The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-05
The First Regular Meeting
Of the Newly-Elected
School Committee.
Stephen l.. Adams and Henry
Dexter Reelected President and
Secretary Of the Board.
MEMBERS TAKE A DECIDED STAND
The City Council Asked to Petition the General
Assembly to Change the Charter-Iruant
Officers Work Very Unsatisfactory.

The first regular meeting OF the new
school committee was held last evening
and an organization was perfected. The
action of the committee last evening was
in perfect accord with the popular opinion
prevailing throughout the city. 1t is the
opinion of the greater number of the tax
payers of the city that the committee are
the proper persons to have supreme con-
troll of the financial management OF the
school funds. They are elected by ma
jority of the citizens at large, and the fact
that they receive the endorsement OF the
majority of the electors in every ward in
the city, demonstrates beyond the shadow
of a doubt that the electors have perfect
confidence in their ability to perform the
duties for which they were elected.
While not assuming too much arrogance,
and willing to extend to the members OF
the City Council all the courtesy due the
city fathers, SO called, yet the School Com
mittee feel that the time has come when a
decided stand must be taken in order to
place themselves in proper light before
the public. The City Council is composed
of peculiar set of men, who are, at times,
easily offended, and at other times seem to
lapse into state where nothing troubles
them. Another important matter which
received the attention of the committee,
and matter which has been crying
shame for some time, was the recommen-
dation of petition to the City Council
concerning the Truant Officer. The
TRIBUNE has called attention to this fact
repeatedly, that it was poor policy for the
City Council to pay its political debts in a
manner that will be injurious to the pub
lie school system.
AYounger Man Needed.
Col. Watson, the present Truant Officer,
is too old and feeble to perform the duties
of the office in the way they ought to be
done. 1t is poor policy to pension of po-
litical "has beens" in this manner, and
particularly upon such an important
branch as the public school system. The
position requires, yes, demands the an
pointment of q younger and more active
man, one who is physically able to grapple
with the trying duties Of the office. Ac-
cording to the reports of the census en-
umerators hundreds of children were
found who do not attend any school. This
state of affairs would not exist IL the right
man were elected to the position of Truant
officer. The school committee ought to
have the appointing power in this in
stance.
The Committee Organized.
Shortly after o'clock the committee
was called to order by Henry G. Dexter,
clerk of the committee, and upon motion
OF Mr.. Newell, Stephen L. Adams was
nominated chairman of the COMMITTEES
and received q unanimous election. Mr..
Adams on taking the chair returned his
thanks to the members of the board for
the renewal of their confidence, and said
that It would be his aim to act for the
best interests Of the public schools. He
said that the relations existing between
the members and himself were Of pleas
ant character, and 1t was the duty OF all
to act in a fearless manner when the
necessity arose.
Upon motion of Mr.. Lent, Henry c. Dex-
ter was unanimously elected Secretary.
Mr.. Dexter expressed his appreciation Of
the courtesy extended to him by an unani-
nous election, and said that it was pleas
ure to act in that capacity for the present
board, as it seems to be the aim of the
members to make the work Of the secre-
tary as pleasant as possible.
A Serious Matter.
Mr.. Dexter called attention to the num-
ber of children who were not attending
school. The matter was discussed at some
length, and it was the opinion of the COM
mittee that they were powerless until a
suitable person for Truant Officer was ap-
pointed by the City Council.
Mr.. Authier suggested that the commit
tee petition the City Council to elect
younger person and so regulate the salary
that the amount will be sufficient to allow
him to give this matter that care and at
tention 1t deserves.
The janitors' report for the month OF
January was received and placed on file.
A communication was received and read
from Rev. l.. G. Horton, pastor OF the En-
bury M. K. Church, extending to the
school committee an invitation to attend
special service in the interest OF "Scienti-
fic Temperance instruction in the Public
Schools" Sunday evening, Feb. z, at z p.
m. The same was accepted and placed on
file.
Superintendent Draper was empowered
to order a sufficient number of Werner
geographys to supply the primary and
grammar grades using that study. This
geography was compiled and written by
II. 8. Tarbell, superintendent OF the Provi-
dence public schools, and Is considered
one of the best now In existance.
The matter Of allowing the successful
teacher in the TRIBUNE contest leave Of
absence was left in Mr.. Draper's hands.
Tho coy,n,ittee exprpssed tben,aoIvea aa