The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-29
Important Action Was Taken
by The School Committee.
New Superintendent TO Be Given Full
Pow3r--Qusstion Of Closing Kinder
gaTlens Deferred Till NexlMee Ing

I work. They recommend the dismissal OF
| one teacher in drawing. OF one in music.
| and OF two In physical culture. These
reductions, particularly the latter, are
| somewhat against the judgment of the
| subcommittee In charge of the special
subjects. and are only made because
| your committee feels that they are abso-
| luely necessary at the present time. For
\ a similar reason. your committee recon-
1 mends the dropping OF the work in sew
, ing.
| TO DISMISS MANY TEACHERS.
The high school committee. after con-
| ferences with the high school principals
| and the superintendent. decided to dis
miss 10 teachers and employees, greatly
4, increasing the work of other teachers and
| dispensing entirely with instruction IN
physical culture In the high schools. This
action has already been taken by the
committee on high schools. and the
teachers whose services are dispensed
| with have been otifed accordingly.
In the grammar and primary schools,
| the situation has been considered by the
superintendent and supervisors. and every
possible consolidation effected In this
| way II is hoped that at the opening ol
these schools In the fall we may do with
a few less teachers than at present, the
number depending upon the applications
for admission in September, and I'm part
upon the distribution OF such applicants.
Such reduction OF the grammar and pri-
mary force cannot, however be maintain
ed for long period. the Increase
through the year and particularly at the
| opening OF the February term, at which
| time large numbers enter the primary and
grammar schools with no corresponding
promotion into the high school. Will iv-
auire considerable additions to the force.
TO CLOSE KINDERGARTENs
There seems to be no other portion OF
the work which can be abandoned except
either the evening schools or the kinder
gartens and, while recognizing as we
have stated, the value OF the kindergar-
ten, we do not believe that there is the
same necessity for IL as there is for the
work OF the evening schools in an indus
trial city with the large foreign popula-
ton OF our own.
Your committee have therefore, al
though most reluctantly. unanimously ar
rived at the conclusion that there must
be, for the present, a curtailment OF
kindergarten work, which they all great
ly regret, and which In common with the
whole school committee. they would be
most anxious to avoid If they could see
any way in which to obtain the money
for the purpose OF continuing these
schools, consistent with the maintenance
Of those portions of the school work
which are essential.
The salary list of the kindergartens. as
IL would stand next year without reduc-
uons Is S2l,2o0; the cost OF kindergarten
supplies is about $3.50; for these sums
twenty-four kindergartens, one of them
double, are now conducted. These kinder
gartens are Of two classes; one with paid
assistants, and the other with unpaid as
sistants who are in training as future
kindergartners.
In connection with quite a number of
these schools. a transition class is main
tained In the afternoon, relieving in
some degree the pressure for additional
primary accommoda tions which the city
has been unable to adequately furu
within the last few years. In several
cases. the abandonment OF the kindergar-
ten and transition work would necessari-
ly result in the opening of an additional
primary room, In which case. the addi-
tional primary teacher would cost SUBJ
stantially as much as one kindergarten
Your committee is informed by the
state authorities that during the year to
come there will be eight young ladies in
training as kndergartners and desiring
positions In our system as unpaid assist
ants. BY retaining eight OF the kindergar-
tens now used as transition rooms. and
continuing I'm charge OF them eight OF our
klndergartners short Of what would be
required, either TO obtain the best results
OF the present system or TO extend its
BENEFITS to the whole city.
REDUCTIONS PROPOSED.
statement OF the reductions recon-
mended, including those already made by
the committee on high schools as above
stated is as follows:
In salaries-Of supervising force, $500:
OF special teachers, $4,000; in high schools
including estimate for increase. SIC iss
in grammar and primary schools. includ-
ing estimate for contingencies 81, ,324. in
klndergartens, sl6.25O: total decrease in
estimates for salaries, $52472.
In evening schools. $500; In books and
supplies. 5000; In kindergarten supplies.
$50; I'm school furniture. repairs, etc.
5000: in transportations OF teachers, S9OO
total reductions. s67.722
Original estimates. s759,01S: appropria-
tion recommended by finance committee,
s6s5, ,OOo deficiency S4,0ls; deficiency un-
provided for, 1926.
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED.
The committee recommended n series
OF resolutions. eight In all. and after a
discussion among the members lasting for
fully two hours they adopted the follow
ing:
Resolved. That the offices Of super
visor OF grammar schools. supervisor of
discipline and special work. and super
vising teachers In the primary schools be
dispensed with at the close OF the present
school year. and that the present incum-
bents be notified that their services will
not be required I'm those positions after
| the end OF such year.
Resolved That the superintendent-elect