The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-15
CRANST0N.
A Hearing Given by the School Com
mittee Last Evening.
Mr.. Dubois Offered Testimony 10 Support
Charges Against Mr.. Bowen.
CRANSTON.

The regular monthly meeting or the
Cranston school committee was held I'm
Knightsville town hall last evening. SUI
perintendent Amy presented the re-
port on examination which was accept
ed. A letter was read by Committeeman
Reeve from Health Officer King ex-
planning his reason for closing the busi-
ness department at the high school and
several other matters i'm connection
with the recent scarlet fever scare. AL
so stating that before taking any steps
i'm any such matters in the future he
should consult the members of the
school committee.
Mr. Clemence spoke OF changing the
hours i'm the schools in order To give a
longer time at noon as the children at
some of the schools are compelled TO
carry dinners and are often late in re-
turning. About IL minutes he thought
would be sufficient. The matter was
left TO the discretion OF superintendent
Almy.
Immediately after the session the
members repaired TO the Eighth Dis
Mr.. Dubois against Mr.. Bowen. prin-
cipal Of the Shaw avenue grammar
school. Chairman Balm called the meet
ing TO order, and Mr.. Pierce OF the
school committee presented petition
containing the signatures of about $50
residents OF Edgewood, in the Shaw
avenue school district.
Mr.. Reeve asked that the names he
read, which was done, several gentle
men in the hall asking that their sig
natures be added
Mr.. Dubois then asked that n rider
be added TO his petition asking that
Bowen be dismissed. as the rider was
inadvertently left out of the original
petition. He then read his petition, in
which IL was stated that his daughter
had been dismissed without cause: that
Mr.. Bowen had told the class that the
first year Alice was very ladylike, but
the second year she was "A saucy, IN
pudent girl: that this pointed 10 the
way she was brought up, and the other
pupils ought not to associate with her.
Also that Alice ought 10 be ashamed
10 be seen on the street. Other charges
were made that Mr.. Bowen had called
the class detestable sneaks. dogs and
liars; had called one boy a coward, and
had referred TO a combination of CHINA
mon and sugar as bellyache powder.
Mr.. Dubois said that one who used
such remarks was unfit 10 teach in the
state prison.
Mr. Bassett here asked that every
thing be as brief as possible. Mr.. Du-
bois, he said. was getting warm, and
IL he would only consent he did not
wish to parade children on the witness
stand. 1t was not conducive TO good
order in the schools.
Mr.. Pierce remarked that he hoped
his brother members would make 1t
rule that complaints should be made i'm
such cases in future TO the local COM
mittee who would investigate and bring
the matters quietly before the board
He regretted exceedingly the custom of
making formal complaints 1t was not
conducive to the best interests of the
schools.
Mr.. Clemence agreed with Mr.. Pierce
and said the children seemed TO take
this as a picnic and thought they came
expecting TO see "a good show. But il
was serious matter. He would like to
see all children. who were not with
parents or were not witnesses, sent
home.
All the witnesses were then ordered
into a sideroom and Alice Dubois was
sworn. Her testimony agreed with her
fathers statement, but she acknowl-
edged answering Mr. Brown by saying:
II am not whispering" and that she
made a face at the principal, when or
dered home, causing the children TO
laugh.
Cross s-examined by Lawyer Bassett
she admitted leaving the Mount Pleas
ant school TO attend the Federal street
school. though residing in the first
i i. -l,. I,s.I l.s.
Chided several times for whispering.
Other witnesses called by Mr.. Du-
bois were Vernon Gardiner Norsh Kir-
win. Otho Boone, Alonzo Ellington. BY
ron Sanders Lizzie Frederick Bert Bar
stow -HaGlense- -Inhnstnn- Sidney Run-
ker. Charles Patton. The testimony Of
all was similar in most respects. though
in relation To Mr.. Bowen calling the
class detestable sneaks there was n
years difference I'm the time of some.
And only two could give any reason for
Mr. Bowen using the language.
Lizzie Frederick testified that Mr..
Bowen wore rubber heels and stole up
on the class while q number OF pupils
were making considerable noise. Then
was the time. she said. that the phrase
was used. Charles Patton said the boys
would stop talking In the school yard
when Mr.. Bowen approached. and gave
this as the reason for the expulsion.
Every one OF the witnesses. with tho
exception OF two. admitted they had
had trouble at one time or another with
the teachers.
At 1920 Mr.. Pierce moved that the
meeting adjourn. Mr.. Clemence said
that the matter ought not TO be left
over until the next monthly meeting.
and it was agreed TO adjourn until
Thursday evening.
MIR George Bennett of Providence
was somewhat painfully injured by
falling from his wheel on sunday Ho
was riding down Phenix avenue. going
toward Knightsville. and attempted to
draw on his gloves without djsmount-
ing when the wheel took sudden turn
towards a low stone wall which bor-
ders the road. Mr.. Bennett went over
the handle bars. alighting on his head
and inturing one of his arms. The
front wheel was badly twisted bv tho
sudden turn. but after "A short rest Mr..
Bennett was able TO mount and ride
home.