The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-28

facts. Specimens to be furnished only
by the teacher, not by the pupils. Plant
growth shown by specimens grown In
school rooms or school gardens.
MEMORY GEMS.
Years TO 4. the memorizing OF bright,
selected children's poems. Poems from
Longfellow In fifth year. Whittier In
the sixth year. Holmes In the seventh
year, Lowell In the eighth year. This
work In the grammar grades 10 be ac-
companied by some knowledge OF the
authors.
Tourth-That the primary school day
be from q 10 ~ and :$b 10 3:45. with two
recesses OF 10 minutes each.
That the grammar school day be from
Q to 10, with 15-minute recess. and from
l:45 To 4. without recess The grammar
school session may close at S:45 and the
last Is minutes be used for individual
work. This work may be extended 10
AIS whenever necessary
The so-called study hour shall be abol-
tshcd.
This rives the primary schools four
years OF 80 weeks each. hve days i've
hours each 5000 hours.
The opening exercises consume 10 min
utes daily recesses 80 minutes daily, $40
hours. leaving as working hours $3.50.
In grammar SCHOOLS TOUR Wtths vi 90
weeks each. Ave days Ave and a quarter
hours each. 1926 hours. Opening exer-
cises 10 minutes daily. recesses 15 min
utes daily, individual work l5 minutes
daily. $40 hours. leaving for working
hours 1875.
During the year days are lost as fol-
lows: Rhode Island institute in October.
2 days; Thanksgiving recess in Novem-
Der. PA days. legal holidays, 8: storms.
at feest 3: opening day, J.; closing days,
2; total 1874 days or 7 per cent
The total working hours In the ele-
mentary eight years in 1856. less per
cent. loss. makes the actual extreme
working time 646s hours.
This time should be approximately
divided as follows: Arithmetic. 500 hours;
reading. 1000 hours: language, 1000 hours;
gymnastics, $50 hours; drawing, $50 hours;
geography. 100 hours history. 700 hours;
spelling. 800 hours: physiology. 80 hours;
memory gems. 100 hours; nature work
1b0 hours.
This gives 10 per cent OF the time to the
arithmetic, reading. language. spelling.
geography and history. Respectfully
submitted, WALTER II. SMALL.
Superintendent.
Superintendent Smalls recommenda-
tons were referred to the committee on
grammar and primary schools to report at
the next meeting.
GOOD FRIDAY.
Mr.. Beagan reported that the committee
on bylaws recommended that a resolu-
ton be adopted closing the schools on
Good Friday. He said that excess OF
absences from school on that day above
the Friday preceding was 1854 An nine out
OF Is grammar schools. He estimated
that the excess OF absences would average
between 3S and ~ per cent
At Academy avenue there were l42
pupils present Good Friday and AS the
preceding Friday At Branch avenue
there were 20 absentees Good Friday and
81 the Friday preceding. Figures COM
piled from the primary and high schools
showed similar results. As matter OF
school economics Mr.. Beagan considered
that It liz not a good plan 20 carry on
school work on Good Friday. II fs al
ready legal holiday In many states, and
It is observed In this state an a court holi-
day.
Mr.. Manchester said the committee was
not in position TO make any gifts. but
must rather economize. To stop the
schools for a day means s2400 loss I'm
teachers salaries. He believed in OBJ
serving church holidays. but thought II
might be arranged without loss.
Mr.. Barney was heartily In favor OF
the amendment. "A very large portion
OF our holidays arc determines because
they are church holidays. We have no
school on Saturday or Sunday because
they are church holidays. Our Christ
mas week vacation comes on account OF
that great church festival Good Fri
day deserves recognition. II II almost
injustice to q large body OF teachers
to have school on Friday. At least a
third OF our teachers work on that day
with n feeling OF divergence from duty.
The teachers DO n certain amount OF
lowed. IL we make this n holiday. the
work must be made up. The schools are
practically disorganized on that day. The
work must be done over again and there
is a loss In closing the schools he said.
and thought the committee would act
the part OF wisdom and fairness by MAX
ing Good Friday n school holiday"
The amendment passed with only three
votes, Messrs. Hill, Hopkins
and u. r. Walker.
Mr. Barney moved that the committee
on bylaws be requested 20 consider
making the spring vacation include Holy
Week, and the motion passed unanimous
ly.
On recommendation OF the comrnittee
on accounts bills amounting 20 sto.os0 SO
were ordered paid.
The committee on hygiene reported
progress on the consideration OF n sys-
tenn of medical inspection. The commit
tee then adjourned.