The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-05-05
Public schools.

! Peopie may po n"o"n ~ VIZ"
educational facilities. Where schools
are plenty and easy of access the people
will be enlightened and free. The per-
manancy of our institutions depend as
much, probably more, on the enlighten-
mcnt of the people, as on any other one
thing. Rhode Island may be classed in
the front ranks of those States which
afford an easy and cheap access to the
attanments Of an education for the COM
mon people though she is not probably
the foremost; but she has in late years
been making rapid strides in that drec-
ton.
We are indebted to the politeness of
Hon. Z. r. Potter, Commissioner Of
Public Schools of this State for copy
of his Report made at the January Ses-
sion Of the General Assembly, 1858,
from which we gather many interesting
and important facts as to the State of
the schools in Rhode Island. In speak
ing of the superior advantages which
we enjoy in this State for the education
of children. the Commissioner says
"About two-thirds of our whole popula-
tion is in cities and villages. Our agri-
cultural population is comparatively
small. No other State in the Union is
situated as we aie. And as compact
places can always support high schools,
we can therefore without extravagant
expenditure give good education to a
E greater portion of our whole people, than
any other State in the Union, Massa-
chusetts not excepted. Politically too
we have more need of it than any other
I State in the Union, to guard against
those sudden flaws of popular passion to
which all small communities are liable
! In few short years Rhode Island may
be the best educated community in the
whole world. If we can do this, if we
can take this honorable stand among the
nations of the earth, let US resolve to do
! all that in us lies to accomplish it b."
In the financial table accompanying
the report we find that this town has
: received as school fund, from State
a $663 29, town tax $3.50 90, rate bills
$l,l73 SO, registry and military tax
Sc 81, the amount unexpended last year
e SAC %; total resources S2,0ss Ga;
e amount expended for instruction, $2,.
n O42,7l; voted by the town, 5000 90
The total amount appropriated by the
: State for the port of suppublic schools il
:, $34, 1897 50; the amount raised by
: town tax $55,s95 9l; by rate bill
IS SlO,2O9 10; registry and military
Il taxes $s,Ol4 65; unexpended last yea
1t $6,l3l 81; making total of resource
y " amounting to $ll5, l60 81. Th,
10 amount expended for instruction i
.e $97,l3s IA, for school houses, &c
,r S9,625 so.
i i In regard to prayer and religious ex
ercises in public schools, the Commis
d sioner remarks " that the teaching of th
e peculiarties of any religious denomina
a ton should be excluded from our schools
n seems to result from the principles o
u which our system is founded, and fror
~ the impossibility of maintaining school
to upon any other system"
~ ~ 1t is the right and duty of ever
be person to pray at the times and in tn
ng mode approved by his own conscience
en- But it seems equally plain that one pei
on son has 10 right to compel another
Cd hear bis prayers, if they are not agrees
rv bic to him. And it would amount [
nd compulsion, if prayer is made a religion
ng exercise of the school, and pupil cal
he not come TO the school without hearin
it or violating the regulations of tn
- school, Prayer may be very prope
I, and useful exercise in school, and y,