The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-16
Needs an Overhauling.

If there is one department of the
city government that needs a thorough
overhauling, more than another it is
the department of the schools. The
enormous amounts OF money used far
exceeds that used by any other de-
partment. while the results have never
been so bad as at present. In fact, SO
bad did they become that short courses
have been devised whereby certain
children are passed through. on lower
lines. in half-time. Bad as things were
in former years, they We're immaculate
purity when compared with the nasty.
and incessant intrigues now carried
on. In this connection look at the fig
ures which represent the cost per an
mum OF each pupil in 1879, 1929, and
compare Ii with the per capita cost in
1898. $29. 36. But while the cost has been
30 greatly increased the quality has
been correspondingly decreased. There
is so general belief in the weakness
OF the present system. that mer will
read with content this confirmation of
their opinions. The following expose of
q school examination at Washington,
ID. c.. has appeared in many papers.
hut this from the New York. Sun. is
. the most concise. The examination was
about month since:
The system of teaching used In the pub
1ic schools of the District of Columbia
has lately been tested practically by the
Ou the district Many parents and en-
ployers have complained that the gradu-
ates OF the public schools murder Eng
dish and cant do simple sums In arith-
metic. The subcommittee arranged a Sc
rics of examinations for pupils In the
first year of the high schools. Such an
examination should be favorable test
OF the work done I'm the lower grades. as
presumably ,nly the best graduates from
These enter the high schools As To- arith-
mctic. the report OF the subcommittee
saws that outside OF the business high
school less than third OF the high
school pupils could pass the ordinary
examinations for clerical positions as set
by the census bureau or the civil service
Commission, notwithstanding the fact that
these pupils have finished their instruc-
tions In arithmetic"
shine. They begin the study of history I'm
the third grade, continue IL I'm the fourth
and iiftn, use four text books I'm IL I'm the
sixth. study the history of the United
States from the time of the revolution IN
1he seventh, and take up English history
5n the eighth. The exactness OF the
nowecse ;dsn. attained sro IN inese years OF
animation papers printed by the sub
committee. To the question: Name the
four nations that had most to do with
1he discoveries and early settlements OF
this country, and state what part OF the
country each explored and settled" the
most original answer was this
''rhe four nations are the American, the
Europeans, Africans and Asians. The
Pilgrims settled In Plymouth Massachtu-
eette In 1920 They were also Americans.
The Indians or Americans where the
ones who first settled America. hut were
nfferward driven out. As the Pilgrims
were Puritans they were Pure i'm heart
The Europeans explored the Hudson river
and Bay. They being explored by Henry
Hudson European. They were named
after him as Hudson river and bay
Therefore they settled in America."
contented himself with the assertion that
s'iioiland was settled by the Dutch Ger
many was settled by the Germans Italy
was discovered by the Italians and Por-
tugal by the Portuguese According TO
q more daring student the people of Italy
discovered the northwestern part OF Am
ssna se renen psgpe dis The
England the northeastern part and the
people Of Germany discovered the south
western part of the country"
Tho question "fiivc n brief account Of
the Puritans or OF the Pilgrims brought
out these prize answers:
The Pilgrims were called pilgrims be-
cause they pilgrmed and journed"
Pilgrims prayed for providence which
WAS M times granted 10 them"
The exiies from england were called
1tiErfms after the rocky coast OF ply-
mouth upon which they landed"
The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth rock
early in the spring I'm small boat called
The May-Flower. When they landed they
were few In number. Being opposed 10 the
weather many died. Their clothing was
not very thick for winter and their shelter
did not protect the cold. wind, rain and
snow from coming In
Question Three was this.
state some Of the Important causes
which led 10 each OF the following named
wars, md the nations or people Involved
~ each: The French and Indian War:
The Revolution. the War ~ 1872. and the
FereilICn. or civil War"
This elected q Hood OF curious infor-
rnntimt Tho civil War was caused bv
The Question of slavery and success
Zion. the President forbid the Ameri-
'sans 10 interfere with the affairs OF
Canada !" tho civil War was caused bs-
nndispotsd territory" the main cause