The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-16
HISTORY OF
OUR SCHOOLS.
Subject Discussed at Meeting
Of Historical Society.
AMOS PERRy'S "reminiscences
He Came Here 67 Years Ago When Six
Grammar Schools Were Projected.
IS OPPOSED TO FREE TEXT BOOKS.
Mr.. lapham Said Money For Education Is Not
Always Wisely Expended Economy is Necss-
sap--Mr. Southwck on Evening Schools.

At the regular meeting of the Rhode
Island Historical society last evening
the subject discussed was the history
of the public schools and their objects.
Hon. John II. Stiness presided, and he
called upon Hon. Amos Perry as the
first speaker.
Mr.. Perry said that 81 years ago he
was a teacher in district school in
Massachusetts,, and soon afterward
came To Rhode Island. In Providence
at that time six grammar schools were
projected at "a cost of $4,000 each. Peo-
pie We're drawn to the city because OF
the educational facilities The gram
mar masters received salary or SSOO
each. The six grammar masters met
regularly once in two weeks and al
ways had a topic for discussion. Mr..
Perry was one of them. The superin-
tendent received only $1,000. Mr.. Perry
then referred to the question OF free
text books and supplies as at present
maintained, and objected TO II. IL was
providing too much luxury and was too
expensive.
BENJAMIN N. Lapham said that in his
opinion some of the money expended
for education was not as wisely ex-
pended as 1t might be. 1t ought to be
as economically expended as possible.
This was especially necessary i'm view
of the fact that not all the children in
the community attended the schools and
not all who were taxed for the schools
used them. A comparatively small per-
centage of the community, he said. at
tended the high school. There were
three courses there. with free tuition
and free books. This was an injustice.
Children of parents who were so well
off that they need not work had free
hfgh
books provided for them. This did not
seem right to him.
Isaac II. Southwick spoke OF the even
ing schools the first one Of which was
opened In 1910. In the early days OF
the system scenes of violence were not
uncommon Pupils would lie in wait
for "A teacher. and the teachers were
obliged to combine, but all this has
now passed away. Mr.. Southwick did
not believe i'm educating people beyond
the point OF making them good citizens.
He objected 10 the gaining OF IDEAS OF
ease and luxury in place of ideas OF
striving and frugality.
Alfred Stone said IL mattered not
whether all the taxpayers in the com
munity had children i'm the schools. The
whole of democratic community
should be taxed for the schools. Peo-
pie who had the advantage OF the
schools were a benefit to the commu-
nifty. But IL was "A question how far
the schools should go. There was moth
ing more harmful than that saddling
upon the community by the state legis-
lature OF the necessity Of providing free
text books i'm the schools. IL was
positive loss 10 give the children books
TO study and then take them away from
them. The men who conferred benefits
upon the country in science art. etc.
received their stimulus in the schools,
The schools had vastly improved the
condition Of the country. The public
schools should give the children the
very best education possible.
Remarks were also made by Presi-
dent Stiness. and he said that he agreed
with the speakers who said II was
distinct loss TO the children In having
free text books. II was a great help to
keep the books they had studied at
school. But by providing text books
for all there was removed that unde-
sirable singing out of the very poor
who were Obliged to ask for free text
books under the old system. Judge
=Stiness commended the benefits re-
ceived bv the community from the
evening schools and other features OF
the school system.