Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-02-27
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

LIZ UDLlO -OOl1OOUO
OFFICIAL VISIT OF CoUNCILMEN AND
TRUSTEES NEW MUSICAL De
PARTMENT-THE CoLoRED SCHOOLS
PAPID PROGRESS OF BOTH WHITE AND
COLORED PUPILs-ADDREssEs OF THE
VISITORS.
&C., &C.. &c.
On Friday morning last, at 10 O'Clock.
his Honor, Mayor Trout, the members of
the City Council and the members of the
Board Of School Trustees with some invit-
ed guests and representatives OF the press
made an official visit to the graded white
school on New st. The readers of the VIM
DICTATOR are already familiar with the OPP
erations of this school, through detailed de-
scriptions published in its columns.
The visitors were warmly greeted by
Superintendent Ladd, and taken through
each grade in their respective orders, be-
ginning with the
FIRST PRIMARY
up to the High School. AS the officials
were not expected, the teachers and pupils
were unable to make any unusual prepa-
rations OF to Fix up'' for their coming
Every thing was found in clock work or
der rooms scrupulously clean, and hundreds
of little faces, clean and bright, greeted the
gentlemen as they were conducted from
room to room. In nearly every room a drill
in the
SCIENCE OF MUSIC,
and note reading was given by DR.. J. L.
Brown Here the rapid advance ment
which the pupils had made in the scientlf-
ic rudiments of music was noted. The
science of music is being taught, not SIM
ply some little lullaby tune by rote and
end there, but the pupils are required to
learn to read music at sight. In the High
School, sound was written upon the
board and the students sung it by differ
ent divisions, beating time all the while
with the hand. In this department all ad
mitted that there is real mental disclp
line, while the power music possesses
oven the culture and habits Of young p'ao~
pie all were ready to admit. The board
ended their examinations in the High
apartments.
Before taking leave, His Honor, Mayor
Trout, addressed the young men, saying
Jhis had been his first visit, but that ne
was delighted with what he had seen, and
although it was but short time since free
schools had but a small place in the hearts OF
the people. he was glad to say that they
now had and deserved all our sympathy and
cooperation. Following the Mayor, by
call from Maj. Bell, Chairman Of the Board,
Gen. Echols delighted the audience by feel
ingly and eloquently expressing the satisf;lc-
ton all the visitors had felt in the inspec-
ton. He also assured the Superin tendent,
Mr. Ladd, of the full and hearty co-opera-
ton of all the citizens and officers Of Staun-
ton, by holdingup his hand in a work he had
so speedily and efficiently brought forward
in the grading and discipline of our public
schools. He awarded praise to all who had
assisted in bringing our public schools into
such remarkable condition. To the
Young men before him, he said, ''young men
these fathers of the City are soon to pass
off the stage of action, and as I look upon
YOU here in pursuit of study, preparing for
the University and the higher walks Of
life, remember how soon you must take
our places. You are the future Mayors,
Legislators, Judges, Clergy, and you
ire to fill the important stations of every
kind. How important that you here Gull
tivate the heart as well as the mind, that
each and all shall so acquit himself here, as
to leave on the records Of this School an
honorable name, and oneeof which your
mates in after years shall recall with plea
sure and pride. =
The General closed by d beautiful
anlogium upon our system of public
schools, and their Importance to the rising
aces.
The party then retired highly gratified
at the future promise Of things so well be-
gan.
On Tuesday, Vice President Evans, and
Messrs. Abby, Bagby, Kerr and WITT of
the council, the falling snow prevent
ing a larger attendance Of councilmen,
visited the public school taught in the
school room Of st. Francis Church, on
Augusta street. Of which Miss Mary Col
Inns is the principal. The children were
examined by Superintendent l4add, and
showed great profcie cy in spelling, arith-
metic and geography, the exercises in
all being altogether different from those
Of the old style. DR.. Brown, the instruc-
tor in music was present, and the children
gave a specimen of their knowledge of the
science Of music, which showed they are
being well grounded in the art. There are
IS scholars in this school. 7 rom here the
visitors went to
THE COLORED sCHOo LIS,
al the northern end Of Augusta street,
Here the scene was novel as well as inter
esting. Our readers are familiar W it'll the
description of the white schools, but they
have had none yet Of the colored. The
first entered was the II Ugh School, OF which
Mr.. VIM. H. Waddell is principal, and
contains 80 scholars, of ages running from
is years down to 10. The visitor on enter
i l,o4