USA > Rhode Island > Annual report of the Board of Education : together with the Annual report of the Commissioner of Public Schools of Rhode Island, 1875 > Part 14
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
EAST PROVIDENCE .- Number of evening schools? Two .-- Where held ? Watchemoket and Rumford .- Length of school in weeks? Watchemoket, eleven weeks ; Rumford, ten weeks .- Number of male teachers employed? Two .- Average salary per week, male teachers? $10.00 .- Number of female teachers? One .- Average salary per week ? $5.00 .- Total number registered? No record .- Average attendance ? Thirty-six .- AHAZ BASSETT, Supt.
These schools, although taught by faithful and efficient teachers, can- not be said to have been highly successful. The failure has been owing to a falling off in attendance. Large numbers attended for the first few evenings, but as soon as the school ceased to be a novelty to them, many evinced a lack of interest, and soon ceased to attend.
There have been, however, several cases of marked application to study attended with decided success .- AHAZ BASSETT, Supt.
JOHNSTON .- Number of evening schools? Four .- Where held ? Olneyville, Dry Brook, Merino and Plain Farm .- Length of each ses- sion? Two hours .- Grade of instruction-primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? Thirteen .- Number of male teachers employed? Four .- Average salary per week, male teachers? $10.00 .- Whole number of female teachers? Two .- Average salary per week? $5.00 .- Number of pupils-males? One hundred and fifty-nine .- Number of pupils-females? One hundred and forty-two .- Total number registered? Three hundred and one .- Aver- age attendance ? One hundred and ninety-eight .- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Sixty .- Whole number under twelve years of age? Thirty-five .- Average age of pupils in attendance ? All ages not obtained, should judge sixteen .- Studies pursued in the school? Read- ing, spelling, arithmetic, writing, algebra .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? Fifty registered, thirty-three attendance .- Principal
71
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
employment of pupils out of school? Operatives and mechanics,- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils? Pupils .- In- struction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? Both .- When were evening schools first opened in your town? October 6th, 1873 .- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools ? $312.50 .-- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools? Do not .- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? No .- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Ten years .- Any remarks as to their snecess or partial failure? Consider them successful .- Any marked examples of application to study? Very few, Dry Brook school most successful .- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? Ten to eleven .- Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? Yes .- W. A. PHILLIPS, Supt. and Clerk.
Last November, under your direction I opened four evening schools, one each in districts Nos. 1. 13, 14, and 15, which were very successful. It is very true that they were but an experiment with us, and being but a novice in the art of management of such institutions, they may not have accomplished all the good they might have done, had some more experienced hand had the charge of them ; yet. taken as a whole, I am satisfied that the money was well expended. I secured the services of experienced teachers, six in number, who earnestly endeavored to do their duty ; and to my mind they succeeded admirably.
So far as the expense of the schools is concerned, I am of the opinion that the good accomplished compensated for the labor and money ex- pended. I think another winter improvements can be made, and good evening schools become an established success .- W. A. PHILLIPS, Supt.
LINCOLN .- Number of evening schools? Three .- Where held ? Central Falls, Valley Falls and Manville .- Length of each session? Central Falls, two hours ; Valley Falls, one and a half hours ; Mauville, two hours .- Grade of instruction-primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? Central Falls, eighteen ; Valley Falls, eleven : Manville, sixteen .- Number of male teachers employed ?- Central Falls, two ; Valley Falls, one ; Manville, one .- Average salary per week, male teachers? $8.15 .- Number of female teachers? six .- Average salary per week ? $3.423 .- Number of pupils, males ? Valley Falls, forty ; Manville, thirty .- Females? No answer. -Total number registered? Central Falls, two hundred and seventy- seven ; Valley Falls, sixty ; Manville, fifty ; total, three hundred and eighty-seven .- Average attendance? Central Falls, one hundred and twenty-five ; Valley Falls, thirty-onc ; Manville, thirty-two and a half ; total, one hundred eighty-eight and a half .- Whole number over eighteen years of age ? Not returned .- Whole number under twelve years of age ? Not returned .- Average age of pupils in attendance. Not returned .- Studies pursued in the school? Spelling. reading, writing, arithmetic and grammar .- Principal employment of pupils out of school? Em ployed in mills .- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils ?
72
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Both .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? Both .-- When were evening schools first opened in your town? In 1870 .- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools? $1,000 .- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools ? Not much .- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? In some instances .- At what age, in your opinion, should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Not under fourteen .- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure? With good success .- Any marked examples of application to study? Yes .- Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? Yes.
Evening schools have been kept in Valley Falls, Central falls and Manville. The attendance was fair, and we think the money spent in this direction has been productive of good results. We hope, in our next report. to add the names of other places to our list, where the mill opera- tives may enjoy the benefits of the night school .- School Committee.
NEWPORT .- Number of evening schools? Two .- Length of each ses- sion ? Clarke Street, two hours ; Thames Street, one and a half hours .- Grade of instruction - primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? Clarke Street. seven weeks ; Thames Street, twenty-five .- Number of male teachers employed ? Three. Average salary per week, male teachers? $8.00 .- Whole number of female teachers ? Eight .- Average number of female teachers? Seven. Average salary per week? Clarke Street, $3.00 ; Thames Street, $3.25. No of pupils : Males? Clarke Street, one hundred and seventy-six males, forty-six females ; Thames Street, fifty-one males, forty-two females .- Total number registered? Three hundred and ten .-- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Fifty, about .- Whole number under twelve years of age? Sixteen, about. Average age of pupils in attendance ? Twenty- four. Studies pursued in the school? Geometry. book-keeping, and the common branches .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? Clarke Street, twenty-eight ; Thames Street, forty-six .- Books and sta- tionery furnished by town or by pupils? By pupils .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? By classes .- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools? $500 .- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools? No .- Are pupils ad- mitted to the evening school who attend the day school? Occasionally. -Any marked examples of application to study ? Many .- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? Ten hours.
According to instructions given by your Board, an evening school was opened December 1st, 1873, in Clarke Street school building, to continue in session, two evenings a week, until April 10th, 1874.
Six teachers were engaged, but owing to an increase in the number attending, the services of three others were secured. The departments of said school were as follows :
H. W. Clarke : Book-keeping, Commercial and Practical Arithmetic, Writing, Spelling, and General Information. Misses Lizzie Hammett and Ella F. Peabody-the upper classes in the common branches, and Misses Alice Hammett, Emily B. Chace, and Etta C. Gorton-the lower classes.
73
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
After the second week, Prof. F. W. Tilton volunteered to take the class in Geometry and Mechanics, then forming, and Mr. Daniel B. Fitts was employed as writing master. Near the close of the first term, Miss Sarah C. Weaver was engaged to take a class of Swedes.
The number admitted was largely in excess of the number attending, owing to the fact that some could come but one evening a week and others alteruate weeks. The interest and earnestness shown by those who were regular, testifies to the wisdom of your Board in opening a school of this grade, and also shows that the branches needed to be taught in the evening schools are those mentioned in this report.
The Evening School. Thames Street, taught by the Misses Ellory, con- tinues in its work of good .- T. H. CLARKE, Supt.
NORTH PROVIDENCE .- Number of evening schools? Six .- Where held? Smith's Hill, Church Hill, Garden Street school-house, Mt. Pleas- ant, Hopkins' school-house, and Centredale .- Length of each session ? Two hours .- Grade of instruction : primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixetl .- Length of school in weeks? Average length thirteen and three-fifths weeks .- Whole number of male teachers employed ? Eleven .- Average number of male teachers employed? Ten .- Aver- age salary per week, male teachers? $9.50 .- Whole number of fe- male teachers? Twelve .- Average number of female teachers? Eleven. Average salary per week? $8.40 .- Number of pupils, males? Three hundred and eighty-one .- Number of pupils, females? Two hundred and seventy-eight .- Total number registered? Six hundred and fifty- nine .-- Average attendance? Three hundred and seventy-one .-- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Twenty-six .- Whole number under twelve years of age? One hundred and forty-four -Average age of pu- pils in attendance? Fourteen .- Studies pursued in the school? Read- ing, writing, arithmetic, spelling, grammar, and topics from manual of commerce in Centredale school .- Principal employment of pupils out of school ? In the mills .- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils? By pupils in all but one district .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? Both .- When were evening schools first opened in your town? Town Hall, 1870 .- Amount of money re- ceived from your town for evening schools? Appropriated $3,000 .- Amount received from individuals or corporations? None .-- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools? No .- Are pupils ad- mitted to the evening school who attend the day school? Only a few at Centredale .- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure? Suc- cess unquestioned, progress far exceeds that of day school .- Any marked examples of application to study ? Many very interesting ones .-- Num- ber of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? About ten. -Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? Yes .-. Committee.
For the success and condition of the evening schools I refer to the sev- eral reports of the sub-committees having charge of them, and the ex- perience and watchfulness of these committees over these experimental schools will enable them to give information and suggestions worthy of regard. They have been interested in them, and have given time and labor to make them profitable and successful .- ANDREW JENCKS, Supt.
74
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
A large proportion of those attending have been young, their average age being fourteen, and in quite a number of cases it has been found that young children have not been sent to the day schools, because they could attend the evening school, and obtain their education in this way. It is a great temptation to the avaricious to secure the earnings of the child in the mill, even though small, when they can be educated in the evening school, although their earnings are not absolutely needed for maintenance. This is a wrong inflicted upon the young, and I submit whether it is not desirable to exclude the attendance of all children under twelve years of age from attending these schools.
Much as it is desired to secure good teachers for our evening schools, and upon whom their success mainly depends. I am decidedly of the opinion that no teacher employed in our day schools should be employed at the same time in the evening schools. and if we wish to secure an economical use of the money expended for their continuance they should be discontinued after Christmas .- GEO. E. NEWELL, Sub-Committee.
The attendance would have been somewhat larger, had' not the schol- ars been required to furnish their own books, a provision which really debars none seeking knowledge, from school privileges.
While the school has not been all that might be desired, yet when at- tendant circumstances are taken into consideration, and in comparison with other schools in the town, and in Providence, it may be said to have been successful. The good that it has done cannot be known now, but it is to be hoped that a foundation has been laid, upon which a super- structure may be erected, that will make better citizens and better men and women than would otherwise have been the case. In this connection it may be said that, for evening schools, even more than for day schools. teachers should have a love for their work, and a realizing sense of the duties and responsibilities devolving upon them. In short, a requisite qualification, much needed and seldom found, is the possession of a mis- sionary spirit that will seek to inspire a love for, and an enthusiasm in, the pursuit of knowledge.
The practice of paying the several school districts for the use of the school houses seems very much like exacting the " pound of flesh," par- tienlarly in those districts where there is no outside attendance, and I can see no more reason why the town should pay for the use of the school house for night instruction than for day instruction, or why a dis- triet is not under as much obligation to warm a room for an evening' school as for a day school .-- M. M. COWING, Sub-Committee.
The scholars who attend our evening schools are children of the poorer class who earn their bread by daily toil, consequently cannot attend the day school. But they are a part of the number, by which the town draws a portion of the school money, and can be reached in no other manner save the evening school, and are as much entitled to a portion of the school money as the day scholars.
When it is said that the evening schools are a failure, let me remark, there were boys who came to our school the past winter who could not, at the beginning of the term, reckon the amount of the week's wages at so much per day, but at the close could solve almost any problem in any of
75
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
the fundamental principles of arithmetic, and the same marked progress was shown in other studies pursued.
If we would have our boys grow up respected, and become useful mem- bers of society, we must teach them obedience and habits of in- dustry, and provide good schools for their education. If we would secure in our schools the most satisfactory results, there should be sym- pathy-a hearty, cordial co-operation between parent and teacher. They should understand each other, labor harmoniously together, with the great object in view of implanting in the minds of children principles which will enable them to perform faithfully all the duties of life, that at its close they can take a retrospective view of the past, satisfied they have not lived in vain, but fulfilled in part the object of their mission here.
We say then, open wide the doors of the evening schools Gather the children in. Let parents encourage, by their presence there, and we shall improve the present condition of society.
Provide them no such place, leave them to spend their evenings in the streets, and to the corrupting influences of the saloon and the vile places of which there are too many around us, and you leave them to ,imbibe principles and fix upon them habits that will blight their lives. rendering them fit inmates for our bridewells and prisons, destroying the proud hopes and anticipations of their parents .- W. W. WRIGHT.
PAWTUCKET .- Number of evening schools? Two .- Where held ? School-houses, Pleasant View and Grove street .- Length of each ses- sion ? Two hours .- Grade of instruction-primary, grammar, high' schools, or mixed? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? Ten .- Number of male teachers employed ? Two .- Average salary per week, male teachers? $10.00 .- Number of female teachers ? Seven .- Average salary per week ? $5 00 .- Number of pupils-males ? one hundred and fifty-five .- Number of pupils -- females? Seventy-five. -Total number registered? Two hundred and thirty .- Average at- tendance? One hundred and fifteen .- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Seventy-seven .;- Whole number under twelve years of age? Ten .- Average age of pupils in attendance? Seventeen .- Studies pursued in the schools? Common branches .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? Twenty-five .-- Principal employment of pupils out of school ? Mill operatives .-- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils? Pupils .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? Both .-- When were evening schools first opened in your town ? 1870 .-- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools? Town, $1,000; State $150 .- Amount received from individuals, or corporations? None .- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools? No .- Are pupils admitted to the evening schools who attend the day schools? No .- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Four- teen .- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure? Complete success .- Any marked examples of application to study ? Yes, a num- ber ?- Number of hours or daily labor of pupils who work in the mills ? Ten and one-half .- Would you recommend the half-time system for
76
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? Yes .-- School Committee.
Our evening schools for the past winter have proved successful in every particular. They were under the immediate superintendence of George A. Mason, Esq., Secretary of the School Board, to whom great credit is due .- P. E. BISHOP, M. D., Supt.
An efficient corps of teachers was procured, and the schools were in operation in one week from the time that the appropriation was made, with about two hundred and thirty pupils.
Knowing from experience the difficulties in keeping order which had heretofore existed, namely, troublesome boys outside of the school- room, I procured from Major C. T. Richardson, the services of two policemen, one at each house, and through their presence, that diffi- culty was avoided.
The schools were commenced at a late day, and were broken in upon by the Christmas and New Year holidays, which, of course, had a rather bad effect upon the schools in point of numbers, but not other- wise, the average being one hundred and fifteen. It has been said by some that our evening schools were a failure. I beg leave to differ from them, for I contend that numbers does not constitute success, but that progress in their studies and a bringing home to the minds of those who do attend, an appreciation of the advantages, and of the facilities afforded them. and thereby rendering them better citizens, better hus- bands and fathers. are sure indications of success .-- GEO. A. MASON, Supt. of Evening Schools.
PROVIDENCE .-- Number of evening schools? Seven .-- Where held? Meeting street. Pioneer Hall, South Main Street, Richmond Street, Ocean street, Harrison street, Harris avenue, and Polytechnic school, Fountain street .-- Grade of instruction -- primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? Twenty weeks .- Whole number of male teachers employed? Thirty-eight .--- Average number of male teachers employed? Thirty-one-Average salary per week-male teachers? Principal, $10 per week ; one'as- sistant, $7.50, and assistants, $5.00 -Whole number of female teachers ? Fifty three .- Average number of female teachers? Forty-eight .-- Number of pupils-males? One thousand five hundred and eighty-six. -- Number of pupils-females? Four hundred and eighty-eight .- Total number registered? Two thousand and seventy-four .- Average at- tendance? Eight hundred and thirty-five .- Studies pursued in the school? Grammar school studies principally .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? Fifteen .- Books and stationery furnished by city or by pupils? By city .- Instruction by classes, or by individuals, or by both methods? Both .- Do evening' schools affect the attendance
of the day schools? No .- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? On permits .-- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Twelve years.
These schools have been quite successful the present winter. The average attendance has been larger than in any previous year, and the results are fully as satisfactory .- DANIEL LEACH, Supt.
77
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
A list of teachers recommended by the Committee was appointed by the Committee on Qualifications, in accordance with the by-laws.
The schools commenced Monday, October 13th, and continued twenty weeks, closing February 27th. The demand for admission to four of the schools, in the early part of the term, was far beyond the capacity of rooms ; and it was found necessary to refuse a large number of the ap- plicants ; preference being given to those of the more advanced ages.
The average attendance was over forty per cent. of the whole number registered, which, according to tables, is in excess of that of any of the five immediately preceding years. The attendance during the last half of the term, was about fifty-eight per cent. of that of the first half. The average number of teachers employed during the term, was seventy- eight.
The amount expended for salaries was $9,682.45; of which sum $1,262 were paid to those employed at the Polytechnic school ; making the cost of all the schools, about $11.60 per scholar.
The Committee considered themselves much favored, and the schools very fortunate, in securing for teachers a large number who had taught one or more of the previous winters, and thus brought to their duties the advantage of experience. The Principals were all gentlemen of experience, and gave, with one exception, very great satisfaction. With their able corps of assistants, ever willing, faithful and earnest in their work, they accomplished results of such nature as will, in the minds of the Committee, tend greatly to increase the present and future welfare of the pupils thereby instructed, and they in turn, help to bene- fit the community in which they may be placed.
In addition to the usual, course of studies, of arithmetic, spelling, reading, writing and geography, the time has been diversified by map drawing, declamation and original essay writing, with results that would be creditable to pupils in schools of greater and higher preten- sions. The system of writing introduced last year, has been continued through this, with marked success. The teachers in this department have been devoted to their work, and the writing books of the scholars, in most cases, have shown great improvement in the formation of the letters, and neatness and carefulness in the execution. Singing exer- cises have been a source of much profit, as well as pleasure, to both teachers and scholars, relieving them from the monotony of the the general routine of the common and more arduous studies. The de- portment throughout the schools, with the exception of three cases in the early part of the term, has been unusually good, thus reflecting credit alike on the good management of teachers and the right inten- tions of scholars. More particularly is this noteworthy in the scholars, when we consider the element of which evening schools are mostly made up.
The schools were visited by members of the Committee often during the term ; and, on the closing night, the several rooms were thronged with the friends of the teachers and scholars.
The benefits arising from these schools cannot be over-estimated. They are doing a good work for children whose situation in life does not permit them to attend the day school ; and a noble work for young
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.