Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-06-24
LOCAL NEWS.


were engaged on Monday in the written exam
nations of the schools, and very arduous ones
they proved both to pupils and examiners from
the number and nature OF the questions pro-
pounded, in some instances extending over
more than twelve hours time.
We would suggest that in future the pro-
gramme Of questioning be curtailed, or that the
different branches OF examination be divided
for separate days, slips OF the questions being
printed for each branch separately. Printed
rs they are now egteRSo, on single sheet, it
is found requisite, certainly desirable, to go
through with the examination at 4 single sit
ting, as otherwise the pupils would have op-
portunity to prepare themselves with set an
sWers.
The oral examinations were entered upon
yesterday.
The First District Primary, No /. was exam !.
ined by Mr.. Morsell in the elementary studies,
such as spelling, reading, ciphering, notation,
&C., and at the close they were complimented
on the progress they had made. This school is
taught in the Union engine-house by Miss
Emily Robinson. The school is composed of
boys, whose ages range from six to ten. There
are 50 scholars on the roll, OF whom So were
present, the remainder being Sick During the
year there appears to have been a steady draft
upon this school, the scholars as fast as they
have been advanced. being transferred to sec
ondary schools; no less than IL having been
transferred during the year-the first class
numbering Is being transferred about three
weeks since. In view of these facts, the ex.
animation was highly creditable number
of the parents and friends of the scholars were
present.
Primary No. >, located in the second story of
the building southwest corner Pennsylvania
avenue and Nineteenth street, was examined
by Mr.. ]. o. Wilson. This school is taught by
Miss Sarah v Triplett who is q graduate of
the grammar school of the first district, this
being her first year. There are O. scholars OH
the roll, (seyen above the usual number,) of
whom 65 were present. The order observed
was good, and we We're informed that the
school was yesterday not more orderly than
usual The several classes were pretty thor
oughly examined III reading, spelling mental
arithmetic dictation exercises, and the tables
passing all credtably. The school was com
piimented by the examining trustee and by
the visitors present.
Primary No. /, Second District, fmale,1 Miss
A lice Mcintosh teacher, was examined by C.
H. Ctermehfe, trustee, and developed on the
part OF the scholars excellent progress for those
so Young. In the "dictation exercises" the lit-
tie boys here were particularly good. The
number of scholars attending this school is go;
IS OF whom We're present at the examination
The average attendance during the year was
As. Much attachment is manifested by the
children towards their teacher, who In turn
appears devoted to them.
Primary No. 2, ffemale, of the same district,
Miss Maggie Z. F1enner teacher, also acouit.
ted themselves well, and gave evidence Of the
faithtulHess OF their instructress. The exami.
whose questioning kept the little girls very
busy thinkin g-resulting, however, with but
few exceptions, in correct answers. Number
of scholars s.. Average attendance IS.
Primary No. 1, of the Third District, Miss
Josephine s. Bird teacher, was examined by
Mr. o. g. Wight. There are on the roll Of this
school fifty aine pupils, of whom twenty four
are females and thirty. five males There were
forty-two pupils in attendance at the examina-
ton yesterday, and the school showed good
progress. 1t was evident that Miss Bird con
maintained throughout the examination es-
pecially was so good as TO receive the appro-
baton OF the examining committee and the
visitors. This school is held in The basement
OF New Jerusalem Church, North CAPITOL
street. y room which is dark, damp and gloomy
and totally unfit for school purposes. It is en-
fireiy too small, and, in addition to ths school
OF bliss Bird, Miss fuckers secondary school,
Is also held here. In our visit to this school at
last years examination we cal ed special at.
tention to the unfitness of this place to accom-.
.nodate one hundred children, and it Is to be
hoped that 3 better room will be procured, and
that rightspeedily. The completion Of the new
school building now In process Of erection in
this district will remedy the defect, but it will
be q long time before that building is COMPLETED
and better room should be procured at once
Primary School No. 2, Miss Addie Thomp.
son teacher, was examined by Mr.. @. W. Davis
There are twenty mine little boys and thirty
two little girls In this school, fifty-seyen Of
whom were present at the examination yester
day. Like all the other primary schools, IL
embraces pupils who have just commenced
The study Of the alphabet, and those who can
read. write and have progressed in cipherine
as far as long multiplication. The proper use
OF capital letters and punctuation, to limited
extent, is also taught the pupils mere. This
school has labored under many disad vantages
the past year, the most serious of which has
been the frequent change OF teachers-the
school having had no less than four II is
therefore to Miss Thomp son's credit that
she has already obtained good control over
the pupils, and the orderly arrangement OF her
classes and the manner OF their ROTATIONS ey.
ldenee the fact that she has taken great pains
any in the city. While some of the classes
were rsciting, there was slight careless.
ness evinced, but, as a general thing, ali were
attentive. In some Of the primary schools
less aItenuon Is paid to reading than its impor-
lance merits. W refer not now especially to.
the school under notice. The classes here COM
pared fayorably with most others. But ve
Noticed q, disposition to hurry, to SKIN over
hard words, aud to read in SO low tone as
not TO be distinctly understood. This school Is
held nj the corner Of A aud Third streets ast
aud u the same room and building are two
other the secondary j schools Of Misses Nor
ply and Sandarson; thus bringing together in
= room aot any too inrge or weil ventilated
nsariy two hundred pupils The building was
formerly mari at house.