The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-21
The Condition Of the Town
Schools.
Interesting Statistics Contained In
the Annual Report
A Larger Enrolment ofPupils Than In
Any Previous Year.

The report OF the ex-Supefenteuuent oi
Schools, William A. Briggs, for the year
ending April 80, 1895, is about to be Is
sued.
Judging from the lateness OF the re-
port the ex-superintendent did not work
hard at this complimentary document
during dog days.
The whole Pamphlet included six re-
ports; the town treasurer's report by the
chairman of the committee, II. u. Balm;
school census report by Joseph A.
Latham; superintendent's report by W. A.
Briggs; Cranston High Schol report by
A. ii. Keys, report of supervisor of music
by Miss Mary j. Merchant, and report OF
drawing teacher by Miss Jennie lie Garde.
The report shows that the receipts Tor
1894 and 80 were S25, $50. 81; the expendi-
lures are S26, 276. 80, she wing the expendi-
lures for '94 and 80 to be S7lo 70 more
than the receipts.
The average number OF scholars belong
ing TO the schools, and the average atten-
dance have increased 81 and 80 per cent.
respectively in the past three years. The
number of teachers has increased from 20
to 81.
In speaking of the needs of better in
creased accommodation, the report gives
the average attendance in each room OF the
different buildings. The highest is that
of Cranston school, where the average
number in room is g.
The report compliments very highly the
professional work done in penmanshlp IN
all the schools in the town under the su-
pervision of Professor George Russell, who
has lately accepted the principalship OF
the comercial department OF the newport
High School.
The report also speaks in compliment
tary manner of the results attained IN
drawing during the year.
Mr.. Balm should be complimented on
the clearness and conciseness OF the style
in his report, according to the state
ments of those who have seen that docu-
ment.
The second part of the report 10 on the
school census by ex-clerk Joseph A.
Latham. The report shows that when
the census was taken there were 16SS chill
dren of school age in the town; OF this
number 245 attended no school. Besides
this there were 90 children of school age
who attended school less than 16 weeks.
In the report of the ex-superintendent,
he SAYS: "The establishing of a High
School has awakened a desire for such a
course of study and made II possible to
many who would not otherwise obtain
it." He also says: 1.-The increase OF the
salaries of the teachers has enabled the
committee to insist on higher standard,
both of literary and teaching ability than
| ever before
"The full results OF these causes have
| by no means been secured. They VII
continue to operate with increased power
| in the future. y"
The latter statement is encouraging, as
it makes future improvement certain
| through work that has already been done
The report takes up each school sepa
rately and gives some interesting facts
| concerning each.
Pippin Orchard school has no grades
| and has all the classes in one room. In
! this school % pupils have been registered
| during the past year. The report com
pliments very highly the exceptionally iy
| good work that has been done during
| tn past six months by j. Winslow King
| The Knightsville school building hai
| two rooms, in which there were lib regis
| tered during the past year.
| Great credit is reflected by the repor
on Mrs. Mary Il. Mocre. an experienced
| teacher, who mas, with much effort,
brought this school up to high stand
| ard. the average in the last final exam
ination being exceeded by but one othel
| school.
There have been registered during tn,
past year in the four-room Cranstor
school building 335 pupils. The ex
| superintendent compliments in stronl
terms the principal, John A. kerns
| under whose management the past yea
| the school has risen from the lowest IL
rank TO the highest; the average In th'
] final examination being 81; the pupil wht
examination was a member of this school
also the second pupil in the examination
The four-room building in EdgewooC
had an enrolment last year OF 19O. Th
largest graduating class in the town thi
year belonged TO this school. I've
teachers in the upper grades are the re
cipients of glowing tribute. The repor
saws that this school is well up to grad'
! in all departments.
The report says the Pawtuxet schoo
has, previous TO this year, been labor1nl
under disadvantages, but that now 1t i
in good hands and ut promises well 10
| the FUTURE Four graduated from thi
school this year. AS il is ungraded, will
only two rooms, the progress is excep
| tional.
In the Auburn school building ther
are six rooms and eight teachers. Their
have been during the year BIG scholar
registered.
standing was ~ per cent An encourag
ing feature in this statement is that tn
! number in the h her grades Is large
than in previous years.
Franklin school has two rooms AM
three teachers. During the past yea
there have been 102 pupils registered
GA serious difliculuty with this scboo
is that so many of the pupils leave dur
ing the summer term. -
In the five-room building in Arlington
there were enrolled 265 the past schoo
year. Four graduated this year.
The report of the Cranston Higl
school is not signed.
In the program given for the hig
school the periods are of 55 minutes
length. The classes in .his school ar
| small.
The reports OF the music and drawin
teachers enumerates the work done Il
each OF these branches during the pas
school year.