The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-24
SCHOOL FOR CASH GIRLS.

New York Herald

New York Herald.
There will shortly be started, In one OF
the largest dry goods stores in the city.
system whereby the little cash girls can,
uring certain hours each day, receive
instruction in such branches OF educa-
tion as are taught in the ordinary gram
mar Sc bools OF New York.
Tne idea is new one in the city, nl-
though 1t has been in operation for some
time past in Chicago, where 1t has been
very successful. Many OF tue larger stores
ladies who may be overcome by the heat
or crowds while shopping, but the idea
OF a school where fittle cash girls may be
properly educated Is something entirely
new so far as this city Is concerned.
So far as time II concerned the
majority of customers do not begin to
arrive at the stores much before 10 or
10:30 O'Clock, and comparatively few OF
the girls would be needed on the fioor
before that hour. The hours devoted to
study will be so arranged as to Interfere
as little as possible with the daily duties
of the girls, and at the same time will
allow them ample time for recitation.
AS the system IS in operation IN Chic
ago some OF the girls go to school from
$3.50 until 1890 O'Clock, while Others
attend during the afternoon; thus there
are always enough cash girls ready to at
tend to the customers snd clerks, while
all have an equal opportunity for attend
ing the school. Not only has he system
of holding a regular school In a iarge dry
goods store out West improved the girls
who work in the store, but 1t has shown
a tendency to bring them more nearly
together and into profitable contact with
their employers.
Competent teachers will be employed
l. II. Ia
be practicable, the regular scnool sys-
tenn in vogue In this city will be adopt
ed. AS now planned, this new school
room will be light, airy room, located
probably at the top OF the big dry goods
structure high above the dust snd DIRT OF
the city traffic. Books, black boards,
oesks-cverything, in fact, which 60 to
make up well-appointed school room.
will be found ready for Use, the entire
exy ense being borne by the firm. The
girls Will relieve each other during the
day, so that each one will receive about
i've hours per day.
A member OF the firm said, In sptak n
OF the mat ter: 81 do not anticipate sny
difficulty in proving to the school board
that we can be trusted with the educa-
tion of the girls. We have been very
successful with a school started in con-
nection with our Chicago house, ana 1
can see no reason why we should not
have equal success here. The girls there
are apparently glad of an opportunity for
rom bining the earning OF even small
wage md obtaining an education. They
are dilligent al their studies and very
painstaking. These little ones willingly
give up some of their evening hours to
learning their lessons and writing their
exercises for the next day, and the results
prove that by far the greater number
make better progress In our school tnsn
In the ordinary public schools.
"First of oil, the incentive OF being
able TO earn even a little to help out their
mot hers at home Is great inducement
to those wishing TO get on I'm the world.
This school is not only good thing for
the children, put incidetally II a good
thing for the .irm. We get our reg ular
reports from tho tesc hers, and those girls
who show willingness to hcIp them
selves are in turn helped by us and rro-
NOTED from one grade to another. We shall
have our commencement exercises at the
end n each term, just as do the public
schools. Besides the ordinary branches,
we shall teach music to such girls as
have any talent in that direction, and
also see that they have an annual sum-
mer outing"
When the next legislative committee
comes down from Albany on n junKot-
ing trip, incidentally TO correct
abuses OF the law prohibiting the en-
ploym.nt of child labor only under
healthful conditions, they will probably
experience new sensation when they
are ushered Into pleasant, well ventilat.
ed schoolroom, and see the erFtwhile
pale faced little drudgos tran sfornIed
into bright, studious school children, in
whose iives a new, happy influence has
been kindled.