The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-09-29
WHOLE NO. 1901 !
From HE ZaHesriRe GaseRe.
To the Trustees OF Puinam Fe-
a.. .H Fn.rfa Gchv,i,,oc, at )

To the Trustees OF Putnam Fee
Of l rn'Iie Seminary. tt1
The undersigned. in dischar ging the
duty assigned them. have been present.
one or both, at the whole Of the examina.
lion now closed. They have had every
afforded them, for testing the
Progress OF the Pupils and the faithful.
ness OF the teachers. Incidentally they
c"nld not help noticing the differences in
individual pupils, aud Of course The gen.
eral progress of the whole. But they be-
Ileve greatinJlry is done to The Young la
dies IN some of our higher Semnaries,by
hy The ex'ravagant prais awarded to their
performances, 10y Examining committees.
II your committee err on this point IL
will probably be on the other extreme
Alter speaking of the classes in the
languages. mainly beginners, and of the
lower classes in The English branches,
and remarking that there appeared eyi.
dence OF accurate and thorough instruc-
tom" they 60 on 10 say:
with the Mathematical Department
your examiners were highly gra tilted.
Inc examination in all parts was rigid.
In Arithmetic there were great differen.
ces' IN the familiarity with the subject,
manilestedby the young ladies'. Some
"ere very good, and few were moor.
The reduction of The statement of the
probIemto formula, or in other words
the use Of The symbols in Arithmetic,
showed regard Of the teacher for sy,-
tenn which is rarely found. In Geometyv
each individual was called on to demon
s'fa'e great number of propositions,
and they acquitted themselves vel show
ing great familiarity with the whole sub
Ject. and giving their numerous demon.
siratlons, with a readiness, and accuracy
and elegance, that gave great pleasure.
a like need ofpraise should be awarded
to oihe class in Natural Philosophy. This
examination was particularly gratifying,
from the fact that it was the first of the
kind ever witnessed by the examiners.
IT. IS enough to say, that some of the most
dithcnlttheorems in Olmsted's Mechanics
were demonstrated with the utmost ex-
aciness, by the young ladies' of this class.
Aud the examination was more severe.
as the demonstrations Of none ofthe prop.
OsitI"ns were written.
The examinations in all the higher
studies Of the English branches. were
well sustained. Each one as il occurred
was noted as particularly good, and it
would be difficult To decide in which of
t'.ese branches the young ladies' appeared
TO the best advantage. The examiners
could detect no memOriter reciting, but
mall cases the answers aud ANALYSES were
given in the language of the pupil.
There was satisfactory proof, that the
teacher had accustomed her pupils 10
take comprehensive views ofthe subjects
pursued. They had not only studied,
and thoroughly too, paragraphs, sections,
and chapters separately, but had been
made 10 view them as parts of whole.
aud thus reduce their knowledge to that
form IN which alone it will be permanent.
In the Judgment of your Committee. the
whole examination in the higher English
branches gave abundant evidence of the
ability, skill, and failhfulness of the ac-
complished Principal, aud of the dill
gence aud studlousneSs of the Young
ladies'.
In conclusion, your Committee repeat
the expression Of the great interest and
qualification, with which they have exam
lned the condition, and prospects of USE
iulness ,otIhe Seminary underyour charge.
They have no hesitation in expressing
their full conviction that the cause of Fe-
male Education imperatively requires, in
our higher semnarles, just such course
OF study as Is pursued. And they assert
this with the greater willingness, after
having received fromth examination lust
closed, the best evidence of the entire
ability ofyoung ladies', of suitable age, to
master every subject, however difficult,
which is contained i'll the course. All
that is necessary, beside skill and ability
on the part of the teachers, is that every
subject should be studied in its proper
place. And this feature has evidently
been keptconstantly in view, in all the ar
rangements of the course. With the
prominence given to The Languages and
Mathematics, your Committee are parti-
cuIarly pleased, and they have no doubt
that it will be regarded with increasing
favor every year. With the reiteration
of their highest confidence in the accom-
plished Principal, aud her able coadiutors.
and :heir best wishes forthe prosperity of