Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-24
AlGFan0rla 6az&tt&
MONDAY EVENING, deer. "a.
Revolution In Teaching.

Revolution In Teaching.
On the first of next September thero will be
Introduced into the Primary, Secondary aud
Grammar Schools of this city new course oil
studies, the labor Of compiling which has occu
pied the attention Of a committee OF the Board
of Education for year and half. The prln
cipal feature of the amended system Is that at
the outstart cf school life the pupil is iotroduc
ed to subjects to which his attention will be dl.
rected and his mind enlarged upon as be III
vances, step by step, through the various grades,
| and. at the same time, 1t ls proposed 10 make
! an iudeliblc impression by course oil object
| teaching.
In the primary school, besides the ordinary
elementary studies which are now 10 use, the
pupil will receive his frs; instruction 10 music.
learning The correct intonations in ordinary c0n
versation and speech, the proper position OF
body, and right management OF the breath and
vocal organs and intonaion Of the first five
sounds of the scale, key Of G, and rehoarsipg
three or four short, simple rote songs, within
easy compass. In the same primitive way the
art of drawing Will be introduced, and lesson
will be given each day in object lessons, EN-
braciug form and color and the principal parts
of the human bodg, as head, neck, trunk,
arms, etc.
An admirable Improvement pervadipg the new
system is method ofinculcating into the minds
of the young the habit of cleanliness OF person
and dress, an adherence to truth and obedience
to parents and teachcrs-virtues which 1t cannot
be denied have been hitherto sadly neglected.
With this moral education there will be asso
eiated training of the body, embracing physi
cal exercises, such as posing, deep breathing
through the nosrils, slow expulsion OF the
breath and singing.
With these instilled the pupil passes into thn
secondary department.: prepared to Wrestle with
the intricacies Of mental and written arithmetic
and to enter upon the study Of geography. In
music he rises to the dignity of beating time
for notes and rests, and so advancing becomes
familiar with two part exercises, takes lessons
in reading and writes from dictatop. The art
Of drawing, to which his attention has been
turned in the primary department.. develops
into the pencilliDg Of leaves and flowers, SIM
pie rosettes. or borders, etc., with tho PRIV
lege of furnishing one original deslgu. Inc
object lessons consist CT geomctrlcal forms as
aids to drawing study OF the various trades
the necessity Of buying and selling com
modites, as how they are conveyed lron,
purchaser to buyer. 1t also embraces the
study of plants; their production 10 the Vlcln'
ity Of Philadelphia; the manner OF GuftVa'Ion;
which arc imported, and az idea OF their value.
with some attention to the character Of mate
riss, such as chalk pencils, pens, Ink, paper.
books. glass, paint. mortar and iron, where and
how prepared or made, and for what used. A.
to habits aud conduct the pupil is taught po
liteness in public places, Influenced to contro!
his temper, shown the value OF sufficient cour
age to say NO as we'll as the golden results OF
an industrious life. Physical exercises will be
given every hour, lasting three or tour minutes.
to consist principally Of chest development.
systematic tree gymnastics and marching. AS
an important djunct to this system Of ph yslca
education the teacher has specific Instruction To
preserve thorough ventilation OF the Class
room. g.,
La the grammar department the studies h''h
erto mentioned assume more advanced phase
while grammar, history and moral INSTRUCTION
ere Introduced.
From the grammar school the pupil ascends
to the senior department, where nc takes up 'hc
subject of physics and the city government, the
latter including reference to the law making
mower Of the city, the CoupciiS, Mayor, police
Judges. Courts, prisons, various city depart
| mcnts, and general duties OF each: La Secion
1 A the student enters upon mathematics, IN
cluding geometry, mcnsuratlon aud algebra anu
| pursues the study of the Constitution OF the
| Unitcd States Natura! philosophy Is also
here taken up, embracing matter, at'fac.loh'
motion, mechanical powers, heat, light and the
general principles of vibration and their appll'
cations 10 sound, and Of electricity. In the
study of music, the pupil reads the notes.
names degrees and writes notes that Indicate
tones or degrees sounded and iodulges 10 Two
part and three part exercises by note ana 10y
words embracing sui ?cts learned. Inc 0ol"c'
lessons embrace anatomy, physiology and ny
pieue, the teaching CT which Is manly oy
Charts and lectures, and touches upon bones,
muscles and tcDdoo;, digestive, circulating an"
! respiratory appsratusos; the skln ana the "''
vous system. .-PtMdclphiH Rcc01t.
I AN EXTINCT RAcE.-Onc Of the most re-
| m.rkahIa races that ever Inhabited tho carth -
now extinct They wero known as tho Guan'
chcs and we're the aboriglncS OF the Canary
Islands Ia the sixteenth century, pestilcnce'
slavery and the cruelty Of the SpanlardS sue
copded in totally cx!ermlnatlng them. Ihcy atc
described as being ggaotc in stature, but OF q
sipgularly mild aud gentle nature. lheir looI
consisted OF barley, wheat, goats mllK, "a apu
their agriculture was of the ru1est KIND. lney
3had q religion which taught thcm OF IuIuIc
site. Of rewards and punlshmenta alter death,
and of good and evil spirits. They regaroGu
Tho volcano of Tcucriffe as the place OF punish
ment moi for the bad. The bodies Of tho dead were
carefully embalmcd, aud Deposited 10 cata
combs. which still continue to be an ob]ect OF
cnriostv to those who visit the IsIaDds. lneH
marriage rights were very solemn. ana De'or'
en0aging 10 them the brides were fattenou o'