The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-25

all the subjects gives an average of s7.s
per cent.
''The uniformity OF the returns from the
sixteen districts OF the city Is very strk-
ing. The variation in affirmative replies
lies between S3.7 per cent. and 92.9 per
cent No district has failed TO give a large
majority in favor OF each OF the six sub
jects
These figures are so decisive that they
scarcely need further comment. The OPP
position TO music. drawing and gymnas-
tics is too slight for consideration. While
the negative vote upon physiology, nature
study and manual training ks somewhat
larger, II is still heavily overbalanced.
Although manual training Is not given
in the elementary schools OF Providence.
IL has n place I'm the curriculum OF many
other cities: and It is interesting TO note
what our people have 10 say about the
subject The returns indicate that the
people not only approve all the subjects
already found in the course OF study. but
would be glad 10 have another added.
The results OF this investigation should
set at rest the hong continued agitation
and uneasinese over the question OF 'fads.
They tell us what the people actually
think and say about the matter.
The returns give the expression OF the
people in general, regardless OF the ques-
tion about the payment OF taxes but the
affirmative majority Is so large as 10
render a separate consideration OF tax
payers superfiuous. Approximately one
half of ,-.e heads OF families in the city
pay taxes on either real estate or personal
property If we should assume that all
the negative answers were given by tax
payers. which is by no means true, there
would remain a much larger number on
the affirmative side.
1T Is TO bo hoped that the information
uh oh ho cyix xtyit n
regard 10 the work OF the schools and the
responses that have been received may
tend TO overcome certain delusions. The
teachers of Providence are doing good
work and are able 10 show the results
OF It,"
The report was signed by Isaac o. Wins
low, r. Helena Gregory. Laura /. French.
Agnes Gormley and Frances II. Kern,
g the committee on educational methods.
A paper was read by Miss Katherine
Taft describing visits by the committee on
institutions for children to the 10 lar
gest homes for children in this city, they
being the Tobey street home. the st.
Vlncent's Infant asylum. the Rhode Is
land Catholic Orphanage. the home OF the
Rhode Island Society for the Prevention
OF Cruelty TO Children, the Sockanosset
school for boys. the Oaklawn school for
girls and the Rhode Island colored shelter.
She said that the public school teachers
could well learn some OF the methods
employed In those schools, especially that
which teaches the child helpfulness end
usefulness as a part OF the plan 10 IT
them for life
Other papers dealt with school admins
tration, teachers pensions and school
hygiene.
The paper on school administration
showed that the growing tendency in the
larger cities is to have very small school
committees.
The matter OF printing the reports was
referred TO the executive committee.
President George Il. Church appointed
the following as a committee to nomi-
nate officers at the annual meeting In
October: Leonard Campbell, Anna l..
Bliven, Sidney a. Sherman. Imogene Tru-
man and Katherine Dwyer.