The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-12

GO BACK
TO SCHOOL

School has commenced once moro for
the children OF this city. After ten weeks
OF either industry or happy ideness the
boys and girls entered upon the long pc
riod OF study that will keep them busy
from now on until summer comes around
again.
The first day of school after the long
vacation is always a day OF great mo-
ment TO the children, TO the big ones in
the higher schools as we'll as to the little
boys and girls just starting In.
There is just that element OF novelty
and just enough confusion about tho
opening morning TO satisfy the kids"
and the absence OF recitations and study
ing gives a charm 20 the first Monday
that very few other school days can
claim
The correct thing on such an occasion
as this is 10 20 very early to the school
yard. All the scholars try to be first there
and consequently the confusion begins an
hour or so before the appointed time. In
the yard and on the side walk, in the
cutters and on the street. all over the
neighborhood In fact the children congre-
gate and talk over past present and flu
ture situations speculate on what Is La
BILE TO happen TO them when they get on
the other side of the school door. what
room they will be In. what seat they'll
have, who will sit I'm front, behind and
across the aisle from them and all the
other matters so profoundly important to
the scholars. Suoh things affect their
comfort and welfare for the next long
time and lots depends upon what happens
on the first day
Then there Is another reason for the
early gathering OF the children. There
are the new scholars TO be sized up and
commented upon. This boy and that lit
tie girl stand shyly on the outskirts OF
the crowd and are at once spotted for
new comers. The ordeal they go through
with on the first morning is in its pecu-
liar way the most trying experience of
the school year
When finally the school doors are
opened the real excitement begins. The
strangeness OF the school rooms IL quick
ly forgotten and the boys and girls make
themselves quite at home. The first
morning Is one OF the best chances in
the whole round OF the school year for
whispering and similar wrong doing and
the teachers are altogether too busy to
enforce discipline.
There is the momentous shifting OF
rooms. seats and ne.ghbors. the gratigca-
tion Of those in the back seats and the
tribulations OF the unfortunates stuck way
down front beneath the teachers nose.
Names are taken. various blanks filled out,
books distributed. next days lessons as
signed. a semblance Of order established
and then Il Is time TO go home.
BY far the best feature OF the first
day at school Is the getting out early
part. IL r. almost as good as tho mo
school" signal on n rainy morning. The
kids" count on getting home an hour
or two before the regular time and IL
anything should happen to prevent it
well. they were out early this morning.
so the dangers passed for this time.
The registration this year will undoubt-
edly show a large increase In the number
OF scholars over last years records. The
city schools are well filled up. some Of
them are so crowded IA to make the best
management impossible. The school
buildings have been well looked after
during the summer and everything II
fresh and clean for the winter ahead.
Under the efficient teaching force at
work I'm the schools the various classes
and departments will quickly be put In
shape and the routine OF lessons and tho
other features OF tho modern education
set I'm motion. It's n great trick. This
starting up of the the public schools ma.
chinery and the general public realize all
that II means TO say school has COM
menced once more.