Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-07-20

4 h Ino SENIOR having ueou CSileN " AV"S' wy
on business, and learning that the annnnua ~
examination in the Normal Department o.
the, State University was in progress, under
the direction of Prof. D. F. Wells, he spent
portion of his time in witnessing the inter
esting exercises in that departments depart
ment, for the training Of teachers, which
should be the pride and meet the hearty sup.
port Of all friends of our Common Schools.
Prof. Wells. having been formerly resident
among us, and successful teacher in our
schools, our readers will be gratiaed to hear
that he well sustains himself in the new and
more responsible field in which, these three
years, he has so industriously labored.
The Examination lasted three days, was
| rigid and thorough, and conducted under the
directions offs Board of Examiners appointed
by the Trustees, among, whom we saw our
townsman, T. 8. Parvin. The exercises con-
sisted Of recitations in Geography, Arithme-
tic, Grammar, Algebra, Geometry Philosophy,
natural and intellectual, Rhetoric, &C., &c.
We heard those competent tojudge Of fsuch
matters say that they had never witnessed
the examination of classes that acquitted
themselves better-a conmendation worthily
bestowed upon the young ladies and gentle
men, the Professor and his accomplished
assistant, Miss Laura Davis, who seems
admirably qualified for her post 81
We obtained from Prof. Wells a list ofthe
names of the graduating class, as follows !:
Misses Frances A. Bent, Rachel Berger, Kate
Brown, Nettie NJ. Hart, E. Oakella Shockey,
and Mr.. Carey B. Smith. Ami as
i In this connection, we also obtained some
items of general interest, which We are glad
to publish, as it has heretofore been urged as
an objection to this Department Of the Uni
versity that it was only an Iowa City High
School, The facts, from the records of the
past year, show US, that tosnty.one counties
are represented in the Normal Department,
that torty-ons of the students are from other
counties than johnson. hsnumber admitted
during the last year from Iowa City. was
seven from johnson county, outside Of tho
city, seven; from other counties hirty,6ve--
seven being from Muscatlne county. The
State educates tsoo from each county, fur
nished by the County Superintendent, with a
certificate of admission. All others pay ten
dollars year tuition. ~
The average ages of those in attendance,
the past year, is, for the young ladies, 81 in
al, 1889 years young gentlemen, 80 in al,
20. 46 years, Total, SO in attendance during
the year. The number at one time being
limited to s6, the average is 19.49 years.
Connected with the Normal Department is
a Model School, which is indeed model
school in fact as well as name, If all that was
spoken of it be true, as no doubt is. In this
school, the scholars are instructed under the
direction of Mrs. DR.. McGourgal, who is
qualified for tho government and
instruction of little folks, and won golden
opinions for her successful management of
her department.
. After the examination was concluded in
both schools, the annual exercises were had
in the new chapel, the old Representative
Hal, neatly arranged and fitted up for the
purpose Their exercises consisted of origi-
nal Essays by the yonng ladies, and Dec
lamation by the young gentleman, with
music by the students, under the direction
Of Prof. Whipple, who is employed to instruct
in that department. Diplomas were awarded
to the graduating class, by Hon. Thos. H.
Benton, President of the Board of Trustees,
and the exercises closed with an excellent
address by the President Of the University,
DR.. Totten.
We shall long remember the pleasing
"reminiscences of our trip to the City.
n -, ,knh so6