Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-07-09
Letter from Norbeck.

July l, 1875
! Mr.. Editor "A modest Invitation, brought
me last week by the hand of our youngest
child, requested me, informally, to attend the
closing recitations Of ''Avon School, under
the care OF Mrs VIM s. Brooke, well known
among many friends formerly as Miss Mary
Coffin, one Of the principal teachers at Fair
Hill School, in this county, and then at STAN
more, where Mrs. Frances Miller is Principal.
We were Invited for Wednesday, June 30ih,
| at 8 A. NJ, and arrived there punctualy. The
school numbers but seven pupils now, and is
limited both by want Of room, and that Mrs
Brooke is the sole teacher from ever being
very large school, but | thought to myself,
surely the people of Rockville and the neigh
| borhood could never have heard of this school,
or the room would be crowded TO its utmost
capacity. The school began in Mrs. Brooke's
intention to educate her husbands two daugh-
ters, grandchildren of the revered Benjamin
Hallowell, and her desire that they should
have the stimulus and companionship of fe.
low-students. At first only one or two Young
cousins joined the class, then a neighbor pc
titioned that her ten-year-old boy might have
a place there, until the school grew to seven
The younger children first recited their ge
ography lesson, and each little one as called
on went to the blackboard and drew from
memory some state or country, the other
children giving the names of the boundaries
rivers, mountains, etc., as the drawing pro-
crossed The four of this class were from the
ages of to II. The three elder girls passed
in review some Of their studies, and all showed
by the intelligence of their faces and bright
expression of their eyes, that they knew thor
oughly what they were reciting. They We're
examined in physical geography, grammar,
mental arithmetic, botany and geometry, not
of course, the only branches of study taught
at the school, but such lessons as were allotted
to the day. 1t was bewldering to me, not
having been used to such teaching in my
youth, to hear the young girls add, divide,
multiply, find the cube root, or the square
root of number as fast as the teacher could
alter the figures. The young lady who was
called to the blackboard TO explain some mys-
terious geometrical figures, would have done
credit to one of our colleges, so understand
ingly did she recite problem after problem.
The scholars were then called on to repeat
some short poetica extracts, which each one
did admirably, and would name the poetry
and the young ladies, except that the whole
affair was carried on so modestly that feel
as if it would be a breach of courtesy 10 do
SO, and would after all only crafty idle curl
osity, but will say that the only fault found
with any selection was that the lad who re-
cited Betty and the Bear,i was thought to
have turned traitor TO his sex.
have written to yon, Mr.. Editor, because
think this thorough teacher with her quiet
home-school, ought to be better known and
more patronized by friends and neighbors. 1t
Is entirely disinterested on my part, for as !
am one OF the parents of the little boy per-
mitted to go to the school, because the num-
bers are few, may, by spreading the knowl-
edge ana reputation of this school, so fill it.
that my boy may have to find an instructor
elsewhere, which should regret for his sake
Hoping your readers will benefit by my letter,
and that il will not be passed over as sanoth-
of those horrid commencement letters.
arr respectfully your friend and that of this
community, ALPHA, No 2.