The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-27

6 school committee should take the ma
g the logical remedy
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The committee was called TO order by
Chairman Gleason at $40 with a quorum
present.
The records of the previous meetings
we're read and approved.
Then came the reading OF the monthly
report by superintendent Walter H.
Small and was as follows:
suPERINTENDENTs REPORT
TO the School Committee Of the City OF
Providence:
In accordance with the resolution
adopted at the November meeting. re-
ouesting the superintendent ITO report
to this committee what action. IL any
should be taken to rid our schools OF the
evil effects OF cigarette smoking by many
of our pupils" l have made certain m
ouiries into the matter and report as
follows: First, TO ascertain how prevail
ent the evil is in the estimation OF the
prJncfpaIs. rne nigh ana grammar mas
ters wereasked to answer four questions;
ta) To what extent do your boys use
cigarettes?
tb) How many do this with the con-
sent OF parents7
(c) What effects have you noticed
from cigarette smoking?
(d) What efforts are made In your
school to correct this evil?
The replies to "a" indicate a wide, yarf-
alton: in the high schools from three or
fcur boys In one TO ten per cent In an
other; In the grammar schools from three
boys. 1.-THE fewest ever In school, In one
TO 12h per cent In another.
The variation I'm the grammar schools
Is due largely to variation In nationally OF
pupils.
The replies to "b' indicate that con-
adorable OF this smoking is done with
the knowledge OF the parents, sometimes
even with their consent
The replies to &C" show some cases
of dulled intellect. lowered scholarship,
and many cases Of increased irrtabtlity
resulting In transference TO the disciplin-
airy schools.
The replies 10 "a" show that each
school is working earnestly against the
evil by pledges, by physiological teaching,
by notices TO parents but largely by that
most potent force. individual work with
individual cases.
second. to ascertain what other cities
were doing in this matter inquiries were
sent to ten representative New England
cities Of diversified interests. asking II
there was any rule OF the school board
relative to the subject. what school ef-
fort was being made. and II there was
any appreciabie result. l found but one
committee rule and that makes the use o.
stobacco I'm any form on or upon th'
school grounds or while going TO or re
turning from school" misdemeanor sub
feet to school punishment. In all Of thes
cities. efforts are made similar to those II
our own schools. The general opion ]
that there are few tangible results am
that II is a hard thing to fight
Third, to ascertain II we might learr
something from the home of the Anti
Cigarette league I made inquiries In New
York city relative TO the efficiency am
results of the league there, and | fin
only two schools using the pledge at pres
ent. The others seemed to have wearie'
in we'll doing.
From all this the schools OF Providenc
seem To be doing as much In this matte
as those Of any city, and the work seem
10 be full as effective, though perhap
somewhat discouraging
The law for teaching physiology an
the school committee rule, giving teach
ers powed ito extend their supervision I
pupils going 10 and returning froi
school," seem ample to cover what IN
schools should be expected 10 do again'
the use OF cigarettes. The schools shoul
not do parental nor police departmer
work. They should teach boys the ev
results OF cigarette using. mental an
physical: they should de~S etrenuousl
with all known cases which occur durin
hours when the boys can be properly col
sIdered under school control: they shou
notify parents at once on suspicion tn;
the pupil ls using cigarettes, and for tn
purpose a blank might be furnished t
this department. and In extreme cas'
the matter might be reported for pros
cution. At all times the influence OF u
schools should be directed against IN
evil. but at no time should they be e,
pected 10 carry on the combat singh
handed. The parents influence shou
be infinitely more potent than that OF q
school and the general law. not scho
law, should be invoked against the Ia
breaker In this as I'm all laws TT
remedy lies In more stringent laws whlt
are beyond the school department | ca
only recommend Increased interest an
vigilance along the lines OF present scho
work
The present term closes Jan Goth nj
promotions will be made for the ne
term AS new pupils will be admitted
the lib grade and none go out from Il
grammar 20 the high schools. the usu
Increase OF pupils In the grammar schoo
must be provided for before the ne
board meeting. The conditions will
as follows: Judging from the entran
OF pupils for the past few years. son
100 will enter 1B: changed conditions
grading will allow the closing OF sms
pnd expensive rooms In three primal
buildings. The same conditions will r
auire new rooms In other buildings-
rhayer. 4: Doyle. 2; Branch. ]; Candsc
Z Peace. 4; Broad. !; Oxford. 2: Messe