USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 26
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A meeting of men who were deeply interested in the cause of educa- tion was held at the Town House in May, 1831, at which two commit- tees were appointed; one to report upon the usefulness and manner of conducting lyceums and other similar institutions, and the other to consider and report upon the existing state of the schools and recom- mend improvements. Both committees reported on May 17, 1832, and the report of the second committee was printed, that of the other committee being subsequently withdrawn. The printed report can be referred to by the reader;2 but it may be said in brief that it recom- mended abandonment of the prevailing method of discipline over small
1Providence had an "African Union Meeting and School-House" about 1816. A "Short History" of Providence, printed in 1821 (in the R. I. Historical So- ciety library ), states that "about five years since, the ladies of the town of Providence (R. I.) formed a society for the instruction of the colored part of the population. A school was established under the patronage of the society, in the west part of the town, and Miss Sarah Latham of Smithfield was en- gaged as Preceptress". Another building was begun in 1819 and finished a year or two later, on a lot, donated by Moses Brown, "conveniently situated in the east part of the town", according to the same publication. This build- ing was used for both educational and religious purposes.
2 Hist. Public Education in R. I. (Stockwell), pp. 170-5.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
children, in which the "passion of fear" was strongly appealed to; the extension of the school curriculum; greater attention to securing teachers of better qualifications and higher character; the introduction of simple school apparatus, and less insistence upon committing to memory "the solid contents of books", etc.
In 1832, when Providence became a city, the first school committee consisted of the following: Samuel W. Bridgham (mayor and presi- dent) ; Dexter Thurber, Charles Holden, John H. Ormsbee, William T. Grinnell, Henry R. Green, Asa Messer, George Curtis, Moses B. Ives, Robert H. Ives, Peter Pratt, Thomas H. Webb, Frederick A. Farley, William Aplin, George Baker, Alexis Caswell, David Picker- ing, Pharcellus Church, Robert Knight, Robert E. Patterson.
In 1835 the school committee recommended the establishment of a high school; but the matter was long delayed. In the same year the salaries of masters was increased to $600 and of ushers to $300. In 1836 women teachers were for the first time employed as assistants in the grammar schools ; whenever a vacancy occurred in the place of an usher, it was filled by a woman. The first one appointed was Miss Avis W. Lockwood, who had been preceptress of the girl's school established in the fourth district in 1827, and continued in the same place when that school was made a primary in 1828.1
The time arrived, of course, when the city schools became over- crowded and the demand for more and better acommodations was imperative. This subject was brought to the attention of the City Council by the Mechanics' Association early in 1837, whose president, George Baker, wrote a strong memorial, the foundation of which was a series of resolutions adopted by the Association on January 30, 1837, which took the ground that the public schools were not adequate to mect the needs of the inhabitants; that "the public schools ought to be made equal to the private schools"; that "an increased number of public schools ought to be promptly established"; etc. Mr. Baker's memor- ial showed, among other facts, that in 1836 the number of scholars attending the public schools was 1,456, while the number in private schools was 3,235, and there were 1,604 attending no schools. In the
1From 1828 to 1836, the teachers of the primary schools, so far as ascer- tained, were: Carr, Ann J. Ware, Sarah P. Church, Mary Ann Davis, Avis W. Lockwood, Harriet Fisher, Eliza P. Delano, Sarah Pratt, Abby R. Thornton, Mary Godfrey, Emily Phillips, Hannah Farnum, Ann Page, Rosa A. Grafton, Elizabeth E. Brown, Sarah A. Hayford, Eliza Thurber, Ruth Winchester, Abby S. Cooke, Abby B. Hayford, W. Walker, Elizabeth R. Little, - Tillinghast ( colored school), Almy E. Spaulding, Diana Bragg, Sarah W. Arnold, Emeline A. Vinton, Harriet Wood, Mary C. Bragg, L. G. Lincoln, Susan Lincoln.
267
GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
same year there was paid by the city and State for public schools, $7,461.99 ; while for private schools the amount was more than $20,000. He showed also that the proportionate number attending the public schools in Boston was much larger than in Providence. He recom- mended the establishment of a grade of schools between the primary and the so-called writing schools, for reading, writing and arithmetic only.
This memorial, with its almost startling facts, awakened the public and commanded the respect of the Council. A committee of that body took the matter in hand and reported a plan of improvement; but it was unsatisfactory, and a second one was presented, comprising twelve primary, eight intermediate, and four upper schools; this was sent to the Board of Aldermen, who reduced the number of schools to twenty, and the salary list, proposed by the committee, about ten per cent. The bill was thus returned to the Common Council, who refused to concur. Various meetings were held, the subject was discussed in all of its bearings, and finally the Board of Alderman devised another plan, which included ten primary schools, six intermediate, two upper schools, and two schools for colored children. This was voted down in the Common Council by a large majority. The next municipal election (for 1837-8) turned somewhat upon the school question, and a board of aldermen and councilmen were elected who favored by a majority a complete school reorganization. Soon after the organiza- tion of the city government a joint committee from both chambers was appointed to act in the matter, and after visiting other cities and making thorough investigation, they made their report. It concluded with a series of resolutions to the effect that the number of schools should be increased to seventeen-one high school, six grammar and writing schools, and ten primary schools; recommended the payment of salaries of $1,000 to the principal of the high school; $750 to his assistant; $800 to masters of grammar and writing schools; $200 to two assistant female teachers; $250 to the principals of primary schools; and $175 to assistant teachers. Recommended the appoint- ment of a superintendent of schools at a salary of $800; that the high school should be instituted for the purpose of fitting young men for college and giving others, who were not to enter college, a good Eng- lish education, etc.
This report precipitated a warm contest and developed a large element of opposition to the proposed improvement; the opposition was based mainly upon the fact of the greatly increased expense
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
involved. But the friends of the cause, prominent among whom were John L. Hughes, Simon Henry Greene, and Seth Padelford, persisted in their task, and finally succeeded in securing the adoption of an ordi- nance involving broad principles and important changes. Conspicu- ous among these was a section fixing the number of schools at seven- teen; another for the establishment of a high school; another stating the number and character of teachers in all of the schools; another fixing the ages of scholars who might attend the various schools; establishing the office of superintendent of schools; others fixing the salaries of all teachers ; defining the duties of the school committee, etc.1 This ordinance was passed April 9, 1838, and under its pro- visions the primary and the grammar schools went into immediate operation ; subsequently an intermediate grade was established, and later the high school was opened.
Immediately after the passage of this ordinance a committee was appointed by the Common Council to make a thorough examination of all of the school houses and report upon their condition and what was needed to fit them for the introduction of the changes contemplated by the new ordinance. This committee reported that all of the school buildings were "unfit for use in their present condition", being small, dilapidated and badly constructed. In June, 1838, a joint committee was appointed to report plans for new school houses, estimates of cost for erecting them, etc., in connection with a bill recommending the appointment of a building committee. This recommendation was adopted and the building committee was authorized to proceed in the demolition or rebuilding of school houses, or erection of new ones, as might be necessary to provide for the new system. Within two years from that time thirteen new school houses were built, and on the first day on which the system went into operation more than 1,000 scholars entered the public schools who had never attended one before. All the rooms were over-crowded and it was necessary to open additional primary schools and build houses for their accommodation. Within two years the number of scholars in the schools more than doubled, and the grammar schools were so filled that many students who desired admittance could not be accommodated.
The reports for 1839, 1840 and 1841, show marked progress and generally satisfactory conditions in the city schools, excepting in rela- tion to lack of room. In the latter year there were in the city six districts and nineteen schools ; on account of the pressure in the gram-
1Hist. of Public Education in R. I. (Stockwell), pp. 183-6.
OLD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
mar schools, some of the scholars in the third, fifth, and sixth districts were placed in the ward-rooms under assistant teachers. Eleven school houses were the property of the city, and the number of teachers had increased to forty-three, only seven of whom were men; the num- ber of scholars in the primary schools for the last quarter of 1841 was 1,674, and 1,361 in the grammar schools. The amount of money re- ceived from the city in support of schools for the preceding year was $12,377.67 ; from the State, $3,818.20.
After prolonged effort on the part of progressive friends of educa- tion, a high school was established. It is fair to state that much of the opposition to the project arose from ignorance of the character and purposes of the school. A site was purchased at the corner of Benefit and Waterman streets, on which the building still standing was erected, and the school opened March 20, 1843. During the succeeding year 164 pupils were admitted-80 boys and 84 girls. The school at once took a high position among New England educational institutions, and has ever since gone rapidly forward. A large number of teachers, who subsequently attained eminence in their profession, received their education in the first high school. A high school building was erected in 1877-8, corner of Pond and Summer streets, supplying accommoda- tions that were sufficient until 1892, when the Manual Training High School was opened. This was followed by the opening of the Classical High School in September, 1897, and of the Hope Street High School in September, 1898.
On June 10, 1844, a code of by-laws and regulations was adopted for the schools in Providence, under which marked progress was at once made. This code provided, among other things, for a school committee consisting of thirty members, to be elected by the Common Council.
In the first district, with five schools, the committee consisted of Richmond Brownell, Elisha Dyer, jr., Amos D. Smith, and Shubael Hutchins. In the second district, with four schools, Isaac Thurber, Alexander Duncan, Edward P. Knowles, and Stephen T. Olney. In the third district, with four schools, Alexis Caswell, William T. Dor- rance, John A. Wadsworth, and Joseph G. Metcalf. In the fourth district, with three schools, Edward B. Hall, Moses B. Ives, Amherst Everett, and Gamaliel L. Dwight. In the fifth district, with four schools, Edward R. Young, Barzillai Cranston, Amasa Manton, George H. Tillinghast, and John R. Burrows. In the sixth district, with seven schools, William G. Goddard, Samuel Osgood, Esek Aldrich, Robert Knight, John F. Phillips, and William C. Snow. The executive and
271
GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
high school committee consisted of John Barstow, John J. Stimson, and Thomas M. Burgess. Thomas M. Burgess was elected president of the committee and Nathan Bishop was superintendent of schools.
In accordance with the ordinance of 1838, before noticed, the first superintendent of schools was appointed in 1839 in the person of Nathan Bishop, who had been a tutor in Brown University. He effi- ciently performed the duties of his office until 1851, when he resigned
NATHAN BISHOP, LL. D. Superintendent of Schools of Providence, 1839-1851.
to accept a similar position in Boston. 'He was succeeded by Samuel S. Greene, who had gained large experience in Boston schools. Some of the improvements introduced by him were: Bringing the various city teachers together at stated times, to receive from him instructions in their duties; the formation of a normal class of such graduates of the schools as desired to become teachers to receive systematic drill in the art of teaching; and the introduction of a course of written exam-
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
inations as the best test of quality of the work done by scholars in the grammar schools. Mr. Greene filled the position three and one-half years, when he was appointed to a professorship in Brown University, and was succeeded by Rev. Daniel Leach, D. D., who continued in the office until 1884. Dr. Leach's successor was Horace S. Tarbell, the present superintendent.
The enrollment (or attendance in a few of the earlier years) for the period covered by the following figures has been as follows :
1841, 3,527
1863, Winter term,
7,752
1885, Whole No. 16,803
1842, 3,822
1864,
7,588
1886,
17,322
1843, 4,284
1865,
7,588
1887,
17,229
1844, 4,499
1866,
1888,
66
18,105
1845, 4,900
1867,
7,356
1889,
18,380
1846, 5,227
1868,
7,438
1890,
18,271
1847, 5,904
1869,
8,324
1891,
17,638
1848, 6,005
1870,
8,210
1892,
18,236
1849, 6301
1871,
66
8,536
1893,
18,772
1850, 6,353
1872,
60
8,580
1894,
19,651
1851, 6,808
1873,
66
8,749
1895,
19,799
1852, 5,811
1874, Whole number, 11,320
1896,
20,997
1853, 5,838
1875,
12,507
1897,
22,883
1854, 6,264
1876,
13,213
1898,
25,053
1857, 6,600
1879,
66
14,211
1858, 7,250
1880,
13,261
1859, 7,135
1881,
14,462
1860, 7,352
1882,
14,542
1861, 7,602
1883,
15,427
1862, 8,066
1884,
יי
16,814
1855, 6,620
1877,
13,500
1899,
25,812
1856, 6,623
1878,
13,821
1900,
27,412
To supply accommodations for elaborate classification, which in- volved the placing of smaller numbers of scholars in each room, with a teacher upon whom full responsibility rested, required extensive alter- ations in many of the school buildings. These changes were made in a spirit of liberality, and the remarkable growth of educational facil- ities in all directions, from the four humble buildings and their ill- conditioned schools in 1800, to the magnificent equipment of to-day is, perhaps, the city's greatest honor. During the first twelve years after the schools were established, the attendance rarely exceeded 800; from 1819 to 1827 it ranged from 744 to 886 ; in 1836 it was 1,456; in 1848 it was 6,005 ; and ten years later was 7,257. In 1848 the cost of main- taining the city schools was thirty per cent. of the whole city expenses ;
273
GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
in 1858 it was only fourteen per cent., while in 1874 it was only 2.7 per cent. for school instruction and in total was only 3.1 per cent. Between the years 1838 and 1844 there were erected a high school building, six grammar, and six primary school buildings, at an aggre- gate cost of about $100,000. Between that date and 1876, thirty-seven school houses were built. All of this wonderful growth and improve- ment is more clearly shown in detail by preceding statistics.
In the year 1850 the schools received from the State, $7,081.53; from the town, $29,926.02; total receipts, $37,361.90. The amount expend- ed on school houses was $6,717. The number of school houses was then twenty-two, and the number of teachers was ninety-eight. The num- ber of scholars in attendance was 6,393.
For the school year of 1860 the State appropriation was $10,609.83; town, $50,000; total receipts, $65,565.19. There was expended on school buildings, $22,064.89. There were registered in the winter term, 7,352 scholars, and the average attendance was 6,617.
At the January session of 1869 the Legislature passed the bill estab- lishing the State Board of Education, which was made to consist of the governor and the lieutenant-governor, ex officio, and one member from each county in the State excepting Providence county, which was given two. The board was directed to hold quarterly meetings in March, June, September, and December. The first board consisted of the following: Newport county, Fred W. Tilton ; Bristol county, Rev. A. F. Spaulding; Kent county, George W. Greene; Washington county, Samuel H. Cross; Providence county, Rev. Daniel Leach, and Charles H. Fisher.1
During the school year 1869-70 there were many complaints of over- crowded school rooms. The new grammar school building, corner of Federal and Dean streets, was finished and dedicated December 14, 1870. Better ventilation in all school buildings was urgently recom- mended by the superintendent, and also the introduction of physical exercise in the schools. The State appropriation for the school year was $20,761.95 ; the city appropriation, $140,000; total receipts, $171,- 771.45. The registration for the winter term was 8,210, and the average attendance 7,389. There were 160 schools, and six evening schools;2 in the latter were registered 1,407 boys and 542 girls; 165
1For text of law establishing the State Board of Education, see report of the board for 1869-70, pp. 15-16.
2 It is not known just when the evening schools of Providence were first established, but one was taught in 1840 by Samuel Austin. They are first
18
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
teachers were employed. A normal school was among the changes recommended in the reports; also the establishment of an industrial school and the introduction of compulsory education.
For the school year 1870-71 the State appropriation was $20,754.20; town, $200,000; total receipts, $227,144.20. There were enrolled in the winter term 8,536 scholars, and the average attendance was 8,262; there were 200 schools and 200 teachers, with six evening schools, the latter having a registration of 1,660. The annexation of territory to the city intensified the urgency for more accommodations.
The State appropriation for 1871-2 was $20,261.44; city, $185,000; total receipts, $213,547.19. Enrolled in the winter term 8,580; aver- age attendance, 7,730. There were now owned by the city thirty-six school houses having a valuation of about a million dollars, and two others were hired. One high school, seven grammar schools, thirty- four intermediate schools and twenty-eight primary schools were taught, with eight evening schools. The enrollment in these latter numbered 2,195, and the average attendance was 709. An evening polytechnic school was opened October 16, 1871, which was reported as supplying a much-felt want; drawing, penmanship, bookkeeping, mathematics, chemistry, etc., were taught.
In 1872-3 the State appropriated $20,257.69 for schools in the city and the city appropriated $277,000; the total receipts were $303,195 .- 69 ; the registration for the winter was 8,749, and the average attend- ance 8,225. There were 187 schools and 184 teachers. More thorough grading was advocated in the reports, and a high school building was demanded. There were ten evening schools, in which were enrolled
mentioned in reports in August, 1847, when a communication regarding them was referred to a committee, who recommended a postponement of the subject. On September 18, 1849, a communication, signed by a committee appointed by the Common Council, asked for the use of two grammar school rooms for an evening school; it was voted inexpedient, but a resolution was adopted that the committee will co-operate with the Council in establishing and carrying on a school. On September 27 the executive committee was instructed to open two evening schools and two sub-committees were appointed to take charge of the matter. In August, 1850, it was voted that evening schools not exceeding four be opened, and in November of that year one for colored children was authorized. In 1852 and 1853 there were no evening schools. On November 14, 1854, a special meeting was called to consider the subject, at the request of certain citizens. A resolution was adopted and referred to a committee of three, who reported recommending the opening of two schools, one on each side of the river. In 1855 there were two schools; in 1856-58, inclusive, there were four; in 1859 there was none; in 1860-61 there were six. In the latter year there were about 1,000 in attendance. During the war period these schools were not opened, but in 1866 they were reopened and have continued in gradually increasing numbers, as elsewhere stated. (See School Report for 1870-71, pp. 29-35.)
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GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
2,566 scholars, with average attendance of 900. Six vacation schools, also, were opened this year in July and continued six weeks.
For 1873-4 the State appropriation was $20,261.43, and the city $170,000; the total receipts were $369,241.48. There were enrolled 11,320 scholars, with an average attendance of 8,607. There were 193 schools and 233 teachers. The high school had so increased in attend- ance that it was divided and part of it taught in the ward room on Benefit street, demonstrating the need of a suitable building.
The State appropriation for 1874-5 was $24,561.02, and from the city was $194,000 ; total receipts, $418,866.44. The school property of the city had now reached a valuation of $1,245,000 and comprised forty-five houses. There were expended in the year for permanent improvement, new buildings, etc., $200,000. The enrollment was 12,507, and average attendance 11,000. There were 210 graded schools, seven evening schools, and the polytechnic in the Fountain street building. A new house was erected, corner of Point and Plane streets, at a cost of $109,000, and a new house on Jackson avenue, costing about $17,000. (For description of buildings see Report, pp. 127-32.)
1875-6 .- State appropriation, $24,556.83; city, $194,000; total re- ceipts, $344,927.84; valuation, $1,300,000. The enrollment was 13,213; average attendance, 10,486. The number of children not in attendance at any school was reported as increasing, and pro- visions for compulsory education were recommended by the superin- tendent. A new building was erected on Manning street, and one on Doyle street. About $200,000 were expended on permanent improve- ments. There were six evening schools and seven vacation schools.
The State appropriation for 1876-7 was $25,287.34; city, $182,000; total receipts, $348,388.48; valuation, $1,450,000. The city now owned forty-nine houses, and during the year $119,530.45 were expended on permanent improvements. The enrollment was 13,500; average at- tendance, 10,886. Very extensive improvements were effected this year, six new buildings being completed. A grammar school building was erected on Oxford street, for which $50,000 were appropriated ; another on Candace street, for which $45,000 were appropriated. The new high school building, so long needed, was begun, with capacity for 700 scholars. The other buildings were those situated on Manning, Admiral, Julian, and Aldrich streets, for primary and intermediate schools. The city had 236 graded schools and eight evening schools. The report announced that eight towns in the State had adopted the town system, supplementing the district system; this was a change
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
which at that time was a subject of wide-spread discussion. The need of a school census was noticed in the reports.
For the year 1877-78 the State appropriation was $25,283.11; city, $210,720.64; total receipts, $358,409.45. There were fifty school houses and the property valuation was $1,450,000. Expended on permanent improvements, $113,138.12. The enrollment was 13,821; average attendance, 9,490; average attendance in the nine evening schools, 1,302. The new high school building was about finished and was formally opened in the next year. It stands on Summer, Spring, and Pond streets, on a lot costing the city $56,974.64, and the building cost $160,000. It is three stories high, with nine rooms on the first and second floors, for 900 pupils, and a hall on the third floor.
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