Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-04-10
COMMUNICATIONS.

MIR. EDlToR:-The public school in our
district has just come to close, and we
deem it nothing more than just that a slight
testimony should be given to the public in
reference to the successful manner in which
severity Of the winter, and the scholars were
nearly ali quite small,y yet we had quite
full and regular attendance. This was owing
in great measure to the control and COM
iortab situation Of the school. And :f there
are any districts in the county that have their
school houses yet to build, we would say to
them, that they should not only select the
most accessible, but also dry and protected
situation. Our school was continued for
six months, with an average of about twenty
six in district containing only about sixty
youths, about half of whom are under ten
years Of age. A few weeks before the close
Of the last quarter they commenced prepar-
ing themselves to give something OF an enter
tanment at The winding up, in the form of
an exhibition.
Though but two or three OF the scholars
had ever had any experience in such perfor-
mances. Or, indeed, ever saw anything of
the kind. yet they entered upon the work
with such energy and perseverance, under
the direction OF their worthy teacher, that
they were enabled to acquit themselves in
a very respectable and entertaining manner.
Their powers of defamation and acting
would not, it is true rival many of .he pro-
fessed performers of the stage, yet we doub.
whether Forest or Nc Ready ever drew
more attentive or delighted crowd OF spec
tators. Not only the parents and friends re-
siding in the district were present, but many
came distance of several miles 10 witness
the powers of tie young orators and trage-
dian displayed on the occasion nasmuch
that the house was crowded to its utmost
capacity, and some were obliged TO look
through the windows. AS far as we hive
been able to learn, all were we'll satisfied
with what they were permitted to see and
! came away with the conviction, that
such exhibitions, when properly conducted,
would be sources of great improvement TO
all our schools.
AS it regards our teacher, DIR. John Nc
Pherson. we will just say that he is most
abGrious, faithful and impartial instructor,
and withal a very agreeable and much re-
spected gentleman. And if he should ever
conclude to turn his attention to the subiec ct
of teaching again, no one need fear to employ
him for that purpose. When he first spoke
of closing his school in the manner we have
stated, many thought it quite chmerical
notion, and which could never be carried out.
But we think that all are now convinced
that such displays can be made source of
entertainment and great benefit likewise
AL. things considered we suppose that the
difficulties of the present case, were as great
as would be encountered in any other school
in the county; yet the manner in which they
were met and conquc. ed shows very plainly
the truth of the MAXIM "Where there's u
will there's way" With the hope that
these few lines will be the means of caus-
ing others to 60 and do likewise. We close
by subscribing ourselves. As,
SUB DIsTRG CT No. 7, Warren tp, Bel Co.