USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1925-1929 > Part 6
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7. The physical conditions under which teachers and pupils are working.
8. Facilities offered for the development of the health of the children-playgrounds, nurses' quarters, etc.
9. To what extent their own children participate in school activities ..
10. Equipment of school especially as relates to library, gym- nasium, shop instructional material, etc.
III. Information Parents Should Seek
1. What parents can do to help the schools.
2. Whether any bad habits have been noted in pupils.
3. What is the general school success of the child.
4. Are the teachers' salaries adequate.
5. What are the qualifications demanded of the teaching force.
6. General policies of the school department.
7. Specific facts about parents' own children. .
8. Per capita cost as compared with that of other cities.
9. Whether the child is working up to his full capacity as determined by intelligence and educational tests.
10. What are the vocational tendencies of the child if any are manifest.
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11. Purposes of the various courses of study.
12. Reasons for making or not making changes in course of study.
13. Finances of school district, tax rate, indebtedness, etc.
14. Is pupil in course best suited to his capacity and needs.
15. Does pupil show any special aptitudes; disabilities.
16. Has pupil too many outside activities.
17. Is pupil courteous and helpful.
18. Does pupil enter into a sufficient number of student ac- tivities.
19. What provisions are made for backward and for superior children.
In closing let me say that should more detailed information regarding statistics be desired the same can be had in Public Document No. 2 published by the State Department of Edu- cation. It is free upon request.
Respectfully submitted, with a sincere appreciation for the continuance of your co-operation and good fellowship.
N. N. LOVE,
District Superintendent of Schools.
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PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I hereby submit my third annual report as Principal of the Lincoln Schools.
Teachers
Four new teachers entered the force last fall.
Miss Dorothy Linfield of Watertown, a graduate of the Lesley Normal School, is now teaching Grade II in place of Miss Allen, who resigned to be married.
Miss Ruth S. Mills of West Hampstead, N. H., comes to the third grade from the West Bridgewater schools. Miss Dodge accepted a position in her home town of Arlington.
Miss Geneva V. Rogers of Jonesport, Maine, brings to the fourth grade several years of experience in Maine schools. On account of ill health, Mrs. Ruth MacRae resigned in March and Mrs. Robinson taught the remainder of the year.
Miss Mildred D. MacDougall, from the West Bridgewater schools, also brings to Lincoln many years of teaching experi- ence. She is taking the place in the Junior High School of Miss Perkins, who accepted a position in her home town of Lynn.
From the above it can easily be seen that Lincoln now has a teaching staff with experience in back of it. With the single exception of the second grade teacher, every teacher in the Lincoln schools has at least two years of experience, the majority of them having taught five or more years. To secure teachers of this calibre means a little larger cost of salaries,
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but the schools are well repaid by the additional experience brought into them.
Improvements
Because of special training in a particular subject, some of the teachers have been made supervisors in Grades IV to IX. Miss Parker is Supervisor of Drawing in these grades, and Miss Rogers is Supervisor of Music. Miss Mills, who has trained at the Sargent School, is Director of Physical Educa -. tion in all the grades at the Centre School.
In September, the ninth grade pupils were divided into two sections, a college and a commercial course. In order to prop- erly prepare those in the commercial course for the Senior High School, it was necessary to give them some instructions in typewriting. Consequently, four new Underwood type- writers were purchased and together with the office machine were placed in the small room on the second floor over the front entrance. Mrs. Robinson, an experienced typist, was elected to do the instructing. By having two divisions of the subject, ten pupils were given an opportunity to study type- writing. On January 1, 1926, provision was made for a third section, thereby permitting the remaining five pupils in the commercial course to receive instruction. One-half a year of bookkeeping will also be given to those studying the commercial subjects.
On account of using the small room part of the time for typewriting, additional class room was needed for the Junior High School. Consequently, a board floor was laid over the concrete in the cooking room in the girls' basement, and the room was fitted for regular classes when it is not being used for cooking.
For a home room, grades seven and eight together use the large room which originally was used for Manual Training.
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This room is used by the entire Junior High School for morn- ing exercises and for weekly assemblies.
The Demerit System used last year in the upper grades was abolished in September. In its place for the Junior High School was established a half hour appointment period at the close of the school session. Its purpose is three-fold: First, any pupils wishing help or explanation by the teachers will always be able to receive it at this time; second, pupils who fail to do their studying when they should are required to complete their as- signments at this period; third, those who misbehave or are inattentive in school must stay during this period as punish- ment.
The last period every Friday afternoon is devoted to a Junior High School Assembly, when interesting and instructive pro- grams are given. At such times, knowledge obtained in the various classrooms may be put to practical use or outside speakers may be secured. At one assembly period, Dr. Wood gave a very interesting illustrated talk on his tour to Africa last spring.
During the summer, all the swings and teeters were put in first class shape, the boys' swings being moved to the lower end of the field so as not to interfere with the baseball field. The recesses on the playground at the Centre School are always under teacher supervision. Ever since the writer came to Lincoln, three years ago, there has always been one teacher in charge of the playground at every recess. In the past year, during the fall and spring terms, there have been two teachers supervising the playground at both morning and noon recesses.
In order to improve the posture of the school children, in- door setting-up exercises were started in each grade on the first day of the winter term this year. The entire program of physical education is under the guidance and direction of Miss Mills, who is assisted by a pupil leader from each room.
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Exhibition and Graduation Exercises
A fine exhibit of the year's work in each grade was given at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, June 10, 1925. In the lower hall there was an excellent display of the objects made during the year in the Manual Training classes.
Graduation exercises were furnished by the ninth grade of the Junior High School consisting of the following program :
Address of Welcome
Joseph Lennon
Class History, Part I
Bernard Lennon
Class History, Part II
Albert Kelley
Poem, "Gradatim"
Doris Laughlin
Song, "The Merry World is Fair and Wide"
Junior High School
Class Will
Evelyn Rogers
Essay, "Citizenship"
Mary Matucieski
Class Prophecy
Margaret Farrar
Song, "Speed Our Republic"
Junior High School
French Play, "Le Lecon Francais"
Superintendent Albert Kelley
Teacher Lily Chapman
Pupils
Charles Hentz
Mary Matucieski
Eva Johansen
Josephine Roberts
Alice Kennedy
Evelyn Rogers
Doris Laughlin
Frances Rooney
Mary MacAskill
Caroline Seeckts
Rose Mannarino
High School Pupils
Of the twenty-one pupils in the Junior High graduating class of 1925, nineteen entered high school.
At the present time Lincoln is sending thirty-five pupils to high schools in other towns as follows: Waltham, 17; Concord,
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13; Belmont, 1; Cambridge, 1; Newton, 1; and Boston Trade School, 2.
Every effort is made to not only thoroughly prepare our pupils for these high schools, but also to keep in close touch with them until they are through school. Frequent visits are made by the writer to the Concord and Waltham schools to discuss with the teachers and principals the status of each Lincoln pupil; and if they are found to be of low standing, the reason ascertained. The marks of all the Lincoln pupils in these schools are obtained and are kept on file in my office.
Although I am glad to report that on the average our high school pupils are doing fairly good work, the responsibility for their success rests almost entirely on the individual and the parents.
The parents must see that the pupils attend school regularly, that they study their lessons when they should, and also that too many outside activities do not distract their time and at- tention from the school work. Wherever failure has occurred in the past two years, it is easily traced to one of the above causes and not to insufficient preparation in our school.
Membership and Attendance
The membership of the Lincoln schools on January 1, 1926, is as follows: South School, 58; Centre School, 168; total, 226. This is but a slight increase over last year, as our new pupils in Grade I numbered but six more than our outgoing class.
It is interesting to compare the attendance record of 1924-25 with that of the previous year. Although the yearly average shows only a slight increase, there was not a single month in which the average percentage of all the grades dropped below 90. Grades five and six each received the banner for four months. The chart showing the figures of the entire school is found on the following page : .
PERCENTAGE OF ATTENDANCE FOR 1924-25
Grade
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June Ave.
IX
98.27
97.26
96.13
*95.18
92.51
94.06
97.68
92.84
90.85
94.90
94.97
VIII
95.99
94.00
96.90
93.33
81.08
93.53
95.27
92.95
94.36
93.21
93.06
VII
95.52
95.83
93.50
93.37
84.17
92.21
90.83
92.52
94.34
93.0
92.53
VI
*99.08
*97.94
96.12
90.25
91.23
96.84
*97.89
93.41
94.47
*95.40
95.26
V
93.63
95.68
*97.83
93.35
*92.61
*98.26
97.35
*97.55
92.21
95.35
*95.38
IV
97.45
96.54
97.52
92.48
86.68
97.21
94.64
95.20
*96.21
94.95
94.89
III
96.15
97.63
97.07
93.44
85.89
92.14
91.25
94.10
92.38
93.58
93.36
1I
98.85
95.52
94.63
97.94
76.03
93.91
94.06
86.03
92.47
90.79
92.02
I
92.49
97.22
94.23
81.88
88.89
89.15
94.26
88.81
94.12
91.81
91.29
School Average 96.39
*96.40
95.99
92.36
91.01
94.15
94.80
92.60
93.49
93.67
93.28
*Indicates banner attendance.
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.
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The following pupils were not absent a single day during the school year 1924-25 :
Grade
III
Auther Powers
IV Ebba Nelson George Dean
V Elmo Poland Virgil Poland
VI Jean Donaldson
66
VII
Mary Campobasso
VIII
Margaret Lennon
66
IX
Charlotte Donaldson
Evelyn Rogers Joseph Lennon
We cannot impress too strongly upon the parents the im- portance of having their children attend school every day if possible.' Very few pupils can afford to lose a day, or even part of a day, without their work suffering. If there is to be only a morning session of school, some parents think that nothing will be missed if the children do not attend. In ana- lyzing the absences, it is surprising to find so many caused, not by sickness, but by missing the barge or by going away. Only by the closest co-operation between the home and the school can the percentage of attendance be raised, the number having perfect attendance be increased, and the pupil himself get the most possible out of school.
Barges
The barge routes were rearranged in the fall in order that better accommodations might be afforded more pupils. Two trips are being made by the North Lincoln barge, as the pupils were too numerous for one load. I feel we are very fortunate in having good barge equipment and such careful drivers. A careful comparison of the cost of transportation with that of other towns shows that we are spending no more than the average of such towns in this state.
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Pupils living within one mile of the school do not ride on the barges. On January 1, 1926, nevertheless, 178 of the mem- bership of 226, or 80%, are being transported to and from school. Under such conditions, the Town of Lincoln cannot expect the cost of transportation to be very small.
Health
We have been very fortunate not to have any disease epi- demics during the past year. In the fall a thorough physical examination was given by Dr. Wood, the school physician, and assisted by Miss Rudolf. As a result, several children have had their tonsils and adenoids removed at the Waltham Hos- pital. Further details may be found in the Nurse's report.
Hot cocoa was served to the pupils of both schools from the first of January to the first of April. The school is again in- debted to the Grange for its contribution of $100 to this fund.
Although there was no dental clinic in schools last fall, arrangements are being made to have one in the spring.
Club Work
In co-operation with, and under the supervision of the Middlesex County Extension Service, club work is being con- tinued in the school. Three clubs were formed this fall: a Handicraft Club of 16 boys under the direction of Mr. Rob- bins ; a Cooking Club of 12 girls under the direction of Miss Parker; and a Sewing Club under the direction of Miss Elliott. The boys' club meets every Wednesday afternoon after school for about an hour ; and the girls' clubs meet once in two weeks. Much interesting and instructive work is done in these clubs.
School Play
On Friday evening, April 17, 1925, a three-act play, entitled "The Adventures of Grandpa," was presented by the Junior
139
High School under the direction of Miss Bryant. The cast of characters was as follows :
Montgomery Ray ("Monte"), Grandpa's grandson
Joseph Lennon
Tod Hunter, a young dancing master Earle Harvey
Otis Hammerhead ("Grandpa"), from Yellow Bud, O.
Bernard Lennon
Officer McCormack, who seen his duty and done it
Albert Kelley
Lucy Junter, our little wife
Mary Matucieski
Dorothy May, just out of college Eva Johansen
Mrs. Pansy Hopscotch, fair, fat and forty Margaret Farrar
Marie Ribeau, the girl from Paris Doris Laughlin
Kloompy, twelve days from Copenhagen over Lily Chapman
Buildings
As has been stated earlier in this report, both Centre and South school buildings are very near the limit of their capacity. By utilizing the girls' basement room as a class room when it is not being used for cooking, all of the classes are taken care of at the present time. This room, however, is not satisfactory as a permanent arrangement, for the classes are crowded and there are not proper heating facilities.
As I pointed out in my report last year, there is a great need of an indoor recreation room, in order to carry on our physi- cal education program satisfactorily a gymnasium or other room in which the children may spend their recesses on stormy days.
An assembly room is also essential. The Junior High School, consisting of grades seven, eight and nine, meet together every morning for opening exercises, and also one period each week known as Assembly Period. Occasional assemblies of the entire school are necessary. At such times the pupils must journey to the Town Hall whch is generally insufficiently heated during
140
the winter. It might even be advisable to have an assembly room so constructed that it could be used as a gymnasium for our physical exercises and also for basketball or other indoor games during the winter.
There are at present 58 pupils in the South School. If this number remains the same or increases next year, it will be necessary to make several changes to improve the sanitation of the building. It might be well to consider the advisability of moving these grades back to the center of the town if any sort of a building program is undertaken.
Conclusion
I cannot impress upon the parents too strongly the fact that they should visit the schools frequently. Rumors are often cir- culated around town which have no foundation and which could easily be refuted by a visit to the schools or a talk with the principal, who is always willing to discuss matters with parents at any time.
Both the teachers and the principal have been attentive to the needs of the various pupils in each of the grades. A large amount of individual work has been done, not only to bring the poorer pupils up to grade, but also to increase the efficiency of the grade as a whole. In the Junior High School we have strived to keep pace with the work done in the Waltham Junior High School and the first year of Concord High, in order that our pupils may enter high school just .as well prepared as the local pupils. We have likewise tried to emphasize the impor- tance of hard work, diligent study and neatness as well as correct results.
It is gratifying to find most of the parents backing us in these aims and ideals, for only by the close co-operation of the home and the school will satisfactory results be obtained. We have the welfare of the pupils at heart and whatever is done is for their own good.
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I wish to thank the School Committee and the parents for the co-operation and courtesy extended to me during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES M. ROBINSON, Principal.
Statistics for Year Ending June 30, 1925
Pupils enrolled
234
Boys
126
Girls
108
Pupils for whom Town paid tuition elsewhere 30
Non-resident pupils attending school in Lincoln
21
Average daily attendance
207
Number of days schools were in session
178
Average membership
221
Registration of minors, April 1, 1925
5 years and under 7
33
7 66
14
175
14
16
47
Total 255
.
-
Membership by Age and Grade, April 1, 1925
Age
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Total
Grade I.
20
8
28
11.
15
5
2
22
III
14
10
1
28
IV.
4
11
4
4
2
25
V.
3
11
8
2
1
25
1
10
6
0
2
19
VII.
2
8
0
6
1
24
3
1
1
VIII.
29
6
5
6
3
1
21
Total
20
23
23
26
20
25
25
19
18
15
5
2
221
142
1
0
7
5
11
IX.
3
:
VI.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Lincoln School Committee:
A report of the school nursing for the fall term, September 9, 1925, to December 23, 1925, is hereby submitted.
During the sixteen weeks I have given both schools daily inspection with the exception of fourteen days spent in Sud- bury schools. Calls were made on these days whenever they were necessary. Special attention was paid to eyes, teeth. heads, ears, nose and throat, posture, mal-nutrition and vaccination. Every opportunity is used to teach the children general health principles.
Physical examination by Dr. Henry A. Wood of the 227 pupils found :
100 cases of tonsils 66 cases of adenoids
109 cases of glands
2 cardiac cases under treatment
2 infantile paralysis cases under treatment.
Twenty of these cases are marked cases and follow-up work has been done on them and a number of the parents have been co-operative in correcting defects discovered.
Thirteen pupils were vaccinated by Dr. Wood. There were 228 office calls of pupils treated or advised. Six were taken home from school because of illness. Sixty-four "home" or "follow-up" calls have been made.
There has been one case of chicken pox ; one case of measles ; 10 cases of acute contagious conjunctivitis or "pink eye," and 12 cases of scabies ; but nothing that could be called an epidemic.
Eye and ear tests have been given and notices sent. In Sep-
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tember and December pupils were weighed and measured and in December notices sent home to parents stating height, weight and normal weight of all pupils in the Centre School.
During the term I have attended a School Nursing Confer- ence held in Worcester and a group meeting of School Nurses held in Waltham. School sanitation was fully discussed at the Worcester conference and it is very satisfactory to find Lincoln well up in the standard and much credit due Mr. Graf.
In closing I wish to thank all who have so kindly co-operated with me.
Respectfully submitted, DOROTHY C. RUDOLF, R. N.
145
NOTICE:
Business Meeting, Monday, March 1st, at 1 P. M.
WARRANT
1
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 first 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 Saturday, the sixth 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 first day of March next :
The polls for voting the Australian ballot on Saturday, March 6th, 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.
ยท 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.
One member of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners for three years.
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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, 1926, 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.
ART. 9. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appro- priate the sum of $200 or some other amount and elect a direc- tor, the money to be expended by and the director to serve in
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co-operation with the Middlesex County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture in the work of the Middlesex County Ex- tension Service, under the provisions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128. General Laws of Massachusetts.
ART. 10. To see if the Town will take any action with reference to enlarging the Centre School building; erecting another school building; or take any action in connection with the schools or school buildings.
ART. 11. To see if the Town will petition the Director of Accounts of the Department of Corporation and Taxation for an audit of its accounts and for the installation of an accounting system in accordance with Chapter 44, Section 35 of the Gen- eral Laws of Massachusetts.
ART. 12. To see if the Town, in accordance with Chapter 39, Section 16, amended, will provide for the appointment and duties of appropriation, advisory or finance committees who may consider any or all municipal questions for the purpose of making reports or recommendations to the Town, and to adopt a by-law as required by said statute.
ART. 13. To see if the Town will direct the School Com- mittee to take full charge of all matters pertaining to the ad- ministration of the schools of the Town, including the care of school buildings and school grounds.
ART. 14. To see if the Town will extend street lighting from the present terminus on the Bedford Road to the North State Road and on said North State Road from the Concord to the Lexington town lines and appropriate money therefor ; or take any other action in connection with street lighting.
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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 meet- ing aforesaid.
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