The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-12
ACTION TAKEN AFTER DEBATE
Special Branches, Such as Drawing and
Music, May Be Continued Later.
THE CUTTING OFF OF THE TEACHERS.
Regret Expressed by Members Of Board That Such
Course Had Basn NscsssaT---Mstisr 10
Be Considered at Next Meeting.

a special meeting Of the school COM
mittee was held at o'clock last even
ing. President Barney i'm the chair and
quorum present.
President Barney announced that the
meeting had been called for the pur-
pose Of receiving the report of the con-
ference committee, and he then read
the report, which covered the steps
taken by the representatives OF the
school committee and the city council
to bring about satisfactory arrange
ment I'm regard TO the school system.
After stating that provision had been
made for opening the evening schools,
the report said that "the desirability of
continuing some OF the other branches
Of the work, particularly the element
airy drawing and music, was consld-
cred as were also the hardships en-
tailed upon the teachers whose wolk
had been discontinued Members OF the
finance committee spoke strongly In IA
vor OF continuing the work at least Tor
the balance OF the present half year,
and the committees separated with the
understanding that the finance commit
tee would give the whole matter tur-
ther and very careful consideration,
and that "a communication with their
conclusions would be sent TO your COM
mittee at an early day.
President Barney concluded the road
ing by Offering. on behalf of the con-
ference committee following -reso-
luton: Resolved, That the committee
on evening schools be and IL Is hereby
directed to establish evening schools at
the earliest practicable date and To con-
tinue the same for period not exceed
ing 20 weeks.
Mr. Manchester wanted TO know what
was going to be done about the special
teachers, who were left without em-
ployment. and he hoped that the school
committee would see that justice was
done TO them as soon as possible.
Mr. Hunter G.. White then moved the
ge OF the resolution calling for the
opening Of the evening schools.
MIR. Edwards spoke i'm favor of the
passage of the resolution, but he said
he was grieved to see that certain de
partments OF work had been cut off.
which was an injury TO both the teach
ers and the taught. He believed II was
the duty of the school committee to
endeavor TO remedy this evil. lie
greatly regretted that the study or mu-
sic and drawing had been cut off Com
petent teachers had been dismissed,
after one months work. without hardly
any notice He was Of the opinion that
al a meeting i'm the near future the
whole question OF whether IL VIII be
wise 10 curtail the studies or curtail
the time of the school year, should be
most thoroughly discussed For his
part. he was of the opinion that rather
than cut off any studies II would be
H..t 10, Sla grhnDl
Messrs. w. r. White and Mccarthy
smoke i'm favor of the passage of the
resolution. and the latter urged that
greater attention be given To the study
of penmnnship and he deemed a SUI
pervisor OF such "A study to be neces-
sary
Mr. Taft spoke Of the usefulness Of
the kindergarten and said good word
for music. drawing and physical train
ing He asked how the evening schools
were To be conducted
Mr. ". G. White stated that they
would be conducted on the same sys-
tenn as heretofore. with the exception
that the evening cooking schools had
been cut off
Mr.. Gilrain and Mr.. Stark spoke
briefly on the resolution. and then Mr..
Taft moved that the services Of the
visiting principal be dspensed with.
but the motion was not seconded.
Mr.. Jos'in said he was glad they had
secured what they had on the failure,
however. to receive from the council
the money necessary 60 carry on all the
denartmerts they should continue
them as long as thev could until the
appropriation was exhausted
Mrs. Kendrick spoke I'm favor Of the
study Of domestic science. and hoped
I'm the future that the resumption OF
the study would be SERIOUSLY consd-
cred. She had been told that there
might be fewer divorces VI the cooking
was done better, and there certainly
would he less intemperauce. Remarks
were also made by Messrs. Pepper,
Eddy and Manchester.
Mayor Baker said that the finance
committee wanted TO do something to-
ward opening the evening schools. but
he believed the COMMITTEES was not linn
tied To- the expense Of running the even
ing schools on an economical basis.
There wns enough latitude allowed 90
permit the school committee 90 look
out for the cases ~ hardship that We're
known 20 them. The school committee
was In "A position 90 know where they
could continue the system with such
economies as are manifestlv desirable.
They could keep the schools going as
lOnE ~ ine AUTHORIZATION laSteu, anu
no thought this thing would come out
all right Providence ives not going TO
have p poorer system than any other
city I'm the country. and she Vas going
90 pay for g. " was only right and
Just 90 keep faith with the people who
had been thrown out Of the means Of
an honest livelihood.
President Eenfrick ~ the common
council stated thalhn regretted that
a number ~ teachers had been thrown
out of employment with such n short
notice. after having been engaged with
the understanding that they would
have work for one wear at lensi. and
he believed that II Was tho duty Of the
school committee 10 see that something
should be done 60 administer Justice to
these teachers.
Mr.. Edwards spoke again briefly. and
said. among other things. that m tho
committee on evening schools found