The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-11

The large and beautiful hall of the
Classical high school was crowded to the
doors last evening. the occasion being
the reception rendered BY the teachers
and school committee of the city to Su-
perintendent w. II. Small
The great gathering was called to order
shortly after s o'clock by the chairman
OF the school committee. Walter II. Bar
ney. Esq. Before introducing the super
intendent Mr.. Barney spoke briefly. say
ing that the great burden OF responsible
ty in electing a new superintendent last
spring had rested upon him. "A good
superintendent" he said. must be a
man able TO direct not only the teachers
and principals. but to carry on the tens
OF thousands OF children to a successful
development. He must be a man not
only acquainted with the current trend
OF education. but also familiar with the
experiences of past efforts and expert
ments in school work" The present SUI
perintendent Mr.. Barney believed, wOufd
meet all these qualifications.
SCHOOL RIGHTS.
He then introduced the superintendent.
who spoke on the topic of school
Rights" as follows:
When ship leaves port for voyage
across either ocean the last point OF land
is taken as the point OF departure from
which the casting or westing of her
course Is reckoned. 1t seems fitting that
in this first public utterance on school
matters a point Of departure should be
established from which our casting or
westing may be reckoned. To my mind
hot tl,..st Of
of all parties involved I'm the school poll
cy, the public which supports the schools,
the children who form the raw material,
and the teachers who turn out the more
or less finished product.
Soon after Dorchester established her
free public school I'm 1889. II was discov-
cred that these three inter related par
ties had rights which demanded adjust
ment and among the duties imposed up
on the wardens was this TO Judge OF and
end any difference that might arise be-
tween master and scholars or their
parents. Fztiurr to reeoen4ze-these-
rights has been the source OF most school
troubles during the two hundred and
fifty-seven years since that fact was dis
covered. What are some Of these rights?
First The public has the right TO re-
ceive for every dollar invested dollars
worth OF return I'm buildings. in equip
ment, in service. in mental and moral de-
velopment OF the boys and girls whom
they educate for future citizenship.
Second: The public has the right that
its schools I'm time and tendency shall
conform reasonably to its local conditions
and demands, as measured by the con-
sensus OF public opinion. Every live
teacher or school official has I'm mind
an ideal school which grows out OF the
real. but this ideal school should not
be pushed too rapidly 20 the front Public
opinion will not keep pace with a. The
real school is always a little In ad-
vance.
Third: II has the right TO demand
that we give our undivided attention
to the business for which they pay us:
that physical, nervous or mental power
should not be exhausted upon other mat
ters 20 the detriment OF the schools: that
grow mentally; that we use vacation I'm
laying in reserve OF nervous energy for
tho next school year.
Fourth: IL has a right 20 fair
knowledge 1of the schools through re-
ports. yisltations or inquiries. IL has n
right 10 frank courteous treatment I'm
these visitations or inquiries
Fifth: Tho part OF the public vitalIy
Interested, the parents. has "a right 90 n
minute knowledge of the individual pupils
belonging To them In scholarship. deport-
ment. attendance. honestly given without
fear or favor. the right 10 have its chill
dren controlled In school-nelther. sent
home. 20 the superintendent nor out
upon the street. except I'm extreme cases.
PUPIL HAS RIGHTS
THE -uuuff has rights arra many Of