Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-08
again, for it becomes mixed, more or less, with

again, for il becomes mixed, more or less, with
other air.
In order to approach, as nearly as may be,
to the truth on this subject, it may be well TO
make an estimate, which every one can UNDER
stand 1t is stated and no doubt, truly, that
an adult person, in breathing, spoils about a
gallon OF air in minute. Suppose, however,
that children, in a school room, spoil it half as
fast This would be half a gallon, minute.
Sixty pupils would spoil thirty gallons, about
barrel Of air in a minute this would make a
hogshead in two minutes. Suppose them to
continue in their seats an hour. and suppose
there is no escape for the bad air which is
formed, then these sixty pupils would, in that
hour, spoil thirty hogsteads of air. Now this
air is not only spoiied,-n merely rendered
u,eless-but is actually rendered more OF less
poisonous. How poisonous is not yet known,
but certainly poisonous. However, setting
aside its poisonous nature altogether, it is ut
terly injurious to breathe spoiled air, where the
lungs, in order to act properly on the blood, re-
qulre at every breath, that which Is perfectly
pure and uncontaminated.
/ Compare these facts with the size Of the
rooms, (before descrbed) which your commit
tee are constrained to occupy, and the risk of
health to our children will be seen to be truly
appalling.
4 The committee have spoken Of the good
condition Of the schools; 1t is only in the way
of comparison. The, by no means intend to
say, that the present arrangement is perfect,
either in itself or in its execution; but that un-
der the circumstances, which enciIce them,
they are in as good state, as they well could
be-
! A still better classification in the primary
schools is essentially needed. While the num-
Der of scholars in these schools may not be too
great for single teacher, the number of cIassc,
is decidedly so. Could there be accommoda-
tlon for more children in the same room, with
an assistant teacher, it is confidently believed,
that decided benefit would accrue.
4 Schools strictly Intermediates, the primary and
the grammar Schools are indispensable TO
well ordered arrangement Of a school system.
These, as such, do not pertain to our system.
Our intermediate and grammar schools are not
sufficiently distinct but tapping (as it were)
on each other, each partakes somewhat of the
character of the other, so that transfers are
now made from the primary to the intermediate
or 10 the grammar school, and from these in
differently to the senior departments
/ Again, the girls senior department has the
characteristic Of all three classes Of schools.
4 1t will, at once be seen, that this state Of
things unavoidcJly creates embarrassments,
and of course hnders progress, and improve
mcnt
H With scrupulous regard to the best inter
ests Of the schools, and with untlrng efforts
for their advancement, the committee have not
vet, with the means under their control, been
enabled to rcctlfy these evils, or to remove the
embarrassments connected with them What
is needed is strictly intermediate schools, from
which pupils may pass when qualified, into the
grammar schools from the grammar schools
should be removed what they now have IN
common with the intermediate, and The course
of study in them should be raised, so as to en-
brace the lower classes, at present, IN the SEN
ior departments With this arrangement, the
course of study, in the senior department, could
be made to comprise all that is required to
finished English Education, and each aspire to
an elementary classical course. Then our town
would, once again, stand on the high ground
it occupied years long since past, when its
educational privileges drew youths from re-
mote parts of our country, some of whom have
been found among the great and good of the
land.
In view of all these circumstances, with the
most careful consideration of the best means uf
providing for present exigencles, the commit
tee earnestly recommend to the town, the erec-
ton OF school house large enough Tor two
hundred pupils, in some place which shall be
found most expedient.
/ The committee are fully persuaded, that this
is not only the best course, but that ii will
prove to be altogether the most economical in
pecuniary point of view. 1t is not meet or
just, that any child in the town should be de-
MED its lawful share of the monies approprla-
ted to public schools, yet this must be done,
unless there be provided ample accommoda-
tions.
/ The committee append the report Of their
treasurer, Gom which it will be seen, that they
are compelled to ask of the town an increased
appropriation of five hundred dollars.
/ Amount on hand from last year, So SO
/ Received from the State, 1866 OF