Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-07-07
THE X. Nj. MILITARY SCHOOL.


| The annual examination of the classes in our
Military School, was concluded on Wednesday af-
ternoon, last week.
| We have never attended an exhibition of this
Sort which made upon us n more favorable impress
sion. The examination was impartial thorough
and searching -affording sure index of the
aptuess industry and progress of the pupil as
we'll as the competency amd faithfulness of the
teacher. In the first place, it so happens be-
cause the Principals have not held public exhibi-
tons in the past two years, the classes, although
warned were not anticipating the ordeal-expect-
ing to make hairs breadth escane as formerly.
But they we're disappointed, most emphatcally.
The work commenced on Monday, and continued
day and night, until every cadet was tried effec-
tually upon every branch: We noticed, in every
department, that excellent progress had been made
Extending in many instances to the entire text
book The cadets drew their subjects by lot,
ranging through che extent of each. They were
then required to recite, without word from the
teacher, without question, without the slightest
intimation by way of prompting and if they came
to halt, it resulted, as far as it depended upon
the teachers assistance in a dead failure. There
was no collusion there between instructor and pu-
pA-no effort to conceal diffciencies--no exertion
to putty.up and plaster orer an illdone contract;
on the contrary, the student worked out his prob.
lem for himself or not at all, and there actually
seemed to be desire to expose and put to shame
any Incidence, neglect or culpable Ignorance in
the classes The Professors were in no instance
guilty of those culpable maneuvres, so common,
to show off their own attainments and their skill,
Mt the expense Of trath and candor and the proper
discipline of the classes The inqusition was, as
we have said, trying, searching, thorough, utterly
impartial, truthful, convincing, and, more than
all, in every respect triumphant! 49,
We haye made this precise statement because
the course thus marked ont and 'persistently ac
complshed by the Faculty of the Military School
is unusual, and deserves to be commended in no
commonplace or stinted terms. While it has af-
forded an exact criterion of their success in
teaching, it has given to the ambitious and intel
lgent classes an incentive to study which will con
tnue with them and nerve them mp to constant
exertion while they remain in the school. Re-
proof, warning, backwards, or even the rod Of
the old-ield school, would fail to teach such a
lesson Our word for it, these classes will here
after approve this policy and confirm our iudg-
ment.
a. oJat,r ,3o,
torture, ard falling to recover, retire abashed to
his seat. But the great majority stood the fire,
unAinchingly, and like the wcll.trained soldiers
they claim to he. Taken upon any portion of
their studies Mt random and with the ferceness
of Balaklava charge, they would stand to their
guns, and successively bear away the palm Of
well-earned victory. Many of the recitations
were faultless: some of them brilliant. We no
ticcd small lad Of fifteen, without suggestion
from his teacher except as to the work he had to
do fill the black board with one problem after
another and then in the most beautiful style an
nouncc, demonstrate and excmrIify the abstruse
and intricate doctrines of Quadratic Equations
the crowning chapter in Algebra. He understood
every figure on the board and every word he said
in explanation of his figures. One of his prob
lens was given to him enormously; and true to
his theme, he worked et out accordingly and
reached an 'answcr" not found in the book
proving, if the proof were needed, that his task
had not been learned by rote. We cite this in.
stance because of the trying task given to the pu
pill. Others didequally as well, all did far better
than we could have asked-conferring great honor
upon their school, proving its claims to the repu-
taton of strict discipline and we'll regulated
training of the powers physical, mental and mo-
raj, to be more than vain, ilusory and empty
show. We are persuaded that no intelligent, dis
cernipg father or guardian could have been pres
ent without taking the oath of allegiance to the
Kings Mountain Military School, and bringing
to its ranks every recruit he had to muster.
But we have said enough. We heartily con-
gratulate Mcssrs. JENKINS and COWARD, and their
assistants, upon the success of the sessions Ia