Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-04-23

the importance Of this system to the put isiu
our Primary Departments. II is 10 children,
wherever Il has been adopted, a rare comoina-
lion Of the "ubiie et dnics"
MUSIC
This branch Of education in my opinion, has
been too much neglected in our schools. Sing |
! ing may be made an inexhausiibe source oi
recreation 70 the scholars in our schools TO say
nothing Of the Importance Of vocal culture and
a knowledge OF the principles of music The
co nvic,ion is gaining ground, both in our own
country and abroad, that there is great waste
of time IN the school.room in endeavors to i'm
part instruction when the mind of The scholar Is
not in condition TO receive IL. A distin.
guished Educator remarks IL will engage to
teach one hundred children, in three hours
day, as much as they can by possibility receive
As soon as the receiving power OF the children
is exhausted, anything given is useless, nay, in
furious inasmuch rs you thereby weaken.
rather than strengthen the receiving power
The observsnt teacher will not fail to notice
that there is a natural limit to voluntary and
intelligent attention. beyond which. forced ap.
pication is a palpabe injury. After short
season OF hard udy, when the interest OF the
scholar begins 10 Gag. books should be nid'Oside
and some exercise practiced which will afford
suit able relaxation. In onr lack Of Gymnastc
accommodations vocal music seems almost our
only resort. Mr.. G. A Bentley has given, gra-
tuously. a few lessons in sugng. in the lower
; Departments Of our schools. for which he Is
entitled to our thanks The instruction in nu.
sic which he has given to children, outside Of
the scboolroom, has b en- of much assistance
to the teachers in sustaining the interest of the
scholars in this, their favorte relaxation
suggest whether it would net be for the in
terests of our Schools that we employ during
!, some portion of the commng year competent
instructor 10 this branch Of education. Instru-
9 mental music too. should be made study in
our schools, but with our present accommoda-
tiops it cannot be taught in our school building.
u I have given this subject careful attention and.
= I can think Of no plan that will supply our
: present need in this respect better than the
. following that you gentlemen of TIE Board
of Education. appoint an Instructor in instru.
mental music. who shall instruct those in atten
dance upon our schools, who may so desire al
y such hours anil rates of tuition TO he pal! by
> the pnpi) as the Instructor and he Supernen
dent shall agree upon. Will you not give
these subjects your attention?
:, The educational interests of this community
have lost an invaluable frierd in the death o
Stephen Hall. | am not called upon to speak
:, of the part he took in introducing the Unior
:. School System into this village nor of BIZ
early efforts in behalf Of the schools but deem
, it my duty as well as my privilege to bear wit
. ness that during my connection with you
schools, have always found him an earnes
- advoca le of school reforms and ready to lend
helping hand whenever the cause OF Education
=, in this community seemed to require it.
We are about to enter upon the duties of
% new school year. Shall it not be characterized
by more earnest efforts in behalf Of our schools
~ ~ viii not you the friends of education in Ash
tabula, come up together to the support of The
= schools =? Unity of action is the spriuy to sue
cess. We, who are called to teach in your
% schools. d not understand that silent acquies
~ cence in regard TO school matters betoken
VI unity Of action. We look for it rather 10 tha
u disposition which will prompt you to visit th
'n schools and examine them for yourselves; ant
9 in that spirit which will lead you to remind ui
l. candidly of our mistakes and at the same time
to encourage us with words of approval il il
u any respect we shall merit them. Such unite
effort, aud only such, will raise the Unio
~ Schools Of Ashtabula to that proud preemi
~ nee" which you desire for hem and whic
we labor to attain. GEO. w. WAITE,
~ iSupL