, 1866-06-28
NORMAL UNIVERSITY COMMENCE
MENE..
E1crc1Hes in the modef Schopl-The
Theory and Practice or Teaching.
fFrom Our Own Hcporter.l

NORMAL, MctGA0 Co., H., June q, 1896.
The Annual Commencement exercises Of
The Normal University Of the State Of Illinois
at Bloomington, commenced on Tuesday last,
~ " ~ ,Ac p4eeent s,"s a.'o oeea son'
oucted "ato temarkao'e aes1ee oi success,
even exceeding their honorable record Of
years past. The institution hns grown in
rrnutr and usefu1ness with m al
most unprecedented rap'dlty, and now, thanks
to its worthy President, Frot. Edwards, aud
The ahls faculty who arc his associates, rnnks
among the first educational institutions In tho
..n.s- rsos, - ~, nesr hara ~, nssr1r ~ s,r - t,nn
s'aa'. ~ Nv" n'.s - .sa'9 "a Aaa1
afed ano n1tS papl4s, al OF. "no1n arc ias
ional development pecnliar to this school.
The exercises in the Model School DEPART
,,o,t r.,o ..,,t,,5.a -, Tn.ea.r ,na TO-
~ Nr1., ~ s. s.-,.s - i'ss 1 49,.
all @hacn 1ne nost aansu'he nopeo 1ney
would prove, In point Of success. The High
conducted by Mr., Pillsbury, and exhibited in
= Nth ,,crres ~. ayca,lent re.nl,s ofh,s corr-
80, e., sT'a..s 80. sr,.sia,sa r.ss.
'ol ano 1noeooEn ssstem oi 1ta'ntnE' Ansse
can be no doubt OF the completeness OF the
four-year course prescribed for this depart
Tor competition .s, for the b highest eollegt.te
nonors. Inc ciasscs IN reaolng, grammar,
arithmetic and geography All exhieasea
great proficiency and their examination
could not but hare afforded great pleasure to
present. We have pe1ther space nor incllna-
lion to select from the many praiseworthy
pupils, Individuals for special cotnmeudat.on.
All did remarkably well, and by their man-
ner rendered IL ycrT apparent that the sys-
tc1n under which they havc bcen taught. Is
1r1,f~1h 5f1rna and 5hVnI0tt7 fntA1laCt
and Judgment, instead Ct merely cnltiratIny
memory and storing the mind With u mass Of
jnmhled rules
The exercises Of tue Model School, held In
the large halt Of the Institution at half past
twelve O'clock, were OF very Interesting
and varied character, and furnished nearly
four hours of amusement for large audience
of parents, friends, and visitors The pupils
songs were all good, their recltatIons were
marked BY an unusual degree Of taste and
feeling, Willie the original essays aud osatious
delivered proved really dne scholarly attain
mcpts and qualllications. Mis- Hannah Case,
| in an essay on "Our departed schoolmates
and teachers" !" feelingly alludsd to the patr,-
otir Howell, the first teacher Of the Model
| School, who 1ell at Fort Donelson, In strain
| of really touching sentiment An oration,
entitled " UndercurreDts," by =, u. Doaee.
| OF Rosemon1, and another, special Normal
| oratlon, by AR. :. J. E. Damn,
we're remarkably good, and really de-
| served more than mere honorable mention.
4 portion Of the exercises we're some pleas
ant little surprises arranged by the pupils
l for tavor1te teachers, presentations ol oooks
and other memofsts WMea, y y . noPea ta n,a1 y
long preserve fresh aud green 10 tle hearts ol
the Instructors the memory OF the auection
I borne toward them by their pnptls: Nils
johnson. Miss AcCanbrldse aud Mr. Achlm
recsfyed respectively large photographic
album WebsteFs unAblldgsd Esq.,, nic.,opa ~ n;a
spss, Macauley's aud Emesson's complete
4 comfortable lazy-looiing easy chair, and Mr.
vices as musician during the gTmnasttc exer'
:, cises.
! On the evening, OF Tuesday, an exhibition
: Of gymnastics was given BY the pupils ol tue
4 primary school. under the trimming Of Prof
4 Birmingham. Their exercises were OF the
same class OF easy physical efforts, taught BY
] Dr.. Dio Lewis and others Of that "EKadua
i development" school, and not The fours d
.forre which most people generally assocate
With the word "Gymnast1cs " aud Of which
the Hanlons are the great exponents. These
exercises rather develop grace and agility
than positive strength. aud IN this respect
; were very pleasing to the beholders.
Wednesdays examinations were not les
were oi, a much more advanced and practica
character. The principal ica: ure was the exam
ipation OF Pros "a" ard's class On the .Iheo
were sixty pupils. and as the system OF cram
iuation involved the separate examination
. much time was thus taken up. Al a sampl'
of the manner IN which these exercises Wer
conducted, the following questions were pro
pounded aud the answers returned verbally
:l Immediately by the pupils, who drew thei
qnestlons, just before replying 70 tnem, s