The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-02

In another column we rript in full the
address OF School Committeeman BIcK-
NELL tefors his fellow members. In sup
post Of resolution 10 substitute for the
present school committee a board OF edu-
cation OF perhaps from five to nine men,
bers.
The address Is worsh reading by every
citison, because it presents comprehen-
sively, II not exhaustively the argument
for smaller body for the control OF our
schools. BY the adoption Of the new by
laws, the school committee itself, It seems
to Us, has presented most forcibly its own
opinion that few men can take care of
the schools quite ss well as tho full body
OF 80 mem bers, since under these new
rules the power and executive authority
is much concentrated and the majority of
the members exercise functions that are
of minor importance or more honorary
than OF any great practical usefulness In
the conduct OF the schools.
Except by suggestion, Mr. BIoKNEIL
brings no indictment against the school
committee and of course any evils that
may exist In the management OF our
schools are not TO be laid at the door of |
any particular committee, but are to be |
charged to the system. And after all,
while there is a growing public impress
sion that we are not getting ell that we
might get out Of our public school
system, the main question 10 thus, per-
hsps, not so much o problem of
correcting actual and. d.gIaring evils as of
making the system better. There is
doubtless much to be SAID upon both
sides OF this question, but thus far In
the school committee there appears to DO
no disposition to argue the csse on its
merits. inasmuch ss the majority are
opposed TO the view advanced by Mr..
BIcKNELL snd are content to vote IL
down accordingly, without wasting any
breath. The fact remains, however, that
the evidence OF modern school systems
bears very strongly on the side OF q
smaller board Of control. 1t is also fact
10 this community that the general
public has never interfered with the
'chool committes and has rarely ventured
o o1iticiss II in any way. 1t 10 not q
'oliticsl body in the sense that 1t is
iivided on partizan lines with which
he public is familiar every day in the
ear, but that 1t has, within itself, pol .
tics OF Its own, unnamed and undefined, a
. unquestionabls. These politics have
,ever attracted the attention of the
itizens at large, but they are undou otedly 1
ubjsct to the same obligations and Iiabil- !,
ties and are marked by the same char "
that distinguish politics of II
7hatever kind, whether in national or :,
peal Affairs in private organization, . o
lub or church society. 1t Is to be ),
oubted IL our schools of today are up to ia
'e standard OF efficiency that they might p
and It 10 fair to look to the school "
'mmittce for part OF the blame for any
ck in the discharge of the functions for
hieh the schools are supported at such T"
beral expenditure Of the public funds.
Whatever the prestige of the school
1t IL, after ell, not 20 sacred
J institution that the general body of -
10 citizenship must keep its hands off
ask no questions and neither criticise W
'r suggest Especially, a. it has re-
ntly acquired authority that prac-
,slly takes the control OF the schools
It of the hands Of the city council and
s shown . tendency to initiate measures Al
'on which IT is practically unanimous in g.
sh.ng through but which. II original. fri
Z in the city government would be 81
'rs fully scanned and more freely dis /,
ssed by the public at largo than they frc
} likely to bs when promoted In the fri
,ool board, 1t behooves the public to :"
tch that organization with particular -
e that the tremendous trust which is ia,
posed In II, and much OF which IL has am am
umed without asking the public's HA
vs, be not fooled with mischisvousIy. =
- res
No