Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-06-18


D. A. NcLEISH,
Co. Auditor.
MARSHALLTOWN.
Her Schools and Their Industrial
Exposition.
FRIEND ToMAN.-Thinking per-
haps a few words from Marshall
town would not prove uninteresting
to your readers, we will give the re-
suit of observations while visiting
her schools and their Industrial Ex-
position. The city itself is much
finer place than we had anticipated.
Situated on an extended and elevated
plane, with large and beautiful resi-
dences, broad streets regularly laid
out and lined with shade trees, she
presents what might be called the
Philadelphia of Iowa. Everything
seemed to wear the air of healthy,
active and fair prosperity in business
affairs. Her Public School buildings
are commodious, and, unlike some
we might mention, wisely located as
to health and convenience; yet they
need more room and have taken
steps for the erection of a new High
School Building. These schools are
under the excellent supervision Of
Mr.. G. p. Rogers, as Superintendent,
and We found them in prosperous
condition, with good order and COM
plete harmony prevailing. From
close observation here and in other
schools in the State, noting their con-
dition Nth supervision and acithout
it, and from the action of several
prominent school boards that have
recently returned to the Superinten-
dency, we are fully convinced that
supervision is the only successful
plan to pursue. 1t is with schools as
with everything composed of depart
ments and divisions, there must be
some central head to organize, plan,
control and direct. No large estab-
lishment of any kind of industry or
business succeeds without skilled
supervision. No army ever fought q
successful campaign without an ex-
perienced general. No government
will be Of long duration without a
central power at the head.
From a careful examination of Mr..
Rogers system of graduation in con-
nection with its application in these
schools, we are satisfied that it pos
sesses merit superior to any we
have seen, and that the difficult
problem of grading schools is sue
cessfully solved, we were always en-
phatically opposed to the so-catfed
cast iron system commonly adopte.:
in our graded schools system in
which class promotion and sometimes
demotion, take place in most schools
only at the close of each year-while
in this system, the object being to
promote the individual and not the
class, as such, individual promotion
occurs three or four times year,
with scarcely ever demotion which
is the greatest source of discourage
ment, and not unfrequently the cause
of Withdrawal from school. In short,
the system has such a degree OF
elasticity that it provides for the
various conditions, wants and capaci-
ties of the pupils.
But the principal feature of interest
was the Industrial Exposition. This
was the absorbing topic of converse
ton among the citizens as we'll as
those connected with the school. 1t
was the result of the scholars own
handiwork, every thing they had
made or invented during the year.
The large City Hall was used for
that purpose and nicely decorated
and festooned with flowers and ever.
greens. Education, debt due from
the Present to Future Generations, y
was the finest motto. On the right
was exhibited the school work of the
different departments, mostly exami-
nation papers, together with liter.
airy essays. These papers were neat
in appearance, carefully prepared,
and, for the most part, the answer1
were clear and complete. The Gull.
nary department was well represent
ed, having two long tables covered
with different kinds of cake and
bread. There were two rows Of
shelving extending nearly the whole
length of the Hall, on one of which
were placed various kinds of fancy
work, such as hair wreaths, wax,
worstcd, and crochet works, quilts
stockings, &c. On the other was
mechanical work, such as toys, min.
iature sail boats, wagons, sulky corn
plows, harrows, wood chairs, brack-
cts, writing desks, and many other
things exhibiting great deal of in
genuity. What caused the most
laughter was the spanking machine
run by a little steam engine. It tool
the second prize, IS gold piece
Between these long tables was the
horticultural pyramid Of shelves,
showing different kinds Of plants,
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