fore kept for colored children on the west side of the river has been, within the last year, discontinued, for want of a sufficient number of scholars to warrant the expense of its support. The whole number of teachers is 42, viz. seven males and 35 females. The high school has not yet been established, in fact, no progress has been made in relation to that part of the new system, except the purchase of a site for the school-house, and nothing at all has been done touching the house for the grammar school, and the primary school in the 2d District. Within the year past, an additional school-house, so much and so long talked of in the 4th ward, has been erected, and the additional grammar school, together with one of the Primary schools, are to be opened therein at the time above mentioned. This new grammar school, and the three new primary schools make, after deducting the school for colored children, which has been discontinued, the whole number of schools at this time eighteen, as above mentioned, instead of fifteen, as at the commencement of the last year Five new grammar school-houses, and three new primary school-houses, making eight in the whole, have been built during the year past. In each of the former, provision is also made for a primary school. The whole number of schoolhouses now belonging to the city and to be in future occupied is nine. There are, also, two others occupied for public schools, one of them is hired, and the other is gratuitously occupied with the permission generously allowed by the owners of the building, and of the lot whereon it stands, on our keeping the same in repair. The old school-houses and estates, which will be hereafter unoccupied, will soon be for sale. There have been dring the year past, several changes of teachers, and several new ones appointed in addition, to complete the requisite number for the new schools. The principals of three of the grammar schools having resigned, three other persons have been appointed in their places. A number of female teachers have also been appointed, to succeed others who have resigned. The Committee deeming females to be preferable to males, for both principals and assistants in the primary schools, and for assistants in the grammar schools; all the teachers of those descriptions are now females. That the character and reputation of the schools are advancing, and the confidence of the public in their usefulness increasing, is evinced by the extraordinary increase of the number of pupils. More scholars now belong to the schools than at any time since their establishment, and their increase far exceeds the increase of population. The appointment of a superintendent proves, on trial, to be a sound and judicious measure, and is producing, under the present able incumbent, results highly satisfactory to the Committee, and, in their judgment, very valuable to the community. The amount appropriated by the City Council for the support of the schools last year, was $8,500, besides the sum received from the state, which was $2.818 20, making in the whole $12,318 20. The amount we shall receive from the State, this year, towards the support of the schools, will doubtless vary but very little, if any, from the amount received last year, $3,818 20. All which is respectfully submitted by

SAMUEL W. BRIDGHAM, For the Committee.

Providence, May 25, 1840.

REPORT FOR 1841.

To the City Council of the City of Providence.

In rendering the account of their proceedings for the past year, prescribed by law, the school committee have great pleasure in being able to state to the city government, that our improved system of public education, so far as it has been carried into effect, has answered the just expectations of its friends, and has strongly recommended itself to the public favor. The most satisfactory evidence of this is a large and continual increase of pupils in the schools. The pleasure which we take in making this communication is enhanced by the gratifying assurance, that a portion of this system, deemed of very great importance, and indispensable to the best success of the other parts of the system, after great delays, is about to be reduced to practice, by the erection of a high school; which we hope to see in operation before the end of another year, ample provision, as it is understood, having been made for the cost of the building.

In addition to the regular quarterly meetings for the visitation and examination of the grammar schools, the committee have held nine adjourned, or special meetings in the course of this year,-five less than in the year preceding; a difference which is explained by the unusual demand upon the time of the committee in that year, for the consideration in detail, of a new code of by-laws and regulations, adapted to the changes that have been made in our plan of education. The average attendance at the meetings has been twenty-two of the thirty members, who compose the committee.

The whole number of school districts is six, and of schools nineteen, viz. six grammar schools, twelve primary schools, and one school for colored children, which combines the instruction both of the grammar and primary schools. The grammar schools have been transferred to the new and commodious buildings erected for them, with the exception of the school in the second district, which remains in the old building. This building has undergone considerable repairs to render its occupation less inconvenient to scholars and teachers; and it is to be hoped, that before the end of the next year, the new house now in contemplation, at the corner of Angell and Prospect streets, will be completed, and that thus the inhabitants of the second ward will equally participate in the improvements designed for the whole city.

In consequence of a pressure of pupils upon some of the grammar schools, it was deemed necessary, in December last, to apply to the city council for leave to make use of the ward-rooms for school purposes; and a portion of the pupils in the third, fifth and sixth districts, were placed in these rooms, under the charge of an additional assistant for each, and with the supervision of the principal teacher. In the third district, it is believed that the difficulty will be obviated by the erection of a larger building in the second district, and by altering the boundaries of the two districts, so as to equalize the attendance in each. In the fifth district the pressure has so far diminished, that the branch-school in the ward-room has been discontinued; and it is doubted whether it will be necessary to make use of the ward-room in the sixth district during the next quarter. It will be seen from this statement, that the attendance upon our schools is somewhat fluctuating, though the number of scholars is largely on the increase. The high school will, in part, prevent the accumulation which now takes place in the grammar schools, by withdrawing, at stated periods, a considerable portion of their scholars; so that the buildings now erected for these schools, may furnish the necessary accommodations for some years to

come.

But the time is probably not far distant, when it will be thought

advisable to devote the ward-rooms to the primary schools, some of which are already too much crowded. The occupation of these rooms, by classes intermediate between the primary and grammar schools, will afford relief to the latter; and may be found advantageous to both.

The primary school in India street having been removed to the new house in East street, the building in which it was kept has been put in good repair, and surrendered to the proprietor, Hon. Nicholas Brown, to whose liberality we have been indebted for its occupation, without rent, for several years past.

For the accommodation of the fourth and a part of the fifth district, a primary school was opened in Mathewson street; and it has recently, for greater convenience, been removed to the old school-house in Richmond

street.

The whole number of school-houses belonging to the city is eleven. The school for colored children and the primary school on Federal Hill, are kept in hired houses.

The number of teachers in the schools is forty-three-seven males and thirty-six females; of whom it is due to justice to say, although of course they manifest various degrees of excellence, that, taken as a body, for the useful and faithful discharge of their laborious duties, they are entitled to great praise; and, so far as we are able to speak from our own observation, will compare honorably with teachers of the same class in those places of New England, which are considered as having made the greatest advances in public education.

In the course of the ye ur several changes have been made among the teachers, in consequence of resignations; and it has become necessary to supply the places of the grammar master in the second district of two assist ints in grammar schools, of two preceptresses of primary schools, and of three assistants in the same.

The whole number of scholars whose names have been entered on the books in the schools, during the last quarter, is 3486, viz. 1363 in the primary schools, and 1623 in the grammar schools. The whole number at present belonging to the schools is 3035, viz. 1674 to the primary, and 1361 to the grammar schools. The whole number present at the last quarterly examinations was 2791, viz. 1537 in the primary, and 1254 in the grammar schools. The average daily attendance in all the schools is 2419, viz. 1260 in the primary, and 1159 in the grammar schools, leaving of course an average daily absence of 414 in the former, and of 202 in the latter; in other words, of 25 per cent. in the primary, and over 15 per cent. in the grammar schools. In the last annual report of the committee to the city government, it was stated, that at the quarterly examinations in May, 1840, the number of pupils in attendance was 1977; which when compared with the attendance at the examinations in May, 1841, already given, makes a gain in one year of $14.

In some of the best private schools, for larger children of both sexes. which we may adopt as standards of comparison in this case, the amount of daily absences is from ten to twelve per cent. of the whole number of pupils; which makes a difference of from three to five per cent, against our grammar schools. So large an amount of absences, is highly cen-urable, and can be justified by no excuses of sickness or necessity; and it becomes a matter of great regret and concern, that so many parents and guardians should thus undervalue and throw away the liberal provis ons for public education made by the city. Besides the detriment to the pupils, thus unwarrantably absenting themselves, a serious injury is inflicted by them upo those who punctually and regularly attend the schools, by deranging the classification, and by interrupting the uniform progress in the san e stu lies which are so essential to success. and without which the best plans, and the most ample endowments may be set at naught, and rendered co nparatively inefficient. The remedy for the evil complained o, is with the people themselves. Such a thing as compulsory education forms no part of our legal sistem. When the extent of the duties imposed on the school committee is considered it cannot be reasonably expected that they should undertake the additional task of going from house to house, to urge

the delinquent to come in, and partake of the neglected advantages of public instruction. All that the members of the committee can do in this way, they will do cheerfully; but they must mainly depend upon the good sense and good feelings of the mass of their fellow citizens for the just appreciation and hearty adoption of a school system, which tends, without partiality or exclusion, to the public welfare, and is thus commended to the voluntary and cheerful support of the whole community.

It would be interesting, if possible, to ascertain what portion of the youthful population of Providence are receiving instruction in all the schools, both public and private. The number of children in this city between the ages of four and fifteen years, as nearly as it can be obtained from the census of the United States for 1840. is 5267. The whole number of scholars at present belonging to our public schools, as before stated, is 3035, leaving 2232 children, a part of whom are receiving instruction at private expense. A resolution was communicated some time since by the committee, suggesting a small appropriation for the expense of making the requisite inquiry; but it received attention from only one branch of the city council.

The whole amount received from the city during the past year for the expenses of the public schools is 12,377 67; from the state 3,818 20total $16,195 87. Of this amount 13,175 have been expended for instruction, including the compensation of the superintendent, and 3,020 87 for rent. fuel and other items, including about $1,200 for repairs on schoolhouses, and for fixtures. The expenditure of the city, as aforesaid, for education is at the rate of $1,33 a quarter, or -5,34 per annum for each scholar belonging to the schools. The rate in the city of New York, as appears by a recent statement, in $5 per annum for each scholar. In Boston it is much larger; and, in general, the expenses of the larger towns in Massachusetts, on the same account, are much greater in proportion to population than those of this city. Before the close of another year we hope to obtain more precise information on the subject of the comparative cost of education in different places, and to communicate the same in our next report.

Under the new census of 1840 the sum to be received by this city from the state for public instruction will exceed 5,000.

Considering all circumstances, the committee recommend that an appropriation of not less than $12,000 be made by the city council for school expenses in the ensuing year.

The annual return to the secretary of state, and also the certificate to the general treasurer, that the money received from the state has been expended in the prescribed manner, have been duly furnished, according to law.

At the commencement of the school-year the committee consisted of thirty members, the whole number that the law allows; and the committee has been kept full by the election of new members to fill all vacancies that have occurred. The place of Mark Tucker, resigned, has been filled by the election of Richmond Prownell; that of George W. Jackson, removed from the city, by Alexander Duncan; that of John Ames, also removed from the city, by George H. Tillinghast; and that of Samuel W. Bridgham, deceased, by Amos D. Smith. In the death of General Bridgham, the committee were called upon to regret the loss of a member, who, for many years, with ability, fidelity and dignity, had presided over the deliberations of this board, and who had inspired general confidence and respect by his exemplary virtues, by his habitual caution and diligent attention in the discharge of all duties however minute, by his accurate business habits, and by that practical wisdom which age and experience conferred upon a sound and discriminating intellect. The committee promptly and cordially united in that tribute of private and public respect which was so generally accorded by his fellow citizens to the memory of our lamented associate and friend.

Regarding the agency of a superintendent of public schools as virtually connected with the prosperity of our entire system, we cannot more appropriately close our present report than by a brief review of the circumstances which gave so much importance to the appointment and duties of such

an officer. And, in the outset, we may say, that the object of the appointment is not to relieve the committee from their own peculiar duties, but to ensure the performance of an amount of labor, in the supervision of the schools, which cannot be bestowed by the individual members, without the sacrifice of all their time and business. The meetings of the committee have been much more numerous since the employment of a superintendent than before. Beside their attendance at the quarterly meetings and examinations, and at special meetings, which frequently occur, the members are assigned to sub-committees, which are charged with the oversight of the several districts, and the individuals of which are required to visit all the schools in the same at least once in a quarter. In addition to these duties in the sub-committees named, many of the members are called upon to act in other sub-committees, as the executive, that on the qualifications of teachers, and another on accounts, to say nothing of numerous special appointments, which occur in the course of the year. To specify the labors of a single sub-committee-that on qualifications: the examinations held by them have become more frequent, in consequence of the changes which unavoidably occur in so large a body of teachers; and the examinations never occupy less than a half day, sometimes a whole day. This sub committee, a little more than a year since, in two sessions, examined sixty-two candidates for vacant places; and the average of applicants is five or six for every vacancy. It is also prescribed to this subcommittee from time to time to revise the course of studies. After adding to what has been mentioned, the hearing of complaints, the making of reports, and various other details, which it is not necessary to particularize, it would appear that an amount of duty has been devolved upon, and actually performed by a committee, who are all engaged in some business or profession, requiring their daily attention, and who serve cheerfully without emolument,-sufficient to relieve them from any charge of lukewarmness or supineness in the execution of the trust committed to their hands. While therefore they would not exaggerate their labors, they are equally unwilling that the appointment of a superintendent should cause them to be underrated, through the mistaken impression that they are doing less than they were before. The committee are doing more than at any former time; and yet how very far short of an actual supervision of the whole system is the greatest amount of exertion which the individual members can ordinarily bestow upon this important engagement to the public. Take the committee-man first in his own district. What are one or two visits in a quarter to the schools in that district to enable him to understand all the wants and interests of those schools, the merits and defects of the teachers, the modes of organization, discipline and instruction, and the desirable changes to be made and the mistakes to be corrected. But suppose him to have tolerably well mastered the details of his own district;there are nineteen schools in this city, without some personal knowledge of which, the members of the committee can be but very imperfectly acquainted with their comparative condition, and can know but little of the merits and defects of our system taken as a whole; and hence it was a common complaint under our old plan of proceedings, that, at our general meetings, there was some member present, who knew more or less concerning one or more of the schools, and seldom or never one who had anything beyond a general and indefinite knowledge of any considerable portion of them. When the members from a district had reported that their schools were "in their usual good order and condition," there was no one to doubt or contradict the announcement; for the members were prevented from going beyond their own precincts by the pressure of their daily avocations. And thus it happened that there was hardly a member of the committee who was acquainted with all the schools, and who could estimate their true standing and the character of their teachers,-who could say whether the latter were stationary or progressive, whether they required to be urged on or to be restrained, whether they deserved to be commended, or had ceased to be useful. And how could it be otherwise? To pay one visit in a quarter to each of the public schools, and to make any thing that may be called an examination of it, will interrupt the work