Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-23

OF the Normal School, SO sessions were held
during the year. Its membership was 85, but
the average attendance was only 36. Tne Super
intendent adds "At the anual examination OF
teachers held In July, 1872, % made general
average in the Elementary branches OF 10 per
cent or more of correct answers. OF these o
studied Algebra and General History in this
school, and several of the others, think, pur-
sued these studies elsewhere. During the next
year these can finish the studies required in
order to receive the certificate OF the Committee
on Teachers exempting them from examination"
The names of the Teachers, with their salar-
les, are also given but they were published in
these columns quite recently.
Three examinations for promotion and classih-
cation we're held during the year, and except
in Q few instances where pupils had
been regular in attendance aud correct
in rectations the basis of promotion was 70
per cent. The superintendent then states that
he has made special promotions during the year
and argues in favor OF such methods as stimu-
lAnts to the pupils.
In reviewing the different studies pursued in
the schools the superintendent dwells at some
length on the Importance Of drawing, as study,
and suggests the employment of teacher for
this branch, who may also give instruction to
the advanced pupils in the Grammar schools
Drawing has been taught to some extent in all
the schools, but not in accordance with any sys-
tenn until within the past year.
In review of the work OF the year the super
intendent says: "All connected with the schools
4
during the year just passed, these schools have
made oommendable progress. The attendance
of pupils has been good, and their interest in
study continually increasing. More teachers
than heretofore have succeeded in governing
| without resort to severe punishment, and there
is a g,owlng conviction that even very bad
chilren ought to be governed by something
| higher and better than the rod. There has been
much painstaking on the part OF the teachers to
| have the pupils enjoy their school life, drati-
| flying progress has taken place in object and
| other kinds of illustrative teaching. Strenuous
| efforts have been made to solve the very import
/ ant problem how to keep the attention of all the
| members of the class on the point before it or,
| in other words, how the teachers mind may be
| made to act upon the minds of all the members OF
a class at the same time. The device of requir-
ing children to copy reading geography and other
lessons on their states to keep them quiet has
Il not been 30 much abused as heretofore. true
Il professional zeal has been shown in the study
of works on teaching, and in attendance at and
participation in the exercises Of the Friday even
/ ing Normal School and Monthly Teachers Insti-
tute.
The Superintendent has made q classification
OF the ages of the pupils in the several schools
from which we take the aggregate, as follows
| Number OF children years of age, 299 years
423; years, 403 8 years, AGO; 10 years, 4O8
IL years, 422 70 years, AIS +; IL years, 3l3; Il
years, 228 l5 years, S8 16 years, "a II years
| %; but over that age none are given.