Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-30

taxes for "A government inspection which they
do not adequately obtain. BY making this
commissioner a member of the State BOARD OF
Assessors before referred TO, the entire taxa
ton would DO placed under the control OF one
body. The revenue from insurance com
panies, agents and State banking institutions
during 1853 amounted to St'S,226Z7.
Education.
Isuggested to the last General Assembly GER
tain lines of legislation which believed would
Improve and strengthen our system OF public
education. Among the important measures
adopted was one having for its object the pro-
vision Of free text books and supplies to the
pupils OF our public schools.
The brief period that has elapsed since this
law went into effect Is insufficient TO properly
estimate the advantages that will accrue
therefrom, but its acceptance by the commun-
ity has been gratifying and there Is every In
dication that its ultimate benefits will not fail
the expectations that promoted it's adoption.
Lam informed, however, by the Commissioners
OF Public Schools that in some instances the
obligation of the city or town TO carry out the
law has been questioned. While the language
Of the law seems TO be sufficiently emphatic
to leave no grounds for such dispute, the
necessity of providing some means of enforc-
Ing it's provisions is "A matter for your consid-
GRAFTON.
l desire again 10 voice the sentiments Of
prominent educators who favor the abolition
school administration now In force In our
State, and the substitution therefor, of the
more definite and orderly plan of government
by the towns. Four Of the New England
States have already set an example In this di-
recton, and their experience alone would
Justify you In favorably considering this
change. Accompanying such a reform, there
Is need Of legislation which will supply
method of determining the qualifications Of
teachers and secure for the States service In
structors Of whose capability and merit there
Is no question. When we provide for our pub
lic schools the best teachers and the nnest
equipment We popularize and strengthen the
most potent OF American institutions, and in
that our duty Is clear.
These recommendations touch upon tho
principal disadvantages under which our sys-
tenn of public instruction is operating today.
Notwithstanding these detriments, IL is
agreeable to know that reports submitted To
the Commissioner of Public schools show
salutary and vigorous progression In all
branches of educational work.
The expenditures Tor educational purposes
during the past year have been 81, ,SS,4l4.S3, OF
which sum $30O,87l.lb was devoted To build
ing and equipment. OF the total expendi-
ture, STA, ,a78.79 was drawn directly from the
State Treasury and u, ,t5,, ,93s 0i was furnished
from the treasures Of cities, towns and dis
tricts. My attention has been drawn To the
large expenditure for the erection and equip
ment of new school buildings which during
the last two years has amounted 10 nearly
three-Quarters of q million dollars. Surely
this fact signifies that the state IL not ne
glecting the solemn responsibility of providing
for the proper training of her future citizens
The number of children enrolled during the
past year In public schools was $685., an in
crease of 95s over the year 1892. In addition To
this number 1880 have received instruction
In ~ private institutions, including kinder
garten and paroohial schools, according to the
reports received by the Commitssoner.
The most important and gratifying events Of
the educational year will, | think, be found in
the completion Of the Manual Training School
In Providence, and the occupancy by the
Rhode Island school of Design OF its hand
some new quarters on Waterman street, In
Providence, which was the generous donation
Of public spirited citizen. These two insti-
tutions, together with a manual training
school now in process OF erection at Newport,
mark a significant step In the direction of the
special technical education so essential TO n
manufacturing community like Rhode Island.
The State has for many years past made an
appropriation for the purpose Of providing
scholarships for the School OF Design, and the
fact that such provision has at length become
inadequate to the demand Is surely$not 10 be
regretted. At present the State supports l23
scholar ships. and the benefciaries come for
the most part directly from the factories and
shops of our industrial centres.
Education Of Deaf, Blind and Feeble
Minded.
The new State establishment known as the
Institute for the Deaf and admirably located
At the corner Of East avenue and Cypress
street, Providence, was dedicated with appro-
pirate exercises on February 2lst, last. Ii be-
gan this year with 81 pupils. The Board OF
Trustees has now TO report the completion of
the equipment and furnishing of the institu-
ton at a total cost for construction Of about
s54,OO0. The cost of maintenance during the
past year, as shown by report of the Board is
Sl3,3l5.9i, which leaves sl,o94.O5 Of the appro-
priation unexpendcd. As the school is con-
tnually growing, do not think IL advisab BILE
to curtail the annual allowance.
Two children, both over 10 years Of age
and too old to be treated 10y the oral method
of the Institute for the Deaf, have been
placed at the American Asylum in Hartford,
Ct.
There are also at the Perkins Institution for
the Blind at South Boston and its kindergar-
ten in Jamaica Plain, nine boys and eleven
girls from this State,
At the school for Feeble Minded in Wa
verify, Mass, there now six boys and five
girls.
Normal school.
The report of the trustees Of the State Nor
NAL School is "A satisfactory record of success
full work, bringing with IL the promise of rich
achievement when the new building shall
have been secured, towards which the last
Legislature took the initiatory step by ap-
pointing commission and making an appro-
priation of SD,0CJ
The commission 10 giving much thoughtfu
attention to the matter of a suitable Site and
IL is confidently believed that work will be
commenced on the new quarters early this
Spring. l trust you will render such further
assistance as you may find necessary To pro-
vide without delay the relief required by this
useful institution.
The opening of a new model and training
school on Benefit street under the Joint over
sight of the Principal OF the Normal School
and the Superintendent Of City Schools In the
distinguishing incident of the school year.
1t In designed TO furnish the training necessary
for the development OF a good teacher by Civ
ing students Of the Normal school the control
and management of pupils and occurring them
TO carry on their work under the guidance and
watchful care Of a competent teacher critic,
This plan will not only awaken additional in
terest in the students of the Normal School,
but will be the means of providing a certain
supply of competent and well trained in
structors.
College Of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
The Rhode Island College OF Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts Is still deprived OF the
benefits arising from the funds Appropriated
by the Morrill, Act passed by the Fifty-hrst
Congress At the January session, lse2, the
General Assembly enacted Chapter l07s of the
Public Laws making this institution the bene-
6ciary Of those funds. Thereupon the corpora
tion OF Brown University sought an injunc-
tion against the General Treasurer TO restrain
him from paying over the money TO the Agri-
cultural College. The Unhed States District
Court has passed upon the case and Brown
n FsxN haa tab - - -.