Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-09
LOCAL NEWS.

first year as teacher of this school, and when
sne took charge IL was very low in numbers
and greatly disorganiZed. In order TO bring
the school up TO the usual standard, heavy
drafts Were made upon schools OF lower grade,
and when Miss Evans had obtained a sufficient
NUMBER OF scholars, she set TO work to re-
organize the school, which she done very sat-
isfaciorily. The first and second classes In
mental arithmetic passed good examination
and the only failures lsome three or four) were
in the second class Mr.. u. Richards examined
these classes, and he remarked that as TO pro-
feiency, the scholars were a little above the
average run. When the class in botany was
called, Mr.. Wilson arose and SAID that some
two months ago the trustees desired 70 intro
duce this study in this school, when the lowest
book Of the series was introduced, since which
time the scholars OF this class had accom-
plshed much. He (the speaker) believed it
was an excellent study, andswould interfere
with NO other. a year ago parents thought it
was foolishness to introduce vocal music into
the public schools, and perhaps some Of them
thought the same Of botany, but he was CON-
vinced that they were mistaken. Mr.. W. then
introduced Prof. Schafer, of the Maryland
AE1lcultural College, who examined the class
'ho1 onghly, upon the conclusion of which he
remarked that he was perfectly satisfied with
the progress the scholars had made. Several
.hcfilen. compositions were read, and one en-
titled The Flowers" by Miss Taite, received
special commendaton. In reading the scholars
showed good training. The dictatlon exercises
were good, and in the other studies the sc holars
passed very fair examination indeed. The
order maintained was good. Duriug inter yals of
the examination the scholars sang several
pieces with fine effect
Second District-Primary No 6, taught in the
third story Of the Medical College, corner 10Th
and streets, by MISS Woodruff, was exam
ined on Wednesday morning by Mr.. Wight, in
the presence OF few visitors This school
was organized in February last, and Miss
Woodruff, a pupil of the Grammar school,
was temporarily placed in charge. 1t mum.
bers about 40 little girls, some Of whom are just
commencing spelling short words, and most OF
them were present. The scholars showed that
they have been studious during the short time
the school has been in operation. and they have
certainly made an excellent commencement.
The order of the school was excellent and the
general appearance OF the scholars reflected
credit upon Miss Woosruff, who, we under
stand, will decline to serve as permanent
teacher.
Secondary No. 2, taught in one of the lower
rooms OF the w Washington Market building, 5th
and streets, by Miss Sabra p. Abell, was ex
amined on Thursday afternoon by Mr. Rhees
in the various studies they have been pursuing
during the year. The school numbers 81 on
the roll OF whom "a were present. aAd fully
one-third are scholars who Lave been admitted
this year In geography a fair examination
was passed. as also in spelling. The reading
was very good in most instances, the spelling
was tolera6le, and in abre eviations the scholars
were excellent.
The room was handsomely decorated and on
the wall in evergreen letters was "Union and
Education" The order was not good. The
school has some very bad boys, a few OF whom
will give any school q bad name, and rather
than the credit OF the school should suffer it
would be we'll to weed them out.
This school labors under many disad van
tages. 1t being on street much travelled, the
noise OF passing vehicles frequently interrupts
the studies. Many OF the scholars too, are such
as heretofore have had the free range OF the
streets. The school room is much crowded.
and Is, perhaps, the most inappropriate one for
the purpose in the I'd district.
Secondary No. 4, in charge of Miss n. A.
Tucker, taught in the old Medical College
building, corner of 10th and streets, was ex.
amined by Mr.. Wig hit on Thursday, in the pres-n
ence OF qnite number of visitors, in the va
rious studies pursued in schools of this grade,
and the scholars acquitted themselves admi-
rably in reading, spelling and mental arith.
metic The order was excellent, and the gen.
eral appearance Of The scholars was remarked.
There are 80 names on the roll, ~ Of whom
were present, five being sick. The singing was
very fine, some of the girls having excellent
voices. Miss Tucker will this year have q
class Of fourteen to transfer to the intermediate
school
Third District.-Secondary School No.
lmale and female) was examined by Mr.. Hitz,
Female Grammar School, and others, in the
presence Of q numb OF visitors. Miss Lucy
b. Davis is the teacher, and she has So pupils
on her roll, OF whom 81 were present. There
was every indication that the pupils sd been
we'll drilled in the elementary branches, but
this school does not equal the one conducted
last year by Miss D., SO far as the studies were
concerned. But we do not attribute this to
any lack of industry or capacity on the part Of
the teacher, but to the pupils; for she certainly
had not as good material to work upon as in
her school OF last year. Individual members
OF all the classes in all the studies answered
correctly and quickly; but, as q whole, the
Glasses " ere not equal to similar ones in other
schools. We fear the trustees ore q little to
blame in not properly grading the schools: for
MISS DAVIS has certainly a number of pupils
who would bring discredit upon first class in
primary school Then, again, she has mum.
ber OF pupils who, Judging from their size.
should be in a grammar school, but whose At.
tainments will not more than warrant q trans.
fer 10 one OF the intermediate grade-the fault
CT themselves, or their parents, who did not
send them to school earlier Considering ali
the disadvantages she has labored under the
teacher has accomplished much the past year
This school is taught in the basement ofOdd
Fellows Hall, and back of the 9Th precinct
station house, and Thursday it was much an
noyed by unruly children who eongregated
about the doors of the school room, and bv
loud talking interrupted the exercises eccs- 3
sionally, and attracted the attention OF the
scholars To this cause. the heat of the day
and the length OF the examination NAV be a.
fribi ted the fact that the smaller classes were
not 80 orderly as they should have been to-
wa ds the close. Even while classes were re.
citing there was occasionally good deal of
whispering, despite the teachers efforts to pre-
serve order In The third class also, there ara
many scholars who have lately entered the
school, and this cause undoubtedly operated
ae eairft the examination being more perfect
Secondary No. 2. trale) Miss Jennie A.
Ramsay teacher, was examined by Mr.. F.ren.
son. Tne school is in the basement OF church
On Virginia avenue, between 5th and 9th streets,
and in dark, damp corner, which has tena-
encv to breed COLDS and sore throats at all times.
! is satisfaction to know that the school will
be removed to the new building. Miss Ramsay
has 43 pupils upon her rof1, and IL were present
at the examination, which was q rigid one, but
which was at the same time very satisfactory,
The boys excelling in mental arithmetic and
dIctation exercises There will be good many
transferred to other schools. The order main.
tanned was excellent, and indicated that while
Miss Ramsay is firm in her demands of the
pupils, she has the knack of winning their az
lection an d respect.
Fourth Dislriet-On Thursday secondary No.
:, (mixe d. taught by Mrs. Maria F. Walker.
late Miss Norris.) was examined by Mr. EIIis
OF 81 pupils on the roll, 50 were present. The
school passed good examination generally.
Ind the classes in mental arithmetic and read.
ing particularly SO. The teacher is graduate
of MRS Amidon's school, a sufficient reason
why she is well qualified for her position. =
We must not forget to give a word of COM
nendation for the neatness of the DESKS hooks.
states and furniture generally. The room. as
has been the case throughout the Fourth Dis.
rict at the examinations, was Handsomely
decorated.