Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-29
Montpelier Union School.

The winter term closed last Friday, and
the thorough work which is being accom-
pIished by the principal, Mr.. Gorham, and
the excellent board of teachers associated
with him, was happily shown and largely
appreciated in the closing exercises on the
afternoon of that day. The large hall of the
school building was completely filed with
interested visitors, and that they were pleased
with what they saw and heard was expressed
in the applause which followed each per
Torrance. There were declamations by the
Young masters that in manner of delivery
would have been creditable to a :" graduating
class : on commencement day; and readings
and recitations by the young ladies and miss
e that fully demonstrated that accurate and
agreeable elocution is not lost art, and that
where we now have one who can impress an
audience with the beauty Of the text and
the power and the grandeur of the thoughts
Of an author, in a recitation, we may have
scores. Singing too, that the full chorus of
first class q musical convention" could
hardly surpass, sandwiched easily and
gracefully into these school exercises as
reading lesson This department was under
the direction of Mr.. A. j. Phillips, who gives
REGULAR instructions in singing in connection
with the school, and makes many good sing
ers
The special instruction in eIocutiOn for the
mast few weeks, by Miss Angie NJ. Lamb, Is
new feature in the school, and it is not too
sensational to say that the results are per
fcctIv wonderful, and must have quite salts
fed all present that special teacher for this
department was an indispensable auxiliary
Is a complete system Of school instruction.
We do not feel at liberty to call names, but
some Of the Rotations were a surprise, as a
development of progress towards the ANA
teur point Of success, that calls out audlen-
ces and commands money and applause.
such pieces as, - Counting " % Mother and
Poet - 80 Charge of the Light Brigade, .
By class - The Bugle Call ; - 9 The Polish
Boy" and @ The Maniac " in particular,
we're given with such an effect as to lead one
% forget that it was an every day school ex-
crcise and not a three shilling exhibition,
that was being witnessed. The declarations
bv the boys were exceedingly well done
"a The Gladiato1s' and g The lost Heir, ?"
both difficult, were mastered with great skill
and elected applause that must have startled
the youngsters, so recently from their 'little
beds"
Montpelier has every reason to feel proud
Of its Union School, which, if not in all re-
spects perfect, is as far advanced in that di
rection as it would be reasonable to expect.
There is certainly healthy disposition and
ambition, to adopt all improvements that the
experience Of the best teachers may suggest,
and the +" tax gatherer " would never become
very unpopular if he had no more obnoxious
reprisals on his book than those required to
meet the expenses of this school. And we
cannot avoid expressing the belief, in this
connection, that nearly every town in the
state under a consolidated effort provided fol
in the - town system = law, might have the
benefit Of one school, and IN some instances
several, with equal facilities for educating
the children, and without any increase o
expense. What an improvement this would
he upon the present condition in many 10
caIities, if we are to believe, as we do, tn
reports of town superintendent