(From reports of Hon. Thomas B. Stockwell, secretary of the State board of education, for the two years indicated.) STATE SCHOOL SYSTEM. GENERAL CONDITION. The statistics present a uniformly pleasing record of school work during the year, there being but one exception, a small decrease in per cent. of average attendance. With 1,289 increase in school youth, there was nearly twice that increase of enrollment in public schools, an increase of 1,147 in average belonging, and almost 1,000 more pupils in average attendance than in 1883-'84. The comparatively high per cent. of school youth enrolled, while it indicates efficient work, is also largely the result of holding the school age at 5 to 15, which, if done by some other States, would increase their percentages of attendance by dropping from the enumerated school youth the usually large number over 15 years of age. An increase of 1,100 evening pupils was brought about largely by excluding those who properly belonged to the day schools, and offering special attractions to those of maturer age. By this means a membership was secured that has been marked by a clear sense of need. The enrollment in all schools, including private schools, shows an increase of 3,919, making the total enrollment 971 more than the number of school youth. To meet the increase in school population there were additions of 5 new school buildings; of 32 day schools, 31 of them graded; of 6 evening schools; and of 2 days in the school year. There was, too, a gain in the ratio of teachers having high professional training, yet the average monthly pay of men was only 26 cents more and that of women only 40 cents more than in 1883-84. In the former case this was less by $4.97 than 10 years ago; in the latter, less by $2.46. No reason is given for this decline, while higher qualifications are demanded, and much more is expended for the schools and for the improvement of school property. The school commissioner states that for the first time since the extension of aid to public school libraries he has been able to present full statistics from all such libraries in the State. The number of volumes in 33 libraries was 113,101, with a circulation of nearly 3 times the whole number, 1,000 volumes being drawn out each week during the year. Under the permissive law of 1884, one town had changed from the old district to the town system, and public sentiment throughout the State was slowly but surely changing in that direction. Under a compulsory law the struggle with the problem of truancy goes on. In 15 cities and towns where an efficient system of looking after truants has been adopted, the difference between the enrollment and actual attendance has been largely reduced, showing that while legitimate causes always make the daily attendance less than the enrollment, they cannot regularly cut down that attendance nearly one-third, as has been sometimes done. ADMINISTRATION. The general supervision of the public schools is still vested in a State board of education, of which a State commissioner of public schools, chosen annually by the board, acts as secretary. School committees in each town consist, as in most other States, of 3 residents of the town elected for 3 years, with annual change of 1. A town may elect a superintendent of schools annually; if it fail to do so, he may be appointed by the school committee. For each district 1 or 2 trustees may be elected annually by the people. The public schools are free to all resident citizens of the State, without regard to age, race, or color. The system includes the education and training of deaf mutes, of the blind, of the feeble-minded, and now also of indigent and dependent children, for whom a special home under State auspices has been pro vided. Children 7 to 15 years of age are required to attend school at least 12 weeks in each year, 6 of which inust be consecutive. If found guilty of habitual truancy, they inust be sent to the Sockanosset School for Boys, or to the Oak Lawn School for Girls at Scranton, for a period not exceeding 2 years. Truant officers, appointed annually, are to notify offending parties of this law and of the penalty for violation of it, and are to secure satisfactory pledges for proper compliance with its provisions, or, failing in this, are to prosecute for neglect of such compliance. Uniformity of text books in the public schools is recommended, subject to change by a two-thirds vote of school committees. Corporal punishment in such schools is permitted, but seldom inflicted. SCHOOL FINANCES. By reference to "New legislation," further on, it may be seen that a considerable addition has been made to the State appropriation for the support of public schools. As far as appears, the annual appropriation of $3,000 to purchase works of reference and educationa apparatus for the schools was continued in 1881-85; and so it seems to have been with respect to the means for support of evening schools. Towns may vote such sums, additional to the State aid, for their schools, as they deem necessary for purchase of sites, erection and repair of buildings, and maintenance of school libraries. A town that has established a free public library may, by vote of the electors therein, appropriate for the support of it 20 cents on each $1,000 of its ratable property each year, and the State board may appropriate annually $50 for the first 500 volumes, and $25 for every additional 500. The board may also allow $500 annually for teachers' institutes, and $300 for educational publications and other means of promoting school interests. NEW LEGISLATION. By Chapter 395 of laws of 1884, not previously reported to this Bureau, Rhode Island allows any town not owning a free public library to appropriate, at its annual town meeting, a sum not to exceed 20 cents on $1,000 of ratable property for the maintenance and increase of such a library within it. By Chapter 406 of the same laws, the State board of education is authorized to appoint as State beneficiaries, at the Rhode Island School of Design, persons of proper age, character, and acquirements, who have not the means of defraying the expense of instruction in said school; distributing these scholarships so that the several counties may participate in their advantages as nearly as possible in proportion to population. For this purpose $1,000 annually is appropriated. An act was also passed, as noted in the last Report, requiring instruction of all pupils, in schools supported wholly or in part by public funds, as to the effects upon the human system of narcotics and intoxicating drinks. The State board of education is, by another act, constituted the board of control of a State home and school for dependent and neglected children, not recognized as vicious or criminal; these to be brought under such influences as may lead to honest, intelligent, and self-supporting manhood and womanhood; the State to hold towards them, as far as possible, a parental relation, and the board becoming the legal guardians of them. A law of May 2, 1884, makes payable annually out of the income of the permanent school fund, and from other money in the treasury, $120,000, instead of the former $90,000, for the support of public schools in the towns, on the order of the commissioner of public schools, $100 to each school, not to exceed 15 in any town; the remainder on the basis of children 5 to 15 years of age in the county. The sum received in each town is to be distributed among the districts, part of it according to the number of public schools in each, with the addition of at least as much more from the town appropriation for such schools; the other part to go, half on the basis of average attendance, half at the discretion of the committee; the total apportionment to any district not to be less than $180. SCHOOL SYSTEMS OF TOWNS WITH 7,500 OR MORE INHABITANTS. ADMINISTRATION. School affairs are administered by school committees of 3 or more members, with annual change of one-third, and by a superintendent chosen by the people or the committee. Lincoln, with 37 graded and 4 ungraded schools, under 47 teachers, shows progress at all points, except the number of school youth. Enrollment increased 232, average attendance 126, expenditure for public schools $16,420; which, with no increase of teachers, seems to indicate considerable ontlay for school accommodatiors. These, with other school property, were valued at $114,200. Of 46 teachers, 40 were educated in academies, high schools, or normal schools, and 6 in common schools. The public schools enrolled 95.88 per cent. of school youth. Adding 551 in other schools, there was only a small margin for non-attendance. Lincoln was one of the first to comply with the truant law, and reports that the feeling of respect for it on the part of manufacturers and others increases as its purpose and value are better understood. The rod had been used on pupils much less than in former years, yet the general discipline had been good. In addition to ordinary school work, there was an inculcation of right views of the common duties of life, temperance receiving careful attention. The abandonment of the old out-door recess worked well, improving the general discipline and giving great satisfaction. Newport, with 237 more school youth, had 11 school buildings, less by one than in With 1,289 increase in school youth, there was nearly twice that increase of enr ment in public schools, an increase of 1,147 in average belonging, and almost more pupils in average attendance than in 1883-'84. The comparatively high per cent. of school youth enrolled, while it indica cient work, is also largely the result of holding the school age at 5 to 15, done by some other States, would increase their percentages of attendance ping from the enumerated school youth the usually large number over 1 age. An increase of 1,100 evening pupils was brought about largely by those who properly belonged to the day schools, and offering special at those of maturer age. By this means a membership was secured that has by a clear sense of need. The enrollment in all schools, including pri shows an increase of 3,919, making the total enrollment 971 more than school youth. To meet the increase in school population there were new school buildings; of 32 day schools, 31 of them graded; of 6 et and of 2 days in the school year. There was, too, a gain in the ratio ing high professional training, yet the average monthly pay of men more and that of women only 40 cents more than in 1883-'84. In this was less by $4.97 than 10 years ago; in the latter, less by $2 given for this decline, while higher qualifications are demanded, expended for the schools and for the improvement of school prop The school commissioner states that for the first time since the public school libraries he has been able to present full statistic ries in the State. The number of volumes in 33 libraries was 1! tion of nearly 3 times the whole number, 1,000 volumes being during the year. Under the permissive law of 1884, one town had changed the town system, and public sentiment throughout the Stat changing in that direction. Under a compulsory law the struggle with the problem o cities and towns where an efficient system of looking after the difference between the enrollment and actual attendanc showing that while legitimate causes always make the the enrollment, they cannot regularly cut down that a as has been sometimes done. ADMINISTRATION. The general supervision of the public schools is st education, of which a State commissioner of public the board, acts as secretary. School committees in other States, of 3 residents of the town elected for 3 A town may elect a superintendent of schools annur appointed by the school committee. For each distr annually by the people. The public schools are f State, without regard to age, race, or color. The training of deaf mutes, of the blind, of the feebl and dependent children, for whom a special hom vided. Children 7 to 15 years of age are required to a year, 6 of which must be consecutive. If fo inust be sent to the Sockanosset School for Bo at Scranton, for a period not exceeding 2 years are to notify offending parties of this law an are to secure satisfactory pledges for proper ing in this, are to prosecute for neglect books in the public schools is recommende of school committees. Corporal punishme inflicted. SCHOOL By reference to "New legislation," fr addition has been made to the State ap As far as appears, the annual appropr and educationa apparatus for the sch to have been with respect to the mea Towns may vote such sums, addit deem necessary for purchase of site nance of school libraries. A town vote of the electors therein, appro of its ratable property each year, for the first 500 volumes, and $25 $500 annually for teachers' ins other means of promoting schoo ol. ut-'84. ace and y valued al teacher the happier which 39 were These were nes in music and 84, with an averf the year shows a $55,027 in expendi10 diseases during the verage attendance, and lic schools, which, with ol some part of the year. not all to be put down as Is enter the public schools ntil they are 6, and some not Jade for the sick, the disabled, rded as a matter of importance, ate source of relief. New school ion, were rapidly taking the places ags had existed. wholly or in part by the State, inwith special reference to the effects of tion of the great principle that "What on, you must put into its schools." the public schools, begun in 1866, has been sewing department increased in proportion , in 1884-'85, over 1,300 in a week received is exceedingly gratifying to witness the progthey pass from the simple "over and over" ping, gathering, darning, and button-hole stitch. Bason to say that "a review of the year is eminently and 9 ungraded schools, under 43 teachers, 1 more of the ter than in 1883-84. Of the 43 teachers, 4 were beginners, r universities, 15 at academies or high schools, 16 at in the common previous year. schools, showing about the same grade of se of a RLODE ISLAND. NEW LEGISLATION. hool youth, there was a gain of 86 in enrollment and of 45 "gh expenditure was only $692 more than the previous led a little over 98 per cent. of school youth, a perof school term, 185 days. School property was not enforced, because the school-houses were to attend school. pter 395 of laws of 1884, not previously reported to this Burean, Rhode Island 406 of the same laws, the State board of education is author and te and acquirements, who have not the meane of detra: à said school; distributing these scholarsta spe en that cipate in their advantages as nearly as is purpose $1,000 annually is appropriaten tion is, by another act, constituted the snsually out of MORE INHABITASTE in 1883-'84, shows a gain of 1531 in enhers, and of $1,603 in expenditure on for an average of 10 weeks, , under 13 teachers. than 101 per cent. of of the number in erty was valued at committee did not get at truant officer a great ildren of school age who 647 left 317 were under 7 the absentees had been enwould show still more gratithere were less than a score of ablishments who were there conDably in 2 weeks there would not e a proud emine: ce for Woonsocket of education in the State. Her inwealth. ICATIONS OF TEACHERS. REQUIREMENTS. g a thorough knowledge of the common Engittee. In granting certificates some reference its of the particular schools to which the candiave the capacity to teach and govern. E NORMAL TRAINING. vidence, presents a 3-years normal course for ordinary graduates from high schools, who are admitted on the e last is devoted to purely normal work calculated to fit teachers. school as flourishing, the sittings, 124, being all taken, with think that the improvement in the rural schools attests the bool. Yet the school has never been able to offer a practice other reasons it has failed to attract the graduates of the high This is attributed to the impression that the institution had tudies of the high schools to present to them, and the fear that ormal course they might have to graduate on an equality with othinary studies had been unequal to theirs. Another reason was a ation of the value of professional training; and still another was the school anthorities, in giving preference to graduates of their own high selecting teachers. To attract high school graduates a special 1-year been adopted. This special course secured 5 high school graduates in nd 14 in 1884-'85. The trustees had under consideration a division of dito 2 classes, one to make formal recognition of the fact that the recipients Tuates of high schools Improvements to the buildings continued, with adto the library and other facilities for the work of the school. Total attendfor the year, 160. TEACHERS' INSTITUTES. The State appropriates $500 annually for defraying the expenses of teachers and lectarers for teachers' institutes, to be under the direction of the commissioner of public schools. Five of these institutes were held in the fall of 1884, viz: at West Greenwich, Pawtucket, Ashaway, Exeter, and Coventry Center. The one at Pawtucket embraced all the towns in the Blackstone Valley. The attendance of teachers from these towns was said to have been excellent. The session of 2 days was fully occu pied by class exercises, discussions of the several phases of language culture, elementary geography, use of globes, physiology and hygiene with special reference to the 1State report gives this as 344. |
