The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-18
4 KINGSTON SCHOOL COMMISSION

IL from any OF the information that
has been placed at the command OF
the General Assembly. with reference
TO the State Agricultural School at
Kingston, the Assembly should deem it
desirable TO appoint commission
to examine thoroughly into the condi-
ton of the school and its opportunities.
or lack Of opportunities, for develop
ment, we should think that such step
would be cordially welcomed, by the
board of managers of the school and by
the president and faculty as well.
We say we should think this. AS
matter of fact we have reason to believe
that the management of the school is
actually opposed to the appointment of
any such commission. We cannot,
however, conceive of any grounds that
would place them in opposition, and
would be glad to be enlightened on the
subject. Tie school board and officers
may be honest in the conviction that
the condition of things at the Kingston
school is as favorable as could be ex-
pected, and that its growth and future
prospects are glowing. But the facts of
the case seem to show this opinion to be
erroneous, and, while the managers of
the school may be convinced that the
facts are not facts, we should think
they would court thorough examination
at the hands of representative commit
tee of the Assembly. We are frank TO
express our opinion that the Kingston
school has failed TO show results in pro-
portion to the funds that have been de-
voted to it, or even proportionate to the
enterprise and ability that it has had the
advantage of in its faculty and board of
managers. We are furthermore of the
opinion that without change Of loca-
tion the future of the institution will be
of small value either, an opinion based
on the experience and history of the
school after trial of nearly five years
never mind how much money is devoted
to it nor how much talent is enlisted TO
manage it. We are of the opinion on
the evidence that the school never should
have been established at Kingston Hill,
an opinion that many persons
had before that site was
selected and which experience. trial,
has now seemingly demonstrated TO
have been correct.
At any rate, for some reason or other,
an investment of 100000, staff of "a
professors. Il board Of management of
five and the enthusiasm and loyal sup
port of a great many persons of the State
who wanted to see the school estab-
lished and would take every possible
means to encourage and support, has re-
suited only in the pitiably small returns
pointed out In our issue Of
Monday last. Only ia pupils
are now listed in the school
catalogue of 1895, and of this number
II are graduates of the past year, so
that only 80 are actually in the
school today, and of these 81
are classed as specials" some
of them only putting in one hour
day leaving only 81 students in the
regular classes, freshmen, sophomores,
Juniors, and seniors. This is an amazing,
not to say a startling, showing. There
must be a reason for it, and we should
think that all friends of the school would
like TO have that reason disclosed. At all
events, we should think the General AS
sembly would like to look into the
matter before apnropriating any more
money for the school, which, as only
one-third of its attendance boards at the
school, can get along very well for a time,
we should say, without new dormitory.
If, as we believe, the location of the
school is at the bottom of the trouble,
now is most favorable time to change
the location. And if nothing can be
done to promise better showing for the
school we should say now is the time to
ind ont about II. But we believe that the
Agricultural School can be made one Of
the finest educational institutions in the
country, and that it has a splendid fu-
,ure before II. We should think the
management of the school would be
glad to have commission of the AS
semby look into this and see whether
success may be made from what is
now an obvious failure.