Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-02-23

Correspondence OF the Charles City Intelligencer

rrDyD. Feb. Is. l86.

Correspondence Of the Charles City Intelligencer
The Great Excitement Over!
FLOYD, Feb. Is, 1865.
Mn. EpIroR Last night was the winding
up of term of twenty-five lessons, or, q
twenty two days term of singing schoo
held in this place. As school officer sworr
to protect and defend the interests of the dis
trict schools of the county, cannot suffer
this occasion to pass by, without calling the
attention of the public, and particularly the
attention Of school officers. to the effect which
such schools have on district schools where
they may happen to be beld. Singing schools
ordinarily held one or two evenings in week
and which none but the larger scholars OF the
district school attend, may, with some degree
of patience, be tolerable but, when institu.
ted and carried on as this was. day and night,
embracing all the pupils of the district school,
from the oldest, to the A B C darians; and,
when for the purpose of making public ex-
hibition at the close of the term, occupying
nearly one half OF the term of the singing
school for that purpose, thus stimulating the
vanity of the little ones In particular, and pa
rents generally, none but Job himself can pos
sibly endure it.
My own school shall serve as an example.
At the breaking out Of this musical mania, my
school was averaging over seventy-fve pupils
per day, out of ninety five on the list The
whole business of the school Is conducted in
classes. I have Eve reading classes, three
reading i'm the morning, and two in the after
noon three spelling classes, two spelling twice
. day, and one only once day. also have
two grammar classes, both reciting once each
day three arithmetic classes, reciting once
each day one geography class, including the
whole school, and reciting once day, besides
one algebra class, reciting once day. A
scholar absent at the time of any one of these
Rotations, entirely loses that recitation. un-
less smart enough to regain it, or, unless he
has previously been over it. All three of the
spelling classes, spell each afternoon, and be-
tween half past 8 and o'clock. The geog-
raphy lesson Is attended to at o'clock P. NJ.
The Sd class in arithmetic recites at clock
brought out upon the floor to spell and, as a
stimulous, the scholars pass up on spelling
correctly the word misspslled above. The
scholar leaving of at the head at night, goes
to the foot In the morning; and for the pur-
pose Of encouraging those who may DO neces-
sarily detained at home, an absence of one
spelling lesson sends them down one an alb
sence of two lessons sends them to the foot.
Now. under this arrangement, 1t is important
for the pupils to remember their numbers. A
list of the head marks ID also to be read at the
close of the term of school &c.
Now witness the effect of this singing school
upon these spelling classes. No. is compos-
ed Of tho large scholars. most of whom attend
the singing school in the evening these are
not much affected. A large portion of No. ?,
and nearly all of No. 8, attended the singing
school in the afternoon. The consequence ID,
. large majority of them lose the geography
lesson, and nearly all, the spelling lesson in
the afternoon for would have IS in the
forenoon, and only about Is or 80 left in the
afternoon. On coming in, next morning. each
absentee would have to inquire where his OF
her spelling lesson was for the forenoon but,
when they came to arrange themselves in their
spelling classes in the forenoon, confusion per-
fectly COMPOUNDED would ensue. A few had
remained and spelled yesterday afternoon
they must be showed down by those who had
been absent only one lesson aud were above
them when last they spelled numbers would
be forgotten and thus it became impossible
to arrange them with any degree of certainty
as to their proper places, and much time must
be consumed in the uproar. Soon realizing
the fact, that they were not going to spell at
all in the aftcrnoon-they soon lost all interest
in their lessons and suffered them to go by de-
fault. The other classes have been affected in
a similar manner. Although I have nucleus
of each class, they are torn and rent almost in
to fragments. Many have graduated, or left,
and, have six weeks of the fragments of my
time yet remaining. I have taught school up
wards OF twenty -fve years, but never, in all
that long period of time, have been SO much
annoyed. The question for the public to de.
eide il, will 1t payi This school has cost THU
township at least $500 90 in cash, besides the
time spent in attending it. 1t was popu,a,
singing school. but fear it will make an I'm
popular district school. Singing is easier thar
hard study. and the youthful mind is easily
excited. had been absent from the school
one year, and determined at the commence
ment of my winter term to make 1t success
full one. shall be disappointed-the district
will be disappointed-and I, undoubtedly
will be blamed. We had also started Lyce
UNI. It was to be held on Thursday evening
Of each week. 1t had just got well started
the children and youth began to be interested
in it, and much benefit was anticipated from
this source. A grand literary exhibition wa,
promised to it's members at its close. but, alas
for our anticipations, they are all gone. The
musical mania has swept them all overheard
and, Floyd is. now, merely. musical town.
As parent. teacher, County Superintendent,
would not recommend the institution Of
such schools during tho sessions Of common
district schools. HERvEY WusuR.
We fully endorse tho sentiments of the fore
going communication. and only regret that
the County Superintendent has not treated
the evil complained of with ten times greater
severity. Not only have the schools been de.
stroyed, but all other kinds of business has suf.
fersd moro or less !; and all this merely to line
"old Northwest's pockets with greenbacks.