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 ...

FOURTH EPOCH. 193
go for the schools, and for the high school," said the editor.* "We have
seen nothing which induces us to think that public opinion has changed
upon this subject." Through the same medium " A Parent" said:
" Should we give up the contemplated high school, and convert the edifice
erected for its accommodation to some other purpose, we should, in my
humble opinion, be greatly disgraced, and the language be justly applied
to us,'this man begun to build, but was not able to finish.' I have,
however, no fears for the result. I have confidence in my fellow citizens,
to believe that they will carry forward what they have proposed to accomplish, and that the school will soon be in successful operation, filled
with the cheerful faces and glad hearts of our youth."
Another writer,t who had been active in the cause of public education,
said: " The perversion of this new school house from the use for which
it was intended, would be a virtual breach of good faith. The city government has, at various periods of its existence, taken unwearied pains
to ascertain the sentiments of the citizens upon the question of the high
school. The reply of the citizens has been at all periods, in its favor;
and on the last trial, by a greater majority than ever before. They have
repeatedly called for, and now confidently expect, the establishment of a
high school. Let their expectations be met by a becoming respect for
their opinions. At least, let nothing be done to defeat the object, without a new and formal appeal to the freemen, to be answered through the
ballot boxes."
In the discussion of the high school question, the friends of that feature in our system of public education found an important auxiliary in
Professor William Giles Goddard. He believed it the true policy of the
city to give the greatest possible efficiency to its schools, by providing
such instruction as would prepare its youth for any course of life they
might choose, whether agricultural, mechanical, mercantile, scientific, or
professional. In a series of thoughtful and well digested papers, printed
in the Providence Journal, he recited the history of the high school movement from its inception, and then in strong, positive words, appealed to
his fellow citizens to sustain it.
The earnest and eloquent words of Professor Goddard were not lost
upon a community so largely ripe to receive them. They served as a
stimulus to exertions which were crowned with complete success. On
Monday, March 20th, 1843, the high school was opened with appropriate
services. One hundred and sixty-four pupils were admitted during the
year-eighty boys and eighty-four girls. The original design of the
* Hon. Henry B. Anthony. tWilliam E. Richmond.
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