Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-06-05
ANNUAL REPORT
OF PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMIT
TEE, 1910.

OF PUBLIC SCHOOL COMMIT
TEE. 1910.
TO the |ieemen Of The t0pn of .Nevport, a
their Annual I'opn. Meeting, to be held o,
Tuesday The 2d day of June, 1910.
The public School Committee of the town
of Newport, respectfully report. That since
the commencement of tho year the number
Of applications for admission has been 60C
Tho number Of admissions has been acc
The number belonging to the schoolS
at present, Is 54(
The number belonging TO school No. /,
at the commencement o; the year, 26(
Some have not been received for want o.
sufficient qualifications some have been ex-
PEELED for misconduct ; others could not be
accommodated for want Of room; while
some have voluntarily left the school or for
feted their seats by being absent. There
are now about sixty applicants, who are only
waiting Tor vacant seats, these are principal
ly candidates for a primary school.
Thore are now six schools in the town;
where children above o years arc taught
aud two primary or infant schools. One oi
these have been established since the last
Annual Town Meeting. The pupils have
been generally attentive to the studies o.
the school, and have made great improve
men! in their studies, with few exceptions.
The difficulty of procuring steady attend
ance has been the chief fault.
The time of keeping school is divided in.
10 four quarters, with an examination at the
end of each quarter, followed by a vacation
OF one week.
The examinations have been highly salts
factory to the committee, and we believe T.
the numerous citizens who have attended
them, with the exception Of the Lancaste riar
School, which we consider an improper sys-
tenn and not calculated to be of advantage
10 tho class Of children who come within
It's influence, and your committee would re-
spectlully suggest, both from their own Oh.
Servation and continual complaints of OIL
fellow citizens, that change may be made
in this school-n0t that We have any reason
to complain of its long tried Principal, on
the contrary wo are happy TO commend his
lndefatigable industry and perseverance,, as
well as his high qualifications, but we are
convinced that the Monitorial system will
not answer in our community. Parents ac-
tually complain that their children retregrade
under this system, and our own observation
teaches us, that the children do not keep up
with the pupils of any other school in this
town. We also know that many individuals
in the south district, are deferred from send
ing their children TO tins school, for the above
mentioned reasons. Its inferiority is moro
striking when compared with the new Boys
school in the north district, taught upon the
old plan Of Princi pal and Assistant. In this
school, childron who could scarcely read a,
the commencement Of the year, are now
studying Geography, Arithmetic and Eng
lish Grammar, and we are satisfied that il
the LaEcasterian school, more time is actual
ly wasted in preparing for reci,ations, thar
is employed either in reciting or studying
This has been proved by some of the com
mittee and several citizens lat the examina
tion) by the watch. We therefore hope that
the town will give this subject its due con
sideration, and act upon it Immediately.
The girls school and the primary schoo
in the south district, are both in hourishing
state. In tho former, there has been change
viz. Miss Tew, not finding it consistent will
her convenience 10 serve for her accustom
cd salary, resigned; Miss NJ. A. Taylor ha,
since been engaged, and is conducting tn,
school in very satisfactory manner, aud i
gives US pleasure to notice the prosperous
state Of the schools in tho north district, Sc
long needed, and SO highly useful to that par
Of the town. AS an experiment, they have
thus far exceeded our most sanguino expcc
tatons, aud we have no doubt that they vii
continue TO improve in tho most satisfactory
manner.
| Satisfied that it is for the advantage o
both to keep the very young and the NOR,
advanced children separate, we havo con
sidcred it cxpedieDt To establish an infan
school in the north district, which has nov
been in operation three months, and ha
proved highly useful.
We consider. this kind Of school Of the
very greatest importance, and if there wcr,
still others in the town it would be for th,
advantage Of all concerned.
The great destruction of books and sta
tionary which continually takes place, OWNS
to the carelessness and n,ischlevousness o
young children, Notwithstanding the exer
tiops Of teachers to prevent ~ has sugges,
ed to the committee the propriely Of toxlnI
hose who are able, to pay for said books, &c
H The branches taught in the schools ar
reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic. gcog
rnPhy, history. national philosophy, Englls
grammar, algebra, drawing maps, and CON
II position.
II The committee, on their part would sa,
lha, IN all their doiugs they have studied III
mutual advantage Of both town and schoo
II They lost M time In organizing ihcmselve
into a committee, have held regular weckl
meetings, and have tried To- make strict ius
n ,icc their rule IN admitting aud dischargip
H children. They have. also established a i
n brnry for the benefit Of the children in N
II north district, a considerable portion Of th
expense Of which has been paid by 10. ",
uu,siy subscription oi children, for wri'u
y books.