The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-10-16
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

chools assembled In the hall OF tho Franklin !
'chool house, at two O'Clock yesterday after-
noon. In addition, there were present
number Of teachers Of higher grades, mem
bers Of the board Of trustees, and friends Of
education from this and other cities.
Amer some excellent music upon the plano, ,
BY Miss Garrett, Of tho Fourth district, the i
addressed the meeting, stat ,
ing that IL was his desire TO assist the teach :
RS In the discharge Of their duties by cor
recting errors, suggesting improvements, and
instruction aud counsel. He ex-
pressed his interest In them, and his sympa-
Thy with them, In their arduous labors. To
aid and encourage them he had called them
together. II
lie spoke OF his work aimee the opening Of
the term, stating that he had made one hun
dred and sixty visits TO schools, (having
been In all but six Of them,) and had laborod
to advance their interests by as
sisting teachers In difficulty, and introducing
important and needed improvements In the
methods of instruction and government.
In this connection he referred to q misap-
prehension Of remarks made by him at the
last meeting Of the trustees, and declared
that he had not censured the teachers or do
clared that they were incompetent. In |
speaking Of the Imperative necessity Of es- |
tablishing high and normal school he had |
mentioned the fact that many Of the teach
ers were graduates Of our grammar schools,
who, although thoroughly instructed in the
studies there pursued, had entered on their
fession, and therefore labored under dlsad-
vantages from which graduates Of normal
schools were exempt Without that train
ing, and with little or no experience, they
could not expect on entering their profess
sion to equal those who had enjoyed prior
advantages. He paid high and merited
compliment to Mrs. Amidon and her school,
declaring that he considered her among the
best teachers In this country, and those who
had been under hei instruction equal TO the
graduates Of grammar schools In any city.
Messrs. Mcclellan and Brown, Of the board
of trustees, followed, indorsing the state.
ment Of the superintendent as TO the pur-
port of his remarks at the meeting Of the
board, and expressing their entire concur
renee in the views then expressed.
Miss Lucy A. Noyes, teacher Of q primary
school In the First district, at the request Of
Mr.. Richards, then gave an Illustration Of
her method OF teaching. She introduced q
knew nothing OF the letters Of the alphabet.
She first conducted a blackboard exercise
in reading, according to Leigh's phonetic
method, and then had the class TO read from
their books. Although not yet taught the
names Of the letters, every child gave their
sounds correctly, and read with q readiness
and accuracy truly surprising, attesting the
the method. She then, with the same little
ones, showed how to give object lessons In
numbers, and proved that study generally
difficult and uninterestlng can DO made easy
and attractive.
The superintendent then gave lesson In
reading to a class Of boys from Miss Susie
Hawkins Secondary school, who, although
giving evidence of faithful training, exhibited
some of the faults so common In all schools,
and so hard to correct. He then Illustrated
his method, at once simple and efiectual, Of
Graduating defects In tone, infection and
emphasis, and gave some valuable hints
upon the subject Of reading, which he con.
siders one of the most useful studies and the
foundation Of all others. He also referred
to the Importance Of training the bodies as
well as the minds Of the scholars, and In
sisted upon the necessity Of connecting with
every sehool-house a proper play-room, in
which the teacher could direct the pupils In
their sports and make them minister to their
physical and moral Improvement.
He concluded by offering to meet all Sec-
ondary and Primary teachers who might de-
sire 1t at the Miller scbool-house on alternate
Fridays at three O'Clock, p. m, for the pur-
pose OF giving them instructions In the the
DRY and practice Of teaching.
From the expressions Of those present, we
Judge that the opportunity will be gladly
awaited of by many,
At the close of these Interesting exercises
the company were escorted through the
building.
EXCELSIOR DIVISION Sons OF TEMPER.
ASCE.-On Thursday evening last the Of
fcers Of Excelsior Division No. 4, 8. of T.
elected to serve during the ensuing quarter,
were duly installed at tho hall Of said Divi.
sion, on Virginia avenue, between Four-and
a-half and Sixth streets, (Island) by D. @
W. p, ]. l.. II. Winfield, assisted ,by p. w
p, silas Boyce, of Howard Division. Tn,
following arc the officers elects W. P, T
F. HALEY; W. A, A. B. II. Lacey; r. s., G
W. Conner; A. R. s., l.. R. Boyd Chap, W
r. Hunt; Treas, VIM. Boyd; Cond., Arthu
Thompson; A. Cond., G. p. Henson; I. s..
Michael Levy; o. s., WIN. Hickey.
The inaugural address OF the W. p. wa
followed By remarks from Messrs. +. NJ
Bradley, Winfield, Boyce and II. N. Rothery
Messrs. Bradley and Winfield paying
special tribute to the faithful few who, unde
the most adverse circumstances. had kept
alive the interest heretofore felt In the caus,
and the Order in this part Of the city,
and, In common with the two remaining
speakers, urging the necessity of continue
earnest effort In this direction to insure tn,
future prosperity OF the Division.
We call special attention TO the fact that
this Division now admits ladies to full mem.
bershlp. The past record OF Excelsior Diyi-
sion Is a bright one, and the good works OF
its members are familiar 10 the residents oil
South Washington.
1t has Just entered upon the seventh yeai
ofits existence as an organization. Wewisi
them abundant success In their efforts TO re
claim fallen man.
BASE BALL-SATIosALs VS.. OLYMPIcs.-
On Monday next, the weather permitting
the citizens OF Washington will have an op
portunity TO witness a game OF base bal
which will undoubtedly be one Of the most
closely contested games ever played In the
District of Columbia. The two rival clubs
for the championship In this city, the Ma
tionals and Olympics, have made arrange
ments to play the second game Of the home
and-home series now pending upon that day
If will be recollected that the Olympics woI
the first game by a score of 22 To 0, but II
a well-known fact that the Nationals hav
since then improved and strengthened thei
nine immensely, as shown by their wonde
iul game with the Eckfords, OF New Yorl
the champions of the United States, whoi
they beat by the remarkable score OF to g
a score only one run larger than that In Il
game between the famous Red Stockings,
Cincinnati, and the Mutuals, of New Yorl
last summer, which at that time excited
much comment.
Both clubs have hosts of friends in tn
city, and II we have fair weather there wi
be an assemblage on the National ground
on Monday such as has not been seen on an
similar occasion this season. We will pull
lish in due time list of the two mines /
their playing order. Should the day /
rainy, the match will take place on the ne,
fair day. We have only to say In concll
sion, "may the best side win"
Police ISTELLIGEScE.-George W. smit
assaulted and battered John Parker, f
which Justice Plaut imposed fine Of IS o
George.
Frank selvey, charged by Henry Le'
with petit larceny, took a trip to the jail.
VIM johnson, colored, paid the sum
60 for exposing his person.
Horatio Bolster, for resisting O1icer Lis
comb In the discharge OF his duty, was fne
by Justice Harper.
Joseph Bratcher alias Chase, colored, va
fined u by Justice Thompson, for disc
derby conduct and INDUCING 10 profar
language.
Hugh Dgney, for the larceny Of two box
OF cigars from the store Of Mr.. Henry Self
was sent TO Jail by Justice Maryman.
Z III