The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-06-12

raDgemcnts throughout. Her runner was
lying on deck, and took a promenade Of 90
feet through, hat on and all standing"
sECRETARY'S REPORT ON THE STATE
OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
To the Hon. General Assembly June Session,
A. ID. 1889.
The Secretary herewith presents the abstract
Of the returns of the Public Schools required by
law.
This being the first year the returns have
been made, it could not be expected they would
be so uniform and correct as they probably will
be hereafter. Ii is 10 be hoped that the returns
to be made next year under the amended law
will give a correct statistical account OF the
state of education among US, not only in the
public schools but in cur academies and private
schools, and will show that we are not far be-
hind our sister states in our zeal for the cause
l.r- -J---St0n.
In some Of the towns it appears that money
hs, been raised by town tax to support schools.
10 others the fuel and board Of the instructor
have been paid for by the voluntary contribu-
ton Of the inhabitants, and account kept Of it,
/ For shis reason the returns do not always
state the salaries Of teachers correctly, ss in
many cases they are boarded by the districts in
addition to their stated money pay.
Providence, Newport, and Bristol, have
long been provided with convenient public
school houses; and special acts have been pass
ed for building them by taxation in the towns
Of Richmond, Charlestown Hopkinton, Exeter,
! Westerly, Smithield and Cumberland. Most
OF the other towns have buildings erected by
subscription, devoted entirely to this use, but
not sufficient in number to accommodate all
the schools.
The list Of books used in our schools is very
important, and from the consideration oft many
alterations and Improvements will probably be
suggested in the selection Of them. The great
variety Of the books used in the schools is much
to be deprecated.
The experience derived from the returns Of
the present year will be Of great value in pre-
pairing the forms which will be distributed the
next year, and ensure greater completeness and
accuracy in the next abstract.
From the abstract which accompanied the
information Of our readers.
Money received by the Towns from
the State, 1888 1886 76
Appropriated by the State for Indian
! School, l25 90
Raised by ta1stion by the towns l2,575 90
Whole amount appropriated to free
i Schools, S40,3 1896 IS
No. Of free Schools in the state, 1883 SOS
No. Of teachers in them =. 427
Amount expended for fuel, rent, &c. 2,97l so
Expended for instruction 32,3s3 Sc
Male Scholars s,ll2
/ Female " $3.50
The schools appear to have been kept, gen.
orally, 4 or months in the winter I'm some
Of the larger towns throughout the year. The
pay Of the teachers varies from $40 to S3s per
month SIC per month would probably be a.
bout the average. The amount appropriated BY
the State this year (ls39) is $4,000.
| The following is list Of the books used in
our schools as reported. We designate BY fig
ure 1, those which arc most generally used -
9, those often used -, those which are report
: ed as used in only one or two towns.
Spelling Books.-l, Emeuson's and Web
ter's. ;. Lees, Cummings, Towns.
n Redders-l Angell's Series, American Ist
class book, National Reader, Testament. Q
Muiray's Reader. 3Young Reader, Mt. Yer
non Reader, American Popular Lessons. His
torieal Reader. Ames' Numbers. English
Reader. Colman's la Lessons, Select Reader,
Alden's Reader. Classical Reader. Pierpont's
lst Class Reader.
II Gronmdrs.--l Smiths. . Browns Il Muir
j rays. {, Frosts, wehstsr's, Kirkham's.