The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-28
q force on pupils those books which had
bsen made nasty by others.
The report requested answers TO the
following questions

Is il desired that we should estimate for main
tanning the system OF free books on q plan OF donu
ing such books o eacA pupil. or of simply loaninl
What condition Of tho books shall be considere,
SATISFACTORY Ia making est matesi We furnisl
y ysryrSs SoSss, Ir,m re s.e oang school supply .
estimates for a ful supply Zoe the schools.
The committee requested that wheI
these points were determined the matte
should be referred back TO the u, unless
the board choose to adopt the following
resolution, which the committee lecom
meuded
Redr,d. That the following resolution, referred
tousat he la I meeting, viz .
"RcOlrtd, fnat tie Committed or text books 4
HEREBY ms ructei u report In writ ng at [ e mex
regular nest!ug OF this committees. what will n'
may and grammar gradesi the probable cost OF
maintaining the system O. free text books IN said
question OF the feasibiiitSy Of introdaeIne free tex.
books be aud hereby il indefinitely postponed.
George j.. West oner d the following
suusti ute for the reso ution:
WHEREAS. In the opinion OF the committee. the
furnis IN OF tree texl books for the use OF the pu-
p Il In tne several puohc schools VIII greatly con-
duce To and 1, ntcts, ty TO kee SAID schools m Ell
cent operation. and make the pupils therein obta n
az me adNantaSes tleretiom wnioa, the o dihance
OF the .imes uemaDd; therefore. b. Il
Resolred That ne supsrintende I OF public
.urnish the lupils OF the pubIc schools, free OF
cost all text BOOKS necessary cor the use " tn
inu regulations - may be d emei necessary Tor
InG PrIteotlob anu pr.serAaloh OF sald boOAs, pro-
any pupl 10 furnish his or her own text book l. not
luIon.
Mr.. West said he had heard for the
first time That the STATE of Massachusetts,
i dirty, and that The books used IN the
schools are dirty. lie ridiculed The re-
port, and gave ii-ures To show that there
would be money saved in the end. lie
: lad 4 lint na4Vv Obi Aran a. - InpH faa..
the schools because they are TOO poor TO
buy books and too proud 10 say SO. A
letter iron. COMMISSIONS Stock well, OF
the public schools, was reaG, which gave
dates anu reasons Tor favorIng free Text
books.
Continuing. Mr.. West said that the
matter OF free text books was the one
thing lacking to make our sch, OILS abs
lutely Tree. He spoke of the foreign elt-
meat ana said that in iucements must be
offered TO geL them into the grammar
schools in order to tit them for citizen
ship.
IL was voted that the COMMITTEES be dis
Charged from furtner consideration Il
the matter.
Mr.. Mccarthy said he had noticed at
the end OF the term the teachers asked
all children To leave the city books thus
showing those who were too poor TO buy
books.
MI. JOSlIu sdIu lndI III wa n mdlIeT OI
principle. Everything should be free so
that the ricn and poor alike could enjoy
them. He gave the following figures
which wouI cover the expense OF intro
ducing the neY plan.
First year-Books to be furnish sd only
as classes advance to the new text DO rs,
primary department, S7,673: grammar
1897; total, sl5,O7O. Deducting from
Ihis the amount expended IN supplying
books TO poor children, 5000. leaves an
estimated total for the first year of 3d.
070. For the second year the same as the
first, a d for the third and subsequent
years-primary grade, $4,000;
grade, S4,65O; total, $1,000. as against
$1,000, but with the reduction OF 81, 600,
10 y paid OF .booksIused by poor scholars,
would leave IA total of $3.50 as a net
mount for the third aud subsequent
years. That is for the grammar and
primary grades, as covered 10y the origi-
nal resolution. Under the conditions
above, a OBS would cover the expenses in
the three n gh schools, ana the cost for
the third AID subsequent years would be
81. 500, including drawing supplies and
draughtlng material. The cost of sup
plying stationery, etc., IN the primary
aud grammar grades is 5000, and in the
high school 81. 900, MAKING a total of SO
600, but the additional cost OF SIS, 600
but | cent on 500 extra taxes.
Mr.. Smith said he had visited the
of Philadelphia, AID had seen very
dirty books, though many hal been
used for two years or more. He had
twenty rJons in this city aud had
seen very few dirty books. He said he
had been converted 10 free text books.
Mr.. Rice moved to lay the matter on
tle table for one month Lose.
DIR. Peck said that he had been con-
verted and though formerly opposed TO
free text books he should vote for them
II this time.
Mr.. KendricS said that the city
In this way as the OF dinance
1t present specifies the way in winch the
money for schools should be spent.
Mr.. Joslin explained hat il was not
he intention to conflict with the city
government. but that iJ was proposed to
AVE the matter arranged for in the esti-
mates for the mex fiscal year.
General Dyer said he was IN favor of
rec text DO ks, but was not in favor OF
he form of resolution ~ should be
compelled To vote galns il.
Mr.. Manchester asked that more time
'e given that ne mignt consider the mat
er as he was a ne v member.
The Rev. DIR! Rugg had visited the
chools of Philadelphia and had b en- a
'rised TO find the books in SO goo "A con-
itlon, lie was certain that money would
e saved by the free system.
The Rev. DIR. B.Xby said that he was
early CONVEX. ed to Ine idea of free text
'Joks and thought if the matter was
ostponed for one month others would
o,e for it.
The question being called, Mr.. West
Tor a roll call vote. Mr.. Vests
rs amended was then passed
y the followin : vote:
Geas-Prrsident Barney, Messrs. Blais
ell, Campbell, CosSrJve, Dana, Dever-
ID, D,r1hesGer, Frost. Horton, johnson.
oslin, Mccarthy. Nolan. O'Reilly, Peel.
.ugg, san Souci, Smith, West and WI,
X. White-20.
Nays-Sellew, Kendrick, Mrs. Anra
idrleh' BIxoy. Dyer. Gardner, Hill,
letcalt, Rice, stark, Hunter c, Whit,
nd ManchesIer-l2.
The meeting then adjourned.