The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-16

The problem of education is growing
moro and more important each year and
any move tending 20 curtall facilities for
the enlightenment of the men and women
of the future will hardly meet with APP
proval.
And yet this is what the school COM
mittee or at least certain members OF
II would do. when they advocate having
the city solicitor appear before the gem
eral assembly and ask the enactment OF
legislation exempting Providence from
the further operation of the free text
book law
That law went into effect in 1898 and is
as follows. section %. chapter go, of the
Public Laws, particularly pertaining TO
education:
The school committee of every city and
town shall purchase, at the expense of
such city or town. text books and other
school supplies used in the public schools;
and said text books aad supplies shall
be loaned TO the pupils of said public
schools free OF charge, subject TO such
rules and regulations as 10 care and
custody as the school COMMITTEES may pre-
scribe.
Here a copy OF the resolutions that
was before the school committee less than
fortnight ago:
lations TO the city council be-. and they
hereby are requested and directed 20
communicate 10 the city council. the con-
clusions which have been arrived at by
this school committee. that free text
books now constitute a most serious bur-
den upon the school finances: that If the
appropriations for the support of the
public schools are not TO be materially
increased compliance with the free text
book law Will necessarily result in such
curtaiment OF school work as will be
-. -.
and the pupils entrusted to our care: and
that. In default OF such larger appropria-
tions the city council is requested TO APP
ply TO the general assembly for such an
amendment TO the statues as will exempt
the city of Providence from compulsory
compliance with the free textbook law"
COST TO THE CITY.
According 10 the books of City Auditor
Chase, cost for free text books last year
was S23, So. This sum is not $4,000 more
than for the previous year notwithstand-
ing the large increase I'm school attend
ance.
And this is less than five per cent OF the
total appropriation made annually.
ARGUMENTS ANSWERED.
Out of total population OF $4,000 there
are nearly 5000 pupils and more than
Geo teachers in this city and State Com
missioner Stockwell I'm a comparative
table for the first five years that the law
was in effect demonstrates that from the
original cost per capita OF Si3I Il con-
tinued to reduce to 70 cents.
Discussing the question I'm detail MIR.
Stockwell says. 1T is often alleged that
the free text book plan tends TO the
spread OF disease, that IL deprives the
homes OF the very poor OF the few books
which they would otherwise be liable TO
fktff H.
great an amount OF care and labor upon
The teachers 60 look after the books and
last of all that II Is a decided recognition
of the socialistic principle that the state
should provide everything for the indi-
vidual
AS TO the first charge. that the books
tend 10 spread disease, II is 10 be said that
up 10 the present time no authenticated
case OF that kind has yet been made out
against the free books. 1t has been
claimed In certain cases. but without suf-
ficient evidence TO sustain the charge
When Il Is no longer safe 10 circulate
money, when we cannot safely ride Am
public conveyances, when circulating a.
braries are closed on account OF their
tendency 10 spread disease. then will IL
be time TO discard the free text book on
hygienic grounds. but not before
That some teachers have been. and even
now are, overburdened with the amount
VI Nltilthl idpoT liitlhtuA 10 lnt NlfNlbN-
tion and care OF the books and supplies
Is perhaps true. But where there is one
of this class. there are scores whose work
r. lightencd and whose opportunities ar,
greatly Increased by the fact that their
pupils are now fully equipped with all
needed means for carrying on their work,
that there IN no longer a period OF dreary
waiting for delinquent children to pro-
vide themselves.
Free Textbooks are not one iota more
socialistic or paternal than the free
schoolhouse or the free highway N Il
were contrary 20 the spirit OF our insti-
tutions 10 abolish driftways and turn
pixies then free textbooks should be given
up. and with them free schools.
ADVANTAGES OF THE SYSTEM
A local educator Of prominence gives
the following reasons showing the adj
vantages attendant upon the adoption OF
free textbooks.
grades received some or oil their books
7. They abolish class distinctions in
school. In Providence about onc-third
the pupils In primary and grammar