Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-04-23
VsIIe'Iol1Elss q U !" nF-lllsI IIIelllsll1tET.
WAsnSGToz, Pa, April 20, 1857.


25, sold At lsI cents, and lev bidders
csrrsspOOaeaes Of Dc Wheeling In.eES-aeer.
WAsuE0Toz, Pa, April 20, 1857.
EDIroRs OF xTu1IGEScER-G Cent: Know
ing that your paper IS always open to the
interests Of Eiucation, we have concluded to
offer your readers some reflections upon that
subject, occasioned by a visit We made this
morning to the Union School, " in this place
Wehad heard much sid in cOmmendation of
this truly excellent Seheol, but must aeknowl-
edge we were not prepared for what we saw and
heard during our visit The building is large
three story brick, well arranged and divided into
L number Of apartments, admirably adapted 70
the purposes Of such school We were kindly
shown through number of these by the polite
and accomplished Superintendent, John L. Gov,
whose valuable services have contributed 80
much to the present prosperity of This institu-
tion. The mechanical execution Of the building
IS certainly Of the first order, and does great
credit to the genius, intelligence and beuevo-
lence Of the citizens Of Washington But we
wish to speak more particularly concerning the
.SakOOl, itaslG The system Of teaching is GER
tainly the best we ever examined Evrry4hines
Is conducted with the most beautiful regularity.
While We were Witnessing the examinations, We
could not help but nOties the uniformity IN all
the motions of the scholars Every one seems
70 feel that that he is called upon to do some
thing, he does not begin his work eeervsHere.
HeknoWs ashat, tsben and srAeTe to begin, con.
sequehtly there Is none Of that embarrassment
attending the pupil in his reeitatiOns, 80 common
among the schools Of our country. The mum
'seT Of instruction is truly admirable. The pu-
pills first introduced to an apartment where he
is Thoroughly drilled in the taetis Of the school;
At the same time he is permitted to pursue what
ever studies may best suit his age and advance
ment He is not drires through At .two-forty"
rate, but IS permitted to enjoy privileges which
serves as = recreation, and at the same time, are
highly instructive. Tho child is learned here
that the School is no prison and the Teacher no
tyrant He is taught not that he should love
the school because It IS useful but in such a
manner that he can not help il, because it is
pleasant-not to fear the teacher on account of
TIE '1Ong hickory, but to love him As an in
structOr and father.
As soon as he is prepared, he is removed to
the next department in order, where the ssme
discipline rs continued, while his mental powers
are subjected to seTerer trimming He Is not
taught to reeite lessons, as the manner Of some
is, but be is required to think his Lesson. He
Stndies books only for information upon sub
ject, concerning which lie is required to make
out case Of his oisn BY this means, he soon
feels his responsibility, and nerves himself for
the work accordingly. But there is another ad-
vantage We noticed, which is stiE more decided
improvement upon the old one horse power
system, which has obtained, and is yet obtain-.
ing'in certain localities,-we mean, what might
not be appropriately called the isAolesale man
ner of teaching. a class is instructed as one
individual, the same question being Propounded
toall; atIerlsards, someone is specially called
upon to answer it Each one is expecting he
will DO that one; his attention Is, therefore al
ways fixed upon what is going on. Nothing, It
seems to us, is Of moro importance than this
The pupil also feels that his reputation, not his
back, is continually at stake, consequently he
eIerts himself to the very utmost of his pow
.ers. to stdaG cell in his class AS soon as
ready, he is again removed 70 another class,
where the same manner is continued, again to
another, and so on through the school.
Itmust be evident to every ore that this IS
NAS ~ NC AAAoAS W IuGNlvu- A1uS NC A4LsN eec
its practical workings to understand it's beau
ties Several classes we're examined in our
presence, showing most wonderful knoWlcdge
Of the studies they were pursuing.
The class in Geography surpassed any thing
of the kind we ever witnessed. 1t was not
mere memory business. but 1t MAS evident every
pupil .tndsrstOod what he vas doing. Tue "a
pidity with which the outlines of the science
wero exhibited was truly astonishing.
The class in Mental Arithmetic performed its
part in way altogether creditable. Questions
involving the closest analytical discrimination,
were solved with an ease that vas truly sur
prising.
1t must BE remembered that this rasnn &.
cry day exhibition that We witnessed, not a
prepared performance. The people of Washing.
ton ought to be proud of such an institution Of
learning in their midst, and that it is under such
good management Their children can be edu-
Gated here,-nOt IN name only, but in fact and
in truth. Every child IN that school is studying
logic and his mind viii be better disciplined in
= six:.month's course than could be done, under
the old system. in q whole lifetime.
Respectfully, u.
PEREuNks-Thepassion for perfumes, sayu
Partisan correspondent, increase both in Eng-
land and Franco British Inlio and Frro1.,