Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-12-06
POPULAR EDUCATION.
A visit to Some of the City schoo

/ We accompanied Mr.. j. A, Rayl, one OF the
School Committee of the Board of Aldermen,
on visit of inspection to several of the free
schools in the city yesterday
/ We proceeded to North knoxville and WIS.,
tied first the school taught by
MISS HELEN BAILEY
| on Broad street, which numbers fifty-nine pu-
pills, boys and girls of different ages the major
ity of whom are considerably advanced beyond
| the first rudiments and are studying geography
grammar. arithmetic, and writing, with olher
studies, while the different branches in the pri-
mary department are taught the younger schol-
ars.
Miss Bailey is a lady of most pleasant dispo-
sition, and has acquired the love of herIscholars,
and as an instance of the power of affec-
ton over them, we are assured that she has
never had to correct one of her pupils during
the time she has been teaching.
Bidding the accomplished teacher and the
children good afternoon, we proceeded to the
school of
MISS EMMA LEE,
On Bellevue street, by whom we were po-
lltely welcomed, and witnessed couple of re-
citations. Miss Lee is a lady of much frmness
OF character. which latter is a rare qualification
and is invaluable in a teacher The pupils IN
attendance number ffty-seven and are of about
the same grade as the first in point of studies.
The department of the scholars was excellent,
as it was, indeed, in all the schools visited, anu
the lessons we'll recited.
With kindly adieu we left North Knox
vile and visited next the colored schools at
LoGAN's CHAPEL,
on Marble Alley, taught by Mrs. Blanche Y.
Brooks, with roll of ff.y-shree scholars. In
this school are taught the higher grades of
study, and evinced a remarkable degree OF pro-
fcency in the advanced studies. We are graft
fed to learn that one of the classes is so far adj
vanced IN mathematics as to require the forma-
ton of a class in algebra, which we are inform
ed will shortly be done. Mrs. Brooks is good
teacher, as any one can perceive after visiting
her school and observing the course of instruc-
ton.
In the same building is another school taught
by her sister, Miss frankie f. Harris, number
ing about seventy scholars on the rolls, though
they were not all present, on account of sick
ness, as we were informed. They are mostly
small children, but seemed to be making very
creditable progress and to take pride in their
studies.
The time was so short that we were unable to
visit the other schools, but will do at early
opportunity. The last monthly report placed
the number of scholars at nine hundred and
twenty-five, of whom SIX hundred and twenty
nine were white and two hundred and ninety
three colored, with corps of seventeen teach
ers.
The schools are all in very prosperous COD
dition, and their efficiency is due in no small
degree to the efforts of the City School Com
mittee, who in their individual as well as official
capacity have been unremitting in carrying out
the grand scheme of educating the children of
the people.
Mr.. Rayl is a gentleman of fine administra-
trative capacity, and realizing the importance |
Of the trust devolving upon him, is devoting |
much time to the perfection of the system in
augurated, which will in good time bear fruit. |
Reflection for moment on the magnitude and |
paramount Importance of free popular educa-
ion, should awaken the most Indifferent to the
grand results that will be accomplished by it in |
years to come, laying aside the advantages of !
he pres ent.
Just think of it Nearly thousand chill |
lren in Knoxville attending free schools tb |
first session after the system is revived. A thou
sand children engaged in acquiring knowled ge |
hat will fit them for positions of trust and Sc
uness in the future, who, if it were not for the
opportunity thus afforded, would be, many of
hem, running in the streets learning lessons Of
vice and immortality which would cOnslgn them |
20 life of shame, perhaps; or at best they |
would never be fitted for anything better than |
lay laborers, which, however honest and indie |
pendent, is seldom remunerative, to take no |
higher view of the matter. Success, then, to |
rec education, and may we soon have such
system, not only in Knoxville but throughout |
he State, as will cause the free schools of |
to be respected throughout the !
country