The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-07-14
SWEETWATER, TENN, THURSDAY, JULY IA, 1870
Mrs. Cookies School l-Examipation,

This article, clipped from the Athens
Post, should have occupied place in our
last issue, but circumstances were such as to
preclude its publication until now.-Ed. !
1t was our good fortune to witness the
Examination of some of the classes of that
estimable lady aud accomplished instruc-
treSs, Mrs. III. NJ. Cooke, at Sweetwater,
on June 23d. Mrs. G. has, by her admi.
rable method of teaching, proven that in
the school room labor ipse poluptas! To
those readers Of the Post who are familiar
with Mrs. Cooks system of instruction,
her widespread fame cannot be matter
( Of wonder; though commendation may
seem superAuous. But there are so few
persons who possess in so eminent degree
the many characteristics and requisite
qualifications of good teacher, that we
regard it a duty to bestow praise where it
is so thoroughly morited. This we say
without intending any inyidious compari-
sons-certainly without designing to dis
parage the excellent teachers connected
with some of the schools in Athens, 1t is,
we fear, customary for some persons, whose
fon1ness for sparkling display of rhet-
oric surpasses their love for truth, to give
undue and fulsome eulogies to the con-
ductors Of schools and academies as a mat
ter of compliment, greatly to the detri-
ment of the educational interests of the
country. Pardon the digression, which a
sense of justice prompts US to make with
a view to rebuke a common evil. At Mrs
Cooks Examination the classes in Latin
Algebra, Geometry, and Mental and Nor.
al Philosophy acquitted themselves in SC
excellent manner as to satisfy us, as we
doubt not they did the large and intelli
gentaudience present, that their knowledge
Of those branches was thorough. We have
no recollection of attending the examina
tion of students at any seminary, male o.
female, where more intimate knowledge
of the studies pursued were exhibited. Ii
the examination of the senior class, OF
Mental Philosophy, conducted by the wri
ter, the questions were promiscuous ant
not confined to those in the text-bool
(Upham's); nevertheless, the answers wer
prompt and intelligent, displaying an in
innate acquaintance with the subject
Rev: Mr.. Mdrrison's examination upo
Moral Philosophy was searching and ana
lytic. Mr.. Lenoir examined class /
Latin. with unsparing severity, yet til
'.E,youhg ladies stood the test without imp5
J tiencc or fear, In word, the very credi
table manner in which the young ladiC
acquitted themselves reflected honor upo
them and their teachers-indicating skill
full tuition aud diligcnt application. Mr.
: Cooke is assisted by Miss Vaughn, u lad
1 whose modesty equals her varied accom-
plishmcnts. The music, vocal and instrr
mental, evinced both taste and skill in
t high degree.
+ While in Sweetwater we had the pleas
urc of an introduction to your sprightl
contrere of the ENTERPRISE, who informe
us he contemplated enlarging the column
e of his lively journal. We enjoyed the no
t pitality of Mr.. Childress and his amiab
E family, formerly residents of Athen
Many other things we should be please
to mention if time and space permitted.