Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-02-06
For the Deiacare Republican,.
JOHN II, ADAMS AND THE PURIIC
SCHOOL =

Uh Tuesday morning the 2sth ultilno, d.
w. Harlan, ESD, Superintendent Of the Public
Schools, announced to tile pupils in schools No
and No. that John Ii. Adams, Esq, of Viii
nington, offers TWO gold medals, each worth
not less than so, IN June 1873, and two Of the
same value IN june leI4, uue each wear, 10 the
boy in school No. ! who upon examination.
shall show the greatest proficiency in English
gramintr, and The other 10 the girl In school No
D. " ho shall SHOW tie greatest proficiency on
the same subject. The examination for these
prizes to be made by the visiting committee Of
schools, the Superintendent of the schools of
the city, and the principals oithc schools
Alter a few additional remarks hy ~uprrin-
tendent Harlan, Mr. Adams, who va, present.
delivered the following address, which was well
received aul listened - with marked atten-
ton:
1t probably Was an officer connected with
The public schools under the government Of an
Gent Sparta, who, upon one occasion, reqties-
ted Of Ahasuerus the great Persian r,onarcli, Lis
opinion rs to the most important studies in
which TO instruct the boys.
Ahasnerus, after moments thought tuned
10 the Spartan Tutor and answered his uu,s.
ton in this wise:
Learn the boys such things - viii be- most
useful to them when they become men
II the Superintendent OF the Public Schools of
Wilmington was to-day to PROFOUND The same
question; no more practical solution could be
gwen than that Of Ahasuerus. Fer the answer
is correct IN theory and practice now as il was
two thousand fonr hundred or more wears 400
The various branches Of study Which are
taught IN our schools such az, arithmetic, read
ing, history, geography, spelAc writing, and
grammar are all important alike, and each boy
will lind, when he becomes man, that he can.
not dispense with either
lwoulu therefore encourage each and every
pupil mere to-uay TO embrace every opportunity
I7hich may present itself TO make himself or
herself thorough in these Departments of study.
Ii seems to me however That the study of
grammar has not received in many of t,ur
schools that attention which its ilnDor,ance as
branch of study demands, while other branch.
es have been taught with aactity by the teach.
ers and pursued with faIvor by tie scboIar'-
That OF Grammar seems to have received but q
secondary consideration.
1t Is computed tha ~omea on an arera-,
sieak zo,yVo words e'cly t"cn.y-four hours
II TINS be true, now important it is that III,
Lirs IN oGl schools Should be made fully To uu
derstaud how these words should be connect,
I'd.
Many grl has struggled through yeais n
study, ard passed crditable examination
and been turned out pieRdiila educated as i
IS sal WHO cannot parse a sentence commits
Ing half dozen words, in our every da; reai,ln
correctly and according to the rules OF gram
mar.
Many young man has passed through hi
course oil study, and left the college walls will
parchment in hand who, Judging from his cor
'ersalioz, IS sadly deficient in grammar.
his think is not as it should be. In m
Judgment among the first things to teach gi
!S 10 &c mistress, and boy TO be the master
1he grammar, and to fully comprehend and Ill