The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-04
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEETS AND ORGANIZES.

The annual meeting Of the school COM
/ mittce was held hst evening In the COM
I mttee room of the Classical High school.
( for the purpose OF organization.
Twenty-three members we're present
and the business Of the meeting was
conducted with a noticeable degree OF
harmony and dispatch.
The meeting was called TO order shortly
after o'clock by President Barney. after
which the roll was called by Secretary
Rose.
Following the roll call Secretary Rose
administered the oath OF office to Presl-
dent Barney who, for the 18th consecutive
year, had been elected president OF the
school board.
The oath 10 the new members was ad-
ministered by Mr. Barney.
The nembers-elect Of the committee are
az follows:
Ward 1--Chsrles H. Philbrick. three
years: George a. Wilson. two years.
Ward 2-William J. Pyne, three years;
John P Beagan, two years
Ward 3-William ]. Cain
Ward i-Lester s. Hill. three years.
Ward 5-Thomas w. Waterman. three
years.
Ward 6walter H. Barney. three years.
Ward John l.. sprsgue, Jr., three
years
Ward s-.John l.. walker. three years.
Ward 9~Hunter q. White three years
Ward l0-James A. Dempsey. three
years.
In accepting again the office Of presi-
dent Of the school COMMITTEES Mr. Barney
delivered the following address.
PRESIDENT BARNEY's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the school Committee.
am deeply sensible OF the honor which
you have conferred upon me by electins
me for II successive years as your presid-
Ing officer. ] also appreciate highly the
confidence which you have shown by the
great additions which YOU have made
to the powers and dignity or the office
OF president since I have held a.
These added powers and continued hon
ors have brought with them Increased
duties and obligations. How well I have
succeeded In my efforts 10 perform these |
duties and TO live up 20 these obligations
those who have been associated with me |
and have observed my work can best de- |
eide. l can only promise that. while 7 |
hold this office, ] shall spare no ex- 1
penditure OF time or effort to make the ,
work of this committee tell 10 the ut !
most possible extent for the building up !
and sustaining of the public schools OF |
this city.
The president. however. can do little !
unless he has the united support OF the |
committee and if I'm the past II years
progress hsA been made in the work OF /
administering the school affairs OF our /
city, ii IA chiefly due to the united and !
cheerful cooperation OF my associates /
bespeak a continuation OF this support /
for the year upon which We are now /
entering
Next only TO the great improvement I'm /
the training or teachers for their work, /
the substitution OF systematic profession /
al supervision by trained superlntendents I
and supervisors IN the place Of the ir- 1
regular Inspection Of the schools by un- /
trained committeeman. IL the most power 1
ful factor In the Improvement OF the !
SCHOOL sYsT6ms OF today. T
Members 81 the committee however in \
or this change are apt TO
lose more Of their feeling OF RESPONSE
bility FOR the welfare Of the schools
than is warranted by the interposition
or the superintendent and his assistants
between the teachers aud the committee.
The pupils are responsible to the tach-
ers, the teachers To- the supervising force,
and the supervising force 20 the commit
tee. But the chain does not end here:
tho members OF the committee are an
swersble 10 the people for the conduct "
the school system instructed to their
charge. and cannot shield themselves be-
hind either the acts or the theories ~
'noSe Nnpu lneA nave CHOSEN 10 super
wise the work. The people look to the
committee TO see 10 it that the schools
not only progress with the advancement
NJ the times. hut that. I'm such progress ]
they do not lose touch with the public I
and its expectations and demands
! do not intend 10 belittle either the ,
aims or the achievements OF modern
educa ton" or the Importance OF the study
~ the chllds mind and the methods by !
which 1t develops. nor the efforts to
place the art OF education upon scienti-
1c ana rational basis But the public will
not he satisfied With the schools. no mat
cr how scientifically and pedseosicsIly
hey may he claimed to be conducted. |
unless certain old fashioned standards Of
school work are satisfactorily accom-
plished by the pupils
II the graduates of our common schools
'ead with ease and understanding. write
tly aud lesibly. spell correctly. aud
I'D, subtract, multiply and divide With
speed. the public will pronounce our
school work satisfactory If such
,raduates fail in any OF these particulars
10 matter how much else the schools have
shed. No amount OF nature work with !
,li " means for the development of the
.hllds' percertiVe powers, NO study Of
literary models. with aii thaN ~ accom-
,readth of view and mental Xigor. no DO
'elopment ~ artistic taste and ability
~ work With pencil or brush. none ~ The
'arled efforts of the teacher TO bring
" the childs mental powers will satisfy
he public if anything ~ permitted 10
rowd ont or Interfere with thorough
work in these fundamental studies.
N T. the special duty of the committee.
q representatives chosen from the BODY
" he people TO sac 20 ~ that this popu- |