Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-08
The School Report.
Report Of the School Committee Of the To,en Of
Ne,rporf, June, ls4S.

Inc School Commlttee OF the town oi New
port, in rendering the account ofther steward.
ship for the year now closed, respectfully re-.
port That there are under their care, sever
al primary schools, school for colored chill
dren, three Intermediate or grammar schools,
and boys and girls senior department
the last of which, from necessity, embraces in
it an intermediate school, and is taught by
principal and assistant and has accommoda-
tions for ninety pupils These schools, con-
tanning nearly nine hundred pupils, are under
the direction of qualified and diligent instruc-
tors. They have not only maintained their
former good standing, but most of them have
made advances. Since the last report, the
course Of studies have been enlarged in every
department, more rigid classification of schol-
ars instituted, and more close and careful ex-
animation exacted, for admission to the higher
schools. (For the details of which, the com
mittee refer to the Rules and Regulations re-
Gently published and dstributed.) The result
of these arrangements Is seen, IN the apprecia-
ton Of the schools by our townsmen, and the
increased desire and more numerous applica-
tons for admission TO share of their advanta.
ges.
For the first time, since the establishment of
the public schools, the committee have found
themselves so straitened for accommodations,
and means, as to be compelled TO refuse admis-
sion to some applicants while at the same
time, parochial school, attached to one of the
religious societies, has withdrawn large num-
ber of boys, who were formerly in our schools.
Private schools, which have, heretofore, met
the wants of the wealther classes, no longer
compete with those of the town The adyan-
tagcs afforded by the latter, in the nicer classi-
fca,ion of pupils, in tho uniformity of school
books, as well as in the constant and jealous
supervision Of the school committee, are all
understood by the people.
In this condition of things, the committee
believe, that their fellow citizens will not only
Justify them in the suggestion Of measures for
greater improvement, but that they will meet
these suggestions with a response
II The first step, and not the least important,
in the economy of Education, is the provision
Of convenient aud comfortable school-rooms
The essential elements in these are location
and space.
4 The location of school house is point
worthy Of deeper consideration than il seems
\ (from the present condition of thiugs,) hereto
F! fore to have received. In the school-room, our
children spend a large portion of their earliest
and best days here they receive their first and
most lasting impressions II the place of their
confinement be dark, and contracted, and I'M
slightly, il, necessarily, produces a chilling in
fuence on their feelings and from the strong
power Of association, bound up with their ma
ture, throws gloom around their pursuits,
dampens their energies, and gives to the spot,
! (Which, to be useful ought 10 BE pleasantly
the repulsivc aspect of a prison. In these pla-
ccs, aud AT this period of life, tastes and hab-
its are formed over these, this same power
of association exer,s a mighty influence. The
influence of this power, as regards the compan-
ion>hip of youth, is feariully felt by every pa
rent, and cannot be doubted respecting the pla-
ces where they receive their most important
training!
/ The proper location Of a school house is on
a dry and elevated site, removed from the
noise and dust of the street, and from all sights
and sounds of idlencss and dissipation; with
ample room uithoW Tor recreation and exercise.
1t is the want of suitable pJay-grou d, which
makes the school house an annoyance to the
neighborhood, where it is placed, and the pub
lie school Objectionable to parents, who regard
the health ard morals and manners OF their
children.
| The sac of school room should Lave refer
ence not merely to the proper seating and con-
yenent evolutlons Of the scholars but TO the
cheerfulncss, comfort and health Of the in
looked. We have seemed to act on The prin-
cplc of slowing away as much live matter as
possible, in a given space. Mr.. Lancaster,
who consulted the most rigid economy, in his
plans of school houses for the poor, allowed an
area of nine square feet, and $50 to $50 cubic
feet of space, to each pupil.
! DR.. Alcoit, in his prize essay on school
houses, recommends space of not less than
four feet square to each, which, with the ordl-
uary height Of school rooms, would make the
same allowance in cubic feet.
|, And Mr. Mann, in his report on school hous-
es. the latest and best exposition on the whole
subject, without fixing a minimum Of space,
handles, with great severity, that miserable
economy, or oversight, which would stint our
children, IN the use of pure air, which Is pour
ed forty or fifty miles deep all round the
4 globe
/ The best efforts Of the committee, with the
means at their disposal, have lamentably failed
in these desiderata. The largest area afford
cd TO pupil, in the places rented by your
committee, is eight and six tenths square feet,
and 80 cubic feet Of air. While the smallest
area is but six square feet and iS cubs feet OF
air.
| To illustrate this point more fully, the com
mittee would ask the serious attention OF their
townsmen, To few well authenticated facts
and principles.
The atmosphere is mainly composed Of two
elements, usually called Nitrogen and Oxygen,
bearing in pure state, the proportion Of sew
enty-eigh, per cent of the former to twenty
two Of the latter. Wherever there are living
beings, this state Of things is continually
changing. Combustion changes il, but not so
rapidly as the respiration of men and animals
| Vegetation also changes it and so does de-
composition or puirfaction, but less rapidly.
also, than respiration. The principle causes of
change. in the condition Of the air in rooms,
are combustion and respiration
! The greatest change, which is induced by
these causes, consists in the dininlllOn, the
using up, as II werc-of the oxygen, or vital
air, and the substitution, IN It's place, of car
bonlc acid gas. This change takes place,
very rapidly, where respiration alone is gong
on but where respiration aud combustion are
both going on, tho change is tculuHy great.
/ During every breath We draw, we consume
a part of the oxygen, and leave, in It's place,
Quantity Of carbonic acid gas. Every breath,
therefore, naturally renders the air slightly i'm
7 r,,, Rot in a iart,p roapn ia Tho .po,