The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-25
TEXT BOOKS TALK.
What the Advocates of the Measure
Say of II.
IT WOULD HELP POOR PEOPLE.
1t Is Also Pointed Out as the Aim of All
Progressive Cities All Over the Coun-
~try-Bristol and Woonsocket Hav.
Free Books Already.

lie discussion and induced almost all of
the thoughtful tax payers to favor the
idea.
The movement is, however. only about
a year old. having been first actively al.
vocated by ii. V. A. Joslin on his en-
trance into the school board. His first
act almost was to oppose the introduce
ton of a new speller because he believed
Tree text books must come within n short
time and that 1t was inadvisable TO nut
s~cnoiars 20 the expense OF buying new
books aud then laying them aside.
The success OF the movement was. how
ever, temporarily postponed, but ever
since that time 10 has been growing I'm
popular favor until it is now confidently
asserted by those in a position 20 Knoy
That the meeting of the School Board
next Friday night will be signalizad bv
the passage Of the motion.
Some Books Free Now.
Few people. perhaps, realize how much
Is already done by the city toward aiding
the children in this line and how little
expense would be added by the Jo-called
free text book system. Area y the city
expends frum $4,000 to SIS, 900 in free
school materials. a resolution to that
effect was introduced by George
West and passed about two years
ago. II authorized the school board IN
furnish to scholars free of charge writing
books, music books, pens, pencils, paper
for school use, drawing books, aud Draw
ing utensils. 1t also authorized the
BOARD to furnish to teachers books of
reference such as might be necessary for
their personal use.
There is a provision also now BIZ which
any child can have free text books fur.
nished him on making a statement of his
poverty and inability TO buy the neces-
sary books. These books are, however
stamped with a large red stamp. Stain
that they are the property of the Provi-
dence puolic schools. The marks are so
prominent that the books become a
badge OF poverty aud children
who are really neeiy have too
much self respect to make use of them.
IL Is TO overcome this difficulty That the
authors OF the present system are striy-
my. They wish TO place all scholars on
an equal plane and TO give an education
absolutely Tree OF COST TO all who wish to
axe advantage OF our public schools.
Ihe advocates of the system have a
powerful precedent In the fact that free
text books are now furnished at all The
night schools in the city. Without
them 1t is generally confessed that
night schools would be almost
a failure. They are opened for the
benefit OF those who are compelled TO
work by. day and Who are generally un.
able to buy looks. IL the principle an
plies in night schools why" say the adj
""ill it not apply to The day
schools as well ?"
Practice Elsewhere.
1t is a fact that Providence is verr
backward on this question considering
he reputation which our schools have
Il may lie said without exaggeratinr that
here are no better public schools in the
than those of this city. The
efficiency of the teachers is high and tho
raining which they are now compelled
% undergo under experienced teacher
,ets the best results possible.
While We have been reaching this
standard, however. the city has been
flowing other cities 10 surpass IL in the
of free tex books. Massacbusetts
furnishes free text books in every CITY
nd town. The. same is true of Maine
nj New Hampshire. Michigan has firm
shed free text books to pupils since June
1890.
rwenty-ons of the principal cities in
Jew Jersey, eighteen OF the leading cities
n New York including both New YORK
ity and Brooklyn; ten Of the cities Of
including philadelphia.
nd many other cities and towns spread
Ill over the country have successfully
furnished free text books TO children for
ears.
Even in Rhode Island, Bristol and
have outstripped Providence
n this question, and Pswtucket now
furnishes free books in the primary and
Ugh schools.
II is further said 70 be true that there
5 net al educator Of prominence in the
ountry who does not favor tree ext
The burden Of purchasing books, while
/ seems e be of little Importance. bears
on the po r. A man with a
amily of four or five children must 90 TO
considerable expense 20 furnish his chill I
ren with books For u student enter
ng the manual training school the TO- $
Iial expense is Sl2, and this school was |
TO assist in the education OF /
he great masses who want to become I
rtisans and mechanics.
The city now pays from. $4,000 TO sl5,-
DO for free text books, or on an average
I about 81 per scholar. Under the new
ystem which would give every child all )
is books from the primary intermediate c
nd grammar schools TO the high schools, g
cost TO tie city would not exceed $4,000. .
his would make the total expens. to I
Ct y not over $4,000 per year instead ]
I $40, 900 now. q
Under the law in Massachusetts the /
verage cost per pupil for the last six G
ears mas been Sl.6l each year. The pub 4
C schools now contain about -, 900 y
The cost to the tax PAYERS would q
the above rate be abou, S cents per
200, certainly not IN extraordinary
especially considering the fact
lat the expense is now about 81 cents I
n $1,000. I
The main aim Of the promoter. OF the :,
stem is TO lengthen the stay OF the !
ipils in the schools, and IL by giving .
IN free text hooks TINY ann Induce L. III
holars 60 average two or three months II
ore they feel hat they will have done s
great work. They point out that the
'pulstion OF Providence il com
largely OF poor working
ople, and that large numbers 4
them are foreign born or OF foreign z
rentage. IL il he public schools that :,
the American citizen n II is Of !,
Importance that the schooling OF '
ch child should be continued as long as y