The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-06
PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The control of the schools has very
largely passed out OF the hands OF the
city council whose duty in connection
with the schools is confirmed to making
an appropriation which the school COM
mittee spend, and TO building and repair
ing schoolhouses. Nevertheless the Inter-
ests OF the public school are so close TO
every citizen that short consideration
OF the department will not. in my opinion.
be out OF place at this time. One year
ago I pointed out TO you what l con-
sidered TO be some OF the disadvantages
OF the present method of managing the
schools
still believe that the school committee
is ill-adapted 10 its work, cumbersome
and complicated in its methods, and
liable tS abuse by combination OF a few
members. ] had hoped that movement
for "A reconstruction of this body would
emanate from the city council during
the past year. My recommendation 10
this end met, however with no response,
but L am glad TO know that there Is a
prospect that the matter VIII be brought
before the general assembly at its next
session by an association of private citi-
bens which has given TO this subject the
attention which your predecessors denied
IT,
What a great work the public schools
are doing 20 Americanize the children OF
foreigners settling I'm our city, and how
important this work Is perhaps known TO
but few.
The Italisns i'm the Third and Ninth
wards the Hebrews in the Second and
Fifth wards. and the Portuguese in the
First ward are becoming large and i'm
portant elements of our population.
They arc proud OF being American citi-
zeus and anxious 20 learn our ways. II
Is perhaps but natural. although unfort-
innate that their first exercise OF the
right OF citizenship should frequently
be attended by what Is worse In our
system.
The only agency broad enough and ef-
fectiVe enough 10 teach them the Ian
Cuage and American thought Is the
public school
In the schools which their children at
tend they form large proportion of the
pupils ! am informed that from ninety TO
ninetv-fve per centum or the children I'm
Atweii's avenue and Courtland street
schools I'm the Ninth ward and In Branch
avenue primary and Greeley street schools
in the Third ward. are Italians: while half
or more OF those IN Africa street and
Berkshire street are ot this class also. He
brew children constitute from seventy 20
eighty per centum Of the pupils I'm the
Benefit street. State street Charles street
and Gladstone avenue schools in the
Second and Third wards. with a consider
able number in the willard avenue and
Public street schools I'm the Fifth ward.
Wherever these people settle they gath
or I'm increasing numbers and as they have
large families the need OF Increased school
accommodations becomes evident and ur-
gent The difficulty Of teaching these chill
dren the English language while instruct
ing them I'm tho school subjects makes
n Important that only moderate numbers
should be assigned 10 each teacher. ] re-
xret 20 learn that the insufficiency Of
school accommodations in the sections
where these people live IL such that very
large numbers are necessarily given n
each teacher. The council should cooper
ate with the school committee In provid-
ing ample school facilities where they are
most needed