The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-07
NO REDUCTION IN
K|NDERCARTENS,
The Recommendation of the Spe-
Cial Committee Defeated by
a Vote of 16 TO IL.

e1nderSartens IN the school system OF
providesce was defeated i'm the school
tommNtee at the meeting last evening
h the Classical high school building by
, vote OF l6 TO H.
Wordy arguments and charges and
eountercharges enliyened the meeting,
Ind encounters OF the same nature were
Frequent and sharp, the whole going TO
make up one OF the livelest sessions ever
keld by the school committee.
Dr Tarbel and President Barney had
peverai lively tits while Mr.. Barney and
Dir. Pillsbury also locked horns over the
eeport OF the committee as presented by
the former.
That the public I'm general is desirous Of
vetaiDing the kindergartens was shown
by the food of petitions presented for
the schools, some OF them from the veal
thiest people and largest taxpayers OF
the city. many OF whom had no children
On the schools. Nearly every member Of
ehe committee was present.
KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS.
After the roll call General Hunter c.
White presented petition for the
detention OF the Ring street kindergarten
Ind for kindergartens in general. He was
followed by Mr.. San Souci and upwards
pf dozen others with petitions of
bimilsr nature. some Of the gentlemen
presenting as many as five petitions. the
humber OF names running from - up 10
a5O0 nearly every school district In the
city being represented by the petitions
10 tho committee for the retention OF the
kindergartens. the principal business OF
lthe meeting.
President Barney called General White
10 the chair and then called up the un-
1inished business OF the last special ses-
eion, the resolution recommended by the
special committee on the presidents ad-
dress relative TO the discontinuance Of
some 10 OF the kindergarten schools.
51e then made a report. which consisted
partially of a reply TO certain estimates
made by Mr.. Tarbell.
PRESIDENT BARNEY'S REPORT.
President Barney's report was very
long and began by saying that since the
last meeting of the committee the super
intendent has made reports, through the
public press In which certain figures were
given, which might misead the commit
tee and the public.
DE. Tarbell first states the report read,
that the report OF this committee showed
an estimated deficiency of 1926 after re-
ducing lsindergartens, and that his own
table shows the deficiency. without re-
3ncing kndergartens.' TO be only si0.191
The table given shows an error OF nearly
b2000 In the latter statement, the def
cheney according to the table being Sl2,061,
instead of sl0.1gl. The report also stated
that DR. Tarbell had alleged that the
committee had made an error of s249S I'm
the estimated reduction OF high school
salaries. the difference being caused
really by the probable growth OF the
schools for the coming year.
Continuing. the report took up the
criticisms of the superintendent on the
failure 10 make larger reductions on the
estimates for new schooihouses, and I'm
ttafv arit info i'm for linn thA al
OF the janitor of one building $50 too low.
DR.. Tarbells estimates for the high
schoos is too low by $l205.50, and he is
In error by S5547. the report read in his
estimates OF the lower schools, and In
general the report showed where Dr.
lTarbelrs estimates were too low all the
way around.
'.,q9,. L.. .Hda EdnoaK. -.hisiswover: NJ.
The report further goes on TO show
points OF difference between the estl-
mates OF DR. Tarbell and the committee
as to the new teachers required during
the year, designations. the employment OF
state critics and the new teachers needed
at the beginning of the school year. In
the latter item Dr. Tarbell estimated the
number at ten. while the committee
thought this too small.
In conclusion the report read that DIR.
iTarbelrs statement reflected severely on
fthe honor and truthfuness of tho COM
mttee In giving out the figures OF its last
report. that the great difference in the
estimates, $l1.423. was caused by mac.
lcuracies in the superintendents figures.
The report was igned by Walter H..
Barney. Lester s. Hill. Hunter G. White,
George G. Wilson and Thomas W. Water
Imam.
DIR. TARBELL REPLIES.
Mr.. Tarbell received the privilege OF
the floor and replied to President Bar
lney's report, explaining some of the diff
,ferences between his figures and those OF
1.-THE committee as read. DIR. Tarbell
claimed that the estimates as made by
him were substantially correct. He said
that I'm his judgment the number OF teach
lers could be reduced without detriment TO
the schools, and that he had been led to
believe that the school committee wanted
ITO economize and calculated accordingly.
but II seemed to him that every recon-
mendation he made In this respect hit
somebody's hobby.
DR. Hill said he thought the report OF
~. Tarbell reflected on the secretary OF
the school committee and called on Sec
retary Rose to know n he had ever re-
fused 10 give access 10 the superintendent
OF school books and papers. and Mr.. Rose
ssaid that the only time any paper Wa
ever refused the superintendent was hast
Monday when Dr Tarbell wanted the o.
fcial pay roll while IL was I'm use IN ;fo
question OF Dr. Hill. said the money
would be appropriated 10 pay for them
by the city council.
MANY DEPARTMENTS BEHIND.
Mr.. San Souci said that there wers
many other departments OF the city gov
ernment that were behind IN their ap-
preparations, and that the city council
Itself was one OF them. and that when
the end Of the year came they would find
the money 20 make good the shortage. He
believed that the school department had
Ibecn cut down too much already and
that the kindergardens should be con
ltinued. every one OF them. The clty
lcouncIl had never yet. he said. refused tC
pay any bills created by the school com.
jinittee. and he didn't believe IL would re.
fuse now.
Mr.. Tanning believed that kindergar.
Zen schools were necessity I'm our
lschooi system II we had tho money &C
pay for them. The schools were too near
Together. he said. and some Of them could
be consolidated He favored the cutting
down Of the number Of kindergartens. and
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