shall solicit proposals for the same from two or more reliable par- ties, regularly engaged or employed in such work or business,
136
or shall publicly advertise for bids, but no contract shall be split, separated or divided for the purpose of reducing the amount thereof below said sum of $500.00.
Sect. 3. The town clerk shall keep a file of all town reports, reports of all committees chosen by the town, and all original documents relating to the affairs of the town which may come into his possession.
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