Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-09-19

a prize of $3.50, to test the old and new meth
cd OF instruction in rcading-was recently offer
ed in Boston-and trial for the award has been
had. The committee to listen to the trial and
make the award, consisting of a number of the
most eminent and learned men Of Massachusetts
was given in our paper of last week. The
| trial came off in presence of a large audience
on Monday evening, Sept. l, fremont Temple,
Boston. Two classes were introduced as fol-
lows
Mr.. Charles w. Slack, of Chelsea, in behalf
OF the teachers, presented to the committee and
the audience, the class of children from the pub
Tic grammar schools, four in number, all girls.
two Of them being from the BoWdoin school. and
two from tho Johnson school. The ages of these
children were from to years. neither exceed
ing the latter age. DR.. James w Stone. in
! behalf OF the instructor, at the same time pre-
scented the four cOntcstiug children all girls, from
| the phonetic school.
The difference in the ages of these children
will be noticed, and it is proper here to state,
! that whilst the former had been under, instruct
ion for years, the latter had been for but ten
months, nevertheless, it was agreed that the two
classes should be considered on an equal foot
ing, and the award be made solely upon their re-
spective intrinsic merits. The test consisted OF
/ reading, spelling, and anal yising words twenty
/ four words were selected, Of them the grammar
school children, spelled correctly tlco and missed
/ hceMy tlro; the phonetic class, spelled correct
! ~ 10, and missed eleven. In spelling the pho
netic class had been drilled t,ro months the other
/ class jotsr yoarS In reading the distinction was
not 50 apparent; in analysing words, the phonet-
ic class dlit unhesitatingy, and correctly, elicit
| ing applause from the audience, whilst the other
! class did not attempt it, really not knowing what
it meant, is was 50 foreign from their instruction.
! The audience at the close OF the performance
| expressed by rising vote, consisting fully of
two thirds, that they desired the phonetic mode
Of instruction 10 be introduced into the common
schools OF Boston. We append the action so
far as it went ofthe committee, with the remark
that the great disparity in years, and in the time
! OF instruction OF these classes must be borne
| In mind (facts which the committee did not take
| into account when it will be apparent that the
| Phonetic mode OF instruction gained most
marked triumph.
The Commilto adjourned, after an hours dis
Cusslol ot the subject, without being able 10
agree We learn from one of them that the
! opinion seemed generally to prevail in the Com
mitee that in the ii rst reading from NGrco Paul.
whore both sides read from the common print
! the phonetic children had the superiority that
IN the spelling and the reading from Pilofim's
Progress in Romanic print, the grammar chill
dren were the best, while the girls of the pho
netic school were also triumphant in the analy-
Sis Of words, and where Pilgrims Progress was
read by themn phonetic print against the others
reading from the common print
\ Subcommittee was appointed consisting
Of Messrs Mann, Pafrcy, and Emerson. 10 re-
port upon the suNec;" = Commonwealth.
Il Among the many remarkable discoveries
and inventions, with which newspapers have
'e'med for some time back, the " Fire Annihi-
Iaior seems to be the only one. the merits which
have been clearly demonstrated II bids fair to
soferSede engines and fire companias; and IN
less al! signs fail, there will not be such tbinp
as fire company as at present constituted IN
the country in two years from this time.
u McCormick's grain reaper took the LARGE
medal awarded at the Worlds Exhibition. An
American plough comes in for the second prize.
We suspect the final closing up of the Exhibition
will not find the Americans in an attitude not 50
untavorable as was apprehended.