Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-23

fUBlIC OCHool-S y d. ILL., SS"'eio"'
an examination Of the first grade of Snowden
School for colored boys was commenced at the
school house on Pitt, street between Glbbon
and Franklin. 1t was conducted by Mr.. VIM
f. Carne, one OF the trustees from the lst
Ward, and embraced Spelling Reading, Geo
graphy, English Grammar: aud History OF the
United States, in all which the pupils evlnccd
considerable proficiency. This examination
lasted until - o'clock, and was very thorough
At one, the City Superintendent appeared
and examined the boys in Arithmetic AS Is
usual in examinations, many failed IN Nume-
ration, but in Fractions aud DecImals, and es,
pecialy in Cancellation, they ked well
rejecting great credit upon their TT, teacher Mr..
VIM. +. Powell Mir. o. &. Whittlcscy, Il
trustee from the 18th Ward, who was to have
examined the Ind and 3rd grades being too
much indisposed to attend, the Supcrntcnd-
ent examined those grades in Reading only,
after which the children were dismissed. At
Washington, Custis Peabody, and Lee Schools,
the City Superintendent presented medals. In
the first named school, the boys of the 2nd
grade under the charge of Miss Virginia r.
Clarkson, and those Of the Sd, under Mis- NJ.
Ellen Price, filed into the room occupied by
the lst grade. and stood around the walls, and
in lines along the areas, and though there were
at least l2O boys present, many Of them very
vonnr. the ticking of the clock could be heard
throughout the room, so admirable was the
order preserved, and the little fellows while
filing in, marched with steadiness and quiet
which we have never seen excelled IN school
anywhere If any of our citizens want to show
their friends what Alexandria has done already
in the way Of public schools, they need not be
ashamed to take them to Washington School,
for though the house is old, and the furniture
mostly of primitive character and innocent
of paint, the discipline preserved by Mr. F1ck-
lin and his assistants would place the school, IN
the front rank anywhere. The Superlntenu-
ent spoke few words Of congratulaton to the
bovs, and then presented the medal, hand
some silver one, shaped like an elliptlca Leaf;
with the following inscriptions "Alexandrla
Public Schools. 1871 Superintendent Medal,
on the diverse, and TO John Lynch OF Wash
ington School, on the reverse.
He next proceeded to Peabody School, lst
and I'd grades, where he found the girls IN
perfect order, anxiously awaiting his arrival,
and equally ready to share in certain big
iced cake, which their accomplished teacher,
Miss Law, had upon her desk. Here the medal
was given to Jennie NJ. Richards and the girls
had a good time with the big cake before de-
parting.
GUSTS School, lst and I'd grades, was then
visited, and the medal presented to Jere Gull
ford White, little boy, who for the cleal ness
and pathos of his reading cannot be excelled IN
Alexandria.
Lastly. the Superintendent came to Lee
School, under the charge Of Misses Lena *.
and Jennie K. Shay where, also: the girls
had been gathered into one room and were very
anxiousy awaiting his arrival, it being very
nearly four o clock Here the medal was pre-
sented to Miss Annie Cogswell, and 1t is but
justice to the teachers to say that better order,
of girls is seldom to be seen than they exhibl-
ted. 70 all the schools, the Superintendent
gave holiday until Tuesday the I'd of January,
and he notified Lee School that it would be re-
opened at Mr.. g. j.. Powell's School house, on
Queen street. near Columbus, and the Sd grade
OF Gusts, under Miss Walsh, that 1t would be
removed to the front room, I'd story, of the In
surance office on King street, below ST. Asaph,
immediately after the vacation.