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 15
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SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
men and young women who have reached an age that enables them to see the importance of having a common school education.
Many and many were the expressions of gratitute of the scholars, at the close of the term, for the school privileges which they had been per- mitted to enjoy.
May the city of Providence do nothing to discourage the seekers after knowledge through this channel ; but rather urge them on, and, with liberal hand, provide them good, experienced teachers, large, well ven- tilated and lighted rooms, with comfortable seats and desks, that they may share with the more fortunate the benefits of a good education, and thus become better fitted for the duties of citizenship .-- JOSEPH E. JOHNSON, Chairman.
Polytechnic School .- The Polytechnic School deserves special commendation. There is only one drawback, which can be easily remedied. In some instances a few large pupils have entered for no good purpose, and while their conduct has been mainly in con- formity with the rules when in school, yet when in the street they have been guilty of such gross improprieties as ought at once to be checked. There have also been in the vicinity of some of these schools loafers of the baser sort, who have annoyed the scholars on their way home. A more vigilant surveillance of the police, would remove these evils .--- DANIEL LEACHT, Supt.
The Polytechnic School has done a good work. The Committee were especially desirous that the studies to be pursued in this school should be of the most elementary, and at the same time, of the most practical and useful kind.
The Principal, Mr. Sumner U. Shearman, well known in our city, has shown good management in the direction of the school. and has taught English Grammar and English Literature to a class of young men, whose constant attendance and patient, earnest endeavors expressed more strongly than words, their appreciation of him as an instructor.
The classes in arithmetic, book-keeping, commercial forms and writ- ing, under the tuition of Mr. John B. Peck, have been a decided suc- cess, both in attendance and in results obtained by the members. The class in architectural drawing, with Mr. Clifton A. Hall as teacher, and the class in mechanical drawing, under the charge of Mr. Edson S. Jones, have been well attended by young men from every ward in the city. Under the kind and skillful tuition of these two gentlemen, many a young man has been encouraged and helped on a long way in his endeavors to acquire a practical knowledge of this useful art.
A large class of young Germans, studying English, under the able and thorough instruction of Mr. Henry Appleton, was a prominent feature in this school ; continuing its sessions, with a full attendance and undiminished interest, to the close of the term .- JOSEPH E. JOHN- SON, Chairman.
SCITUATE .- Efforts have been made to establish evening schools at several points in the town, but owing to various causes, chiefly the want of funds, they proved unsuccessful. It is believed that there are many deprived of day schools, to whom such schools, properly conducted,
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might prove beneficial. Should the town make a small appropriation for this purpose, there could be an additional amount secured from the state. I recommend that such an appropriation be made .- J. M. BREW- STER .- Supt.
SMITHFIELD -- Number of evening schools ? Four .-- Where held ? Georgia- ville, Allenville, Spragueville and Winsor Mills .- Length of session ? Georgiaville, seventy-nine ; Allenville, seventy-four ; Spragueville, fifty- five ; Winsor, sixty-six evenings .-- Grade of instruction : primary, gram- mar, high school, or mixed ? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? In all, about fifty-five evenings .- Number of male teachers employed? Two .- Average number of male teachers employed? One and a half .- Average salary per week, male teachers ? $5.00 .-- Number of female teach- ers? Four .- Average number of female teachers? Three and a half. Average salary per week ? About $4.87 .-- Number of pupils, males ? Don't know .-- Number of pupils, females ? Don't know .-- Total number registered ? One hundred and eighty seven .- Average attendance ? One hundred and ยท two .- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Not known .- Whole number under twelve years of age? Not known .- Average age of pupils in attendance? Not known .- Studies pursued in the school? Reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? Not known .- Principal employment of pupils out of school? Factory operatives .- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils? Both .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by by both methods ? Both methods .- When were evening sehools first opened in your town? As far as I know, four years ago .- Amount of money re- ceived from your town for evening schools? $200.00 .- Amount received from individuals or corporations? $36.50 .- Amount appropriated by the town for evening schools for the current year? $200.00- Do even- ing schools affect the attendance of the day schools? Not perceptibly. -- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? They are .- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? All ages .- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure ? Good success .- Any marked examples of application to study ? Not particularly .- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? Eleven hours .- Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? I think not .- - School Committee.
Under the direction of the Board, the Superintendent has aimed to dispose of the money in an equitable manner, depending, however, somewhat on circumstances ; as the length of schools and the readiness of the district to commence them. The evening schools are mainly a benevolent institution, and the legislature has failed to specifically re- gulate them by law. But we think the town's committee should be in- structed to apportion the money available, by the average attendance the preceding year.
Lights and fuel have been gratutiously furnished, in part by the dis- tricts, and in part by the factory companies in the villages where the schools have been held .- M. W. BURLINGAME, Supt.
WARREN .- Number of evening schools ? One .- Where held? On
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Baker street .- Length of each session? From, quarter past seven to quarter past nine .- Grade of instruction : primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed-Length of school in weeks? Eighteen .- Number of male teachers employed ? Two .- Average number of male teachers em- ployed? Two .- Average salary per week. male teachers? $7.08} .--- Number of female teachers ? None .--- Number of pupils, males? Forty- six .--- Number of pupils, females? Fifty-two .--- Total number regis- tered? Ninety-eight .--- Average attendance? Forty-eight .-- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Cannot say, very few ; number over fourteen, was fifty-three .- Whole number under twelve years of age? May have been two or three .- Number under fourteen, forty-five .--- Aver- age age of pupils in attendance? Cannot say .--- Studies pursued in the school? From primary studies to grammar grade inclusive .--- Principal employment of pupils out of school? Operatives .--- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils? Both .-- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? Both methods .--- When were evening schools first opened in your town? Three years ago .--- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools? Say $500.00 .--- Amount received from individuals or corporations? None .--- Amount appro- priated by the town for evening schools for the current year? In gen- eral appropriation, say $500.00 .--- Do evening schools affect the atten- dance of the day schools? Yes, many children under 14 years of age attend the evening school, and do not attend day schools .--- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? In a few cases, -- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Not less than fourteen years ; fifteen would be better. --- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure? Not a success, owing to the fact that children advanced in years, do not take advan- tage, save in a few instances .--. Any marked examples of application to study? Yes .--- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? Not prepared to answer positively, should say ten or eleven hours .--- Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? No, they could not at- tend day schools unless they attend all day .--- GEORGE LEWIS COOKE, Chairman.
Acting upon the conviction created by the experiences of last year, your Committee provided, this Winter, but one school under the care of two teachers.
This school has failed to realize the results hoped for, not from want of efficiency in instructors, but through lack of appreciation on the part of those for whom these advantages were provided. Our day schools offer ample and excellent opportunities for the youth of our town, but there are among us a large class of young persons, male and female, who, through neglect, or deprivation in earlier years, are nearly or wholly destitute of that intellectual preparation for practical life, with- out which true success is so hopeless. To furnish to this unfortunate class, such advantages as are possible, whereby they may recover in some measure from the sad effects of past failures, these schools are established, viewed and used in such a light. They give promise ouly of incalculable good ; yet the great danger arising from their institution,
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seems to be that through ignorance and a short-sighted policy, some parents, in their greed for a little material gain, may rob their children of the advantages of our day schools by placing them in the factories and mills, at an illegal age, and then sending them, under all the weari- ness of a day's toil, to the evening schools, to gain, under physical pro- test, the mental instruction, which should claim the brighest and fresh- est hours of the day ; thus substituting for six hours of fresh and vigorous study in the daytime, a short two hours of wearied and exhaust- ing effort at night. Such unwise, and cruel, and in many cases, criminal policy, subjects both parents and corporations to legal liabilities, which every town should recognize and enforce as their just duty in behalf of the generation so soon to come into power, and to affect every interest and hope of the State .--- School Committee.
WARWICK .- Number of evening schools? Six .- Where held? Ap- ponang, Natick, Phenix, Centreville, Crompton, River Point .- Length of session ? One and a half hours .- Grade of instruction-primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed .- Length of school in weeks? Sixty evenings ; four evenings per week .- Number of male teachers employed? Five .- Average salary per week, male teachers? $1.50 per evening .- Number of female teachers? Five .- Average salary per week ? $1.30 per evening .- Number of pupils-males? Two hun- dred and ninety-three .- Number of pupils-females ? One hundred and two .- Total number registered? Three hundred and ninety-five .- Average attendance? Two hundred and nineteen .- Whole number over eighteen years of age? One hundred and eighteen .- Whole number under twelve years of age? Fifty-one .- Average age of pupils in at- tendance? Seventeen .- Studies pursued in the school? Reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? Thirty-nine .- 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? Decem- ber, 1872 .- Amount received from individuals or corporations? $40.00. -Amount appropriated by the town for evening schools for the current year ?. Appropriation not made until November .- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools? Yes .- 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? Any age over four .- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure ? Partial failure the past year, schools affected by lenten season .- Any marked examples of application to study? None .- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? Eleven hours .- Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills, under fifteen years of age? Should not .- School Committee.
WESTERLY .- Number of evening schools ? One .- Where held ? Pawcatuck Library Building .-- Length of each session ? Eleven weeks. -Grade of instruction-primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed -Length of school in weeks? Twenty-two weeks .- Number of male teachers employed? Three .- Number of female teachers? Two. 6
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-Number of pupils-males? Fifty-one .- Number of pupils-females ? Twenty-nine .- Total number registered? Eighty .- Average attend- ance? Fifty-eight -- Studies pursued in the school? Common English. -Principal employment of pupils out of school? In mills .- Books and stationery furnished by town or by . pupils ; Pupils .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? Both .- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools? None .- Amount received from individuals or corporations ? $125 -- Amount appropriated by the town for evening schools for the current year? None .- Do even- ing schools affect the attendance of the day schools? No .-- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? Yes .--- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Six years .--- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure ? Success .--- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the . mills? Eleven .--- Would you recommend the half-time system for such pupils as work in the mills under fifteen years of age? Yes .-- Committee.
WOONSOCKET .--- Number of evening schools? Four .-- Where held ? One in Globe Village ; one in Bernon Village ; two in Consolidated Dis- tricts .- Length of each session? One and a half hours .- Grade of instruction - primary, grammar, high school, or mixed? Mixed. -Length of school in weeks? Twelve .- Number of male teach- ers employed? Fve. - Average salary per week, male teachers? $10.00 .- Number of female teachers? Seven .-- Average number of female teachers? Six .- Average salary per week ! $5.00 .- Number of pupils-males? Two hundred and forty eight .- Number of pupils- females ?- One hundred and ninety-four -Total number registered ? Four hundred and forty-two .--- Average attendance? One hundred and ninety-eight .- Whole number over eighteen years of age? Forty .- Whole number under twelve years of age? Eighty-three .- Studies pur- sued in the school? Reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, algebra, history, etc .- Average number of pupils to each teacher? About twenty .- Principal employment of pupils out of school? In Cotton and Woolen mills .--- Books and stationery furnished by town or by pupils ? By the pupils .- Instruction by classes or by individuals, or by both methods? By both methods .- When were evening schools first opened in your town ? 1870 .- Amount of money received from your town for evening schools? $800.00 .- Amount received from individuals or corporations? None .- Amount appropriated by the town for evening schools for the current year? $800.00 .- Do evening schools affect the attendance of the day schools? Yes .- Are pupils admitted to the evening school who attend the day school? Yes .- At what age in your opinion should pupils be admitted to the evening school? Twelve .- Any remarks as to their success or partial failure? Partial failure .- Any marked examples of application to study? Not many .- Number of hours of daily labor of pupils who work in the mills? Sixty-five hours per week.
These schools have not hitherto been an entire success. The reason is apparent. In theory they are established for those who, having come to the years of discretion and maturity without the privileges of Com- mon school instruction, are prepared to appreciate the opportunities
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offered them in these schools. This is the theory ; but the fact is, that those who apply and have hitherto been admitted to these schools, have, for the most part, not the faintest conception of their misfortune in the loss of school privileges, or their good fortune in the present opportu- nity. On the first evenings they come in crowds, as if a menagerie were on exhibition. They come generally without books, though strictly charged to bring them. They expect a "good time," and rebel if disci- pline is attempted. After a little while the numbers diminish to one- half; then to one-fourth, and these pursue their studies to some profit. In all these schools, during the past winter.there have been instances of marked improvement. Young men and young women have, in some instances, shown a deep and commendable interest. They were loth to leave the room when the sessions closed, and at the end of the term they parted from their instructors in tears and with many expres- sions of regret. While there is a considerable number of such worthy but unfortunate persons in this community, it will be well to sustain these schools. They should, however, be conducted quite differently from what they have been heretofore. Weary little children under four- teen years of age, should be debarred admission, except for special reasons. "Tired nature" needs its "sweet restorer, balmy sleep," and should not be cheated of it. The body ought not to be dwarfed for the attainment of any conceivable amount of reading, writing and arith- metic. Precious as, knowledge is it is possible to purchase it too dearly.
The following regulations are recommended for the government of Evening schools :
1. Evening schools for adults and such children as may be admitted, under the direction of the Special Committee or Superintendent of Even- ing schools, may be established in such of the school-houses, with the consent of the Trustees, and in such other places as the Committee shall from time to time deem expedient.
1. There shall be one term of the Evening schools, commencing on the third Monday of October, and continuing twelve weeks, exclusive of vacations and holidays granted to the Public schools.
3. The schools shall be opened at 73 o'clock, and closed at 92 o'clock in the evening of the usual school days. The school rooms shall be opened and the teacher present fifteen minutes before the beginning of school hours.
4. Whenever there is more than one teacher in any school, the Special Committee or Superintendent may appoint one of the teachers Principal of the school, who shall have a general supervision over it.
5. The principal teacher of each school shall faithfully register every pupil's name and age, and keep an accurate record of attendance and the branches of studies pursued, and shall be able to give such statistics and information as the Committee shall require.
6. No person shall be admitted to the Evening schools under the age of fourteen years, except those whose avocations prevent their at- tending a day school. In such cases a certificate from the parents or some responsible person, setting forth the inability of the applicants to attend a day school, and attesting their identity and respectability, shall
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be presented, and shall be accepted by the Principal of the school to which such application is made before admission.
7. The Special Committee or Superintendent shall exercise a general supervision over the schools, and shall appoint all teachers, subject to the Rules of the School Board. Each school shall be visited and ex- amined as often as once a month, and report made of their condition to the School Committee.
8. A teacher may be appointed for every fifteen scholars.
9. Pupils shall be classified according to their attainments. and the course of instruction shall correspond, as nearly as possible, with that of the Primary and Grammar schools.
Special instruction, however, may be given, at the discretion of the Special Committee or Superintendent.
10. A teacher may discharge a pupil for disobedience or improper conduct with the consent of the Special Committee or Superintendent, and shall communicate to the principal teachers of the Evening schools, the names of all pupils thus discharged. No pupil thus expelled shall be admitted to any other Evening school without the consent of the Special Committee or Superintendent.
11. Teachers shall obtain, through the Committee or Superintendent, or Trustees, all the text-books required, in accordance with Chapter 52 ; Section 3, of the General Statutes, and the pupils thus furnished shall be reported, according to directions in the 12th Section of the Rules and Regulations for teachers of the Public schools.
12. There shall be a public examination of each school at the end of the term, and a diploma shall be awarded to those who shall have finished either of the courses prescribed for the Grammar or High schools.
13. The salaries paid, shall be as follows, for the time actually em- ployed : Male Principal Teacher, $2.00 per night ; Assistant Teacher, $1.00 per night.
14. The Rules and Regulations of the School Committee shall apply in all matters relating to Evening schools not expressly provided for in these Regulations.
15. Each teacher shall be furnished with a copy of these Regulations, together with the Rules and Regulations of the School Committee.
It is believed that Evening schools have nowhere been a success where regulations similar to these have not been adopted. It is quite manifest that if these rules are adopted, the schools will be much smaller. and the amount expended much less.
These facts are not to be regretted, inasmuch as provision is made for all those youth and adults who are prepared to profit by the generosity of the public.
Assuming that the reason and grounds of these regulations suggest themselves, it will be only necessary to reter .in one word to the 11th Regulation which looks to be providing books for the indigent. This is in this community something of an innovation. Pupils have been suf- fered to attend both Day and Evening schools without text-books. Such pupils are an evil in any school, and especially in an Evening school, where the light as dim, and the incentives to, and concealments of dis-
.
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order are very great. Such pupils speedily become demoralized, and this worst contagion of demoralization spreads, to the infinite detriment of the schools. It is hoped that no economical consideration will be a barrier to the adoption and enforcement of this Regulation .- CHARLES J. WHITE, Supt.
EXPENDITURES.
BARRINGTON .- The resources, available by the Committee have been more than sufficient to meet the expenses of the schools during the year. It may not be amiss to call attention to the difference in ex- pense for each pupil in the different schools during the past year. Tak- ing the average attendance as a basis for computation, the expense for each pupil in district No. 1 has been $15.74, in district No. 2 it has been $11.70 : in district No. 3 it has been $40.93. In view of these facts, it is an important question whether a more equitable apportion- ment of the school funds of the town is not desirable or even impera- tive .- School Committee.
EXETER .- The town tax for the support of public schools is about nineteen cents on each $100 valuation, which is considered by our citizens as quite a heavy tax. But we find on examination that some other towns pay from twenty-three to twenty-six cents on each $100 valuation, for school support. Thus we see that some towns of our State are doing more according to their valuation in a pecuniary point of view than we are. I am not prepared to say that our town should raise more money for school purposes, but I am prepared to say, that I believe that as much is being done for the benefit of the children of this town as can be consistently, with the means that our school officers have at their command.
If we buy a garment cheap, we must expect it is made of such materials and in such a manner as can be afforded for the price ; but if we buy dear, we expect a garment that is firm and will wear. So with our schools. If but little money is expended on them, but little good will result there- from ; and if much is expended judiciously, the future will tell of the rich harvest gathered by our children in the public schools. It is for you to decide what advantages you will confer on the rising generations, in training them up in goodness and usefulness, and in the ways of wisdom, that they may learn that there is truth in the words of the wise man, that, " Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace."
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