Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-06-16
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE RESULTS OF TIE DIFFERENT
sCHoOLs-THE CLOSING EXERCISES
FULL LIST OF AWARDS OF MERIT
PRESENTATIONS TO TCACHERS-THE
VOCAL MUSIC,
&C., &C., &C.
The public schools of Staun ton, which
are known all over the State for their ex-
cellence, closed last week. The session
has been one of extraordinary success,
even when compared with their past sue
cessful record, and al concerned in their
administration are entitled to the award,
sswell DONE" We give below the fullest
and best report of a year of Gher work ever
published in a Staunton journal. It will
be read with deep interest, both by the
parents Of the children and the children
themselves. The examinations have been
progressing for some weeks past, COM
mencing May 26th, and we group the re-
suits together in the most readable form:
1sT PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Misses J. Bro1gn and Julia Atkinson,
Teachers.
II 1lo hAO1O PiCr.oihSo o1ALi lOfCiy OlSlU
could anywhere have met the eye, than
was this gathering of more than half an
hundred of little chirping human nestlings,
whose little untried wings were for the
very first time being taught how best to
spread themselves, SO as to soar out and
aloft on a safe, pleasant flight to the high
up temple of knowledge.
ID PRIMARY INSTITUTE BUILDING.)
Hiss Kate Nelson, Teacher.
A most noticeable feature of this school
was the quiet excellence of department.
The examinations which were so conduct
ed as to excite interest and steady atten-
ton. were all gratifying and satisfactory.
There were also some most pleasing re-
citations of little girls and boys, 6 and 8
years old, given with such unaffected feel
ing, grace of manner and clearness of ut
terance, that one could not but be moved
to sincere admiration. Miss N elson though
proves herself by no means behind any in
efficiency, devotedness to her work and a
faithful discharge of the duties. The pu-
pills number forty-five.
SECOND PRIMARY INSTITUTE BUILDINe)
Mrs. ". B. johnson, Teacher.
This bright, lively and enthusiastic
school of 40 children, from s to - years
old, did it's teacher and itself great praise
and honor by its successful ''pass" on the
day of trial. We here found q novel mode
of melting the children to study and inter
est used by the teacher called "The Busy
Bees and Snails.' The industrious and
attentive scholars are enrolled and called
out as The Busy Bees; the indolent and
inattentive are enrolled and called out and
required to answer to the odious Snail
which few are found to do for more than a
time or two before they solicit and work
Tor transformation. Here were some
nice little dialogues. recitations and juven-
lie speechifying which suggested nothing
OF the '''stunp" save the freshness of the
ivy that clings to 1t and the buttercups and
Johnny-jump pups that grow about it's base,
and here was some nice, fine reading and
spelling.
FIRST INTERMEDIATES SCHOOL (INsTI-
TUTE)
Mss Jennie Johnson, Teacher.
This school has met with some him
ORANGES this term, having to make a change
of teachers, the former teacher, Miss
Briggs, having to resign on account of i'll
health, and any change of teachers in mid
die of or during term, even if Of altogether
equal efficiency and excellence, proves very
hindering and embarrassing; but, in spite
of this, the school gives evidence Of adj
vancement, and the quiet, gentle influence
of the teacher is taking strong hold on the
children and moving them to interest and
improvement and fine discipline.
FIRST GRAMMAR SCHOOL,
Mss Sue Hoavard, Teacher.
This most pleasing and intelligent school
of half-grown girls and boys answered so
lively, accurately and promptly the quGs-
tions in Grammar, Geography and Arith-
fact that the day of school martyrdom had
passed-that Geography, Arithmetic and
Grammar were no more to be instruments
of persecution and torture to the minds of
girls and boys, driving their patience to
despair and death, but were now and hence
forth to be most pleasing objects, inviting
their most ardent pursuit in search of
all knowledge. The scholarship was par
ticularly good in this school, and Miss
Mary Eskridge received a first distinction
fol-. perfect recitations and perfect deport-
ment, and Master Willie Burke deserved
notice. for very special Improvement in
general interest and good behavior. In
closing, there was presented to their teach
er by some Of the pupils, as q token of their
respect and love for her and appreciation of
her kind care and pleasant instruction, a
beautiful gold pen and pencil, which the
superintendent presented in their behalf
with some appropriate remarks.
1sT AND IND PRIMARY.
Mss Leila Beers, Teacher.
This is the only strictly primary school
in the Academy. AT the examination of
this school was to be seen the result of
object teaching and the word system in
teaching children to read little urchins
We're reading with ease and intelligence in
the LIST Reader, who did not know a letter
of the alphabet, and some were examined in
Geography and could read in 3rd and 4th
readers, who last September could not
read a word in a sentence, and did not
know one of the letters; some nice print
ing was done by the children here, and
some plain beautiful writing by a little
girl LENA Fe1sing) years old. The map
drawing too was very good, q map by boy
of years, Armadale Root, was finely done.
The questions upon the Multiplication Ia
bles and some primary exercises in Arith-
n etic were answered accurately and quick
". showing good work in this way. Miss