Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-10
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Annual Examinations at the Alabama
Street and Chelsea Graded schools
-PIcketgs Plan Tested.

Annual Examinations at the Alabama
Street and Chelsea Graded schools
-PIcketG's Plan Tested.
The examination of the pupils of the
public schools is now progressing. Yes
terdsy a representative Of the APPEAL,
in company with DIR. r. w. Mitchell,
president OF the board of education, Wis
tied the Alabama street and Chelsea |
schools, and there had an OppOr-
unity OF witnessing the new methods OF
instruction which were last year
introduced by Superintendent Pickett.
This gentleman, upon being elected
superintendent of the Memphis city
schools, determined to task the rea-
soning faculties Of the pupils, so as to
render them self-reliant, prompt and
methOdical in the pursuit OF their studies,
for it is long since conceded by philOs-
Ophers that mere knowledge and intel
lectual development are not only not
the same, but stand IN no necessary pro-
portion to each other. Hence his idea
was not simply to communicate inform
alton, but In such manner by the en-
ployment Of subsidiary means to awake |
a vigorous and varied though methOdi-
cal exertiOn OF the pupils faculties. Tes-
timOny to this end is not wanting, and |
from the days OF Aristotle, with Aguin- |
as and Scotus, do We find this principle |
of education Endorsed, and in modern !
times Mslebranche says: "If l !
held truth captive in my hand,
L should open my hand |
and let it fly, in order that might again |
pursue and capture it," Our visit yes |
terday afforded US an insight into the |
subsidiary means adopted by Mr.. Pick !
cit to accomplish the result mentioned. |
At the Alabama street school the class |
in primary arithmetic, under charge of |
Miss Grace Lewellyn, is exercised in /
mental questions every day. Their an
swers evidence the fact that their facul- |
ties are called into active exercise, and /
hence what they know as enabling /
them to answer correctly is due not to |
the memory, but to the process of rea-
sOning necessary to determine the re- |
suit of the sum total in the addition, di- |
vision, subtraction or multiplication of |
o series of figures. This plan of teach |
ing mental arithmetic cannot be ques- |
toned, for its success and thorough re- |
suits are undoubtedly demonstrated by |
the little children taught by Miss Lew |
ellyn, a young lady whose industry, sys-
tenn and culture render her services all |
the more valuable in the schOOlrOom. !
This plan of mathematical instruction |
not only requires q correct and immedi- |
ate answer to the questions prOpOunded, !
but imposes an explanation, to give |
which the most active degree OF ratiOcin- |
alton is demanded Ofthe pupil. Another |
improvement in the method Of instruc- |
tiOn-and we judge as witnesses from |
Ir ,o4 fsk h.
system OF the entire class reading aloud |
together. The pupils thereby abandon !
the "singingn style Of pronunciation, !
and in 8 short while assume the proper |
tone, emphasize correctly, and pro-
nounce with distinctness. The recita- |
ton by each child, when called upon, OF |
an original sentence, is another feature |
that will be commended by all who |
have an opportunity Of watching the |
practical benefits that must ensue. The |
same features characterize the manage /
ment Of the primary or younger classes |
in the Chelsea school, which Is so ably |
and pleasantly presided over by Mrs. |
Hampton, and what has been said of |
the Alabama.street Institution we as
willingly apply to her and her school. |
In the seventh.grade department of the |
Alabama-street school, taught by Miss
Gussie TOvell, still another method for
the purposes already indicated have been
introduced by Superintendent Pickett.
We mean the system of map-draWing
upon paper and the blackbOards, so as to
show the geographical divisions of
the earth, the locations of towns, mouu-
tains and valleys, the course of streams,
the extent and character Of bays, seas
and oceans, together with the different
water currents, their source, detOurs, etc.
These maps are drawn from memory by |
the pupils, and demonstrated in g man
ner that testities the thorough compTe-
hensiOn they have of the subject. Not
only at the Authenticated school, but
also at the Chelsea school, did we watch
the demonstrations and the drawings by
the pupils. "JOhn, draw a map Of
South America" said the teacher, and
in five minutes the task was accom-
plished. Then another pupil with equal
facility drew a map of Europe, and also
entered into the explanation Gifts physi-
cal geography with a minuteness not
less surprising than instructive and
pleasing; still others drew maps OF
Africa, North America, the Territories
Of the United States, etc, as well as of
ancient Greece, faithfully giving the
location Of Thessaly, Epirus, PhOcis, Ar
Cdul6hf LdCOuldy M6ESiIa, ATgallS- ETC I
These exercises were OF no ordinary ma.
ture, and to go through details system
atically, precisely and rapidly, as did
the pupils yesterday, necessarily sup
poses the fact that their minds have
been actively engaged in comprehend
ing the minute features that go to make
up the whole. Hence 1t is we see that
the faculties are exercised rigidly, yet |
stimulated to the achievement Of great
results by the very nature Of the gen.
eralizstiOn demanded. These plans OF
instruction are of incalculable advan-
-age, and to those teachers whose efforts
have been so happily triumphant in
demonstrating their benefits, as well as
heir practical nature, the public can
not be too thankful. Miss Conway, the {
principal Of the Alabama-street school,
mas long since established her rightful
claims TO the duties of an educator, and
yet another evidence, q still further
guarantee is had in the success of the
lew systems she has now engrafted into
he departments of the institution she
directs. Mrs. Hampton, of the Chelsea
chOOl, also proves by her intelligence,
,OOd judgment and arduOus labOrs, her
alent as an educator-One who has aD-
and applied with exact nicely
he new systems introduced by Mr..
Pickett.
HE CELEBRATED FIRST PRESIUA
Patent Self-Ventilating
II A 4