USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at the end of the century : a history, Volume 2 > Part 29
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1870-71 .- State appropriation, $1,075.09; town, $1,200; receipts, $2,346.09. Enrolled, 235 ; average attendance, 181 in the winter term. There were twelve schools, but in the next year there were only ten. In 1875-6 a new school house was built in district No. 3. A free library was opened July 14, 1879.
1879-80 .- State appropriation, $862.31; town, $1,540; receipts, $2,582.27; valuation, $7,095. Enrolled, 242; average attendance, 155. In 1881-2 a school house was built in district No. 6. In 1889 an ad- vanced school was opened with fair attendance, but it was abandoned in the following year. For 1889-90 the State appropriated $1,234.02; town, $1,864.87 ; receipts, $3,833.90 ; valuation, $3,630. Enrolled, 216; average attendance, 150. This year the school in district No. 8 was graded.
1899 .- State appropriation, $1,094.57; town, $2,067.92; receipts, $3,625.54. Enrolled, 225 ; average attendance. 147.
Middletown .- This town was erected from the northerly and east- erly parts of Newport in June, 1743, but there are no records of schools in the territory before that date, excepting as noticed in pre- ceding pages relating to Newport. At the Quarter Meeting of April 24, 1723, it was "Ordered that twenty pounds apiece be paid out of the Town treasury for the building the school-house in the woods in accordance with the plea of petitioners". The expression, "in the woods", alludes to that part of Newport which was set off to form Middletown. At the meeting of April 26, 1832, it was "Ordered, that the two schoolmasters in the woods part of the town, have ten pounds apiece out of the treasury for their good service to that part of the town for the time past". This, it should be remembered, was prior to the erection of Middletown. In April, 1744, after the creation of the town, it was
"Voted, that the Eastmoss School House be Repaired so much as there is a present necessity, and paid out of the Town Treasury."
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
In August, 1745, it was voted that a schoolmaster be employed to teach "one-half the time in the East School and the other half of the time in the West School House". The committee to employ the teacher were also given charge of the school lands and other school matters. Various proceedings in this connection, but of little impor- tance, took place down to 1786, when the east school house was burned, and "the old stuff which is left from the ruins" was sold at public auction. The next year the east school land was rented to Salisbury Stoddard for "six bushels of good Indian Corn". Other minor pro- ceedings took place through the remaining years of the last century, and in April, 1805, it was "Voted that the Deputies be Instructed to call up the Petition at the next General Assembly, which is now before the House, relating to the free school, and that they use their endeavors to recover what was granted the town for the purpose of said school". At about that date investigation was made to learn the status of what were known as the east and west school lands, and the courts decided that each of these grants of land was to be used and controlled for school purposes by the proprietors of each section. In August, 1819, Alanson Peckham and others were granted a piece of land thirty feet square on the Common on which to build a school house. The town tax voted in 1829 for support of public schools amounted to $119. In 1832 there were five public schools in the town and the same number of private schools ; the number of scholars in the public schools was 210. Under the new law of 1845 the town was organized into five school districts. In the next year the amount raised by tax for schools was only $125. The statistics for 1850 show that the State appropriation was $356.36; the town, $150; the total receipts were $798.11. The registration was 217, and the average attendance, 159. There were then five organized districts and eight teachers. The figures for 1860 were: State appropriation, $383.71; town, $200; receipts, $960. Enrolled, 138; average attendance, 100, thus showing considerable decline. There was little change in the schools during the succeeding decade.
1871-2 .- State appropriation, $589.50; town, $1,500; receipts, $2,143.68. Enrolled, 165; average attendance, 127 in the winter term. None of the schools was graded during this decade and there was little change.
1879-80 .- State appropriation, $540.81; town, $1,520; receipts, $2,276.25; valuation, $7,650. Enrolled, 170; average attendance, ninety-four.
1889-90 .- State appropriation, $741.01; town, $1,891; receipts,
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GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
$3,285.15 ; valuation, $8,300. Enrolled, 178; average attendance, 108. In 1890-91 a new school house was built in district No. 2.
1899 .- State appropriation, $726.39; town, $2,120.00; receipts, $4,846.48 ; valuation, $12,000; number of school houses, five, with 203 seats. Enrolled, 188; average attendance, 131; number of teachers, five.
Portsmouth .- That there were early schools on Portsmouth territory is seen by the following record :
"On the 30th of ye 7th month 1716 it was ordered that a new school house be built upon an acre of land belonging to the town, situated in the northern part of said town. On the 16th of ye 2nd month 1720 another house was ordered built situated on the south side of the island and in the southern part of the town."
On March 18, 1722, two more school houses were ordered to be erected. On August 31, 1733, William Brown and others petitioned for the building of a school house in the extreme southern part of the town, asking for £30 towards the expense and offering to bear the remainder of the cost themselves. The prayer of the petitioners was granted. On August 26, 1746, a school house was ordered to be built near the Bristol ferry. One June 6, 1763, it was ordered that a school house be erected on Prudence Island. The plan upon which these schools were supported was continued in operation until the estab- lishment of free schools in 1828. The town was then divided into eight districts and good schools have since been maintained in most of them. The tables on a preceding page give the statistics in 1832 and 1844. In 1850 the State appropriation was $374.49; the town, $150; receipts, $1,631. Enrolled, 311, and average attendance, 228. There were seven organized districts and seven teachers. There was little change during the next decade. In 1860 the State appropriation was $721.04; town, $300; receipts, $960.20. Enrolled, 230; average attend- ance, 156. During the succeeding decade a school house was built in district No. 3. In 1869-70 the State appropriation was $1,120.81; town, $2,800; receipts, $3,998.21. Enrolled, 366; average attendance, 236. There were now eight districts and a graded school in No. 5. A house was built in the following year in district No. 6, and in 1871-2 another in district No. 4. In 1874-5 the house in district No. 2 was condemned, and in the next year a house was built in the McCorrie district.
1879-80 .- State appropriation, $958.80; town, $3,000; receipts, $4,099.35; valuation, $12,250. Enrolled, 373; average attendance, 238. There were two graded and eight ungraded schools.
1889-90 .- State appropriation, $1,200.05; town, $2,551; valuation,
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
$13,400 ; receipts, $5,683.38. Enrolled, 277; average attendance, 165. The number of ungraded schools had been reduced to six. In 1897 new houses were built in the Prudence Island district.
1899 .- State appropriation, $1,169.79; town, $2,944.44; receipts, $4,691.50; valuation, $12,400; number of houses, seven. Enrolled, 270; average attendanee, 181.
Tiverton .- Records of early schools in this town are meagre. In 1799 William Humphrey, Thomas Durfee, Edmund Estes, and John Howland were appointed a committee to "take under consideration the Bill for an act for supporting a free School in the State", etc. A record is found, under date of December 2, 1820, stating that "Brother Taggart, the young man preaching to us is keeping a school". In 1828 it was voted "that a Tax of Three Hundred and Sixty Dollars be assessed upon the Rateable property of this Town for the support of Publick Sehools". The table for that year on a preceding page, shows that there were ten school houses in which regular schools were taught. In 1844 the State appropriation was $804.43; the town fund was $639.37. There were then sixteen districts, and nineteen schools were in existence. The registration was 698, and the attendance 434. In 1850 the State appropriation was $1,132, and the town, $1,500; the total receipts were $,247.43. There were seventeen districts, and the enrollment was 953, with an average attendance of 697; seventeen teachers were then employed. Ten years later (1860) the State appro- priation was $988.73; the town, $1,000; receipts, $2,031.78. There was expended that year on school houses, $850. Enrolled, 460; average attendance, 354; number of teachers, twelve.
1869-70 .- State appropriation, $1,524; town, $1,000; receipts, $2,545.69. Enrolled, 383; average attendance, 285 in the winter term. There were twelve districts and a school in each. The school houses of the town at this time were in bad condition, and in 1871-2 repairs were made in districts Nos. 1, 2, 4, 8, and 11. In 1873 a new house was built in district No. 3, and the building in No. 10 was removed to a better site and remodeled. In 1873-4 a new house was built in the Bridgeport distriet at a cost of $4,600.
1879-80 .- State appropriation, $1,281.38; town, $2,500; receipts, $4,094.13; valuation, $8,850. Enrolled, 464; average attendanee, 293; all of the schools were ungraded. In 1886-7 a proposal was made to enlarge the school house in distriet No. 3 and establish a school of a higher grade.
1889-90 .- State appropriation, $1,893.78; town, $3,800; receipts, $7,325.89. Enrolled, 271 ; average attendance, 254. In 1893-4 consid-
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GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
erable improvements were made on the school property, and in 1895-6 a new house was built in district No. 5 (Gardner), at a cost of $6,595.
1899 .- State appropriation, $2,284.98; town, $5,365.37; receipts, $9,764.13; valuation, $28,700; number of school houses, twelve, con- taining 635 seats. Enrolled, 676; average attendance, 426; teachers employed, an average of seventeen. There were seven graded and nine ungraded schools.
Education in Newport .- In the earlier pages of this chapter, devot- ed to education in colonial times and during the first quarter of the present century, it was necessary to the completion of the narrative to write of the schools of Newport. For present purposes, therefore, it is requisite to follow their history only from 1828 to the present time, beginning with the date when the general school system was inaugu- rated. In 1825 the town was authorized by the Assembly to raise by tax $800 "for educating the white children of the town who are not otherwise provided with the means of instruction", and to apply to this object the avails of certain lands which had been bequeathed to the town, as described in earlier pages. The town voted in February, 1826, to buy a lot on Mill street for a school site, and a committee was appointed to supervise the erection of a building. In March, 1827, the committee reported that they had built a school house of brick and stone, two stories high, sixty feet long and thirty-six feet wide. The cost of the lot and building up to that time was about $2,750. To meet this expenditure the following funds were used by the com- mittee :
Net sales of Gallow field. $ 891.24
Appropriation by tax of 1825. 800.00
Net balance of rent of theater. 180.00
100.00
Donation of Mr. William Vernon
Appropriation of 1826
800.00
$2,771.24
It was estimated that it would cost $200 to "finish the upper room for the accommodation of the boy's school, and fence in the lot". At the same time measures were adopted to establish a school fund from sale and rent of school lands, avails of licenses, etc. At the same meeting of March 27, 1827, a resolution was adopted to the following effect: That a school for boys on the Lancasterian system be com- menced as soon as practicable; that a school committee of five members be appointed to have general charge of the schools ; establishing certain
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
low rates of tuition, so that children of poor as well as rich might be benefited, etc .; the school committee appointed to serve until the fol- lowing June were Nicholas G. Boss, Edward W. Lawton, George Engs, James B. Phillips, and Theophilus C. Dunn. The committee's report for 1828 showed that the number of applications for the Lancaster school was 337; of these thirty-three were rejected; twenty-five sus- pended for further consideration, and 279 admitted. The receipts from the town treasury ($600) and from tuition were $988.01. The condition of the school fund for 1828 is shown in the following:1
Donation by Governor Fenner $ 100.00
Donation by Governor Collins. 50.00
Licenses 154.37
Legacy of Constant Taber
1,500.00
Sale of Warden (school) lot. 325.00
Estate I. Begna, having no being in the United States. 23.63
$2,153.00
The following facts relating to the schools of the city in 1844 are drawn from the report of the school committee appointed for the pur- pose of investigating the educational situation. The committee was "astonished to learn that there are nearly 900 children in this town, between the ages of five and fifteen, for whom no schooling is pro- vided". At that time the total number of children in the town over five and under fifteen years, was about 2,000, only 680 of whom were in the public schools; the other 450 who received any schooling were in the thirty private schools then in existence. The committee recom- mended the immediate establishment of two primary schools, one in the lower part of the town near the factories, and the other in Broad street ; also another intermediate school as soon as practicable. An extension of teaching in the higher branches was also recommended.
The financial report of the preceding year showed that the State appropriated for the Newport schools, $1,766.59; the town, $1,600, with $203.21 from the tax levied on scholars ; of this amount of $3,569 .- 80, there were paid for salaries $3,000. The committee consisted of R. J. Taylor, William Brownell, C. T. Brooks, Joseph Smith, David King, C. F. Newton, C. G. Perry, William Gilpin, Augustus Bush, Thatcher Thayer, and James A. Greene.2 This report was printed in a pamphlet and circulated, and its recommendations were acted upon. The school committee reported in 1848 (the year in which extensive
1Barnard's Journal, iii, pp. 148-9.
2 Barnard's Journal, iii, pp. 143-4.
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GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
changes were made in the school system of the State) that there were under their care, seven primary schools, a school for colored children, three intermediate or grammar schools, and a boys' and girls' senior department, all of which contained nearly 900 scholars. The course of studies had been enlarged since the report above noticed, a more rigid classification of scholars instituted, and careful examination exacted for admission to the higher schools. Attendance had in- creased to such an extent as to demand larger accommodations, and the public schools no longer felt the competition of private schools. To accommodate the existing over-crowded schools the committee rec- ommended the erection of a school building large enough to contain 200 scholars. In that year the State appropriated $1,766.02 ; the town, $2,500; the registry tax was $259.83, and the school tax, $447.09, mak- ing a total fund of $4,975.77.
For purposes of comparison it may be stated that in 1855 there were in Newport 873 pupils in the seventeen public schools then in exist- ence, who were taught by twenty-two teachers. There were two high schools, four grammar schools, two of which had an intermediate department, and seven primary schools, besides separate primary and grammar schools for colored children. The receipts in that year were $9,729.25, or about double what they were in 1847-8. The city appro- priation was then $6,500, but the committee recommended that it be increased to $10,000. At that time the Farewell Street school house, built about 1833, was still occupied and in fair condition. The Clarke Street school house was built in 1852, and the Thames Street building in 1859-60. The Willow Street, Edward Street, and the Parish school houses were erected in 1863; the one on Cranston street in 1867; the Coddington in 1870. The Lenthal school house (which was named in honor of Robert Lenthal who, in 1640, opened the first school in America) was erected in 1885 and was formally transferred to the school authorities in 1887. It had its origin in 1884, when the Com- mon Council, in view of the rapid growth of the southern part of the city, submitted to the taxpayers a proposition to borrow money with which to provide additional school accommodations for that section. The vote was in favor of the measure, and in the succeeding year a further sum was borrowed and the site and building paid for. The building cost with furnishings about $50,000.
The Newport High School was originally established under that name, but as a measure of economy was soon changed to a "senior department" of the grammar schools. In 1863 it was reorganized into a high school, the sexes being separated in its departments. In
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
1864 another change was made, when it became a so-called "mixed school". In 1873 the Rogers High School was founded, through the generosity of William Sanford Rogers, of Boston, whose bequest of $100,000 became available in 1872. The bequest required from the taxpayers the erection of a suitable building, for which purpose the sum of $30,000 was voted. A site was purchased on Church street and the building was promptly erected. In December, 1872, Fred- erick W. Tilton was chosen head master, having served in that capacity since 1869; he was succeeded in 1872 by A. D. Small, and he was followed in 1874 by Thomas H. Clarke, who held the position until 1882. George A. Littlefield was then chosen and held the position until 1889, when he was succeeded by Henry H. Fay. One year later the present principal, Benjamin Baker, was chosen.
The following brief notes show the progress of the Newport schools during the last half century: The State appropriated in 1850 for support of the schools, $2,482.42; the town appropriation was $3,000; total, $6,191.30. Of this sum, $553.29 was devoted to improvement of the school property. There were registered 834 scholars, and the average attendance was 792. The number of teachers employed was sixteen.
For the year 1860 the State appropriation was $2,355.33; town, $8,000; total receipts, $12,490.39. There were expended on school houses, $2,687.37. Registered, 931; average attendance, 810. Num- ber of teachers, twenty-six.
School year 1869-70 .- (The year in which the State Board of Edu- cation was created), the State appropriation was $4,923.24; town appropriation, $20,500 ; receipts, $38,743.19. Enrolled, 1,280; average attendance, 1,124. During the winter term of that year, twenty-four schools were taught. In the previous year a joint building committee was appointed from the Common Council and the school board ; the old brick school house was to be demolished, additional land purchased and a new house crected at a cost of $31,500. The building contains eight rooms, and was given the name Coddington school. One evening school was opened in the winter.
In the year 1870-71, the State appropriation was $4,920.11; town, $24,000; receipts, $30,055.28. Enrollment, 1,364 ; average attendance, 1,083.
1871-2 .- The Willow Street school house was altered and made to contain four rooms, by the trustees of Long Wharf, and the sum of $10,000 was given by William S. Rogers for the support of the Rogers High School. Charles Bird King made a bequest in his will, dated in
303
GROWTH OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
1861, which founded a fund for premiums to be given to "two New- port-born girls", for educational proficiency. In the year under con- sideration the fund amounted to over $10,000. State appropriation, $5,093.96 ; town, $22,667.66 ; receipts, $28,462.62; scholars registered, 1,336 ; average attendance, 1,062.
1872-3 .- State appropriation, $5,090.50; town, $26,150; receipts, $30,197.56. Registered, 1,293; average attendance, 928 in the winter term. Preparations were made this year for the erection of the Rogers High School building, as before noticed. The city issued bonds for $30,000, and the building cost about $25,000. There were now in existence in the city one high school, eight grammar schools of four grades, seven intermediate schools of two grades, eight primary schools of two grades, one mixed primary school, five sub-primary schools of two grades, and two evening schools, all employing thirty-nine teach- ers, involving a salary list amounting to $18,799.80.
1873-4 .- State appropriation, $5,093.95; town, $24,000; receipts, $63,151.77. Enrolled, 1,475 ; average attendance, 1,017. State appro- priation for evening schools, $350. A free library was established and largely maintained through the generosity of Christopher Townsend. His sister, Ellen Townsend, offered the city a farm, provided the city would erect buildings thereon for habitual truants. The plan was defeated. The Rogers High School was opened September 8, 1873. A change in the city charter gave the election of the school committee to the people.
1874-5 .- State appropriation, $5,073.32; town, $24,000; receipts, $40,500.56. Enrolled, 1,769; average attendance, 1,203. The report of the superintendent states that ten years had elapsed since the grad- ing of the schools was introduced ; at that time there were in the city only one graded school with four departments, while in 1875 there were thirty-two graded schools, and only one ungraded. Provision was made this year for extensive repairs to some of the school property.
1875-6 .- State appropriation, $5,070.04; town, $27,500; receipts, $40,368; valuation of school property, $190,007. Enrolled, 1,837; average attendance, 1,274. The number of school houses owned by the city was nine, and a building on Broadway of eight rooms, to cost not more than $18,000, was provided for.
1876-7 .- State appropriation, $4,725.47; town, $34,000; receipts, $64,482.35 ; valuation, $208,700. Cranston Avenue school house was dedicated March 5, 1877; its cost was nearly $12,000 besides the site, at $6,000.
1877-8 .- State appropriation, $5,072.13; town, $27,000; receipts,
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS.
$39,061.75; valuation, $205,006. Enrolled, 1,934; average attendance, 1,325.
1878-9 .- State appropriation, $5,072.13; town, $30,000; receipts, $42,763.13; valuation, $208,007. Enrolled, 2,044 ; average attendance, 1,261.
1879-80 .- State appropriation, $5,072.13; town, $32,038.55 ; receipts, $44,791.41 ; valuation (estimated) $122,460. Enrolled, 2,097; average attendance, 1,429.
During the decade of 1880-90 there was not much change in the Newport schools. On August 30, 1882, the Potter school house on Elm street, which was built with the Long Wharf fund, was dedicated. In 1887-8 the Lenthal school building was erected, as before noticed, and a kindergarten was opened.
1889-90 .- State appropriation, $6,239.17; town, $42,000; receipts, $87,165.44; valuation, $178,250. Enrolled, 2,512; average attend- ance, 1,804. There were now forty-four graded and one ungraded schools, with an average number of teachers, fifty-six. The city owned eleven school houses, with 2,426 sittings.
During the next decade somewhat extensive changes and improve- ments were made in the schools. On December 2, 1890, the Calvert school building was dedicated; it is a two-story building and cost $26,000.
The Industrial School of Newport was originally due to private enterprise. In 1886 W. P. Sheffield, jr., and Charles E. Hammett, jr., opened an industrial school in the Perry mill building and conducted it a few months. As before stated, Katharine P. Wormeley opened a girls' industrial class in 1887 and continued it until 1890, when the school committee took it under their charge and made it a part of the educational system. Miss Ellen Townsend died in 1886, leaving to the city an estate on Broadway and providing that most of her other property should go to the city, the income to be applied to "aiding boys to learn useful mechanical trades". The income is about $1,300 a year. When the school committee took Miss Wormeley's school, in 1890, the Common Council made a larger appropriation for its support, and in 1891 the people voted the sum of $18,000 for erecting a building for the Industrial School. After various delays, a vote in April, 1893, was in favor of adding $20,000 to the appropriation for the school. A contract was let for erecting the building for $26,925. It was suc- cessfully opened and in the year 1894-5 there were in attendance 1,138 pupils. This is the first industrial school wherein boys and girls are taught in one building in industrial studies under maintenance of a.
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