Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-09-11
From the Baltimore american.
EDUCATION.

We have sometimes taken 0cca-
sion to speak of the decidedly supe-
rior advantages over their sisters
which the eastern states possess in
having established among them the
enlightened and truly republican sys-
TEN of education which forms so pro-
minpnt and beautiful a feature of the
liberal ms ituti0Gs Of our country.
The subject has again been present
ed to our notice in the strongest
light, by seeing in a Boston paper
the report of the Committee OF Pri-
mary Schools Of that city. by which
il appears that the number of schools
ofthat class, now in full operation in
the city of Boston alone. is torty-se-
zen. and the number of scholars at
tending the same, 1855.
These schools (Which are instruct
ed exclusively by females) are sepa-
rated into seven Districts. and each
school is placed under the general
superintendence of some gentleman
Of the city appointed for the purpose.
Each Instructor is required TO draft
monthly report of the state OF her
school. to be submitted to the Com
mittee of the said school. and by him
communicated to the District Com
mittee of which he is a member, to-
gether with his own report, drawn
up monthly from actual visitation.
From these several reports of indivi-
dual schools, District reports are
prepared quarterly. and transmitted
10 a Standing Committee of seven,
appointed by the whole beard; and
ii is made the duty of this Standing
Committee to make up, from the
District Reports, a General Quar-
teriy Report to be read before the
whole Board. The Standing Com
mitee are also expected semi-annnal-
" to visit the schools in persons, and
to make minute report OF their con-
dition aud prospects. whlchis sent to
the general school committee of the
city. BY such system of reciprocal
watchfnlness, it is scarcely possible
that abuses of any kind should long
exist without being detected.
The object of these schools is to
teach children to spell aud read well,'
and thus prepare them thoroughly
for admission to the English Gram
mar and Writing Schools, which, If
prepared, they are permitted to enter
at the age of seven years. of these
latter schools, ten in number In-
GLIDING the African School. and the
school for Mutual Instruction, there
was, in July, 1925. an aggregate OF
1884 scholars. Each school Is Sc
parated into two rooms, the upper
being occupied for reading and the
lower for writing; the two divisions
of the schools occupying each room
alternately, one in the forenoon and
the other in the afternoon. The
most promising children are from
time TO time advanced, and finally
reach the first class; from which
there is annually made a selection Of
the best boys, who are transferred to
the English Classical or Latin Gram
mar School, to perfect what they
have already begun, and to pursue
more advanced studies, The En-
glish Classical School was estab-
lished by vote of the town in 1890,
designed particularly for affording to
lads intending to become merchants
or mechanics, better means OF in
struction than were provided at any
ofthe English Grammar aud Writing
Schools. A large building was Q.
rected, in a central part Of the town,
and an appropriation of $4,000 made
for procuring philosophical appa.'
ratus., This school went into opera
i'm May, 1871. and in July, 1875,
contained ninety students. None
are admitted under the age of twelve.
INSTRUCTION is here furnished in the
various departments Of education.
from those taught in the English
Grammar Schools to the higher
branches of Mathematics and Pbilo.
sophy.
The Latin Grammar School is
much more ancient; and is noticed in
therecords of the town as early as
fS fEo2 1tb xco,sL L. :. IA