Arizona citizen., 1875-07-03
LOCAL MA TIERS.
Examination of the Pupils of St.
 JOseph's Academy, Tucson.

Il
 June 18th, the patrons of the above in- stitution, with many of our citizens, filled the spacious hall of the academy to wit ness the examination of the pupils and the closing exercises of the term. The eX- animation commenced at about o'clock Tn the morning and continued until about five in the afternoon, save recess of an hour or so at lunch.
 The following is the programme, which was very elegantly penned upon slips of paper, and distributed among the audi ence:
 l. Christian Doctrine; 2. Reading, 4th Sd, 2d and 1st classes in English and Span- sh; 8. Orthography; 4. Geography; 5. Grammar and Rhetoric; 6. History; '. Bot any; s. Astronomy; g. Intermediate and Practical Arithmetic; 10. Closing Address; II. Farewell song; 12. Distribution of Pre- miums. Between each of the above or ders there was music, either vocal or in- Strumental. The examination Of the classes in grammar, rhetoric, astronomy, use of the globe, and arithmetic, most particularly attracted our attention. In the first, the ease with which sentences were parsed and analysed, and the readi- ness with which the rules were given gov erning this difficult operation assured us not only of the progress and aptitude Of pupils, but of the effectiveness of the mode of imparting the science. Of all this we were the more impressed when we considered that the language in which the pupils were examined, with the exception of two, was not their mother tongue. The com positions which were distributed among the visitors for examlnatlOn, were neatly written and very creditably com posed. The classes in astronomy and the use of the globe displayed familiarity with the position and condition Of the heavenly bodies, and of the surface of the earth equal to one who had travelled over the "whole ground" In arithmetic, biackboards and chalk were used to prac- tically test the pupils Knowledge of that science; various problems from addition to interest, were successfully solved. In short, the examination in all the studies was as thorough as the limited length of time for each class would permit, and the answering was prompt and good.
 At the close of the examination Maj. Cor nyn delivered short address, wherein he spoke in complimentary terms of con- vent schools in general, mentioning some of the prominent ladies of our nation, who have received their education at them, among these Mrs. Gen. Grant, Sher. man and Dalgren.
 But to the pupils the most interesting of all these exercises was the laSt-the dis tribution of premiums. We regret that want of space prevents us from giving a list of those whose deserving efforts car ried off the prizes.
 We congratulate the Sisters and the pu- pills upon the success of the eXamamina- ton, and the parents upon the progress which the children have made.
 It affords us pleasure to state that the Sisters of St. Joseph are simply labOring to build up their own institution and to educate in their own way the pupils under their charge, without trying to break down other schools. For this reason, they have always had our good wishes and kind words. They don't believe in throw ing stones at educational institutions un- like their own. They very sensibly de- serve support from all sources and know that they will get most by strict devotion to their own institution and treating Oth- CTS with due respect. There are more children in this community than both Sis ters and the public school can at present educate, hence work for all. There are those who would, if they could, make diff faculties between the public and private schools and their managers, but so far as we are concerned, they will meet with no encouragement, and we have the best of evidence that they do not and will not with the Sisters of St. Joseph's Academy. These demagogic diSturbers tried to make the Sisters believe THE CITIZEN would
  inatiOn, right in the face of the fact that we had always given their exhibitions such space as the matter furnished requir- ed, or our time'enabed us to get of them. Our sympathies are with all the well es- abolished educational institutions. Pr- vate schools neither can nor will educate all children-hele or anywhere. Hence the absolute necessity for the public school, but in advocacy of It, we will not permit set of palpable demagogues, un- fl Ar 6iGort1 1fcrn NfNlr the false position of an opponent to any private school, no matter by whom con- ducted. Recent events make these re- marks proper.