The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-02
Colored school, Examination.

cHtlTCu OA tMlS pIdce-AtaVI1& given
previous notice Of said opening, by ad-
vertisement in this paper. The usual
school examination preceding the sum
mer vacation took place last Thursday,
31st, ult., beginning at 8 A. NJ, which we
and a number of others, both white and
colored, wereinvitedto attendandd did so.
The church building used for the
schoolhouse, is situated on a high piece
of ground, donated by the Town Coun-
Gil, on the eastern limit of the corpora
ton, a~ndisalarge framed building, sixty
by thirty-six feet, with the walls ceiled
| within and the lumber Oh hand to cell
overhead. 1t furnished with good fixed
benches, three tiers, with twoaisles lead
ing to or from opposite doors, there be-
ing two in each end, and a pulpit and
railing around the altar, etc. ItisacOm-
Portable building both for school or
| church, in summer or winter, having
plenty of large openings for ventilation
and light, andcan easily be warmed with
a stove. 1t does great credit to the re-
ligious spirit Of the congregation who
built it by savings from small means.
There are ~ffty-nine names on the
| school roll, but the average attendance
is about forty. About thirty-ive of the
whole number are boys. The oldest pu-
pill is sixteen, most of them are ten and
under, and some only five.
The principal, Rev. A. F. Owens, is
occasionally assisted by Mr.. Alex. Nc
Gaffey, a colored youth born, raised and
instructed here, who is said to be quite
proficient, considering the circumstan-
ces. The rate of tuition is one dollar
per month, itbeing aprivate school and
the number of pupils will tell how we'll
it is supported.
We will digress here to say, this
school is afavOrite with us. We wish to.
see all educated, both white and black;
and we like to see it done, if possible,
Independently of government aid.
People should try to educate their own
children, and there are few families
that can not pay one dollar per month
for each educable child. And this
school, and the church, whose building
it occupies, have been our friend in
business, and we have a special friend
ship for them. The two have given us
job printing already this year to the
amount of nearly seventy-five dollars,
and paid the cash. That's what no
other school or church ever did; and
when brother Owens invited us to at
tend his school examination and tell
the world what his pupils were doing
in the way of advancing in knowledge,
we felt that it was both our pleasure
and duty to go. We could afford to
consume valuable time in reporting his
school examination, and pay printers to
put it in type and print it on paper
which cost money-because he has
materially assisted in supporting the
Printer. Persons and bodies who sup
port the printer, will generally receive
the reporters attention.
So far-during a fractional session Of
& three and q half months, and beginning
5 mostly with beginners-the course OF
instruction has been from the alphabet
I to spelling, reading, writing, geogra.
ply and arithmetic. When the schoo
first began, the first class (there are six
= could read very well in first reader, sec
D ond class began first reader, third clas
was in the alphabet, fourth class began
l it, and the others began it at ditferen
d times since.
I On this occasion the exercises wer
conducted as they were every day
e There was nothing "put up" about ii
: Any one was at liberty and invited t
ask questions on the course gon
I through with.
= The pupils were called in by a bel
and the school brought to order by
rap. This took place just after min
O'Clock A. NJ, and the examination close
: about twelve. A hymn, STAR Out Upo,
: the Prairie, :. was first sung, then prayer
the Lords Prayer, by the principal, eac
pupil repeating in perfect unison. Th
signal for singing, and for kneeling t
It pray, Wasa rap each time. Thenextra
y brought d very small and young CIR
1T Joanna Wilkins to thefront, who turne
!; facing the school, and repeated, frol
% memory, in a clear and audible voic
d the Ten Commandments, which were n
y peated simultaneously by the pupils, j
IL the same perfect unison. These eer'
,e monies constituted the opening of sehoo
he The first spelling class, the most al
70 vanced one, was first called up. 1t hi
{ four members, and they stood erect
y and aligned themselves with milital
II precision. They INDUCED in no leal
d, ing one upon the other, bending, yawl
is ing, Or any suchlazy ways. Every ella
&c was alike in this respect. One II
er caused them TO face to the right, d
miitaiire, another made them face to Il
Te front, then left face, then front agai
IS following the raps. Then they nun
lit bered off, from head to foot. Nc
te spelling began, in four and six syllable
Is, Webster's spelling book, sRippil
IS about from place to place. On
st. three or four words we're missed, a
bit the members of the class seemed to
Sc about equally matched. They acqu
to ted themselves exceedingly well. i
bella McNeal stood head, and receiV
I'll 49, = . 4