The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-02-07

| ent classes, must make the work OF the
teachers very laborious. They seem,
however, to have discharged their
duties with fidelity and ZEAL 6
The first class examined in the
morning was in algebra. The an
swers to the questions propounded
were generally correctly and readily
given. The manner of the an
swers also conveyed the impress
sion that the pupils thoroughly
understood the subject under consid-
Grafton. We were somewhat surprised,
therefore, when the class was sent to
the blackboard and problems given
them to solve, by the Superintendent,
to see them fail. All, with per-
haps single exception, failed to solve
the question given them We pre-
sumo the class, during the next six
months, will devote more attention to
the problems. The classin geometry,
taught by Miss Mayhem, acquitted it
self with honor. The answers to the
questions were prompt and correct,
and the demonstrations were clear and
thorough. Only one ia the class failed
to solve and explain the theorem sub
mitted to him. The class is decided
compliment to the teacher. The class
in philosophy did excellently well; 500
did the class in chemistry. Indeed,
with the exception of the first class
in algebra, all the Rotations were ex-
cellent. The class in Virgil translated
pretty we'll, but stumbled little when
cross-examined by the Superintend-
ent.
The morning exercises, as also in
the afternoon, were materially inn
proved by the excellent music of the
choir. ~
In the afternoon a large class of
boys in history was examined by Miss
Mayhem. The examination was con-
fined to the early discovery of Ameri-
ca, coming down as far as the French
and English wars. The young gen.
tlemen seemed to have a pretty fair
idea of how their country was discov-
cred, by whom it was settled, &c.
The old story of Pocahontas was Civ
en- in the usual manner, the North
american Re0ieao to the contrary not
withstanding. Two small classes in
Greek recited, and seemed to do well.
Next came large class of girls in
history. AS usual they were more
fluent than the boys, and could tell
the stories of Columbus, Pizarro,
Cortez, De Soto, and the landing of
the Pilgrims, far more charmingly.
The class in Latin read Esop's Fa-
bles very correctly indeed, and stood
a very severe examination in parsing.
We must also commend the class in
mental philosophy. We are under
the impression that little fault could
be found with the manner in which
the subject was handled both by the
teacher and pupils.
The classes in arithmetic did not go
over much ground, soAfar as we could
see, that had not been covered in the
grammar schools. g.
So much for the reeitations. There
were some unpleasant things connect
ed with the examination that ought
to be noticed. The department
of the pupils did not CORE
spond with their Rotations. There
was considerable whispering, not
a little shutting of feet, and, lol-
ling in the seats, boys stood cross
legged in their classes, and we saw not
a few who amused themselves by
gazing out of the windows while
recitingS There was an abrupt and
unpleasant manner manifested by
some of the pupils in answering the
teacher and superintendent that indi-
Gated, while it may not have been in
tended for, insolence, While. the
Rev. Mr.. McCarer charitably attrib-
uted this to the unpleasant location
Of the school house, and quoted
from Gibbon about the s. insolence of
health, we can not but think that the
pupils ought to strive and improve in
this respect, if they would make
the impression upon visitors and
strangers which their merits as
scholars really deserve. Attention is
a necessity in well regulated school,
and it is almost impossible to secure