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 19
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
9. In case of obstinate disobedience or willful violation of order, a teacher may suspend a pupil from school for the time being, by inform- ing the parents or guardians and school committee thereof, and re-admit him on satisfactory evidence of amendment ; or such pupil may, at the discretion of the teacher, be referred directly to the committee, to be dealt with as their judgment and legal authority shall dictate.
10. The teachers shall classify the pupils of their respective schools according to their age and attainments, irrespective of rank or wealth, and shall assign them such lessons as seem best adapted to their capaci- ties, and render them all possible aid and assistance, without distinction and without partiality.
11. For the purpose of preserving that system and order so assential to a well-regulated school, and securing to the pupils a thorough knowl- edge of the subjects pursued, there should be a specified time for every exercise, and a certain portion of time devoted to it ; and in no case should any one recitation interfere with the time appropriated to another ; and whatever the exercise may be, it should receive, for the time, the immediate and, as far as practicable, the exclusive attention of the teacher.
12. Exercises in declamation and composition shall be practiced by the older and more advanced pupils, at the judgment of the teacher, under the advice of the committee.
13. Singing may be encouraged, and, as far as practicable, taught in all the schools, not only for its direct intellectual and moral uses, but as
111
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
a healthy exercise of the lungs, an agreeable recreation to the pupils, and an auxiliary in good government.
14. The teacher may employ the older scholars, under his direction, in the management of the school, when it can be done without disad- vantage to them or to the good order of the school.
15. There shall be a recess of at least fifteen minutes in the middle of every half day.
16. It shall be the duty of teachers to see that fires are made in cold weather, in their respective school-rooms, at a seasonable hour to render them warm and comfortable by school time ; to take care that their rooms are properly swept and dusted ; and that a due regard to neatness and order is observed, both in and around the school-house.
17. As pure air of a proper temperature is indispensable to health and comfort, teachers cannot be too careful in giving attention to these things. If the room has no ventilator, the doors and windows should be opened before and after school, to permit a free and healthful circulation of air ; and the temperature should be regulated by a thermometer sus- pended five or six feet from the floor, in such a position as to indicate as near as possible the average temperature, and should be kept at about sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit.
18. The teachers shall take care that the school-houses, tables, desks, and apparatus in the same, and all the public property intrusted to their charge, be not cut, scratched, marked, or injured or defaced in any man- ner whatever. And it shall be the duty of the teachers to give prompt notice to one or more of the trustees, of any repairs that may be needed.
19. Every teacher shall keep a record of all the recitations of every class ; and of the manner in which every member of the class shall ac- quit himself in his recitation-using figures or otherwise to mark degrees of merit. Also every act of disobedience or violation of order shall be noted ; and the registers shall be at all times subject to the inspection of parents, trustees and the school committee.
20. The following shall be the construction of teachers' engagements, unless otherwise specified in the written contract : They shall teach six hours every day, including the recess, and shall divide the day into two sessions, with at least one hour intermission. They shall teach every day in the week except Saturday and Sunday, and four weeks for a month ; and they may dismiss the school on the fourth of July, on Christ- mas, and on days of public fast and thanksgiving, and one day out of every month for the purpose of attending a teachers' institute, or for visiting schools.
Pupils .- 21. Good morals being of the first importance, and essen- tial to their progress in useful knowledge, the pupils are strictly enjoined to avoid all vulgarity and profanity, falsehood and deceit, and every wicked and disgraceful practice ; to conduct themselves in a sober, orderly and decent manner, both in and out of school ; to be diligent and attentive to their studies ; to treat each other politely and kindly in all their intercourse ; to respect and obey all orders of their teachers in re- lation to their conduct and studies, and to be punctual and constant in their daily attendance.
112
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
22. Every pupil who shall, accidentally or otherwise, injure any school property, whether fences, gates, trees or shrubs, or any building or any part thereof ; or break any window-glass, or injure or destroy any instru- ment, apparatus or furniture belonging to the school, shall be liable to pay all damages.
23. Every pupil who shall anywhere, on or around the school prem- ises, use or write any profane or unchaste language, or shall draw any obscene pictures or representations, or cut, mark, or otherwise intention- ally deface any school furniture belonging to the school estate, shall be punished in proportion to the nature and extent of the offence, and shall be liable to the action of the civil law.
24. No scholar of either sex shall be permitted to enter any part of the yard or buildings appropriated to the other, without the teacher's permission.
25. The scholars shall pass through the streets on their way to and from the school, in an orderly and becoming manner ; shall clean the mud and dirt from their feet on entering the school-room ; and take their seats in a quiet and respectful manner, as soon as convenient after the first bell rings ; and shall take proper care that their books, desks, and the floor around them, are kept clean and in good order.
26. No scholar should try to hide the misconduct of his school fel- lows, or screen them from justice ; but it shall be the duty of every pupil who knows of any bad conduct, or violation of order, committed without the knowledge of the instructor, to the disgrace and injury of the school, to inform the teacher thereof, and to do all in his power to discourage and discountenance improper behavior in others, and to assist the teacher in restoring good order and sustaining the reputation of the school.
SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Scholars .- 1. No child under five years of age shall be admitted as a scholar into any of the schools in this town, unless by special permission of the member of the committee having that district in charge.
2. No scholar who comes to school without proper attention having been given to the cleanliness of his person and of his dress, or whose clothes are not properly repaired, shall be permitted to remain in school.
3. Scholars who fail to attend school regularly, except such scholars as present to their teacher a written excuse from one or both of their parents, or guardian, shall not be entitled to the privileges of our schools.
4. Any scholar who tyrannizes over the younger and smaller scholars of the school, thus constantly annoying his teacher by complaints of his conduct, shall be excluded from our schools.
5. Any scholar who persists in using profane and obscene language, or has in his or her possession any obscene literature, or circulates the same among the other scholars, shall be excluded IMMEDIATELY from our schools.
6. Smoking and chewing tobacco in the school-house, or upon the school premises are forbidden.
Teachers .- 1. Teachers must in all cases be examined by the proper
113
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
authority, and receive a certificate from such authority, that they are qualified to instruct the schools in this town, BEFORE THEY COMMENCE TO TEACH. Any departure from this law, however slight, will be suffi- cient reason in the minds of the committee for withholding a certificate.
2. No teacher shall use or encourage the use of any other books than those recommended by the committee.
3. Teachers shall take care that their rooms and entries are kept neat and clean, and are, at all times, properly ventilated.
4. Teachers must give notice to the school committee of the time when the term will begin and close, so that the school may be visited as the law requires.
5. Teachers will be held responsible by the committee for the prompt and efficient enforcement of the above rules.
6. Every teacher shall keep a copy of these rules and regulations posted up in the school-room, and shall cause them to be read aloud at least once in every month ; and in case of any difficulty in carrying out these regulations, or in the government or discipline of the school, it shall be the duty of the teacher to apply immediately to the committee for advice and direction.
SANITARY CONDITION OF OUR SCHOOLS.
PROVIDENCE .- The sanitary condition of our schools is too important a subject to be overlooked. It is now generally admitted that there is a growing diminution in the physical vigor of our youth. To what is this to be ascribed? What are among the proximate causes of this in- creasing evil? Are our schools in any way accessory to it? These are questions of vital moment, and should receive the most careful con- sideration. Are there not other agencies far more potent and universal that impair the health of the young, than exhaustive study. It is un- doubtedly true that there are instances of girls of a nervous tempera- ment, and who are ambitious to excel, who are injured by too close and intense application to their studies. But is not this rather the neglect of parental supervision and care than the fault of our system.
From long and careful observation, I am fully satisfied that the lack of physical vigor in our youth is to be attributed far more to the neglect of regular systematic exercise in the open air, and from the continued excitement of the brain from other causes than that of study, than to all other agencies combined. Pure air and sunlight are as essential to animal as to vegetable growth.
Vigorous manhood and womanhood are too often sacrificed to a false notion of refinement and delicacy. Through a mistaken sympathy and kindness, children are being brought up too tenderly-too much like hot-house plants, wholly unfitted to bear the trials and hardships of life.
8
114
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
It is not so much the amount of study as the manner in which it is performed that produces physical weakness. There is frequently a nervous excitement, an intense anxiety accompanying mental effort. The mind moves too rapidly-it soon loses its vigor-instead of gain- ing discipline and strength by its exercise, weariness and exhaustion are the consequences. Let there be quiet self-composure. Let the flow of thoughts be slow, calm, under perfect control, and almost any amount of study may be performed without injury.
In this connection, I think it would be well to consider whether the children in our primary schools are not confined too many hours a day, and whether it would not be wise and humane either to shorten one of the sessions or to lengthen the recesses .- DANIEL LEACH, Supt.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
BRISTOL .- The Byfield School Building .- This fine school-house was completed in the month of June, and was thoroughly furnished, with the exception of the school committee room, during the summer vaca- tion. Each room contains from fifty to fifty-five single desks and chairs of an approved fashion ; the comfort of the pupil has been considered, not only in the manufacture of this furniture, but also in its arrange- ment in the school-room. The entire cost of the building and furniture has been forty-five thousand dollars. We trust it will prove so good an investment that the citizens will never have occasion to regret it.
Colonel Nathaniel Byfield, for whom this building was so appropri- ately named, was one of the founders of the town, and even at that early period, proved a friend of education and showed his appreciation of this subject by giving a large tract of land to the town, the income of which should be forever devoted to the support of public schools ; the rent of these lands is constantly increasing and already amounts to a very considerable sum annually.
This edifice seems a most appropriate monument to the memory of a man alike distinguished for his intelligence and his estimable character.
Ventilation .- This important subject, that received so little attention at the time of the erection of the other school houses in the town, was most carefully considered by the committee appointed to build the Byfield school.
After a thorough investigation of some of the most approved systems of ventilation, and after visiting some of the finest school buildings in the country, among others the Morgan school of Clinton, Connecticut, they finally adopted that system which seemed to combine the greatest advantages and was universally approved by all who had tried it.
The rooms in the new building are so well ventilated that it is rarely, if ever, necessary to open the windows, excepting where there are fifty or more pupils and the air becomes over-heated ; even then, if the win- dows which are far above the heads of the scholars, are dropped two or
115
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
three inches from the top, little or no inconvenience or risk is expe- rienced.
School Committee Room and Superintendent's Office .- The school committee, finding, a few months since, that it was no longer practicable for them to hold their meetings in the office of the town clerk, decided to furnish a room in the Byfield School House, to be used for a commit- tee room and superintendent's office ; this has been done. and the com- mittee now have a pleasant and comfortable place for holding their monthly meetings, and the superintendent, a suitable office for the trans- action of all business relating to the public schools. All the books and stationery required for the pupils can now be found in this office. Fifty dollars have been heretofore annually paid for the storage of books and other school property, this sum will hereafter be saved by the present arrangement .- R. S. ANDREWS, Supt.
ยท COVENTRY -Several school-houses need repairing, among which might be named Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10. We would say to every citizen, don't neglect your school houses, the effect is great upon your children and upon the traveler who passes them .- H. L. SPENCER, Clerk.
CUMBERLAND .- The school-house and its surroundings should be ar- ranged with due regard for health, utility and attractiveness. The loca- tion of the house is of great importance. The ground around it should be dry and spacions. Half an acre at least should be set apart for the smallest school. It should be judiciously removed from the sight and sound of public travel. Suitable shade-trees and other pleasant attrac- tions might well be added. The house should be furnished with seats constructed with regard to a correct position and the comfort of the oc- cnpants. There is no more sense in furnishing school-rooms with straight wooden benches than there would be in adopting such uncomfortable furniture for our homes. The house should be easily and well ventilated. Probably we might trace most of the dullness and sickness of school children to the neglect of this. There should be ample room for class recitations, and there should be a good supply of class-furniture,-black- boards, charts, maps, books of reference, and numerous means for illus- tration. As the period of school life is, in many respects, the most im- portant, so it should be made the most replete with those influences which will awaken and stimulate the mental activities, and which will render the earlier tasks of life attractive. But if this is true there is a sad neglect in our town, and a great work of improvement is needed. Ten at least of our fourteen houses in some respects are badly located. They are subject to disturbance from travel on one, two, or even three streets. They have no suitable yards, and no pleasant surroundings. Internally the wants are numerous. All are now furnished with black- boards, but several of them are small and in inconvenient places, Most of these houses were constructed without reference to class recitations, and until some of the old houses are replaced by better ones, and others are improved in many respects, the pursuit of knowledge will there be made under circumstances of comparative difficulty. Let it be remem- bered that it is by the aid of the State school fund, and by town appro- priation that good teachers and long schools are possible in the rural
116
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
districts. Hence it is proper that State and town should demand a good house, well furnished, and well located, in which to expend the school money. And unless districts shall regard the just wishes of those upon whom the greater part of the tax is assessed, the district system must inevitably give place to direct town control. The wise and liberal expenditure of the Lonsdale district may be noted with great pleasure. The district have adopted for a name, the "Blackstone School."- C. W. BURNHAM, Supt.
FOSTER .- The school-houses of the town, as a whole, will compare favorably with those of adjacent towns, and with two or three excep- tions, are in fair condition. In District No. 1, the house has been re- paired and painted ; in No. 3, the house has been papered, and its ap- pearance much improved ; in No. 7, the house has been thoroughly repaired and tastefully fitted up. The houses in Nos. 4 and 15 need repairing, especially the one in No. 4. It would add to the interest of education very materially if the school-houses generally could be fur- nished with maps and other school-room furniture .- GEO. S. TILLING- HAST, Supt.
HOPKINTON .- So important is the ventilation of the school-room, that no school-house should be accepted by a School Committee that is not properly ventilated .- S. S. GRISWOLD, Supt.
JOHNSTON .- It gives me great pleasure to report that so far as school property is concerned, during the past year, many beneficial changes have been effected, conclusively showing that the spirit of progress is still alive, and that the rapidly increasing liberality, in regard to our schools, which had its birth four years ago, is fast approaching a giant stature. This is as it should be ; for if we have good citizens we must lay the foundation in the minds of our youth ; to do which we must have good schools. In order to have good schools we must have good accommodations for our scholars, and then upon the same principle that we supply our workmen with good tools, we must supply our school- houses with all the needed modern improvements. I can only say in regard to improvements in school property that with one exception, whatever suggestion has been made by me as your Superintendent, has been complied with heartily, and at once, and the co-operation of Trus- tees and all friends of education has been readily tendered.
The entire year has been devoted to progress, and the friends of edu- cation are jubilant, and justly proud of the position they have attained. By way of expenditures, I would say that nearly $6,000 have been ex- pended in alterations and repairs, and all raised by district taxation, making a record that any town may justly be proud of. It should be remembered that this is but a repetition, or rather an extension of what has been done each year for the past four years .- WM. A. PHILLIPS, Supt.
LINCOLN .- Condition of the School Buildings .- The school honses in the various districts remain in about the same condition as at our last report. Some few have received modern improvements, and the money has been wisely expended. The school-room should be made the most attractive and pleasant room in the district.
117
EXTRACTS FROM SCHOOL REPORTS.
The buildings are in a good state of repair, and supply in every par- ticular the wants and necessities of the district. And yet for all of this, nothing is being done, which can absolutely be avoided ; the districts seeming to rest content with buildings which have no pretensions to beauty or attractive surroundings. Especially is this the case in the rural districts of our town.
It is hardly necessary for your committee to dwell upon the importance of providing suitable buildings for school-rooms. Next to the teacher, for making the school a success, ranks the building. If this is comforta- ble and inviting we may expect a much more rapid rate of advancement. The greatest mental and physical development of the child can alone be obtained, when the room is properly ventilated. Pure air and proper accommodations are of the highest necessity. The school house in dis- trict No. 7 is entirely inadequate and unsuitable .- School Committee.
NEWPORT. - Rogers High School Building. - The crowning act of our school work of the year, has been the completion of the Rogers High School building. The joint Committee of the City Council and School Board, in common with the citizens, may look to this monu- ment of school architecture with pride, and with exceeding grateful- ness to the noble benefactor, our own son, William Sanford Rogers, of whom we may justly say, that if the scenes of his childhood and early manhood are no longer blessed by his presence, his benefaction remains, thereby consecrating his memory afresh, day by day, as it meets the eye of the citizen, as it holds within its walls the teacher and student. Beyond this is the solid foundation on which it rests, a perpetual annual income of several thousand dollars, protecting its continuance and usefulness to generations.
Within its walls are taught the needed fundamental elements of educa- tion for any avenue of life. Its corps of teachers, alive to the advance in scientific and classical knowledge, are placing the Rogers School in the front rank of schools of its class in our country .- THOS. COGGES- HALL, Chairman.
The style of architecture is the Venitian Gothic. The dimensions of the building are fifty-three feet by sixty ; its material, pressed brick. The water table is of Berea stone. The belting courses and other trim- mings are of Amherst stone ; the steps, of granite. The tiles which adorn the front are of English manufacture.
A room in the upper part of the tower has been finely finished, and will serve as an observatory. There is an excellent concreted cellar, averaging eight feet in the clear. A large shaft, extending from the cellar to the roof, affords thorough ventilation. The walls throughout are covered with hard finish.
The floors and wainscot are hard pine. The doors are ash. The laboratories are thoroughly fitted. In the working laboratory, twenty- four tables are provided for students, each supplied with closet, drawer and Bunsen burner.
It is a source of gratification to all, and especially to the building committee, that the building was completed and thoroughly finished without exceeding the original appropriation .- F. W. TILTON, Head Master.
118
SCHOOL COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.
Repairs and Improvements .- Repairs and improvements have been quite extensive the past year. If we have healthful rooms we shall have healthy children, and certainly much more can be done where the air is pure, than in close, ill-ventilated rooms, so productive of head-aches, listlessness, throat and lung troubles .- T. H. CLARKE, Supt.
NEW SHOREHAM .- To secure good from schools a proper house is re- quisite. The school-houses in Nos. 1, 3, and 4, are not proper to keep our public schools. in, therefore we would recommend that those three districts build new school-houses for the accommodation of the pupils and for the honor of the districts and respectability of the town .- G. H. PEABODY, Supt.
NORTH KINGSTOWN .- Our practice of building school-houses with but one room for the instruction of as many children of all ages, from 4 to 16 years, as can be gathered in, from certain territorial limits under one teacher, is working just this evil which is complained of. I do not refer to this objectionable feature of our one room school-houses with any ex- pectation that they will be immediately pulled down and properly con- structed houses put in their places, but simply to convince those who complain (and the number is large) that their children are neglected by the teacher, that the fault is not so much the teacher as it is the want of proper accommodation for grading and classification. With the older and younger pupils in the same room there cannot be a system of disci- pline which shall be equally adapted to both classes, and this also is another quite as objectional a feature to the one room school-house as the other .- A. B. CHADSEY, Supt.
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.