Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-06-06
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMITTEE,

! 1885,
To the Freemen Of the Town of New
port, at their Annual Town Meeting,
to be holden on the 4th day of June
A. ID. 1888:
The Public School Committee of the
Town of Newport, respectfully Report
That the number of scholars remain.
ing in the School June 9th, 1882, the
date of the last Report, was 208 boys s
100 girls;
The number Of applicants for admis-
sion since, 239;
Admitted as eligible to a place in the
school, 2G4;
Suspended for further consideration, ,27
Received their certificates and enter
ed, III boys, l2l girls;
Discharged from the School for vari-
Gus reasons, l35 boys and l9 girls;
Leaving now in School, June Sd, 100
boys and l62 girls.
! Your Committee have endeavored
during the past year, to discharge faith
! fully their duties in relation to that de-
! paltment Of your interests with whhh
they have been entrusted. They have
( visited the School, have watched its >ro-
gress, and have sought to give toihe
! Scholars all the encouragement wlch
/ their personal attention, and the nitro
! duction there Of the best rewards and
sources of emulation, could impart. 1t
has been found that grant to the nerl-
torious of a privilege in the Library, the
! establishment of which was commerced
! last year, has exerted more saluary
effect than the system of pecuniary re-
wards previously practised. The nr-
rangement and plan Of the school nve
been the same as in previous years
The same Instructors have been empty
cd and have faithfully attended TO their
charge, and we have the highest conf
dence in their ability and merit. The
Committee have adhered to the rules
heretofore adopted in regard to the d
mission of scholars-the means oienloc-
ing their attendance, and the methods Of
supplying vacancies. The number Of
those admitted to the School and Dis
charged from it, rs stated above, nay
excite surprise and enquiry, as indhat-
ing considerable change in the mite
rials Of which the school is composed in
the course of the year, if suffered TO pass
unexplained. This change, however,
appears greater than il really is, and is
explained by the fact, that it frequently,
happens that the same individuals are
discharged and admitted several tines
during the same year. by rule adopt
cd by the Committee, any scholar who is
absent more than thirty times in quar-
ter loses his seat in the School, and is
discharged Of course by the Instructor.
! II he has satisfactory excuse for such
absence, and that is communicated by,
his parent or guardian to the committee,
in writing, he is re-admitted.--For this
purpose and in this way he becomes
new applicant, and if re-admItted his
name goes to increase the list Of admis-
sions, as it did previously to increase that
Of those discharged. Your Committee
have found the strict observance Of this
rule indispensable to the perfect organi-
z1tion Of the school; and to obviate the
natural tendency Of men to undervaluc
privileges freely given, they have been
obliged to present to parents the chances
of losing those privileges by unreasona-
bic neglect. 1t would be subject Of
qualification if the occasion and nccessi-
ty Of the rule did not exist, and your
committee are happy to say, that the evil
against which the rule is directed, is
gradually diminishing But while it
continues in any degree, we feel obliged
to present it publicly to those in whose
power and whose duty it is, to prevent
it.
The accounts and vouchers for the
past year were presented to the Town
Council yesterday, and by them audited.
The following is an abstract from the
Treasurer's account of the expenses of
the school the past year, viz
Salary for instructors, $l025
Books and Stationary, 1GO o.
Repairs & Improvements about
the building, ia So
Incidental expenses, l29 80
Making in the aggregate, $I429 l2
Respectfully submitted, 4
by G. G. KING, III,
for the COMMITTEES. 4,
,ewnovt Tupc dir 1o92 II.