Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-07-08
Report Of tho Examining Com
m1ttee.

report Oh the EXAMINING com.
mIttee.
EXERCISES IN TIE BLOOMSBURY LITERARY
~ G INSTITUTE. Mf
1t is sincerely to bc regretted that the
Chairman Of tho Examining Committee,
Hon. y. r. CosuRN, could not report
70 you tonight, the result Of observation
and examination Of classes, at the close OF
this second year Of tho Bloomsbury Literary
Institute. In his absence, am pleased to
give myself o little latitude, as long on OBJ.
server Of the growth Of this place, and well
acquainted with its struggles, for many years,
In the cause Of education. / may be allow.
ed TO express my surprise, as Icompare the
present with the past. What contrast
The old Academy on Third Street and the
Institute upon this beautiful hillside, stand
fit symbols OF the systems Of education prev
alent then and now. In dimensions, loca.
ton, surroundings, interior, facilities and
felicitics, the former in its dilapidated con.
dition and dingy appearance, suggests the
prison rather than the educational hall to
look back at it is like looking unto tho hole of
the pit from which the cause Of education
has been digged. The spirit Of education
has taken effect upon all the incidcntals Of
noble enterprixe in your town, and the
rising generation has been brought out Of
scenes i'll suited to its development and cul-
turc upon this Hill Of Science more fitting
accomplishments are secured, better appli.
anccs for culture are at hand, force Of ed
ucators we see grouped here that promises
for your people, and for surrounding com.
munities, that for which many older towns
are too patiently waiting, for which the
greatest advance of our noble State may be
heard to call, that her physical resources
may be suitably matched by her mental cul-
turc and her moral elevation.
"What constitutes State?" is still the
question for our earnest consideration, and
for our political ambition, to answer by re-
doubled energy and effort, that We may
form a bulwark OF educated mind and
thoroughly cultivated moral susceptibility
around our domestic, religious and political
institutions.
1t may reasonably be asked, How has
this town reached this commanding cleva-
ton, secured so enviable distinction for its
educational enterprise and lnstitute?-
While I would duly regard the delicacy OF
the topic, and the modesty Of the one who
deserves such public reference, l am yet in
duty to the subject bound not to pass his
unGucstioncd worth and excellence without
tribute. The Committee must congratu:
late you upon the intellectual ardor and
thorough culture of your Principal, Prot. IL.
Carver, whose call to this work seems to be
found in his special aptitude, his creative
Imagination, his executive energy in apply
ing resources that his inventive genius
brought to his hand, his determination not
to acknowledge the possibility Of defeat, his
deep moral conviction of the claims OF o
higher order Of opportunities for the young,
and the necessity for such in our common
society; but, above all, his confidence in
your sympathy with him in his nobly ambi-
tious effort, your appreciation OF the value
of such enlarged schemes for the education
of your children, and therein the better, cul-
ture of society. How few would have been
sustained by such confidence in your ability
and disposition to come nobly to the rescue,
when only new and enlarged demand upon
your patience and your purses followed the
application of his noble schemes! But the
compliment, nay, let me rather call it the
delicate truth plainly spoken in the ear OF
this large assembly, takes twotold direc'
ton. How much is due your common cltl.
zenship, that there should have been SO
enthusiastic q reception OF his propositions,
so hearty q welcome to the educator, and
such devotion to the work of erecting this
elegant building, the provision OF these am.
plc grounds, the selection of this hillside as
Of a very Parnassus Let it be sounded to
YOUR praise along this beautiful stream that
waters so many towns, yet far behind y,on. In
educational enterprise; whose population
and wealth exceed yours, whose early his
tory would antccedently have led us to eS..
pcct their preceding You in the cause ol
education. But, thus INDUCED, | pass to
the more immediate and special duty to
bear testimony to the results of this enter
prize, the fruits of educational effort by the
corps of teachers, in the training ofso many
pupils, as presented in the examination Jus
closed.
{ The first test of the teachers work mus
be in respect to thoroughness. 1t please'
the Committee thus formally to assure thu
public of the carefulness with which tho
foundation appears to have been laid in tn:
pupils rudimcntal training, the consclcnti
GUS watchfulness by each teacher to whom
have been committed the discipline and cul
ture of the tender and susceptible mind. Il
appeared in the teachers demand for exact
ness in the pupils recitation, in the syste
matte prosecution of the pupil into tn
rationale Of the subject, in the analysis o
principles without any neglect OF the prac
tical bearings of the science. Very crcdta
bly, did the pupil bear the pressure, NEE
, the questioner, with no little independence
lead off in the analysis of the subject to tn
development of the principle, and also shov
clear view of the drift Of the study, a
bearing upon utility as well as beauty, a
not a mere abstraction but fitting for the con
crete of life. 1t was gratifying to the Com
mittcc to observe so many evidences
symmetry in the course. while fully appre
hending the tendency to give undue plac
to the study Of mathematics as appearing
in so many schools: here very many pupil
presented themselves, now in one, class
again in another at one time. in physlca
0 science, next in mathematics or in language
, ancient or modern, as well as in tho. gram
matical analysis and composition in ou
t own native tongue, AT these several trans
, itions, pupils acquitted themselves with n
7 little success. The Committee regard thi
J symmetry as one Of the severest tests OF
Q we'll graded curriculum, a we'll balances
course, resulting in well developed mind
|, and promoting symmetry Of character,
t There appeared pleasing harmony in tn
q ,Ho.k ~ tLo ont;ro oorpa Of taaphnrS and