Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-26
Our Public schoOls-A Word Concerning
the Examinations.

Is
public attention and public care than our public
schools. In this regard may be deemed an en-
thusast- land will not object to it-for am one
Of those who believe that on this institution more
than anything else depends the perpetuity OF the
Union and of our republican form OF government.
In these schools the children of the people of this
great country are to be taught that they have
great part to act in society; that In few years
they will be men and women, and will have the
management and control of all the affairs, private
and public, of this almost boundless republic; that
they will be individually responsible to God and
their country, and to none else that, as republi-
cans, it will be their duty to assert and maintain
an individual independence Of mind and action in
political affairs and as moral and religious beings,
individually and directly responsible to God Alone
it is their duty to exercise the right He has given to
all human beings to think for themselves independ-
emily, and to mark out each one for himself the
course which his own private Judgment or con-
science tells him he should pursue. Let such in
struction as this be impaired in the course of their
general education, and our glorious republican in
stitutions viii defy all the powers Of despotism,
both foreign and domestic, which are now aboring
SO necessarily and 30 indefatgably, at home as
well as abroad, to overthrow our civil and religious
freedom.
made it my business this week to attend the
examinations Of as many of the Public Schools as
my private concerns would permit. have been
present at the examination of the schools Of Miss
Acton, on Capitol Hill; of Mrs. Cole, in the First
Ward and of Miss Randolph and Miss Henshaw,
both in the Third Ward. The children in all Of
those schools are small, and principally girls; but
was pleased TO see good evidence in each school
that both teachers and pupils have been attentive
to their respective duties. 1t was g'atfying also
to seesuch good attendance of tho Trustees at some
Of the schools, besides other gentlemen and
ladies', not few. There was room, however, TOR
many more and the citizens ought to attend on
those occasions. was happy to see member OF
the Board OF Common Council at two OF those
places--Mr McCutcheon-who, at the request Of
the Trustees, took part in the examination, and,
at the request of the same at the conclusion of the
exercises, he briefly addressed the children, ex-
horting them to perseverance in the pursuit OF
education, and assuring them of the deep inter-
est he feels in the prosperity Of our Public Schools
In all those schools the pupils were pretty
thoroughly examined in spelling, reading, writing
on slate--some In py-books--arithmetic, multi
plication table, punctuation, and some in geogra-
ply and history | confess was astonished, con-
siderng the tender ages of the children ut the pro-
ficiency manifested by some of Miss Henshaw's pu-
pills. was really pleased with the performance
in all of the schools attended, but justice requires
special reference to such as seemed to excel At
the end Of the examination, in each school, the
children sang for us, and the sweet voices and
cheerful countenances of such an infantile and
beautiful assembly, all clean and tidy, and dressed
In a neat and becoming manner, constituted most
pleasing finale to performance which teacher and
pupils had for weeks been contemplating with pro.
badly no little anxiety and trepidation.
At the examination of Mrs. Coles large and eI-
cellent school, was sorry 70 see so slim attend
ance Of Trustees. Mr.. Pierson and Mr.. Polk were
all They went earnestly TO work, however, and
gave the pupils quite searching examination; and
although the continual noise on the avenue caused
chiefly by the passing Of the omnibuses, made it
difficult to hear the delicate voices Of those sweet
little creatures, heard enough to draw thence
the conclusion that the result was highly credtable
to that teacher and her interesting charge.
There were several ladies in attendance here, but
did not discover more than one male citizen be-
sides the two trustees IL is greatly TO be hoped
there will be better attendance in future.
Allow me to say a word respecting the accom-
plshed Secretary of the Board of Trustees. / I'M
derstand that he Is continually going from school
to school, lending his efficient aid all around. In
deed he seems 10 have the power of ubiquity, for
he viii be at two or three schools the same day,
aiding In the examination Of all, and that too,
when the hours Of attendance are the same for ALL
at home in the business, and the Trustees very
properly appreciate his abilities. His post is
tainly aborious one but he fills II to the admira-
ton Of all who are acquainted with the nature OF
his duties At Miss Henshaws school he told the
pupils about the medals and premiums which are
10 be distributed-at which they seemed TO be
cheered. He took occasion, also, 10 give them
some good advice. Mr.. Polk, also, on this coca
sion, exhorted the children to obedience TO their
teachers as the sine qua non in gaining an educa.
tom to kindness and affection towards each other
and constant efforts 10 please those with whom
they may be associated, rather than themselves
He told them to strive 10 make others happy, and
others then would strive TO make them happy.
But il Is shameful that so many Of the school
rooms are so uncomfortable. Who Is to blamef
Success 10 our Public Schools. LAFAYETTE.
Tar LATE JUpeE wrLDE.-Samuel Sumner
Wilde, for nearly half century justice Of the
Supreme Court Of Massachusetts,, died recently in
Boston, in the s5th year Of his age. He was na
tive Of Taunton, and graduate Of Dartmouth Col
lege. A more upright magistrate never sat upor
the bench In private life he was universally be
loved.
Judge wilde was the last surviving member o.
the Hartford Convention.
Mr.. Cushing, the Attorney General Of the Uni
ted States, married many years ago tho accom-
plisbed daughter Of Judge Wilde.
Prince Paul, OF Wurtemburg, set out for his
great voyage, the greatest he perhaps ever under
took, yesterday afternoon at o'clock. He LEFT
our city on board Of the steamer Nicholas for st
n - 4 L. Ia