Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-06-21
The Union Public school.
Excellent System-Number Of Pupils In
Attendance present Condition or
the schools -ThoroHghncss
or Discipline and In. 80
struction.

In her educational interests and efh-
cient school system, Iowa has already
won an enviable reputation among the
other states for which the people have
reason to rejoice and refer to with pride.
1t is perhaps the most pleasing feature
Of our State to notice the rapid progress
of educational facilities, and the educa-
tional enterprise exhibited by the peo-
pie. Fortunate also In the selection of
an efficient and live man for a Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, partic-
ularly within the past two years, har-
mony and unexampled progress has
marked the course Of the public schools
throughout the State. g.. ,,-.r-.,
Among the many rich advantages of
which Cedar Falls seems to have been
80 abundantly favored, there are none
we think in which the people have
more reason to rejoice, and be thankful
for, than the present condition OF her
public schools. The school building, a
commodious and beautiful brick struc-
ture, situated in one of the most avail
able localities in the city; 1t Ia among
the first evidences of culture, refine
ment and enterprise that greets the eye
of the stranger passing through or Wis
ting our city. The School Board Is
composed of capable men, who fill the
position with credit the teachers are
practical and efficient workers in their
respective departments, and Prof. @. A.
Graves, the principal, possessing the
rare qualification of a strict discipline
rian imparts to his assistants his own
earnestness and thoroughness. The
school building was completed iDthe
fall and winter Of 1895, is three stories
high, with basement, and is capable
of holding between elk and seven
hundred pupils. The whole cost was
nearly $4,000. School was opened
January 9Th, 1866, and was theinaugu-
ration of thorough system of graded
schools in Cedar Falls.
The registers show an attendance
this term Of 651 scholars, with an aver
age attendance of 495. Besides Prof.
Graves, there are MAE teachers employ
ed, and the schoolis divided into seven
grades.
The several grades being examined
last week, for the purpose of regarding
the school, we awaited ourselves of the
privilege Of witnessing as much of the
exercises each day rs our time would
admit of, visiting the school two hours
each forenoon during the week, passing
to the different departments just as 1t
happened without regard to regular
order. BY this means we could see the
school as 1t was every day. and get
more correct idea of the true standing
of the pupils, and what we specially
noticed was, that no attempt was made
at showing off," The examination
being made by the Professor himself
for his own guidance in regarding the
school, the exertion was made to find
out who was deficient rather than skip
over by an imperfect examination.
We might here remark, of what was
true of all the grades of the school, that
the scholars gave unmistakable evil
dence that they had live, apt and thor.
ough teachers to instruct them, for we
believe that q school will reflect the
prominent characteristics of the teach
err az certainly as that mirror will re-
fleet the image of the person standing
before it. Reading and spelling, two
important studies that the committee
reported as slightly deficient in at the
close of last term, showed in the exam
iination thoroughness rarely found in
schools, and an evidence of marked
improvement. The evidence of grad
ual Improvement in all grades from the
primary to include the highest depart
ment of the school, was plainly visible,
and more especially among the lower
grades where the scholars had had the
advantages Of a graded school training
from the first. Under the systemJof u
graded school, the scholar progresses
step by step as fast As his or her brain
capacity viii admit, the whole school
moving harmoniously together.
The first primary department, in the
basementof the building, Is taught by
Miss +. L. Dewey whole number in
attendance being ninety-fi Ave, with an
average attendance OF seventy. The
average ageof Miss Dewey's scholars
are seven years.
The second primary, also In the bnse-I
ment, is taught by Miss Mary Collins
whole number In this department, zone
hundred and eleven; average attend
ance, seventy-fve. The average ages
of Miss Collins scholars are about
eight years old.
A school Of the first grade primary is
also taught by Mr.. Nye, under the
Presbyterian Church, numbering in at
tendance one hundred and nineteen.
The ages of the scholars of this depart
ment average seven years old.
In these three schools the scholars
are taught the first rudiments of an
English education, requiring great care
and patience on the part Of the teach
ers. Spelling, reading and stories of
facts constitute the studies In these
three schools. What we specially
noticed here was the system, order and
quietness of these schools, 30 indispsn-
sable where SO many are together.
The third primary, on frst floor is
taught by Miss a. ". Harlacher.
49,
Whole number Of scholars on register,
sixty-eight; average attendance, fifty
eight; averages In ages, about ten years
old.
The Junior intermediate, on same
floor, IL taught by Miss M. +. Water