Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-03-11

FRIDAY, MAKCH IL
For tho Muscatins Journal.
schools.
The winter has nearly passed, and with itl
passage we are in hopes to see the smiling
spring return. With the close Of winter
many of our schools close the winter term.
1 hereby warn all the teachers of District
Township Seventy-Six. to hand in their re.
reports before expecting any pay. Section Of
pamphlet edition Of 1862, says: The teach
er shall, Immediately after the close Of his
school, file in the Office of the Secretary Of
the Board of Directors, certified copy of the
register aforesaid. 70
Section "a of the latest School Laws Of
Iowa, (unless Sam. McNutt has been making
some lately,) we find it thus recorded: On
the last Saturday of each month he shall
meet all persons desirous Of passing an ex-
animation, and for the transaction of any
other business within his jurisdiction, in some
suitable room provided for that purpose by
the Boardof Supervisors, at the county seat,
1t which time be shall examine all applicants
for examination, as to their competency and
ability to teach orthography, reading, writing,
arithmetic, geography. and English grammar.
Well, Saturday, Feb. 9th, was one Of the
days specified, and, being at Muscatine, I
strolled, or rather stalked, in to see if there
was any examination going on. To my aston
ishment, there were about thirty applicants
being examined. 1t was about l o'clock
when arrived at the school room-No. Q
in the city. After long, monotonous time,
they came to a change Of subject. The Su-
perintendent concluded to hear them read.-
He handed books to three of US, to ''look
over" as we call it. wanted to know the
object of giving us books-whether it was
mere courtesy, or to hear them, and give D
decision as to which was the best reader
The Superintendent concluded that we might
give decision. The two individuals that
were handed books with me declined helping
to decide. l then told the Superintendent
that would decide myself, if he would let
me talk minute or two first. With some
reluctance, he concluded to do it. The
teachers then read. A few of them read
well, four or five read first-rate, while good
many read very poorly; some very badly, 1
thought. Can it be possible that any of you
who read so poorly will presume to set your
selves up for teachers?
decided in favor Of Miss Ellen Miles,
She read WITH all that natural flow of words
and eloquence which is characteristic of good
reading. Miss Sallie T.. Coover, second best
She handled the subject well. There were
several others read well among them was an
elderly gentleman, who read so as to convey
the meaning very we'll, yet there was too
much monotony in his voice to call it first
rate reading.
In the minute or two that occupied IN
remarks, before they read, said something
like the following: told them that l had
been in several schools in the western part of
this county, and found at least three -fourths
of the schools deficient in reading. told
them that it ought to occupy more time
there should be more care taken in learning
to read-that it was too much neglected.
frequently find scholars in Fourth or Fifth
Reader that ought to be only in Second
Reader. l frequently find scholars in the
backside of the arithmetic, when they don't
understand the fundamental rules. Now,
who is to blame for all this? Certainly the
teachers. When taught school would not
let any scholar advance in his studies faster
ho NJ 4
not like what 1 said very well. He got up
aud smoothed it over. He seemed to think
would hurt their fine feelings. Poor crea-
lures intended to score them.
Now, Mr.. Denison, dear sir, have you for
gotten that beautiful piece in the old-fashion-
ed Fourth Reader, which says: 1.-The business
of training our youth in elocution must be
commenced in childhoodp" The first school
is the Nursery. There, at least, may be
formed distinct articulation, which is the
first requisite for good speaking. How rare
ly is it found in perfection among our orators |!
Words" says one, referring to articulation,
''should be delivered out from the lips, as
beautiful coins, newly issued from the mint !;
deeply and accurately impressed, perfectly
finished, neatly struck by the proper organs,
distinct, in due succession, and of due
weight" How rarely do we hear speaker,
whose tongue, teeth and lips do their office
so perfectly as, in any wise, to answer this
beautiful description! And the common
faults in articulation, it should be remember
ed, take their rise from the very nursery. In
our common schools we find children. 1t
ought to be leading object in these schools
to teach the art of reading. 1t ought to oc.
cupy three fold more time than it does. The
teachers of these schools should labor to i'm
prove themselves. They should feel, that to
them, for time, are committed the future
orators Of the land
If nothing happens, will try to be at the
next examination, and should there happen
TO be a little sly place for me to speak min
score some of them on account of bad
spelling or reading. profess to be labor
er in the vineyard, and it pains me to see .
botch at anything.
In April will be the time for hiring teach
ers in general for teaching the summer
schools in the country. The people of 70
at least some of them have full confidence
in my ability to hire teachers. suppose it
will be this spring, like it was last there
will be plenty of young ladies on the hunt
of schools. Many applied to me last year, for
schools, who were entirely incompetent to
teach. Many of them knew how to put on q
few Haunting airs and great deal of affecta-
tion-some great deal more crinoline than
brains. Well, enough on this. What I wish
to say is this: Township Seventy-Six will
want some teachers this spring. l don't
think any need apply in Seventy-Six unless
they are willing to earn their money. l am
friend to good teacher. I will 60 any
length to protect one in the discharge of their
duty. But a young flirt or botch-one that
makes it her greatest study to get beau
Any of that stripe, pray you stay away.
Whenever anybody hires lawyer to de-
fend suit for them, he expects that lawyer
to study his case. Because he expects to