The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-31
School Committee Report
Expenditures During Year
Ending June 50, 1897.
Police Officer James Hanrahan
Returned to Duty by Aldermen
Takes Broad Street Beat.
RESCUE DIVISION DRAMATIC CLUB
Important Meeting Of the VIM. 0'Brlen Branch
Of l. N. r. Social Of the Central Falls
Cadets--Generai Notes.


In accordance with the custom and the
requirements of the public statutes, the
School Committee presents for your con-
sideration their third annual report for
the school year ending June 80, 1897, to-
gether with the supplementary reports OF
the Superintendent, principals and super
visors Of schools:
"Upon the organization OF the committee
on February 4th, Mr.. Stephen l.. Adams
was elected chairman and Mr.. Henry Z.
Dexter clerk. In the submission OF this
report. your committee has omitted enter
ing in the detailed history OF the school
work for the reason that such Is fully set
forth In an admirable manner In the OFF,
cial report Of our Superintendent Mr..
Frank .. Draper.
"The school department embraces the
occupancy of nine buildings, with total
of 80 rooms In use. In the lower grades 1t
has been absolutely necessary In order to
keep the schools any where near ap-
preaching the required grade to appoint
assistant teachers, this necessity Is atrib-
utable principally to these causes: First,
the grades referred to, tend most OF the
time to be crowded and at the beginning
of the year excessively SO; second, quite
large per centage of our pupils are forced
to avail themselves of work certificates;
third, in the lower grades progress is i'm
peded to a considerable extent from the
fact that many of the beginners have to be
instructed in the speaking OF English.
eEvening schools were maintained for
period of 80 nights at the Dexter and
Broad streets buildings; much zeal was
manifested by the pupils, and your COM
'mittee speaks only in praise OF the work
accomplished; the attendance and de-
corum compare favorably with that OF
preceding years. The schools for the past
year have received about the same finan-
cial assistance from the payment OF poll
taxes. Into this fund from this source
the sum of s35 was paid; this is but
small percentage of 1898, the number OF
poll tax assessments.
1.-THE committee during the past year
have instituted In tentative manner and
with commendable success kindergarten
methods in first primary work. Now the
establishment Of such schools In COM
munity like this would be Of especial ad-
vantage to our children, when we stop to
consider that over 80 per cent. OF the chill
are to give them by the time they arrive at
the age of Is years, which is the age of
exemption from compulsory attendance.
Now, the two years, from to 9 years of
age, would be invaluable to them. They
would familiarize themselves with school
requirements, accustom themselves to
school discipline and acquire consider
able proficiency In letters and numbers.
This would allow hundreds to reach
grade or two higher, or, in other words,
certainly receive a years extra schooling
before going out into the busy world,
where an education tends to increase ones
income by increasing his value to his en-
ployer. Such schools should Of course be
distributed throughout the city. At the
Broad street grammar school the building
OF one-story addition or wing upon the
east side would provide sufficient accom-
modation for that territory and relieve the
overcrowded condition Of the lower grades
OF that school. His Honor the Mayor,
William Won Gottschalk, speaks OF the
kindergarten system in his last inaugural
message, and you are respectfully referred
to page of the said message.
"Your committee in It's administration
and expenditures has always favored the
utmost economy without loweringIthe efii-
cheney OF the department and we believe
that our educational expenses, by compari-
eon with other school organizations, are
not excessive. The dscontinuance Of the
supervisor of physical education was In
accordance with the plan intended at the
time of its introduction, that Is to say the
committee realized the Importance OF
physical instruction and wished to make
a correct beginning.
"The committee at that time received q
favorable proposition from Miss Florence
Dispeau which was thereupon accepted.
While the pupils were to have the benefits
of her attainments, yet 1t was the intention
of the committee that the teachers would
be specially assisted and gain such pro-
ficiency that In the course of two or three
years such instruction could be impaired
by them. The committee this year were
simply Of the opinion that that time had
arrived. The School Committee calls at
tention Of the citizens to the fact that It's
appropriations are divided, az we believe
contrary to law, contrary to the express
wish of your committee and greatly to It's
inconvenience.
"The statement of the exdenditures for
the year ending June 30, 1S97:-Furniture,
e244.6O; libraries and apparatus, &453.4S;
text books and pupils supplies, $S43.63;
teachers wages, day schools, w, 6,391.65;
teachers wages, evening schools, 900;
other expenses, evening schools, S73.10;
janitors, $50. .65; incidentals, $776.09; super
intendent, 1880; clerk Of committe, $150;
total, t34,19755. Respectfully submitted,
"STEPuEN l.. ADAMS,
"FREp Il. NEWELL,
"ELMkR II. LENT,
~. MILLIoAN,
~. M. AUTHIER,
"HENRyC q. DEXTER"
License Commissioners.
The License Commissioners met last
evening. They received the application OF
EIzor J. Saillant to transfer his license at
the City Hotel to Severe Desaulniers, and