The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-06-18

} studies Of Arithmetic and Geography
the Instructors h, We paid special atten-
tion TO the elements. Such methods
Of instruction as We here witnessed
cannot fail to result most favorably
in the mental training of the young.
As in mathematical science nothing
can be attained without a correct
knowledge of first principles, so it is
in all other departments Of education.
| What has been said as respects the
schools 10 the Second Ward may be
said with great prOpriety OF those in
the First. Indeed we were impressed
with the fact that like methods, care
fully applied, constituted a marked
feature in the instructions Of all the
schools.
In the schools Of the first Ward we
would, in the first place, make favor
able mention of those in German.
These schools afford satisfactory evil
dence of advancement and efficiency.
The teachers are competent, and
worthy the esteem in which they are
held.
Commendable progress marked al
so the exercises of the. Junior Pri-
mary and Senior Primary schools; as
also the Junior and Senior Secondary.
and intermediate schools.
The Grammar schools afforded
proofs of thorougbness of instruction
and rapid advancement of the pupils.
Examinations were held in Spelling,
Reading. Practical and Mental Arith-
metic, Geography, and Grammar. The
map exercises on the black board
we're specially interesting, and deserve
commendation.
Examinations Of very satisfactory
character we're con Quoted in the va
rious departments of the High School
The Committee felt an anxiety to
learn the results Of the more primary
studies and methods in these advanc-
ed and closing classes. We here had
recitations in Natural Philosophy
Botany, Chemistry, Latin, Mental
Science, Rhetoric, Algebra, Geometry,
and Astronomy. In reverting to the
respective examinations in the above
studies, we are at a stand to find
what we might consider, in any special
respect, a superiority Of recitation.
The Botany class furnished most IA
vorable evidence Of progress in that
delightful and useful study. Chem.
istry was placed in the Crucible, and
most dexterously reduced to its six
ty-two elementary forms; at the same
time the class showed themselves well
versed in Synthesis. The examination
of the graduating class in Mental
Science was unexeeptionable. The
students dre,o their respective subjects
of recitation, as was also the case
with other classes, and, in this mar
ner, showed that they were not posted
in any assigned sections Of their text
books The Ethics of Socrates, the
Metaphysics of Plato, the Dialectics Of
Aristotle, were most happily present.
ed. Also amongst the Moderns, we
were referred, with noticeable ease, to
the Idealism of Berkeley, the Philos-
ophy of Sensation and Reflection as
advocated by Locke, the Pantheism
of Spinosa and Malebranche; and f.
nally to .he safer systems of Reid,
Stewart and Brown. Passing over
other classes We should like to men,
tion, we must record our favorable
impressions of the Reading class.
The pupils have been thoroughly
taught the art ofintonation, and cor
rect emphasis. We are glad to notice
the fact that reading is here ranked
amongst the most important branches
of learning. Reading as a study has
also its elements which deserve careful
and earnest consideration. Among
these clements are, first, the ciemen-
tary sounds. Without proper tone of
utterance, no scholar can make a sue
eessful reader. The exercises of the
class discovered unusual efficiency in
vocal culture.
The last examination We shall
mention is that of the graduating
class in Astronomy. To fail in
calculations where the most intricate
principles of TrigOnometry and Calcu
lus are involved might not be an indi-
cation of want of skill even in Math-
ematics, yet We did not notice any
thing in this examination that would
indicate failure. Prof. Kirkwood,
the esteemed instructor Of the class,
was no less felicitOus in the perfect
ease in which he conducted the exam
ination, than he has shown himself
in every way, highly competent to
educate his pupils, and to conduct the
several Schools over which he has the
hOuor to preside
There is a matter of importance to
which We would refer, viz: the disci.
Plinc which SO evidently is manifest
ed in the Schools. This is accounted
for from two considerations: FIRST, the
settled purpose on the part of the
Superintendent and his Assistants to
hare order; second, the concurrent
support of the Board of Education.
1t appears to US that as the gradu-
ates ofOur High School are usually
so proficient in the branches in which
they have been taught, that those of
them who SO desire, should be select