Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-06-08
To Me Editor of The Planter.

10 me Editor OF me Planter.
SIR
Iwish to say few words to the readers
of your paper, on the subject of education.
My object is not to advocate its Importance
nor to discuss the merits of any particular
theory.
take it for granted, in this day; when
so much is said on this subject, in private
and in public, in the newspaper and Id the
periodical, and | rejoice to say, when 50
much is being done--also, that no good ci-
tizen will fail at once to acknowledge its
importance, and to give his influence in
favor of those institutions which are but
calculated to insure those great practical
results, even to be desired in a system of
education.
l take 1t for granted, also, that the pub
lie opinion is on the forward march with
regard to the Importance of Female Edu-
cation and that, ere long, this branch of
the general subject will have been advan-
ced to SO high aplace in the public regard
as to demand no special advocacy from the
hand of any one.
| wish simply to call the attention of
your readers to single institution, with
which they may not be well acquainted
1t is the Seminary for Young Ladies, at
Matches, under the superintendence of the
Rev. w. H. BRUNER and LADY. had the
pleasure, about three weeks since; of at
tending the semi-annual examination of
the pupils of this institution. It's high re-
putation in the facilities it affords for ac-
During a thorough, practical and accom-
plished education, and its success in Sc
curing this result as far as the pupils have
advanced, had before been aware of,
through the public reports made by the
distinguished getlemen who composed the
examining committees But until this oc-
casion | had not had an opportunity of wit
Messing an examinations In expressing
my decided appreciation of the proficiency
which the young ladies evidently had made
in the different branches ofstudy to which
they had attended, | am confident that
do but express the sentiment of all who
attended the examination. The pupils Of
all the classes did honor to themselves and
to their instructors The examination
continued two days. Besides lower bran
ches, the subjects were Arithmetic, AL
zebra, Chemistry, Botany, Natural and
Intellectual Philosophy, the French Gram
mar, and conversational Dialogues in
French, several English compositions, ex-
hibition of Drawing, Vocal and Instrument
tai Music, &c. &c.
The pupils exhibited thorough, and in
some instances, considering the youth,
surprising knowledge of these several
branches, to the extent they had pursued
them--evincing, most clearly the indefa-
tigable and successful efforts of their in
structots. | attended nearly the whole
examination and | can bear testimony,
that, with the exception of three or four
instances, scarcely any hesitancy was OBJ
served in answering the questions put to
them; and but two instances are distinct
ly recollectcd when they were unable to
answer. Nor was this promptness in con-
seqrencd of having been drilled on parti-
cular parts of their studies, with partcu-
lar Questions assigned to particular indi-
viduals, as is sometimes the case in insti-
tutiohs of learning. The principal stated
to the spectators more than once; that the
young ladies "asked no favors," that they
were ready and willing to be questioned
on any part of the studies over which thew
had gone; and he several times requested
of the Examining Committee
and others to select parts for examination.
and to question the pupils themselves.
This was done. The facility with which
some of the young ladies solved questions
m Algebra, might put to the blush many of
The ga. B.'s'' of our Colleges. They not
'nly showed that they we're familiar with
he "black board" but that they were ac-
luainted with the principles of this branch
If mathematical science. The knowledge
'f Chemistry and Natural and Intcllectu-