The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-01
MISS MINERS SCHOOL FOR CeL0RED chill
DREN IN THE CITY OF WASHINGTON.

Last week we visited this school with the
sincerest satisfaction. Through the benefcence
of friends in Philadelphia and elsewhere, a val
liable lot of land was purchased last year ~
ing on the summit of the ridge half way be-
tween Pennsylvania avenue and the hills which
bound the city on the north. The house stand
ing upon it was fitted up for school the up
per part is the home of Miss Miner and her as
sistant.
As we rode to the gate, the children were
playing in the open air, within the high fence
which encloses the ground on all sides. twas
| the hour of recess. On entering the school
rooms, we were cordially met by Miss Miner
| and her assistant, to whom we introduced the
| lady by whom we were accompanied. The
| rooms showed the usual furniture, maps on the
| walls, large globe in the centre of the school
room, and some manuscript diagrams of the
heavens, the gift of Mr.. Johnson to the school.
On the ringing of the bell the scholars, with
beaming looks, came in and took their seats.
The average attendance is thirty-fve They
range from seven to seventeen years Of age,
and show all the varieties of complexion and
mingling of races common to the colored pop,
ulation of our cities.
They read to us recited their lessons for the
day, in grammar, history, and philosophy. They
| sang for us, and then chanted the consultations
by the diagram, and then the anatomy of the
human frame. In order to test what this was
worth to them, we took the wand from the
pupil who led the exercise, and asked the
names of the several stars we pointed out, and
the consultations to which they belonged, all
of which were correctly answered next we
gave the names of bones, without any OF their
connections, and they told US their names, as
signing to each its proper place.
What we regard as the Distinguishing fea.
ture of Miss Miners instruction, is her anayt-
ical method of teaching, making her scholars,
from the youngest to the Oldest, know WHY the
facts are as they are, in grammar, philosophy,
and arithmetic. We would be most happy to be-
lieve teachers, in the highest of our seminaries
for young ladies, Those which are regarded as
pre-eminent,) were as competent and as faith
frl as Miss Miner, and that their classes would
as well bear the scrutiny of review, where
the ,ohy was to be given for the various facts
affirmed in the school books These recitations
were long, and very carefully made.
The lady by whom we were accompanied
had had long experience in teaching, and, as we
were walking to our carriage, she remarked
Did you not observe the bright look of the
eye, and the mein and bearing OF these girls
They may be considered as new creations,
rather than of the same class OF children we
meet with in the streets. You will better IN
derstand my remark" she added, " if relate
Won an anecdote Mr.. Bakewell, the father Of
the peologist, was breeder of sheep, known
the world over as Bake,oelps Merinos; when
his son, the geologist, was presented to the
mother of the present Duchess of Sutherland,
who had been immensely enriched by breeding
these sheep on her vast estates, lying along the