The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-27


intendent Small, being the principal
items of business. All were ordered conf
mitted to the committee on annual re-
ports.
Two new members were sworn I'm by
President Barney, Mr.. Simon S. Lapham
10 succeed Hunter c. White as member
from the Ninth ward and H Clinton
Crocker 10 succeed DR. Fitzgerald of the
Fourth ward.
President Barney was asked by one or
the committeeman what the prospects
were of keeping the schools warm THIS
winter and was Informed that the coal
dealers had promised to do the best they
could. and that i'm all probability the
schools would be able TO continue all
right.
President Barney announced the recep-
ton OF the truant officers reports and
then presented Superintendent Small, who
read his first report as follows:
ITO the school committee OF the city or
Providence:
"At this first meeting with your hon
orable body IL seems fitting that should
say word about my proposed years
work. To most OF you this is new situ-
alton; with one exception no member OF
this school board has witnessed previous
change in its educational head
''While Il am seldom ulSposeu 10 Deg
situation or a question i would suggest
that ! shall need your indulgence while
am becoming acquainted with your city
and problem. So far | have been able
to enter some wo-thirds OF the buildings.
meeting the teachers briefly In their class
rooms. and getting a general impression
OF the various schools
''It is my purpose to continue this brief
visitation until all buildings have been
visited. While general school conditions
and problems remain the same In all
places. there Is always local variation
due 10 precedents and TO local wants. My
first duty is to find your variation from
the general type as governored by these
precedents and local demands. To do this
most of the GEAR must be spent directly
in the school rooms.
NOON OFFICE HOUR.
THE noon Office hour has been discon-
tnued mat the school day may be free
for this work. ] purpose in the first hair
year to get grasp OF the system as
whole. and I'm the second half year TO
study special features. such as the transit
ton schools Recommendation will he
made conservatively, and only when there
seems to be well-grounded reasons for a
change.
81 desire to attend subcommittee meet
ings whenever / have matters to present
or the chairman SiRnlly tndl my pres
ence is necessary Otherwise, | prefer
the time to work before suggested.
shall be glad to respond to all reasonable
calls made upon my time by the board,
a subcommittee, or any individual MEM
ber.
THE attendance on the first day of this
term was as follows:
High schools, 1855: grammar schools,
620s; primary schools, l5,05S: special
schools. 2S4; kindergarten schools, 1901,
total, 2i.4s7
This shows an increase as follows:
High schools 56, decrease: grammar
schools 9es. primary schools Is, decrease:
special school ls. kindergarten chools lA
total increase 1902.
This seeming decrease OF Sc in the
high schools Is accounted for by the loss
of Junior i in the Classical high, and the
decrease in this department in Hope
street 81 in all. In the actual high
school department there is an increase
OF five.
LARGE INCREASE.
'The large increase In the grammar ana
decrease in the primary is accounted for
by the fact that In saving the half year
between s Il and B all pupils, who under
former conditions would have been called
A and classed with the primary. are
listed as Il and classed with the gram
mar. About all of this 96s increase under
former conditions would have been
credited 20 the primary schools
This Increase OF 1902 pupils repre-
sents a demand for 20 school rooms Last
year IA rooms were closed. IL has been
found necessary TO reopen six of these
one each at Grove, Summer. Kiliingly and
Peace, and two at Doyle. In addition
eight rooms have been opened. one each
at America. Webster. Broad, oxford and
East and three at Gladstone
This accommodates all pupils comfort
ably. except in the lowest primary grades
After all reasonable changes and trans
fers have been made there are still over.
crowded rooms renging In numbers from
81 to CO. with waiting lists.
THE condition at Atwelrs avenue
should receive immediate attention. NJ
teacher can properly attend TO 56 non.
English speaking pupils That Who'll,
district Is congested There are Other
districts demanding attention in the near
future. but I am not sufficiently familiar
with the situation as yet.
SMALL WAITING LIST
after all pupils have been accommo
dated so far all over the city there ar,
email waiting lists OF pupils desiring e
enter ! v. In some places they hav,
been accommodated in the Transition
classes
II have not the fun returns from al
primary schools. hut reports from d
show F pupils thus waiting. The ful
returns have been called for Whenever .
child six years OF age has been reportc,
on such lists. he has been provided for
while ] am strongly Of the opinion
that children FIVE years old are bette
OF with half day at school. I an
equally Of the opinion that those sl'
years old should go the full day. I an
not making an inquiry az IN how man,
six-year-old pupils are I'm the TRANSITION
classes. with view 90 giving a fui
school day u II II possible.
Respectfully submitted.
wv. r. SMALL. Superintendent
Providence. Sept. -. 1902"
The following report and acco po~yill
resolution was presented:
ITO the honorable school committees o
the city OF Providence:
while II has been tacitly undcrstoo
that s.se salary Of the present supetin
tendent should be the same as that o