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 ...

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE early school history of Newport is detailed with sufficient fullness
in the " History of the Common Schools of Rhode Island." It is necessary only to continue that sketch from the time when local schools were
absorbed into the general school system, in 1828. It will, however, be
better to go back three years earlier than this, to the time when the
town was authorized by the assembly to raise a tax of $800 " for educating the white children of the town who are not otherwise provided with
the means of instruction," and to apply to this purpose the avails of
certain lands which had been bequeathed to the town.*
By vote of a town meeting held in February, 1826, a lot in Mill street
was bought for a school-house and a committee was appointed to erect
a building. This committee reported in March, 1827, as follows:
"The committee appointed by the town to superintend the building of a
public school-house respectfully report: That, having purchased a very eligible.lot in Mill street, they have erected thereon a school-house 60 feet long and 36
feet wide, of brick and stone, two stories high, which is now so far completed
that the upper room intended for boys is nearly ready for the reception of the
school; the cost of the lot and building up to this period is about $2,750. To
defray this expenditure has absorbed the funds placed at the disposal of the
committee, consisting of the following items, viz.:
Net sales of Gallow field,.. 91 24
Appropriation by tax of 1825,.... 800 00
Net balance of rent of theatre,... 180 00
Donation of Mr. Win. Vernon,... 100 00
Appropriation for 1826,... 800 00
$2,771 24
* See ante, p. 42.