The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-30
Supt. Small Advocates New
Allotment Of These Schools.
A new HEATING PLAN OUTLINED
Scheme Is 10 Have Group Of High Schools
Supplied From One Big CeltTaI Plant
as Economical Measure.

Aside from the report OF superintendent
Small, the debate upon the question OF a
heating system for the high schools was
the only bit OF unusual hfe at the meet
ing OF the school committee last evening.
The matter was brought 10 the attention
OF the committee by Or. G. H. Griffin,
who offered a resolution embodying re-
quest TO the city council that that body
establish a heating plant for the four
school buildings at Pond and summer
streets. In presenting the resolution Or.
Griffin urged its immediate passage. lie
was backed up i'm his resolution by
number Of his colleagues, enumeratng
the advantages and the economy OF the
plan Mayor Reynolds. who was pres
snt also spoke few words in favor of Of
The plan.
Opposition developed, however with Mr..
Thomas w. Waterman. as the leader
backed up by Henry Marsh. Jr.. and W.
r. Prescott. These gentlemen ques-
toned the propriety Of the immediate
passage of the resolution and urged that
II be referred TO a committee. The argu-
ment chiefly used by them was that the
committee should know the resolution
better before placing It in the hands OF
the council for action.
They urged the motion 20 refer II TO
the executive committee for consideration
and "A return report Al the next meeting.
This WAS defeated by Mr.. Prescott, who
secured the passage OF "a motion 10 refer
IL 10 the executive committee with power
To act
A resolution was also introduced urging
the increasing Of the salary of the jantor
AZ Arnold street school. This was de-
bated and finally received the same treat
ment as did the resolution on the heating
plant.
THE KINDERGARTEN QUESTION.
The meeting proper was called 10 order
a quarter past by Chairman Rueckert
and the first business. after the reading
OF the minutes OF the previous session,
wlg the rrautng IF -tAFt gtffN FePoFt-+4A
superintendent Small upon the advisa-
bility OF establishing OF kindergarten
a either the NeaZie street or the Greeley
street schools.
In presenting the report he said that
he would first discuss the subject 2 little
more broadly than was implied in tho
resolution He said that the city now
had 26 such schools In the city with the
addition OF one at the Normal school. lie
said that there were some Of the wards
that had as many as four. while there
were one or two wards that had none.
the grouping being such that at times
those OF one ward were located very near
those OF another. In the past nine years
the number of attendants at such schools
per capita cost has lessened from 27li
TO s24s2 IL was shown that II cost A29
more 10 send a kindergarten pupil 20
school for two and one-half hours than Il
did for a grammar or primary pupil for
five hours.
lie therefore thought that before the
system was increased. the committee
should look TO some redvision Of the
school money. so that each department
should receive its fair proportion.
one way 10 better the system as nj
present used. would be TO relocate some
Of the kindergarten schools and to es-
tablish afternoon schools. He said that
the more populous districts OF the city
had no such schools I'm easy reach OF the
residents while the less popuous had
them very conveniently situated
He then presented some statistics
showing the number OF pupils at each and
tho cost OF keeping each OF the schools
az compared with that OF the primary and