The union Democrat., 1869-01-30
The jamestown Public sehoof.


jamestown last Friday. The White Pine
fever has not taken root there. People are
nd so excita5le down there as they are up
here. We did not hear of single individual
who wanted TO so to that unciyilized country.
At the solicitation of Capt. P. B. Smith,
seheel trustee. we accompanied him and visit
ed the jamestown School, which is located
on high hill just south of the town and near
the Jamestown bridge. 1t is largo frame
new bui!t and well finished or, both Inside
and out. 1t cost, if We mistake not, nearly
two thousand dollars. Capt Smith having
contributed quite a considerable portion of
that amount
Having reached the school-Louse door
Capt. S. gave a slight rap and the gentle
manly and accomplished principal, f. NJ
Crossett' Esq, soon made his appearance and
invited us very politely to enter. He was
engaged at the time with class of twelve
bright looking lads instructing them in SPELL
ing. lie would give the word out, he wanted
the class to spell, in slow, clear and dis
tinct manner and the whole class would re-
peat it and then proceed to spell it syllable
for syllable in one voice. The boys appeared
to be we'll trained and acquitted themselves
remarkable well. On the opposite side of the
room sat row OF little girls with spelling
books in their hands studying their lessons.
! In the centre of the hall there are two double
rows of desks-divided by a passage way
one side occupied by boys and the other by
| girls, or young ladies'" The occupants
were busily engaged at writing, cipherng or
studying some lesson to be recited the follow
ing Monday. There was no "gigglinc'' nor
sticking pins in each other nor throwing pa
per balls by the scholars when the teachers
back was towards them. Everything was as
quiet and orderly as funeral. The teacher
while engaged with the class in spelling
would pace slowly up and down in front of
the boys and around the room-keepng his
eye upon the whole school so there was no
show for the scholars kicking up" or play
ing "Old Harry" even if they were so dis
kposed. Another noticeable feature among
the pupils was that they all had clean faces
and were neatly dressed.
Mr.. Crossett is assisted in the afternoons
by his estimable lady, who teaches the small
children in a room adjoining the main school
room. During our stay Mr.. c. showed us
the copy books of few of his oldest scholars,
The contrast in their writing at the time he
first took them under mis- charge up to the
present date is remarkable. Capt. Smiths
eldest daughter, q bright intelligent girl,
about IA years old, has improved wonderful
ly during the past ten months. So has Miss
App, young lady about the same age as
Miss Smith In fact all the scholars are
improving rapidly under Mr.. Crossett's ex-
celent training. An excellent library is
attached to the school and before dismissing
his scholars Mr.. c. informed them that as
the lib arian was absent the distribution of
books for the month would be postponed till
the following Monday.
We were about taking our leave when Can't.
Smith touched us upon the shoulder and said
''wait and see Crossett dismiss his school,"
We complied with his request.
At 81 igual from the principal Miss Smith
arose FROM her desk and walked slowly up to
a melodeon at the head of the hall and struck
up tune. A dozen or so little girls sitting
~. benches on one side of the room arose and
ses4ked quitely ore behind the other and
took seats In the next room. Another tune
upon the melodeon by Miss Smith and the
older girls get their books and states ready to
take home with them. AS soon as Miss S. dis
covers that all are ready she strikes another
| tune and each girl faces about in her seat,
package of books &c in hand, preparatory for
the grand march out of school. The same
routine with the boys on the opposite side of
the room and the grand march is sounded and
each scholar arises to his or her feet Then
| the little folks in the back room march in,
keeping time with the music, and pass down
through the main room into the ante room.
The older girls on one side and the boys on
the other then fall into line and march out
into different ante rooms, and are dismissed
for that day. 1t is quite a novel way of dis
missing school but prevents that confusion
SO general among scholars upon such occa-
siors. No scholar is allowed to return to
the schoolroom without permission. Mr..
Crossett teaches music too and as he. Capt
Smith anl myself passed out of the building
Miss Sarah Pereira, pretty young lady
about fifteen or sixteen years of age, entered
to practice upon the melodeon.
RICHMOND .