Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-04-12
Public Schools and Teaching,

Public Schools and Teaching
One of the gratifying signs of the times
is the multiplied evidence, coming from ev
cry quarter, of the increased interest takcl
in the public schools Of the country, by al
those Interested. This interest has spread
far and wide during the past twenty years
Perhaps no one person has exerted SO much
and such good influence in this direction al
| the late and lamcnted Horace Mum. He in.
fused his love Of the cause of education int
all with whom he came in contact and it il
impossible to read his works without catchn:
something of his generous spirit and hi
great love OF public education. Fur som,
years large towns ard cities have taken activ,
measures to Increase the usefulness and eff
cheney Of their schools. These nursere,
have become the pride and the hope Of thu
citizen. We find in the 1y1,1e State
ment Of the public schools in 0swego " Y
which is highly interesting. We copy SC
much of the article as our limits " III admit
The Schools arc divided into Primary, Ju.
Nor, Senior, and High, with twelve Prima.
ries, four Juniors, two Seniors. and one High
School. The number Of puprls registered as
attending alb Of them during the year Is
about ,0trt. The entire amount OF money
expended by the Board of Eiueation fos
teachers wTsrs. Salary of Superintendent
repairs of school-houses, library apparatus.
and all other expenses, Is about S@ 900 a
year making the average cost Of the educa-
ton of each pupil registered about s. 25.
The Primary Schools are divided into three
classes, called 4. 3, and G. Each class oe-
cupies a separate ruom. and remains under
the charge of one teacher for year. On
entering school the children are placed in
the c class at the end of tile first year they
are examined and promoted to the b class
where they remain another year. when they
are again examined, and promoted to the A
class. At the close Oft he third year anos',-
er examination takes place, when those who
are qualified arc promoted from the \ class
to the Junior School.
These Primary Schools are attracting much
attention from educators in different parts OF
our country, on account of the new system
of instruction which is carried out in them.
1t is systematic course of graduated " OBJ
iect Lessons, on plan similar to that oil
the - Home and Colonial Training Schools
OF London.
In addition to teaching the children to
read, which is well done, they are taught
form, the elementary steps Of geometry. BY
comparing, matching. drawing, and learning
the ramcs Of pieces Of wood cut in shape Of
l. = Il l..
cubes, &c. They learn size by measuring
with rule, or tape, lines drawn on the
blackboard, or sticks. strings. length and
width Of the room. They are first required
to measure all Objects with the eye, then ap-
ply the rule TO determine the accuracy of the
eve measurement
Each school is provided with a ! air of scales
and weights. The pupils are required to
lift and guess at the weight of books, small
bags of pebbles, beans, shot. cubes of lead
and iron, and then to weigh them. The ac-
curacy with which those thus trained will
Judge Of the weight of objects is astonishing
The children are taught the first ideas of
number in classes of twenty or thirty, by
each handling and counting beans and peb-
blcs. adding, subtracting. multiplying, and
dividing with them. These objects are ar
ranged on shelf across one side Of the
room.
Color is taught by means Of worsteds, col.
9red cards, and other objects, by matching
those shat are alike. and learning their
names. They also show how other colors
may be produced by mixing the three prima-
~ ones rcd. yellow and blue.
They are taught to point out, name, and
tell the use of the principal parts IF the hu