The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-10-24


In taking up its work last fall your
committee took for its guide the resolu-
lions adopted at a meeting held Saturday.
Oct 25. 1892, which were as follows:
We urge. therefore. the enactment or
legislation sbolishlng the district system
and the establishing OF the town systeie
throughout the state.
We also urge legislation providing a
uniform plan for school supervision
throughout the state and the necessary
APPROXIMATION therefore. We are glad to
report that laws have been passed COW
sring every point in the resolutions,
An act providing for the better man M
agement OF the public schools In the STATE
was passed at the last general assembly
with two amendments The nrst secuon
abolishes the district schools OF the state,
ell the property OF such districts 10 De
vested in the town in which the districts
are located The remaining portion OF
the section provides the method TOT
changing from one system 10 TIE otnei.,
Sections two three and four provide
for the office OF superintendent ana all
matters pertaining TO his ONCE Secuon
Ave provides state aid for such towns as
DO not care to- unite in the movement
Section six provides for the annuai ap
preparation OF an amount suHicleht ~
carry out the provisions OF the act, len
thousand dollars was secured Tor the
present year.
AN OBJECTIONABLE FEATURE.
There was one objectionable feature In
the law. which promises TO be correcVo
st the next session OF the assembly. some
defects have been discovered In the law
I'm the year Of its existence. one Of the
complaints is that the lS-yesr age OF chii.
on account OF tfrr number OF foreign
born. who come here and go 10 Work lh-
medately, and those who are IL or over
and cannot read OF write ought TO pe pro-
Appended to the report is suggested
one amendment. which provides foI y IN
Il. a.rh
that state aid for supervision might be
ALLEN p. KEITH.
STATUS OF COLLEGE WOMEN.
The second report to be heard was
that OF the committee tn inveStgate the
status OF college women ia Elementary
schools The chairman of that committee
reported for the body I'm the person OF
Miss f. Helena Gregory. The report was
very carefully and eaborateiy planned
and embodied the replies OF superintend-
ents principals and college women
teaching elementary grades. The Queries
sent 10 these were after this faa Mon:
Is II desirable ia your opinion that
teachers I'm the elementary schools should
be college graduates?
What proportion OF teachers In the ele-
mentary schools OF your city are college
graduates?
In YOUR city are any inducements offer
tary schools IN the way OF (D larger sal
sry; (b) granting maximum salary earlier
than to their teachers: (cD reducing the
time OF regular training. I'D in any other
way?
Is Il vour experience that college train
ed teachers are moe efficient than otn-
ers? (b) more original? (c) more enthu-
siastic? (d) better disciplinarians?
DO they take broader views OF educa-
tion? Are they more impatient of super
vision?
DO they enter the elementary school
from choice. or until they can get posi-
| tions In high schools?
What special training should college
graduates have I'm preparation for teach
| Ing in elementary schools?
QUESTIONS ASKED.
Tho queries sent to the college women
| were of this sort
How long have YOU been teaching in an
| elementary school!
| Was teaching In elementary grades
your choice when you began. or did you
| try 10 get a position In high school
before accepting your present position?
DO you desire a position In a high
schoo?
| Has your college training been OF
marked help to YOU in grasping and ap-
plying the principles of teaching?
Is Il help in discipline?
or hindered in mental growth by contact
| with immature minds?
DO you take a strong personal interest
IN your pupils?
Does teaching I'm elementary schools
give you as good social position as hign
school teaching would?
Would YOU advise young women 10 pan
20 teach in elementary schools to take a
| college course by way of preparation?
Tsbulated with each set Of queries was
q set OF figures arranged statistically tc
show Just the condition intended and the
facts TO be deduced.
In concluding Miss Gregory said
From there reports comes the ec'io
training training. training They fail at
FIRST but forge ahead finally. The re-
ports show that the college bred teachers
are best In the matter Of enthusiasm.
breadth and depth OF mind,
LACK OF REMUNERATION.
Elementary grades do not get the best
| college bred teachers mainly because Oh
Lack OF proper remuneration lheir
most nagrant fault is lack OF disciplinary
training. The college Is more successful
An moulding elements OF character, but
| they are not amendable to authority
| When she sees that discipline Is neces-
sary she succumbs with good grace and
| makes the best teacher At hrst she Is
Initiative. but gradually asserts her In.
| dependence OF thoughts and begins To de-
wise methods OF her own.
In the failure 90 self control TO dis
eipline and enthusiasm for the work the
college has a special duty laid. down for
a. IL should be the duty OF the college
20 cultivate those qualities Of charactef
that will do away with these faults.
supcrintendents say that they are more
| efficient, and take a much broader View
OF education. The best girls now go "a
collage and I'm order 10 get them into the
| elementary departments Inducements OF
| salary must be offered College women
| arc under great expense for their train
.~A ..,.st acoL fatrosf ref,uuora 4 iou