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 ...

REPORT FOR 1828. 255
encourage the honorable feeling of independence in those parents who wish to
educate their children at their own expense, but whose limited means are insufficient to pay the customary rates. But it is at the same time hereby
expressly provided, that no child shall be excluded from the benefits of the
school merely from inability to pay for his tuition.
"8th. The public school committee shall perform their duty gratuitously,
the honor of the station and the gratitude of their townsmen is to be their only
reward.
"9th. Until recurrence of the June town meeting the following persons shall
compose the committee, viz.: Nicholas G. Boss, Edward W. Lawton, George
Engs, James B. Phillips, Theophilus C. Dunn."*
The following is the first repoit of a Newport School Committee:
"REPORT FOR 1828.
"The public school committee of the town of Newport respectfully report,
that since the commencement of the public school in Mill street on the 21st day
of May,1827, the number of applications for admission has been 337:
Of which there has been rejected as not coming within the provisions
of the law,..... 33
Suspended for further consideration,... 25
Admitted,...... 279
337
Of the scholars admitted 67 have been withdrawn or dismissed, leaving the
present number 212.:' In the selection of the scholars the committee have endeavored strictly to
comply with the resolution of the town, and the law of the State, in admitting
those only who were'not otherwise provided with the means of education.' In
considering the list of applicants the most needy, according to their best information, were first admitted, and it is gratifying to them to state that, although
at first some apprehensions were entertained that the room would not accommodate all who were entitled to admission, they have been able (after every
exertion on their part, both by public advertisements and personal representation to obtain suitable applications) to receive all those candidates whose cases
came within the spirit of the law. The pupils have generally been attentive to
the duties of the school, and have made considerable progress in their several
studies. The greatest difficulty the committee has met has been in enforcing
constant attendance at school, and the same culpable indifference to the benefits
of education which prevented some parents from making application for admission of their children, has been shown by other parents in not using their persuasion and authority to compel the punctual attendance of their children after
they were admitted, instances in the later class have been comparatively very
few, and wherever remonstrance or representation on the part of the instructor
or committee has been ineffectual, a suspension of the delinquent from school
*Barnard's Journal of R. I. School Institute, III, 147-8.