Buchanan County bulletin and guardian. (Independence, Iowa) 1866-1869, 1868-03-20
H., WHITE. B. c. HALE.
s. 10! YE HUNGRY, ordinate,
IAHH,sfS nrorar farm aud co.s;s>
B. c. HALE.
II. J. WHITE.

- IhtO proper form AIN cOWbtnS
SLshoy. Fortune seems 10 have especially
favored the Board Ia It's fnal selection
Hearing the most favorable reports respects
ing Mr.. Wilson Palmer, the Board opened
correspondence with him, and finally enga>
ged him to take charge Of our schools at a
salary Of fifteen hundred dollars per year.
Mr.. Palmer came on from Massachusetts
and opened the schools, with seven assists
ants, as soon as the new building was ready
for occupancy. No one could have been
more successful than Mr.. Palmer in over
coming the thousand and one difficulties at.
tondant upon the organization of graded
school. twas new thing, the conditions
were new and the people were unused to
them. They could not in many instances
readily understand why certain rules and re-
strictions were necessary. Fault was found
through ignorance or misunderstanding, or
both. All these trials we're incident 10 the
situation, but were met with such discretion,
good seuse and 6rmness, that respect and
confidence were soon inspired where dis.
trust had previously prevailed and now that
the term is about TO close, a general salts
faction and pride is felt at the standing which
has already been attained. The Board, the
Principal and his excellent corps of teach
ers, have worked together with great harmo.
ny to bring about this agreeable result. The
Board elect will, We are satisfied, be found
equally ready to sustain Mr.. Palmer in his
Efforts to build up model school.
We had the pleasure Of spending the
school hours Of Monday in visiting the scv>
eral rooms Of the new school building and
observing the practical workings Of Mr..
Palmcr's system. We saw the school work.
ing in its every day harness. In the gram
mar department We listened to recitations in
written arithmetic, algebra and grammar,
conducted BY Mr.. Palmer and Miss Romans,
Ibis efficient Assistant. The classes be-
irayed remarkable proficiency for Q frst
term. With his classes, Mr.. Palmer exhib,
its great force and vigor-no dragging, no
sleeping. He uses the drawing out instead
ofthe pounding in process. The scholars
mind is developed and expanded instead of
crammed. In. government, Mr.. Palmer
mites ilnmovable frmness with reason. He
insists that scholars shall obey all directions,
but IS very willing ihey should know just why
the directions are given. He has had no sc.
rieus difficulty in securing implicit obedience
to the rules Of the school. Indeed, he de.
clares that be never saw scholars more ready
to conform to all reasonable requirements.
We visited successfully the rooms Of Miss
But.er6eld and Mrs. Bowers list and I'd In.
termedia.e) Miss Dicley and Miss Baldwin
list Primary. In all the rooms we heard
good singing-par'icularly in the intermedi>
ate department. The singing exercises are
. very pleasant, interesting and profitable
feature Of the schools. The movements of
the scholars in all the rooms are controlled
with almost military precision BY the tap Of
the bell. The scholars lay aside their books,
assume position, march regularly from and
to their seats, at recitations at recess and at
the close of school. All is order aud meats
ness. No confusion, no bedlam indoors.
When the scholar enters the building, he
comes uhd.r iDsxorable rule, which 10 never
irksome il followed faithfully. Such is the
general system Of the schools as established
by Mr.. Palmer. Had we space, we would
respecting what we saw in the
different departments. The blackboard is
made the teachers great adjunct in conducts
ing recitations. We saw some beautiful maps
Of the world and Of North America drawn
upon the blackboard with remarkable skill
and accuracy. Every feature ofthe schools
was interesting and We almost wished ourself
a boy again, that we might have the blessed
privilege Of attending school in such beauti>
fu', pleasant rooms aud under such skillful
Our public schools may well be pronoun-
ced great success. The citizens Of Inde>
pendenee may not only experience the pride
Of possessing the finest &C hool building in
Northern Iowa, but also one of the very best
schools.