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 ...

192 PROVIDENCE.
efforts made to prevent its going into operation, are matters of recorded
history, and would excite surprise (lid we not remember how slow has
been the advance of all real improvements. It was opposed by some
because it was an' aristocratic' institution; by others,' because it was
unconstitutional to tax property for a city college;' by others,' because it would educate children above working for their support' and
by still others,' because a poor boy or girl would never be seen in it.'
One writer, in a printed communication, went so far as to pronounce the
proposed school an excrescence on the school system. IBut the majority of citizens did not recognize the validity of these objections." * After
surmounting numerous obstacles, their will was expressed by the city
government ordering a high school building to be erected.t A site, fronting on Benefit street, and bounded on the north by Angell street, and on
the south by Waterman street, was purchased. and a house fifty-six feet
by seventy-six feet put immediately under contract. The basement (the
front standing several feet above the level of the street,) contained a
large room designed for lectures and scientific experiments, office and
private room for the superintendent, and a room for storage or
other purposes. The second story contained four rooms for the girls'
department. The third story was divided into three apartments for the
uses of the English and classical departments, and so arranged that
when necessary they could be thrown into one. The entrance for girls
was in front; that for the, boys on the north end. Ten or twelve years
later, another entrance was provided at the south end of the building.
But the spirit of hostility had not yet been effectually subdued. When
the house was nearly completed, a second effort was rnade to prevent the
school going into operation. It was proposed by its opponents to convert the building into a city hall, a convenience then much needed. A
petition addressed to the city council, praying for the repeal of that portion of the ordinance which established a high school, and to appropriate
the new building to the purposes of a city hall, was circulated for signatures, but received so few that it was never presented.
The question in its final form, of school or no school, excited lively discussions inl private and in the public prints. The opponents of the measure
produced their strong reasons with an earnestness thiat left no doubt oi
their sincerity. On the other hand, the friends of the school rushed to
the front, and fought its battle with a vigor that no opposition could repress.'he Providence Journal gave to the cause its powerful aid. "We
*Providence School Report, 1875, p. 12.
t The question had previously been put out to the people and decided in the affirmative by a majority larger than the most sanguine anticipated.