New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-30
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
VISIT TO THE TWRLFTH-sT. sCHoOL-Hov
CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT-SrCDIEs, PHYSICAL
AND NENTAI
l,rag OF.

VISIT TO THE TwELFTH-sT sCHoOL-Hov
CHILDREN ARE TAUGnT-SrCDIEs, PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL,
To the razor Of Tkt Trfbune.
SIR To those who are inclined to carp al
the way In which public schools conducted,
would recommend visit to some of the schools. An
hour spent at ward School No. ~, IA Twelftl-st, es
days ago, gave excellent Idea OF the method by
which the " young ideas" of little ones taught
"how 10 shoot" and at the time impressed
strongly with its efficacy The system pursued l.
italy the In all our public schools, though h
Tweftlst. school has always had specially good rcpo
taOn. 1t has from the first been girls Schoo. eIcp
sively, and from lis teachers and scholars the Normal
College was largely recruited There 700 young
girls in attendance from all parts Of the city, some
them even coming from Harlem every morning.
Caisthcnics ging form prominent part of the
exercises. found the Primary DeparmentjHst opening
its session with an exercise song" simple air acon
panied with light gymnastics, performed In the Do Lew
fashion After the hundreds of fresh young voices had
Joined In chorus with indescrbably beautiful effect the
Classes filed of to their separate heard cla
Of little ones take lesson in Common Thing Famil
lar Science" The question asked. what things N
this room arc obongi" One fye-year-old said win
dow" another the register" third put up her tiny
hand and said. the OK some boxes and shutters
Yet another said sometimes you cut piece OF ribbon
and 1t IL OblOng" Similar were asked concern
ing the square, rhOmDOd, ltctangle, c4lhucl' anu oe'
geometrcal figures None OF those things that are ~
difficult OF comprehension by children are taught ty
rote THE little minds led TO undt rstand the Irnei
Piles before they commit the definitions 10 memory IN
class OF the lower grade In ho Grammar brplftnen,
found the teacher explaining an example id feueih
money. Several girls subsequently 10 ash ours
tions doubtful points. Then came Nh cNtfcise ID
spelling geographical names. The griS Wfote tns nane
their states and after the te3'ler lad gNtn ul' qs
long LIST, states exchanged for coIfectiou 81 MY
takes. Another class engaged on an III 'he
meaning Of words, with Illustrations bY tortnhL srh
fences The word " enameled' was gwen out, Ohe t'
said "a field euameled with nowers.' An 1thet DrI,
toned "enameled cards." third, rnancl paihtlns,
aud fourth young Denounced " DARK dHies VIZ
want To be fair and enamel their fAces VI tno ~Vt
e1emiaae almost every girl IN the class fasu n' "
to Indicate that she ready with sentence eaIi
twelve venr-od with blue eyes "a Nonhg man w
parts his hair In the middle, on fans himself or lss
lady at ball IL eff inmate" Another demonstr ts
"h gentleman 10 fussy, or " he has worh 800
needle scissors aud on aud ON bis own Ou9hs
he IA ee inmate" third said, 81 heard man slnsns
the other day aud he sang In an enclnlhaIe way he
voice small and weak one WOuld nave lhouk, ~.
lady" When the word yrtcitV came up 100, 49,
girl SAID with q dramatic flourish, "may have the Ie
LEFTY 10 take you 10 the opersf That raised gtEeTa
laugh. -.
The only rotably weak points In the curriculum seem
10 be I'm the study OF French and ot Miscal NOs.l
What Mr. Harrison says IN his report for 1855 c0nceru
Drawing applies also 20 these two branches. lhei arc wv
the most part dead letter" owing chiefly pcrhapso
" the want Of some proper division limitation hhu i''
button OF the subject among the successive gihh,s.
Leaving the building l passed through rue Iin .s
Department just in time 10 witness sk pphS eAer,
This should DO To be appreciated tlfis IN eoP
their arms around each others waists skip arohu %
assembly room keeping time with the piano, Inc I.o
girls seemed TO enjoy this exercise especially u 49,
five minutes for tho whole school 10 SKIP once aI""
large assembly room. NJ "
r-fNk, Dee. Al, 1870.