The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-28
SIX YEARS THE
LEGAL SCHOOL AGE.
Superintendent Small Advocates
Raising the Age Limit a Year.
Good Friday a Holiday.

The regular monthly meeting Of the
school committee was held at the Classd-
cal High school building last evening. A
large majority OF the members were pres
ent and President Gleason presided.
The committee on grammar and pri-
mary schools recommended new pri-
mary school building in the Ninth ward
near the present site on Africa street OF
not less than eight rooms. and the com
mittee on relations TO the city council was
directed to make application for such a
building
Superintendent Small presented long
report I'm which he recommended a num-
Der of radical changes IN the present sys-
tenn.
He states that the changes made In
September whereby 5-A grade was abol-
tshed have worked satisfactory. The ele-
mentary schools are now on an eight and
one-half year schedule, and to reduce this
to eight years with the least possible
friction is the next and concluding step.
Mr. smalrs recommendations are as
follows:
Frpt-That the age OF admission 10 the
primary schools be raised 10 years ana
that TO the kindergarten be raised to ~
or S. Nearly 70 per cent OF the pupils now
enter at approximately the age recon-
mended. 6 years. The strain on school A.
nances largely comes from teaching the
same matter twice TO the same pupils
From sickness, slow mentality and other
unavoidable causes there is always some
loss In all grades. but the loss In the LIB
grade is generally very serious.
Second-That tho first four years be
called primary, and the second four years
be called grammar grades, and that as
far as possible the primary grades be
placed in primary buildings and that the
grammar grades be placed in grammar
buildings.
Third--That the eight-year course be
outlined briefly as follows:
READING.
Years /. q 3, devoted to learning to
read:
j. BY changing ear knowledge to eve
knowledge.
2. BY increasing the vocabulary.
8 BY gaining phonetic power.
4. By sufficient oral practice 10 gain
pronunciation, articulation. thought, en-
phasis.
years 4 to inclusive devoted TO reading
TO learn.
In the years 4. s and 6 the work should
1. Practice reading from school readers.
2 Geographical and nature reading.
g. Historical reading.
T. Literature.
In years and some reading In geo
grsphy and history but mostly literature.
Reading work divided Into sight ana pre-
pared, oral and silent.
LANGUAGE.
Years / and 2. great emphasis on the
spoken language, especially among the
foreign children Story telling, oral re-
production.
Grade 3. leading steps from oral TO writ
ten including simple written forms.
Years a. s and 8. written language In
detail and knowledge OF simple grammati-
cal forms.
Years and s. English grammar and
formal composition work
ARITHMETIC.
Years TO s, work so divided that each
year shall see some one subject en-
phasized. Constant reviews on funda-
mentals and clear, logical review at
the end.
, GEOGRAPHY.
No formal work until the 4-B grade.
Local geography In Alb. Elementary
geography. "A 10 6-B inclusive. Ad-
vanced geography GA to S-B. inclusive.
HISTORY
Third year, history stories in connec-
tlon with language.
Fourth year. historical reader.
Five-B, local history stories. visits.
Frve-A to 6-B, some general historical
events and the reading OF an elementary
history.
Ska to s-A. formal history study, In
cluding I'm the s-A elementary study Of
government
Years q to 7. inclusive the memordzins
Of certain standard historical poems
SPELLING.
Years 60 q. oral spelling in connection
with the reading. In third year some
work written.
Years 4 to s. oral and written spelling.
using spelling book and selected words
from school studies.
In years and 8 special attention given
90 syllables.
Years and 9. systematic dictionary
work taught
Writing. music, gymnastics and draw
ing readspted 20 the eight years as per
directors outlines.
PHYSIOLOGY.
Years I 20 8. simple oral hygierac les
sons.
Years T. end 6. simple lessons. read
ing and some study
Years and 8, formal study.
NATURE.
No formal study. only incidental. TO