A history of public education in Rhode Island, from 1636 to 1876 ... Comp. by authority of the Board of education, and ed. by Thomas B. Stockwell ...

REVIVAL OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 41
and who, having no children of their own to instruct, care but little about the
education of others: but from their observation of the good effect of the schools
in their own neighborhood, or in the town at large, are now among the. most
zealous for their support. You, gentlemen, were probably well acquainted with
the late Marshal E. K. Dexter,' Esq., and his testimony with you will be important. At the tiie the public schools were first established, Mr. Dexter and
his father, who paid a large tax, were two of our strongest opposers. Their
principal argument was, that it was wrong to compel those who had been at the
expense of their own education, and now have no children of their own to be
benefited, to pay for the schooling of other people's children; but before the
death of the father, he was well satisfied with the result, and the Marshal, for
ten or twelve years past, has been one of the firmest friends of the schools, and
frequently declared that he owed the safety of his gardens and orchards to the
public schools.
"There are now many among our most active and' valuable citizens, merchants, mechanics, manufacturers, and masters of ships, who were poor boys,
without other means of instruction, and who owe their present standing. and in
some instances large property, entirely to the education and manners acquired
in these public schools.
"Two schools, on the Lancasterian plan, are now in operation in this town,
by individuals from abroad, without any support from the town. This is matter
of experiment; they are well spoken of, and I think will be useful for children
who have been altogether without instruction. In these they can commence the
first rudiments, and be prepared to take their places in the other schools to more
advantage. A committee appointed by the town at April meeting, made a report (highly favorable to the plan) in June. They were continued, and probably
will, at a future meeting, recommend one school on the plan of Lancaster, for
the support of the town.
"I have not at present a moment's time to review what I have written, or to
add any further details, or remarks. With the best and most ardent wishes that
the gentlemen who have begun the good work in Newport, may persevere in the
good cause to the great benefit and everlasting honor of the place of my birth,
I remain,
"Your obedient servant,
"JOHN HOWLAND."*
During the year 1820, the Providence newspapers, echoed in som.
degree by the Newport lfercuy, urged( upon the community tie:importance of public education, and at the February session, 1821, the General
Assembly appointed a committee " to prepare and report a bill establishing Free Schools." The Providence American, in October, urges action
and says, " A decided majority of the people have already expressed their
sentiments in favor of free schools." But if so, the majority exerted
their influence but slowly; at the October session the committee explained that they were not yet ready to ireport. They had addressed circulars to the town clerks, and many had answered, but not all. As a
* Stone's Life of Howland, p. 151.