The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-11


man OF the board. the superintendent OF
schools and the truant officer.
The report OF Mr. Little had one or two
matters OF special interest. These related
TO the recent decision of Commissioner
Ranger regarding the text book contro-
versy and to his reference 10 certain So
ciai duties OF girls IN the high school. IL
f. very evident that Mr.. Little Is not sat
isied witm the action OF Mr.. Ranger and
ne calls upon the city council 10 secure
the passage OF laws by the general as
sembly which will have the effect OF les
sening the power OF the school committee
as fixed under this section. His remarks
regarding the social duties OF the girls I'm
the high school would seem To have been
in a measure caused by little happen
ing that occurred last winter and which
brought the names Of several OF the high
school girls into the public prints.
The report OF Mr.. Little was In part as
follows:
The present condition of the schools
warrants us I'm looking forward 10 the
coming year with confident expectation
OF excellent results in every department.
The faithful efforts OF our nearly two
hundred teachers, the cooperation OF par
ents and the earnest application or the
children have combined 10 maintain the
high standard OF achievement of former
years.
present school conditions is the continu-
ance of the proportional increase I'm the
membership OF the high school and the
higher grammar grades. This increase Is
conclusive evidence OF three fortunate
conditions OF our city's life: First. II In
dicates increasing prosperity second, II
shows a higher appreciation OF the pen.
efts OF popular education: and third' IL
gives assurance that our public schoois
are meeting In satisfactory mahhe. .ne
exacting requirements OF modern educa-
tion. a..
we feel that this sacrifice OF parents Tor
The future well-belng of their children Is
amply rewarded by the increased capacity
for the enjoyment OF life as well as py the
greater earning capacity which com
mon school education confers. we De-
lieye that. failing higher educauon, an
the children In the city should De KEPT
in school as long as the apii'y Oh 'he pa
ents renders possible.
NEW SCHOOLS.
The rapid growth OF our city VIII ne.
re.sitate the erection and equipment OF NJ
least one new school building each year
for the next five or six years. we shoula
Sace the situation which confronts US with
a
OF the school plant until we have IN a..
narts OF the city large and well equipped
schoo, buildings The addition or two
rooms 10 the Lincoln avenue building, tne
opening of two additional rooms AT hisn
street the new ninth grade room III
church TIiu are all in the line OF imme-
diate urgent necessities, but they do nos
nv any means meet the present demands
OF the department.
new twelvc-room building must oe
crovsded for the Prospect street district
as soon as possible, and we respectfully
urge upon the city council the necessity
~ providng the site and the FUNDS TOT
IN. erection OF this much needed build
tnr. The large increase I'm manufactur-
inr Industries in that section OF the city
makes IL absolutely necessary that we
should keep up with our school faciii,ies'
THE South woodlawn building Is rapidly
filling UP, the Darlington buiioing 10
nearly full. while the Fairlawn puiiding
Is full TO overhowing new room shou,o
he opened at Smithfeld avenue, or, pet
he,ter still the old building should be
abandoned and new modern structure
erected in its place All this means
large appropriations for the school plan,
an the near future but we believe the
peopie will be willing to provide the nee
essary funds.
LARGEST IN HISTORY.
Tho graduation this year OF the largest
class I'm the history of our High school is
IN the line OF the general movement LOT
longer schooling and we congratulate 'ne
yacuItv OF the school on the results OBJ
tained.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Our evening schools have done very
creditable work during the past year and
an a manufacturing city like Pawtucke'
they deserve and should receive every
encouragement. The plain old-fashloneo
studies OF reading, writing and arithmetic
should be drilled upon over and over gain
and every facility given TO those who VIII
avail themselves OF this popular branch
of our school department.
The kindergarten part OF our schoo
system seems to be at a standstill. Nc
new kindergartens have been opened FOL
several years and for lack OF room and
funds available for this purpose none ar'
likely 10 be opened here In the immediate
future There are several Pawtucket kin
dergarten teachers without employment a
the present time, and with six or eigh
more girls from our city In the norma
school taking this course II would seen
that we ought 10 advise them 90 TAX
some other course IN which there Is ai
increasing demand for teachers. Certain
ly no other girls from our city snoulu TAX
this course until those already graduate
and IN the normal school are provided for
MR.. RANGERS REPORT.
We present herewith as a part OF .thi
report the decision OF Mr. Walter r. Ran
ger. commissioner OF public schools q
the matter OF the controversy over the IN
PRODUCTION OF certain text books into on
schools We do this in order that IA
opinion may have permanent place 4
the records OF this department. and no
because we agree with his findings In IN
case. In fact we very emphatically dsa
gree with the commissioning in the matter
We are In duty bound 90 say that n wha
he says is good law the sooner the Las
r. changed the better. II Is a wide-ope
decision and under II there is no limit {
the extent 20 which the school commit
tee may 60 I'm the matter OF plunging IN
city into debt.
In conversation with man OF larg
financial interests we were urged 10 max
the attempt at least 20 have come liml
placed on the power OF the school com
miftee TO exceed its appropriations. A
present under this decision there II n
limit: last years committee overran IL