The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-27
The SCHOOL BOARD.
A Lively Debate Over the Adoption
Of the New Bylaws.
REPORT OF EVENING SCHOOLS.
Some Opposition 40 the Reduction of the
Membership of the Evening school
Committee-The New Bylaws Adopt
ed After Considerable Discussion.

at the High School building at o'clock
last evening had 33 members present and
President BarnHy in the chair.
The resignation of 4. A. Chace was ac-
cepted and j. William Rice elected in his
place. Mr.. Rice was sworn in.
The report of the superintendent Of
schools was as follows; During the
quarter en- ding Jan. 20, 1892, which was
the second quarter of the current year, the
enrolment in the High School was s4l, in
the grammar schools, 4,402, and in the
primary schools. 1854; total, 1917.
Mr.. West, for the Tenth District, called
attention to the condition of the River
avenue and Berlin street school yards, and
moved that the attention of the superin-
tendent of public buildings be called TO
them, which was so voted.
The report of the committee appointed
to examine into the State street school
was read and referred 70 the Common
Council.
The report of the committee on qualifi-
cations announced the appointment of
Florence Brown assistant III the Peace
street school and Katharine NJ. Dwyer in
the Arnold street school.
Chairman Blaisdell of the evening school
committee presented the report Of that
committee, which was received
The average number OF pupils was 200
more each night than the previous winter
and "A larger appropriation will be needed
in future. The total number of pupils for
the past year was 4, ,402; the average at
tendance, l,75l; average age of the pupils
Is years; those 15 years or over, 2,2lO male
assistants, 81; female assistants, l6i.
The committee on finance reported
forty-three miscellaneous bills, the total
amount being 1856. %. The report was
approved and the bills ordered paid.
The New Bylaws.
Mr.. West. for the committee on by
laws, reported recommending that here
after the schools be closed at 4:l5 O'Clock
in the afternoon instead of 4 o'clock, as
formerly.
A vote being taken on the matter, and
the chair being in doubt as TO the result,
on motion of Mr.. West IL was laid on the
table temporarily, to come up under un-
finished business.
The bylaws as amended by the COM
mittee on bylaws were then taken up and
Mr.. West for the committee on by laws
explained each change in the old bylaws
as proposed for the new. There was a
great deal of opposition to some of the
changes. The first objection came TO the
clause in section 3, article i: "All the
standing committees shall consist of five
members each, except the committee on
grammar and primary schools, Which
shall consist OF ten members, one from
each ward"
Mr.. Dana moved to add the words to be
nominated by the ward committees.
The motion was put and resulted in IA
affirmative and l3 negative, and President
Barney ruled that two-thirds vote was
necessary as the proposed change had not
been given one weeks notice as provided
in the bylaws.
Mr.. Dana appealed but the ruling of
the chair was sustained fifteen TO eleven.
The proposed bylaws were then taken up
a section at a time, discussed and voted
on. There was considerable hot discus
sion, as several claimed that the majority
ought TO rule, while the president and
others declared two-thirds vote necces-
sary on some points.
The most important changes were in the
duties of superintendent and were made
in two new sections.
Important changes were made in the
conduct of the evening schools, mainly in
requiring an evening schools approved
list, in giving the superintendent of
schools charge of the evening schools and
changing the number of the evening
school committee TO five instead of ten rs
formerly.
There was considerable talk over parts
of this article as it took oway much of the
power from the committee and gave more
to the superintendent The following
enacting clause was added and passed by
two-thirds vote;
''These bylaws shall 90 into effect
Immediately and on Friday evening,
March 4. 1892, the school COM
mittee shall organize, confirming such
committees as are specified in sections
2, 3 and 4, article l OF these bylaws and
provided for that the chairman of the
committee on education shall be and re-
main a member of the committee on
grammar and primary schools until the
organization of the school committee on
the first Tuesday of December, 1892, and
no longer. All bylaws and parts OF by
laws inconsistent herewith are hereby an
nulled and repealed"
The vote was finally taken on the adop-
tion of the by laws as a whole and resulted
in twelve voting on each side and Presi-
dent Barney casting his vote in the affirm
ative the bylaws were adopted. AT 1915
the committee adjourned
One very important change in the by
laws in the abolishing Of the clause which
makes IL necessary to give "A teacher a
months notice in case of discharge,
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