The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-15
COMMISSION
NOT A
COMMITTEE
Public Hearing Given on the
Bill Recently Presented 10
the General Assembly.

There was another public hearing given
last evening by the city council COM
ulittee and education on the bill to estab-
lish commission to supervise the schools
OF the city. rather than the present cum
bersome committee. The bill, with petit
tlon, Is before the general assembly and
cannot be reached until the fall.
The attendance was not as large AS
might be desired but the interest was
none the less intense.
AT THE ROOT OF THE NATTER.
Chairman Rawson presided and the first
speaker was Thomas w. Bicknel who de-
clared that the Public Education associa-
tion has struck the axe at the root of the
matter-it is I'm the administration OF
TO arraign the school committee for ]
think IL compares very favorably with
school committees OF other places The
trouble seems to me. whether there is
rason for Il or not, 10 be a want OF con-
fidence in the school committee. a feeling
tha II is not doing its whole duty or
doing II faithfully and impartially I'm re-
gard 10 the schools OF the city. We arc
working under the old rural local man
agement OF tho schools and this | be-
lieve TO be the trouble with our schools.
II believe we are wrong in the method
OF election Of our school board. though
do not care how large or how small the
committee may be. I would not entrust
10 any mayor the appointment OF the
school board, which should be elected by
the people. If this were done IL would be
a starting point. While | hold to the
principles OF home rule, | must admit that
In the case OF the police commission my
greatest expectations have been more
than realized and am pleased TO take
this opportunity Of testitying TO my ap-
probation of its work. But this good
work is because good men were APP
pointed, and as I'm every case, IL Is the
man behind the gun who produces the
results. j will not say anything as 10
the number. as | do not care how many
compose the school board
II do not think that the financial side
Of the school system should be I'm the
hands OF such a board IL should remain
under the control of the city council, and
therefore a business manager Is entirely
out of place In this bill l thoroughly
approve of the provisions in the bill for
a school faculty. Such a feature has
worked wen wherever tried. think the
school board should be large enough or
have the power 10 appoint school visi-
tors"
UPER1NTENDENT SPEAKS.
Professor Walter @. Everett OF Brown
university said that at the previous hear
ing IL was pointed out there were teach
nioal defects | nthe bill and. even so.
amendments were desired TO effect the
best results.
He then introduced Superintendent Tar
bell who paid his compliments to the
the question of change from an analyuc
standpoint ard while systematical IN
form of argument his remarks We're
easily ineligible and fully convincing.
Briefly he said 'In considering the
school situation we should ask three
questions: First-Is the proposed act a
good one? Second--Is the present stua-
ton such as requires change? And
third--Under the present conditions is
there likely To be such a change? In an
swer TO the first question ! should say
yes. while In answer 10 second | would
say that the present condition is bad. and
that a change for the better Is very de-
sirable. In reply to the last question
can say that l see no prospect of any
Improvement
II heartily approve the general plan
of the proposed act and believe thorough
~ in n small board. at the last hearing
one Of the gentlemen who spoke said that
the act emasculated the office OF the SUI
perlntendeEt. In saying this he was com
pairing tho rules OF the school committee
with the law. The present law says that
the school committee shall appoint the
superintendent and that is all that II does
provide
Under such law the committee might
make the superintendent teacher of
bookkeeping or direct that he should per-
form some such duties This bill gives HIM
certain powers which the board could not
take away from him.
In 1899 the superintendent was given
| the power 10 place teachers Seven years
| before this he was given the power OF dis
| missing them This proposed bill pro-
wies that the initiative of the section OF
| the text books shall be I'm The hands OF
| the teachers. after which the books are
! approved by the board. Thus there is no
| change In books without the approval OF
! the teachers who use them, l have know n
| cases where books were changed
/, against the known objections OF the
/ teachers
fThe idea Of a school faculty is good,
and | admire the scheme for local vista
don The great thing we need Is a COM
munity OF interests and understanding be-
tween the teachers and tAe general pun
! lie"
The next speaker was Miss Lorraine
Bucklin, and she was followed by Miss
Jordan. Professor Davies and Professor
, Dealey, oil IN favor of The measure
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gnts am