USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1920-1924 > Part 28
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
1245.30
Sweetser, Kate Dickinson. Ten girls from Dickens.
812.33
Tappan, Eva March. Ella, a little schoolgirl of the
sixties. A book for children and for grown-ups who remember 827.33
Terhune, Albert Payson. His dog 1242.28
Terhune, Albert Payson. Treve
838.9
Widdemer, Margaret. Winona's dreams come true. 824.32
Zwilgmeyer, Dikken. Four cousins. Translated from the Norwegian by Poulsson 1228.21
TRAVEL
Graham, Stephen. In quest of El Dorado. 415.27
Hungerford, Edward. Planning a trip abroad. 417.28
McGovern, William Montgomery. To Lhasa in disguise.
A secret expedition through mysterious Tibet. ... 426.29
1
123
Ossendowski, Ferdinand, in collaboration with Palen,
Lewis Stanton. Beasts, men and gods ........ 428.19
Ossendowski, Ferdinand, in collaboration with Palen,
Lewis Stanton. Man and mystery in Asia .... 428.18 Parker, Cornelia Stratton. Ports and happy places .... 428.20 Rausome, Arthur. "Rancundra's first cruise." (Sailing in the eastern Baltic) 428.17
Seton, Grace Thompson. Chinese lanterns 426.27
Thomas, Lowell. With Lawrence in Arabia 426.28
BIOGRAPHY.
Annin, Robert Edwards. Woodrow Wilson. A character study
537.8
Berton, Mme. Pierre and Woon, B. The real Sarah Bernhardt 537.6
Butt, Archibald Willingham. The letters of Archie Butt, personal aide to President Roosevelt. Edited with a biographical sketch of the author by Lawrence F. Abbott 621.13
Charnwood, Lord. Abraham Lincoln 537.8
Charnwood, Lord. Theodore Roosevelt. 532.13
Chesterton, Gilbert K. St. Francis of Assisi.
537.10
Curie, Marie. Pierre Curie. 532.14
Harriman, Mrs. J. Borden. From pinafore to politics. .. 532.15 Harris, Corra. My book and my heart. 627.15
Iconoclast, pseud. J. Ramsay Macdonald, the man of tomorrow 637.8
Johnston, Sir Harry H. Story of my life.
532.10
Lawrence, David. The true story of Woodrow Wilson ..
537.7
Mayo, Lawrence Shaw. Editor. America of yesterday as reflected in the journal of John Davis Long, Gov- ernor of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Navy . .. 532.9
Pupin, Michael. From immigrant to inventor. 617.25
Rankin, Henry B. Intimate character sketches of Abra- ham Lincoln 532.12
Rolland, Romain. Mahatma Gandhi, the man who be- came one with the Universal Being. 637.9
Wells, H. G. The story of a great schoolmaster 637.7
Wiggin, Kate Douglas. My garden of memory. An autobiography 532.11
124
GENERAL LITERATURE
Crothers, Samuel McChord. The cheerful giver. Essays 1328.21
Eliot, Charles W. A late harvest. 1542.24
Fosdick, Harry Emerson. Twelve tests of character ... 1528.17
Gibbs, Sir Philip. Adventures in journalism 1542.22
Hawes, Clarence. A gentleman from France 1542.24
Hudson, W. F. A hind in Richmond Park. 1528.18
Mahon, Rev. Michael. Ireland in religion and letters ... 1542.26
Mellon, Andrew W. Taxation. The people's business .. 1542.23
Smith, Eugene Randolph. Education moves ahead ... 1328.22
Stearns, Alfred E. The challenge of youth 1542.25
USEFUL ARTS
Bradley, Alice. Candy Cook Book. 148.12
Fisher, I. and Fisk, L. How to ive. Rules for healthful
living based on modern science. 125.34
Peyser, Ethel R. Cheating the junk-pile. The purchase and maintenance of household equipments. 126.39
GARDENING
King, Mrs. Francis. Variety in the little garden. 213.24
RELIGION
Lawrence, William, bp. Fifty years. An account by the Bishop of Massachusetts of his personal experiences in the Church during the last fifty years, of his changes of thought and belief during the period .. 1135.27
Royden, A. Maude. Beauty in religion. 1135.28
Royden, A. Maude. The friendship of God. 1125.26
Swedenborg, Emanuel. Life after death 1125.25
HISTORY
Hodgkins, Henry T. China in the family of nations .... 337.10
Pecorini, Alberto. The story of America. La storia dell' America 355.17
125
DRAMA AND POETRY
Bates, Katherine Lee. Little Robin Stay-Behind, and other plays in verse for children 1426.22 Lucas, E. V. Compiler. The open road, a little book for wayfarers 1424.29
REFERENCE
World Almanac, and Book of facts, 1924. Ref. R.R.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
FOR THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1924
128
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, Chairman,
Term expires 1925
GEORGE G. TARBELL, Secretary,
Term expires 1926
EDITH B. FARRAR (MRS.), Term expires 1927
Superintendent of Schools NATHANIEL N. LOVE, Harvard, Mass.
Principal CHARLES M. ROBINSON
Teachers Junior High School-Grades VII-VII-IX
PHYLLIS M. BRYANT MARION D. PARKER MARJORIE P. PERKINS
Grade VI MYRTLE C. ELLIOTT
Grade V OLIVE E. CASE
Grade IV RUTH READY MacRAE
Grade III BERNICE V. DODGE
Grade II VERA B. ALLEN
129
Grade I JOSEPHINE C. DOHERTY School Physician DR. HENRY A. WOOD School Nurse EDITH H. BACKMAN Attendance Officer JOHN J. KELLIHER Janitor EDWARD GRAF
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter Term, first half, begins Monday, January 5, 1925, ends Friday, February 20, 1925; seven weeks.
Winter Term, second half, begins Monday, March 2, 1925, ends Friday, April 17, 1925; seven weeks.
Spring Term, begins Monday, April 27, 1925, ends Friday, June 12, 1925; seven weeks.
Fall Term, begins Wednesday, September 9, 1925, ends Wednesday, December 23, 1925; sixteen weeks.
Winter Term, begins Monday, January 4, 1926.
1
130
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The year of 1924 has been quite satisfactory in so far as the school work and its accomplishments are concerned. While some changes were made in the teaching staff, there were not as many as in the years just previous, and it is hoped that these changes may become fewer in the future. It is also very satisfactory to find that conditions relative to board and lodging of the teachers have become very much improved during the past year, and all of the later employed teachers have been able to secure living accommodations in the town. It is hoped that this condition will continue in- definitely. The salaries now paid by the town to its teachers are as good, and in many cases better than those paid by other towns of the same size and group class as Lincoln, and if all the teachers are able to secure living accommodations with- in the town, the schools must necessarily receive additional benefit.
The schools opened in September under Mr. Nathaniel N. Love as Superintendent, he having been elected by the Superintendency Union of which the towns of Stowe, Bol- ton, Harvard and Lincoln are associated, Lincoln having been obliged to join such a union during the past year. While Mr. Love comes to the Lincoln Schools on an average of only one day a week, this being the time agreed upon and allotted to Lincoln, he has brought valuable experience and knowl- edge of school matters to the schools and has in every way endeavored to co-operate with the teachers, principal and the committee and encouraged all to give their best to their work and to work in harmony for the best interests of the school. An examination of the report of the Principal, Mr. Robinson,
131
and that of the Superintendent, Mr. Love, appended to this report, shows that the efforts expended by all have been quite satisfactory.
Owing to the demand for manual training or more par- ticularly woodworking, Mr. L. F. Robbins, formerly a pupil of Lincoln schools, has been engaged to give this instruction. Other than the above, no changes of importance have been made during the year.
School Building
During the Christmas vacation, the walls and ceilings of all of the rooms in the Centre School building were washed and re-finished, showing a marked improvement in the build- ing. It is hoped that the rest of the building will be given attention during the Summer vacation and the work completed at that time.
The rooms of the South School building also should have attention and the walls and the wood-work should be painted and brightened. The gutters should also be repaired or re- placed so as to prevent water from going into the cellar as now is the case during a heavy rain or thaw. There is also the condition of the yard, especially that part of it in front of the building. The old concrete is broken so badly that it is a source of danger to small children who may be play- ing or walking on it. This should be removed or renewed.
On examination of the Superintendent's report as also the report of the Principal, attention is called to the crowded condition of the ninth grade room. At present the ninth grade has twenty-two pupils being far too many for the present room (formerly the cooking room).
Attention is also called to the lack of play rooms as well as a suitable place to assemble the whole or any substantial part of the school. When released from their rooms, the
132
pupils are now obliged to go outside the building. This need of additional school facilities is important and is getting more marked annually and should have very serious attention in the near future.
During the past year, a most important change has been brought in that the Centre School grounds have been graded and put in condition for play-ground use, a much needed improvement and one of which a very decided advantage has been taken.
School Finances
The committee has been able to keep within the appropria- tion made for the use of the schools for the year 1924. There has been received for the town from various sources for the schools, $7,637.94 as shown in the summary of ex- penses and receipts hereto attached.
On careful estimate made, an appropriation of $29,000.00 will be necessary for the running of the schools for the pres- ent year. There undoubtedly will be an increase in the tuition of the high school pupils as there will be a larger number to attend during the present year. The item of salaries also will of necessity call for an increase. The Committee therefore recommends the above appropriation.
For more specific information on matters relating to the conduct of the school you are referred to the reports of the Superintendent, the Principal and the School Nurse annexed hereto.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, GEORGE G. TARBELL, EDITH B. FARRAR.
1
133
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES FOR YEAR 1924
Salaries, Prin., Teachers and Janitor
$14,642.10
Supplies
547.57
Mis. Expenses of Operation 156.16
Books
477.05
High School Transportation
1,018.30
166.58
Miscellaneous High School Tuition
3,918.37
Local Transportation
4,880.40
Physician and Nurse
604.00
New Equipment
303.82
Repairs on Building
12.41
Fuel
948.06
$27,674.82
Receipts on account of Schools
City of Boston, Tuition of Pupils, 1923.
993.15
City of Boston, Tuition of Pupils, 1924
1,500.00
Com. of Mass. Tuition of Pupils
1,400.82
Com. of Mass. General School Fund
1,690.00
Com. of Mass. Voc. and Ind. Schools
273.26
Com. of Mass. High School Trans. 1923
932.99
Com. of Mass. High School Trans. 1924
769.56
Com. of Mass. Mass. School Fund
19.80
Trustees Lincoln Grammar School Fund
57.53
Rebate High School Ticket
.83
$7637.94
134
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
-
To the Committee :
The annual report of the district superintendent of schools of Lincoln is hereby submitted.
It has been a pleasure to come to Lincoln. Because of a limited time, only one day a week, and with a school system as large as Lincoln, it has been impossible to do more than give a survey of ideals and plans in general in the way of co-operation with the principal of the school. I came in a stranger, forced on to the situation, and find my reception one of the utmost cordiality by both teachers and town people.
In every case the teachers are enthusiastic and cheerful and co-operative. The esprit-de-corps is fine, all of which speaks well.
The work of the grades has been satisfactory, as has that of the Junior High School. At least an examination of the records of Lincoln pupils and Concord and Waltham shows that the pupils' records are of a good average.
There is all told much of reflection of the enthusiasm of the teachers. Perhaps in one or two cases a little too much freedom was permitted. This is now well taken care of by the introduction of the demerit system.
The test results as shown by the principal's report show the same result. So well has the work been done with the individual pupils in the past, and after all that is the big thing in education, that in many cases mid-year promotions have been affected to a very great advantage of both grade and pupil. Such promotions will tend to produce more nearly a homogeneous group in each grade.
135
True we have those low down the scale of attainment as well as those superior in intelligence. It is our aim to give all the children of all the people a chance compatible with their abilities.
We hope to get the teachers (and I speak always as one cooperating on all things with the principal), to effectively bring their grades up to the standards of the Massachusetts courses of study. In some cases, however, the necessary bulletins or courses are not available. In order to afford a cross check on the work as done and provide means whereby the grades can be brought to a high standard, courses of study of Vermont and Maryland have been provided as a means of cyclopedic reference.
The task, however, of the teacher is only that of an auxil- iary agent for the real seat of education, which is in the home. Therefore, we bespeak at all times the cooperation of the parents in the aims and ideals of the schools.
Changes in the teaching body find Miss Phyllis Bryant and Miss Marjorie Perkins taking the places of Miss Dyer and Miss Lethola in the Junior High School. Miss Bernice Dodge took the place of Miss Thorner in the third grade.
The organization as previously reported, has been in no way changed, except to add wood working under the leader- ship of Mr. L. F. Robbins. Miss Marion Parker is super- vising drawing and is assisting in the music. At the present time we have books of songs containing specimens of the world's best music and the children appreciate them. Miss Perkins does the domestic science work and sewing. Besides this we receive cooperation in the club work. All these items are spoken of more at length in the appended reports.
In summary then let me say that in a round-about way, I have tried to show that Lincoln has a school system to be proud of, teachers that are loyal, and children that really want, for the most part, to get the best in education.
136
Buildings
There are two buildings. The South School building and the Centre School. If the town wants to go forward and wants to improve the Junior High School and provide an auditorium for extra-curricula activities, a gymnasium for physical education and a playground space in Winter and a place for the young men and women of the community to enjoy after they leave school through local basket-ball, volley ball and other similar activities ; a library so absolutely neces- sary in a school; a laboratory for general science; adequate recitation room for the Junior High, then a building program must be considered. If a program should be contemplated then it would be wise to provide facilities for grades one and two. As it stands now, the present South Building is wasteful, for the heating plant is inadequate.
It might be well to consider in this program the possible organization of a Senior High School for there are many towns in the State with such schools, that have a smaller enrollment than Lincoln would have, this would keep the chil- dren at home, an argument that is self-explanatory.
I wish to thank all the teachers and the board for every courtesy extended me.
Respectfully submitted, N. N. LOVE (signed).
137
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I hereby submit my annual report as Principal of the Lin- coln Schools.
I am very pleased to state that there have been only three changes in the teaching force during the past year; two of which occurred in the Junior High School.
Miss Bernice V. Dodge of Arlington, a graduate of the Lesley Normal School, is taking the place of Miss Thorner in the third grade.
Miss Phyllis M. Bryant of Jonesport, Me., who has had experience in Maine schools, is teaching English, Latin and French in the Junior High School.
Miss Marjorie P. Perkins of Lynn, a graduate of the Fram- ingham Normal School, replaced Miss Lethola in teaching Cooking, Artihmetic and History in. the Junior High School.
Classes in Manual Training for boys were started in Sep- tember, and we were fortunate to secure the services, for a day and a half each week, of Mr. LaForrest Robbins, Instruc- tor in the Concord schools. The boys of the sixth, seventh and eighth grades are given a double period of Manual Train- ing each week at the same time that the girls are having Cook- ing. It is very common to find boys and girls who do ex- cellent work with their hands and yet continue to do poor work in the academic subjects.
Whereas, last year it was very difficult to find boarding places for the teachers, this Fall several opportunities were offered. A good boarding place in a family home means much to a teacher coming into a town for the first time.
138
As there were so very few pupils in the Ninth grade who wished to elect Latin this year, arrangements were made with Miss Bryant to have a class in beginner's French for those who did not wish the Latin. Miss Bryant has had experience in teaching French by the direct method, and the class is making rapid progress in learning French expressions.
While the total number of pupils in school is practically the same as it was a year ago, the number in the Junior High School-composed of Grades 7, 8 and 9-has increased more than 50% in two years. The following is the membership of these three grades taken on January 1st of each year :
1923
1924
1925
Grade 9
14
10
22
Grade 8
16
20
31
Grade 7
20
33
24
Totals
50
63
77
Until this year fourteen was the largest number of pupils attending the Ninth grade any year since its change from Concord to Lincoln. At present there are 22. This large number is altogether too many for the small classroom which was originally intended for the cooking room. With such cramped conditions the citizens of Lincoln must be thinking seriously of enlarging the present school building.
The increased membership in both the eighth and ninth grades has necessitated buying additional copies of every set of books or purchasing new sets entirely where the old ones needed replacing. The expense of books, therefore, has been much greater this year than the previous year. Only books which were absolutely needed, however, were purchased.
On January 23, 1924, the Center School of Lincoln was entered in a state-wide spelling contest conducted under the
139
direction of the School of Education, Boston Universiy, co- operating with the Massachusetts Department of Education. The purpose of the contest was to let each school see how it compared with other schools in the state. Out of 75 schools which sent in final returns, Lincoln won eighteenth place in the list. There has been no previous study of the tested words, and the words had been taken from the standard lists from each grade. This year plans are being made for a similar con- test in English Language.
In order to stimulate interest and competition in school at- tendance, the writer purchased, in September, 1923, a pretty banner to be awarded each month to that grade having the highest percentage of attendance for the preceding month. Not only did this increase the interest in individual attendance, but it also taught group cooperation for any absence in a grade made it harder for that grade to gain the banner. The results show that the attendance was much better than it had been the previous year. 93.25 was the yearly average per- centage for the entire school. The following table shows the percentage of each grade for every month:
PERCENTAGE OF ATTENDANCE FOR 1923-24
Grade
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June Average
IX
98.58
*99.02
*95.90
*93.83
*97.78
95.00
96.40
*98.30
*97.37
98.00
*97.09
VIII
96.57
90.80
89.20
86.20
95.25
95.01
95.57
96.34
94.64
97.64
93.72
VII
97.97
97.18
94.37
92.15
87.25
91.10
*98.21
97.63
97.12
98.01
95.17
VI
96.88
93.41
94.97
83.96
88.20
90.21
93.65
97.85
95.31
96.15
93.06
V
*99.77
99.00
93.86
77.00
94.01
94.18
95.73
94.41
92.70 *100.00
94.07
IV
96.83
96.15
89.59
89.87
92.57
92.57
94.09
94.95
93.71
99.95
93.84
III
97.88
95.94
93.04
84.28
90.29
*95.11
93.79
95.04
92.90
98.00
93.62
II
94.34
88.88
70.99
86.74
85.00
93.02
92.40
91.91
91.60
99.06
89.47,
I
92.80
94.22
87.53
82.83
78.69
86.39
94.26
93.56
86.29
94.40
89.20
Average
96.85
94.96
89.94
86.32
89.89
92.51
94.90
95.55
93.51
98.02
*93.25
1
*Indicates the banner attendance for each month.
140
141
The following pupils were not absent a single day during the school year 1923-24 :
Grade
I
Carman Cafno
66
II
Carman Cafno Clyde Harvey Ebba Nelson
66
IV
Girmano Marcelli
IV
Girmano Marcelli Elmo Poland
V
Cedric Lamont
VI
Edith Rogers
VII
Harriet Robus
John Boyce
Lawrence Carlson
Warren Flint
VIII
Evelyn Rogers
Earle Harvey
Albert Kelley Charles Lamont
When I came to Lincoln I found no record had been kept of the pupils' report cards. As I had various requests for the marks of former pupils, I decided to keep a copy of the report card of each pupil from the sixth grade through the ninth. During the past year a filing cabinet was purchased in order that these records might be readily accessible. There is, therefore, on file a complete record of the marks obtained by the upper grade pupils in each subject for the past two years. A comparison between this year's marks and last year's may easily be made by the Principal at any time.
All connected with the Center School are very glad that the playground has been graded. Although the pupils could not use the grounds until the first of October, good weather has permitted them to enjoy themselves during the last three months. In addition to the footballs which were used last
.
142
year, a soccer ball was purchased for the boys, and a volley ball court was constructed for the girls. Great interest was shown in these new games.
The school is in great need now of an inside playroom or gymnasium. As the boys' playroom is being used for the Manual Training classes and the girls' for Cooking, there is no place for the pupils to have recreation on stormy or cold days. This is another good reason for an addition to the pres- ent building.
The health of the school children has received very careful attention this past year. Aside from the usual numerous colds, there has been very little sickness and no epidemics. For a detailed account of health, see the Nurse's report.
We have had two Dental Clinics during the past year. In February, Dr. Edward Frye, of the Middlesex County Ex- tension Service, spent about three weeks on dental work. In June, however, the Extension Service discontinued the Den- tal Clinic service and it was taken over by Dr. W. A. Gobie of the Forsythe Dental Infirmary of Boston. In October Dr. Gobie examined the teeth of every child in the school, and reported to the parents the approximate number of cavities found and extractions needed. Under Dr. Gobie's direction, Dr. Murray spent three weeks on dental service. Miss Back- man has submitted the details of this clinic in her report.
Hot cocoa was served as usual to the pupils of both schools from the first of January to the Spring vacation in April. The total cost was $173.13 of which $100.00 was contributed by the Grange, $10.00 by the American Legion, and $63.00 earned by the Junior High School pupils in selling subscrip- tions to the Ladies' Home Journal. Smalled amounts were given by individual parents and pupils ; so that a balance of $23.00 remained as a beginning of this year's Fund.
On December 1, a demerit system of conduct was started in the Sixth to Ninth grades and it has already proved bene-
143
ficial to both teachers and parents. The following letter was inserted in the Waltham News Tribune and also sent to the parents of each pupil in the above grades. The letter is self- explanatory and needs no further comment.
Office of SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Lincoln, Mass.
TO THE LINCOLN PARENTS :
The school and the home are in a partnership business- that most important business of educating the future citizens of our country. No business is successful without the full- est cooperation between the partners of the firm.
In education, the home is the senior partner and the school, the junior. Seven of the most impressionable, plastic years of the child's life are in the parents' care before he enters the door of a school room. When finally he does begin the first grade, the teacher has him but five out of every twenty- four hours; and only five of the seven days each week.
If the mother knows what her child is doing outside of school, is she not entitled to the same knowledge of her boy or girl while in school? The report cards are sent home every two months, but many incidents take place during those months concerning which the parents should be informed.
"Why did Thomas get a 'C' in conduct on his report card ? I did not know he had been misbehaving." This is a ques- tion often asked by the parents and perhaps you have fre- quently had this same thought in your mind but have never found out the answer. We believe that the parents, as senior members of this partnership, should receive the fullest in- formation possible in such matters; for the earnest efforts of
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.