Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-03-16
Our Trip 70 Wilmington.

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pot early Friday morning to take the trail
for Wilmington, Ohio, The engine, will
its single pasaengef car. soon made It's ap
pearanco, and by twenty minutes past sii
o'clock we were all on board, and away
BY the judieious libcrhlity Of our Boart
the tenchers were allowed this time, as
season ofspecial observation and improve
ment. We are able 10 say that every teach
er carefully complied with The wishes 0
Che Board, and believe tbe time thul
occupied will be more than made up by in
creased ability and enthusiasm.
Our little train is carried rapidly ovel
the ground and now, after an hours ride
we are passing Franklin College on tht
left, and soon are off at Wilmington De
pot, on the right. A cordial greeting
from Mr.. W. H. Cole, Superintendent Of
the Wilmington School, short rest OF
Stages Hotel, and we were of for the
School House. saa.
Our object is to discribe the school.
teaching; not the school building of the
town. sffice it to say, that for ample
room, nicely Of ventilation, heating appa-
ratus, and general comfort Of teacher and
pupil, the Wilmington School House is far
superior to ours.
Mr.. W. H. Cole, Superintendent Of the
schools, is an energetic, wide-awake busi-
ness man. He is full of bis profession, and
seems to know just what to do, and when
and how to do it. We had occasion to OBJ
serve his movements during the day, and
are led to believe that so long qs the Board
retains Mr.. Cole, the school enterprise OF
has every assurance Of sue.
cess.
The number Of pupils enrolled in tie
school is 33l These are Instructed by aI
corps Of six teachers, and part ofthe time
by the Superintendent The first room
into which we were conducted was that
in which Mr. Cole hears few recitations.
A recitation in Anatomy was the first in
order, and was good We observed, on a
stand in front of the teachers desk, a
motley collection Of bones, human and
These we thought were alto
yether too dirty, dismal and suggestive
A nice cabinet to preserve these bones and
,ther apparatus, case for the library and
comfortable mating on the floor, would
i'd to the general attractiveness of the
,fice.
Whilein this apartment we were fa-
,oreded with a recitation in reading, cen
lucted by Mr.. Cole. The teacher seemed
o be in earnest, worked faithfully, and
With some degree of enthusiasm. The pu-
ills, however, lacked that degree Of earn
stness which class enjoying such tut
ion is expected TO manifest Before leay.
ng Mr.. Coles room we noticed series Of
peaking tubes. leading from his room to
ifferent parts Of the building, so that in
ase of fire, or other insuboFdination, the
,acher in any department can instantly
the Superintendent,
We now step into the room taught by
Ir. @. NJ. Foster. We had heard Of this
entleman's success aO teacher and were
OF disappointed when we came to see him
actual work, His first recitation was in
rithmetic. Mr.. Foster seemed to know
hat he was required to teach, and how to
,ach it. The class were studying the va
GUS problems Of Interest. Taking up
lch point in careful, analytical manner,
e SO opened out the difficulties of the
sson as to make them feel the facts
ierein contained. Then, by skillful re-
ew and adroit questioning, he seemed
photograph the analysis upon the mind
the attentive pupil. Mr.Fostor appre-
ates the fact that hearing a recitation is
1t teaching, He believes that teaching
making some one know something he
d not know before. Like true teach {
/, ,he is enthusiastic, energetic and active
his work. The true teacher must ha-
tually raise the question, cam | really {
achingp' We feel that Mr. Foster is so I
,ing. He may then feel encouraged to re- |
,ct that much of his labor is not going to '
aste. His recitations in Algebra and i
were models of teaching, and {
serve the highest praise. t
The next departm mt is taught by Miss
Jennie CHM. If we were pleased with {
Q other teachers, we were highly enter {
ined with our visit to this room. We
ID only time to witness some gymnasiie
ercises on the part of the young ladies
ID gentlemen, and to hear a class in
aiding, At well known signal the pu,
Is took positions on the floor, heads up, I
els together,-soldiers position, Then 1
uniting in whisper twice forty, hands
lshed into the air, you saw movem ent [
arms, shoulders and bodies, all in per- {
ct time and unison; then warming up
th excitement, the hands cut the air
th snap, and are brought together with
shock; at the conclusion of this exciting :
every muscle is warm and ,
owing, when the scholars take.up their !
oks with new zest and determination :
iss CHM has had experience in the e
hools of Dayton, Ohio, and is a thorough
lcher as well as a superior woman. i
The next departmeut-is taught by Mics I
E. Mcclellan. We found this room oc
pied BY a travelling writing master, and I
led to bear any teaching BY this estima- /
lady. il
The next lower grade is taught by Miss g
zzie NJ. Ely We had the pleasure Of q
airing resitation in spelling in this u
I'm, and were well pleased. e
GaI