Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-12

BArnum, the faithful principal, ard tb
teachers who conduct the diffsreu
classes in this school, which now mum
hers about six hundred pupils. In Mr.
Hunts room the exercises consisted O
singing, defamation, dialogues, OIigi
nal essays and competitions, and exam
inatiOus in the studies pursued by thu
Glass during the session. The dsrkiei
evidenced more thorOughncss than ",
were prepared to expect, and so far a,
our opportunities permitted US to Judge
they seem to be proficient in their re-
spective studies, its details aud pTinci
piles. One thing is certain, for il has
been fully dem Instratcd in this
school,, that the negro is suscep,
title OF being educated when the proper
system is awaited Of by competent in.
structOr5, such as we have no reason tC
believe do not exist and are not in
charge Of the Clay street schools. A
TO the extent OF the development oil
mind, dependent upon the natural ca.
p3city Of the negro, being limited, OF
otherwise, it i5 not our purpose to say,
as ihe advantages of public schools must
eventually conclude the question, and
that, too, beyond any doubt. The teach
ers in this institution are la0Oring har.
moniousiy together, and the different
departments are conducted smoothly
and precisely, good order and proper de-
pertinent being observed among the
pupils who appear TO be under strict
| control OF their instructors. The half
| day system, which was inaugurated in
this school by Mr.. BaTnum, has been
carried farther than in any other school !;
the average attendance OF the pupils has
been good and the average for the ses-
sion quite high. The only drawback
! noticeable has been the irreguarity of
attendance. The halliday system, of
| which we speak, has operated satisfac-
toriiyin the school OF Miss Ella Murray,
who has charge Of the fourth grade de-
partment. IN her school the average of the
! frat term in written examinations was
| So, and in the second term SO. Thirty
| one of the scholars have completed two
! years WORK this session; and thirty
| three, one and half years work for
the same period, the average being 80 in
| the general studies, which include read
! ing, penmanship, Orthography, geo.
| grsphy, mental and practical erithme-
| tic. The following is the average il the
| different schools: School No. l, Mrs,
Shepherd, 81; school No. 3, Mrs. Bar
mum, SO; school Nc. 4, Miss Julia E.
Palmer, SO; school No. 5, Mrs Matte
CloustOn, IS; school No. 6, Miss 0 A.
Davidson, 50; school No. Z. Miss Ella E.
Murray, 81; school No. s, Fred Hunt, 81
The graduating class Of four averaged
So; general average of the whole school.
IS. The questions pTOpOunded are thesame
as those given in the white schools, the
course Of study also being similar. The
essays, as well as the reading and
especially the spelling, were notice
ably good. In Mrs. Bsrnum's school
there was spe,ing-bee which lasted
about an hour, the pupils dis.
playing what to US was an unex-
pected degree OF proficiency. In Mrs.
Matte CloustOn's school the map draw
ing in white, red and green colored cray
Ons attracted general attention. The
pupils upon going to the blackboard
quickly drew from memory the maps of
different States and Territories of the
Union, locating the principal cities and
defining the boundaries with correct
ness. During the day Mr.. Barnum was
presented with handsome Writing.desk
by the pupils Of this school, as a token
Of the esteem they had for him, and an
evidence Of the gratitude and apprecia-
ton they would always have for his eff
forts in their behalf. The presentation
speech was made by one of the pupils ia
behalf of the school, and Professor Bar
mum responded in few remarks of an
appropriate nature. While he had Cd.
posed the bestowal of the presents, and
had not expected this from the children,
yet it would be qualification to him
TO know that its bestowal pleased the
school, and was evidence of the respect
and appreciation which they had for
their principal. Yesterday four pupils
were awarded certificates, they having
completed the course Of study. This is
the first instance of any cOlOred pupil
finishing the course Of study in the
grammar grade Of the public schools of
Memphis. The names Of the graduates,
together with their essays, which were
resd and were quite creditable, are as
follows: Lulu Holmes, "Education;n
Lucy Wilson, Government of the
Tongue" Alice Owen, "Reading;"
Cary Tucker, "a Talk to his School,
mates.n
CHELSEA AND STREET
SCHOOLS.
The exercises in the colOred schools in
Chelsea and at the corner Of Washing
ton and Orleans streets were attended
by quite q number Of visitors. The diff
feIent features of the exercises at these
schools were in great measure similar
to those which we have mentioned in
connection with the Clay-street school.
The children, as did the visitors, took
much interest in the occasion, which
passed off quite creditably.
The High-schOOIs commencement.
Even before it was dark yesterday the
people commenced flocking to the
Greenlaw OperahOuse for the purpose of |
enjoying the final exercises of the pub
lie schools, the exhibition of which had
been already announced. By eight !
o'clock every seat in the dress circle
and galleries of the vast building was
filled with visitors, and still the stream
continued to pour in. The galleries
were thronged with ladies, and reminded |
one of grand floral garland. 1t may
we'll be said that the intelligence, wealth |
and Tespectability of Memphis were |
never more fully represented than at the |
GreenlaW OperShouse last night. This |
of itself would prove what deep interest |
the people of Memphis have for the |
public schools, which they recognize as
one Of the greatest blessings society en-
joys. Without speaking more Of the |
great crowd present last night, we will |
at once 60 into mention of
THE EXERCISES.
The rear part of the stage was occu-
pied by members of the board of educa- |
ton, those present being DR.. Mitchell, |
the chairman; Messrs. Fontaine, KOr- |
trecht, Spears, Wiggin, Townsend, DR.. |
Churchill, Irrelevant, Randall, Folkes, |
John Johnson, Mayor League,
Attorney-GeneraI Wright, Major Ram
baut, General Joe Davis, Sheriff |
Major Minor Meriwether, |
Of the schools and number of |
ladies. The young ladies and gentlemen |
Of the high-schoOl who were graduated |
seats in the front of the stage,
a grand piano being to the left and pre-
sided ever by Professor Winckler. After |
a few remarks by Superintendent Pick |
EFT, who briefly referred to the great good |
accomplished by the public schools OF |
Memphis, and the superior character of |
the present class of graduates, the young |
ladies and gentlemen marched in from |
opposite sides Of the stage and took the |
seats assigned them. The exercises were |
then formally opened by singing the |
following beautiful welcome song, COM |
posed for the occasion:
Welcome, oh, welcome, kind friends tonight; /
our presence doth add to our dream of de- |
light,
7(r1r 10 a. reipipfru. Ia bor ig dnpa