USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1946-1950 > Part 10
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DECISION: Because of the great number of objections recorded by the residents and owners of property abutting that of applicant and also objections by many residents in the vicinity of applicant's property, and because of the adverse effect that would be generally caused to the property in the district in which this property is located.
Respectfully submitted, BOARD OF APPEALS, By ANTHONY J. DOHERTY, Clerk.
171
REPORT OF WORK OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY
REPORT OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE, 1946
Food Production was of the utmost importance during 1946 and the main effort of the Extension Service was along this line. Through meetings, radio, farm and home visits, county bulle- tin, news releases and calls in person and by telephone at the office, assistance was given to as many people as possible.
Fruit growers this year were interested especially in knowing more about frost damage and its prevention and the latest materials to use in spraying to overcome insects and diseases. Because of the wet season, there was a severe infestation of scab and growers required all the assistance possible to produce a good quality crop. Twilight meetings of interest to local growers were held in various parts of the county. Information was sent out to local papers and through town libraries as well as over the radio to help all those interested in home gardens.
Three projects were emphasized to assist those interested in poultry - namely, Better Use of Ranges; Brooding and Rear- ing; Disease Control and Sanitation.
Of interest to dairymen, the Selective Breeding Association and the Herd Improvement Association were developed and expanded during the year.
Because of the many food shortages experienced during the year, homemakers were given assistance to help them in prob- lems in feeding their families the right foods essential to health despite the shortages. Demonstrations and illustrated talks were given on: When Meat is Scarce; Sugar-Saving Desserts; Use of Available Foods; Oil-Sparing Salad Dressings. Home- makers were interested in clothing renovation and Short Cuts and Speed Tricks in clothing construction. Food preservation was the main project followed during the summer to assist homemakers in the best procedure to insure satisfaction in home canning and preparation of foods for freezing.
A 4-H agricultural club for boys interested in gardening, poultry and livestock raising was organized at the school and met with the County Club Agent once a month. These boys were visited during the summer by Mr. Harry Cousins. Dana Durand was awarded a General MacArthur Medal on his ex- cellent garden work.
172
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
The Tree Warden submits to the Town his report for the year 1946. During the past year we found it necessary to cut the brush and remove dead limbs from trees on some of the roads, especially where the school buses travel and where it was necessary for the safety of the public.
We have about forty miles of roads most of them backed by woodlands which have to be scouted each year to locate where gypsy moth infestations are. When found the nests are treated with creosote and followed by spraying. We find by doing the work this way we can prevent the stripping of our roadside trees. The spraying for the gypsy moth and elm leaf beetle was very effective last year and results attained were very en- couraging. The elm trees will need special attention this year because of the Dutch elm disease caused by fungus and spread by the bark beetle who penetrate between the wood and inner bark of weakened trees and engrave breeding galleries, later the young emerge to feed on tender green twigs. Symptoms of the disease to be looked for are wilting, curling, yellowing, early falling of leaves, and brown streaking of infected wood. Trees affected with the Dutch elm disease may appear similar to elms affected with other wilt diseases; therefore laboratory study of wood showing streaking is necessary to prove which disease fungus is present. The most effective thing that can be done is to spray with DDT when the beetles are feeding. We know that DDT will kill these beetles even though there is much to learn as to proper mixtures and the best methods of applying it.
The spraying that was done for poison ivy was very effective in killing the top growth and will be continued again this year.
The total expenditures for the year 1946 were $2,995.73 and it is recommended that $3,520.00 be appropriated for the year 1947.
JOHN J. KELLIHER,
Tree Warden.
173
PLAYGROUND REPORT
1946 LINCOLN PLAYGROUND REPORT
Interest in tennis increases each year. The annual tourna- ment included players from nine years of age and up. An added attraction this year was mixed doubles and women's singles and doubles.
A Boy Scout track meet was held in July with the coopera- tion of the playground.
Softball continues to be very popular with the younger boys and girls. Mixed teams played five mornings a week at home and about once a week with other towns.
Baseball teams consisting of players of all ages were very active with games in Lincoln and out of town. The twilight league played three evenings a week and finished the season with a series of play-offs that furnished a lot of entertainment for players and fans alike.
Genial Jim Dudley was on hand to supervise playground activities with the help of Miss Charlotte Gale.
In order to expand the program for 1947 it will be necessary for the committee to have additional volunteer help for super- vision and transportation.
ETHAN A. MURPHY.
174
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF BUILDING INSPECTOR
January 17, 1947.
I herewith submit the Annual Report of the Building In- spector of the Town of Lincoln.
Permits Issued Classification
7 New Residential
Estimated Value of Work $43,100 00
12 Residential Alterations and Addi- tions 26,000 00
8 New Accessory Buildings
7,550 00
1 Alterations to Accessory Buildings.
1,500 00
2 Alterations to Business Building or Institutions. 500 00
1 Moving of Structure
27 Plumbing
55 Electric
Total
113
$78,650 00
6 Applications Refused
Total Fees Collected $142.00
Respectfully submitted,
CYRUS W. MURPHY, Building Inspector.
175
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
THE deCORDOVA AND DANA MUSEUM AND PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
At the special Town Meeting held in June, 1946, the Select- men were authorized to appoint a Committee to study the (leCordova and Dana Museum and Park and to report with recommendations not later than the next annual Town meet- ing how best to make use of this bequest giving due considera- tion to the terms of the gifts and attempting to serve best the interests of the Town.
Mr. Frederick B. Robinson, Director of the Springfield Museum of Fine Arts, was engaged as our advisor and under his direction an inventory and photographic record of the gal- leries and rooms has been made. Virtually everything in the Museum has been appraised except the books and it is apparent that the collection has a money value far less than most Towns- people had thought. The figures are as follows:
Pictures $25,123 40
Tapestries 10,175 00
All other art objects 40,167 01
Rugs
5,346 00
$80,811 41
A great deal of consideration has been given to the Museum building. We know that much will have to be done but have deferred consideration of specific needs until a tentative pro- gram can be formulated. The Museum building is in need of renovation and only essential repairs to the roof have been completed.
The Committee made a Report of Progress by letter to the Town on September 21, and on October 2 held an Open Meeting to receive suggestions and answer questions. At this meeting the Committee tried to make it clear to those present that it had grave doubts as to the proper interpretation of the Deed of Gift to the Town (November 29, 1930) and of Mr. deCordova's will.
At our meetings it became increasingly clear that the Com- mittee must have legal advice before any constructive plans could be recommended. Early in October the Selectmen ap- pointed Mr. Samuel Hoar of Goodwin, Procter and Hoar,
176
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Boston, as counsel and we submitted to him a long list of questions covering various legal points which were troubling us. On November 8 Mr. Hoar met with the Committee and Mr. Sumner Smith to discuss these questions. After a long and full discussion of the many debatable points it was finally agreed that Mr. Hoar should draft a proposed petition to be sub- mitted to a court having jurisdiction, to clarify the omissions and ambiguities in the deed, will, codicil, and other related documents and to determine the framework from which we can develop a long-range program.
In the Town Treasurer's Report there is a detailed list of the expenditures made by the Selectmen in 1946, totalling $8,951.58. In addition to this amount $900.00 was expended in 1945 for one month's salary of the caretaker and insurance on Museum and contents, making a total expenditure through 1946 of $9,851.58. Because no income had been received from the Trustees or Executors of Mr. deCordova's will it was neces- sary that these payments be charged temporarily against funds given the Town by Mr. deCordova in his lifetime.
In November the Selectmen requested reimbursement from the deCordova Trustees of $8,379.77 (having been advised in- formally that some $28,000.00 of income had accumulated since Mr. deCordova's death), that being the amount spent through October. In December the Town received $6,000.00 income from the Estate with no statement as to whether it was for future expenditures or in partial reimbursement for the above expenditures. After the close of the year the Town transmitted to the Executors and Trustees their expenditures for the months of November and December totalling $1,471.81. No reply has been received up to the date of the filing of this Report.
It is difficult to estimate what will be spent in 1947. Simply maintaining the property will require approximately the following:
Care of grounds, including caretaker's salary .. . . $3,000 00
Care of building, not including alterations or much needed rehabilitation and remodelling 2,000 00
Insurance and miscellaneous 1,000 00
Mr. Robinson's fee, August 1, 1946 to August 1,
1947, by agreement 1,000 00
$7,000 00
177
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
In addition there will be legal expenses involved though these may be paid in part at least from the large deCordova Trust. If the Museum is to be opened to the public at all, substantial expense will be involved including remodelling to comply with fire and health regulations, redecorating, supervision, etc.
Articles in the Town Warrant, if favorably acted on, are the first steps necessary to clarify this situation and permit use of the property. The Committee strongly recommends favor- able action under these Articles.
ROBERT L. DENORMANDIE, Chairman, RICHARD J. EATON, MRS. HERBERT G. FARRAR, ALLEN W. JACKSON, FREDERICK H. McKELVEY, MRS. HARLAND B. NEWTON, FREDERICK B. TAYLOR, Secretary.
178
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF THE MEMORIAL DAY COMMITTEE
In accordance with the vote of the Town Meeting of March 4, 1946, Memorial Day Exercises were held on May 30, 1946.
The Service
PRELUDE - "Andante from the Archduke Trio" Beethoven PROCESSIONAL - "Pomp and Circumstance" Elgar
(Procession of War Veterans, Boy and Girl Scouts) SALUTE TO THE FLAG Led by Thomas Sawtell STATEMENT
Mr. John Todd, Chairman Memorial Day Committee THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
PRAYER
The Rev. Joseph Quigley
TALK - The Meaning of Memorial Day for Young People
William Newell
TALK - Memorial Day, 1946 Marcia Berry
CHORUS - "How sleep the brave" Bach
"Let us now praise famous men"
R. Vaughan Williams Mr. Thomas Rouner
ADDRESS
AMERICA
CLOSING PRAYER The Rev. Morris Robinson
RECESSIONAL - "March" Brahms
(Recession of War Veterans, Boy and Girl Scouts)
Exercises at the War Memorial
Immediately following the service in the Town Hall the townspeople followed the procession of War Veterans, Boy and Girl Scouts to the War Memorial in front of the Library, where a wreath was placed in memory of those who lost their lives in the services of their country.
The American Legion, with the assistance of other War Veterans, the Boy and Girl Scouts then proceeded to the three Lincoln cemeteries and decorated the graves of our deceased veterans.
JOHN TODD, CHARLES STYRON, J. J. KELLIHER.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF LINCOLN
FOR. THE
SCHOOL YEAR 1946
L.
NEWTON GARDEN CITY PRINT, INC.
1947
180
TOWN OF LINCOLN
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Term Expires
ROLLIN J. FAIRBANKS, Chairman
1947
HELEN P. WILEY
1948
JOHN W. CARMAN
1949
Superintendent F. H. McKELVEY
Secretary IRENE R. DORIAN
Kindergarten ELIZABETH T. WHEELER *
MARGUERITE WOODWARD
Grade One
JOSEPHINE C. DOHERTY* SYLVIA B. MANN
Grade Two VILLETTE P. BERNHARD* PHYLLIS E. JOHNSON
Grade Three MARYCLARE HAYES* MARGARET BREEN
Grade Four MARY ALICE FORBES* AUGUSTA F. SISK
Grade Five ELEANOR L. HARRIS
Grade Six GERTRUDE S. KEILYt MARY D. SULLIVAN
Grade Seven LOIS S. PARSONSt EVELYN P. HOOPER
Grade Eight ELEANOR C. BROWNt WAYNE A. RANDALL
181
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Supervisor of Music ERNA V. FISHER
Supervisor of Art LILLIAN W. HUNT* CHRISTINE M. BEAN
On Military Leave of Absence CLARK L. DEXTER
School Physician RANDOLPH PIPER, M.D.
School Nurse MARIAN N. OBER, R.N.
Custodian WILFRED SMITH
Attendance Officer JOHN J. KELLIHER
*Resigned, June, 1946
+Substitute Teacher
School Calendar 1947
September 3
Schools Open
October 13
Columbus Day Holiday
October 24 Teachers' Convention
November 11
Armistice Day
November 27-28 Thanksgiving Vacation
December 19
Christmas Vacation
1948
January 5
Schools Open
February 20
Schools Close
March 1 Schools Open
April 16. Schools Close
April 26.
Schools Open
May 31 Memorial Day Holiday
June 11
Schools Close
No School Signal 7:30 A.M. 3-3-3 on Fire Whistle 7:35 A M. 3-3-3 on Fire Whistle Announcement on Station WBZ, WEEI
182
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF THE LINCOLN SCHOOL COMMITTEE for the year 1946
The year 1946 has been marked by the loss of four signifi- cant personalities from the school scene. Mr. Thomas J. Dee, after fifty-two years of faithful service, has retired from transporting Lincoln children to and from their schools. Mrs. Josephine Doherty, our first grade teacher for many years, has retired after devoting twenty-five years of her life to teach- ing. Mrs. Villette B. Knowles who has been a member of our faculty for the past nine years also tendered her resigna- tion. The School Committee itself lost the able services of its former chairman, Mr. William N. Page, who had been a member of the Committee since 1940. Fortunately, however, Mr. Page has accepted the chairmanship of the committee for planning the new school building, so the community is assured of his continued service. Mr. John Carman joined the Com- mittee in March.
During the course of the year certain constructive steps have been taken. The rules and regulations for the Com- mittee have been thoroughly studied and revised. A compre- hensive and interpretive report card has been adopted. Two new busses have been purchased. Our superintendent, Mr. McKelvey, has been re-elected for a two-year term. The teaching of music has been expanded from two to three days a week. Significant reports from the Parents' Council have been received and carefully studied. A plan has been adopted whereby school is now closed at noon one day each month in order to provide the school staff with adequate time for planning, study and discussion of school objectives.
While salary adjustments were incorporated into the 1946 budget, there was no general wage increase. Because of rapidly rising prices, however, a cost of living adjustment was approved in November by your Committee. Partial payments have been made to all school employees, and a general salary increase is proposed for 1947. Another step towards providing reasonable compensation for our teaching staff has been taken. Your Committee has approved a comprehensive salary schedule which takes into consideration
183
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
both training and experience. Once placed on the schedule, a teacher will know what her annual increment will normally be, the maximum salary, and what additional compensation further training would provide.
Our proposed 1947 budget indicates an increase of approx- imately twenty-one percent. Special circumstances have necessitated asking for additional funds. The high school tuition charges have gone up as much as forty-eight percent! An anticipated enrollment of thirty-six children in the first grade makes an additional teacher mandatory. School supplies are not only difficult to procure but (not unlike other commodities) also considerably more expensive than a year ago. Furthermore, the establishment of our new salary schedule is naturally reflected in the budget.
We are grateful to all members of the school staff, parti- cularly our teachers, for their loyal service throughout the past year. Your Committee pledges itself to continue its efforts to build a school system appropriate to the community and to the demands of a changing world.
Respectfully submitted,
ROLLIN J. FAIRBANKS, Chairman, HELEN P. WILEY, JOHN W. CARMAN.
184
TOWN OF LINCOLN
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Lincoln School Committee,
Lincoln, Massachusetts.
I have the honor to submit the annual report of the Lincoln Public Schools for 1946.
This has been a year of more than ordinary significance for Lincoln's Schools. A substantial beginning has been made in improving the program of instruction, and plans for the facili- ties of a new school are under way. The imperative necessity for forward-looking improvements and plans can hardly be over-emphasized, if we examine the crucial problems con- fronting education today. The elementary school still has its major responsibilities in teaching reading, writing, and spelling, the use of mathematical symbols and concepts, a knowledge of the cultural heritage in history, geography and literature, appreciation of music, art and manual skills, and good health practices. But it also must face the need for emphasis upon teaching world understanding, for developing good intercultural relations, for improving skill in democratic living, and for learning better ways of helping individual children through guidance. These are vital problems, which if woven into the fabric of our instruction and practices, make the school, as well as all other educative agencies, the hope of a better world.
How shall the world be at peace? Manifold problems of armaments, natural resources, communications, political. governments and atomic energy press hard upon a struggling United Nations Organization. If education or re-education for world peace is to be effective, its purposes must be clear and mutually sought. The newly formed United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-UNESCO -puts the problem of understanding squarely before us in its preamble, which says,
"That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed."
UNESCO's objectives seem to offer an opportunity for making hopes become realities. We should be as concerned with its work as with our own local educational program.
185
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The School Program
Beginning in September our program of studies from kindergarten through sixth grade has been based upon the homeroom teacher directing instruction in the core arcas, with special help and teaching in the fields of art and music. This program means that greater enrichment is possible and that there is flexibility in arrangement when it is needed.
The upper grades have a program which assigns classes to the special areas of preparation of the teacher. Classes in industrial arts for boys and home arts for girls have been added and definite study periods for in-classroom work are part of the schedule.
Unit sequences of study have been outlined in science for the first six grades and in social studies (history and geog- raphy) for grades three to eight. We have begun to acquire the many needed books in science and social studies which are supplementary in nature and provide other sources of in- formation than the basis text alone. We have begun the acquisition of well-written and attractive library books which are both informational and recreational in use. New text- books have been secured in American History and in history and geography to complete the basic tests in these instruc- tional areas. Standards reference encyclopedias are now at hand in the four upper grades. The availability of materials such as these, added to year by year, make the difference be- tween teaching with resources and without them.
A new report card has been put into use this year and has been explained by letter and examination. It is our hope that it will prove a more effective medium of interpretation to parents on each pupil's progress.
The fact that the school staff is almost entirely new has delayed study and preparation of a statement of basic educa- tional philosophy and objectives for our school. It should now be possible for our staff to work in this important area. A notable advance in making such work possible was made when the School Committee approved the plan for the staff to have eight half-days during the year for study, discussion and planning school needs and objectives.
186
TOWN OF LINCOLN
Guidance and Testing
Guidance is concerned with the personal development of each pupil and of each group as a social group. It is part of good teaching, as the teacher discovers the needs of her pupils, class and community. One aid to the teacher in learning her pupil's needs more quickly is the guidance folder, in which all tests, records, reports, work samples and other data are kept individually for each pupil. This plan is to be inaugu- rated during the 1946-47 school year.
Achievement tests are given at the end of the school year and serve as aids for discovering needs of pupils and class groups and in ascertaining growth in learning. Class medians have been satisfactory but are not too useful in citing an attained standard, since the nature of the scores of the lowest part of a class is not apparent. We have some special prob- lems in reading at intermediate levels and a rather general problem in written composition, both of which are receiving careful attention.
Testing of the eighth grade class has been fairly complete, with the cooperation of Concord and Weston school officials, in providing data for guidance in planning the high school course. It is planned to continue again the conferences with pupils, parents, high school guidance counsellor and a Lincoln Staff member for this purpose.
Dr. Anna C. Wellington has again been of great assistance in making examinations of our kindergarten pupils.
Visual Aids
Today's citizen would be poorly equipped indeed who did not have some understanding of transportation in an air age. Our equipment in maps and globes enables us to teach better this new concept of geographical relationships. Excellent illustrative materials have been loaned to us by the Children's Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, most of it correlated to units of study. Our plans for utilizing films and slides has proceeded somewhat slowly, since they must contribute to actual units of study, and must be planned with that objective in view.
187
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Buildings and Equipment
The 1945 annual report discussed the effect of the building upon the elementary school program. The Town Report for 1944 included the report of Mr. John E. Nichols and the recommendations of the committee to survey the needs of the Lincoln schools. It is suggested that these reports be examined again. As the Lincoln School Building Committee studies its problem and makes its recommendations the entire citizenry of Lincoln has the opportunity to contribute to the planning and to the successful realization of a school building which can make possible the kind of educational program it wants and deserves to have.
Personnel
The problem of obtaining school personnel is an acute one all over the country and is due to many factors, chiefly sala- ries, working conditions, the attitude of the public toward teaching, attraction away from teaching, and so on. The September, 1946, Elementary School Journal reports as follows:
"The exodus from the teaching profession in recent years is 'probably the most striking vocational migration in our history,' Ralph McDonald, executive secretary of the De- partment of Higher Education of the National Education Association, declared at the Association's eighty-fourth annual convention held in Buffalo in July. The New York Sun reports McDonald as stating that since 1939, as nearly as can be estimated on the basis of available data, 633,200 teachers have left the profession. Moreover, McDonald added, the number of college students enrolled for teaching education has sharply declined. At the close of the 1945-46 school year about half as many students were enrolled in teachers' colleges as were enrolled in 1920.
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