The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-02-18

OUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS.-We have tor some
time been OF the opinion that we ought to visit
our town schools, and the longer we consider
ed the matter the more thoroughly convinced
we became Of the proprlety of so doing. We
have so seldom heard anything said in regard
to them, that we wondered whether or no there
was anything connected with them that 1t was
unpleasant or detrimental to the interests of
the town to mention And yet we have heard
that the schools were under the direction of
good, able teachers, largely attended and have
heard no complaints. But SO seldom did we
hear these things, that we could not help think
ing that such statements were made more from
a desire to make a favorable exhibit of the ad-
vRntages offered by the town to settlers, than
from correct knowledge OF the condition and
management of the schools, and desire to
honor the teachers or sustain their system of
education. In company, therefore, with O
gentleman who has had considerable expe-
rience in teaching, we made the schools brief
visit on Wednesday, and we are glad we did
so, for we find the facts, to great extent, very
much we had surmised-that the schools
were very seldom visited. We entered first
the room of Miss Josephine Patty, and If we
had had any idea that our visit would prove
unwelcome or interfere with the exercises of
the school, our minds would have been quickly
disabused Of that idea by the courteous man
ner IN which we were received and entertained
during our hastya visit. We make this state
ment to encourage those who should feel a
deeper interest in the schools than we TO visit
them, and manifest, for the sake Of the teachers,
who earnestly desire the parents Of the pupils
to go and see for themselves the system of gov
eminent and teaching, and thus manifest some
degree of interest In the education of their
Pct IL In ta 81
est grade OF scholars. A class in geography
was on the floor when we went in, while 9TH
ers who were further advanced in the knowl-
edge of the earth's surface, were drawing out
line maps Of sections of 1t on the blackboards
around the room, and we were pleased TO note
the accuracy and artistic manner with which
| the boundaries OF the continents, location Of
lakes, rivers, mountains, etc., of some OF the
| countries here represented by chalk lines were
| sketched. The pupils manifested in the good
order that prevailed the efficiency and capabil-
| ity of their teacher, and, going in as we did,
| unexpectedly, we knew that 1t was not the re-
suit OF apre-arranged order of exercises for the
! occasion. We were much pleased with what
| we saw OF the government and rceitations in
this room. Miss Patty is graduate of the
| State Normal School.
We entered Miss Jennie MeIyille's room only
/
room Of the next higher grade, under the
supervision Of Miss Jennie Downing, during
the recess. These ladies united in the request
that we urge upon our citizens a greater de-
gree OF attention to the matter OF sending their
children to school punctually and regularly.
| In Miss Melville's room the average attendance
is fifty; in Miss Downing's, forty-eight. The
| former is graded from the Second Reader to the
| multiplication table; and the latter COM
menees with the Third and ends with the
Fourth Reader.
Thence we passed to the primary department.
i in the new frame house, under the charge OF
/ Miss Fannie Yeckley. The children were out
| at play, but were called in directly after we
entered. They came in, and we watched with
| good deal OF interest the manner in which
order was restored and the exercises Of the af-
ternoon resumed. The teacher stood at her
desk until all were quietly settled in their
seats, then, picking up n small bell, sound of
it brought a class OF the larger Of the little
ones to their feet, ands they came forward, in
an orderly manner, in response TO the second
tap OF the bell. The interest of these children,
and the attention they gave to the lesson in
hand, testified to the good government. This
school numbers ninety names ON the roll, and
an average attendance of seventy children
enough for any two teachers-and yet the SUI
premacy Of Miss Yeekley's authority seemed
| TO approximate as near completion as it is pos
sible in this most difficult Of all grades to sue
eessfully govern. We noticed here, rs we did
In some ofthe other rooms, a number of colored
ehildren iRterspersed through the house. We
were gratifed 70 learn that they were well-be-
hayed, ready to learn, and did not interfere
with the well-being OF their fairer schoolmates
in any particular.
| We would like to suggest that the stone
building be repaired, whitewashed and clean
ed generally, during the interval between this
and the next term Of school. The two lower
rooms In particular, are dingy, dark and un-
comfortable. The windows, also, should be
made 50 as 10 let the upper sash down; the
ventilation is very imperfect. We found the
atmosphere very oppressive in these rooms
The day WA r very windy one, however, and
the windows were closed, to keep out the dust.
We would urge upon our citizens who have
children at school to visit the school occasion
ally, and see for themselves how their children
are governed and instructed. The teachers
would be glad to have you do so. II would